"We Are Justified By Gospel-Faith . Not Law-Works!"
Before I launch into today's sermon, I offer sincere compliments and
congratulations to the Saint Louis Cardinals for winning the 2011 World
Series against tremendous odds. I doff my Texas Rangers cap to baseball's
2011 World Champions, the Saint Louis Cardinals! By the way, as Pastor
Marks alluded to in his sermon last weekend, the paraments that adorn the
chancel area liturgical furniture and the stoles that he and I are wearing
are red due to the Reformation festival that we're celebrating . not the
Saint Louis Cardinals. J Now to my sermon.
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. [Amen.]
"Thy work alone, O Christ, Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, Can give me peace within.
"Thy grace alone, O God, To me can pardon speak;
Thy pow'r alone, O Son of God, Can this sore bondage break."
(Lutheran Service Book. Copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis, MO. 567:3, 5)
Epistle Reading................................................ Romans
3:19-28 (esp. 27-28)
"27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law?
By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that one is
justified by faith apart from works of the law."
Prologue: "Sola" is a Latin-language word that means "only" or "alone." We
get our English word "solo" from it . a word that refers to the activity of
a person singing a song alone.
The great classical music composers Johann Sebastian Bach and
George Frederick Handel wrote the letters "SDG" on many of their musical
compositions. Those letters stand for "Soli (a form of the word 'Sola') Deo
Gloria" . Latin-language words that mean "Glory to God alone."
The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther identified three "solas" that
formed the foundation of what he discovered to be the truth about God's free
gifts of forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life. His discovery
came from his personal reading and studying of God's Holy Word, the Bible.
He learned that those precious gifts are a result of grace alone from Christ
alone, faith alone in Christ alone, and Scripture alone about Christ alone.
Perhaps you realize that the one or more hymn stanzas that I read
at the beginning of my sermons contain something that significantly relates
to the theme and content of my sermons. That's certainly true about the two
stanzas that I just read. They declare the distinct message that only what
God through Jesus Christ alone has done has gained salvation or peace with
God for us. It's especially interesting to note the emphasis on the word
"alone" that appeared four times in stanzas three and five.
You see, that echoes the three "solas" that I stated earlier that
accurately communicate God's love for us. He rescued, redeemed, and
reconciled us by grace alone from Christ alone, through faith alone in
Christ alone, and revealed to us in Scripture alone about Christ alone. It's
all about Christ alone, who is our Lord and Savior . whose holy life,
innocent suffering, crucifixion death, and majestic resurrection from the
dead accomplished for us what we could not accomplish for ourselves, namely,
those awesomely wonderful gifts of forgiveness of sins, salvation, and
eternal life.
Saint Paul communicated that to his readers then and us today,
namely, that .
"We aRe Justified by Gospel-Faith . Not Law-Works!"
Although our American society and culture emphasizes Halloween,
this Monday, October 31, 2011, is more importantly and significantly
"Reformation Day." A brief summary about it reveals that "On October 31,
1517, an Augustinian monk posted ninety-five statements for discussion on
the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Dr. Martin Luther
[was that monk who] hoped that posting his theses would bring about an
academic debate regarding repentance, the sale of indulgences, and other
matters of concern within the Roman Catholic Church. However, Rome
eventually excommunicated Luther, judging him to be a heretic. Luther's
reforms, centered on the teaching that a believer is justified by grace
[alone] through faith [alone] in Jesus Christ [alone], sparked religious
reforms not only in the German states but also in many European countries.
In 1667, Elector John George II of Saxony [the home of our Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod's forefathers] standardized the custom of observing
Luther's October 31 posting of the Ninety-five Theses." (Treasury of Daily
Prayer. Scott A. Kinnaman, General Editor. Copyright © 2008 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 868.)
Luther further discovered that the entire contents of the Bible
are contained in the two doctrines of Law and Gospel. As we now consider
those two basic teachings, we recall that .
I. The Law Reveals Our Sin and Makes Us Accountable To God. (19-20)
19Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under
the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held
accountable to God. 20For by works of the law no human being will be
justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
God's written Word, the Holy Bible, is all about His living Word,
Jesus Christ. The Holy Bible can be divided into the chronological (time
sequence) sections of Old and New Testaments as well as the doctrinal (major
teaching) sections of Law and Gospel. The Old and New Testaments are
divided by the single event of our Savior's incarnate birth in Bethlehem
with the Old Testament leading up to that event and the New Testament
following after it. However, the doctrines of Law and Gospel are present in
both Testaments.
