Faith Works
Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary
Scripture Text: Galatians 2:16 and James 2:14–26
Series: Comments on Galatians
The Apostle James speaks of two kinds of beliefs. One is typical to Westerners today and is a mere ascent to belief in the existence of god, perhaps even that Jesus is a mere historical figure. This is not saving faith or belief. The second class of belief, real faith, is a specific credence in Jesus the Messiah that trusts he died for our sins. This is saving faith.
The person who would plead her own case before the Judge of heaven and earth, pleads the first kind of “faith.” She believes in her own intellect and integrity — after all, she believes in god and she was called a good person. This defense will be far from sufficient on judgment day. She will need the aid of a better attorney than herself, but must first trust that someone else is actually able to win her case.
A person with real faith will allow a better mediator to negotiate her case because she believes only he can do so. She recognizes that the facts are clear and that they only need to be presented by a legal expert. The fact is that while she tried to live by the law and do good works, she failed often; she broke the law. An additional fact is that the law requires her life in payment for breaking the law. All of this, her Mediator will make clear. He will also make clear one additional fact: that her Mediator has already paid the penalty of the law in her behalf. He was able to do so because he is not only her Counselor but her Supreme Judge and Jury. He in whom she has faith and trusts, is the fulfillment of the law.
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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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