Grace and Peace to you from God the Father, his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

Today we celebrate the Reformation. 

A brief history:: “The Protestant Reformation began in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther, a teacher and a monk, published a document he called Disputation on the Power of Indulgences, or 95 Theses. The document was a series of 95 ideas about Christianity that he invited people to debate with him.” 

Martin Luther began to question and examine his faith that led him to question the very purpose of being a Roman Catholic monk. 

Just questioning those in power was and still is a leap of faith. Up until that point Luther played by all the rules. 

He listened to the call of Jesus and set off on a course that would change world history. 

To the displeasure of his father; Luther didn’t seek a position in the family business, but went on to study law and eventually joined the Roman Catholic Church, becoming a monk. 

Luther was the model of what it meant to be a Roman Catholic monk. He prayed fervently, obeyed the commandments and loved God. 

No matter how hard he tried; praying, fasting, and obedience to all of those practices he was not at peace. 

For Luther sin became the unavoidable reality that he would never be free for the loving grace of God.

The more he tried the anxiety and restlessness of impending doom left him feeling worthless. 

While at the same time the church was in the process of raising money through the sale of indulgences, basically a get out of jail free. 

For Luther, the law was cold and convicting, where is grace and love? 

The cold metallic clink of coins in the coffer were like chains binding a slave from their freedom. 

Luther put his faith in God, not in buying your way into heaven. 

Along with trying to earn God’s favor through works, now you can buy it, what would we need Jesus for if we can do it ourselves? 

Luther didn’t think so, in fact he knew in his heart that something needed to change. 

Where is the relationship with God, if it is only to be earned? 

What if you were too poor or unable to pay for an indulgence? What kind of God goes to the highest bidder? 

All questions that Luther agonized, would he bite the hand that fed? 

Excommunicated in January of 1521, Luther appeared before the Diet Of Worms on April 17, 1521. 

Luther had to answer, would he recant and be brought back into the fold or be cast out? 

Yet, as I am a mere man, and not God, I will defend myself after the example of Jesus Christ, who said: "If I have spoken evil, bear witness against me; but if well, why doest thou strike me?" (John 18:23). How much more should I, who am but dust and ashes, and so prone to error, desire that everyone should bring forward what he can against my doctrine

Most importantly where was Jesus in all of this, why would God send his only begotten Son to die for our sins, indulgences took on more importance than Jesus. 

Luther also made the connection that the church was practicing wealth building not kingdom building. 

Why was Luther putting all of his faith in Christ? 

In a dramatic lighting storm Luther experienced a transformation, a renewed commitment to the calling of Jesus. 

In that moment of absolute terror for his own life, Luther called on and had Jesus at his side. 

Luther took it upon himself to write the 95 Theses to attempt a discussion on what he felt was standing in the way of the Gospel. 

Psalm 46 provides the tone of Luther’s foundation, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” 

Much of what he believed in through the grace of Jesus was no longer aligned with the church. 

I can only imagine that the fear of the thunderstorm was replaced with the reality of the storm Luther was creating within the church. 

Luther wasn’t trying to get rid of the church, but attempting to discuss what grace means as an avenue to faith, not a roadblock. 

Romans 3:22-24 “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Lutherans believe that we are justified by grace through faith. 

A faith that is the gift inspired by the Holy Spirit to abide in the love of God through his son Jesus Christ. 

A gift, not something to be bought, pure unconditional HESED, unfailing love from God. 

Jesus sets us free by grace, not obligation. 

God patiently waits for our arrival. 

As a result we hear Jesus’ message, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 

The Spirit of truth that comes from God’s encounter and creative love for us. Faith isn’t something that is self-generated. 

I wonder if you have ever attempted to be “more faithful”? 

I’ve tried but I can’t, by my own doing, make myself more faithful. Any attempts to earn faith place conditions on the gift. 

As a result the more you try to be faithful or take a shortcut, like buying an indulgence you are no longer free. 

Redemption that can only happen through God and has happened through the gift of Jesus. 

Jesus is the son of God, the son who has died for our sins with the promise that were saved by faith through grace. 

Freedom, especially in John’s Gospel, is the freedom for relationship with God.

Free to be in relationships that are rooted in love and care of our neighbor. Worthy, loved, and free, just as we are. 

God seeks a relationship with us, inviting us through a new life in Baptism and continued nourishment through communion. 

The gifts of our sacraments are the visible elements bound to the word of God. 

The Reformation was the result of God seeking a relationship with us through Jesus Christ. 

Martin Luther saw through the hypocrisy and indulgent behavior of the church that was threatening our relationship with God. 

A word that sounded like protest when truth was the message. “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6. 

Luther alienated himself from what he had previously trusted and turned to the love of Christ through faith. 

On this Reformation Sunday I pray that we turn toward the love of God. 

The incredible gift of Jesus who has died for our sins, yes that is the Good News of Jesus, are sins are forgiven. 

What an incredible gift upon the gift of life. 

Freedom that you are saint and sinner at the same time. 

Freedom to do nothing and do everything. 

Freedom to love and be loved. 

You are loved by God.

You are lovable. 

You are here, together with each other, to celebrate the triumph of life over death through Jesus. 

We are not only witnesses but active disciples spreading the love of Jesus through Baptism and Holy Communion. 

We are friends and family welcoming each other with love. 

We believe in Jesus, “the Son makes us free, and we will be free indeed.” For this we can say, “Thanks be to God.” AMEN