Hiding from God

Hiding from God

Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary

Scripture Text: Galatians 2:18 and 1 Peter 2:9-10

Series: Comments on Galatians

Today's Scripture Jigsaw

In action movies, a classic ploy of a cornered person in a dark warehouse is to throw something far from himself that will make a noise. The point is to make the one chasing him think that he is in another place and chase him where he is not. This gives the one chased an opportunity for escape. 

Christians do not need the distracting decoy of works-righteousness any more than they need to hide in the darkness or escape from God. He is not chasing us; he is calling us to himself. Turn from your sin; come into the light; believe and be forgiven. If you must throw anything, throw away your fear of God. You do not need to hide from or escape from God. What you need is to come into the light of God’s presence and be forgiven. His mercy requires neither virtuous deed nor anything else from you. 

There is but one work of satisfaction required for forgiveness of sin: the work of Christ on the cross. If you add anything else to his cross, Christ is diminished because you are asserting that your glory — good deeds, piety, religious devotion — becomes the merit that appeases God. Those works are an attempt to hide your true self from God, and a distraction from the faith that saves, for Christ’s sake.

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