October

 

Reformation is the main focus of many congregations across Christendom as the month of October comes upon us. To capture the true nature and spirit of the Reformation we may first ask is it even relevant?

Consider the context. 1300, centuries of prosperity and growth came to an end due to a series of plagues and famines which reduced the population by half. Along with these calamities came social unrest, peasant uprisings and endemic warfare.

Martin Luther was a son of his times. Like many others, he wrestled with profound “angst” and uncertainty regarding the state of his soul. The key question for him was, “How do I find a merciful God?” His search for consolation and hope drove him into the arms of Scripture. It was through his study of Scripture that he found the answer to his uncertainty in the words of the Apostle Paul, who claimed, “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” (Romans 3:28) 1 Luther placed his focus on the implications that the cross offers to us. 

There is now forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation! In Jesus Christ, all sin is forgiven - period!  That is the battle cry of the Reformation. That's what our Lutheran faith is all about. As the catechism so clearly reminds us, "where there is the forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation."  These are the gifts and blessings which have been offered to us through Jesus Christ through His innocent suffering and death. Because of a cross and an empty tomb, we are a free and forgiven people.

What is the reality of this forgiveness, freedom, and life?  "That I might be His own and live before Him in His kingdom and serve Him in righteousness, innocence and blessedness."  Jesus is risen from the dead.  When Christ died, death died.  When He died, sin's sting and power died. When Jesus died and rose again, Satan's grip was weakened.  Jesus now lives throughout all eternity to bless me, to guide me, to forgive me, and to direct my life.

What is your response to all this?  "To thank and praise, to serve and obey Him."  The Father has given you these and so many other precious gifts.  You response is to serve Him all the days of your life.  Bask in His forgiveness.  Serve Him with vigor and virtue. You have been born to be a blessing.  Bless God by being a blessing to others!

[1] https://www.biblica.com/articles/reformation-still-relevant-today/

October

This year the story of Jesus’ encounter with the ten lepers will be read in church twice. First, on October 13 as the gospel appointed for that particular Sunday (Proper 23 Series C) and again on Thanksgiving morning November 28. Two different sermons still the same story.  By this encounter with ten unclean persons Jesus demonstrates mercy and gratitude. 

Jesus comes in mercy. And, by His Word, heals you.  Jesus said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests,” (Luke 17:14) Of course, on the way to the temple to visit the priest they are cleansed. 

There was no love lost between Jews and Samaritans. Had they been healthy, the nine Jewish lepers would have had had nothing to do with this person whom they considered a half-breed, little better than a heathen. But leprosy had made them all outcasts from society, depending on the kindness of strangers. 

Christ came into the world to save all people, regardless of ethnicity, skin color, or other outward characteristics. We too, ought to fall at Jesus’ feet and give thanks for having rescued us from the far more dread disease of sin and its consequences of eternal, and not just temporal, death. This Jesus whom Himself was a descendant of a foreign, Moabite woman, has made you clean. He Himself is the High Priest who declares you clean to His Father, and gives you a place in His kingdom. 

These men didn’t call out to Jesus just to say “Hello,” they called out because they were sick, in fact dying a very slow death, and it is precisely those people, whom our Lord came to rescue. Perhaps the greatest virtue of the Samaritan was his sense of self; the man knew precisely what he was and what he needed, more to the point, he knew where to get it. 

After greeting the one soul who returned Jesus responds, “Rise up, go and keep going, your faith has and continues to save you.” Faith is always busy and active.

Lord, Grant that we may with thankful hearts receive these great mercies and express our gratitude, not only with our lips but also in our lives as we give ourselves to Your service and walk before You in holiness and righteousness all our days. Deliver us from sin and error, from the frailties of the flesh, the allurements of this present age, and the temptations of the devil. Give us faith that works in love, hope that never disappoints, kindness that never fails, confidence in You that never wavers, patience that does not grow weary, and courage always to be ready to confess Christ, that we may live in Your mercy and die in Your peace; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

-Prayer of adoration, praise, and supplication, Lutheran Service Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

October

In the month of October, we celebrate the Reformation and focus on the implications that the cross offers to us.  What are the blessings and benefits of the cross of Christ? There are many.  Let's recall what they might be.

There is now forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation! In Jesus Christ, all sin is forgiven - period!  That is the battle cry of the Reformation. That's what our Lutheran faith is all about. As the catechism so clearly reminds us, "where there is the forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation."  These are the gifts and blessings which have been offered to us through Jesus Christ through His innocent suffering and death. Because of a cross and an empty tomb, we are a free and forgiven people.

Jesus was cut off out of the land of the living. When the Son of God entered this world He took upon Himself all your embarrassments, all your disappointments and regrets. All the sins you've only realized later much to your shock and appall, Jesus suffered all.

Jesus came neither to impress you nor to be impressed by you. He came to save you. He took your sins as His, only to suffer and die in your place. He received the punishment you deserve, so you won't have to be afraid.

Have you ever felt conflicted in your spiritual life? Gone from great to little, from high to low?  Behold His cross. And understand; He knows and understands your every sorrow. And see how He has taken it all away; all away to His grave. He died for everything that pains you, for on the third day He rose victorious from it all. In the glory of this His resurrection, He declares and pronounces, that you are righteous before God's heavenly throne, that your sins are forgiven, that the gates of heaven are now opened to you. You are forgiven. You are free.

