Frustrating Grace
Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary
Scripture Text: Galatians 2:21 and Isaiah 43:1-3
Series: Comments on Galatians
We have read Paul say it in many ways: God does not need our help. He saves us through his own redeeming work. Nothing we do aids God’s grace. Paul and Luther insist that the belief that our works are also necessary for salvation, is to call God’s grace insufficient. The King James calls this frustrating the grace of God. Modern translations commonly refer to this as nullifying God’s grace. The Greek word for “frustrate” in the King James, or “nullify” in the Standard versions (?θετ?ω, atheteo) means to reject or to refuse to accept the validity of a thing. This is strong wording, no matter the language. To think we must add anything at all to what Christ did for us on the cross is to reject, nullify, or frustrate God’s grace.
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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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