“If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel. For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.” 1 Corinthians 9:16-19

“To make the way smoother for the unlearned—for only them do I serve—I shall set down the following two propositions concerning the freedom and the bondage of the spirit: A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.

These two theses seem to contradict each other. If, however, they should be found to fit together they would serve our purpose beautifully. Love by its very nature is ready to serve and be subject to him who is loved.” Martin Luther (1483-1546) The Freedom of a Christian, 1520, “For All The Saints” volume II, (p. 977)

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses or points for discussion on the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany. They were 95 issues he had with the church, mostly regarding the practice of selling indulgences, and he was hoping to have a scholarly debate on these points. What they sparked was not just a conversation but a complete Reformation – the Protestant Reformation.

Just two years ago we celebrated the 500th anniversary of that seminal moment in history, and yet, the Reformation Spirit remains elusive in the Lutheran Church. The church that was born out of challenging the norm and questioning the practice of the church now fights so hard NOT to change, NOT to reform in any way, and to hold onto what now we call the “norm” — and in many cases that even means we go head-long toward our demise. Society and the church of Luther’s time were both experiencing great changes. The “One” Catholic church soon found itself challenged with the growing “Protestant” churches, fracturing into numerous denominations. The bible was translated into the vernacular so that the cobbler, the baker, and the printing press maker could read holy scripture and find meaning for themselves. And with the advent of the printing press, writings and sermons and the like could be duplicated and distributed so that the masses were no longer in the dark with new ideas.

My friends, we need to re-capture the essence of the Reformation. On this night, children will dress up to go door to door to ask for “treats”. The treat I ask for this October 31 is to be treated by disciples of Jesus who do not just “dress up” as Christians, but actually will live in the Reformation Spirit, seeking to keep the gospel of Jesus in their hearts as they stop holding themselves and others hostage to ways that may need to be reformed – and will hold onto only those traditions that are necessary to point to the cross of Jesus, as they live the Christ-like life.

Pastor Dave

“But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” Romans 3:19-28

“In his letters Paul is fond of speaking of God justifying people through Christ.” Justification” does not primarily refer to God transferring moral purity to people or stamping “not guilty” on their foreheads. Rather, God repairs the fractured relationship between humanity and God through Jesus’ death. Most English translations make it impossible to see that the words justification and righteous-ness mean the same thing, for both translate the same Greek noun. Likewise, the verbs justify and make righteous are synonymous. When Paul refers to God’s righteousness in one breath and then says God justifies, he is essentially redundant. Through grace, God’s salvific activity claims people, nullifying the separation that human beings have opened up in their proper standing place before God. To be justified is simply to be set right with God, to be brought into the sphere of God’s deliverance and justice (“righteousness”), making our relationship and future with God secure.” (Commentary on Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 [29-31], Matt Skinner, “What does the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ accomplish? What does it mean?”)

The Reformers who sparked the Protestant Reformation were trying to reclaim what Paul was speaking against – the tendency of people to find ways to justify themselves through works. Like Paul says, works do not justify – but works are necessary if we are to live the Christian life. So what do we make of works? They can be good, and they can be dangerous. Why? Because they can lead us to sin. How? Through self-righteousness. Doing good works can lead us to think we are better, more holy, more special than others. Odd as it sounds, doing good works can be dangerous – but only to your own sense of self-importance. Now Paul emphasizes something we need to remember: “No human being will be justified in God’s sight by deeds – by good works. But now, the righteousness of God has been disclosed”. Right now, Paul says, things are different. Right now, things have changed. “Now”, and forever more, our salvation is effective through faith, not works. G-d is declaring something new, right now. This very moment you have a gift, which has come unexpectedly, just for you – and that is the gift of grace, which comes through the cross of Jesus. Both Luther and Paul agree that the law can not “justify” us — cannot produce good or goodness in us. “…we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law” Paul writes. For that, to become righteous, we need to become “new creations”, through faith. That begins within us – inside our very being. Our inclination is to be bent in on ourselves, only concerned about ourselves. If we are to become new, then we need to begin to change – from the inside out – beginning in our hearts which are transformed when the Holy Spirit washes over us in Word and Sacrament. We cannot earn it, we can only accept it – into our hearts and minds. The rest is up to the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Dave