A commentary of M. I. Calvin upon the Epistle to the GalatiansA commentarie of M. I. Caluine vpon the Epistle to the Galathians

4. Which hath given himself. He commendeth here from the beginning the grace of Christ, that he may call back the Galatians unto him, & retain them in him. For if they had worthily considered this benefit of redemption, they would never have fallen to strange observations. For he which knoweth Christ aright, holdeth him with tooth & nail, embraceth him with both arms, is occupied wholly in him, desireth nothing beside him. This therefore is a very good remedy, wherewith we may purge our minds of all kind of errors & superstitions, (namely) to bring into mind what Christ is unto us, & what he hath brought unto us. Neither is it a small thing that is signified in these words, Which hath given himself for our sins: for he would premonish the Galatians that the purging of sins, & by that means perfect righteousness is no where else to be sought, but in Christ: because he hath offered himself for a sacrifice to his Father, & such an Host, as to set any other satisfactions against it, were wrong ⟨p. 6⟩and wickedness: moreover that this Redemption is of so great worthiness, that it ought wholly to ravish us into the admiration thereof. But that which in this place Paul ascribeth to Christ, the scripture elsewhere applieth to God the father, and both properly. For both the Father by his eternal counsel hath determined this Purging and satisfaction for us, & in this hath witnessed his love toward us, that he hath not spared his only begotten son, but hath given him for us: And Christ he offered himself a sacrifice to reconcile us to God, Rom. 8.31. whereof followeth that his death is a satisfaction for sins. That he might take us. He also declareth the end of our Redemption: that Christ hath gained us unto him by his death to be his own. That cometh to pass when we are separated from the world, for as long as we are of the world we pertain not to Christ. This word World is taken here for the corruption that is in the world as, 1. Jo. 5.19. where it is said, That the whole world is laid in wickedness, and in many other places. It is otherwise taken in the Gospel, whereas Christ saith, I pray not that thou take them out of the world: but that thou keep them from evil. Jo. 17.15. for there he signifieth the present life. What then is the World in this place? Men separated from the kingdom of God and the grace of Christ.