"In the fourth place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when the Law is preached to those who are already in terror on account of their sins, or the Gospel to those who live securely in their sins." C. F. W. Walther, Thesis 8.
Jesus tells lots of stories. One of His stories includes two people. One is a person who is a leader in the religious establishment, who thanks God that he is not like other people, murderers, swindlers, etc, or even the poor tax collector that he also sees in the place of worship. It seems pretty clear that this man's heart looks at his life and doesn't really see much wrong. He doesn't see himself as a sinful person who needs God's redeeming, but instead, as someone who is do all right for himself.
The other person in the story is a despised tax collector. While we know practically no details of this man, it's likely that he knew that he had cheated others for his income, and that he had supported the work of the foreign government who held power of his people. He couldn't even look up to God, but instead, simply asked God's forgiveness for a poor, miserable sinner like himself.
Quite the contrast with these two. And quite the challenge for administering the law and the gospel. It's likely that we would look at the religious leader and not see much in his life for which he would need the law. He would seem a prime candidate to whom to focus a Gospel message. Yet, as Jesus sees it, that's the wrong thing this man needs. He needs the reminder that he has wandered far from God, and that any sin, no matter how big or small, separates him from God. The Gospel has little meaning, as he doesn't see himself as a really sinful person in need of God's redeeming.
We might make the opposite mistake with the tax collector. Here, we see a man who is knowingly doing things that God has said is wrong. Our inclination is likely to point out how he is breaking God's law, and calling for him to repent and mend his ways. Yet, as Jesus sees it, this man's heart has already been crushed by the law. He instead needs the reminder that he is valued by God, and that God would seek to redeem him.
It's very rare that an outward look at someone's life will show you if they need the Law or the Gospel declared to them. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that we all have parts of our lives where we need a Law message, and other parts where we need a comforting Gospel message. In many ways, it's very interesting that God seems most harsh on His people, but when we think about it, it makes sense. They should know their sin, and they should know what their sin calls for. They should be the most humble, appreciative people in the world. And yet, we tend to see that our hearts far too often are like those of the religious leader.
At the same time, we see the many around us who are blatantly living in violation of God's Law, and we want to see a stern Law message delivered to them. Yet, how often could that stubbornness that we see in them really be hiding the fact that they are broken down, beaten up people who are desperately looking for some reason to have hope. They may need a Gospel message more than many others.
What it boils down to is relationships. The better we know a person, the more we know if they need a Law message or a Gospel message. If we give the wrong one, we either cause a self-righteous person to think even more highly of themselves, or we beat down someone with God's law when they are already beaten down. The wrong medicine isn't just problematic, it kills.
Jesus tells lots of stories. One of His stories includes two people. One is a person who is a leader in the religious establishment, who thanks God that he is not like other people, murderers, swindlers, etc, or even the poor tax collector that he also sees in the place of worship. It seems pretty clear that this man's heart looks at his life and doesn't really see much wrong. He doesn't see himself as a sinful person who needs God's redeeming, but instead, as someone who is do all right for himself.
The other person in the story is a despised tax collector. While we know practically no details of this man, it's likely that he knew that he had cheated others for his income, and that he had supported the work of the foreign government who held power of his people. He couldn't even look up to God, but instead, simply asked God's forgiveness for a poor, miserable sinner like himself.
Quite the contrast with these two. And quite the challenge for administering the law and the gospel. It's likely that we would look at the religious leader and not see much in his life for which he would need the law. He would seem a prime candidate to whom to focus a Gospel message. Yet, as Jesus sees it, that's the wrong thing this man needs. He needs the reminder that he has wandered far from God, and that any sin, no matter how big or small, separates him from God. The Gospel has little meaning, as he doesn't see himself as a really sinful person in need of God's redeeming.
We might make the opposite mistake with the tax collector. Here, we see a man who is knowingly doing things that God has said is wrong. Our inclination is likely to point out how he is breaking God's law, and calling for him to repent and mend his ways. Yet, as Jesus sees it, this man's heart has already been crushed by the law. He instead needs the reminder that he is valued by God, and that God would seek to redeem him.
It's very rare that an outward look at someone's life will show you if they need the Law or the Gospel declared to them. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that we all have parts of our lives where we need a Law message, and other parts where we need a comforting Gospel message. In many ways, it's very interesting that God seems most harsh on His people, but when we think about it, it makes sense. They should know their sin, and they should know what their sin calls for. They should be the most humble, appreciative people in the world. And yet, we tend to see that our hearts far too often are like those of the religious leader.
At the same time, we see the many around us who are blatantly living in violation of God's Law, and we want to see a stern Law message delivered to them. Yet, how often could that stubbornness that we see in them really be hiding the fact that they are broken down, beaten up people who are desperately looking for some reason to have hope. They may need a Gospel message more than many others.
What it boils down to is relationships. The better we know a person, the more we know if they need a Law message or a Gospel message. If we give the wrong one, we either cause a self-righteous person to think even more highly of themselves, or we beat down someone with God's law when they are already beaten down. The wrong medicine isn't just problematic, it kills.
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