Monday 29 October 2018

Reformation Sunday --- 28 October 2018


{This sermon was delivered at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Aylmer, ON}


Romans 8:19-28
   Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
§  How many times have we heard this passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans? It’s used every year for Reformation Day, and it is quite important. As often as we’ve heard it, I still wonder if I realize what it means.
§  The word “justification” is used. This is a legal term and usually means acquittal of charges. In this case, to be justified means to be freed from the punishment that follows sin and the guilt of sin. It is more than freed because it is freely given to all without distinction, even though all without distinction are undeserving.
§  This justification is tied to both faith and righteousness. The righteousness is God’s – not ours - and we see it with the eyes of faith.
§  This justification comes through faith, but it is not earned by faith as a deserved reward for believing.
§  More likely, we might say it is “realized” or “discovered” by faith. Faith in the promises of God in Jesus Christ permits us to know and to see such justification. Think of it in this way: Imagine your surprise when opening an unexpected gift on Christmas and finding there something precious to you.
§  Where there is no realization that it –justification - is there, there could be no acceptance or ownership of it. We could not realize what a gift it is unless we see it as a gift.
§  Through faith, there is knowledge of God’s grace, acceptance of what God offers and has done, and trust in what God has promised us as a gift.
§  And what a surprising gift it is! It is unmerited. It is undeserved. And it is unlooked-for.
§  Salvation costs nothing. It is a gift that requires no price or payment. Gratitude and discipleship are the lifestyle that flows from it. When we get down to it, discipleship may come to cost everything. There are those whom we celebrate on our church calendar for whom discipleship took the last measure of devotion, as has been said.
§  This is not a Lutheran thing only. It has been recognized as a belief of Christians worldwide, although some some churches put the emphasis on different idea.
§  For example, a few years ago, Roman Catholics and many Lutherans agreed upon what is known as the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ). In it the two churches outlined the area on which they agreed, including but not limited to these two statements.
§  We confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.
§  We confess together that all persons depend completely on the saving grace of God for their salvation. Justification takes place solely by God's grace.
§  This sort of understanding of faith, grace, and justification is quite alien to the culture in which we find ourselves, a culture that spotlights riches, power, achievement, and self-glorification. The idea of a free gift leading to eternal life is not easily comprehended by a society that counts success in dollars, counts honour in numbers of trophies, or counts the value of a human person in what use they are to those who would use up and then discard them.
§  So how does it feel to be part of the counter-culture?
§  Some may ask “But I don’t feel forgiven! I don’t feel justified! I still feel guilty!” Actually this is a very human thing, and some might take it as an attack by forces of evil in our lives. It could be both.
§  Here is something that Martin Luther said that may remind us of where our confidence and, really, our faith should lie:
§  You should not believe your conscience and your feelings more than the word which the Lord who receives sinners preaches to you.
§  So who do we trust? Ourselves… who are afraid of mice and carved pumpkins? Or the one who made us (yes, and the mice and the pumpkins), who saved us at the price of his blood, and who calls us and welcomes us everyday? The answer is easy to say, although it might be tough to swallow.
§  Remember…
For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
W

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