Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. --NASB In the name of the One in Whom we believe, amen.
I have warned of the dangerous error of the scholastic theologians, who taught that a man obtains forgiveness of sins and justification by his works that precede grace. They say that God “accepts” a good work for eternal life but “disaccepts” an evil work for damnation and eternal punishment. All this is false and blasphemous against Christ. I say that this is a wicked and dangerous notion, which does not make a man a Christian.
We teach faith and the true meaning of Christianity. First, a man must be taught by the Law to know himself, so that he may learn to sing: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23); again: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside” (Rom. 3:10-12); again: “Against Thee only have I sinned” (Ps. 51:4). Now once a man has thus been humbled by the Law and brought to the knowledge of himself, then he becomes truly repentant; for true repentance begins with fear and with the judgment of God. He sees that he is such a great sinner that he cannot find any means to be delivered from his sin by his own strength, effort, or works. Now he begins to sigh: “Then who can come to my aid?” Terrified by the Law, he despairs of his own strength; he looks about and sighs for the help of the Mediator and Savior. Then there comes, at the appropriate time, the saving Word of the Gospel, which says: “Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven (Matt. 9:2). Believe in Jesus Christ, who was crucified for your sins. If you feel your sins, do not consider them in yourself but remember that they have been transferred to Christ, by whose stripes you are healed (Is 53:5). By this means we are delivered from sin and justified, and eternal life is granted to us, not for our own merits and works but for our faith, by which we take hold of Christ. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for granting us salvation through faith in our dear Savior Jesus Christ. Keep us in this true faith, so we may be justified and eternal life will be granted to us, amen.
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