Jesus’ Words of Reformation
Details
Jesus’ Words of Reformation
Redeemer Lutheran Church - LCMS
Charleston, WV
October 27, 2019
Message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto
Psalm 46
Revelation 14:6-7
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
Happy Reformation Sunday!
Lutheran Christians have historically taken the last Sunday in October and set it aside to celebrate the Reformation of the Church which Martin Luther unleashed as he nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. We do not engage in worshiping Dr. Luther or any of the other reformers who joined him some 502 years ago. Instead it is a time to thank God for using these reformers to bring back to light the truth of the Gospel.
In our Gospel lesson, Jesus speaks to some Jews who had believed in Him. He tells them (and us) what it means to be one of His disciples. “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples …” In other words, stay in it, stay with it, rest by it. Yet, Jesus is not merely saying, “Rest in what I say.” He is saying rest in Me and what I am doing for you. And we can rest in Him because Jesus is the Word we hear about in the beginning of John’s Gospel, the Word with God and the Word that was God, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word that these Jews had been hearing for years in the Law and the Writings and the Prophets – our Old Testament – is literally standing before them!
He is then telling them “abide in Me; abide in what I say and do. In doing that, you will know the truth that forgiveness and salvation cannot be won by your own work or effort. But I am going to the cross to do it for you – this is the truth that will set you free from sin, death, and the devil.”
What great, fantastic news!