WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH ALONE,
FREE FROM ANY ADDITIONS.
GALATIANS 5:1-6
In
the name + of Jesus.
St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians was prompted by false teachers who were destroying
the faith of God’s people. They did not deny that Jesus paid for the sins
of the people through his innocent life and sacrificial death. They
maintained that this was true and necessary. But they said that one more
thing was needed. They said that people needed to be circumcised for
salvation to be completed. Only then were the people saved.
On the one hand, this seemed to be sensible. After all, since the days of
Abraham, all males needed to be circumcised to be included among God’s
people. The Lord had said, “This is my covenant, which you shall keep,
a covenant between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among
you shall be circumcised. …My covenant will be marked on your flesh as an
everlasting covenant. The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised by
removing the foreskin from his flesh, that person must be cut off from his
people. He has broken my covenant” (Genesis 17:10,13-14). Circumcision
had been such an integral part of being God’s people that some claimed it was
still necessary to be among God’s people. This demand for circumcision in
addition to Jesus’ atoning sacrifice had the appearance of godliness. So,
the Galatians were buying into it.
God
had given his Old Testament laws to point the way to the Messiah.
Everything in the Old Covenant—the sacrifices, the kosher laws, the festivals,
circumcision, all of it—was preparing the people for the Christ who would
fulfill everything God had commanded. Once Jesus came and fulfilled all
things, there was no need to keep on preparing for him. From the cross,
just before he gave up his life into death, Jesus had cried out, “It is
finished” (John 19:30)! There is nothing to add to what has been
completed. We are saved by faith alone, free from any additions.
Martin Luther made that a point of emphasis in the Reformation. As
Lutherans, we boldly confess it to this day: We are saved by faith in Jesus
Christ alone, free from any additions. Sadly, like the Galatian
Christians, we are tempted to add something to Jesus’ work. And, just as
it was for the Galatians, these additions appear to be reasonable and godly,
which is why they are so deceptive.
If you ever have wondered why the Lord was pleased to include you in his
kingdom, and you’ve wondered why someone else stands outside of it, you might
conclude that there is something about you that has turned God’s favor toward you.
You might think, “I am saved by faith in Jesus and because I go to
church.” “I am saved by faith in Jesus and because I have served
on so many committees.” “I am saved by faith in Jesus and because
I live with better morals than other people.” And the list goes on.
These additional things are all good things. Faithful church attendance
is good and benefits you. Serving on the School Board, singing in the
choir, or being part of the Altar Guild is good and beneficial to the
church. Living with good morals is good and benefits society. So,
it’s not like you are taking pride in your sins. But putting your trust
in your own merits moves you to a different foundation than Jesus Christ.
St. Paul warned the Galatians how serious this is. He wrote, “Look, I,
Paul, tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be
of no benefit to you. I testify again to every man who allows himself to
be circumcised that he is obligated to do the whole law. You who are
trying to be declared righteous by the law are completely separated from
Christ. You have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:2-4).
If you add anything to Jesus, then you are relying on your own merits.
But you don’t get to pick and choose which part of God’s Law you get credit for
keeping. You can’t say, “Well, I excelled here, so I should be
recognized for that.” No, you must keep all of God’s commandments.
And if God is going to reward you for your efforts, then your efforts must be
perfect. You must keep all of God’s commands at all times with constant
glad and willing obedience. Even if Jesus covered 99 percent and the last
sliver of work is yours, that work must be perfect. It isn’t. It
can’t be, because you are a sinner. Your works will not change
that. If your works could be perfect, you would not need Jesus. The
reason you need Jesus in the first place is to do the works you cannot do.
The temptation to add something to Jesus’ work has plagued the church
throughout its history. It did not go away with St. Paul’s letter to the
Galatians. And just as it was in the Galatian churches, so it continued
throughout history. The Church needs the constant reminder that we are
saved by faith alone, free from any additions.
The Scriptures teach us to put no trust in ourselves. Rather, we confess
that we need God’s mercy. We confess our sinfulness in general and sinful
acts in particular. Besides confessing our sins, we also are to turn from
them and to correct what we can. This is the faithful teaching of the
Church. Our own catechism teaches us that forgiveness belongs to “those
who repent of their sins and are willing to amend” (Luther’s Small Catechism;
Use of the Keys and Confession). Being willing to amend means that if
we stole something, we restore it. If we slandered someone, we set the
record straight. If we alienated someone, we seek reconciliation.
