The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2016. St. Paul Teaches the Faith of Jesus Justifies

The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2016

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time

The Hymn # 281                                     The Savior Calls                

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #259     Flung to the Heedless Winds  

St. Paul on Justification by Faith of Jesus

The Communion Hymn # 308     Invited, Lord, by Boundless Grace                     

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 464                     Blest Be the Tie That Binds     

        

KJV Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

KJV Luke 10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Click here for Luther’s Sermons on the Good Samaritan

Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we most heartily thank Thee that Thou hast granted us to live in this accepted time, when we may hear Thy holy gospel, know Thy fatherly will, and behold Thy Son, Jesus Christ! We pray Thee, most merciful Father: Let the light of Thy holy word remain with us, and so govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may never forsake Thy word, but remain steadfast in it, and finally obtain eternal salvation; through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

St. Paul on Justification by Faith of Jesus

KJV Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 

When faced with the Good Samaritan or this passage in Galatians, many ministers are tempted to deal with Jesus' parable. And in doing so, they commit the very error that Paul writes against. Not that the two readings are opposed. The problem is falling into the same error of justification by works - among Christians - that Paul writes against. The Good Samaritan is used to this day to launch works sermons, making people feel guilty for not being good enough, active enough, social activist enough. Their BBQ grills are melting the polar ice, activists claim, and drowning the polar bears. Little girls sob in the pews, and parents go home to turn off the air-conditioner for an hour or two, to save the planet.

After all, this passage is another one of those opaque Pauline passages that seem to defy explanation. And this is obviously not studied much at all, and certainly not in the light of Luther. If every minister knew Galatians there would not be a peep against Justification by Faith Alone.

As Luther observes, this starts with a human analogy - and the Reformer seems to be against these analogies from human experience. This is classical rhetoric, which is seldom noticed or practiced. Arguing against human analogies by others, a very good point, Luther turns to the examples of Jesus doing the same thing.

There is a difference. When we have analogies from human experience in the Scriptures, they are God's Word and teach us what we need to know. In contrast, when someone makes up an analogy to prove a point, the new analogy may not fit at all. In many cases, the analogy is used to reverse the meaning of Scripture.

The plain words of the Scripture are then obscured with this new analogy, which is cited repeatedly to prove their error. Eventually the man-made analogy is old and honored by being old, so it must be true. People are pointed to the honor and glory of the human author, rather than to the plain meaning of the Word of God. In time few want to question this new dogma, for fear of dishonoring the people involved and Holy Mother Synod.

But sinful man deserves no honor, only the responsibility for teaching the Word as it is - honoring God and His message of Jesus' own faith (Galatians 3:22). 

Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men

Paul is contending against the false teachers who "honor the Gospel" but only want to insist on one thing - that the Galatians observe Jewish ritual in order to be real Christians (just as "real Lutherans" eat a concoction called Tiger Meat). This short, energetic, sometimes angry epistle was written in Paul's own hand to squash the Judaizers and accomplished its purpose. The problem will continue forever, for the worst opponents are not the atheists and the people way out there, but the false teachers within who argue that their new, improved message is for the good of everyone and the Church itself.

Therefore, this Epistle contrasts faith with works, showing that forgiveness apart from faith is always going to be by works. There are no other alternatives. To make matters clear, then, Paul will use an analogy - a human comparison - to show what he means.

Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 

This is the classic last will and testament that we obtain from lawyers. If someone has died, leaving a Last Will and Testament, the actions are to be carried out, even if no one knows in advance what was in that Testament. No one can legally change or annul that will once the individual has died.

How was Abraham blessed and forgiven? Through faith. God's Promise to him, that all would be blessed through him, was not based on the works of Abraham but through his faith. Genesis 15 - Abraham believed God and it was counted as forgiveness. That forgiveness came through believing the Promises of God, so that could not be changed to - through the works of Abraham, though his works were great.

"In thy seed shall all the nations be blessed." That refers to one - Christ - because through the faith of Abraham, all the Christians of the world be blessed, since he is the Biblical example of man's faith. The true children of Abraham are not those descended from him by blood but those who are children by faith. See John 8 for the opponents saying to Jesus, "Abraham is our father" while He says "Before Abraham was, I AM." In other words, true children of Abraham believe in Me.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 

The two are linked together - Abraham and Jesus. Abraham is the example of faith in these passages:

• Genesis 15
• Romans 4
• Galatians
• James
• Hebrews

Thus the true children of Abraham today, 2.2 billion or more, are what God promised - numbered like the stars in the sky.