What is the reality of this forgiveness, this freedom, and life?  "That I might be His own and live before Him in His kingdom and serve Him in righteousness, innocence and blessedness."  Jesus is raised from the dead.  When He died, death died.  When He died, sin's sting and power died. When He died, Satan's grip was weakened.  Jesus now lives throughout all eternity to bless me, to guide me, to forgive me, and to direct my life.

What is my response to all this?  "To thank and praise, to serve and obey Him."  The Father has given you these and so many other precious gifts.  Your response is to serve Him all the days of your life.  Bask in His forgiveness.  Serve Him with vigor and virtue. You have been born to be a blessing.  Bless God by being a blessing to others!

A Prayer for Agriculture: Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper, we implore You, the work of farmers, grant them seasonable weather that we may gather in the fruit of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness with thanksgiving. May we see by this noble vocation that with Your help they feed the world. And cause all those who give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with both honor and respect; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  

October

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation will be observed on Sunday, October 29.   At the center of our Christian faith is the understanding that a sinner is justified by grace alone (sola gratia) through faith alone (sola fide) for the sake of Christ alone (solus Christus), a truth revealed to us in Scripture alone (sola Scriptura).  This month, we focus on the word, “faith.” What is faith? 

Sola fide the Latin phrase “by faith alone,” also known as justification by faith alone, is the single most Christian theological doctrine that distinguishes Lutheran Christianity.

The doctrine of faith alone affirms God's pardon for guilty sinners. God’s forgiveness is granted and received through faith alone, excluding all "works". All mankind is fallen and sinful, under the curse of God, and incapable of saving himself from God's wrath and curse. But God our heavenly Father, on the basis of the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ alone, grants sinners a full judicial pardon, which is received solely through faith. 

Faith is passive. Merely receiving Christ and all His benefits, among which benefits are the forgiveness of sins, and peace with God. Christ's active obedience - doing what God's law required – means that every event of Jesus’ life was a part of His payment of the penalty of sin.  Every event of His life was a part of His keeping of the law of God by which He earned for His people the reward of eternal life.

This righteousness is a righteousness that we receive from God. A person is righteous, that is, he is in a right relationship with God, when he simply receives the imputed obedience of Christ and the forgiveness of sins through faith. This righteousness is passive and comes apart from the Law.

Christ's righteousness, is imputed (or attributed) by God to the believing sinner (as opposed to infused or imparted), so that the divine verdict and pardon of the believing sinner is based not upon anything in the sinner, but upon Jesus Christ and His righteousness alone, which are received through faith alone. 

Augsburg Confession, 1530 sums this up with the following words, “Our churches by common consent...teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight.”  – Article IV

In his Introduction to the book Romans, Luther stated that saving faith is, “a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn’t stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever...Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire!  - "Luther, An Introduction to St. Paul's Letter to the Romans"

Martin Luther is recorded as stating, “Works are necessary for salvation but they do not cause salvation; for faith alone gives life.” – [Ewald M. Plass, “What Luther says,” page 1509] Remember, works are necessary. But they do not cause salvation. Thus Luther could offer two seemingly contradictory truths:

The Christian is an utterly free man, lord of all, subject to none.  –In Christ all sin is covered period. He gave His all for you.

The Christian is an utterly dutiful man, servant of all, subject to all. –In love I serve my neighbor giving my all.

This month of October another harvest will begin. There is also a harvest of souls. Christ has won for you full salvation. You receive this freedom as a gift. No strings attached. You are now free to love and serve your neighbor. Every. Single. Day. You are compelled to do so. You can do no other.  Love God. Serve your neighbor. That’s what it means to be a person of faith. 

Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas Higher Things

October

Oct. 2    Pentecost 20 - Proper 22 Divine Service with Communion

                Luke 17:1-10 What faith can do 

Oct. 9    Pentecost 21 – Proper 23 Matins

                Luke 18:11-19 Who bothers to thank God?

Oct. 16  Pentecost 22 – Proper 24 Divine Service with Communion

                Luke 18:1-8 Persistence in Blessing – Persistence in Prayer

Oct. 23  Pentecost 23 – Proper 25 Divine Service Setting 3 without Communion

                Seminarian Joshua Ralston guest speaker

Oct. 30  Reformation Observed Special Order of Service with Communion

                Romans 3:19-28 How do I get right with God?

In the month of October, we celebrate the Reformation and focus on the implications that the cross offers to us.  What are the blessings and benefits of the cross of Christ? There are many.  Let's recall what they might be.

There is now forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation! In Jesus Christ, all sin is forgiven - period!  That is the battle cry of the Reformation. That's what our Lutheran faith is all about. As the catechism so clearly reminds us, "where there is the forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation."  These are the gifts and blessings which have been offered to us through Jesus Christ through His innocent suffering and death. Because of a cross and an empty tomb, we are a free and forgiven people.

What is the reality of this forgiveness, freedom, and life?  "That I might be His own and live before Him in His kingdom and serve Him in righteousness, innocence and blessedness."  Jesus is risen from the dead.  When He died, death died.  When He died, sin's sting and power died. When He died, Satan's grip was weakened.  Jesus now lives throughout all eternity to bless me, to guide me, to forgive me, and to direct my life.

What is my response to all this?  "To thank and praise, to serve and obey Him."  The Father has given you these and so many other precious gifts.  My response is to serve Him all the days of my life.  Bask in His forgiveness.  Serve Him with vigor and virtue. You have been born to be a blessing.  Bless God by being a blessing to others!