T.G.I.M. / Faith Alone

As we count down to Reformation Day at the end of this month and honor those who protested, this week let's focus on just what it was they fought to reform. What exactly were our church fathers protesting? 

Two vital things mark the Reformation, two things we today as Christians should always take a stand to defend and uphold: 

1.) Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone. This means that the Bible is not only the infallible Word of God, but it alone is authoritative for the faith and practice of Christians. Church tradition is not equal or above the Scriptures, but the Scriptures alone should determine and guide our traditions and everything we do. 

2.) Sola Fide - Faith alone. This means that we are justified by faith alone. The doctrine of justification means that we are counted righteous before a holy God only on the merit of Christ and his cross, not by any works we have done. To say that justification is "Jesus plus" is to actually subtract from the work of Christ. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." ( Ephesians 2:8 ) 

But what does it mean that we are justified? What does this impart to one who has faith in Christ for their salvation? This is what I think we should ponder and hold in our hearts, not just this week and month but always: 

Romans 5:1-11 

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

1.) Peace with God. This isn't a warm feeling we get inside of us. Through justification we are now at peace with God - we are no longer his enemies because of our sin nature. Jesus served our death sentence and paid the punishment for the sins a just and holy God can not overlook. 

2.) Hope in suffering. Suffering has a purpose, and even though we might not be able to see a reason for it, it doesn't mean there isn't any. In fact Scripture tells us that if we share in Christ's sufferings, we do so in order to share in his glory. ( Romans 8:17-18, 1 Peter 4:13 ) "Rejoice!" "Indeed," Paul wrote to Timothy, "All those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." ( 2 Timothy 3:12 ) And the Church has been harassed and hounded for over two thousand years. 

Remember, your sufferings are preparing for you an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison! ( 2 Corinthians 4:17 ) 

You will not be put to shame. Quite the contrary. 

3.) Saved from God's wrath. Because Jesus has justified us, our sins are atoned for. The Bible tells us that God will by no means clear the guilty. ( Exodus 34:7 ) He is the just judge, unlike our human judges, many of whom can be bribed. God will execute on Judgement Day what is perfect and fair. People who have been victims of horrific injustices and who have family members who have suffered atrocities beyond imagination take comfort knowing a day is coming when God will rightly judge the living and the dead. This is our hope. One day, God will right every wrong. 

God would not be good if he was not just. 

4.) Reconciliation with God. We could go on and on about this glorious benefit all day. We are adopted by God as his children. We are no longer alienated from God. We have access to the throne of grace. ( Hebrews 4:16 ) We can come continually to obtain mercy and grace. 

We can come home. 

Read Romans 5 and Ephesians 1 & 2 

Let's remember what the gift of faith alone has brought to us in Christ alone. 

Soli Deo Gloria! 

💜

Archive photo of our first Great Pyrenees Paw Patrol