Reformation Sunday
Let us pray.
As disciples of Mt. Pilgrim who are we, what are we?
Are we righteous people?
Are we saved?
What should we be doing?
What should we not be doing?
If someone was to ask you when you walk outside this building this morning who are you and what do you believe in and what do you do, could you answer them?
I guess we could say first and utmost we are all Christians.
Then we could say we are Evangelical Christians.
We could go further and say we are Evangelical Lutheran Christians.
Maybe we could really answer with a mouth full of fancy words and say we are Evangelical Lutheran Christians in America, i.e., ELCA.
What if some one said what is LUTHERISM, what does that mean?
REFORMATION is where it began.
Now I do not want to make this a history class but some history is required.
This morning we are going to briefly go back 491 years
to the year 1517.
What happen in 1517? 95 Thesis of debate
What happen 1529? Small/Large Catechism (explain)
1530 the Augsburg Confession was presented to
Emperor Charles V
1580 The Lutheran Book of Concord agreed to which began our doctrine as a church. As Lutherans we ascribe to the Book of Concord.
(Show the Book of Concord, it is RED)
So does any of this information answer any of the questions we have?
NOT really.
Folks I can not in a 25-30 minute sermon explain what has transpired over the last 491 years, but I do want to peel this onion back just enough this morning so we leave knowing something about Lutheran heritage, something Lutheran doctrine, and what we should be doing and not doing with it?
We all should know that the reformation begin in October of 1517 when a Roman Catholic monk, Martin Luther nailed his 95 topics of theological debate on The Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany.
Some of you may have noticed a copy nailed to our church door this morning on the way in.
Martin Luther did not want to leave or be excommunicated from the church he just wanted to open the debate on interpretation of Holy Scripture as compared to the interpretation by the church in 1517.
Unfortunately his actions did lead to Martin Luther’s excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church and even a price being place on his head.
I believe it is likely if Martin Luther were alive today he would probably be an active and faithful disciple of the Roman Catholic Church and most likely an Archbishop.
You see of the 95 topics of theological debate from 1517 there is only a small percentage of the debate left in the 21st century church of today. We have much more in common then uncommon today as Christians.
Does this mean we do not have denominational differences; NO there are differences between all denominations of the Christian Church, Baptist, United Methodist, Roman Catholic, Presbyterians, Reform Church, as well as debate within the Lutheran Church, i.e. ELCA and Missouri Synod versus Wisconsin Synod.
Wait a minute, what does it mean when we state in the Apostles Creed “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,” ……we proclaim this every Sunday?
It is amazing how one word can change the whole meaning of what is being said, or how one word can be misunderstood to change what is really being said.
I believe in the holy catholic church.
This means we believe in the universal church. By saying the church we mean an event not an institution.
The event is the gathering of believers in Jesus Christ to hear the gospel and receive the sacraments. That is what the church is it is not a building or institution.
The church includes the Baptist, United Methodist, the Reform Church and Roman Catholic Church as well as “all” Lutheran churches, no matter what synod they belong to. They are believers coming together to hear the word of God and receive the sacraments.
Sooooooo what makes us Evangelical Lutheran Christians or ELCA?
Christians = We believe Jesus Christ is the only son of God who shed His blood for the sins of the world.
Evangelical = we sign up to the reformation of 1517 theological debate, and some would say what small percentage that is left today to be debated.
Lutherans = We believe in Holy Scripture alone!
HOPEFULLY WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO ANSWERING SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
Here are two major theological points All Lutherans hang their hats on;
1) Scripture alone
2) Justification by Grace through Faith
Scripture alone, faith alone and Grace alone!
Lets look at them one at a time.
We believe in Scripture alone, then what is the Lutheran Book of Concord?
Let us peel this back some to understand.
The Book of Concord has the;
Nicene Creed, 400 AD
Athanasian Creed, 600 AD
Apostles Creed, 800 AD
I believe all Christian churches accept and confess these creeds.
The rest of the Lutheran Book of Concord, which is Martin Luther’s and Phillip Melankthon’s interpretation of Holy Scripture, with the Small and Large catechisms all the basis of our Lutheran doctrine which was written between 1520 – 1580…..that was only 491 years ago.
Luther and Melankthon’s writings based On WHAT?
A lot of Luther’s theological study, writings and believes came from Bishop St. Augustine’s study and works with the Holy Scripture.
(show Augustine Books)
St. Augustine was a Roman Catholic Bishop, a Latin church father, one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. 354 – 430 AD.
St. Augustine works date back to 380 AD, some 1, 600 years ago, or 350 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
By the way, as a side note, Bishop Augustine by most current theological research was a black man from Africa.
