The Eternal Gospel - Reformation Sunday 2025

Grace and peace to all of you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was having lunch with an old friend of mine a couple of years ago in my hometown of Kent, Washington, when he asked me a pretty pointed question about my faith and my worship practices.

Now this is someone I have known for almost forty years, “a brother from another mother,” he would say. And every time we would get together, our conversations would pick up where the last ones left off.

Often, we would catch up and talk about our work, our families, the latest happenings with friends from the old neighborhood, and sports.

And with over forty years of memories and life experiences, I can recall only one or two occasions when we discussed what is likely the most important topic anyone can address, which is faith.

He was aware I was a Christian, and I knew he was too, but we never actually talked about Jesus.

He came right out with it and asked me why I worshipped at the Lutheran Church. Without missing a beat and stuffing his mouth full of food, He told me it seemed a little "old-fashioned" with the singing of old songs. He said, "Brian, it just doesn't seem Spirit-filled.”

Something about the way he said “it doesn't seem spirit-filled” piqued my curiosity.

So I asked what he thought it meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He said, "You know, when you are so moved by God’s power, you can't sit still, and you just need to jump up and shout and tell everyone your story and share your testimony."

"Is that all it can mean?" I asked. He said, "Yeah, mostly. And when that music is going, you can't help but feel it all around you!" –the spirit.

I smiled at him, trying not to be offended or put off by what he said because I do like and prefer a traditional worship style, and I felt like he was trying to goad me out of the church I loved.

I said, "Brother, I agree that there is a powerful feeling when everyone is singing in one voice, but I think being filled by the Holy Spirit of God is so much more than a feeling inside us!”

God fills us in many ways with His Holy Spirit, and music is just one vehicle he can use to do that. As Lutherans, our traditional worship may seem old-fashioned to other Christians, particularly of the more evangelical churches.

We don’t typically have great light shows and a production-type atmosphere.

We don’t emphasize what our feelings tell us for truth; we listen to scripture for the truth.

We reorient our hearts and minds from the realities of our broken and sinful world to the truth and the promise of God's Kingdom through our traditional liturgy.

This might appear outdated and disconnected in a world led by modern movements and a 'take-what-you-can-when-you-can' mindset, which emphasizes fleeting feelings over a lasting understanding through listening and reflective meditation.

But the Holy Spirit is active and at work in the word of God, and our entire worship is built upon it, drawing from both the Old and New Testament scriptures.

The Holy Spirit can fill us with what we see within the sanctuary. Each stained glass window here is a work of art inspired by scripture, serving as a place where the Holy Spirit can move within believers, reminding us of God’s word.

Every part of this church–God’s house reflects an image of a God who so loved the world that He has made a way for the dead sinner to be raised as a new creature in faith — to be made an heir to God's eternal kingdom and family.

And, like families do here on earth, we can often disagree or not share the other's point of view — just like my friend and me.

Sometimes, these disagreements can escalate into major fights. Sometimes, these fights can cause family divisions. Our history as Lutherans is rooted in such disputes fought for the truth of the Gospel, which is why we must remember this today on Reformation Sunday. This week marks 508 years since the start of the Reformation, when Luther stood up for the truth of scripture.

In our first reading from today, John writes:

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Rev. 14:6-7)

Since the beginning of the church, followers of Jesus have been called and guided by the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel to every nation, tribe, and language. When we are baptized, we are made members of the body of Christ, and we are all invited to do this as well: as a priesthood of all believers, meant to serve, read, and proclaim the eternal gospel.

This commission supersedes any impediment or talents of our own. It doesn't discriminate against our place in society, whether we are seniors, young adults, children, rich or poor, or what conditions we are born into in the world.

In a world where everything is temporary and passing into decay, John sees a vision and hears a message of something eternal.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not temporary. It is enduring and meant for you! God wants you to have it, and have it in great abundance. We Christians have been given a great gift in this word of promise, meant to speak to us throughout our lives.

And the Gospel speaks to us at the earliest point in our lives, in the waters of baptism – where God speaks directly into our spirit and says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” He gives us a new life in His name forever.

Scripture admonishes us to continue from a young age to hear and understand the scriptures when the writer of Proverbs says: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6),

Also, Luther was insistent that we raise our families up in the word of God and that we never part from its teachings for the rest of our lives, not as a job description and a work of self-righteousness, but that we might abide in it for the truth – in a world that doesn't know it.

Jesus teaches us this morning, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Abiding in the promise of Jesus’ word is our hope in this life. Part of discipleship is learning the scriptures, studying the gospels, and the whole of the law and the prophets, so that we may understand the depths and destruction that sin has wrought in our lives and hear the one true God who seeks to redeem and rescue you through faith in his Son.

We should always be guided by the scriptures in every part of our lives, regardless of whether times are peaceful or turbulent.

In difficult times, especially today, we might consider Luther standing before the assembly at Worms over 500 years ago, standing up in the face of accusation.

He was likely under immense stress, under threat of imprisonment or worse for what he was about to say or not say, for that matter, against the practices of his time that he knew were unbiblical, such as indulgences—paying for the forgiveness of sins and acts of penance.

But he remained steadfast, filled with the Holy Spirit and the eternal gospel, and would not recant, instead saying, “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God.”

Abiding in the truth of God’s word, Luther knew his real freedom had been paid for by Jesus on the cross. Even if the earth be moved and the mountains toppled he had nothing to fear!

He knew all too well the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Romans: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3:23-25a,28)

We remember on this reformation Sunday, as we should all Sundays, and every day, that we cannot buy our salvation, or mercy, or forgiveness from men–the blood of Jesus Christ has paid for it.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

My friend and I may have different worship preferences, and that's fine. We may have differences in some of our theological viewpoints, and that is okay, too.

One thing we both agree on is who has made us free to have such agreements and disagreements, and still be assured of our salvation—Jesus!

Jesus has made us free that we might proclaim his works into all the world, into all creation, that others might know, hear him, believe, and be saved.

Jesus has made us free that we might share his word and teach our faith to our children, and grandchildren, and teach them to do the same so that they may find sanctuary in him in times of trial and times of joy.

Jesus has made us free by His grace and by His mercy, not by any works or merit of our own, but for His own purpose and love, that we may abide in Him forever. - Amen

Our Gospel hymn is “The Church’s One Foundation” #88