And this is, I think a really important point, or we'll turn faith into a work and the

gospel into law.

We think what we're doing is presenting something before people and offering it to them.

And then their faith is the one little work we're asking of them in order for that fact,

that indicative we're talking about to actually be theirs.

God doesn't work that way with words.

Faith comes by hearing the gospel.

It's not that faith is a condition for receiving what the gospel teaches,

but that the teaching itself, as it's being taught, as God is proclaiming justification,

he's justifying.

He's giving us the faith to receive it.

Applying the riches of the Reformation to the modern church, this is White Horse Sin,

a weekly, round table discussion about theology and culture.

God once told us through the prophet Isaiah that his thoughts are not our thoughts,

nor are his ways our ways.

And this is certainly evident in the way in which we tend to think about the order of our lives.

Let's just take life itself, for example.

In our experience, life comes before death.

Or think about those who are exalted in society.

You have to earn your place.

You must work to be welcomed into your boss's good favor.

Hard work comes before acceptance and reward.

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