Eve of Reformation: Justified by Grace

 Dearest e-votees, 

I hope and pray that this e-vo finds you happy and well.  It is the night before Reformation Sunday.  I have been looking forward to this worship service for a while now.  It is a festive day for our expression of faith and it will be good to gather in the parking lot once again with the saints of Messiah.  I hope and pray you have somewhere good to gather in worship.  If you are so inclined we will be streaming a version of this service on Facebook at a watch party this coming Thursday (October 29, 7:00 EST).  You are welcome to join us if you are free and so inclined.  

Peace, 

Karl 

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One of the key insights that was perhaps re-discovered and certainly lifted up by Martin Luther and the other reformers is the central concept that we are saved by grace (pure gift from God) and not by the works we do.  For those of you who watch "The Good Place" this concept would certainly undo one of the underlying drivers of the show.

We believe that there isn't a running odometer ticking off our good deeds.  Neither is their a sin-o-meter tracking our demerits.  The truth is that we can't begin to do enough good and shun enough evil to save ourselves.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God as Paul wrote in the 3rd chapter of Romans.  And even if we could do enough good--which we can't--if we're doing it merely to save our sorry skins than it isn't such an altruistic endeavor after all.  Our old Adams and old Eves are always quick to do something for our own sake and to point an accusing finger at a nearby snake or spouse or whoever else falls into our crosshairs. "The Good Place" really is an interesting look into some of our more primal and self-serving motivations.  You might want to give it a watch some time. 

This isn't to say that good works don't matter.  How we respond to God is crucially important.  How we respond to neighbor is crucially important.  Jesus says the whole law and the prophets can be fulfilled  by loving God and loving neighbor.  At one point in scripture it even includes the psalms (Luke 24:44) among the things fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus.

We couldn't do what was required--Jesus could and did.  We can't do what is required today on our own (we are still sinners and fall short of the glory of God) without God's help.  We do good works not to earn God's favor--not attainable--but rather as a way to thank God and serve neighbor in response to God.

My wife has a Bonhoeffer quote in her pastor's study--"Salvation is free but discipleship will cost you everything" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  We can't earn the healing.  We can't earn the right standing.  We can't earn God's favor.  It comes to us as a free gift (which cost Jesus everything).  But we can learn and grow in following in the ways of Jesus.  We can become disciples.  We can take up our crosses and follow after Jesus.  If we do it will cost us everything.  That's what it means to grow in the likeness of Jesus.

I hope and pray you have a blessed celebration of the Reformation.  May God's grace and free salvation bless you again and again.  Blessings as you allow God to grow you in the likeness of Christ.  That is, after all, what it means to be a Christian.

Dear God, have your way in our lives.  Teach us to stop trying to please you in order for a reward.  Help us to accept the give and learn to do as you please as our humble way of saying "Thank you.".  Amen.