Reformation Sunday - October 25th,
2015
Redeemer
Lutheran, HB
Rev.
14:6-7; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Why do we
celebrate Reformation day?
Is it a day
to wear red and play pin the 95 theses on the door? Well, no. Though festive
ways of remembering the Reformation are good.
Is it a day
to pat ourselves on the back for all our good works these past 498 years? No.
Luther teaches us that the church abides in the Word of God, not the works of
man.
Is it a day
for church spring cleaning: burn some books, remove all crucifixes, and stick
out our tongues at the pope and declare our liberation from the papacy, right?
No, not at all. Remember, Luther didn’t set out to start a new church; but to
reform the church. To bring the church back to abiding in the Word of God. Luther
taught Christian freedom, not anarchy. Now, there was a radical reformation.
They huffed and puffed and tried to blow the whole house down. They wanted
revolution. Luther wanted reformation.
This is why
Luther kept, and Lutherans to this day still keep and treasure the practices
and ceremonies of the church, things like chanting, vestments, processions, singing
hymns, using the liturgy, stained glass windows, and other works of sacred art.
These things point us to Christ when taught and used rightly.
So, why do we
celebrate Reformation day? Because of God’s promises:
For we hold that one is justified by
faith apart from works of the law.
It doesn’t get much
clearer than that. There’s the heart of the Reformation. And the heart of the
Christian faith. You, a sinner, are justified, saved by Christ’s death on the
cross, apart from the works of the law. Free gift. By grace you are saved. You
live by Christ’s mercy, not your merits.
Now that
sounds like a reason to celebrate. But there’s more.
“If
you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and
you will know
the truth, and the truth will
set you free.”
God’s Word is an eternal
gospel, proclaiming that all nations are saved by the Lamb who was slain and
lives. God’s Word declares that you are justified by faith apart from works of
the Law. God’s Word sets you free from slavery to sin.
Everything is founded on God’s Word. Our Faith in Christ is born of the
Word. Faith is fed by the Word. Faith is sustained by the Word. And Apart from
Christ the Vine you, his branches, wither and die.
The Jews answered him, “We
are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that
you say, ‘You will become free’?”
A little historical
amnesia. As they stood and talked with Jesus, the Romans occupied Israel. And don’t
forget the Persians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and that “little” extended stay in
Egypt.
How soon they forgot. How
soon we forget. As bad as the
Egyptians were, there is a worse master: Sin and Death. The truth is, we’re all slaves to sin, just as Israel held captive in
Egypt. Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
Whether you’re a son of Abraham or Luther, it doesn’t matter. We’re born
in captivity. And it’s not just our thoughts, words, and deeds. No, it’s much
deeper than that. Capital “S” Sin. We’re stuck. We’re enslaved. And we’re
powerless to liberate ourselves. Any attempt at self-emancipation only make
matters worse. It didn’t work for Luther. It won’t work for us either.
The Law is more than a mirror that shows us our sin; it’s a magnifying glass. It reveals and exposes our sin, and then silences all of our excuse
making. By the Law every
mouth is stopped, and the whole world is held accountable to God. As Paul goes on to say, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God…
But don’t forget to read
the next verse. Commit it to memory. And
are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.
It’s true. We’re terrible,
horrible, no good, very bad sinners. But it’s also true that God took our
terrible, horrible, no good, very bad sin and placed it all upon His holy,
perfect, innocent, and righteous Son Jesus.
The
slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
The Son joined us in our humanity. Jesus stood side by side with the
slave to free us. Jesus paid for your rescue with his own precious blood. Jesus entered our captivity
to rescue us. Jesus was bound in death’s chains to bring you life and freedom.
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the end of your slavery to sin.
Luther rediscovered this
good news: Jesus was not a righteous judge, but was judged in our place. Jesus
came to bestow God’s undeserved grace upon us, not to be an example of earning
God’s grace.
Jesus sets you free…from the Law’s condemnation. Free from slavery to
Sin. Free from death. Free to stand before God as a justified sinner. And
you’re free to serve your neighbor in love.
And today, Luther’s joy is
our joy.
For the Son became a slave so that the slave might become the son. God’s
eternal inheritance is yours. You belong to him. And you have a seat at the
table. Come, receive the Passover supper of our Lord’s body and blood. You are
forgiven. You are free. And if Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed.
That’s why we celebrate.
A blessed Reformation Sunday to each of you…
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
