3. For this very reason, when we follow evangelical practice, we do not discard the Law or make its edges dull through bringing in the Gospel, but we rather preach it with all the more seriousness in its full severity, however, in evangelical fashion.
4. The Law is used in an evangelical way if it is employed solely for the purpose of preparing the soil for the evangelical message (the Gospel) and of submitting a divine norm for the manifestations of the new life that spontaneously arises through the evangelical message.
Relying on the Gospel does not mean that we reject the law. In fact it means that we preach it with earnestness. The Gospel lesson ( Matthew 5:21–37) for this week is a prime example. In his Preface to his Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, Luther points out that his opponents say, “Christian teaching would have much too hard a time of it if it were loaded down with things like this.” But we understand that Jesus meant exactly what He said in His Sermon on the Mount, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire."
We along with the Pharisees must come to understand that the mountain of keeping the Law is too great even for those who have the best intentions. We must rely solely and completely on the work of Christ for Salvation. The only solution to the deadliness of Sin is faith in Christ. Without a full and complete proclamation of the Law, we will always be tempted to also avoid the foolishness of the cross.
However When we believe and trust in the sweet message of forgiveness, life and salvation through faith in Christ, we are more than willing to live the new life that has been born anew in us by the working of the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments.
Schwan's Propositions on Unevangelical Practice - 1862
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