In order to correctly capture the full meaning of God's written
Word, the discerning reader must recognize the difference between the Law
and the Gospel. To that end, we know that "The Law teaches what we are to
do and not to do; . shows us our sin and the wrath of God; . [and] must be
proclaimed to all people, but especially to impenitent sinners . ." (Luther's
Small Catechism with Explanation [English Standard Version]. Copyright ©
1986, 1991, 2005 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 101.) In
essence, the Law reveals our sin and makes us accountable to God, who
demands that we "shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." (Lev 19:2
ESV) In fact, Saint James, about whom Pastor Marks told us last weekend,
declared that "whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one
point is guilty of breaking all of it." (James 2:10 NIV) Saint Paul
declared the disastrous result of such when he wrote, "For the wages of sin
is death, ." (Rom 6:23 ESV) and "For all who rely on works of the law are
under a curse; for it is written [in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy],
'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of
the Law, and do them.'" (Gal 3:10 ESV)
King David revealed the sad reality that "[We] have all turned
aside; together [we] have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not
even one." (Ps 14:3 ESV) What complicates this dismal situation for many
people is unrepentant denial of sin-guiltiness about which Saint John
declared, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us." (1 John 1:8 ESV) In today's contemporary society that
unrepentant denial occurs when people continue allowing anything or anyone
to be in the place of God, especially "when [they] do not attend public
worship [when not prevented from doing so by anything within their power]; .
do not use the Word of God and the Sacraments; . [or] use the Word of God
and the Sacraments negligently or carelessly" (Luther's Small Catechism with
Explanation [English Standard Version]. Page 70.) That denial also occurs
when people unrepentantly misuse God's holy name by speaking it uselessly or
carelessly; disobey God-ordained authorities by cohabiting without being
legally married; hurt or harm someone physically, verbally, or emotionally;
engage in homosexual activity or sexual intercourse outside of marriage; use
obscenity or pornographic materials; and whatever else transgresses God's
Holy Law as summarized by the Ten Commandments.
The ultimate result of our guilt-laden condition is what we stated
in the confession of sins earlier in today's worship liturgy, "We justly
deserve [God's] present and eternal punishment." (Lutheran Service Book.
Page 151.) Luther said it this way in his commentary on Saint Paul's Letter
to the Romans: "The Law declares all men to be unrighteous, in order that
through this very judgment all may confess themselves to be unrighteous, no
longer regard themselves righteous and no longer boast of their
righteousness, but acknowledge themselves guilty before God. . man, forced
by the Law and obeying it unwillingly, sees how deeply sin and evil are
rooted in his soul. He would never notice this, if he did not have the Law
and would not try to follow it." (Martin Luther translated by J. Theodore
Mueller in Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. Copyright © 1954
Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted in 1976, from the
5th printing, by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI as Commentary on
Romans, under special arrangements with the copyright owner. Pages 75f.)
Thanks be to God, however, that He did not abandon us to our
sinful uncleanness and eternal damnation in the fiery pits of hell. For
Saint Paul goes on to inform us that, in contrast to the Law, .
II. The Gospel Reveals God's Gracious Redemption in Christ Jesus.
(21-26)
21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-22the righteousness of
God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no
distinction: 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and
are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be
received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his
divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26It was to show his
righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the
justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
That's good news! When pondering that good news we recall that
"the Gospel teaches us what God [alone] has done, and still does, for our
salvation; . shows us our Savior and the grace of God; . [and] must be
proclaimed to sinners who are troubled in their minds because of their
sins." (Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation [English Standard
Version]. Page 101.)
It's what we heard from God through Pastor Marks' mouth following
our confession of sins when he comfortingly assured us that "Almighty God in
His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all
your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His
authority, I therefore forgive you all you sins in the name of the Father
and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Lutheran Service Book. Page
151.) After all, "God offers the forgiveness of sins only in the Gospel,
the good news that we are freed from the guilt, the punishment, and the
power of sin, and are saved eternally because of Christ's keeping the Law
and His suffering and death for us." (Luther's Small Catechism with
Explanation [English Standard Version]. Page 100.)
