“Grace—Fully”
“Grace—Fully”
Romans 3 & 8
Romans 3 & 8
In the name of the Living God and his risen Christ. Amen.
As a Reformation historian, I could speak to you about the dramatic social, economic, and political upheavals which overran Europe beginning with Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses in 1517. As a life-long Lutheran, I can recall with many of you the story of one man who dared to defy all of Christendom because his conscience could be held captive only to the word of God. As a Pastor, I have had many occasions to speak about the long, rich history of our Church—the first, the oldest, and the largest Protestant denomination in the world. But none of this is what Reformation Sunday is really about. This morning I wish to speak to you about the importance of the Reformation from this one simple perspective: as a fellow traveler, fellow sinner, who has been given the incredible gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
We have all fallen short of the glory of God, as St. Paul makes clear in the first part of his letter to the Roman Christians. If you’re ever starting to feel a bit self-satisfied or self-justified, spend a little time in the first couple of chapters of Romans: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)
This falling short might compare to the law of gravity. Although some of us appear at times to defy it more than others—fly around a bit, jump a little higher, climb up a ladder or a mountain even—nevertheless it constantly pulls at each of us. This law of sin, this condition of constantly falling short which weighs on each of us is defined in scripture as more than just “poor choices.” It is deeper than the “mistakes” we make in our day-to-day dealings with one another. Its consequences are far more severe than we can ever imagine. And it will get us all in the end.
Ultimately, the problem we have is a problem with God. That’s where we find Martin Luther who, before he understood the gospel, wrestled with God such that he even grew to hate God. The sinful condition in which we find ourselves means that each of us stands in an uneasy and even frightening relationship before the Righteous, Holy, Living God. Nothing of who we are can be hidden from God’s sight. No secret sin can escape notice. There is no hiding place for the dark dispositions of our hearts. Rather, as people we stand rightly judged and condemned for who we are, what we have done to one another, and the condition of our world. As St. Paul writes, “so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” (Romans 3:19).
When the full weight and reality of God’s truth rests upon us, in our most honest of moments, we are struck silent. We can say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing that could ever remove the powerful condemnation of the law from our hearts.
Martin Luther knew this, and it nearly drove him to madness and despair, until by his study of the scriptures alone he came to understand afresh this passage from Romans 3: “But now a righteousness from God… has been made known. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God but are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Luther rediscovered and reopened the very heart of the gospel for the Christian Church: that though we thoroughly fall short, we are put in a right relationship with God because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the place of grace, the mechanism of mercy, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Christ Jesus took the darkness of our hearts, the shame of every evil deed we have done, every poisoned and selfish thought, and gave himself as the full and final sacrifice for our sins. By trusting in this sacrifice and believing in his name, we receive the free gift of this salvation and the promise of eternal life forever.
The blood of Jesus Christ shed for you and me, fellow travelers, cleanses us from all sin. It recreates for us a right relationship with the Father and has purchased for us eternal life in heaven. There is no good work we could offer for this; nothing we could do or attempt to do that could ever earn this. It is simply given to us: the greatest gift for the worst of sinners, even you and me.
Because of this free gift, we can be certain of the things most important to be certain of. We can be sure of the love of God for each of us, in every circumstance in life. St. Paul’s explanation of the gospel which Martin Luther uncovered anew for the Church, culminates in the eight chapter of Romans: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
Romans 8 stands as one of the most well-known and beautiful passages in the Bible. It is such a powerful passage—and one that reaches into the very darkest corners of the human condition; it speaks for us during the most profound tragedies of our lives—times when we are struck dumb by defeat or death.
But it is a passage which has both its beauty and its power only because springs from the gospel: that though we were sinners, Christ died for us and reconciled us to the Father. St. Paul writes of the certainty of the love of God only because it is the love of God “that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If he hadn’t written that line, we could toss the whole book out. The apostle is convinced that there is a gracious, loving, forgiving God because he knows the gospel. He clings to the cross of Christ. This is the foundation upon which is built the Christian Church: we shall not be separated from the love of him who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. Paul believes nothing can separate us from the love of God because he has seen the love of God in Christ Jesus, who bore our cross and was buried for our transgressions, but who rose again to fully and finally defeat death for you, for me, for all. Paul is convinced—he dares to believe this—for the same reason that we on this Reformation Sunday dare to believe this passage: because God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
Brothers and sisters, this is what it means to be a Church of the Reformation: to know clearly what Christ has done for us, and why it’s important. To trust not in ourselves, or worldly wealth, or power, or money, or any earthly relationships, or our own little pathetic attempts at pretend righteousness, but solely cling to Jesus Christ alone for our salvation; and by this great gift to rediscover again today the certainty of the love of God for us.
Come soon Lord Jesus. Amen.