Move to the Head
of the Class by Rev. David Petersen The Fifth Petition And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
H I G H E R
T H I N G S __ 28
What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us. The Lord’s Prayer. Luther's Small Catechism © 1986 Concordia Publishing House. www.cph.org.Used with permission.
Distinguishing between the Law and the Gospel is the most fundamental theological task of the Christian. Luther famously said,“Whoever has mastered the art of distinguishing the Law from the Gospel should be moved to the front of the class and called a doctor of Holy Scriptures.” When I was a seventh grade confirmation student, I heard that quote, and I thought Luther was talking about me. It seemed so simple.The Law shows us our sins.The Gospel shows us our Savior. The Law commands and describes good works, and it forbids and describes sins.The Gospel pronounces God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ, the love of God, the Good News of declared righteousness.The Law exposes our need for salvation but cannot save us. But the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It actually delivers forgiveness. It declares us pleasing to God by grace. What is so hard about that? It wasn’t that I was unappreciative of Law and Gospel. I loved Law and Gospel. I loved what the distinction meant: that while I was a sinner, accused and condemned by the Law for my failure to live up to its perfect demands, I was nonetheless a saint of God in Christ Jesus, washed clean by His holy death and resurrection. Yet it amazed me that so many Christians were confused by this and thought they were talking about the Gospel when they were really talking about the Law. Were
