He Who Bears All Sins
All who rely on works of the law are under a curse . . .. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
GALATIANS 3:10, 13
+
He Who Bears All Sins
This is our highest comfort, to clothe and wrap Christ this way in my sins, your sins, and the sins of the entire world, and in this way to behold Him bearing all our sins. When He is beheld this way, He easily removes all the fanatical opinions of our opponents about justification by works. For the Papists dream about a kind of faith "formed by love." Through this they want to remove sins and be justified. This is clearly to unwrap Christ and to unclothe Him from our sins, to make Him innocent, to burden and overwhelm ourselves with our own sins, and to behold them, not in Christ but in ourselves. This is to abolish Christ and make Him useless. For if it is true that we abolish sins by the works of the Law and by love, then Christ does not take them away, but we do. But if He is truly the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, who became a curse for us, and who was wrapped in our sins, it necessarily follows that we cannot be justified and take away sins through love. For God has laid our sins, not upon us but upon Christ, His Son. If they are taken away by Him, then they cannot be taken away by us. All Scripture says this, and we confess and pray the same thing in the Creed when we say: "I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who suffered, was crucified, and died for us."
From Lectures on Galatians (1535) (Luther's Works 26:279-80)
GALATIANS 3:10, 13
+
He Who Bears All Sins
This is our highest comfort, to clothe and wrap Christ this way in my sins, your sins, and the sins of the entire world, and in this way to behold Him bearing all our sins. When He is beheld this way, He easily removes all the fanatical opinions of our opponents about justification by works. For the Papists dream about a kind of faith "formed by love." Through this they want to remove sins and be justified. This is clearly to unwrap Christ and to unclothe Him from our sins, to make Him innocent, to burden and overwhelm ourselves with our own sins, and to behold them, not in Christ but in ourselves. This is to abolish Christ and make Him useless. For if it is true that we abolish sins by the works of the Law and by love, then Christ does not take them away, but we do. But if He is truly the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, who became a curse for us, and who was wrapped in our sins, it necessarily follows that we cannot be justified and take away sins through love. For God has laid our sins, not upon us but upon Christ, His Son. If they are taken away by Him, then they cannot be taken away by us. All Scripture says this, and we confess and pray the same thing in the Creed when we say: "I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who suffered, was crucified, and died for us."
From Lectures on Galatians (1535) (Luther's Works 26:279-80)
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2021
January
The Arm of GodSigns and PromisesThe Calling in Your HeartOur Active GodAmazing HelpThe Purpose of BaptismHave Courage to BelieveToo Soon ForgottenThe Unexpected ChangeSustained by TrustHe Who Bears All SinsA Wonderful VictoryWhen God SpeaksOur Faithful ShepherdThe Purpose of ScriptureOne Little WordThe Supreme ConsolationA Thorn in the FleshNever Doubt RedemptionThis Is the VictoryLet Your Faith Be FirmA Pure Dwelling PlaceBuilding an Eternal HouseGlorious PromisesNoble and Necessary ChastisementOur New MotivationGod Will Preserve His ChurchGod's Will, Christ's PurposeOur Savior DefinedFalse Saintliness
February
The True Center of SalvationThe Purpose of GovernmentWhat Is a Good Work?The Chief DoctrineA Simple ExplanationJoyful NewsHarmless NoiseIn God's HandsTreasure in Weak VesselsThe Pure, Clear WordWas It Better Before?Responsibility to OthersTrue EqualityA Broad InterpretationThe Flesh Is WeakWhen Pity Is WrongNo Sin AllowedTake the High RoadGod Is TrueSetting an ExampleThe Spirit Giveth LifeThe Christian LawBeware of False ShepherdsThe Lofty and the LowlyIn the Hour at HandLearning to CallWhen the Wicked SucceedTake up Your Cross
March
On Godly BehaviorThe Sheep of ChristThe Calm after the StormOn Becoming a ChristianEternal FoodConcerning Knowledge and PowerFight PowerfullyThe Yoke of ChristThe Obedient ChristThe Fulfillment of the LawDivine RighteousnessThe Gospel Is PublicTo Live as a ChristianThe Promise of GodlinessWhy Is Christ Punished?Blind Human NatureHave Faith Like ChildrenThe Spirit of TruthWaiting for GodTo Know GodThe Purpose of NeedWho Is an Apostle?When Salvation BeginsTrust in GodThe Time for RescueGod Is UnchangeableThere Is No Secret SalvationA Chosen RaceFeast of St. Michael and All AngelsWhat to Pray ForGod's Goodness