Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 2 · Verse and explication 15
Vers. 17. And came, and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
IN this and the following verse, is contained the third branch of the second part of the Chapter, wherein the Apostle sheweth how that excellent benefit of union and communion with God … His Church, purchased by Christ for the Gentiles, was published, and actually communicated unto them equally with the Jews, to wit, by the preaching of the Gospel. And, first, he declareth that Christ Himself did preach and publish the glad tydings of that peace and reconciliation which was purchased by Him on the crosse. See ver. 15, 16. And, secondly, he sheweth to whom he did publish it, first, to the Gentiles who were far off, (See Act. 2. 39) being compared with the Jews; as being without the bounds of the visible Church. Now, Christ preached to the Gentiles, not immediately and in His own person, Mat. 15. 24. except to some few, who were first-fruits of the rest, Mat. 8. 5, &c. and 15. 28. but mediately and by the ministery of His Apostles, and their successors, the Ministers of the Gospel, whom He sent unto them to preach, Mat. 28 19, whose Ministery He doth alwayes accompany by His Spirit, to the conviction of some, and conversion of others; and therefore He himself is said to preach in them, 1 Pet. 3. 19. Next, to the Jews, who are said here to be nigh, because they were within the visible Church, and therefore (though many of them, being simply considered, were far from God; yet) they were nigh, being compared with the Gentiles, as living under the drop of the means of grace and reconciliation. Now, he mentioneth the Gentiles, first, not as if the Gospel had been first preached unto them, Act. 13. 46. but to shew that this priviledge of having the Gospel preached, did now under the New Testament belong equally both to the Jews and Gentiles; And therefore it was not of any moment which of them were mentioned first, and which last. Doct. 1. It is not sufficient, in order to our reconciliation with God, that a price was payed by Christ upon the crosse to satisfie divine justice, but there must also an offer be made of this purchased friendship in the preaching of the Gospel; that so we may imbrace and lay hold upon it by faith; otherwise the friendship is not actually made, Col. 1. 21. for, the Apostle, having shewed (ver. 16.) that Christ had satisfied divine justice upon the crosse, doth here declare how His so doing was published and actually communicated both to Jew and Gentile; And came, and preached peace. 2. Though we did commit the wrong which occasioned the enmity betwixt God and us, Col. 1. 21. yet, not only the first motion, but the full prosecution and through compleating of the friendship, cometh from God through Christ, in so far as Christ did not only upon the crosse satisfie for our wrong, but also maketh an offer of friendship so purchased, in the ministry of the Word: yea, and bringeth us to a closing with the terms upon which it is offered, Joh. 6. 44. And came and preached peace. 3. As the sum of the Gospel is peace, there being nothing contained in it but a declaration that peace and reconciliation with God and His Church may be had, and upon what sweet and easie tea…ms it may be had, Rom. 5. 11. and earnest offers of that peace, made unto all who would imbrace it upon those tearms, 2 Cor. 5. 20. together with the duties of thankfulnesse, which God doth call for from those who accept the offer, Matth. 11. 29. and the fearfull judgements which do await on such who will not imbrace the offered friendship, Heb. 2. 3. So the publishing of this doctrine of peace, is the gladdest tydings which ever sounded in the ears of lost sinners: for, the Apostle, speaking of Christs preaching of the Gospel, saith, He came and preached peace: the word rendred preached, doth signifie (and accordingly is translated, Rom. 10. 15.) to bring glad tydings. 4. When Christ doth send His called Ministers with an offer of peace and reconciliation unto a people, it is all one, as if He himself in His own person did come and make an offer of Him; And therefore the word of reconciliation in their mouth, should be received and accepted by those unto whom it is offered, with the same readinesse, confidence and reverence, as they would receive it from Christ Himself, Gal. 4, 14. for, though Christ preached immediately, and in His own person, only to the Jews, Rom. 15. 8. yet the Apostle saith He preached also unto the Gentiles, because He sent His Apostles and Ministers to preach unto them; And came, and preached peace to you which were afar off. 5. They may be nigh to God as to their external and Church-state, living under the drop of means, and enjoying the priviledge of all divine Ordinances, who are yet unreconciled to God, and holding up the enmity which is betwixt the Lord and them: for, Christ behoved to preach peace, even to those who were nigh, to wit, in the respects presently mentioned, which implyeth they were not yet at peace with God; And to them that were nigh. 6. For whomsoever Christ hath purchased peace upon the crosse, to those he maketh an offer of peace and reconciliation in the preaching of the Gospel; And therefore He hath not died for all: for, the Apostle sheweth, that, as Christ purchased peace for both Jew and Gentile, ver. 16. so He came and preached peace to both; even to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.