In Luke 3, Jesus' lineage is traced through Abraham. The Promise to Abraham was fulfilled through Jesus.

This Testament is not a law, but a gift, so Jesus cannot be portrayed as the New Moses, the new Lawgiver, but the gift who brings salvation, peace, and forgiveness.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Paul answers the objection that the Law was needed, since it was added later, through Moses. But the Promise to Abraham can no more be canceled than a Last Will and Testament be set aside. 

The daughter of Conrad Hilton tried to set aside her father's will in court and lost after a long legal battle, because the court ruled - this was your father's final, sealed, and witnessed will for you.

Luther adds this - the Law was given with promises and blessings, and it became the vehicle through which the Promise was brought to light, because no one can obey the Law. Though the Law demands holiness and obedience, that is impossible without the Gospel. Thus to answer this problem in man, Jesus was born of the flesh, under the Law, to give us freedom in the Gospel.

Christian sets out on his journey to the Heavenly City
with his book, the Bible.

In Pilgrim's Progress, the figure of the Law attacks Christian and keeps on hurting him. When he begs for mercy, Law answers - I have no mercy. Again, the dirt floor of the house is swept and swept, stirring up dust, choking clouds of dust. The Law stirs up sin, makes us more aware of sin. The Gospel (water sprinkled on the floor) is the answer. Bunyan said about Luther's Galatians - "It was my most-read book, apart from the Bible." So Bunyan was a better Lutheran than most Lutherans.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 

Faith and works are opposites in dealing with salvation, and so are Law and Gospel. When the Law is made a requirement of forgiveness and salvation, the Promise is ignored and rejected. Certainly many today elevate the Law above the Gospel and make Law a requirement for the Gospel - you must be in a cell group; you must give up this or that or you are not a true Christian.

Another rejection of the Gospel is to remove faith and say faith does not matter. Everyone is forgiven and saved without faith. But then they make this preposterous recipe a requirement for salvation, as Walther did - To be really forgiven, you must believe you were already forgiven.

Some are "wonderfully offended" at what Paul writes here, because they trace their holiness to their sacrifices. How can that law obedience be removed by Paul.

The reason the Law was added is easy to see today. In the name of grace, many want to live like pagans, doing whatever they like. They belong to the "Love Wins" family, who place their version of love above everything else. They are always popular leaders because they are blessing whatever people do and undermining faith in the Word. The ministers leading this crusade are pathological liars who are only blessing their own hedonism.

Luther taught the Gospel more and better than most, but he did not give up the natural law concept - that God commands what is good for us. And like Paul, his writings also praise the spiritual benefits of the Law, but not to the point of replacing the Gospel with the Law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

This last verse is a thunderbolt, almost always ignored. The same expression is used in Romans 3 and in Philippians.

Romans 3: 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Philippians 39 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

The objections of some who oppose Justification by Faith is  - the emphasis is seemingly placed on man's faith. The objectors try to call this synergism and Calvinism, when the two are polar opposites, so we can see they do not know either one - or Luther doctrine itself.

Modern translations have "faith in Jesus," which is fine for many passages, and there is nothing wrong with that expression when we use it. I am going to study this more, but there are three passages in Paul's letters where he expresses teaches justification by faith of Jesus.

That makes perfect sense and explains - from faith to faith - which has puzzled many scholars. Jesus, as a man under the Law, was tempted, so we should never downplay His human nature. Unlike us, He was able to resist all temptation, even the greatest one of all, facing the horrible betrayal and pain of His torture, crucifixion, and death.

As the Gospel of John teaches so clearly, the Father-Son relationship is so close that Jesus emphasized it always in His teaching. The Spirit witnesses to this in John, Matthew, and other places. The Father willed this series of events and the Son in faith followed those commands.If we only think of the divine nature of Christ, we do not think of His faith in the Father's love and gracious will. Therefore, justification begins with the Son's own faith, His obedience that led to the cross, the grave, resurrection, and ascension.

Application

Our greatest temptation is to think this Justification by Faith Alone does not apply to us, because our faults, sins, weaknesses, grave errors, and breaking of the law. Luther observed that those getting the death penalty did not have the luxury of denying their guilt. Their contrition was genuine because of what they are facing.

The Testament cannot be annulled, because God promised and Christ carried out that Promise of paying for our sins and giving us eternal life. What is promised and given to us is also promised and given to those who believe, no matter their status in life. Contrition goes before faith in Christ, because makes people hungry and thirsty for righteousness. 

