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Matthew Poole and continuators on Galatians 5:3

Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Browse this work.

Galatians5:3

3 For I testifie again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law .

This must be understood either of the Gentiles only, (who were never under any obligation to circumcision, or of such as were circumcised, with an opinion that it was necessary at this time to justification and Salvation. Of these (the Apostle saith) that by this they made themselves debtors to the whole law. They were obliged to one part of the Law, they must also be obliged to all the other parts of it. Besides that circumcision was an owning and professing subjection to the whole law. As the receiving the Sacrament of Baptism is a professed subjecting our selves to the whole Gospel. Obj. But (may some say) ought not then all Christians to observe the law? Answ. Not the Ceremonial and Political law, which were peculiar to the Jewish Church and State. 2. It is one thing to be under an obligation to our utmost to fulfil the law, another thing to acknowledge our selves debtors to the law. Obj. But did not the Fathers then by being circumcised, acknowledge themselves debtors to the law? Answ. Yes, They did acknowledge themselves bound to the observation of the law, and to indure (upon the breaking it) the curse of it: But they were discharged from this obligation by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was made a curse for them, that he might redeem them from the curse of the law: But if any disclaimed Christ, (which, whosoever added any thing to his Righteousness and to Faith in him, as to the justification of the Soul, did, (as the Apostle had said in the former verse) they laid themselves under an obligation to fulfil the whole law of God, if they would be saved.

Matthew Poole and continuators, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, Galatians 5:3. Public domain.

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