As we’ve been working through this series on Galatians, I have been following along in Martin Luther’s masterful commentary on the book, which both Pastors George and Cam have mentioned in their sermons. Coming to this week’s Keystone verse, Galatians 2:20, Luther lets loose with 10 pages of commentary on this verse alone. He writes, “These words, ‘the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me,’ are mighty thunderings and lightnings from heaven … so great and horrible wickedness, error, darkness was in my will and understanding, that it was impossible for me to be ransomed by any other means than by such an inestimable price.” I can’t help but hear an echo of Luther’s awe-filled rhapsodizing in the two hymns which close our service, How Great Thou Art and I Know That My Redeemer Lives. When we ponder the reality of Christ gladly bearing our burdens on the cross (“for the joy that was set before Him,” Hebrews 12:2), we can sympathize with the poet who writes “I scarce can take it in.” When we know that our redeemer lives—to bless us with His love, to plead our cause, and to dwell within us—is there any response more fitting than “Glory, Hallelujah?” —Henry C. Haffner
Key Words: Justified, Faith, Crucified, Loved, Grace
Keystone Verse: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
Galatians 2:15-21 15
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose