April 27 – “F” is for Faith

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5

Justification by faith through Grace is the central teaching of the Lutheran Church. It is the 4th Article of the Augsburg Confession. Article IV:

Of Justification: 1] Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for 2] 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. 3] This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight. Rom. 3 and 4.

We are justified – made right – with G*d through faith, not through works. It is not what we do that makes us right with G*d, it is our faith in what G*d has done for us. We believe that we receive the Holy Spirit initially in our baptisms, and then the Spirit blows into and throughout our lives whenever and wherever the Spirit decides to blow. But it is the work of the Holy Spirit that builds faith, as we hear in Martin Luther’s explanation to the third article of the Apostle’s Creed: “I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel…”

My friends, what is most certainly true is that faith is something that is a gift from G*d – a gift we cannot forsake, but a gift we need to cherish and focus on each and every day.

Pastor Dave