If forgiveness is proclaimed to the unrepentant, they look at the speaker the way a cow looks at a newly painted fence, blinking, comprehending nothing. The only effect is to harden their hearts, the whole matter Luther addresses in the temptation to go back to paganism, rejoicing in forgiveness without sorrow for sin.

Bucky Hellwig, Demonic Opponent of Justification by Faith Alone - Copies and Pastes Pieper on the Glory of UOJ LCMS

Bucky Hellwig (Buck) Advanced Member Username: Buck Post Number: 959 Registered: 9-2003

Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2016 - 8:41 pm:       "We 'Missourians' as well as our brethren in the faith are branded far and wide as reactionaries, that is, people who do not keep pace with necessary development in doctrine. In spite of this we by the grace of God do not allow ourselves to become upset, but steadfastly maintain that the Bible, in contradistinction to all other books in the world, is God's own Word. When we open our Bibles, we are sure that God is there speaking to us; when the Bible is read in our churches, we rise because we are listening to the voice of God." [GJ - Haha. Romans 4:25 but not Romans 4:24. Forget Galatians, etc] F. Pieper, What is Christianity? And Other Essays, (St. Louis, Missouri: Concordia Publishing House, 1933.), 220, 221.

Not even CFW Walther and his hand-picked acolyte, Pieper?

The Feeding of the Multitude after the Big Rain

The Feeding of the Multitude, by Norma Boeckler

Sassy and I had our morning walk and the sky was overcast. Mrs. Ichabod and I went out later in the Icha-boat, and we returned in a downpour. The rain has continued in the afternoon, often with such force that all the rain-barrels and buckets are full again.

One seed can, a zinc garbage can, was left open yesterday and filled with rain early. Yes, I was the one. I poured the seed over the platform feeder so the water would drain off a bit. Soon a baby squirrel was eating his sunflower seed soup with great energy. I did not warn him away this time.

Lenski or Luther pointed out that the fragments were gathered into baskets to show that nothing should be wasted or taken for granted when God gives in abundance.

Squirrels, doves, and sparrows will gladly work through the leftovers to take care of their needs. We can see that divine management system all the way down to the microbe level. I try to get that across to Creation gardeners and those wanting to abandon expensive and bad growing methods.

Norma Boeckler

Today our Army Ranger landscaper and his grandson dropped off four enormous bags of soggy leaves. Autumn has begun. Those leaves will cover the cardboard layer in the new gardening areas.

Before garbage trucks and green bags filled with organic treasure, God created a system to capture the useful chemicals in the top layer of the soil, normally the first foot of soil. In the Great Plains, that may be several feet of topsoil, created the same way but with prairie grass and millions of bison.

Fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and protozoa break apart the vegetation and decompose the dead animals. These carefully engineered microbes swap chemicals by their mutual balancing act, and higher level creatures continue the same.

 Norma Boeckler

As I was explaining to Mrs. Ichabod, the earthworms are giants compared to the microbes, and yet they cannot digest on their own. They take in food for bacteria to break down and help with a little gizzard to grind the food and hard stuff. The bacteria benefit the earthworms, which donate nitrogen products and Caltrate to the soil, in the form of kidney excretions, casts (manure), and calcium carbonate. The earthworms love  sweet, calcium carbonate fortified soil, and they manufacture it, which makes most crops more productive and helps break down chemicals more easily.

Rains and animal byproducts add to the nitrogen and other useful chemicals in the soil. Birds not only plant their favorite foods - they leave some fertilizer in the soil with the seed.

Those four bags of leaves are more than soggy masses to hold the cardboard down. They will suppress weeds (and also harbor some) but they will ultimately become part of the soil. Chemical gardeners say, "Their NPK rating is 1-1-1 at best. Leaves are mostly carbon. What a waste of time!"

The Creating Word determined - at the beginning - that the ocean of life in topsoil would not only gently mix those leaves into the soil, over time, but also increase in population with added food and hold those essential chemicals in the top foot of soil. The biomass in topsoil includes:

1. Earthworms
2. Animal excretions
3. Dead plant materials
4. Slugs
5. Moles 
6. Voles
7. Mice
8. Beetles and grubs
9. Spiders
10. Bacteria
11. Protozoa
12. Nematodes
13. Fungi
14. Centipedes
15. Millipedes
16. Sowbugs and pillbugs, and
17. Many more living and dead creatures.

All these require water for life and store that water by living and dying. They eat food and become food, so the chemical exchanges never stop, and plants are nourished by fungi at the root hair level, the plant giving carbon in exchange for the moisture and chemicals needed.

