The Just shall live by faith

Reformation, 2022

Romans 3:19-28

"The Just shall live by faith"

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Entire service including sermon may be viewed here.

            "Fast bound in Satan's chains I lay; Death brooded darkly o'er me. Sin was my torment night and day; In sin my mother bore me. But daily deeper still I fell; My life became a living hell, So firmly sin possessed me." Those words are from Martin Luther's hymn "Dear Christians One and All Rejoice." Those words described much of Martin Luther's life.

          “A living hell.” Those aren’t the words we would expect from a person we think of as a “giant in the faith.” After taking vows to become an Augustinian monk, Luther found that no matter what he did...he couldn't do enough to please God and win forgiveness. No matter how many times he tried or how he tried...whatever Luther did wasn't enough. Luther knew that he was a poor, miserable sinner; a bag of worms before God. He knew that he deserved torment and damnation in hell. Nothing soothed him. He studied and studied. He tortured himself with self flagellation. He went on pilgrimages. He went to confession repeatedly and sought counsel. But nothing helped. Life was a living hell...because he thought that God could not and would not forgive him, help him, or love him.

          None of us need to run out and take vows to a Holy Order to know what Luther went through. All of us suffer. In our own varied lives we live through or have lived through times we would consider “a living hell.”

          We feel this way as we suffer through our own trials and failures. We feel this way when nothing is going the way we planned it. We feel this way as we watch friends and family members suffer.

          When your loved one is suffering from a sickness or disease that cannot be cured and you are left with a heart breaking because you cannot do anything to take that sickness away…your life may feel like a living hell. When your child has behavioral issues, has been diagnosed with a mental disability, and medications don’t seem to help, and they are at risk of being told to change schools and leave friends behind…your heart breaks that you cannot do anything to “fix” the problem and you feel like life is a living hell. When you lose a job, when a loved one dies, when your relationships are strained, when marriages break…and you feel helpless…when you feel alone…life feels like a living hell.

          There are countless issues that we face. There is constant heartache and problems. We ask many “what if” questions. We often blame ourselves for not doing more. We blame ourselves that we might be the cause of these issues. We blame our brokenness and our sinfulness as to why this is happening. We question God’s love. We hit rock bottom. And life has become a living hell. At these times we might call out, like Saint Paul, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24) Who will deliver me from my problems? Who will deliver me from my suffering, pain, and agony? Who will deliver me from my brokenness? Who will help me and love me?

          Those questions tormented Luther as they continue to torment us and others today.

          “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. 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…For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3:21-28)

          Amid his living hell Luther found forgiveness and life in the Gospel. He learned that “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) What does it mean to be justified and found righteous by God? God as a perfect and loving judge declares that you are innocent for the sake of Christ. God declares that Jesus has atoned for your sins and your sins have been forgiven, washed away, remembered no more. This righteousness, this forgiveness is made ours through the faith God has given to us through His Word and Sacraments.

          The Reformation, which we observe and celebrate this day, is not a celebration of Luther. It’s not a celebration that we are right and others are wrong. It’s not a celebration that says we are better than others, more righteous than others, or more just than others.  What we celebrate is God’s work in restoring and preserving His Church through the proclamation of the pure Gospel.

          We celebrate the Good news about Jesus and His tender love for us. The Gospel is what changed Luther’s life. Luther learned that salvation came from God as a gift. He learned that God declares the sinner just for the sake of Christ who died on the cross. It wasn't about what Luther had to do to be saved...it was all about what Christ did for Him.

          "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling...“Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." (Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11)  

          Luther learned to be still and know that God is God. He learned that no matter what the world might throw at him...God was still God; God still loved him and God would protect him. God was his refuge, strength, and fortress. Luther knew that while he would face temptation, hardships, suffering, pain, and death...that He, his family, and all believers would have life with Christ in paradise.

          "Tho' devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us, We tremble not, we fear no ill, They shall not overpow'r us. This world's prince may still Scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none, He's judged; the deed is done; one little word can fell him." (A Mighty Fortress is our God,  TLH 262 stanza 3)

          One little world can fell Satan...all his lies...all his torment...and that little word is Jesus who is the Word made flesh. Jesus has defeated sin, death, and the devil. The very gates of Hell shall not prevail over Christ. And because they shall not prevail over Christ...they shall not prevail over you; His beloved child for Christ died and rose for you. Dearly beloved you have been declared innocent for the sake of Christ. Live by faith. Love by faith. Rejoice by faith. Hope in the resurrection by faith. And by faith that is strengthened by God through His Word and Sacraments have confidence that Jesus loves you, helps you, defends you, strengthens you, will give you all that you need and more…and remember that Jesus has defeated your living hell once and for all. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.