This is a good and faithful response to God’s forgiveness. Amending your sinful life is a response to
God’s forgiveness, not a prerequisite for it.
Over time, Christians were instructed specifically how they were to amend their
lives with acts of satisfaction. Some recognized that they could not live
long enough to make amends for their sins. And some sins cannot be
corrected. You cannot apologize to or reconcile with someone who has
died. You cannot erase infidelity. If you’ve destroyed someone’s
reputation, it is almost impossible to build it back up. Christians began
to wonder, “If I have not made amends for my sins, can heaven accept me?”
The Church began to teach, “To enter heaven, you must be purged of the sin that
is still in you. You must suffer torment in purgatory until you are made
holy. Then you can enter heaven.” Eventually, the Pope claimed to
have authority to release tormented souls from purgatory. This was done
through various works, but usually for money. During Luther’s day,
indulgence certificates were sold in which the Pope promised not just time off,
but instant release from purgatory. Jesus’ sacrifice was not
sufficient. Indulgences were added. And faith turned from Jesus to
a papal certificate. But if faith does not rest on Jesus alone, then it
trusts in something which is not the Savior.
We are saved by faith alone, free from any additions. Martin Luther
recognized a number of problems with indulgences. If indulgences could
release you from amending a sinful life, why strive for a godly life? If
the Pope could actually release suffering souls from purgatory, why does he do
it for money? Why, out of love for those souls, doesn’t he release them
for free? And worst of all, people no longer had any need for
Jesus. It’s not that Jesus’ innocent life and sacrificial death were
denied; it’s that Jesus had, in essence, become secondary. People
believed that they were saved by faith in Jesus and good works. Or
they were saved by Jesus and papal indulgences. It is no surprise
that the works of sinners and papal indulgences got more attention. These
were works the sinner could do and take pride in.
St. Paul stated, “You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law are
completely separated from Christ. You have fallen from grace” (Galatians
5:4). You are saved by faith alone, free from any additions.
Your place in heaven comes by grace alone, free from your efforts. This
provides you with endless comfort and assurance. If salvation is your
work, in any part at all, you would never be sure that you are saved. If,
however, salvation is completely God’s work, then you can be sure it was done
right. And you can be sure that God’s gift is given sincerely and
completely.
You are saved by faith alone, free from any additions. Jesus made that
clear in his final moments on the cross. He cried out, “It is
finished” (John 19:30)! What is finished? The life of perfect
and willing obedience is finished. God’s command is that man keep his
commandments perfectly. This man has. And he gives you the credit
for his work. The works have to be done, no question about it. But
faith trusts in the one who has done the work for you. Jesus’
righteousness was put upon you in baptism. This holy status is renewed through
holy absolution. You are strengthened for godliness through Christ’s body
and blood which have overcome death. This is where faith is sustained and
where your status is assured.
What is finished? The Law condemns the guilty. Jesus accepted your
guilt and has received the full penalty and punishment for you. Jesus has
consumed the full cup of God’s wrath on your behalf. If your sin has been
taken away, and if God’s wrath has been poured out completely upon Jesus, then
God cannot be angry with you. And he is not. He desires your
salvation. He sent Jesus to secure it. And he has. It is
finished. The works are complete. You don’t add anything to what is
complete. And that is why we are saved by faith alone, free from any
additions.
St. Paul had great concern for the Galatian Christians, fearful that they were
forfeiting the blessings and the salvation he proclaimed to them. They
had not rejected Jesus’ sufferings and death, but they failed to see that
Jesus’ work is all sufficient. Paul was anxious like a parent who sees
his or her child going down a very bad path. He warned them, “You who
are trying to be declared righteous by the law are completely separated from
Christ. You have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4).
Martin Luther saw the Church had already gone down a very bad path. He
issued the warning to all. Some have accused Luther of breaking away from
the Church. In truth, he alerted the Church that they were breaking away
from Jesus Christ. Luther did not abandon the Church. Instead,
Roman Church leaders expelled and condemned him. Luther, however, stood
firm on God’s word. In order that we do not fall from grace, we must do
the same. Only there will we find a sure
salvation.
We are saved by faith in Jesus alone, free from any additions. If we are
to be saved, the Savior must do the work. He has. It is finished,
free from any additions. And “whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
