Anyone who is justified on the basis of the Law . . . has within himself the power to acquire righteousness….If this is true, then it necessarily follows that Christ died to no purpose. For what need would a man have of Christ who loves him and gives Himself for him [if] he is able to obtain grace and eventually do good works and to merit eternal life. . . or surely be justified by performing the Law? Therefore let Christ be removed togetherwith all his blessings because he is completely useless. But why is Christ born, crucified and dead? Why does He become my High Priest, who loves me and gives an inestimable sacrifice, Himself, for me? Why does he do all this? Simply to no purpose at all if the
meaning of justification which the [false teachers] set forth is true, because I find righteousness in the Law or in myself, outside grace and outside Christ.
–one of the many passages I cam across preparing for this morning’s sermon on Galatians 2 the second half from Luther’s Galatians
Do you not follow the lectionary, Dr. Harmon?
This is exactly why I looked on the Joint Declaration on Justification with such JOY!!!
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html
I see in this the seeds of possible reunification of the Western Church! This was THE core issue of the Reformation. It may take a long time…perhaps a few generations…but as this doctrine percolates through the Roman Church, it has the transformative power of the Gospel itself, because it is the core of the Gospel message!!! The new covenant, first spoken of in Jeremiah 31 and repeated twice in Hebrews, is enacted by Christ ALONE…Grace ALONE…unmerited favor…from first to last it is the work of Jesus Christ…He is our justification, our sanctification, our righteousness!!!
I get excited every time I think about it! There is no wonder that the 24 elders cast their crowns down around His throne. Thank you Lord Jesus. Jesus IS Lord and God the Father DID raise Him from the dead and I will confess this until I have no breath left because I believe this in my heart!!!