Reformation Sermon 2

DO WE STILL NEED REFORMATION DAY?
Romans 3:21-28

+Jesu Juva+ Pless

REFORMATION DAY
31 OCTOBER 1999

Today we celebrate Reformation Day in commemoration of Luther's posting of the 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. Now, some might question the appropriateness of observing Reformation Day in our day and age where many contend that doctrine is divisive and unimportant. After all, ours is an ecumenical age that prides itself in diversity and tolerance. Many would take a Rodney King approach to theology: "Why can't we all just get along?" If we all believe in Jesus, why get so hung up over doctrine? Why can't we just focus on the things that we have in common and overlook the things over which we disagree?

When all is said and done, that is the approach behind a very significant document that is being signed today in Augsburg, Germany. Today representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and some Lutheran churches will sign The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. This document makes the claim that Lutherans and Roman Catholics have reached a common understanding of the doctrine of justification - the very doctrine that caused Luther to condemn the Roman Church in the 16th century. Unfortunately, the document is written in such a way that makes it possible for the Roman Catholic Church to sign the document without changing, retracting, or correcting anything that has been officially taught by them since the 16th century. In other words, the Joint Declaration does not reject the official position of the Roman Catholic Church, adopted by the Council of Trent. The Council of Trent declared: "If anyone says that the ungodly is justified by faith alone in such a way that he understands that nothing else is required which cooperates toward obtaining the grace of justification, let him be anathema." Unfortunately, we are no closer to agreement with Rome now than at the time of Luther.

We still need the Reformation because we need the Gospel. There is only one way of salvation and that is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. That is why Paul says in the last verse of our epistle, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law." The deeds of the law have absolutely no place in our salvation. Jesus Christ has done it all. We have not been saved by a combination of faith and works. We are not saved by faith that is formed in works of love. We are justified - that is, declared righteous and holy in God's sight - solely because of the grace of God that caused His Son to take on our sin and die in our place as an atoning sacrifice for our sin. We are justified by faith, not because our faith is a good work, but because faith receives all that Jesus has done for us. Faith looks to nothing other than Jesus Christ alone. All of our good works are excluded. Listen again to the Apostle: "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith."

Our salvation from start to finish is God's work. Even the faith that lays hold to God's promises is not something that we do. Paul puts it like this in Ephesians 2: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." That is why we confess in the Small Catechism, "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the one true faith." Without the Gospel creating faith in our hearts we would not and could not believe that Jesus Christ alone is our Savior.

And it is absolutely important that we know that Gospel is what Jesus Christ has done for us in His life, death, and resurrection. Recently, two editors of the magazine Modern Reformation attended a national convention of the Christian Booksellers Association. They did taped interviews with representatives of some of the leading Christian publishers. They asked one simple question, "What is the Gospel?" They got answers like this:

• "The Gospel shows me how to live as a Christian."
• "The Gospel teaches me how I should strive to be more Christ-like."
• "The Gospel shows me how I can use my gifts to serve Christ."
• "The Gospel shows me how to have peace and joy in life."
• "The Gospel is that I can come to Christ"

There was nothing in these answers about what Christ had done for us by taking on Himself our sins and blotting them out by His death and bestowing on us His righteousness. In other words, these definitions turned the Gospel back into a human work. We still need the Reformation!

We still need the Reformation because any teaching that throws us back on our own works, our own spiritualities, or our decisions rob Jesus Christ of His glory as our only Redeemer and they rob broken sinners of the only thing that can provide comfort - the peace that we have with God through the completed work of our Savior on the cross. In his Large Catechism, Luther noted that ". . .everything in the Christian church is so ordered that we might daily obtain full forgiveness of sins through the Word and through the signs appointed to comfort and revive our consciences as long as we live." You see, not only has God worked salvation for us in the death of His dear Son, He now delivers that forgiveness to us in His Word and Sacraments. Around these is the Church built and by God's faith-creating Word and His life-giving Baptism and His faith-sustaining Supper, we are given the fruits of everything Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. Faith lives by laying hold of these gifts, for they give us Jesus!

We still need the Reformation as long as there are those who are tempted to move the church away from focusing on these gifts and instead are obsessed with numerical growth at any cost, who would do almost anything to fill the pews and meet so-called felt needs. It is only through the preaching of law and Gospel and the administration of the sacraments according to Christ's mandate, that He builds His church. It doesn't happen by gimmicks or techniques or flashy programs. It happens only as the good news that Jesus alone is the one who atoned for our sins is preached and the sacraments that deliver to us the benefits of His justifying work are administered. These are the tools that Christ uses to built His church.

We may not take the Reformation for granted. The truth that the Reformers fought for - and, in some cases, gave their lives for - is still being contested today. Hermann Sasse noted that the Lutheran church has always lived under a death sentence in this world. Writing on the 400th anniversary of Luther's birth, Sasse addressed some tough questions to the Lutheran Church of his day. We would do well to ponder them as well. Sasse wrote:

Is the gospel of the justification of the sinner by grace alone still the bread from which we live? Is it still the heart and soul of our preaching? Do we still know - or once again realize! - what sin is, how serious the judgment of God is, and what a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God? Do we still know the full consolation of faith in the Savior of sinners, in the way Luther's explanation of the second article shows Him to us? Do we know what it means that this Christ is actually present in the Word of His Gospel and in His Sacrament, as near to us as He was when He walked the earth; yes, nearer than when He ate with tax collectors and sinners? If we still know all of this, if we still believe it, is it a living possession or has it become a mere tradition? Have they become words without content?

These are the questions that the Reformer poses for us who confess the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, both in Germany, and in the entire world. 'We are poor beggars: This is true!' So must we answer with shame and remorse. But immeasurably rich in grace is He who is the Savior of all sinners, the Redeemer of His church. And inexhaustible are the riches of His means of grace, the Gospel in Sermon and Absolution, Holy Baptism and the Holy Supper, inexhaustible for all beggars.

Do we still need the Reformation? God grant that as long as we live in this world of sin and death that we may always answer "YES" to that question. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.