I Don’t Feel too Good Today

I Don’t Feel too Good Today

Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary

Scripture Text: Galatians 2:2 and Matthew 5:17-20

Series: Comments on Galatians

Today's Scripture Jigsaw

I don’t feel like much of a Christian today. So, if I do not feel like a Christian, am I a Christian? Firstly, let us consider why don’t I feel like a Christian today. Typically, it is because I don’t feel like I measure up. I do not feel like I measure up to my own code of conduct, let alone God’s law. I am not doing the things I know I should be doing. As a result, I get irritated with myself and soon become annoyed with others. Then I even get impatient with my dogs. You can always tell when I am on the verge of a meltdown when I get upset with my dogs. And it is all because I am not measuring up and therefore do not feel like much of a Christian.

So perhaps a better question to ask may be, am I a Christian only if I feel like one? Sometimes I do not feel like I am much of a husband or father or man. But I still am all of those things, whether I feel like it or not. So, what is it that determines whether or not I am a Christian, if it is not my feelings? Reliance upon moral code and religious ritual is all well and good — if you can keep the code and ritual inside and out. Of course, no one does this. For example, the Ten Commandments state that one may not commit adultery without ruining one’s relationship with God (Exodus 20:14). As a result of such law breaking, two things went into place: the sacrificial system for making atonement for sins and a relaxation of the moral code (Matthew 19:7). The sin referred to in the just-cited verse is epidemic, as Jesus makes clear. Everyone commits adultery at some time or another (Matthew 5:28), if they are honest with themselves (and many are not, which would be another reason to not feel like much of a Christian).

We cannot keep either our own moral code or God’s laws and so, there will be days when we just do not feel too good about ourselves — since every once in a while, it should be clear that we are not good (Romans 3:10). This comes as a great shock to many Christians, since the reason they go to church and try to lead moral lives is to be good people. But at the end of the investigation, God knows that no one is good, “no, not one.” That would mean that heaven will be filled with nothing but angels — and not even all of them — unless God does something to correct this problem.

A big problem it is too. There are not enough sheep in the world to atone for even my sins, let alone yours too. God’s solution then is not to amend the law as Moses did, or even to cancel it. Instead he sent his Son to fulfill the law (Matthew 3:15). This gracious act allows a sinner to be a friend of God. It is only through genuine faith in God’s grace that I am justified to God (Ephesians 2:8-9) — no matter how I feel about myself today.

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