For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty
He calls them "brethren", to testify his affection to them, and
to put them in mind of their relation to one another, which
required mutual love, a thing he is about to press them to; he
asserts that they were "called" not merely externally, but
internally, by the effectual grace of God, out of bondage to sin,
Satan, and the law, unto the liberty of the Gospel and of the
grace of God; that liberty wherewith Christ had made them free, (
Galatians
5:1 ) this he said in a judgment of charity, hoping well of
them:
only use not liberty for an occasion to the
flesh;
corrupt nature, which in unregenerate men takes encouragement
from, and makes an ill use of the best of things, as the mercy
and patience of God; and not only takes an occasion by the law,
forbidding sin to work and stir up all manner of concupiscence;
but also by the Gospel, and the doctrines of it, such as eternal
election, free justification which though the source and
fountain, the barrier and security, of all true and real
holiness, are improved and abused by wicked minds, under the
influence and instigation of Satan, to vile purposes; and though
regenerate persons are not in the flesh, and do not live after
it, yet that is in them, and there is a proneness in them to sin;
and Satan is watching all opportunities and advantages against
them; so that there is need for such a caution as this, that they
do not misuse their Christian liberty by indulging the flesh and
the lusts of it, which is apt to take an occasion to cherish its
lusts, and especially when given: Christ's free men should not do
so, for that is to disgrace the doctrine of Christian liberty, to
enthral themselves in, bondage instead of using their liberty
aright, and to give the enemy occasion to blaspheme: the doctrine
of Christian liberty may bc abused, or used as an occasion to the
flesh, and to fulfil the lusts of it; when under a pretence
thereof men think themselves exempt from obedience to the civil
magistrate, which is using this liberty as a cloak of
maliciousness; or that they are free from obedience to the law of
God, as a rule of walk and conversation; or from subjection to
the ordinances of the Gospel; or when they use the creatures God
has given them the free use of without thankfulness, and in an
immoderate manner; and when they make things indifferent which
are not, or use indifferent things to the prejudice of others;
and their liberty becomes a stumblingblock to weak Christians,
which the apostle seems greatly to regard here; since he adds,
but by love serve one another:
the Vulgate Latin version reads, "by the love of the Spirit": and
so some copies; Gospel liberty and the service of the saints are
not at all inconsistent; as it becomes them to love one another,
as the new command of Christ, their profession of religion, and
their relation to each other, require, so they should show their
love by their service; as by praying one with and for another, by
bearing each other's burdens, sympathizing with and communicating
to each other in things temporal and spiritual; in forbearing
with and forgiving one another; by admonishing each other when
there is occasion for it, in a meek, tender, and brotherly way;
by instructing and building up one another on their most holy
faith, and by stirring up one another to all the duties of
religion, private and public.