Epiphanies For Epiphany - Law & Gospel

We find ourselves in the season of Epiphany, a time of discovery and insight.  Throughout this liturgical season we are invited to allow the light of Christ to illumine our hearts and minds as we grow in faith and come to know Jesus more personally.  These devotionals looks at six different “epiphanies” from my personal journey of faith. Through scripture, quotes, and our life of worship, we will explore each "epiphany" from a number of different angles.

For a long time, I heard the Ten Commandments and the words of Jesus as pressure. As expectations. As proof of whether I was doing faith “right” or not. But the Gospel has taught me something different. In Christ, God’s commands are no longer weapons held over us, but gifts given to us for living in the freedom Christ has already won.

"The Law" is what helps us to see how our life is out of alignment and thus helps us to more fully understand the Good News ("The Gospel") of Jesus Christ.

What is the Law and Gospel? 
Many often see the Law as a list of things we ought to do, but Martin Luther reminds us that the Law invites us to adept our lives to its instructions; to see the Law as a guide toward living our lives more in tune with God's desires for our life.

Where do we see the Law and Gospel in Worship?
On most Sundays we pray our way through a time of Confession and Forgiveness. During this portion of our worship service we, as a community, come before God to repent of our faults and to ask God for forgiveness. This happens at the beginning of our worship service to remind us that we are all struggling to live in The Way of Jesus. But it is then followed by a pronouncement of God's forgiveness, reminding us that the knowledge and admission of our sin is always followed by God's forgiveness and grace.