God Purifies Us

[GHansen]

Sin is attended by two evils: First, it takes us captive. In its power we

are incapable of doing good, of desiring or even recognizing good. Sin thus

robs us of power, freedom and light. The second evil attendant upon sin is

the natural outcome of the first: we forsake good to engage only in iniquity

and impurity, tilling with hard and heavy labor the land of wicked Pharaoh

in Egypt. But when, through faith, Christ comes, he liberates from the

bondage of Egypt and gives power to do good. That power is our first

gain.

Afterward, the effort of our entire lives should be to purge from body

and soul unrighteous, unregenerate, and worldly conduct. Until death our

lives should be nothing but purification. While it is true that faith instantly

redeems from all legal guilt and sets free, yet evil desires remain in body

and soul, as odor and disease cling to a dungeon. Faith occupies itself with

purifying from these. Typical of this principle, Lazarus in the Gospel was

raised from the dead by a single word (John 11:44), but afterward the

shroud and napkin had to be removed. And the half-dead man whose

wounds the Samaritan bound up and whom the Samaritan carried home,

had to remain in the inn until he was restored.

Lenker, John Nicholas, translator. Sermons of Martin Luther, vol.6 pp. 111,112. By Martin Luther, Publisher unknown, ~1909.