Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you, from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. This morning we continue our series on Paul's epistle to the Galatians, as we look at the epistle lesson appointed for today from the second chapter of that great epistle, the so-called "magna carta" of Christian liberty.
Are you sure? Are you 100%, absolutely, positively sure of your eternal salvation? Well, you should be. In fact, St. Paul encourages us to be sure when he writes these words, "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and your election sure." You know, there's an old saying that goes, "The only sure things in life are - death and taxes." But, like with most pithy sayings, that's not really true. Why? Because God wants us to be sure, in our life here and now that we are indeed going to heaven. So, if you are not sure, I pray that God's word today will make you sure. And if you are sure, I praye that you will still listen to today's word, so that you know that you are sure, for the right reasons. In our text for today, the apostle Paul will show us not only that "Faith in Christ Makes Us Sure" of our salvation. But specifically, that only faith in Christ can give us that assurance. And how does faith in Christ makes us sure of our salvation? Because Faith itself grasps firmly to Christ, as the object of its trust, and second, Faith lives and is sustained, only when it remains "in Christ".
Now first, let's examine Paul's claim that faith grasps and clings to Christ. Why is that? What makes faith cling so tenaciously? Here's the answer. Because faith knows that works don't work. Did you catch that? Let me say it again. Faith grasps and clings to Christ because faith knows that works don't work. You see, there are only two options to secure our eternal salvation. You might call them Plan A and Plan B. Plan A is works. Plan B is Christ. Either I must trust that I can keep God's law perfectly myself (that's Plan A) or trust that Christ kept God's law for me (that's Plan B). Those are the only options. There is no Plan C that says God will overlook his law, or that he'll overlook my sins against his law. The Bible is very clear. God said, "Be holy, as I the LORD your God am holy," So someone must be holy, if I am to spend eternity with God.
Here's the problem though! This concept is totally contrary to our human nature, which operates instead on the reward system. My mind tells me that if I do something good, I should get a reward in return for it. Everyone, and I mean everyone, who has ever lived on this earth, believes by their human nature, that God should reward them with heaven - as long as they have been "good". Maybe not perfect, but at least better than most. This is sometimes referred to as the "God grades on the curve" path to heaven. But of course, created humans don't decide what being "good" means. Only God, the creator decides! And what does God demand! Total and absolute perfection. You see, the whole point is that God doesn't grade on the curve. It doesn't matter how much good I do if, at the end of the day, I am not in God's own words - Holy, as He himself is Holy. Unfair as it may seem to our moral sense of right and wrong, if I'm not as holy as God is holy, nothing I do will be sufficient. And that's why, once we have been enlightened by God's revelation in his word, we say works don't work. So much for Plan A!
Now, in the verses preceding our epistle text this morning, Paul relates a fascinating story about a time, in the city of Antioch, when the Apostle Peter fell under the influence of the very people who were attacking Paul and the Gospel of Christ in Galatia. Now Peter certainly knew that works don't work. Peter was a Jew. And, as Paul points out in verse fifteen, the Jews had God's law, revealed specifically to them. And over and over again, that law had pointed out to them that they were not holy. They could never do enough good works. They didn't deserve reward, but punishment. As Paul puts it, "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ".
But the Jews also had God's promise of a Savior. And so, Peter also knew that by God's grace he didn't need to keep the law perfectly because Jesus was the Lamb of God that did keep that law perfectly, and in doing so, took away the sins of the world. In fact, Peter was the first of the Apostles to preach that the Jewish covenantal law was not necessary for salvation, but only faith in Jesus Christ. So Peter knew! And he was sure of his salvation! But still, Paul tells us, Peter confused faith and works. He tried to mix elements of legalism back into God's Grace in Christ (thereby creating some fictitious Plan C.)
While he was in Antioch, Peter in the beginning was living his faith. He spent his time telling others about Jesus. He invited many to believe in Jesus for salvation. He wanted them to be sure they were going to heaven. And at first he pointed Gentiles to Christ, rather than the Jewish law.
But then, there were some influential Jewish Christians from Jerusalem, who came to Antioch and demanded that, in addition to faith, everyone continue to keep the old Jewish covenantal laws as well. Paul refers to them as the circumcision group, and they intimidated Peter, and eventually Barnabas as well. They wanted the Gentile Christians to refrain from eating pork, and demanded they eat separated from the Jewish Christians, since they were still ritually unclean. Before this group came to Antioch, Peter didn't worry about such things. He ate with the Gentiles, whatever they were eating. But then some of these law keepers showed up. And in fear of them, and what they would say, Peter withdrew from the Gentiles and started keeping those old ceremonial laws once again.
