The Conscience of One
Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary
Scripture Text: Galatians 2:20 and Romans 13:11-14
Series: Comments on Galatians
When the Father looks at the believer, he sees his own Son. He does not see the sinner; he sees the Redeemer of the sinner. This is being clothed in Christ (Romans 13:14). We need to learn to do the same thing that the Father does. When we look in the spiritual mirror, we must remind ourselves that we put on Christ when we were baptized — not when we stopped sinning (Galatians 3:27). Since we never stop sinning, this is difficult for many — perhaps most — Christians. The righteousness of Christ for the believer is abhorrent to them. They are so focused on their sins that they cannot see Christ when they look in the spiritual mirror.
The next time the devil accuses your conscience, adopt Christ’s pure conscience and remember that you are clothed in him. Those who cannot or will not assume the conscience of Christ run the risk of losing faith because the object of their faith is self instead of Christ. Jesus died to set you free from sin and self. When your conscience and Christ’s conscience become one, you will truly believe that you have put on the new self. Then you have put on Christ and are being renewed after the image of your Creator (Colossians 3:10).
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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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