“But the Law is good, righteous, and holy.” Very well! But when we are involved in a discussion of justification, there is no room for speaking about the Law. The question is what Christ is and what blessing He has brought us. Christ is not the Law; He is not my work of that of the Law; He is not my love or that of the Law; He is not my chastity, obedience, or poverty. But He is the Lord of life and death, the Mediator and Savior of sinners, the Redeemer of those who are under the Law. By faith we are in Him and He is in us (John 6:56). The Bridegroom, Christ, must be alone with His bride in His private chamber, and all the family and household be shunted away. But later on, when the Bridegroom opens the door and comes out, then let the servants return to take care of them and serve them food and drink. The let works and love begin.

– Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, vol. 26: Lectures on Galatians 1535, pg. 137-138

Question:

Discuss the problems of confusing Christ and the Law. How can this sort of distinction both inform our understanding of what a sermon is for and what a sermon should do?