Reminders
Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:10 and 2 Peter 1:5–15
Series: Comments on Galatians
If perfect church attendance or tithing or reading the Bible everyday are what we depend upon for favor with God, then we are idolaters. We blaspheme God by insisting Christ Jesus is either unnecessary or, at least, needs our help in saving people from their sins. Christ alone is our salvation so we must keep faith in him.
There are so many things, sinful desires, yes, but even the grind of life, that would steal away our affection for our Lord. We may indeed, be bumped off the straight and narrow road by temptation, though just as easily by the details of work and family, or even church office. So, Peter urges us to supplement our faith. Though we do not depend upon virtue or knowledge or piety for salvation, they may serve to keep us focused on faith in Jesus Christ. These things help us remember who cleanses us from our sins.
The slogan “faith alone” may seem overused but, as Luther insisted, we must be reminded. “We need to hear the gospel every day, because we forget it every day.” And this is the gospel: that we are saved by God’s grace through faith Christ alone, not our virtue or knowledge or church attendance or tithing or Bible reading and prayer. These things are helps to faith until we come to depend upon them — instead of Christ. At that point, they become blasphemy, idolatry.
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Author
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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