Lent 2 - Reminiscere March 13, 2022
Romans 5:1-5
Standing Firm
v.1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Dear friends in Christ, on April 18, 1521, the young priest and teacher, Martin Luther, stood before Emperor Charles V, in addition to representatives of the pope, and was instructed to recant his writings. To take them back--to deny what he had written was true and in accord with Holy Scripture. Failure to recant would incur the wrath of the emperor. He had already been declared a heretic earlier that year (by the pope), and now risked being declared an outlaw by the emperor--meaning he could therefore by killed by anyone, anywhere, at anytime--with absolutely no repercussions from church or state. Knowing the stakes, then, it is amazing to hear Luther's response. His final remarks were: "Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen."
Why would a simple man--a lowly man--a nobody, really--take such a strong stance when he knew what it would cost him? Because he was a man who had begun to drink deeply of the wells of the Gospel of Jesus--the certainty of forgiveness and salvation through faith in Christ alone--and he would not go back--he would not deny the plain teaching of Scripture for anyone or anything. This beautiful teaching that is expressed in our epistle reading that one is justified by faith, which gives us peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prior to this rediscovery of the Gospel, Luther, and countless others, lived in fear and guilt and shame over their sin. Knowing that God rightly demanded perfect obedience to His Law, but that the sinful human being is not capable of fulfilling it--left souls stricken with doubt and fear as to whether they could ever truly be saved. They lived in constant anxiety--waiting for the heavy hand of God's judgement to fall upon them and send them to an eternity of suffering in hell. This is sadly what the church had been teaching for many years--and that to earn God's favour one would have to do special works or give money to the church--lies of the devil all. Lies that destroyed hope--and led people to despair of the love of their God for them in Christ Jesus.
Beloved, some years ago, our congregation read the Augsburg Confession in earnest as we studied the Book of Concord—our Lutheran Confessions. This document was presented to the emperor and church representatives some 9 years after the diet of Worms, in 1530. In the Augsburg Confession we see the foundational articles of the Christian faith as noted by the Lutheran theologians of the day. Articles relating to the nature of God (the Holy Trinity), the problem of man (Sin), God's solution to man's problem in the person and work of His Son, which leads directly to how one is justified before God, and the means by which God gives that justification to His people.
Our epistle reading highlights for us the very article on which the church stands or falls. We read it in the Augsburg Confession as Article IV, Justification. "Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favour and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight."
Not very long; just a few short sentences. And yet this is the article upon which the whole church stands or falls. Apart from this article, Christians are left in doubt as to the security of their salvation. Consciences are bruised and battered by the lies of the evil one who would have us believe that Christ did not fully pay for sins--and that there is some special work that one must perform in order to earn God's eternal favour.
The whole point of the Augsburg Confession, and indeed of Article IV in particular, is to soothe battered consciences. For people who are overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow--for those who are oppressed by the devil and his evil minions--for those who are stricken by the world around them and their own sinful flesh--this teaching of justification by God's grace through faith in Christ alone comes as the sweetest and best good news. That it is all about Jesus. That it is about standing firm and holding fast to His words of promise.
Our Gospel reading portrays this beautifully. A Canaanite woman whose daughter is demon-possessed cries after Jesus--seeking a miracle. He ignores her. He utters not a word, until His disciples, in exasperation beg Him to send her away--after all, she's not Jewish--so who cares what her troubles may be? Well…actually, Jesus does--He cares--but you can't see it at first. Jesus responds by telling her He did not come, strictly speaking, for the Gentiles, but for the lost sheep of Israel--and it wouldn't be right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. Does this woman get upset? Does she respond in anger? Does she leave in anger and frustration? No. Rather, by faith, she clings to the very words that Jesus spoke. Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the Master's table. I may be a dog, but you promised me some crumbs--Lord, I am holding you to your Word. I have faith and I trust you will save my daughter. Jesus commends her faith and heals her daughter from that very moment.
Dear friends, that is faith. That is the beauty of this article of justification. She did not do some great work. She did not perform some great deed. She merely believed the words and promises of God and held Him to it. Thousands of years after this event in Scripture, almost 500 years after the events at Worms and Augsburg--we still proclaim this message and receive it with joy and thanksgiving. That our salvation--our justification--our right standing before God--is all about Jesus.
Jesus is the one who casts out demons. Jesus is the one who forgives sins, heals diseases, removes guilt, and gives eternal life and salvation. He does so through His suffering and death on the cross in your place for your sin. These rich gifts are now given to you through the Word and the Sacraments that are administered by His church in His name. You have had the devil driven from your heart by the waters of Holy Baptism and the Words of Christ in which God's name has been given to you. When doubtful about the forgiveness you receive through faith in Christ alone you are blessed to eat and drink Christ's own body and blood in bread and wine so as to strengthen and preserve your weak and crumbling faith--that you may stand fast and firm against the assaults of the evil one who fills your heart and mind with the seeds of doubt and despair. When your sin threatens to overwhelm you, you are blessed to confess that sin in confidence to your pastor and hear the blessed words of holy absolution, as though Christ spoke the soothing words into your very ears Himself.
