Romans 3 28
Reformation
Romans 3:28
October 31, 2004
"Justified by Faith"
after M. McCoy
Romans 3:28 - For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
If we remove the 487 years of history between today and the October 31st when Martin Luther posted the 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, and put ourselves in the position of the common folk of Germany and simple members of a Christian congregation there. What would we know about our situation, the situation of church and state? Well, we would consider those reports about the Islamic/Ottoman Empire heading in our direction to conquer and enslave us. Constantinople has fallen to the Muslims in 1453. Hungary is about to fall and one could then speculate that the gates of Vienna might be next. That’s getting close to us. As a result, we would train and send our fellow citizens to be members of our armed forces who are being deployed to those lands to stop the advance of the followers of the false god named Allah, a god of vengeance and no mercy. The lines of battle are drawn and the war being waged is drawing close. As Germans such knowledge, even though sketchy, frightens and poses a real threat and danger, to the children, and to the future. Because of the Muslim foe, the future, at least in terms of this temporal life, was uncertain. The assalt of the Islamic Turks was upon them.
They faced yet another enemy - far more deadly and insidious – that had already infiltrated the native land of Germany. It was wreaking havoc upon the people. The army of anti-Christ as the legions of Rome having come in Vatican vestments and clerical collars. In their left hands are indulgences that supposedly convey the forgiveness of sins. Their right hands are open and extended to receive payment for these paper lies. They are clenched and raised to punish with the style of the inquisition. From one side of their mouths a conditional gospel is uttered, one that says God’s grace can be yours, for a price; from the other side of their forked tongues spews forth the law of complete obedience to the pope and his decrees. The pure Word of God is cast aside as Christian pulpits have become permeated with liars whose proclamations of false doctrine are setting the church afire with the flames of hell. God is portrayed as the slayer of souls. The One True God, is portrayed as a god of vengeance and no mercy. If you want salvation you must earn it. If you want forgiveness, you must buy it. If you want eternal life, you must deserve it. Such false doctrines and practices, though they are lies, terrorized the people and presented a real threat and danger to them, and to their children, and to their posterity. Because of the work of the devil, the future, in terms of eternal life, is uncertain. This was the assault of the Roman pope who came in the name of God. This would have been our situation, on the one hand, assaulted by the physical danger of Islam and on the other, assaulted by the heretical lies of the church.
It is no wonder, then, that Martin Luther, following his discovery of the Gospel - namely, that the forgiveness of all sins, the bestowal of salvation, and the giving of eternal life are graciously granted through the God-given gift of faith in Christ as our Redeemer - that, after such knowledge of the Good News, Martin Luther wrote and preached with resolute determination and boldness. Speaking clearly the life saving, life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Luther wrote the following hymn stanza: Lord, keep us in Thy Word, and work, Restrain the murderous pope and Turk, Who fain would tear from off Thy throne, Christ Jesus, Thy beloved Son.
That sounds a bit harsh to the delicate, politically-correct, ecumenically-itching ears of these latter days. Dare we sing that stanza? Truly there would have to be a compelling reason to do so. The situation would have to apply today. We would have to be convinced that it was true and that it needed to be declared in such a time as this. Luther had been convinced that it ought to be sung. He had come out of the corrupt Roman Catholic church of his day. A church dictated by a man's decrees, man's tradition, men's councils and human reason. The Lord permitted Luther to understand the difference between the Law and the Gospel, "for no human being will be justified in His sight by works of the Law, since through the Law comes knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). As Luther read the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman Church, the scales fell of his eyes and he began to understand God’s free grace in Jesus Christ.
The scales also came off the eyes of the Pharisee named Saul when the Word of Christ came to him (Acts 9:17-18). This man, who would later be known as Paul, had counted on his ancestry to be in a right standing with God. He had depended on his keeping of God's Law in order to be saved. He had trusted in his owned works for eternal life, had relied on his own righteousness for his eternal reward. What utter despair and destruction awaited him. But God had mercy on him and the Word of Christ came to Paul. The apostle would later write, "... the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from Law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward as an Expiation by His Blood, to be received by faith" (Romans 3:21-25).