Now Peter's actions didn't match up with his words. He was being hypocritical. And by doing so, Peter was creating doubt. You see, the Gentiles in Antioch looked to him as their example. If Peter went back to keeping the Jewish laws, well then maybe they should too. However, they knew they couldn't keep the law perfectly. So, they worried, would God still let them into heaven? Could they be just good enough so that Christ could then make up the difference between their own righteousness and the perfection God demanded?
Friends, the problem with this or any other poisonous mixture of legalism with the gospel of Christ is that, like the Gentile Christians in Antioch, it must always leave one with the nagging question, "Just how good is good enough?" You see, both Plan A and Plan B have answers to that question. In Plan A, the answer is total perfection, by our own righteous efforts. In Plan B, the answer is also total perfection, but through faith in Christ's righteousness, given to us as a free gift. But this strange, purely human mixture of the two plans has no answer. And in fact it can't have an answer, because it's a purely human creation. It's not from God. And here's the real problem. Because we cannot answer the question "How good is good enough", our assurance vanishes and is instead replaced by doubt. And that is precisely what so infuriated Paul, as he wrote this letter!
Now, how about you and I. We also know that works don't work. We know we will never be perfect. And as Lutherans we proudly proclaim that faith in Christ alone makes salvation sure. But do we really hold to that? Or, do we too confuse faith and works? Do we think that God should reward us for being good Christians? Here are some examples of that type of thinking. God will let me into heaven, "Because I go to church regularly." But who defines how regular is regular enough? Or, "Because I give generous offerings to the church." But who defines how generous is generous enough? Or, "Because I serve on boards and committees at church." But who defines how much service is enough service? Or, because "I read my Bible", or "I pray" or "I show kindness to others" or "I serve the community" You see, anytime we start measuring ourselves, and start holding ourselves and our goodness up to God, we immediately run straight into that question, "How much is enough?" Friends, works don't work! Plan A means exactly what it says. Be as Holy as our God is Holy. So it really doesn't matter how good I am. I will never be holy as God demands. Trusting in works can only result in doubt. I can only hope for the best. Because I can never be sure of it! And do you now see? That's why Paul claims that faith grasps hold of and clings so tenaciously to Christ!
And faith clings to Christ, because faith knows that unlike ours, Christ's work can work. If we can't trust in our own works (and we can't), then need another option. And that option is Christ. That's why Paul said in verse sixteen, "So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." Three times in one verse Paul says that we cannot be justified by observing the law, whether it's by the law itself, or faith mixed with the law. No one will ever be justified that way, but only by faith alone in Christ.
Now, Perhaps I should take a moment and illustrate this word "justify." We probably see it best on our computers. When I left justify, everything on the left is then in a perfect line. When I right justify, everything on the right is then in a perfect line. So, when I say I am justified in God's eye that means everything about me is in a perfect line with his law. Now, I'll say it again, as Paul did. We cannot be justified by our works, by keeping the law. However, we are justified in God's eyes, through faith in Christ.
Faith knows Christ's work, and faith trusts and clings to the knowledge that Christ's work does work. And what did Christ do? First, he kept God's law in our place. Jesus is holy. And by faith he credits that holiness to us. At a youth rally I once attended, the pastor asked how many of us thought we were sinful. Not surprisingly, everyone raised their hands. But then, he also asked how many of us thought we were as holy as God. Now, only three raised their hands. You see, we're not too sure about that part. But friends, the wonderful joy I have to share with you this morning is that the Gospel of Christ declares to each of you personally, what the law never can. Namely, that you can be sure of your holiness before God. Because Jesus made you holy. He took away your sins by his death on the cross and he then replaced them with his perfect works. That's the wonderful exchange of the cross that Luther wrote about.
And because faith grasps Christ as the object of its trust, faith in Christ makes sure. Christ's work makes us sure we will live in eternity with God. You see, when we look at ourselves, and measure our performance, we should have doubt. We should see our sin. But, when in faith we look to Christ and by that faith cling to him, then we see holiness. Then, we see forgiveness. Then, we see our salvation. And we see it for sure. Because we know God will not fail us. He promises that for Jesus' sake we will have eternal life. Nothing can or will change that. Plan B is secure!
