Romans
12:9–21—St Paul has spent much of his
letter to the Romans showing how we are saved by grace alone through faith
alone. But faith always manifests itself in love, especially toward our neighbor.
By His Cross
Jesus has redeemed the world, and in His Resurrection He has vindicated all who
trust in Him. Thus the Christian life is a discipleship of self-sacrificing
love. Since Christ Jesus has reconciled us to God, we “live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). By the certainty of His
Cross and Resurrection, we “rejoice in
hope,” and we are “patient in
tribulation” and “constant in prayer”
(Romans 12:12).
Luther,
commenting on this section of Scripture reminds us, “Faith is a living,
unshakeable confidence in God's grace. It is so certain, that someone would die
a thousand times for it. This kind of trust in and knowledge of God's grace
makes a person joyful, confident, and happy with regard to God and all
creatures.
This is what the
Holy Spirit does by faith. Through faith, a person will do good to everyone
without coercion, willingly and happily.
He will serve everyone; suffer everything for the love and praise of
God, who has shown him such grace.
It is as
impossible to separate works from faith as burning and shining from fire.
Therefore be on guard against your own false ideas and against the chatterers
who think they are clever enough to make judgments about faith and good works
but who are in reality the biggest fools. Ask God to work faith in you;
otherwise you will remain eternally without faith, no matter what you try to do
or fabricate.” [1]
Prayer in times of affliction and distress:
Almighty and most merciful God, in
this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal
glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will and
to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that we may
know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and
of the glory of the world to come;[2]
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