- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Your Sure Foundation – Romans 3:19-28
A man might boast about a building he built, but time will tell. Will it lean? Will it totter? Will its walls get all out of joint? Will it fall down? For a building to stand and not fall down, it must be built on the right foundation. The same is true of a person and of our faith. Built on the right foundation. Not self-built or self-chosen, but on the foundation from God our builder.
I.
Martin Luther, the sixteenth-century monk, priest, and theology professor, grew up in a world that was surrounded by the walls of Christianity, but which had lost the foundation of Christianity.
Baptized the evening he was born, raised in a faithfully church going family, taking their faith seriously. But what was that faith? Where did young Martin learn to put his trust? What was the foundation of his standing with God?
Ultimately, he was pointed to the things he must do. But young Martin could only stand on his own works and obedience for so long. The assurances the Church of his day offered ran thinner and more hollow the more he pursued them.
Confession was followed by penance to work off the punishment he owed. Sins were to be enumerated in full. God kept a record. [yet see Psalm 130:3-4]. Sin unconfessed or not worked off meant the punishments of fire in purgatory. If it was mortal sin, that meant eternal hell.
Young Martin Luther’s conscience saw clearly enough for him to know, and to live with the constant knowledge, that he was not righteous – that his penance was never enough – that the necessary conditions were never truly met —
— that his heart remained attached to sin – that inward evils were also sin and punished by God – that “doing what was in him”, doing his best, was never really done and did not meet the measure that God’s law clearly required.
What Martin Luther had been given as his foundation for his standing with God was work that he must do – measurements for him to meet – measurements he knew he didn’t meet – work he knew was never done. But it was the only way he knew.
The life built on this foundation of his own works and obedience could not stand, and would not stand in eternity. No matter how much of God’s assistance was promised, because a man’s works were still part of the equation, the fallen sinner – me, myself – was still always there as the weak link by which the bond would break.
And such a foundation for our standing with God is not God’s will. It isn’t true. Instead, trusting in our own works and worthiness as part of the equation for our good standing with God is the path to hell, not to heaven. “I must do good enough” is the voice of our sin-fallen nature, which only knows the Law of God. It’s not the voice of faith, which knows also the Gospel of God.
II.
It was the Word of God in the book of Romans, in the New Testament, that first brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the troubled heart of Martin Luther. As he studied the book of Romans, finally seeing it bare, in the original Greek – looking at those words just as God gave them – he found the foundation. The true and only foundation for his good standing with God. Justification by faith in Jesus, without works, for all who believe.
This is the way of speaking in the Bible, including in Romans. To be “justified” means to be regarded righteous, counted righteous, deemed righteous – “reckoned” righteous.
And these verses in Romans and Galatians and elsewhere shouted so clearly that you are counted righteous, reckoned righteous to God, not by your works you have done but through faith in what Jesus, His Son, has done for your salvation.
Martin Luther was reckoned righteous to God, not on account of his works or worthiness, but by faith in Jesus Christ who had, Himself, given an account for Martin’s sins by His own death and punishment suffered on the cross in Martin’s place. This is what Martin found.
And you can replace Martin’s name with yours. You are righteous to God, not by the measurement you meet, but because Jesus has met the measurement and paid the price for you. He died for sinners to save them, and He did.
Jesus has reckoned you righteous to God by His sin-atoning sacrifice on the cross. What Jesus did worked. You the sinner, because the Son of God atoned for your sin with His blood, are now holy to God by His sacrifice. You can’t grab onto to this invisible reality with your hand, but faith – belief – is the hand that receives it as a gift. This truth of God’s Word [John 8:32] set Martin free, and it sets you free. And once it’s found, we see it everywhere in God’s Word:
III.
[Romans 3:19-28] Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God – so, this isn’t just about the Jewish ceremonial laws, but about the moral law, the Ten Commandments, which holds the whole world accountable. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin – God’s moral law does not save us but shows us our sins.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets – the Bible, the Scriptures – bear witness to it — the righteousness of God – His righteousness, counted as yours – through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified – reckoned righteous – by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation – an act or an offering that fulfills the requirements to put away God’s just wrath – by His blood, to be received by faith.