Saint Paul stated earlier in his letter to the Romans that "the
gospel [alone] . is the power of God for salvation to everyone who
believes . . For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith
[alone] for faith . ." (Rom 1:16-17 ESV) In addition, he wrote to the
Galatians that "Christ [alone] redeemed us from the curse of the law by
becoming a curse for us-for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged
on a tree'-so that in Christ Jesus [alone] . we might receive the promised
Spirit through faith [alone]." (Gal 3:13-14 ESV) And, he wrote to the
Colossians that "[God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and
transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom [alone] we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Col 1:13-14 ESV)
Martin Luther wrote about this that "God does not justify us
freely by His grace [alone] in such a way that he did not demand any
atonement to be made (for our sins), for He gave Jesus Christ [alone] into
death for us, in order that he might atone for our sins. So now He
justifies freely by His grace [alone] those who have been redeemed by His
Son . ." (Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. Page 78.)
The practical application and benefit can be summed up as follows:
"Paul's teaching of general justification, or objective justification as it
is sometimes called, has far-reaching implications. It is really the heart
of the gospel. Think of what it implies for you personally. If all sinners
are justified, then surely you are too-despite all the sins and shortcomings
that Satan argues should disqualify you. . God assures you that his grace
[alone] is for all, including you. Righteousness from God is there-to be
accepted by faith [alone]." (Armin J. Panning in Romans. Copyright © 2000
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 61.)
Like a conveyer belt that moves items from one place to another,
God transports His grace-gifts of forgiveness of sins, salvation, and
eternal life to us in His Holy Word, Holy Absolution, Holy Baptism, and Holy
Communion. The result is that we are now saints-people whom God has
declared holy because Christ's holy blood that He shed unto a holy death on
Calvary's unholy cross "cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7 ESV)
It's now our joy and delight to strive by the Holy Spirit's power
alone to live holy lives by avoiding those sins we previously committed and
doing God-pleasing deeds that we formerly neglected. We do so in the
freedom from Satan, the world, and our own sinful selves that Jesus referred
to when He said in today's Gospel Reading, "If you abide in my word [alone],
you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free. So if the Son [alone] sets you free, you will be free
indeed." (John 8:31-32, 36 ESV) We also do so as we gratefully "Fear God
and give him glory, . and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and
the springs of water." (Rev 14:7 ESV) After all, "Great is the Lord and
greatly to be praised in the city of our God!" So we "tell the next
generation that this is God, our God forever and ever." (Ps 48:1a, 14a)
In conclusion, the Reverend Doctor C. F. W. Walther, whose 200th
birthday was this past Tuesday, October 25, is revered as the father of The
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He served as its first president from 1847
to 1850 and then again from 1864 to 1878.
In 1839 he emigrated from Saxony, Germany, with other Lutherans,
who settled here in Perry County, Missouri. He served as pastor of several
congregations in Saint Louis, founded Concordia Seminary, and in 1847 was
instrumental in the formation of what was then called the Evangelical
Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States.
He worked tirelessly to promote confessional Lutheran teaching and
doctrinal agreement among all Lutherans in the United States. He was a
prolific writer and speaker. Among his most influential works is one
entitled The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel, in which he
emphasized the importance of accurately identifying and properly applying
those two major doctrines of God's Holy Word.
As did Luther before Walther and Saint Paul before Luther, Walther
along with Luther and Saint Paul staunchly defended and energetically
declared that .
"We Are Justified by Gospel-Faith . Not Law-Works!"
It's vital to our present spiritual welfare and future eternal
salvation that we also retain, safeguard, defend, and declare that same
message. After all, that message rightly reflects the truth that God alone
rescued, redeemed, and reconciled us by the gracious life, suffering, death,
and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone that is our personal possession
through Spirit-given faith alone, as we heard in today's Introit, "The Lord
redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will
be condemned." (Psalm 34:22 ESV),
So, let's always remember and be driven to constant repentance by
the truth that .
I. The Law Reveals Our Sin and Makes Us Accountable To God. (19-20)
At the same time, let's always pray in the words of today's
Collect that God would "Keep us steadfast in [His] grace [alone] and truth
[alone], protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against
all enemies, and grant to [His] Church [His] saving peace" even as we
joyfully celebrate with grateful appreciation that .
II. The Gospel Reveals God's Gracious Redemption in Christ Jesus.
(21-26)
God grant it all for the sake of Jesus Christ, His humble Son, our
holy Savior. [Amen.]
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
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