# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1851 10 14_S30
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

30

speak. For since, according to the Word of God, an unconverted man is dead in sins, unfit for everything good, and full of hatred toward God, he cannot possibly will the good out of his own strength; for Christ says: Without me ye can do nothing. John 15, 5. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. 2, 13. Furthermore, the words of v. 22: I delight in the law of God after the inward man, can be understood only of one born again; for in an unconverted man there is as yet no inward or new man at all, but only spiritual death.

The Apostle now describes the inner life of the regenerate as a conflict between Spirit and flesh in the words of vv. 21—23. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Further Gal. 5, 24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Thus the believing and sanctified also still have the evil, sinful flesh about them, for otherwise they could not crucify it. 1 Cor. 9, 27. I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. The reason why the Apostle kept under and subdued his body, that is, held it in discipline by temperance, was none other than to prevent the stirring up of evil fleshly lusts and desires, by the carrying out of which he would have made himself a castaway. Thus he too still had sin within him to combat.

5. He who is without sin can also fulfil the law of God; but now Holy Scripture testifies that no man can perfectly fulfil the law; therefore there is no such grace of sanctification as would make a man already perfect in this life. Rom. 3, 3. What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, etc.

6. He who is perfect needs no exhortation to become perfect. But since all Christians without distinction are exhorted to sanctification, it follows that none among them is already perfectly holy in this life. Heb. 12, 14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Eph. 4, 23. 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

7. The Apostle Paul confesses of himself that he had not yet attained the goal of perfect sinlessness, in that he says, Phil. 3, 12—15. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.—In the Apostle's times there was no lack of false prophets, who boasted of great holiness, for which reason the Apostle felt called upon to exhort: Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. Col. 2, 18. In addition, the Apostle stood in high esteem among Christians, so that perhaps some fell into the opinion that the Apostle had surely already reached the goal of perfection, was already sinless and perfect. To all this the Apostle now opposes himself, vv. 7—11., and testifies that over against Christ he counts all things loss and dung, and that Christ is his All in All and his righteousness. After the Apostle has thus praised the Lord Christ, he humbles himself and testifies in the plainest words that he has not yet seized the prize of the contest and is not yet perfect. He will not, then, bring himself into the repute of being a great saint; rather he declines all honor of his own in the most decided manner and confesses himself a sinner. And this humility is in him not merely a pious show, but the most sincere earnestness. Therefore, as he calls himself, Eph. 3, 8, less than the least of all saints, and 1 Tim. 1, 15, the chief of sinners, so he repeats with great emphasis: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, in order that we should rightly understand him, that he does not hold himself for a perfect saint, but for a poor sinner, who seeks his righteousness not in his works, but solely in Christ. Thereby God would move us also to humility. If the Apostle abases himself and says he has not yet attained the goal of sinlessness, it would be the greatest blindness and pride if we should boast of it. At the same time, however, the Apostle testifies to one thing, that he pursues with all zeal the goal set before him, his perfection. As a runner does not look about him to reckon complacently the stretch he has already run, but, stretching himself forward unceasingly, hastens to the goal: so also the Apostle forgets what is behind, that is, he does not look back complacently upon how far he has already come in Christianity, not upon his good works, nor upon his virtues, nor upon the stage of sanctification which he has already attained: all that which is behind he forgets; only the one thing he has in view, the shining goal of the crown of righteousness, toward that he stretches himself, that he pursues unceasingly. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, he continues, be thus minded. Therein, then, consists Christian perfection and the ripened manhood in Christ, that we confess Christ as our righteousness, recognize our own imperfection, and with all zeal pursue sanctification.

Our sanctification is therefore in this life not completed all at once, nor at a set time, but it is to grow and increase constantly; let us grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Eph. 4, 15. God shall multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 2 Cor. 9, 10. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 3 Pet. 3, 18. This growth in sanctification is now to take place through daily renewal. Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Cor. 4, 16. This renewal is God's work, in that God preserves us in faith through His Holy Spirit and drives us to all that is good, and at the same time also our work, when we willingly follow the impulse of the Holy Spirit, faithfully use the means of grace, pray diligently, penitently ask God's pardon for the sins committed through weakness, resist evil lusts, and apply ourselves to all virtue.

In conclusion we cite yet a few words from Luther, Erl. Ed. Vol. 24, p. 73.: This life is not a godliness, but a becoming godly, not a health, but a becoming healthy; not a being, but a becoming; not a rest, but a restlessness. We are not yet it, but we shall be; it is not yet done and finished, but it is in motion and in swing. It is not the end, but it is the way; not everything yet glows and gleams, but everything is being swept clean.

Herrmann Fick.

Comfort from the Catechism.*)

From his Small Catechism for children, which one is wont otherwise to call a little Bible, any man can make a little book of comfort in this manner: Take before thee, thou comfort-craving heart, in thy Catechism, from the holy Ten Commandments the beginning of them: I am the Lord thy God! Consider with devotion what is contained in these short words, namely a general promise of the great Lord of heaven and earth, that He will do for us all that a God ought to do; we shall experience that He does not in vain demand of us that we fear, love, and trust Him above all things, and look about for no other god, for He would be God enough to us. If He had said: I am the Lord thy King, thy Father, thy Physician, thy Deliverer and Preserver, thy Nurse and Provider, thy

*) From Christian Scriver's Seelen-Schatz.