Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 6 · Verse and explication 10
Vers. 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
THe Apostle (having from chap. 5. ver. 21. exhorted unto those duties which belong to Christians as they are members of families) doth now in the second part of this Chapter, exhort unto one duty, which belongeth unto all Christians in generall, the making conscience whereof, is necessary for practising all, or any of the fore-mentioned duties, even that they would prepare and make ready for a christian warfare. And being in the first branch of this part of the Chapter, unto ver. 14. to inforce this duty more generally, he doth, first, propone the exhortation, to wit, that finally, or notwithstanding of all he had formerly spoken, this one thing did remain yet necessary to be delivered by him, (for, so much the Original word doth imply) even that they would be strong, fortifie themselves, take to them spirits and resolutions in order to their Christian warfare. And this, first, by looking at, and making use of that strength which they had, and all Believers have without themselves in the Lord Christ, who is engaged with them, as leader and generall in this warfare, Joh. 10. 28. And particularly, they are to look at, and act their faith upon the power of His might, or His almighty power, in order to their being strong and resolute, as that, which alone was able to answer all their faintings and fears, arising either from their own weaknesse, Rom. 4. 19. with 21. or the strength of enemies, Joh. 16. 33. Hence Learn, 1. It is not enough for Christians to know what they ought to do by vertue of their severall relations, except they also set about the practice of their duty according to what they know of it: for, the Apostle, having already instructed them in the knowledge of their duty, he sheweth this one thing was yet remaining, even to prepare themselves with resolution and courage in order to their better practising of it: Finally, or, this yet remaineth, that ye be strong in the Lord. 2. As the duties of a Christian life, whether in our generall or particular calling, will not be discharged by us without a battell and conflict with strong difficulties and terrible adversaries; So it is the duty of Christs Ministers, not only to presse duties upon the Lords people, but also to forewarne them of these difficulties and dangers which ly in the way of their duty, and to instruct them how to wrestle with and overcome them all: for, so doth Paul, having already pressed upon them the duties of their generall and particular callings, he doth here not only forewarne them, but also forearme them against difficulties and hazards; Finally, be strong in the Lord. 3. Though the Lords Servants sometimes may, and are also bound to command and charge the people of God committed to their charge, to make conscience of their duty, 1 Tim. 6. 17. yea, and also denounce against them most terrible threatnings, if they neglect it, 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 13. yet, so long as gentle exhortations, enforced with sweet smooth insinuations and rationall demonstrations of the equity and necessity of the thing, may prevail, they are rather to be followed by them, thereby testifying their affection unto, and charitable esteem of their hearers as of rationall men, who, are in a greater probability to be wrought upon by insinuations, desires and convincing reasons, than by threats and boasts: for, the Apostle doth here gently exhort them, enforcing this exhortation by an insinuative compellation, while he calleth them brethren, and afterwards convinceth them of the equity and necessity of that to which he doth exhort them; Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord. 4. So strong and terrible are these difficulties which Christians are assaulted with in the way of duty, (See ver. 12.) that there is need of more than ordinary strength, resolution and courage, for meeting with them, and charging through them. Faint hearted-cowards and lazie sluggards, will never face them, far lesse overcome them, Prov. 22. 13. for, in order to their rancountering those difficulties, he biddeth them be strong, that is, take to them spirits and courage. 5. No naturall courage nor hardinesse of spirit, arising from mans naturall temper, (though in some respect sufficient for making men endure any temporall hardship without succumbing, Prov. 18. 14.) is able to underprop and bear us up against the furious assaults of such spirituall adversaries, and breaking discouragements, arising from such multiplied difficulties as daily do assault us in our Christian course: for, he biddeth them be strong, not in themselves or in the power of their own naturall resolutions, but in the Lord, and the power of his might. 6. No strength of grace inherent, no spiritual courage flowing from the graces of Gods Spirit in us, is alone, and by it self sufficient to make us stand and bear us through as victors in this spirituall conflict: we must besides, be underpropped by the power and strength of Christ the Lord without us, by whose influence our inherent graces must be actuated and applied to work, Philip. 2. 13. directed in their work, 2 Thess. 3. 5. recruited daily with a new supply of strength, Isa. 40. 29. and keeped from fainting under renewed assaults, Luke 22. 31, 32. otherwise they can do nothing, Joh. 15. -5. for, he forbiddeth them not only make use of grace inherent, as we shall hear, ver. 11. but also and antecedently, be strong in the Lord, or in that strength which they had without themselves in the Lord Christ. 7. As whatsoever is in the Lord Christ, must and will be forth-coming, for the encouragement strengthening and bearing through of Believers in this spirituall conflict; So their greatest strength, and ground of courage in all their conflicts, doth ly in, and ought to arise from, not what they are in themselves, or can do for themselves, but what the Lord Christ is engaged to be and do on their behalf: for, he exhorteth them, be strong in the Lord, thereby implying, that the Lord Christ would be forthcoming for them, and that they were to draw their resolution and courage from thence. 8. Christian souldiers, in order to their own encouragement and strengthening for this spirituall conflict, ought to lay hold upon, and by faith make use, as of whole Christ, and of all those rich and glorious perfections which are in Him, So especially of His almighty power and strength, by vertue whereof, He doth all His pleasure, Isa. 46. -10. neither is there any thing too hard for Him, Gen. 18. 14. The power of enemies and greatnesse of difficulties, together with our own weaknesse, call for this: besides, that many of our discouragements arise, not so much or only from misbelief of His good-will to help, as from our atheisticall doubtings about His power and strength, which sometimes are expressed, Psal. 78. -20. and sometimes work subtilly under ground, as if not His power but only His good-will were doubted of, which is clear from this, that His good-will is not usually questioned, but when difficulties are great, and to sense and reason insuperable. Hence it is, that, having commanded them to act their faith upon whole Christ and all that is in Him, he biddeth them pitch upon His almighty power in particular; Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.