St. Augustine’s work, as well as Martin Luther’s, was based on interpretation of the writings of St. Paul, that is Apostle Paul, in the author of many books in the New Testament.
Most of Apostle Paul’s writings are from around 60 AD, about 30 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. His writings are included in the Cannon that we accept as the Bible, in the New Testament which we cal the living Word of God.
So there you go there is the direct linkage, we as Lutherans only believe what is in Holy Scripture, the Bible the Bible alone.
We accept the Lutheran Confessions in the Book of Concord as proper interpretation of Holy Scripture with direct linkage back to Apostle Paul.
BIBLE
What does the Bible say? Open your bulletin to our second reading, Romans 3. 28 (wait)
We hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works.
JUSTIFIED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH!
That is number 2 of 3 theological points that we started with
1) Scripture alone
2) Justification by Grace through faith
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Article 4 of the Augsburg Confession says it well.
Read page 30 “quote”
That is quite clear that in no way can we earn our way to salvation, righteous or forgiveness or by our own virtue, or our own merit or works. We are born of flesh and sinners not worthy of God.
However because God is gracious He gave His only son to die on the cross for our salvation, for our forgiveness, and for our atonement, we need not to work or have to earn this, the work has been done!
JUSTIFIED BY FAITH or JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH?
Remember how we said earlier how one word can change the whole meaning of what is being said, or how one word can be misunderstood to change what is really being said.
Using today’s English translation “by” implies that we must do something, by doing this, by accomplishing that.
Justification by faith implies that we must do something.
We know we are born of flesh in sin and in no way can we earn, work or by our own virtue earn our way into God’s grace, salvation, righteous or forgiveness.
So why would we think we some how can mustard enough faith to be acceptable to God and receive His grace? It can not be done; we are born of flesh and sin.
This is why it is VERY important to understand this correctly.
Justification by God’s grace through faith
Romans 3: 28 By faith apart from works we are justified.
In the Greek language “by” and “through” mean the same thing, however not in today’s English language.
By or Through in Hebrew means it is present, given, a gift.
Lets go back again to the Apostles Creed “I believe in the Holy Spirit,”
I believe in the Holy Spirit, what does this mean.
Read Book of Concord, page 345. **********
WOW! We are given both grace and faith!
Jesus Christ (God) was given for our sins out of grace by our Father (God). The Holy Spirit (God) calls us to the Gospel enlightens us and sanctifies us and preserves us in true faith.
IT IS THE TRINUNE GOD, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT AND ALL HIS GRACE AND GIFTS THAT WE ARE MADE; Righteous and are Saved by no merit of our own!
Do not ever be fooled to thinking what we do in good works earns us credit with God or a special spot in heaven, it does not. The work has already been by Jesus Christ, he has earned all the consideration we will ever need.
What should be our response to this wonderful free gift of Justification by God’s grace through faith?
This brings us to the last questions to be answered this morning.
1) What should we do?
2) What should we not do?
Because we are abundantly loved by God, and He justifies us by grace by giving His only Son to die on the cross for our sins providing us faith with the Holy Spirit so that we are atoned and sanctified what should our response be?
“ME” peal it off the cover of your bulletin.
The question?
If not me, then who will be moved by such tremendous grace, total forgiveness and eternal salvation to do good works, not for favor or merit, but in response to the infinite and abundant LOVE of God?
The answer: Turn you Me sticker over.
Place your Me sticker in the offering plate in response to God’s election of you, not you electing God.
By doing this it represents your response to;
Making a pledge for 2009
Increasing your 2008 giving
Volunteer for Mt. Pilgrim evangelism efforts
Give the Mt. Pilgrim flyer to some one and invite them to church.
Help a neighbor, invite them Sunday School
Give to homeless, the sick or less fortunate over the Holidays
Or what ever the Holy Spirit is calling you to do!
Even as a visitor or guest you can place your me sticker in the offering plate committing to your response when you get back home.
NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FOR OYUR SALVATION, BECAUSE WE WANT TO IN REPSONSE TO BEING JUSITIFED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, ALL A WONDERFUL FREE GIFT FROM GOD WITHOUT MERIT BY US!
Lastly, What we should not do?
In true acceptance of the Apostles Creed and the catholic (universal) church accept the entire Christian community without prejudice or judgment.
Do not draw lines in the sand over misunderstanding or minor misinterpretation of Scripture, or over denominational difference not worthy of debate.
As Christians we are all united in Christ as we receive Holy Communion.
ALL CHRISTIANS NEED TO PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD OVER ALL OTHER MATTERS!
AMEN.
