Five Minutes a Day with Luther - 04-26-2017

[Five Minutes with Luther]

FIVE MINUTES A DAY WITH LUTHER

** Now available in book form: http://lcmssermons.com/about5mins.php **


April 26

Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the
bondwoman, but of the free woman.

* * *

Paul here finishes with the allegory of the barren church, and of
the fruitful people of the Law. We are not, says he, the
children of the bondwoman; that is to say, we are not under the
Law which begets unto bondage, terrifies, accuses, and brings to
desperation. No, we are delivered from it by Christ; therefore
it cannot terrify nor condemn us. Moreover, although the sons
of the bondwoman do persecute us ever so much for a time, yet
here is our comfort, that they shall be compelled to leave the
inheritance unto us, which belongs unto us, who are the sons of
the freewoman, and they shall at length be cast into utter
darkness. Paul by these two words, bondwoman and freewoman,
took occasion to reject the righteousness of the Law and to
confirm the doctrine of justification. And he purposely takes
hold of this word, freewoman, vehemently urging and amplifying
it, especially in the beginning of the next chapter, where he
takes occasion to consider Christian liberty, the knowledge of
which is urgently needed. That liberty, which is purchased by
Christ, is for us a most strong refuge, by means of which we
defend ourselves against the tyranny of our enemies. For this
reason, we must diligently consider this doctrine of Christian
liberty, as well to confirm the doctrine of justification, in
order also to raise up and comfort weak consciences against so
many troubles and offenses, which our adversaries do impute unto
the Gospel.

The darkness of my former state,
The bondage, all was mine;
The light of life in which I walk,
The liberty, is Thine.

---
Cuda.
aka Pastor Robin Fish
Lutheran to the core -- and just a little beyond.

View online at http://lcmssermons.com/5mins.php?d=2017-04-26

These daily readings are now available in book form;
read about it at http://lcmssermons.com/about5mins.php.