Martin Luther on Jesus Giving Himself for Our Sins

Greetings,

            The other day in discussing the Theologia Germanica we made reference to Martin Luther.  I thought this passage from his Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, specifically on Galatians 1:4, might be of interest.

            “Which gave Himself for our sins.”  These things, as touching the words, we know well enough and can talk of them.  But in practice and in the conflict, when the devil goeth about to deface Christ, and to pluck the word of grace out os our hearts, we find that we do not yet know them well, and as we should do.  He that at that time could define Christ truly, and could magnify Him and behold Him as his most sweet Saviour and High Priest, and not as a strait judge, such a man hath overcome all evils and were already in the kingdom of heaven.  But this to do in the conflict is of all things the most hard.  I speak of this by experience…

            And this is the cause why I do so earnestly call upon you to learn the true and proper definition of Christ out of these words of Paul, “which gave Himself for our sins.”  If He gave Himself to death for our sins, then, undoubtedly He is no tyrant or judge which will condemn us for our sins.  He is no caster-down of the afflicted, but a raiser-up of those that are fallen, a merciful reliever and comforter of the heavy and the broken-hearted.  Else should Paul lie in saying, “which gave Himself for our sins.”  If I define Christ thus, I define Him rightly, and take hold of the true Christ, and possess Him indeed.  And here I let pass all curious speculations touching the divine majesty, and stay myself in the humanity of Christ, and so I learn truly to know the will of God.  Here is then no fear, but altogether sweetness, joy, peace of conscience, and suchlike.  And herewithal there is a light opened, which showeth me the true knowledge of God, of myself, of all creatures, and of all the iniquity of the devil’s kingdom.  We teach no new thing, but we repeat and establish old things, which the apostles and all godly teachers have taught us.  And would to God we could so teach and establish them that we might not only have them in our mouth, but also well grounded in the bottom of our heart, and especially that we might be able to use them in the agony and conflict of death.

Yours & His,

DED