Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: Galatians 2,16-21. Trinity XI

Galatians 2,16-21 4524

Trinity XI 58

Tiburtius, Martyr at Rome 286

11. August 2024

1. ℣ God is in his holy habitation:

℟ God who causes one man to dwell in the house (Psalm 67,6b-7a vul lxx).

Deus in loco sancto suo: Deus inhabitare facit unius moris in domo. lxx

Deus in habitaculo sancto suo: Deus habitare facit solitarios in domo. mas

O Risen Jesus, who lives eternally; give us rejoicing hearts for the gift of the seal and assurance of the gracious forgiveness of our sins, of our peace with God the Father and the knowledge that we can and may fearlessly the approach the Father, and that He, in turn, will draw near to us. Amen. (Stark 514; English transl. 88).

2. »We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because no one will be justified by works of the law. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.«

3. The Apostle Paul was a cultured and well-learned man. He was a Jew and a Hillel Pharisee. He was probably a Wunderkind as a young Pharisaical student. He learned at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22,3), the most renowned Pharisee of his day; Gamaliel was Hillel’s grandson. Paul was also a Roman citizen with all the rights and prestige that brought. Paul was fluent in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. He had memorized the Scriptures and the Greek poets. Paul was adept in rhetoric, dialectics (philosophy, logic and ethics) and grammar from his Classical education.

4. How is a person righteous before God? Pharisaic Judaism taught one merits righteousness by keeping the law: circumcision, kosher diet and keep all 613 Commandments from the Torah and the traditions of the elders; do all this, every day, year after year, and you have earned your righteousness. In Luther’s day, the Church also taught a righteousness merited by works; if you could not do enough good works, then utilize the works of others through holy relics and the saints. If need be, you could even buy the merits of those good works.

5. Paul would have none of this. He told the Galatian Christians circumcision will not avail you, for all who rely on works of the law are under a curse (Galatians 3,10a), and no one is righteous before God by the law, for the righteous will live by faith (Habakkuk 2,4b; Galatians 3,11). Commenting on Psalm 2,3: Dirumpamus vincula earum et proiciamus a nobis iugum ipsorum/iagueos eorum (lxx/mas). Let us break their chains, and cast from us their yoke/snares, Luther wrote: „The gospel forbids one thing, putting our trust in [the works of the law] for righteousness before God. For [the gospel] teaches that this righteousness must be built on the crucified Son of God alone. [The gospel] promises that we will be righteous before God when we embrace Him in faith, even though we are sinners before ourselves and the world. [The gospel] promises that we will be powerful, even though we are infirm; wise, even though we may be foolish in the sight of the world. [The gospel] commands us, then, to have faith in this crucified Son of God“ (WA 40 ii,216.16-22; AE 12,21).

6. The Psalmist cries out: חָנֵּ֣נִי אֱלֹהִ֣ים כְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָ כְּרֹ֥ב רַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָ מְחֵ֣ה פְשָׁעָֽי׃ Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your merciful steadfast, love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions« (Psalm 51,1). Because God sent Christ as savior … He wants to be righteous and to be called righteous in justifying and having mercy on those who acknowledge their sins (WA 40 ii,331.34 - 332.16-20; AE 12,313). Our whole life is enclosed and established in the bosom of the mercy of God (WA 40 ii,340.13-16; AE 12,320). David says nothing about his pious merit nor any righteousness of works, but says: O God, be gracious to me according to Your merciful steadfast love alone (WA 40 ii,341.23-25; AE 12,320).

7. Paul preached and taught that the gospel is: we have been crucified with Christ; we have been raised with Christ; we are justified through faith in Christ. None of our works merited these gifts of the gospel; our works flow freely from our faith in Christ and His gospel.

8. The only work that merits anything is the work of Christ crucified and risen. He serves us; He merits us; He gives us His righteousness. All of this is pure, Divine gift given to us by God out of His merciful steadfast love. God the Father did not simply want to forgive our sin, but to completely remove our sin (WA 40 ii,352.19f; AE 12,327).

9. „There are two parts of justification. The first is grace revealed through Christ, that through Christ we have a gracious God, so that sin can no longer accuse us, but our conscience has found peace through trust in the mercy of God. The second part is the conferring of the Holy Spirit with His gifts, who enlightens us against the defilements of spirit and flesh (2. Corinthians 7,1). Thus we are defended against the opinions with which the Devil seduces the whole world“ (WA 40 ii,357.35-37; AE 12,331).

10. Thomas Aquinas (1225-74) wrote: Non est ergo in eis [moralibus et caeremonialibus legis] spes iustificationis sed in sola fide (Ep. I ad Timotheum cap. I, lect. 3 § 21). Therefore there is no hope of justification in them [the moral and ceremonial law], but in faith alone. The gospel points us to Christ and creates faith in Him unto life everlasting.

11. „In Christ it is all clear. He is the fulfillment of the promises, and He sets aside the condemnation of the Law. God’s promises cannot be repeated or replaced. The Law that uncovers sin and condemns Christ put Himself under with us. He was ‘made of a woman, made under the Law’ (Galatians 4:4). What we could not do, Christ did for us. He kept the Law in our place, and He endured its condemnation on our sin. Christ took our sins on Himself and on Calvary bore their condemnation in our place. He was made a curse for us, so He redeemed us from the curse and condemnation of the Law. Christ has done it all“ (Nagel 206 ¶ 10).

12. And if it lasts until the night

And again in the morning,

Yet shall my heart, at God’s might,

Despair not nor be worrying.

So do God’s people, in righteous part,

From the Spirit, it was wrought apart,

And we shall longingly await upon God.

(Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir elkg 257,4 2021 Martin Luther 1524 nach Psalm 130)

This is most certainly true.

13. Et pax Dei, quæ exuperat omnem sensum, custodiat corda vestra, et intelligentias vestras in Christo Jesu. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

14. Let us pray. Grant, O Lord, that what we have said with our lips we may believe in our hearts and practice in our lives. Amen. (Trinity XI, 2^nd Vespers Collect. The Daily Office.)

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Sunday, August 11, 2024

Galatians 2,16-21. Trinity XI

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