 Norma Boeckler

So we will cart those four leaf bags to the cardboard carpeted areas, and let God's Creature enjoy the banquet set before them. 

• Birds will flip and probe the leaves to find the creatures that move the leaves and pounce on them.
• Earthworms and other creatures will reach up from below to pull down cardboard and recycle the leaves.
• Fungi will pull apart the more complex chemicals and bacteria will work on the simpler formulae.
• Beneficial insects will overwinter in the leaf little and reward our efforts next year.
• Spiders will find interesting places to cast their nets for themselves and their young.

The Feeding of the Multitude takes place all the time, as determined by God's Word. Jesus the Son of God demonstrated this power of the Word in the Feeding of the 4,000 and the Feeding of the 5,000. In both cases, the fragments were gathered up, more than they began with, to show the abundance that comes with the Word. 

And nothing was wasted or thrown away carelessly.

 Norma Boeckler

Luther on Galatians 3:15-22 - Another Refutation of the New, False Dogma from LCMS-WELS-ELCA-ELS

SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER - 
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. Galatians 3:15-22



TEXT:

GALATIANS 3:15-22. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 Now this I say:

A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. 19 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. 22 But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

GOD’S TESTAMENT AND PROMISE IN CHRIST.

1. This is a keen, severe epistle, one that is unintelligible to the ordinary man. Because the doctrine it contains has not hitherto been employed and enforced, it has not been understood. It is also too long and rich to be treated briefly. But it is fully explained in the complete commentary on this epistle to the Galatians, where those who will may read it. The substance of it is, that here, as in the whole epistle, Paul would earnestly constrain the Christian to distinguish between the righteousness of faith and the righteousness of works or of the Law. In order that we may note to some extent the main points Paul makes in this text, we remark that he emphasizes two things. He treats first of the doctrine that we are justified by faith alone, and he maintains this, after giving many reasons and proofs, by saying in effect: 2. In this connection you should note that no one, whether Jew or gentile, is justified by works or by the Law. For the Law was given four hundred and thirty years after the promise of a Savior had been made to Abraham (who was to be the father of all the people of God) and the assurance that all nations should be blessed in him. It was given after it had been testified of Abraham that his faith was imputed to him for righteousness. And as he was justified and received the blessing by reason of his faith, so also his children and descendants were justified and received the blessing through the same faith in that seed for whose sake the blessing had been promised to all the world. For in his dealings with the Jews and with the whole world, God always promised his grace and the forgiveness of sins (and that means to be blessed of God) even when there was as yet no Law by which they might pretend to become righteous, and before Moses was born.

3. Therefore the Law, being given to this people only after the lapse of so long a period, could not have been given to them for justification; otherwise it would have been given earlier. Or if it had been necessary for righteousness, then Abraham and his children up to that date could not have been justified at all. Indeed God designed that the Law should be given so long after Abraham. Undoubtedly he would have been able to give it to the fathers much earlier if he had seen fit to do so. Apparently he desired thereby to teach that the Law was not given to the end that God’s grace and blessing should be acquired through it, but that these come from the pure mercy of God which was promised and bestowed so long before upon Abraham and those who believed.

4. Therefore Paul concludes: How could the Law produce righteousness for those who lived before Moses, since Moses was the first through whom the Law was given; and since even before his time there were holy people and people who were saved? Whence did they derive their righteousness?

Certainly not from the fact that they had offered sacrifice at Jerusalem, but from the fact that they believed the Word in which God promised to bless them through the coming seed, Christ. Hence, those also who lived afterwards could not have been justified by the Law; for they did not receive the grace of God in a different way from that in which those who went before had received it. God did not annul or revoke by the Law the promise of blessing which he had made and freely bestowed without the Law.

5. Here some might desire to show their wisdom and say to Paul: Although the fathers did not have the Law of Moses, they had the same Word of God which teaches the ten commandments and which was implanted in the human heart from the beginning of the world, whence also it is called the law of nature or the natural law; and the same law was afterwards given publicly to the Jewish people and comprehended in the ten commandments.

It might also be said that Moses borrowed the ten commandments from the fathers, to which Christ testifies in John 7:22. For it is certain that the fathers from the beginning taught them and urged them upon their children and descendants. With what consistency, then, does Paul conclude that the fathers were not justified by the Law because it was not given until four hundred years after Abraham’s time; as if the fathers before that time had no Law?

