Crossing Thresholds

 

Crossing Thresholds

Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:2 and Romans 2:6-11

Series: Comments on Galatians

Today's Scripture Jigsaw

Isn’t it great that God doesn’t just love Americans? Or for that matter, Jews? God shows no partiality (Romans 2:11). Be clear on this point though; this is a law statement. Everyone who does evil will suffer God’s wrath since he shows no partiality (Romans 2:9). 

The gospel brings us into a new understanding of the law. In a defining moment, the Apostle Peter, a Jew, was sent by God to a Gentile’s home. Now, a law-abiding Jew would never set foot in a Gentile’s house but Peter understood that there is a greater purpose in the law. The law is not merely meant to keep you from doing things; it is meant to make you do one very important thing. The law is used to drive people to God’s grace. So, there Peter  was, on the front porch of Cornelius, a Gentile, asking himself whether he should keep a Pharisaical particular of the law or step inside and share the gospel. Because Peter knew God was no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), he crossed the threshold. 

We too, must cross a threshold, believing God to be no respecter of persons but instead, the lover of the world. It was for this cherished world that the Son of God crossed the threshold from heaven to earth and paid the law’s penalty of death so that all people might live — not by keeping the law but by believing.

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