Talking Points with Pastor Lucas - Justified by Faith: Luther's Go First! Moment

During the time of the Reformation, justification was heralded as the central article of the Christian faith. Namely, as Scripture says, “ 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” (Rom. 3:23-24). All humankind is guilty of offending God by their sin, deserving only death and damnation, but on account of Christ, they are declared innocent and made righteous through faith in His death and resurrection. Justification brings with it the conviction that all other teachings (doctrines) of the Bible were understood to revolve around this one pivotal truth, that “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Cor. 5:19). Remove this truth and the church would crumble and fall.

That’s why Martin Luther was a champion of justification. He started it all by posting his 95 Theses in 1517, and then in 1521 he was willing to go first. He made his stand and put his life on the line in reclaiming the clear Biblical truth that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merit, or works.

His boldness led others to stand with him. In 1530, they publicly confessed that people “are justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe they are received into favor and their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake.” This confession was publicly stated to the Holy Roman Emperor in direct opposition to the teaching at the time and is known as Article IV of the Augsburg Confession.

It summarizes what Luther had rediscovered years before and makes clear justification by faith is not some abstract idea or high-minded elite thought, but a reality. In other words, justification is rooted in the truth that God’s Word not only teaches or describes, but it creates; that it is something to be regarded experientially, not merely cognitively. It confesses that on the cross our sin was put upon Jesus, and in exchange, by faith, we are given Jesus’ everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. This is not some legal fiction or playing pretend. This is a divine, comforting reality.

Martin Luther is known for going first to debate important doctrinal matters. However, the Reformation did not start simply because he was a stickler for right doctrine. It began because he had a crisis of conscience about his salvation. His terrified conscience found no consolation from the wrath of God by a doctrine that was teaching people to look within for comfort.

The issues we wrestle with today are not the same as Luther’s day. But his go first moment gives us pause to reflect and, likewise, go first as we battle against the lies of our day. Our culture claims we can look to ourselves to find all we need. Such lies deceive and mislead many burdened souls today. But that’s why justification remains so important.

Luther was willing to go first to champion justification by faith because he knew it to be the ground of consolation and comfort for burdened consciences. You might call him a Go First! champion. His boldness inspires us in our life together even now.

Because of the Reformation, the Holy Christian Church worships and celebrates together as a community of faith and love expressed in word and deed, rooted in the truth of justification by faith. Our life together acknowledges the guilt and the shame of sin, but rejoices in how the shed blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

Luther was adamant it was not about looking internally to find consolation, but looking outside oneself to Christ. The Reformation came to represent a revolution in soul care. We still stand in that shadow. As Jesus looked upon people with compassion and cared for their souls, we do as well.

Those whom Christ justifies, He also sanctifies to be light bearers and hope mongers in a broken and dysfunctional world. Justification by faith gives us great confidence to be the church. Through our daily vocations, we reach out with the hope of Christ, which often begins with a compassionate word, a welcoming smile, or a kind gesture. Extending the love of Christ in word and deed is a welcome relief for hurting and wondering souls.

Finally, as Christ justifies us, He also unites us, not just as the church, but as the body of Christ. Therefore, our desire is to complete each other rather than compete against each other. We are stronger together. Going first in opportunities of collaboration, networking, and sharing unleashes the potential of our congregations in the name of Jesus, that we might serve and declare all the more that we are justified by faith in Christ! We are a Go First! people.

In Christ,