{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
