Luther’s Commentary on Galatians 3:2. Plus my own Thoughts.

“Believers find in their own experience how gladly they would hold and embrace the Word when they hear it and thus abandon this idea of the law and their own righteousness; but they feel in their bodies a great resistance against the Spirit. There is continual conflict in believers between believing what they have heard and observing the law. The conscience is always complaining that this is too easy a way. But once you have tried it properly, tell me how easy it is to believe what you have heard. He who gives is indeed great; moreover, he gives great things willingly and freely and does not upbraid people with them. But your capacity is limited, and your faith is weak, so that you are often unable to receive this gift. However much your conscience accuses you, and however often this “must” comes into your mind, stand fast and hold out until you overcome it. As faith increases little by little, that idea of the righteousness of the law will diminish. But this cannot happen without great conflict.“

Brothers and sisters. Let not Satan, nor demon, nor false teacher, nor your own conscience produce such utter heaviness, fear, terror, and guilt in your heart that leads you astray from the belief that salvation comes from something other than Jesus Christ. He is your salvation. He is your comfort. Simply rest in the belief of the righteousness of the blood of the Lamb that was slain. This is your justification. This is your salvation.

When the enemy comes to you and tries to convince you otherwise by terrorizing your mind, filling it with guilt, clouding your vision of Christ, fills your heart and mind with great heaviness of condemnation, you slit his throat, you shove it back into his face, your cry with a loud voice that Christ is your comforter, that Christ is your salvation. It is he and he alone that judges you, and he has deemed to pass his righteousness onto you. You flee to Christ. You tell your great enemy to STICK IT.  You tell that enemy that your sins are DEAD. They were put to DEATH by Christ. You tell that enemy of yours that HE HAS LOST THE BATTLE AND THAT CHRIST HAS REIGN VICTORIOUS. You tell that enemy that you have been crucified with Christ and it is now Christ that lives in you. You tell that enemy that he has lost all power and dominion over you and that Christ is your master. You WAGE WAR WITH THAT ENEMY.

You live by faith. Rest in the comfort of faith. Rest in that Christ has died for you. Christ has transformed you. Christ will continue to transform you. Christ has opened your eyes.

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb 11:1) And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Heb. 11:6) Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Phil. 2:12-13) Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. (1 Peter 1:8)

This is the God we Serve

I was reading this in my car during lunch time today and it blew me away.

“I. There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

II. God has all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He has made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and has most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleases. In His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them.

III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.” – Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 2: Of God, and the Holy Trinity

This is the God we serve. This is the God we serve who gave up his only Son to die for our sin so that we may be crucified with him and that he would reign in us. This is the God we serve that forgives us of all faithlessness we have. This is the God we serve that forgives us of every impure thought we have. This is the God we serve that forgives us each time we get drunk. This is the God we serve that forgives us each time we curse our roommate. This is the God we serve that forgives us each time we disrespect a girl. This is the God we serve that forgives us each time we curse him. This is the God we serve that forgives us each time we are impatient with him. This is the God we serve that picks us up each time we deliberately run away from him and falls down. This is the God we serve:

“Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD,
or what man shows him his counsel?
Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as the dust on the scales;
behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
All the nations are as nothing before him,
they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?” – Isaiah 40:9-18

Sticking in Galatians

“but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” – Psalm 1:2

Although I do try to read through the whole Bible once a year, I’v been convicted that merely hitting four sections of the Bible daily and checking off selected readings for that day, just doesn’t satisfy my hunger. Actually it’s because I need more than just a few pieces of Scripture a day, because if I don’t get more, I’ll easily fall by the waste side. Also I feel it very important to pick somewhere in the Bible and nestle down right in it, swim in it, meditate over it, digest it, sleep it in it, walk in it, learn from it, understand it. I mean truly dedicating yourself to the text. Understanding why the Book or Letter was written. Who wrote it. The context of the verses. I mean really digging down into and truly figuring out what’s going on in it. Truly becoming experts in the text. I mean dedicating MONTHS to the text. Not merely reading it over a few times, but to sit down and study the text. Read the notes from your study Bible. Read commentaries on the text (read MULTIPLE commentaries). Read and listen to sermons on the text. For your complete joy in God and for his complete glory. I think it is very important that you do this IN CONJUNCTION with completing the whole Bible in a year. Why? Because if you just stick in one place for a very long time you miss out on the completeness of salvation, which is seen throughout THE WHOLE BIBLE. To put it simply – there are many books and letters in the Bible, you MUST read them all. On the flip side if you just focus on trying to just get through the Bible, you’ll be left hungering for more and you won’t learn and fully satisfy yourself. You’ll become shallow and won’t gain a true and satisfying understanding of the Bible. So in my conclusion I think that doing both together in your daily quiet time is a good thing.

 

So grab a few Godly commentaries and start reading. RE-READ the Scripture before you go to the notes and the commentaries.

For me, I’m hanging in Galatians for awhile.

Commentaries: Martin Luther, John Calvin, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, etc.

 

HYMN: Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee. – Augustus M. Toplady

What Else Can I Do?

I’ve had enough to break me in two
To tear me apart
What am I to do?
What else can I do?

So sing me a song
Let me hum along
At the top of my lungs
I come undone
What else can I do?
What can I do?

BOOK REVIEW: The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, and Documented

A great introductory book to the Five Points of Calvinism. This book is totally worth buying just for the second chapter where it defends each point which just loads of Scripture – no bias, no opinions – just Scripture.

The Appendix of the book is another huge reason to buy this book.