Now, how can we do what Paul encourages and continually make our calling and election sure? Here's the answer. Breathe spiritually. You see, when we breathe spiritually we first exhale by confessing our sins. And then we inhale Christ's forgiveness. We remember his work on our behalf. And we cling to him in faith. And so, Faith in Christ makes us sure.
OK now, let's look at the second major point Paul makes about faith in our text. Faith in Christ also makes us sure of our salvation, because faith lives and is sustained, "in Christ." In verse seventeen of our text, Paul poses a difficult question, "If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are still sinners, doesn't that then mean that Christ actually promotes sin?" You see, Paul is here trying to head off an argument. He expects that his Judaizing adversaries will contend that if Paul's gospel of Christ tells us that we don't have to be "good Christians" to be saved, then that means Christ is effectively promoting sin. In their view, Paul's teaching will lead to the conclusion that God gives us freedom to do whatever we want, and then just ask for forgiveness. And Paul answers his own question in typical style with the imperative "mai geneto", meaning "may it never be so!" By offering forgiveness Christ is not encouraging us to sin. That would be an abuse of his forgiveness.
But on the other hand, if we insist that Christians must act a certain way, then it is we are promoting sin. Remember, we just destroyed the power of the law by saying that works don't work. Plan A is inoperative. So, we cannot now rebuild the law by implying at any point that keeping it earns reward from God. (Now, that doesn't mean the law has no use for us in the earthly realm. It just has no use in getting us to heaven.) If we ever look to the law for reward, we are again confusing faith and works and creating doubt. We've corrupted God's perfect Gospel by bringing back elements of works righteousness. And then it's no longer Christ alone!
Friends, what Paul is telling us is that we must use the law properly. When discussing how to be righteous and holy before God, the law has only one use. It kills. Is that hard to believe? Well, in verse 19 Paul says, "For through the law I died to the law," The law shows us our sin, and that's it. And that's good. We need to see our sin. We need to keep reminding ourselves that our works don't work. We want to keep reminding ourselves to look to Christ, and to trust in him alone and not ourselves. We want to exhale our confession, and by doing so let the law do its killing work. But then, after the law does its work, comes the life giving word of the Gospel. After exhaling our sins, we then inhale and receive God's forgiveness, and with it, the assurance of eternal life. Listen to Paul's exact words as we now finish verse 19..."I died to the law, so that I might live for God." And that's why faith in Christ alone, is not a license for sin.
Put in another way, after the law kills the old sinful nature in us, we live, because Christ lives in us, as a new creation. Listen to Paul's words in verse 20, one of the most incredible passages the apostle ever wrote. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me," Jesus died on a cross. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead. His death paid the debt for the sins of the world. His resurrection proved that he has conquered death. And through the power of God's Word, spoken over you at your baptism into the name of the Triune God, you too died and rose again with Christ.
You see, two people live within every believer. One person is the old sinful nature. Its power to hold us in slavery to sin was forever destroyed at our baptism, but it still tempts us to stop living for God. The other person is the new life created by Christ. Every time we confess our sins at the beginning of our worship service, we use the law to once again kill that old sinful nature. And every time Jesus announces "I forgive you", in the words of the absolution spoken by the pastor, he creates again that new life in us. The more it happens, the weaker the old nature gets, and the stronger the new life gets. And that new life is what lives by faith for God.
And friends, it's with this new life that we live in certainty of our eternity. Let's follow Paul one more time through the end of verse 21. "The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing," But Christ did not die for nothing. Christ died for you and me because he knew that we couldn't earn salvation for ourselves. It's quite a price when one human gives his or her life for another. But it's an infinitely greater price when the very Son of God, the second person of the eternal Trinity, takes a human life and nature into his eternal godhead, and then gives that life for all sinful humanity. When we remember that the Son of God loved us so much that he gave himself for us, we live in certainty. We do not refuse such a gift, but by faith grasp and hold it with all our might. And it is indeed that faith, which clings to Christ and which lives in Christ, and which gives us the joy and the peace of 100% assurance of our eternal salvation. Amen.
And now may the peace of God, which passes all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith unto life everlasting. Amen.