THE GREAT PHYSICIAN
Colossians 1:21-22 Once you were alienated from God and were
enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled
you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight,
without blemish and free from accusation--
A Christian
is righteous and a sinner at the same time – both a friend and an enemy of God.
The philosophers will not admit this paradox because they do not accept the
right way of becoming justified. That’s why they demand that people keep on
doing good works until they don’t feel sin anymore. This teaching has caused
many people to become very distraught, because they have strived as much as
they could to become completely righteous but could never achieve it. Even
among those who spread this godless teaching, countless numbers of them have
fallen into despair in their hour of death. This would have happened to me if
Christ had not mercifully looked upon me and freed me from this error.
In contrast,
we teach and comfort troubled sinners this way: Dear brothers and sisters, it’s
impossible for you to become so righteous in this life that you won’t feel sin
anymore. It’s impossible for your body to become as bright and spotless as the
sun. Though you still have wrinkles and spots, in spite of this, you are holy.
But you may wonder, “how can I be holy since I sin and feel sinful?”
Recognizing and feeling your sin is good. Thank God, and don’t despair. It’s a
step toward health whenever a sick person recognizes his disease. “But how can
I be feed from sin?” you wonder. Run to Christ, the Physician who heals the
broken hearted (Psalm 147:3). He makes sinners holy.
Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional, By Martin Luther. January 25.