Sermon -- 1st Sunday of End Times: Reformation (October 30, 2022)

ROMANS 3:19-28

SALVATION COMES BY FAITH ALONE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     There has been an ongoing battle in the church about two Bible verses which seem to be at odds with one another.  The first Bible passage is from our reading for today.  St. Paul writes, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28).  The second passage is from the epistle of St. James.  James writes, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).  Some emphasize one verse at the expense of the other, hoping to avoid any sense of contradiction.  But it is important to understand the context of these passages.  When you do, you will recognize that there is no contradiction at all.

     James writes to Christians who were using God’s forgiveness as an excuse to continue in their sins.  Even today, you will find Christians whose behavior confesses, “If God forgives, then I can do anything.  It doesn’t matter.”  James warns you that it does matter.  If you have new life in Jesus Christ, that life ought to reflect a devotion to God’s word both in your confession and in your behavior.  A person who claims to be a Christian and yet lives like a pagan is a liar.  That person may claim to have faith, but what good is a claim to believe God’s word when one’s life is opposed to that word?  James tells you that your life should reflect your confession.  Therefore, he concludes, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24). 

     St. James tells us how a justified person is supposed to live.  But if St. James is telling us how we are justified, the result is nothing but terror and despair.  If we are justified by works and not by faith alone, then we have a lot of work to do, don’t we?  If I believe in Jesus as my Savior but I must still prove my worth by my works, then the burden falls back upon me.  And this is work that does not end.  When will it satisfy God?  How will you know if God is satisfied with your works?  And how could you know?  If it depends upon your works, how should God communicate to you, “That’s enough.  You’ve done a good job”?  Since God makes no such utterance from heaven, when could you ever have peace because the works you’ve done are finally pleasing?  What God does make known to us is that all works must be done as he demands—willingly, cheerfully, flawlessly, and constantly.  Who is up to that?  On our best days, we would live in doubt.  On our worst days, we would sink to despair knowing that it is hopeless. 

     St. Paul shows us how hopeless the sinner truly is before God.  He declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  More accurately, we should read that verse this way: “All have sinned.”  That is a fact.  That is our status.  We are all sinners.  “And all continue to fall short of the glory of God.”  That is what we do.  We continually fail to live up to God’s Commandments.  We are impatient with other people and snap at them.  We become annoyed by our fellow man.  We detest him when we are supposed to love him.  We are bitter about our blessings, convinced that God has rewarded others better than us.  We struggle with our problems and suggest that God does not care about us or that he is incompetent to fix them.

     Because of our sinful status, we daily sin against God and others.  We cannot overcome our daily sins, and we cannot correct our sinful status.  Rather than offering our good works to God, we present lousy excuses.  God’s Law exposes this and condemns us for it.  St. Paul wrote, “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” (Romans 3:19).  What defense can we make before God?  Excuses fix nothing. 

     The Psalms ask us to consider, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?  And who shall stand in his holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4).  In other words, only that which is righteous can dwell with a righteous God.  Our works are not righteous because we are not righteous.  Our hands are dirty, and our hearts are impure.  No matter how diligent, no matter how zealous, no matter how sincere, no matter how celebrated you are, your works will not make you righteous.  They cannot save you.  They cannot even contribute to it.

     Human efforts at righteousness fail.  “But now,” St. Paul writes, “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22).  This righteousness comes from outside of us.  It is not a righteousness from you; it is a righteousness from God.  It is not a righteousness you have to go and get; it is a righteousness which is given to you. 

     Salvation comes by faith alone.  It is the only way you will ever be assured of your standing before God.  While it is true that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), St. Paul goes on to state this as equally true: all “are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:24-25). 

Jesus Christ has provided all you need to be justified, that is, declared guiltless of all sin.  He gave himself up as a propitiation, that is, as a sacrifice which appeases God’s wrath. 

     When an Old Testament worshiper came to the temple with an offering, he would place his hand on the head of the animal to be sacrificed.  He would designate it: “This is my substitute.  This one dies for me.”  His guilt would be transferred to the animal, and he would be slain on behalf of him.  God’s anger would be poured out on the animal which was consumed by fire, and the worshiper would be forgiven.  

     Jesus is that sacrifice for us.  He was designated by God the Father as our substitute.  We see Jesus and know: “This one dies for me.”  Our guilt was transferred over to Jesus, so God’s wrath was transferred over to Jesus.  He exchanged his innocence for our guilt.  Only Jesus could do this.  He became a man so that he could bleed and die as our atoning sacrifice.  But he is true God so that his payment counts for all sinners of all times.  At the death of Jesus, all the wrath of God was poured out.  Jesus was consumed in his fiery wrath.  The blood of God’s Son cleanses your hearts and hands and voices.  The innocence of Jesus has been transferred over to you for your righteousness. 

     Since Jesus made the full payment, there is nothing to add to it.  Justice has been done and grace has been bestowed through Jesus.  “It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).  Jesus’ propitiation proves that God is just: The guilty one has paid the price.  Jesus’ resurrection proves that God justifies you.  If Jesus’ payment to redeem you from sin and death were insufficient, he would still be dead.  But Jesus lives.  The payment is complete.  Your sins are forgiven.  Death is overcome.  Heaven is opened.  By faith in Jesus, you benefit from Jesus’ life and death.  Salvation comes by faith alone.

     Consider the peace this brings to you.  You are saved by taking God at his word.  Regarding the righteousness you need, the Lord promises: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  Regarding the sins you have committed, the Lord promises: “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).  As far as who is included in this salvation, the Lord declares, “[Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).  As far as the completion of the work of salvation, Jesus decreed just before he died, “It is finished” (John 19:30).  These are the promises of God who does not and cannot lie.  We take God at his word, and he alleviates our fears, silences our doubts, and guarantees everlasting life.  Salvation comes by faith alone in Jesus Christ.

     Oh, what an amazing comfort this is!  The devil still tempts you to add your little contribution to Jesus’ work, as if Jesus’ payment for sins has not been enough.  It seems to make sense because we know God’s will is that we live good and godly lives, as St. James testifies.  But the devil always wants to rob you of your comfort and your confidence.  He always directs your attention away from Jesus and puts it back on yourself. 

     But salvation comes by faith in God’s word, so take heed of that word!  He says, “We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28).  “Apart from works of the law.”  Apart from whatever you have done.  Apart from whatever you will do.  Apart from whatever you can do.  Salvation comes by faith alone.  Not by faith AND perfect church attendance.  Not by faith AND generous offerings.  Not by faith AND a clean record.  Not by faith AND a cheerful attitude.  Not by faith AND good mental health, a happy marriage, or a long and prosperous life.  While all these things are good and desirable, they are not what save you.  Salvation comes by faith alone.  Everything for your salvation relies on Jesus; therefore, you can be sure that it was done perfectly and completely.   

     St. Paul declares how you can stand before God with clean hands and a pure heart, with a calm mind and a peaceful soul: You are saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ.  He has done the work.  He bestows upon you the gifts.  In saying so, St. Paul is not picking a fight with St. James.  St. James is also right.  We do strive for good and godly living as directed by God’s word.  We strive for this day after day—not in order to be God’s people, but because we are God’s people.

     “Faith alone” does not mean the works of the Law don’t have to be done.  “Faith alone” recognizes that the works of the Law have been done.  Jesus did them with his perfect life and with his innocent death.  And his resurrection proves that they were done.  Jesus gives us the benefit of them with his promise: “This is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40).  Jesus does not tell you what you must do, which will never be completed.  He tells you what he has done, which is complete and perfect and assured.  The Savior wants you to know that you are saved.  And he does.  You have his word on it. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.