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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: poor straying sheep, and instruct them in the spirit of meekness. They
cannot be straightened out in any other way. Oversharp criticism provokes
anger and despair, but no repentance. And here let us note, by the way, that
true doctrine always produces concord. When men embrace errors, the tie
of Christian love is broken.
At the beginning of the Reformation we were honored as the true ministers
of Christ. Suddenly certain false brethren began to hate us. We had given
them no offense, no occasion to hate us. They knew then as they know
now that ours is the singular desire to publish the Gospel of Christ
everywhere. What changed their attitude toward us? False doctrine.
Seduced into error by the false apostles, the Galatians refused to
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