Sermon for Reformation Sunday: "From Death to Life"

 + Festival of the Reformation (observed) - October 25th, 2026 + 

Revelation 14:6-7; Psalm 46; Romans 3:19-28; Matthew 11:12-19 

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 

Milton, WA 

 

 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

 

Throughout Scripture, our Lord has a way – a holy habit – of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Resurrection out of the grave. Victory out of violence. 

 

Adam and Eve were naked and ashamed and dead in their sin. And yet, YHWH covered them with animal skins and a promise: sin, death, and the serpent will be destroyed by the Seed of a woman. 

 

Abraham and Sarah were aged, barren, as good as dead, Hebrews says. And yet, YHWH brought forth his promise, a son, and joyous laughter for the unexpected grace shown these expectant nonagenarians. 

 

Israel had been rescued from 400 years of slavery in Egypt only to die on the shores of the Red Sea with their backs to the waves and Pharaoh’s army coming in hot. And yet, YHWH opened the sea to swallow up Pharaoh and save his people.  

 

Centuries later, Israel was in captivity in Babylon. A graveyard of dead, dusty, dry bones. And yet, YHWH delivered his people from exile. He raised the dead. And breathed life into his people. 

 

And then one day, 400 years after Malachi, the final prophet and forerunner appeared in the wilderness proclaiming a baptism for repentance and forgiveness of sins. The Messiah had come at last to snatch his people out of the jaws of death once again. But not everyone was so pleased by John’s message. 

 

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 

 

John finds himself where Adam and Eve and Israel were. A dead man walking. John was imprisoned. Beheaded. But not silenced. Even in captivity and cruel death his witness echoes through the ages: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

 

In Luther’s day as well, it appeared as though the church and the faith was dead and buried 6 feet under a pile of idols disguised as piety: indulgences, relics, merits of the saints. And yet, our Lord, discovered Luther, was doing what he does best: raising the dead and justifying sinners by his grace. 

 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. 

That is how the kingdom of God comes. Not by our wit or will or works. The violent always try to force their way into the kingdom, or overthrow it forcefully, when in fact the Kingdom of God is delivered in forgiveness for sinners. In the suffering, bleeding, dying of Jesus for you. By grace through faith in the Son of God crucified and risen for sinners. God snatches victory for you out of the jaws of the grave. 

That was good news for Luther. And it’s good news for you. Because you’ll hear many voices crying out today: the church is dying. Christendom is fading. So what, says G.K. Chesterton, Christianity has died many times...and risen again. For we have a God who knows his way out of the grave. The church has outlived and will continue to outlive whatever tyranny the prince of this world hurls her way. She has survived communism, fascism, radical Islam, new atheism, and she will survive the AIs and whatever isms are to come. She is like the phoenix; she always rises from the ashes. For we go where our Lord Jesus has already gone for us.  

 

For just when all looks hopeless and lost. When you’re ready to throw in the towel and give up. That’s when our Lord steps in, rolls up his sleeves, and goes to work. Snatching life from the jaws of death.  

 

This good news – Christ crucified for sinners – is what carries the church through centuries of violence. The promise sustained Adam, Eve, Abraham, and Sarah. The promise kindled hope in the hearts of faithful Israel in Egypt, Babylon, and home again. The promise is what John pointed to in the wilderness when he declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away your sin.” 

God's promise is certainly words, but also more. God’s promise has legs and hands, hair and head. A mouth full of mercy. Eyes of compassion. Hands of healing, pierced for you. Feet which are planted on the cross to make peace for you. Sacred blood in his veins poured out for you.  

And because Jesus is the Kingdom of heaven in human flesh, then he too will suffer violence. Hunted by Herod as a child. Assaulted by Satan in the wilderness. Hounded and plotted against by the Pharisees throughout his ministry. Betrayed by his own. Violent men took him by force. Arrested. Falsely accused. Mocked. Beaten. Bruised. Bloodied. Finally, he was hoisted up on a cursed, shameful, tree to suffer the violence of our sin and God’s wrath and death itself. There’s Jesus, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Resurrection out of the grave. Life out of death. All for you. 

For days when you experience the fiery trials of suffering and conscience as Luther did. 

For days when you face persecution or martyrdom as our early brothers and sisters in Christ did. 

For day when you’re tired, weary, and worn out from battling your own sin and ready to give up.  

There’s our Lord, your mighty fortress; your shelter in the storm; your victor who brings you the spoils; your judge who justifies you freely by his blood. Your King crucified and raised from the dead for sinners. His death is yours. His resurrection is yours. His forgiveness is yours. And his Kingdom is ours forever. 

 

A blessed Reformation Sunday to each of you... 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.