Clear and concise. A great handbook to Calvinism.

HYMN: What Wondrous Love is This

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on. – Alexander Means

Martin Luther’s Commentary of Galatians

I just wanted to share a part of Luther’s commentary that has given me hope:

Practice this knowledge and fortify yourself against despair, particularly in the last hour, when the memory of past sins assails the conscience. Say with confidence: “Christ, the Son of God, was given not for the righteous, but for sinners. If I had no sin I should not need Christ. No, Satan, you cannot delude me into thinking I am holy. The truth is, I am all sin. My sins are not imaginary transgressions, but sins against the first table, unbelief, doubt, despair, contempt, hatred, ignorance of God, ingratitude towards Him, misuse of His name, neglect of His Word, etc.; and sins against the second table, dishonor of parents, disobedience of government, coveting of another’s possessions, etc. Granted that I have not committed murder, adultery, theft, and similar sins in deed, nevertheless 19

I have committed them in the heart, and therefore I am a transgressor of all the commandments of God.

“Because my transgressions are multiplied and my own efforts at self-justification rather a hindrance than a furtherance, therefore Christ the Son of God gave Himself into death for my sins.” To believe this is to have eternal life.

Let us equip ourselves against the accusations of Satan with this and similar passages of Holy Scripture. If he says, “Thou shalt be damned,” you tell him: “No, for I fly to Christ who gave Himself for my sins. In accusing me of being a damnable sinner, you are cutting your own throat, Satan. You are reminding me of God’s fatherly goodness toward me, that He so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. In calling me a sinner, Satan, you really comfort me above measure.” With such heavenly cunning we are to meet the devil’s craft and put from us the memory of sin.

St. Paul also presents a true picture of Christ as the virgin-born Son of God, delivered into death for our sins. To entertain a true conception of Christ is important, for the devil describes Christ as an exacting and cruel judge who condemns and punishes men. Tell him that his definition of Christ is wrong, that Christ has given Himself for our sins, that by His sacrifice He has taken away the sins of the whole world.

Make ample use of this pronoun “our.” Be assured that Christ has canceled the sins, not of certain persons only, but your sins. Do not permit yourself to be robbed of this lovely conception of Christ. Christ is no Moses, no law-giver, no tyrant, but the Mediator for sins, the Giver of grace and life.

We know this. Yet in the actual conflict with the devil, when he scares us with the Law, when he frightens us with the very person of the Mediator, when he misquotes the words of Christ, and distorts for us our Savior, we so easily lose sight of our sweet High-Priest.

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For this reason I am so anxious for you to gain a true picture of Christ out of the words of Paul “who gave himself for our sins.” Obviously, Christ is no judge to condemn us, for He gave Himself for our sins. He does not trample the fallen but raises them. He comforts the broken-hearted. Otherwise Paul should lie when he writes “who gave himself for our sins.”

I do not bother my head with speculations about the nature of God. I simply attach myself to the human Christ, and I find joy and peace, and the wisdom of God in Him. These are not new truths. I am repeating what the apostles and all teachers of God have taught long ago. Would to God we could impregnate our hearts with these truths.

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Doctor on what Church Really Is

“Not only that, when they have done their all, or when even the Church coming down to that level and operating on that level alone, has done her all, the primary trouble still remains. So I would lay it down as basic proposition that the primary task of the Church is not to educate man, is not to heal him physically or psychologically, it is not to make him happy. I will go further; it is not even to make him good. These are things that accompany salvation; and when the Church performs her true task she does incidentally educate men and give them knowledge and information, she does bring  them happiness, she does make them good and better than they were. But my point is that those are not her primary objectives. Her primary purpose is not any of these; it is rather to put man into the right relationship with God, to reconcile man to God. This really does need to be emphasized at the present time, because this, it seems to me, is the essence of the modern fallacy. It has come into the Church and it is influencing the thinking of many in the Church-this notion that the business of the Church is to make people happy, or to integrate their lives, or to relieve their circumstances and improve their conditions. My whole case is that to do that is just to palliate the symptoms, to give temporary ease, and that it does not get beyond that.” – Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones

If I was honest, I would have to say my anger burns at the Church. One too many times have I entered a Church that has no idea what they are doing. For instance I walked into a Church a month ago where a lady at the front desk was reading “The Shack”. Do I need to say more?

If I was honest, I would have to say that I am very cynical. I’m very self-centered, and very selfish. I’m a taker and not a giver. I’ve searched Church after Church, mentor after mentor and I’ve been failed. I’ve desperately sought after biblical growth and what I’ve gotten is wing-nut mentors (no not you Mark or Greg, I love you two dearly) and “Candy Gospel Churches”.

If I was honest, I would say I’m sick of it and I’m furious. If I was honest, I would say it’s time for me to start giving and stop taking. These sheep out there need a leader.

Candy Gospel Churches, I got a bulls-eye on you.

HYMN: I Asked the Lord

I asked the Lord that I might grow,
In faith and love and every grace,
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

It was He who taught me thus to pray,
And He I trust has answered prayer.
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request.
And by His love’s constraining power,
Subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel,
The hidden evils of my heart.
And let the angry powers of hell,
Assault my soul in every part.

Yes, more with His own hand, He seemed,
Intent to aggravate my woe.
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

“Lord, why is this?” I trembling cried.
Will You pursue Your worm to death?”
“This is the way” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and strength.”

“These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set you free;
And break your schemes of earthly joy,
That you may find thy all in Me.”
—John Newton