I'll be posting some quotes from Luther's Commentary on Galatians that I've found to be a source of Gospel comfort. Hope you do, as well.
In his introductory section, "The Argument of the Epistle to the Galatians," Luther contrasts the various forms of "active righteousness" - i.e., what we do - with the passive righteousness of the Gospel - i.e., what Christ has done for us through His Cross and obedience to God's Law on our behalf. This righteousness is a gift imputed to us by God, received by faith alone, and the sole basis of our acceptance with God as our Judge. Here are some quotes from that section:
"The troubled conscience, in view of God’s
judgment, has no remedy against desperation and eternal death, unless it takes
hold of the forgiveness of sins by grace, freely offered in Christ Jesus, which
if it can apprehend, it may then be at rest. Then it can boldly say: I seek not
active or working righteousness, for if I had it, I could not trust it, neither
dare I set it against the judgment of God. Then I abandon myself from all
active righteousness, both of my own and of God’s law, and embrace only that passive
righteousness, which is the righteousness of grace, mercy, and forgiveness of
sins."
"When I see a man oppressed with the law, terrified with sin, and thirsting for comfort, it is time that I remove out of his sight the law and active righteousness, and set before him, by the gospel, the Christian or passive righteousness, which offers the promise made in Christ, who came for the afflicted and sinners."
"But if there is any fear, or grief of conscience, it is a token that this righteousness is withdrawn, that grace is hidden, and that Christ is darkened and out of sight. But where Christ is truly seen, there must be full and perfect joy in the Lord, with peace of conscience, which thinks this way: Although I am a sinner by the law and under condemnation of the law, yet I despair not, yet I die not, because Christ lives, who is both my righteousness and my everlasting life. In that righteousness and life I have no sin, no fear, no sting of conscience, no care of death. I am indeed a sinner as touching this present life, and the righteousness thereof, as a child of Adam. But I have another righteousness and life, above this life, which is Christ the Son of God, who knows no sin, no death, but is righteousness and life eternal; by whom this my body, being dead and brought to dust, shall be raised up again, and delivered from the bondage of the law and sin, and shall be sanctified together with my spirit."
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