Do Not Be Misled

Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
GALATIANS 4:9
+
Do Not Be Misled
Therefore, do not be misled by the hypocrites who despise faith, who place your salvation far away from you, and who urge you to get it by works. No, dear friend, it is within you; everything has already been done, as Christ says, "The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21). Therefore, the rest of life after Baptism is nothing more than a looking forward to, a waiting, and a longing for the revelation of what is in us, so that we may take hold of what has taken hold of us, as St. Paul says, "I pursue it to take hold of it, because Christ Jesus has taken hold of me" (Philippians 3:12), that is, that I may see what good things have been put into the shrine of faith. He is curious to see his treasure, which Baptism has given and sealed to him in faith. So he goes on to say, "Our citizenship is already in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21).

From the Church Postil, sermon for the Second Day of Christmas on Titus 3:4-8 (Luther's Works 75:237)