We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose. Galatians 2:15–21 (RSV)
One of the gifts of being seventy is the ability to look back to see all the times God was active in your life. Many of those moments happened when I was unaware, not only of God but of His grace and love.
Years before, I was invited to go to church with my friend, Jim, another friend had preached the Law to me. I doubt he knew he was preaching the Law as we were about ten. He had been to Sunday School, and in response to my inquiry about what that was about, he said, 'It's where you learn how to get to heaven.'
Wanting to know more about this, I asked how does that happen. 'Well, there are these rules God made that you have to keep.' He went on to explain about the Ten Commandments. It sounded like a pretty high bar to clear if heaven was your goal. I nervously asked, 'What if you don't keep these rules?' His reply was not at all comforting, 'You go to hell.'
Worried, I looked up the Ten Commandments in the encyclopedia at school. I was horrified. How would I ever keep all these? I lay awake for several nights, wishing I had never asked about getting to heaven and the God who makes such impossible rules.
'For if justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.' This is what we do when we try to save ourselves by keeping the Law of God. We make a mockery of Jesus' suffering and death. If we could do this, even in part, on our own, then why did Jesus suffer and die?
All those years ago, the Law did its job in my heart. It showed me the impossibility of saving myself. I had never heard of Martin Luther at that time, but when I read of his struggles to find a gracious God, it resonated with my soul.
When the Holy Spirit was pleased to teach my heart that salvation is through Jesus and Him alone, as Luther said, it was like the gates of heaven were opened to me. Jesus' death and resurrection is the way to heaven. Grace alone through faith alone, the cross ever before me and the Risen Christ my Savior and Lord.
O Lord, let me ever cling to Thy cross and trust only in You.