1Romans 3:19–28—Theologians use a Latin phrase that describes our relationship with God’s Holy Law: Lex semper accusat, that is, ‘the Law always accuses’. This is because none of us sinful humans can obey God’s Law perfectly. Both our original sin and our actual sin condemn us. But there is a righteousness before God apart from the Law and apart from ourselves and anything we do. This righteousness is the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to us through faith in the propitiating death of Christ on our behalf. Because of Christ’s fulfillment of the Law, and His blood which He shed for us, God declares us ‘not guilty’.
Justification (Vv. 20, 24, 26, 28) is an important word in this reading. The word is associated with a court. The judge acquits the guilty one. He is exonerated and allowed to go free. It is not that he was innocent, but the judge accounted him as innocent because of a penalty paid by another, Christ. The sinner is not righteous, but his is accounted or considered righteous for Jesus sake.
The righteousness of God is not the popular understanding of goodness, perfection, or justice. In the Scriptures, righteousness means right-relatedness of God. This understanding of the word gave Luther his liberation and insight into the Gospel. It is not a word to fear nor to cringe at the wrath of God. It means God’s goodness is approaching us in goodwill to offer us reconciliation and peace. By grace we experience the righteousness of God by being rightly related to him through faith.
We are saved by grace, not by faith. Grace is karma’s worst nightmare. Grace is the undeserved love of God for sinners. It implies that while we were sinners, Christ died for us – pure grace for the worthless. This grace is made a personal possession when we accept it by faith. The hand that accepts our acceptance is faith. Thus, we are saved by grace through faith. It is the work of God and this leaves us without any reason for boasting. 2
Almighty God, Who, through the preaching of Thy servants, the blessed Reformers, hast cause the light of the Gospel to shine forth: Grant, we beseech Thee, that, knowing its saving power, we may faithfully guard and defend it against all enemies and joyfully proclaim it, to the salvation of souls and the glory of Thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. 3
Sources:
1. Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
2. Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
3. Collect for Reformation, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church Vol. IV © 1996 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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