Beloved, this is what the Reformation was all about--and is still about--500 years later--Jesus Christ crucified for sinners. Though the devil try to rattle and shake your spirits with his wily and sinister ways; though he try to move you away from Jesus Christ--yet you stand firm. Though God Himself test you at times, as He did the Canaanite woman and the Patriarch Jacob--yet you stand firm and secure in His Word of promise to you. You have been justified by faith, and you have peace with God through your Lord Jesus Christ. This hope does not put you to shame, because God's love has been poured into your hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to you. By grace. Through faith. In Christ. Alone. Here you stand firm. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Romans 5:1-5
Standing Firm
v.1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Dear friends in Christ, on April 18, 1521, the young priest and teacher, Martin Luther, stood before Emperor Charles V, in addition to representatives of the pope, and was instructed to recant his writings. To take them back--to deny what he had written was true and in accord with Holy Scripture. Failure to recant would incur the wrath of the emperor. He had already been declared a heretic earlier that year (by the pope), and now risked being declared an outlaw by the emperor--meaning he could therefore by killed by anyone, anywhere, at anytime--with absolutely no repercussions from church or state. Knowing the stakes, then, it is amazing to hear Luther's response. His final remarks were: "Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen."
Why would a simple man--a lowly man--a nobody, really--take such a strong stance when he knew what it would cost him? Because he was a man who had begun to drink deeply of the wells of the Gospel of Jesus--the certainty of forgiveness and salvation through faith in Christ alone--and he would not go back--he would not deny the plain teaching of Scripture for anyone or anything. This beautiful teaching that is expressed in our epistle reading that one is justified by faith, which gives us peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prior to this rediscovery of the Gospel, Luther, and countless others, lived in fear and guilt and shame over their sin. Knowing that God rightly demanded perfect obedience to His Law, but that the sinful human being is not capable of fulfilling it--left souls stricken with doubt and fear as to whether they could ever truly be saved. They lived in constant anxiety--waiting for the heavy hand of God's judgement to fall upon them and send them to an eternity of suffering in hell. This is sadly what the church had been teaching for many years--and that to earn God's favour one would have to do special works or give money to the church--lies of the devil all. Lies that destroyed hope--and led people to despair of the love of their God for them in Christ Jesus.
Beloved, some years ago, our congregation read the Augsburg Confession in earnest as we studied the Book of Concord—our Lutheran Confessions. This document was presented to the emperor and church representatives some 9 years after the diet of Worms, in 1530. In the Augsburg Confession we see the foundational articles of the Christian faith as noted by the Lutheran theologians of the day. Articles relating to the nature of God (the Holy Trinity), the problem of man (Sin), God's solution to man's problem in the person and work of His Son, which leads directly to how one is justified before God, and the means by which God gives that justification to His people.
Our epistle reading highlights for us the very article on which the church stands or falls. We read it in the Augsburg Confession as Article IV, Justification. "Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favour and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight."
Not very long; just a few short sentences. And yet this is the article upon which the whole church stands or falls. Apart from this article, Christians are left in doubt as to the security of their salvation. Consciences are bruised and battered by the lies of the evil one who would have us believe that Christ did not fully pay for sins--and that there is some special work that one must perform in order to earn God's eternal favour.
The whole point of the Augsburg Confession, and indeed of Article IV in particular, is to soothe battered consciences. For people who are overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow--for those who are oppressed by the devil and his evil minions--for those who are stricken by the world around them and their own sinful flesh--this teaching of justification by God's grace through faith in Christ alone comes as the sweetest and best good news. That it is all about Jesus. That it is about standing firm and holding fast to His words of promise.
Our Gospel reading portrays this beautifully. A Canaanite woman whose daughter is demon-possessed cries after Jesus--seeking a miracle. He ignores her. He utters not a word, until His disciples, in exasperation beg Him to send her away--after all, she's not Jewish--so who cares what her troubles may be? Well…actually, Jesus does--He cares--but you can't see it at first. Jesus responds by telling her He did not come, strictly speaking, for the Gentiles, but for the lost sheep of Israel--and it wouldn't be right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. Does this woman get upset? Does she respond in anger? Does she leave in anger and frustration? No. Rather, by faith, she clings to the very words that Jesus spoke. Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the Master's table. I may be a dog, but you promised me some crumbs--Lord, I am holding you to your Word. I have faith and I trust you will save my daughter. Jesus commends her faith and heals her daughter from that very moment.
Dear friends, that is faith. That is the beauty of this article of justification. She did not do some great work. She did not perform some great deed. She merely believed the words and promises of God and held Him to it. Thousands of years after this event in Scripture, almost 500 years after the events at Worms and Augsburg--we still proclaim this message and receive it with joy and thanksgiving. That our salvation--our justification--our right standing before God--is all about Jesus.
Jesus is the one who casts out demons. Jesus is the one who forgives sins, heals diseases, removes guilt, and gives eternal life and salvation. He does so through His suffering and death on the cross in your place for your sin. These rich gifts are now given to you through the Word and the Sacraments that are administered by His church in His name. You have had the devil driven from your heart by the waters of Holy Baptism and the Words of Christ in which God's name has been given to you. When doubtful about the forgiveness you receive through faith in Christ alone you are blessed to eat and drink Christ's own body and blood in bread and wine so as to strengthen and preserve your weak and crumbling faith--that you may stand fast and firm against the assaults of the evil one who fills your heart and mind with the seeds of doubt and despair. When your sin threatens to overwhelm you, you are blessed to confess that sin in confidence to your pastor and hear the blessed words of holy absolution, as though Christ spoke the soothing words into your very ears Himself.
Beloved, this is what the Reformation was all about--and is still about--500 years later--Jesus Christ crucified for sinners. Though the devil try to rattle and shake your spirits with his wily and sinister ways; though he try to move you away from Jesus Christ--yet you stand firm. Though God Himself test you at times, as He did the Canaanite woman and the Patriarch Jacob--yet you stand firm and secure in His Word of promise to you. You have been justified by faith, and you have peace with God through your Lord Jesus Christ. This hope does not put you to shame, because God's love has been poured into your hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to you. By grace. Through faith. In Christ. Alone. Here you stand firm. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.