The Unaltered Gospel - Fifth Sunday of Epiphany

When young King Josiah rediscovered the forgotten Law in 2 Kings, it brought him to grief and repentance—just as Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 expose our failure to keep God’s commands. But Christ did not come merely to intensify the Law; he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, accomplishing the righteousness we lack and securing the promises we could never earn. In the unaltered gospel, we are freed from condemnation and raised to new life—so that, in him, our works become not desperate attempts at earning favor, but beautiful reflections of his grace.