Bible Studies

Following in the footsteps of St. Paul, Luther and the Reformers sought true peace and unity in the Church through the pure proclamation of the Gospel.

In Galatians 5:16-17 St. Paul describes the conflict, within the believer, between the flesh and the Spirit, which are opposed to each other. Luther writes, “When someone becomes aware of this battle of the flesh...

Instead of preaching the Gospel of forgiveness and salvation by grace through faith in Christ, apart from works of the Law (Gal. 3:16), the false teachers in Galatia were peddling a religion of works based on the Law.

In chapter 4 of Galatians, St. Paul uses Sarah and Hagar to illustrate that salvation comes not by works of the law, but according to the promise of God. In the final verse...

The propensity of the sinner is to trust in the visible works of the Law; to place our confidence in our own deeds, rather than the saving act of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

In the first seven verses of chapter 4, St. Paul lays out a beautiful description of how “in the fullness of time God sent forth his Son...

“Am I really saved? Am I doing enough? Will God even recognize my good works on Judgment Day?” These sorts of questions are born out of the Law, which always demands and never gives.

Distinguishing between the Law and the Gospel is one of the highest and most precious arts which every Christian would do well to learn.

From Adam to Abraham, from Moses to Paul, and to you and me God has always justified sinners in the same way—by faith.

The Holy Spirit is not simply the initial cause of faith but continues to be at work in the life of the Church keeping us in the faith by the proclamation of the Word and through that faith the Lord declares us to be righteous and heirs of eternal life.

The false teachers in Galatia were, as Luther says, “Changing the Law into grace and grace into Law, Moses into Christ and Christ into Moses. For they teach that...

At the end of the Holy Communion, the Church prays, “we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another…”