Tag Archives: Faith

Faith in Jesus Christ which comes through the presence of the Holy Spirit

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on February 25, 2016
Tags: Faith,   

Justification by Grace through Faith

       February 25, 2016

Justification by Grace through faith is the single most important theological concept in the Lutheran church. All things flow out of the Grace that comes through the cross of Jesus Christ.  We have Scriptural support for this important understanding:

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 5:1 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8

“The doctrine of justification,” insisted Luther, “is the chief article of the whole Christian doctrine, which comprehends the understanding of all godliness.” Luther struggled with finding the G-d of love. Luther came to understand justification as being entirely the work of God. Against the teaching of his day that the righteous acts of believers are done to earn the love of God, Luther asserted that Christians receive that righteousness entirely from outside themselves; that righteousness not only comes from Christ, it actually is the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us (rather than infused into us) through faith. “That is why faith alone makes someone just and fulfills the law,” said Luther. “Faith is that which brings the Holy Spirit through the merits of Christ”. Thus faith, for Luther, is a gift from God, and “. . . a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.”

What is most important to understand about Grace and Faith is that they are both a gift – Grace a gift from Christ through the cross – Faith a gift through the Holy Spirit that comes to us through means including word and Sacrament. Our response is to do the works of Christ, not so that we earn G-d’s love, but because G-d loves us so much, this joy drives us to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on January 27, 2016
Tags: Faith, Listen For G-d's Voice   

G-d Does Speak. Can You Hear G-d Now? — Rev. David J. Schreffler

January 27, 2016

“For God does speak – now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it.” (Job 33:14)

Now I spent the last devotion talking about how we need to listen as we read the word of G-d – how we need to use our eyes, our brains and our ears in this process. Yes, G-d does speak to us in many and various ways. But, you may be thinking that G-d has not spoken to you for some time, if ever. There are people in the bible who have felt the same way – that G-d was not speaking to them when they needed G-d most.

Let’s take a quick look at our friend Job. Job’s three friends – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar – had done their best to comfort Job, but their words had been full of anger and accusation. Elihu comes along to remind Job of the many ways that G-d speaks to his people: “So why do you challenge God to answer you? God speaks in different ways, and we don’t always recognize his voice. Sometimes in the night, he uses terrifying dreams to give us warnings.” (Job 33:13-19). In reality, Job was only complaining about G-d’s silence in his present circumstances. In the moment of his calamity, he thinks G-d has forgotten or forsaken him – but, as many of us have come to understand, although we may not hear G-d for a time, it does not mean that G-d is far away from us.

If you are hearing only the silence of G-d, perhaps you need to look for G-d’s presence and listen for G-d’s words with more awareness. Someone may be an Elihu for you. When you know your friend feels abandoned by G-d, you may be an Elihu to him or her. Your words of comfort can remind anyone of G-d’s promises and presence in the Bible — and in their life.

Pastor Dave