This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance – His patience – He had passed over former sins – but He had to deal with them to be just. It was to show His righteousness at the present time so that He might be just – He dealt with sin in the cross of Jesus – and the justifier of – the “One who counts righteous” – the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of our boasting? – We didn’t build the building – It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith – the way of faith, not the way of works – For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
[Romans 4:2-3] “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” [Ephesians 2:8-9] “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” [See also, Galatians 2:16; John 3:16; Romans 5:1,6-8; and more]
Being reckoned righteous through faith in Christ, through His atoning sacrifice, is your sure foundation because it brings you back to God your Creator. Sin is forgiven; the gap is closed. There’s nothing in the way between you and God’s good hand anymore.
Now your Creator becomes your re-Creator. He makes you again. He is the Craftsman, you are His project. By His power through which He raised Jesus from the dead, He is raising you anew. The walls and roof of your life are being rebuilt as His work.
He builds His good works in you; a new, growing life according to His commandments, not our human thoughts or choosing. Not our work to boast about. Not our attempts at saving ourselves. But His commandments now alive, as a gift, in a life that was once dead.
[Ephesians 2:10] “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” A gift, not the cause of our salvation, but caused by our salvation.
IV.
Martin Luther’s life was a lot like another man’s life who was also set free by the Gospel. But in this man’s case, he was not set free from the torment of a troubled conscience but from the self-righteousness of a self-secure conscience which believed it was keeping God’s Law very well.
The Apostle Paul, formerly the Pharisee Saul, was at first so angered by the Gospel of faith alone in Jesus that he persecuted it. But then he preached it. Not by coming to a conclusion by his human reason, but by Jesus Christ who opened His eyes and set him free.
Set free from a troubled conscience – or set free from a self-righteous heart – “If the Son sets you free – by the truth of His Word – you will be free indeed.” [John 8:31-36]
You might not live in a world that points you to a lot of religious works, or to God’s Law, to save yourself. But you do live in a world that points you to yourself for your worth and worthiness.
And you live in the reality of there being a God, a heaven, and a hell, and you being a sinner. The foundation, walls, and roof of your good standing with God for eternity – and for withstanding the waves and winds of this life – is faith in Jesus Christ alone and all He has done for you. On this you stand. And on this God builds [Ephesians 2:10]. Amen.
- Oct 19
- 6 min read
[Luke 18:1-8]
Always Pray and Don’t Lose Heart
“Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” [Luke 18:1]
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Those who ask receive [Matthew 7:8]. Jesus told you a parable today to the effect that He wants you to be the squeaky wheel in His ear. To always pray and not lose heart. When I pray, will God answer in my favor?
I.
Jesus said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’” [Luke 18:2-3]
The judge was unjust, and the plaintiff was a widow. In those days, a widow might have no one in life to turn to. And she might not expect her testimony to carry much weight in court. Nevertheless, she went to the judge continually, crying for help against an adversary who was doing her some wrong – we don’t know what.
We don’t know what evil she suffered, but we do know who our adversary is: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” [1 Peter 5:8].
The devil plots a hundred plans daily to bring evil against you. The devil is the tempter who makes plans daily to get you to lose trust in God. To doubt God’s good heart toward you. To convince you He’s angry.
The devil, as tempter, provokes your flesh to bring your mind and imagination down evil paths – paths of lust; or of anger and retribution toward others; or of money-centered daydreams.
The devil, your adversary, is the slanderer – plotting and putting stumbling blocks in your path for you to say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, that will sully your reputation. The devil doesn’t want God’s name to be holy in this world through your good life but to be profaned in this world by your failures.
The devil is your adversary in this world who roars and roars, but can be resisted by mere men, women, and children and loses his battles – his plots are foiled – because he is already defeated, and you have a powerful hero who hears you.
All the devil can do is try to get you to stop calling upon God in prayer, for some reason. Doubt. Indifference. Busy-ness. Because he can’t win against God in your life.
The woman in the parable keeps that judge in her life. She continually calls out to him, showing up at his courtroom everyday, I’m sure. If she has to annoy that judge into helping her, she’ll do it. It’s the judge's job to help, so she is bold and confident in her asking for it.
II.
“For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” [Luke 18:4-5]
Whether it’s a courtroom or customer service, you know the power of continuing to ask, continuing to insist. The point of the Lord’s parable is this: If even unjust and indifferent judges on earth will help because of your much asking, how much more will the just Judge of all the earth come to your aid when you ask?
