Friday, November 18, 2005
John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
POST-REFORMATION THOUGHTS
Recently we commemorated the Festival of the Reformation. We were reminded how God used His servant, Martin Luther, to rediscover the truth that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, as taught in Scripture alone, apart from the works of the Law.
Our faith in Christ naturally produces good works and we must do all the good works our God has commanded, but we are to do them for His sake. We should not place our trust in them as if we could thereby earn His love.
Reformation is also a time to be reminded of the importance of remaining students of our Lord's Word. It is through His Word that the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith. He uses the Word to help us become more firmly grounded in what we believe as confessional Lutheran Christians and, just as importantly, why we believe what we believe. He also uses the Word to prepare and equip us for the blessed task He has committed to us all of sharing our hope in Christ with others.