6. To answer this question we must observe the meaning and purpose of Paul’s words; for he so speaks because of the boasting of the Jews, who placed their dependence on the Law and claimed that it was given to them that they might be God’s people. They considered their attempts at keeping his Law, sufficient to procure justification. Why else did God give the Law, they said, and distinguish us from all heathen peoples, if we were not thereby to be preeminent before God and more pleasing to him than they who have it not? They made so much of this boasting that they paid no respect at all to the promise of blessing in the coming seed, given to the fathers, nor thought that faith therein was necessary to their justification.

Thus they practically considered it as annulled and made void, excepting for a temporal interpretation which they put upon it — that the Messiah would come and, because of their Law and piety, give to them the dominion of the world and other great rewards.

THE JEWS GOD’S PEOPLE BY PROMISE.

7. To rout such vain delusions and boasts, and to show that the Jews were not justified through the Law and did not become God’s children thereby, Paul cites the fact that the holy patriarchs, their fathers, were justified neither by the Law of which they boast, because it was not yet given, nor by their own deeds, whether of the natural law or the ten commandments.

God had based no promise of blessing or salvation on their works. He had promised out of pure grace to give them the blessing freely (that is, to give them grace or righteousness and all eternal blessing), through the coming seed, which had been promised also to our first parents without their merit, when by their transgression they had fallen under God’s wrath and condemnation. Therefore, although the fathers had a knowledge of the Law, or God’s commandments, these did not help them to become righteous before God. They had to hear and apprehend by faith the promise of God, which was based not on works but only on the coming seed. For if they had been able by means of the Law or of good works to become righteous, it would have been wholly unnecessary to give the promise of blessing in Christ.

8. Now, if Abraham and the fathers could not be justified by works, and in fact were not justified by them, no more were their children and descendants justified by the Law or by works. They were justified in no other way than by faith in the promise given to Abraham and to his seed, a promise by which not only the Jews but all the heathen (through the same faith) were blessed.

9. This truth Paul now further enforces and establishes on the basis of these two particulars — God’s promise, and his free grace or gift — in opposition to the boasting of the Law and our own merit. First, he makes a declaration concerning the value and weight which every testament or promise of the last will possesses. Likewise in the fourth commandment is implied an ordinance that the last will of parents should be honored by their children and heirs.

10. In regard to this subject he asserts that the rule is, if a man’s testament be confirmed (and it is confirmed by his death) no man dare alter it nor add to it nor take away from it. So the jurists declare it to be a divine law that no one should break a man’s last will. How much more then should God’s testament be honored intact? Now, God has made a testament, which is to be his final last will; namely, that he will bless all nations through the seed which at first he promised to the fathers. This he determined upon, and assured to Abraham, and in him to all the world — to us all. And he has confirmed it by the death of this seed, his only Son, who had to become man and die (as was typified by the sacrifice of Isaac on the part of Abraham) in order that the inheritance of the blessing and eternal life might be bestowed upon us. This is God’s last will. He does not desire to make any other. Therefore, no man can or dare change it or add anything to it.

Now, it is adding to it, it is breaking or revoking it — since this testament has been opened and the blessing proclaimed to all the world — if anyone claims that we must first earn that blessing through the Law, proceeding as if, without the Law, this testament, by mere virtue of its promise and will, had no force at all.

11. In short, this testament, Paul concludes, is a simple promise of blessing and sonship with God. Accordingly, there is no law which we must keep in order to merit it. Here nothing avails but the will which promises saying, I will not regard your deeds, but promise the blessing — that is, grace and eternal life — to you who are found in sin and death. This I will confirm by the death of my Son, who shall merit and obtain this inheritance for you.

Now, God made this testament in the first place without the Law, and has thus confirmed it; therefore, the Law, published and confirmed long afterwards, cannot take aught from it, much less annul or revoke it. And he who declares or teaches that we are to be justified by the Law — are to obtain God’s blessing by it — does nothing else but interfere with God’s testament and destroy and annul his last will. This is one argument of Paul, based on the word “promise,” or “testament,” and is readily understood; for no one is so stupid that he cannot distinguish between these two — law or commandment, and promise.

12. The second argument of Paul is based on the words, “God gave it to Abraham by promise.” Here also it is easy for one who is possessed of common sense to perceive there is a marked difference between receiving something as a gift and earning it. What is earned is given because of obligation and debt, as wages, and he who receives it may boast of it, rather than he who gives it, and may insist upon his right. But when something is given for nothing and, as Paul here says, is bestowed freely — out of grace — then there can be no boasting of right or of merit on the part of the recipient. On the contrary, he must praise the goodness and kindness of his benefactor. So Paul concludes: God freely gave the blessing and the inheritance to Abraham by promise. Therefore, Abraham did not earn it by his works; nor was it given to him as a reward, much less to his children.

