Luther's Commentary on the Letter to the Galatians

This year marked the 500th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther, who did so much to recover the Bible truth of 'justification by faith alone' for the church. His comments on Galatians 1.4 are timelessly inspiring.

Paul has nothing in his mouth but Christ, therefore in every word there is a fervency of spirit and life. Mark how well, and to the purpose, he speaks (of the Lord Jesus): 'Who gave himself for our sins'.
How may we obtain remission of sins? Paul answers that the man Jesus Christ has given himself for them that our sins may be taken away by no other means than by the Son of God delivered to death. With such gunshot and artillery must all other notions be destroyed; all doctrine of merit, works and superstitious ceremonies. For if our sins may be taken away by our own words, merit and satisfaction, what need was there for the Son of God to be given for them? But seeing he was given for them it follows that we cannot put them away ourselves.
Again, by this sentence, it is declared that our sins are so great, so infinite and invincible, that it is impossible for the whole world to satisfy for one of them. Surely the greatness of the ransom (namely, Christ, the Son of God) declares sufficiently that we can neither satisfy for sin, nor have dominion over it. The force and power of sin is set forth, and amplified exceedingly by these words: 'who gave himself for our sins'.

Our sins

Weigh diligently every word of Paul. Mark well the pronoun 'our': for the effect consists in applying the pronouns of Scripture well. You may easily say and believe that Christ, the Son of God, was given for the sins of Peter and Paul and other saints whom we may count worthy of this grace. But it is a very hard thing that you, who count yourself unworthy of this grace, should from your heart say and believe that Christ was given for your invincible, infinite and horrific sins. Therefore, without the pronoun it is an easy matter to magnify the benefits of Christ, that he was given for sins but other people's sins who were worthy. But when it comes to putting in the pronoun 'our', then our weak nature and reason start back and dare not come near to God or promise that so great a treasure shall freely be given to us.

Counterfeit sinners?

(So through unbelief we feel we must scale down the seriousness of our sins.) So the hypocrites, being ignorant of Christ, although they feel the remorse of sin, think notwithstanding that they shall be able easily to put it away by their good works and merits. Secretly, in their hearts, they wish that these words 'who gave himself for our sins' were but as words spoken in humility, and would have their sins not to be true and actual sins indeed, but light and small matters. To be short, man's reason would present to God a feigned and counterfeit sinner. It would bring him that is whole and not him that has need of a physician. When it feels no sin, then it would believe that Christ was given for our sins.
The whole world is thus affected, especially those that would be counted more holy and righteous than others - religious people.

Huge, many, unconquered

Let us learn here from Paul to fully and truly believe that Christ was given, not for feigned sins, nor for small, but for great and huge sins; not for few but for many; not for conquered sins (for no man can overcome the smallest sin to put it away) but for invincible sins. And except you learn to be found among the number of those that say 'our sins', that is, of those who have the doctrine of faith, and teach, hear, learn and receive the same, there is no salvation for you.
Herein consists the effect of eternal salvation, namely, in taking these words to be effectual, true and of great importance. I do not say this for nothing. For I have often known by experience, and I daily find, what a hard matter it is to believe that Christ was given, not for the holy, worthy, righteous and such as were his friends, but for wicked sinners, for the unworthy, and for his enemies who have deserved God's wrath and everlasting death.
Hold fast to this, and do not suffer yourself to be drawn away by any means from this most sweet definition of Christ, which causes the very angels of heaven to rejoice; that is to say, that Christ is no Moses, no lawgiver, no tyrant, but a mediator for sins, and a free giver of grace, righteousness and life: who gave himself, not for our merits, righteousness and godly life, but for our sins.

This is taken in edited form from Luther's Commentary on Galatians and we have slightly updated the language.

Luther's Commentary on the Letter to the Galatians

Precious pronoun - an edited extract from Luther's Commentary on the Letter to the Galatians

Our sins

Counterfeit sinners?

Huge, many, unconquered

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