“Hear what the unrighteous judge says,” Jesus says, “And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night?” [Luke 18:6-7]
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” [Matthew 7:11]
For this reason, we wrestle with God. We say with Jacob, who wrestled with God all night for the very blessing God had already before promised him, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” [Genesis 32:26]
Like with Jacob, it is God’s will to work His promises in our life through our wrestling with Him in prayer. God came down and had Jacob wrestle with Him as if in a ring. God’s will is for you to engage Him in the same way, wrestling those things out of Him which He has long promised.
God’s desire is that you hold Him to His promises in your fervent prayers: “You have promised, Lord. I will not let You go until You bless me, until You do what You have promised.” This wrestling is for your benefit. It sharpens and strengthens your faith. It draws you closer to His face.
You are God’s elect – He has chosen you in Baptism. You are His. You have His name on you. “Will not God”, who is good and always keeps His promises, give an answer “to His elect.”
God will “give justice”, which is a reference, here, not to His judgement but to His saving work on the cross of Christ. That’s God’s promise. All that saving work which Jesus did for you – and He did it for you – by His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead – He will apply that saving work to you, in every small way and new struggle, and in the ultimate way.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” [Romans 8:32]
III.
“Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them – He will deliver them – speedily.” [Luke 18:7-8]
Nothing in all creation can stop God from answering your prayers. And your sins are forgiven. Forgiven by the death of His very Son. You are declared “His” by the living, risen Savior who is even now your intercessor, speaking to God for you in heaven. The very one who carried your sin and died in your place now lives and speaks for you.
God will hear you as your prayers come to Him through the name of your Savior. But the adversary would have you doubt because of length of time. But hear what God’s Word says:
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you” [2 Peter 3:9]. “Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” [2 Peter 3:8]. God is not slow, but always answers at the right time. And once He does answer, then we see that the wait was short.
IV.
The squeaky wheel does get the grease. And your Savior Jesus has told you this parable so that you would always pray to Him and not lose heart. Now, lastly, let’s hear our Savior’s final verse:
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
Jesus’ final answer to our prayers is that He returns. But between now and then, “the time is coming” – and now is – “when people will not endure sound teaching” – the world never did, but now even those who claim His name and the name of “Church”, increasingly, will have “itching ears.”
“They will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” – picking the messengers that will agree with them, instead of hearing the Scriptures as “breathed out by God” [2 Timothy 3:16] – “and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” [2 Timothy 4:3-4]
When Jesus returns, will He find any who still hear His life-giving Word of Scripture – all that He has commanded [Matthew 28:20] and all that He has promised?
And will there still be on earth those calling out to Him as their Savior when He comes again “to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him”? [Hebrews 9:28]
The answer is, He will. Yes. Few or many, He will answer all who are His with His coming. New life. New you and me. No longer sick. No longer sinners. New heaven and new earth. He will lose none of His own, and if there were just one left, He would come for them. He finishes this race for us all. He returns.
The point is that you must rely on Him, not on yourself. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” [John 10:27-28] – To the very end, the sheep are safe with their Shepherd.
So, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” [Psalm 27:14]. Pray always, and you don’t ever need to lose heart. Amen.
- Oct 12
- 5 min read
A Community by Faith
I’m not sure what the experts would say, but much of what creates relationships and a community is this: What one person lacks and another has.
One man’s lack of property ownership, paired with another man’s apartment-building-ownership, creates a relationship. He has, you rent. Eventually, there’s a whole apartment community.
You lack a car; the dealer has many. You skipped biology class; your physician studied for many years. You need roads; the governor has the ability to tax – and thereby provide.
Your need paired with what another has creates a certain kind of unity – and then a whole community because others have the same need. (Though, there may not be love and thanksgiving. There may even be bitterness and resentment.)
I.
The book of Ruth, in the Old Testament, takes place after the days of Moses and Joshua but before the days of King Saul and King David, in a time period when Israel was ruled by figures called “judges”, or “deliverers”. Israel is in the promised land.
But now there is a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah named Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, therefore uproot and migrate to a land called Moab with their two sons.
While in Moab, Elimelech dies. Their sons then marry two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. But then these two sons eventually die. Naomi is left without sons or husband and with her two daughters-in-law.
