We completed lesson 6 (“Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God”) in Gospel Transformation this morning at Bible study, and I feel that it is such a pivotal lesson in the study.  The discussion question at the beginning of the lesson is this:

When you sin, does God still love you? 

The answer, of course, is “yes!”  But we often put qualifiers on the yes such as…

…Yes he still loves you, if you’re genuinely remorseful.

…Yes he still loves you, if you turn from your sin.

…Yes he still loves you, if you make a plan to change.

In reality, these qualifiers cheapen Christ’s work on the cross.  They are, in essence, saying that Christ’s death PLUS something else is what pays the penalty for our sins.  And they serve to emphasize the Law, legalism, and our own efforts rather than Christ’s complete, atoning sacrifice.

Martin Luther says:

“To give a short definition of a Christian: A Christian is not somebody who has no sin, but somebody against whom God no longer chalks sin, because of his faith in Christ. This doctrine brings comfort to consciences in serious trouble. When a person is a Christian he is above law and sin. When the Law accuses him, and sin wants to drive the wits out of him, a Christian looks to Christ. A Christian is free. He has no master except Christ. A Christian is greater than the whole world.”

            – Martin Luther, Galatians Commentary