Monday, October 20, 2014

Oct.26 2014 Reformation Sunday

John 8:31-36

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
   33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
   34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.


“The Three Principles Of The Reformation”

Faith alone - by grace through faith we are saved,
Word alone - The freedom we have to believe according to the dictates of our conscience,               bound only by the Word and guided by the Holy Spirit.
The Priesthood of all believers - we are all priest called to serve God in our living.



“FREE INDEED”

Reformation Sunday is a powerful Sunday which reminds us of how great our God is, and how good it is to be loved by God!

Our reformation is to discover the truth that Jesus is hidden everywhere, even where we expect him least. It is also to recognize change as the driving force of God’s Word.

God’s Word is an instrument of change and will, if we let it, change the way we look at things. It “is the source of all that is creative in the life of the Church.”  (Luther)
It sets us free to be new and different people.  People who put love at the center of life and let nothing keep it from doing its thing.

There is a place for good works.  (In spite of what Luther said and experienced in his day.)  Deeds done because of faith.  James is a good book.  (In spite of what Luther said.)  Faith must be active in love.

We are to be little Christ's who go about doing good, not because this is the way to earn heaven but because this is the way to show that we are free from the fear of losing heaven and to show not only that we love God, but that God first loved us




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