The Comfort of the Cross

The Comfort of the Cross

Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:6 and Revelation 7:9–14

Series: Comments on Galatians

Today's Scripture Jigsaw

Working harder is a virtue but working smarter is, well, smarter. If we work hard to pile up virtue before God, to make him disposed to favor us, we will be disappointed. Biblical truth be told, God already favors us without our ever having lifted a finger (John 3:16–18). John tells us that God loved the world while it yet needed a Savior. He did not wait for us to be somehow good and virtuous enough. The Father sent his Son because we would never be good enough without him. John did not say that he who works hard and does enough good will not be condemned. Those who are not condemned are those who believe in the Son. 

Now, those people are to work hard at doing good works (Ephesians 2:10), but cannot depend upon the works for salvation. Instead, they are to depend upon the one for whom they work (Colossians 3:23). The great multitude of heaven will be they who wash their robes in Christ’s great work: in his blood. His people are purified by his sacrificial work on the cross, not by their own industry. 

We must comfort ourselves with the cross, for our works will always leave us in despair, wondering if we had ever become good enough for God and his heaven. We will, frankly, never be good enough, and we know this to be true. Those who imagine otherwise are fooling themselves, and sadly, they know it with every pious effort they make at holiness. We are indeed created for good works (Ephesians 2:10) but the first and last good work we must do is to believe in the one God sent to save us (John 6:29). Faith is washing our robes in the blood of the Lamb, depending on him alone for forgiveness and eternal life. 

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