Freed Indeed!

John 8:31-36 KJV; Reformation Sunday; We shall know the truth, who is Jesus the Christ, and we shall be freed indeed!

Our Refuge And Strength

Psalm 46 KJV; Reformation Sunday; Humankind's actions are harmful to one another; but, God is our refuge and strength. The Lord of hosts is with us.

Saved By Grace Through Faith

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith."  (Rom 1:16-17 NRSV)

Today, as many of us celebrate the "Reformation," we remember the words of scripture that were Martin Luther's "ah ha" moment; that were his epiphany. These life-giving words, "The one who is righteous will live by faith," changed the life of Martin Luther and they changed the church. Through these life-giving words, people finally came to understand that there were no good works that they could do to wipe out their sinful pasts. They could not purchase their own salvation with their good works nor could they purchase it with any amount of money. 

Not a one of us is better than the next one. We are all sinners. Yet, there is one without sin. There is one who could and has purchased our salvation. Jesus purchased it for us and for all who believe when he willingly shed his innocent blood on the cross for our sins. He was and is our sacrifice. Through his blood we are washed clean. Through him we have been declared innocent. In him and only in him is found our righteousness. 

"But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 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 now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 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; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus."  (Rom 3:21-26)

Rejoice! The gospel is the very power of God for salvation! We are not saved by anything that we can or do not do. We are not saved by our wealth or our status or any power of our own. We are saved by God's grace alone through faith alone in the one who gave himself for us.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast." (Eph 2:8-9)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Halloween; All Hallows' Eve; All Saints' Eve; Reformation Day?

"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Gal 2:19-21 NIV)

This 31st day of October seems to always present me a slight dilemma. Actually, it frustrates me a little. Who and what is it that we celebrate this day? 

It appears to me that the devil has managed to get many of us to switch our focus from Jesus and the grace of God to something quite different on this day. Way too many Christians no longer recognize the significance of this holy day and even the pagan holiday has lost its punch.

Today, it seems that most of the country is celebrating the pagan holiday of Halloween. But, are they really? The celebration of this secular holiday has changed by leaps and bounds just in my lifetime. Today it seems that it's more about who can find the most elaborate costumes or how many parties one can attend. The celebration of Halloween seems to stretch across days, even weeks, rather than just on the Eve of All Saint's Day. Halloween is much different than what it once was.

There are still many Christians who do celebrate All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Eve on this day. They remember all of the saints who have given their lives to service of God. They remember all the saints of times past, present, and even the future.

There are those of us who also remember that today is the day that is considered to be the birthday of  the Great Reformation of the church. Today, this day in 2017, is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. This is not just a day for Lutherans to celebrate; but for all who believe in Jesus to celebrate for through Martin Luther and many other men and women the truth that we are righteous in the eyes of God; the truth that has set us free from bondage to sin, death, and the devil; not by anything that we do; not by any of our good works; but, by the grace of God through faith alone in the one who lived and died and lives again for us and through us, Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9)

Let us on this day and every day give thanks to God for His abundant mercy and grace!

God's Peace - Pr. J