Luther on Union with Christ

Through Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians I realized that the Law was one of his mortal enemies. I could feel Luther's pulse rising as he unpacked the undoing of the Law with Christ's death. Luther taught me today that Paul cries, "I have nothing to do with the Law! I don't care for it at all, in fact I am dead to the Law." In Christ, the Law has no place as a barometer of our "okayness." Once we are united with Christ through faith, his unflinching perfection becomes the decisive indicator of our "okayness."

"[Jesus] permitted the Law to accuse Him, sin to condemn Him, and death to take Him, to abolish the Law, to condemn sin, and to destroy death for me." - Martin Luther, on Galatians 2:19

Luther says we live in Christ as we look at Christ, it has its effect.

"When we look at ourselves we find plenty of sin. But when we look at Christ, we have no sin. Whenever we separate the person of Christ from our own person, we live under the Law and not in Christ; we are condemned by the Law, dead before God." - Luther, on Galatians 2:20

Works are necessary, but no more necessary as being united to Christ is to receive all the good of the gospel.

"Good works are not the cause, but the fruit of righteousness. When we have become righteous, then first are we able and willing to do good. The tree makes the apple; the apple does not make the tree." - Luther, on Galatians 2:20