Pure Gospel

Galatians 3:10-14: “In fact, those who rely on the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the book of the law.’ Clearly no one is declared righteous before God by the law, because ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ The law does not say ‘by faith.’ Instead it says, ‘The one who does these things will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. As it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we would receive the promised Spirit through faith.” The Gospel is nothing but the proclamation of good news, a good preaching of Christ, how the Lord Christ came forth from God the Father to help all people in body and soul, temporally and eternally. The Law commands, compels, and forces. But the Gospel commands nothing, forces nothing, but rather attracts with kindness and beauty to Christ through the most loving promises. Sometimes, however, it seems to us as though the Gospel is commanding something. Like in the Beatitudes, it seems like it’s telling us, “You have to be poor in spirit, meek, merciful, and so on.” But no, the Gospel only writes about Christ. In Jesus’ mercy, he made the blind see, made the paralyzed able to walk, made the dead alive. In his mercy, he also makes blind souls see the truth of God’s Word, so that we know where our salvation is found. All the Gospel does is make promises. Jesus unites us to himself through his Word and powerful Sacraments, so that we receive his blessing, are called holy saints of God, and become children of God.