Shortly thereafter, the Apostle Paul writes the text which is the basis for our sermon: "For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law." You might wonder, "Who is 'we' in this verse?" Included in that “we” is Paul and those who are with him as this letter is being written; secondly, the "we" includes those beloved people in 1st Century Rome who did not look to their good works or deeds for salvation, but who held that they were justified by the grace of God through faith in the Person and in the work of Jesus Christ. Finally the “we” includes those who, down through the centuries, have heard the Word of Law that shows us our sins and have heard the Word of the Gospel that shows us our Savior Jesus and believe and trust in Him. That “we” includes us gathered together right now in the name of Jesus.
"We" hear the Word of the Gospel in Baptism and are brought into the Body of Christ because Baptism is God's work and gift to us where He gives faith and forgiveness. "We" hear the Word of God's forgiveness announced by the pastor and trust that such a Word comes from God Himself. "We" hear the Word of Christ in Holy Communion and know that the true Body and Blood of Christ - given and shed for us for the remission of all our sins - are given us in this Sacrament. Through faith alone we receive salvation, "for we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law."
This Good News began to be denied to the souls in Christendom during many centuries to the point where in the 16th century the Roman Catholic church denied the truth of God’s Word contained in the Letter to the Romans. The lie increased and the oppression continued until the LORD God enlightened an Augustinian monk in Germany by the Holy Spirit working through the Word. What Martin Luther perceived and believed, he also taught and confessed to all who would hear. He wanted all others to hear the Word of hope that calmed the conscience and soothed the soul ... that gave peace to the heart and joy to the world unto eternal life.
We don't trust in our deeds to earn eternal life. Rather, "we hold that a man is justified, declared innocent in the eyes of God, by faith in Jesus Christ apart from works of the law,"
This is the Christian faith that has been believed, taught and confessed through the ages by faithful men and women... often at the cost of their lives. This is what Christ preached. This is the faith that Paul delivered to the Christians in his day. This is the faith that Martin Luther proclaimed. They stood for the truth for our sake and would not compromise anything. This is the faith that we cherish as Evangelical confessional Lutherans. The Conclusion to the Book of Concord of 1580 declares the following concerning the truth of Christian doctrine:
"Therefore, in the Presence of God and of all Christendom among both our contemporaries and our posterity, we wish to have testified that the present explanation of all the foregoing controverted articles here explained, and none other, is our teaching, belief, and confession in which by God's grace we shall appear with intrepid hearts before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ and for which we shall give an account. Nor shall we speak or write anything, privately or publicly, contrary to this confession, but we intend through God's grace to abide by it." (Formula of Concord, Conclusion)
Such a confession also means a rejection of all other religious systems. That is why Luther and the reformers not only put forth declared statements of, "We believe, teach and confess," but also added proclamations of, "We reject and condemn." If "we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law," then we also must reject and condemn any, and every, other religious system of works of law, deeds, reason, emotion, meditation that seeks to please God and earn salvation apart from faith alone in Christ's sin-atoning Death and triumphant Resurrection.
Some 487 years have passed since the time of the Reformation. Conditions have changed; they are, in fact, worse. Islamic terrorists now attack from within our nation. As a result, we are training and sending our armed forces to the lands of those who are followers of the false god named Allah, a god of vengeance and no mercy. There are no battle lines drawn as there were 500 hundred years ago. The terrorists are among us and if they had the way of the Koran with us, we would be overcome, conquered and killed.
Another enemy - far more deadly and insidious - is rising up among us; in churches through out the country God’s Word is being abandoned again for man made ides that originate in the depths of hell. The authority of God’s Word is undermined. Christian churches are urging their people to look passively at the other religions of the world. Rather than telling Christian to respect all people they are teaching them to respect all false religions. This of course undermines the Christian faith that teaches as Jesus did, that He is the only way to heaven, salvation is found only in his name.
What are we to do in times such as these? We shall be as the faithful that have gone before us. We hold fast to God’s Word. We honor it and it’s authority in our lives. We hear again God’s word of Law that shows us our sin leading us to repentance. With grateful hearts we hear again the wonderful gracious Word of forgiveness freely given for the sake of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for us. This Word of God brings about a Reformation in our own lives. It is a reformation that affects us personally. It is a Reformation of our souls as we confess our sins in the presence of God and receive His Word of forgiveness. It is a Reformation that transforms us, learning each day how our lives can conform to God’s Word and His Holy will. This is the call of the Reformation. We echo the words of Paul again, “For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” In other words, “we are saved by grace alone, through God’s Word alone through faith alone.”