I forgot to mention that my beloved Bettina sent me a package for my baptism anniversary.  In it were three art projects for my refrigerator:  a ladybug, a frog, and a butterfly.  Oh, how well my friend knows me!  She also gave me a crucifix and a small envelope of bits of shells and glass they picked up from the beach whilst on their vacation--a way of telling me that she was thinking of me even then.  How well my dear sister of my heart loves me!

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I sat in the back pew again this morning, but watching the pastor walk all the way back up front after serving me the Lord's Supper, all I could think was that I need to not do so anymore.  Now, besides not being comfortable up front, I would also have the whole standing in the "reception" line for far too long.  However, if I were to sit up front, I could just exit out the "emergency" door at the front of the sanctuary.  But it is not like I have to greet the pastor upon leaving.  The door has a bit of a drop off, so I would have to remember that when I leave.  Maybe I could stick a note on the front of my hymnal...or ask if a discrete sign could be put up.  So, I would have more walking coming into the building, but less when I leave. And I would be less disruptive to the flow of the service, while not having to navigate the steps to the altar.

What I haven't figured out yet is how to make the pew less painful to sit in for the service.  


After church, I struggled to study Greek until I just gave up and crawled back into bed.  I am so very tired all the time.  This week at work was difficult and I have had so much on my mind, so much that I am trying to absorb and understand.  I slept nearly four hours before awaking once more.  When I did, I had a phone call with Vee.  The call had many twists and turns, with some bits about their being with me next Sunday as I publicly join the new parish and the next cardiac test I must endure and other bits about her life and her family and such.  And, of course, our mutual craving for a good sermon that properly divides Law and Gospel.  It is the Lord's Day, after all!

I finished the day with a bit of Luther.  In his commentary on Galatians, I found a wonderful teaching of the Word on chapter 2: 4-5....


Verses 4, 5. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Paul here explains his motive for going up to Jerusalem. He did not go to Jerusalem to be instructed or confirmed in his Gospel by the other apostles. He went to Jerusalem in order to preserve the true Gospel for the Galatian churches and for all the churches of the Gentiles.

When Paul speaks of the truth of the Gospel he implies by contrast a false gospel. The false apostles also had a gospel, but it was an untrue gospel. "In holding out against them," says Paul, "I conserved the truth of the pure Gospel."

Now the true Gospel has it that we are justified by faith alone, without the deeds of the Law. The false gospel has it that we are justified by faith, but not without the deeds of the Law. The false apostles preached a conditional gospel.

So do the papists. They admit that faith is the foundation of salvation. But they add the conditional clause that faith can save only when it is furnished with good works. This is wrong. The true Gospel declares that good works are the embellishment of faith, but that faith itself is the gift and work of God in our hearts. Faith is able to justify, because it apprehends Christ, the Redeemer.

Human reason can think only in terms of the Law. It mumbles: "This I have done, this I have not done." But faith looks to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, given into death for the sins of the whole world. To turn one's eyes away from Jesus means to turn them to the Law.

True faith lays hold of Christ and leans on Him alone. Our opponents cannot understand this. In their blindness they cast away the precious pearl, Christ, and hang onto their stubborn works. They have no idea what faith is. How can they teach faith to others?

Not satisfied with teaching an untrue gospel, the false apostles tried to entangle Paul. "They went about," says Paul, "to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage."

When Paul saw through their scheme, he attacked the false apostles. He says, "We did not let go of the liberty which we have in Christ Jesus. We routed them by the judgment of the apostles, and we would not give in to them, no, not an inch."

We too were willing to make all kinds of concessions to the papists. Yes, we are willing to offer them more than we should. But we will not give up the liberty of conscience which we have in Christ Jesus. We refuse to have our conscience bound by any work or law, so that by doing this or that we should be righteous, or leaving this or that undone we should be damned.

Since our opponents will not let it stand that only faith in Christ justifies, we will not yield to them. On the question of justification we must remain adamant, or else we shall lose the truth of the Gospel. It is a matter of life and death. It involves the death of the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world. If we surrender faith in Christ, as the only thing that can justify us, the death and resurrection of Jesus are without meaning; that Christ is the Savior of the world would be a myth. God would be a liar, because He would not have fulfilled His promises. Our stubbornness is right, because we want to preserve the liberty which we have in Christ. Only by preserving our liberty shall we be able to retain the truth of the Gospel inviolate.

Some will object that the Law is divine and holy. Let it be divine and holy. The Law has no right to tell me that I must be justified by it. The Law has the right to tell me that I should love God and my neighbor, that I should live in chastity, temperance, patience, etc. The Law has no right to tell me how I may be delivered from sin, death, and hell. It is the Gospel's business to tell me that. I must listen to the Gospel. It tells me, not what I must do, but what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has done for me.

To conclude, Paul refused to circumcise Titus for the reason that the false apostles wanted to compel him to circumcise Titus. Paul refused to accede to their demands. If they had asked it on the plea of brotherly love, Paul would not have denied them. But because they demanded it on the ground that it was necessary for salvation, Paul defied them, and prevailed. Titus was not circumcised.


Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief!