Galatians 5:10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubles you shall bear his judgment… I. PAUL'S TREATMENT OF THE GALATIAN CHURCH shows us — 1. To hope the best of men so long as they are curable. (1) Objection: Those that hope the best may be deceived. Answer: In judgment but not in practice. It is the duty of love to hope the best. Those who suspect the worst are the oftenest deceived. (2) Objection: We must judge of things as they are indeed. Reply: Judgment of things and persons must be distinguished. No uniform rule is sufficient by which to estimate a fellow creature. The worst have repented. The best have fallen. 2. How are we to be hopeful of men? (1) Only for such things as they are able. to. perform, (2) and these "in the Lord." He only can give helping grace, exciting grace, and so lead to reformation. 3. Not to excommunicate them unless they are incurable. So long as they are curable we must use means to cure them. (1) If the sheep or the ox that goes astray must be brought home (Exodus 23. 4), much more our neighbour. (2) Christ brings home the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-5). So must every under-shepherd (Ezekiel 34:4). II. PAUL'S TREATMENT OF THE TROUBLES OF THIS CHURCH shows us — 1. That God watches over the Church by a special providence. 2. That the apostle's doctrine is an infallible certainty. 3. That the troublers of Churches shall be plagued by the just judgment of God. (W. Perkins.) Parallel Verses KJV: I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. |
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