Sunday, October 26, 2008 - Romans 3:19-28

This past week at our District Pastor’s Conference, I was privileged to hear Dr. Laurence Rast speak. He is a history professor from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN (my old school). Dr. Rast came there after I had already graduated – which is just another sign this last week that I had gotten older.

Dr. Rast gave a three-part presentation on Lutherans in Illinois. He spend much of his time showing the migration patterns and how Southern Illinois was settled first – before any action was happening in Chicago.

But even more important than where people decided to live (and there were battles about that), there were ongoing battles for the hearts and souls of those immigrants moving West. Dr. Rast showed us the numbers, and if all the German Lutherans who came to America had remained Lutheran, the Lutheran Church would be the largest religious body in America.

But many, unfortunately, many of them abandoned Paul’s teaching that we are justified by faith apart from works of the law. In the 1800's, there were numerous revivalist preachers throughout Southern Illinois and Kentucky and Tennessee that were preaching a very different path to salvation.

A classic pamphlet from that time was one I could see used today. It is not just in the era of the 24 hour news cycle that Americans have been consumed with the election process. As Americans, we love the right to vote.

One preacher had made up a pamphlet which looked like a voting ballot. At the top the question was asked, “Are You Saved?” Then the Voters are listed with “yes” and “no” columns off to the right. The first Voter, God, votes “Yes” you are saved. The second voter, Satan, votes “No” you are not saved. The third line says, “Only you can break the tie. Which way do you vote?”

I don’t believe this is what St. Paul meant by Divine Election. This is certainly contrary to what we hear this morning in his letter to the Romans. As if salvation could come from my work or my decision. As if God is no more than a spectator whose vote gets canceled out by Satan.

It was not just the Roman Catholic Church of the 16th Century which taught salvation through man’s works. The sale of indulgences for the forgiveness of sins is no worse than the decision theology of American Protestantism. And churches in this neck of the woods and throughout this land continue to sing “I have decided to follow Jesus” or “I will cling to the old rugged cross” I am probably offending some people because you grew up listening to those songs. They are a part of our American culture, but their theology is all “I . . I . . I . .” There are reasons those songs are not included in our hymnal.

The church of the Reformation has always confessed the Biblical truth, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened my with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”

That is the message Paul preached. That is the message of the Reformation. Our celebration of the Reformation of the Church is not some nostalgia trip or mere history lesson. The church has and remains in need of Reformation. The message of the Gospel which Paul preached so clearly, which Luther preached so clearly, has been muddied up and turned around in every generation.

There has never been a peaceful time within Christ’s church where everything was just going along swimmingly. Satan would never allow that. He continues to deceive the masses into thinking that Christ cannot or will not justify you unless you do a little work first. Paul says our forgiveness and salvation is a free and gracious gift apart from any work or Law.

Satan knows us so well. He knows that our inmost desire is to justify ourselves. We want to be able to take credit for our salvation. We want to cast that vote. The indulgences of 16th Century Germany allowed you to buy full forgiveness with your own money – and you worked hard for it. The peddlers of the false Gospel today in America tell you to “find Jesus” – the sheep go looking for the Shepherd. And the worst of them promise not only life in heaven, but the promise of wealth, happiness, and little bit of heaven on earth. Think Joel Osteen. He is the king of that message today.

“If you just believe, these things will happen.” “Or if you have enough faith.” It is a powerful and popular message. But it is not the Gospel. It is not the message of Paul and the apostles. Faith is not a work that you perform. Faith comes by hearing, as Paul says. Faith comes from the Holy Spirit working through Word and Sacrament, not by my own reason or strength. For those who want to “find Jesus”, He is right here. His broken body and shed blood is here. This is our little bit of heaven on earth.

This morning, and later this afternoon at Harvel, we celebrate the Reformation of the Church. As Lutherans, we are the heirs of the 16th Century Reformation. As God’s people, we continue to bear witness of the one and only Gospel of God which has been proclaimed in Scripture for all generations. We hear it in Paul’s words: “we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Amen.


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