Romans 3:19-28.                                               Reformation faith???                    2/11/14

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
²⁷ Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

 As we celebrate Reformation Sunday I wonder how Luther would feel if he saw our church today. I suspect that he would be very disappointed with what he would see. Again there is a great need for a reformation in our churches and in our own lives. It is essential that we again get back to the basics of what the Christian faith is and means.

 It is rather sad to see how much the church and the thinking of many people has and is moving away from what the Bible says. We are using Scripture simply to give credence to what we want to think, believe and do, rather than actually following what God has to say on these matters. This is happening in all manner of issues of life: sexuality, roles in the church, freedom to do as we please; how we are saved; and a whole range of issues in between.

 Today we seem to be seeking to make God fit into our thinking instead of the other way around. We are making ourselves God and the real God has to do what we think he should do and allow us to do what we think is right and good for us. So in crude terms we don’t give a darn what God has to say to us; but he just better take care of us when things go wrong and when we want to get into heaven.

 Here today however I just want to pick up on one basic issue that our reading here is talking about to highlight the problem and need. This reading speaks of being saved by faith apart from works. We Lutherans love this one, yet we seem to have twisted its meaning to suit our own ends.

 How often haven’t we heard comments like: ‘I believe in God. I have my faith and that is all that matters.’ The flow on of that is, therefore, that I don’t need to go to church and do all kinds of things. Also it brings into question as who and what this ‘god’ is that they believe in.

 Here we need to first keep in mind what we heard in our Old Testament reading from Jeremiah:
³³ “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people. ³⁴ No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.

So we know God and we know what his law is for us. So it is another reminder that we all know that there is a God out there somewhere and we know what he expects of us. But we seem to have gone on from that and come to our own conclusion that we have some idea of this and therefore we are okay. We know that there is a God and we have our idea of what is good and right and that must be of God and so all is well.

 However surely we also know that we are sinners. That is, that we are turned in on ourselves and want to twist everything around so that we can do what we want. We don’t have to look very hard to know that we are continually making a mess of our lives by doing what we think is right. That in itself tells us that God’s law is good and our twisting of it will get us into trouble. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

 But back to the real question who is this ‘god’ that we say we believe and have faith concerning. Is he the almighty creator of all things? Is He the just and holy God who tells us that whoever does not heed God and what he has to say, will be sent to hell. Is he the God who will judge all according to his Word, and not ours? Is he not then a God who is to be feared?

Yes, he is also a God who sent his own Son to die on the cross so that we might be forgiven. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.

 So this true and almighty God is both just and the one who justifies. He did punish our sin, with death, just as he said he would. But instead of punishing us he punished his own Son in our place. So, there is a righteousness [a way that God can look at us as people who a right in his eyes] that is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. So God has provided a way out for all who now have faith in him.

 So what is this believing and faith in him?  Is it simply a matter of knowing a few facts about him and having a general idea that there is a ‘god’ out there somewhere? Are we simply able to know a few facts that we learnt in Sunday School and Confirmation lessons and then as long as we live a reasonably good life that is all there is to the matter? This seems to be the understanding of many people today.

 No, faith is much more than that. It is more than simply knowing facts and trying to do the right thing. It is more than looking at oneself and saying I am okay. No it is a case of do we really believe that Jesus is God’s Son who died on the cross for our sin, so that we can be forgiven and be once again in God’s family. Is this God the one who is truly all important in life? Is it Jesus death alone that ensures that we are acceptable to God; rather than any goodness or lack of it in ourselves?

 So are we prepared to acknowledge that God and Jesus Christ and his death on the cross are for real and that they are all important? This is not a ‘two bob each way’ question. Because if he is all important, then we are all ‘in’ with him, or we are his enemies. We cannot sit on the fence: it is all or nothing.

 Faith is a complete trust in God and what he has done for us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. It is an acknowledgement that we are completely devoid of any goodness that would make us acceptable to God and so become solely reliant on him and what he has to offer us.

 Here again remember that he has rescued us from a certain eternity in Hell through Jesus Christ and the cross. He took the punishment that we deserve on himself, so that this forgiveness, life and salvation can be ours. So surely we are deeply thankful and will do whatever we can for this one who has done so much for us. His saving of us should be the greatest thing in our life which we will never forget and which will be the motivation for everything that we do.

Here let us be quite clear that this is what God’s Word in the Bible has revealed to people right down through the ages.  This is what Luther and many other reformers through the ages wrestled with and came to terms with. This is what God wants his children to think and believe. This is what he means by faith.

 So, Where, then, is boasting? Where is this attitude that I have my faith so I will be okay, even if I don’t go to church or whatever? Where is this I am okay Jack? Where does this primary focus leave us which we place on I, me and myself?

 Yes God’s Word is quite clear that: It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.  For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Yes God refuses to look at this focus that we place on ourselves and what we do. If he did we would be in serious trouble.

 Thank God, that instead, he looks for those who recognise that they don’t measure up, but who trust and cling to the fact that Jesus died and rose again for our forgiveness life and salvation. He looks for those who trust that what he has to say about believing and living as Christians is what they now seek for from their lives.

 Yes faith looks to what God has said and done for us, not what we think, say and do. Faith holds dearly to Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. It trusts that he has won life and salvation for us. Faith gives all glory and honour to our Great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for all that he has and continues to do for us. For there alone we have what is needed.  AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish