FIVE MINUTES A DAY WITH LUTHER

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FIVE MINUTES A DAY WITH LUTHER

February 20

Gal 2:15  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the
Gentiles.

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That is to say, the Jews are born unto the righteousness of the
Law, to Moses, and to circumcision. They have the righteousness
of the Law by nature. Compared with the Gentiles, they are not
sinners, they are not without Law and without works. They are
born righteous and brought up in righteousness. Their
righteousness begins even with birth. It is a great matter that
they are Jews by nature, born to the Law and to the works
thereof. Notwithstanding that they have this prerogative, they
are therefore not righteous before God. Though they be born
holy, be circumcised, keep the Law, have the adoption, the
glory, the covenant, the fathers, the true worship, God, Christ,
the promises, live in them and glory in the same, none of all
these is faith in Christ, which alone justifies, and not the
Law, Not that the Law is evil or damnable, for the Law,
circumcision, and the like, are not condemned because they do
not justify, but Paul takes from them the office of
justification, because the false apostles' contended that by
them, without faith, and only by the works done, men are
justified and saved. This Paul would not endure, for without
faith all things are deadly. The Law, circumcision, the
adoption, the temple, the worship of God, the promises, yea, God
and Christ Himself, without faith, profits nothing. Paul speaks
in general against all things which are contrary to faith.

Lord, I believe were sinners more
Than sands upon the ocean shore,
Thou hast for all a ransom paid,
For all a full atonement made.

Pastor Robin Fish