Nothing to Offer but to Be Pardoned by Christ

Nothing to Offer but to Be Pardoned by Christ

For this Reformation Day, I thought it befitting to joffer this simple but significant insight from Martin Luther:

When I was a monk, I endeavoured as much as was possible to live after the strait rule of mine Order: I was wont to shrive myself with great devotion, and to reckon up all my sins (yet being always very contrite before), and I returned to confession very often, and thoroughly performed the penance that was enjoined unto me: yet for all this my conscience could never be fully certified, but was always in doubt, and said: This or that thou hast not done rightly; thou wast not contrite [and sorrowful] enough; this sin thou didst omit in thy confession, &c. Therefore the more I went about to help my weak, wavering and afflicted conscience by men’s traditions, the more weak and doubtful and the more afflicted I was. And thus, the more I observed men’s traditions the more I transgressed them, and in seeking after righteousness by mine Order, I could never attain unto it: for it is impossible (as Paul saith) that the conscience should be pacified by the works of the law, and much more by men’s traditions, without the promise and glad tidings concerning Christ.

Wherefore they that seek to be justified and quickened by the law, are much further off from righteousness and life, than the publicans, sinners, and harlots. For these cannot trust to their own works, seeing they be such that they cannot hope to obtain grace and forgiveness of sins thereby. For if righteousness and works done according to the law do not justify, how can sins justify which are committed contrary to the law? Therefore in this point they are in far better case than the justiciaries: for they have no affiance in their own works, which greatly hindereth true faith in Christ, if it do not utterly take it away. Contrariwise, the justiciaries, which abstain outwardly from sins, and live holily and without blame in the sight of the world, cannot be without the opinion of their own righteousness, with which [the true] faith in Christ cannot stand: and for this cause they be more miserable than the publicans and harlots, who offer not their good works to God in his displeasure, that for the same he may recompense them with everlasting life (as the justiciaries do), for they have none to offer; but desire that their sins may be pardoned for Christ’s sake.^[1]

Thanks to God who bestows upon us forgiveness, righteousness, and life through the grace offered through Jesus Christ.

— WGN.

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Notes:

[1] Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 451–452.