13. It is evident enough to even a child that what is earned by works as a reward is not identical with what is promised or bestowed gratis, out of grace and pure free will. There is a distinction between them. God has stopped the mouth of all the world and deprived it of all occasion for boasting that it has received God’s grace by reason of the Law. For he promised and bestowed that as a gift, before the Law or merit through the Law had any existence. In his dealings with his own people, with Abraham and his descendants, God promised to bless the patriarch and all his race and said nothing of any law, works or reward; he based all solely on the coming seed.

14. In the faith of this promise they lived and died — Abraham himself and his children’s children — till over four hundred and thirty years had elapsed. Then only did God give the Law, institute an outward form of worship, a priesthood, etc., and direct them how to live and govern themselves. They had now become a separate people, released from foreign domination, and brought into their own land, and they needed an external form of government. It was not intended that only now and by means of these gifts they should obtain forgiveness of sins and God’s blessing.

15. This is the substance of the first part of this epistle. In teaching how we are to be justified before God, Paul would have us distinguish well these two points, promise and law; or again, gift and reward. If we teach that God, out of pure grace, and not because of any law or merit, bestows forgiveness of sins and eternal life, the question at once presents itself:

Why is the Law given, or of what use is it? Shall we not perform any good works? Why do we teach the ten commandments at all? Paul takes up this matter and asks the question, “What then is the Law?” Then he proceeds to discuss at length what is the office and use of the Law, and shows the difference between it and the Gospel. Of this enough has been said elsewhere, in other postils.

Sunshower Yesterday - Planning the Butterfly Garden

This sunshower is from Wikipedia.

Yesterday I went to the car, long after an earlier burst of rain, so the sun was shining brightly. I wanted to get something from the Icha-boat.

Rain fell hard on me in the bright sunlight -  a sunshower. That confused my distracted mind. I looked at the roses - they were dripping with rain. The eaves were shedding rain too. And I was wet.

More rain may fall today, so the garden will be in good shape for yanking maple and oak trees, and for transplanting some Raspberries and Blackberries to the Wild Garden. I thought their rampant growth would be modified a bit in the shadier areas, but if not, the birds will get additional food and perches. Blackberries are growing like the latest Fuller Seminary fad - on the opposite side of the house, which is sunny and somewhat watered. I used the branch clippers to cut some Blackberry canes that were basking in the sunshine on driveway. No wonder they are so prevalent in the State of Washington.

I am re-setting the Sunny Garden:

• Hot, dry, sunny, and grassy in its primitive state.
• Soggy and sluggy last year as Straw Bale Garden and the Rose Garden for Mrs. Wright. I moved those roses to the main rose garden - the entire front yard.
• Tomato and Raspberry garden this summer.
• Butterfly Garden next year.

Coreopsis - Almost Eden

When I visited the Coreopsis Jungle at Almost Eden the other day, several types of butterflies, two types of bees, some wasps, and Flower Flies were feeding at once. Soon, perhaps today, I will take close-ups and a video of the activity. 

Fall and winter will give me a chance to decide on the best plants for the Butterfly Garden. As Jessica Walliser observed in a recent column, we should aim at the larvae and the adults at the same time. Like most beneficial bugs, Butterflies have different needs at the larval and adult stages. The famous Ladybug is voracious at both stages, but in many cases, the adults need pollen and nectar while their newly hatching babies dine on flesh of aphids and pest caterpillars.

Socrates was sentenced to drink Poison Hemlock tea,
portrayed by the French painter David.

I had a tribe of baby Ladybugs on my Poison Hemlock, but I chose to cut it down rather than explain to my wife and daughter-in-law that I was growing the last drink of Socrates in the garden. The plants were impressive, but so are Hogweeds, which were grown by the rich in England. 

Giant Hogweed - above - is in the same carrot family as Poison Hemlock and
Wild Parsnip. Hogweed also attracts beneficial insects, but
I prefer the less obnoxious Queen Ann's Lace.
The linked plants should be avoided, but Queen Ann's Lace
can be identified by her hairy legs (hairy stems).

I told a reader, "When we want to visit beautiful gardens, we go to the front yard, the backyard, or Almost Eden. Sassy loves to walk over, because she has so many places to explore with her nose while I admire the plants and insect life."

 A mass of Coreopsis flowers is irresistible
to bees, wasps, and butterflies.