Fan of Justification [Wednesday in Lent 3]

 

READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE:

• Exodus 20:12-24

• St. Matthew 15:1-20

So far, in our Witnessing about Jesus Toolbox, we have our Fandom. That we should be fans of our Divine Service and fans of Sermons, in order to increase our interest and knowledge, thereby equipping us to increase interest and knowledge in others.
 
For this evening, we get close to the heart of the matter as we begin to uncover the Lutheran Difference. In other words, why you are seated within these 4 walls as opposed to other, enclosed spaces not labelled “lutheran”.
 
The fast reason is, because of the Gospel. That church, salvation, conversion, faith, belief, good works, forgiveness, holiness and any other thing found to be described in the Bible is God’s Work alone. It is all His idea. He instituted all of it and because He chooses Word and Sacrament, that is what is good and right and holy.
 
In St. Matthew’s gospel this evening, we heard Jesus speak of this idea saying, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.” No matter how much we want to plant, it is all on God.
 
This, historically, the Church has called Justification. To define justification a bit: Justification is not about a change in us, but based on what God has done in Christ apart from us. Justification is therefore not a process, but a promise, a promise that creates and gives in reality what God says.
 
In our Exodus reading from this evening, the Lord says, “You have clearly seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven”. God made the first move to chose this people, this mountain, and this method of how things are going to work. He even concludes the pericope saying, “In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.”
 
“I”. “Me”. God causes His Name to be remembered. God comes to you. God blesses you. There is no movement from earth to heaven, only heaven to earth. It is God’s Work, not ours.
 
Thus, there is no such thing as “god”. 
There is no such thing as a generic category for God that we can just use to get along with others. Just because God in Arabic or Aramaic is “Allah” does not mean Jesus was Muslim. But when you use “god” language you end up generic and may even be promoting a false god.
 
Likewise, there is no “christianity”!
There is no “love is love” generic, broad-brush christianity. Denominations exist. Why? Because sinners create a “christianity” that suits their preferences. Really it comes down to “did God say” or didn’t He. Did God do the work or didn’t He?
 
Some churches believe that Jesus gets us in by forgiveness, but we have to keep ourselves in by following the rules. So, if only for our own sanity and certainty, we must find the truth and in finding the truth, we make distinctions and take a stand, which causes separations.
 
And our stand is on Justification, in other words that God’s word of forgiveness actually is powerful and creative, calling into existence the things that are not (Rom 4:17), even calling sinners righteous and thereby making them righteous by His mighty say so. It is a promise to be received by faith, for Christ’s sake. Justification is not a process, but a promise, a promise that creates and gives in reality what God says.
 
Which brings us to our third pro-tip for witnessing: become a fan of the Church’s catechisms, both Small and Large. For there, justification takes physical form. Learning about Baptism as God’s own work and claim on you, as opposed to an outward sign of an inward change. 
 
Learning about Private confession and absolution as God’s own work of working repentance in you and Him giving your pastor to pronounce God’s own forgiveness, right in front of you. A man forgiving sins?? If you know your catechism, God’s Word explains it all.
 
Learning, also about the Lord’s Supper and all its wonderful benefits promised to us, in taking and eating. Really, that’s what witnessing is all about, not just getting into arguments, but revealing all of God’s love and promises in the things He chooses for us. So take some devotional time and devote it to the catechism.
 
As a surprise to many, to be Lutheran is simply to be Christian, in the true sense of the word. Our distinction is to give clarity to the Faith and hold God’s Word as the power for salvation. The catechism prepares us to explain, from God’s Word, the means by which God chooses to forgive sins and create and strengthen faith.
 
so we embrace our faith and its history, but how to open a conversation about justification? Well, how do you use the words justify, right, or make right in your day to day life? Where do these ideas come into actual use in life? 
 
But the first step is to be in that faith, immersed in it. God’s Work is to give us this faith, to unite us to Himself in baptism, to plant us, and to come to us, in His own Way, blessing us with His Word and Sacrament.