Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. I. The first, a Hebrew word, and the second, a Greek, signifies THE UNION OF JEWS AND GENTILES IN OUR CHURCH. In Christ the corner-stone both are joined by becoming sons: circumcision from one place, wherefore "Abba" — uncircumcision from another, wherefore "Father" is named, the concord of walls being the glory of the corner-stone. II. The word "Abba" is retained because it is full of affection; but "Father" is added not only to expound the same, but the better to express THE EAGER MOVING, the earnest and vehement desires and singular affections of believers in their crying unto God. (Brooks.)You are to look unto your experience, and try and find out whether there there be not working with your soul, working through it, working beneath it, distinct from it, but not distinguishable from it by anything but its consequences and fruitfulness — a deeper voice than yours — a "still, small voice." No whirlwind, nor fire, nor earthquake, but the voice of God speaking in secret, taking the voice and tones of your own heart and your own consciousness, and saying to you: Thou art My child, inasmuch as, operated by My grace, and Mine inspiration alone, there rises tremlingly, but truly, in thine own soul the cry Abba, Father." (A. Maclaren, D. D.)It involves that the Father and the child shall have kindred life — the Father bestowing, and the child possessing, a life which is derived; and because derived, kindred; and because kindred, unfolding itself in likeness to the Father that gave it. And it requires that between the Father's heart and the child's heart there shall pass in blessed interchange and quick correspondence, answering love, flashing backwards and forwards, like the lightning that touches the earth, and rises from it again. (A. Maclaren, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. |
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