Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 152

Scripture Text: Ephesians 3:8-12

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Ephesians 3:8-12

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law 

We have shown the sources in this case, so far as can be done here, and have explained the objections of our opponents. Good people will easily judge these things, if they will remember, as often as a passage concerning love or works is cited, that the law cannot be observed without Christ and that we cannot be justified by the law, but through the gospel, the promise of the grace promised in Christ. We hope, however brief this discussion has been, that it will be profitable to good people for strengthening faith, teaching, and comforting consciences. For we know that what we have said is in harmony with the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures, with the holy Fathers, Ambrose, Augustine, and very many others, and with the whole Church of Christ, which certainly confesses that Christ is propitiator and justifier.

Pulling It Together: It is easy for us to confuse the plain sense of things. Sometimes we need someone to come in to our midst and cut to the chase. What is the point that underlies everything we do? What is the central thought that lies behind all of our thinking? The Apostle Paul was chosen by God for this very task. So Paul did not proclaim the traditions of religion. Instead, he taught the “unsearchable riches of Christ,” who is the source of all true doctrine. These are matters which we cannot come to by our own reasoning. A revelation from God is required. Therefore, God chose someone steeped in the old ways to declare the plain and central truth of the gospel.

Paul asserts that the plain, central thought is always Christ alone. He must be at the core and forefront of our thinking too. For when we understand who Christ is, that he is our mediator before the Father, our justification and salvation, we then begin to comprehend with the holy Catholic Church that we cannot be these things. If we do not have faith in Christ alone, there is no communion of saints, no forgiveness of sins, no resurrection of the body, and no life everlasting. When we have faith in him, instead of faith in ourselves and our traditions, then the riches of Christ are ours. It is only for Christ’s sake that the Father lavishes his love and grace on us (1 John 3:1; Eph 1:7-8). That is the plain sense of the gospel. 

Prayer: I thank you, Father, for your love and grace that is poured out to me in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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