Reformation Sermonettes

By Grace Alone

INTRODUCTION: We are saved by grace alone, by faith alone, by scripture alone. That is so simple and beautiful. Yet, it is so difficult because, even though it is what the Bible clearly teaches, it goes against sinful nature and a sinful world and is under constant attack by Satan. 
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THIS DOCTRINE IN THE REFORMATION ERA:

Grace, we Lutherans know from the Bible, is God’s undeserved love. But grace didn’t mean that in Luther’s church. Grace was the ability that God gave people to complete their salvation. The church still officially teaches: If any one says that he who is justified…does not be good works himself…merit an increase of grace, let him be damned.  This is why people felt they could buy forgiveness when they bought indulgences. This is why people worshiped relics and made pilgrimages to Rome: The church lived in darkness not knowing it was saved by grace alone.

SERMONETTE:

Grace alone is under attack. You are forgiven, but you have to ask for it. You are forgiven, but you have to repent. You are forgiven, but you have to walk the walk.

The Bible says, “God made us alive when we were dead in sins.”

The Bible says, “It depends not on man’s effort, but God’s mercy.”

The Bible says, “But now a righteousness from God apart from law has been made known.”

The Bible say, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves. It is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast.” If the Lord gets all the credit call it grace. If you help the Lord, it is not salvation by grace.

There is a righteousness from God apart from the law.

A beggar is given money. A drowning man is rescued. A man who cannot breath is resusitated. I’m a beggar, but look at the salvation God gave me in Christ. I was dead, not just drowning, and now I’m made alive in Christ. Luther learned, and so have we, that grace is not God giving the power to save ourselves, but that grace is God’s undeserved love. Thank God for salvation by grace alone. We are saved by grace alone.

In grace God searched out Adam and Eve when they ate of the forbidden fruit.

In grace God pledged the promised Seed to save them from their sins.

In grace God commanded Noah to build the ark and in grace he gave the people decades to repent of their sin while Noah preached and built the ark.

In grace God called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt even though Moses killed a man in cold blood.

In grace God promised to give David a greater Son even though his love triangle led to conspiracy and murder.

In grace God reminded a whining prophet Elijah there were still 7,000 believers who hadn’t bowed yet to Baal.

In grace God called a doubting Thomas to faith and made him a believer.

In grace God took a persecutor of the church and instead of destroying him he made Saul the greatest missionary the world has ever known. 

By Faith Alone

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THIS DOCTRINE IN THE REFORMATION ERA:

By faith alone, the Bible means that we are given Christ’s righteousness through the vehicle of faith. Faith is a gift of God, not our doing.
Luther’s church said, If anyone says that the ungodly is justified by faith alone in such way that he understands that nothing else is required which cooperates toward obtaining the grace of justification…let him be damned. This is why Luther went without food or sleep, or when he would sleep he would do so on a cold floor without blankets and whip himself. Luther and the church was in captivity, not knowing it was saved by faith alone.

SERMONETTE: My good friends at New Lisbon Correctional Institute said that it wasn’t enough to be saved by faith alone. Brother Marty, you also gotta walk the walk and talk the talk. Over the years I’ve heard a number of people say, “I used to be Lutheran, and then I got saved.” I got saved. We’ll hear people say that they know they are children of God because they made their decision to follow Jesus.

How many times I’ve heard that because a so-called Christian committed such a terrible sin/crime, he wasn’t a true believer. True believers are true sinners. Read the Bible and you’ll see that clear enough.

It is by grace you’ve been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.”

The Bible says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”

The Bible says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The Bible says, “Now when a man works his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited to him as righteousness.”

The Bible says, “Since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Bible says, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”

Is faith about what I do or about what God has done? Is faith about the one who does the believing or about the one who makes the promises? Faith is about what God has done in Jesus. Faith is about the promises God has made. Faith is the hand that receives the blessing of salvation from God through Jesus Christ. And this faith is a gift. Saving faith can be strong or saving faith can be weak, because of the object of our faith is the Son of God. We thank God that we are saved by faith alone.

In faith we pour water over an infant’s head.

In faith the pastor puts a wafer into the hand or the mouth, trusting the body of Christ is there along with the word.

In faith Abraham trusted God would give him a baby though he was old and his wife’s Sarah’s womb was as good as dead. And God credited it to him as righteousness.

In faith the thief on the cross said, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus  strengthened that faith with his promise, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Hmmm? A criminal in heaven. Must be by faith alone. Thank God for salvation by faith alone.

By Scripture Alone

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THIS DOCTRINE IN THE REFORMATION ERA:
Luther’s church believed that the scriptures and traditions of the church both come divinely inspired of the Holy Spirit. So the Bible and the traditions of the church are to be on the same level. Luther’s church believed that the some of Christ’s teachings have actually come down to earth only by word of mouth from the apostles through the bishops of the church. This allows the church to hold to and defend teachings that are not in the Bible. Luther’s church said, “No one, relying on his own skill, shall-in matters of faith, and of morals pertaining to the edification of the Christian doctrine (shall) presume to interpret the said sacred scripture contrary to that sense which holy mother Church hath held and doth hold.” So, you needed the church to tell you what it said and you’d better believe what it said.

SERMONETTE: By scripture alone is still under attack. The Bible is still the only authority for the Christian in matters of faith, life and conduct. The teachings of the church and the and traditions of the church are to be completely subordinate to the Scriptures.

I once had a young man in my prison ministry Bible Study. He said, “I don’t know what to believe. I get this from Brother Bob’s outreach. I get that from Way Out Ministries. And I get something different from you. I don’t know what to do. I said, “Stay in your cell and read your Bible. Don’t go to any of the studies. You have God’s promise that the Holy Spirit will guide you in all truth.”

The Bible says, “These words are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The Bible says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”

The Bible says, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it.” The Bible says, “But even if we are an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to let, let him be eternally condemned.”

The Bible says, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God might be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Scripture alone tells us who the true God is: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Scripture alone reveals that Jesus Christ became true man to live and die in our place.

Scripture alone reveals that Jesus from the dead and made the promise many years before it actually happened.
Scripture reveals to us that there is “no other name under heaven give to men by which we must be saved.”

Scripture alone, that is, God’s Word is the only vehicle by which this salvation comes to us.

Scripture alone saves. Listen to Jesus  who said, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them listen to them.” If they don’t listen to the Bible a different miracle won’t bring to faith.
Listen to the disciples through the mouth of people. When the people were leaving Jesus by droves because of difficult teaching, Jesus asked his disciples, “You don’t want to leave me too, do you?” Peter answer, “Lord, to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life.”
We are saved by scripture alone.