When Naomi hears the famine in Israel has ended, having been in Moab ten year, she decides to move back home. Though what she will move back to is uncertain. There is an inheritance issue. Only a male family member – a nearest male kin – can inherit her husband’s land. With her two sons deceased, Naomi is desolate even in Israel. Nevertheless, to Israel she is going.
So, she tells her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to return to their own parents’ households. She has nothing to offer them. They should remarry in Moab. They will have nothing on earth if they go with their mother-in-law, Naomi.
Orpah, in tears, returns to her own mother’s household. But Ruth will not. Ruth insists on going with her mother-in-law Naomi. Naomi has no earthly security to offer, yet Ruth recognizes that her mother-in-law does in fact have what she needs. What does Naomi have that Ruth clings to?
“Where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” God and a people. God’s people, and the true God.
Naomi had told Ruth and Orpah, “Go back to your people and your gods.” Ruth says, “No, I want to have your God – the God who actually is God – and be one of His people.”
What Naomi has Ruth never wants to lack again – a covenant relationship with the one true God. For that, Ruth would leave behind earthly security with her family in Moab to live as a beggar woman with her mother-in-law Naomi.
In Israel, Ruth and Naomi do live as beggars. Under Old Testament Law, the farmers of Israel were not allowed to harvest their entire field. They had to leave behind the corners of the field and anything their harvesters dropped – for the poor and for the wildlife. The poor were allowed to glean the fields for sustenance. Ruth supports herself and her mother-in-law by gleaning in the fields.
What will happen in the rest of the book of Ruth? God will provide what Ruth and Naomi lack. He will give them Boaz, a relative, a kinsman redeemer, who owns the fields in which Ruth picks grain.
Boaz, as a close enough relative to Naomi, marries Ruth, the foreigner, and their marriage brings the inheritance back to Naomi. And, in fact, the marriage of Boaz and Ruth brings Ruth into the lineage of the Messiah. From their son Obed comes the line of King David and, therefore, King Jesus, the Christ.
II.
So, now let’s fast forward to Jesus in the today’s Gospel. Jesus is met by ten men with the same need: cleansing from their leprosy. These ten men have a contagious skin disease that, like sin itself, made them unclean to God and man. They must keep their distance and cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!” so that no one approaches.
But this time, they keep their distance and cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Jesus tells them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests” – for proof of their cleansing so they can re-enter society and go back to their families.
As they are walking along the way, to do as Jesus said, all ten are healed, cleansed of their disease. Undoubtedly, all are happy. But just one of them, “when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.”
This one out of the ten joined that growing community of those who received, not earthly benefits, but his truest needs met in His Savior Jesus Christ. Not one and done, but he stuck with Jesus for all that Jesus gives in a lifetime.
III.
What’s the point?
Here it is: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me… For when I am weak, then I am strong [2 Corinthians 12:9-10]. “We rejoice in our sufferings” [Romans 5:3].
What I lack joins me to the One who has. My weaknesses join me to Christ who is strong. My afflictions join me to Christ in whom I find consolation, healing, and an answer. My need joins me to His abundance.
The same is true, we can boldly say, of righteousness. My lack of it joins me to His supply. I don’t rejoice in my lack of righteousness, but I do rejoice in the freeness of His grace, the fullness of His forgiveness, and His abundant patience in helping me do better. Forgiving me seven times seventy times a day as He helps me grow. [Luke 17:4; Matthew 18:22]
You belong to a whole community of Moabite beggars and thankful lepers. Fed and cleansed, here together, gathered to the One who has and gives.
Jesus, God’s Son, is here as your Boaz. Jesus became your Kinsman Redeemer on the cross who bought for you the inheritance of heaven’s kingdom at His great cost – to give it to you.
Jesus is the Priest and Great Physician who, upon the cross, suffered your leprosy of sin to make you clean and declared you washed and righteous in God’s sight.
IV.
What is our response?
Like the one leper, our response is thanksgiving. Returning to Christ every minute to return Him thanks. For all He has done, it our duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him – to thank Him with lips and lifestyle.
And to look around us – at each other who are here – and outside of us, at those not yet gathered around Christ. To see need. Not to see faults or remember their wrongs. But to see fellow beggars only gleaning in the field of One who will give them so much more when they come to know Him. So, point each other and others to Him. Amen.
