The Lutheran Hour
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"Not By Your Works"
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Text: Galatians 2:15-21, 3:10-14
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The Apostle Paul says, “We…. know that a person is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia.
The Bible is pretty straight forward about things that really matter. Today’s text is no different. The Apostle Paul tells us clearly there are two ways to live; one, under the law, and the other, under grace. And the real problem that has to be overcome is our sinfulness, our brokenness, our inability to even be the people that God created us to be. Without grace, a life under the law as sinful people, that kind of life is oppressive indeed!
Think about it. Even at the very beginning, when babies are born, it’s a rough experience just entering this world; blinding light, cold air, the doctor’s pulling and prodding; and that’s just the beginning. From there, it keeps getting more and more difficult. You have to learn how to take care of yourself. You have to learn to be on time. You’ve got to follow the rules. You have to be humble, but have good self-esteem. You need to study hard. You need to weather the pressure of peers and the problem of jeers. Bullies, barriers, and bewilderment bombard you. Life in this world is no piece of cake. If you make it into adulthood, the tendency to live under pressure takes hold. Make enough money, find the right relationship, buy the right things, and achieve the right success.
That’s why life becomes a driven existence, filled with fragile self-doubt and looming regret because questions always remain. Have you done enough? Are you good enough? It’s all about works, right?
Some people respond to this pressure by collapsing inward and carrying a load of inadequacy and sadness. Others blast through the barriers finding solace in parties, substances, and an I-don’t-care attitude. But it’s all a bundle of reactions to a pressure-filled life; and make no mistake, no matter how successful people look, there is a deep down reality that it’s all still not enough.
In fact, because of sin; our sin, your sin, every human being’s sin; life is not easy. It’s not easy for me. It’s not easy for you. True, there are wonderful moments to be sure. There are beautiful seasons and blessings. But it’s not easy. And, as the years go by, it doesn’t get any easier.
I’m not trying to depress you. I’m painting a realistic picture to show you a remarkable contrast. You don’t have to live under that kind of reality, that kind of pressure. You don’t have to wear the impossible heavy yoke of trying to do enough, please everyone, and fit into the mold of success.
Something happened in this world to break that taxing and toxic chain, giving you a whole different way to live and work. We see that in the birth of a Special Baby.
You probably know about this Baby. He was born in a stable in Bethlehem. His mom and dad gave Him the name Jesus. Shepherds came to see Him. His parents, Mary and Joseph, wondered about what was happening. Jesus was a normal human Baby. He endured the painful birth; He cried; He was hungry; He even needed diapers. But something different happened when Jesus came to this earth. John the Apostle describes it this way: The Word (he’s talking about the Word of God here) the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth come through Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 16-17).
Grace upon grace. Grace and truth. Grace and truth came and still come through Jesus the Christ.
What is grace? You’ve heard it defined as “undeserved love.” The dictionary says it is “the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners.” That’s not bad but it’s been described this way too, by assigning a word to each letter: G-R-A-C-E: “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”
No matter what words you use to define it, grace is God in action for you in the person and work of Jesus, so that in spite of your sin, God loves you and calls you to Himself. Life, salvation, joy, peace; these things ultimately are not because of what you do, or what you’ve accomplished, or because of your track record in life. No. His lavish grace means that God in Christ loves you beyond anything you could ever hope for or dream of.
The Apostle Paul was very vocal about this. That’s what this whole letter to the church in Galatia is all about. He reminds them and us in Galatians, chapter two, “We know that a person is not justified (not declared innocent) by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 2:16). He went on in chapter three to say, “All who rely on works of the law, they are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’ I love how he says it this way, though. ‘Therefore it is evident that nobody is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith'” (Galatians 3:10-11).
Why was Paul so vocal about grace through faith in Jesus Christ; because he saw how hollow his life was in spite of all of his momentary successes and accomplishments. He saw his faults. He saw his failings honestly and he knew there was no way he could somehow win God’s approval and earn his way to heaven. He was a realist. He was honest-about life and about himself. So, when he was presented with grace, the gift of God’s love freely given, he was absolutely blown away and became one of the strongest advocates for this gift.
He became a herald, a proclaimer of grace in a graceless world. To anyone who is listening today, that’s why this program, The Lutheran Hour, exists too. Now is the hour of your salvation. Now is the time of grace for you to hear and believe that this grace that God has given He wishes for you to have and we are here every week to herald, to proclaim that no matter what you are facing today, no matter how futile things look or feel at the moment, there is another way to live; a way of grace and hope in Christ alone for you.
And, would you agree with me that we need that kind of life more in this world today than ever? Today, people seem to be more cold, more callous, crude, even dismissive. We really do live in a world that seems to be under a curse, as Paul describes. And here’s the tougher truth, no matter how hard we try, this stuff still seems to overwhelm us in one way or another.
Are you like me today? Are you a bit weary? Are you a bit drained? That stands to reason. Why? We all need God’s grace!
The Christian church down through the ages, even in spite of itself sometimes, has been a place that heralds God’s grace to a world in need.
Listen to some of her teachers down through the ages:
* Polycarp, a student of the Apostle John, echoed the message of grace in the first and second centuries. He said it this way, “I know that through grace you are saved, not of works, but by the will of God, through Jesus Christ.”
* Or listen to John Chrysostom, a great preacher of the early church in the 300s, he said this. “What then did God do? He made a righteous Person (Jesus) to be a sinner, in order that He might make sinners righteous.”
* St. Augustine, a great, great Christian leader in history, said, “Grace is given to you, not wages paid to you…it is called grace because it is given gratuitously. By no precedent merits did you buy what you have received.”The great Reformer of the 1500s, Martin Luther, said it this way, “A good song may well be sung often. This is grace: the forgiveness of sins for the sake of the Lord Jesus, the covering up of all of our sins.”
And if you want to know that grace, all you need to do is read God’s Word because that’s where it’s heralded every day.
Walter Maier, the founding voice of this program, The Lutheran Hour, was a herald of grace to millions in the mid 1900s. He said it this way: “What endless love is contained in that short five-letter word, grace! Take your Bible, stand beneath Calvary’s cross, and ‘grace’ has only one ever-blessed assurance. It is the mercy of God in Jesus Christ;” and I add, for you.
In fact, this is the central teaching of our church. This is the central teaching of this radio program, that we are justified. We are declared innocent by grace, through faith, in Jesus alone.
Heralds of grace have brought this essential message to a graceless world for centuries. But the real question that I have for you today is this–do you realize how much you need this refreshing news right now, or are you going to keep living life on your own terms until it’s too late, under law as if you can master all these things on your own? Or are you going to realize that the call to repentance and forgiveness in Jesus that’s the beginning of grace way of living that will free you to be the person that God created you and redeemed you to be, now and forever. Keep listening to the Good News of grace.
That’s why the Apostle Paul gets right to the heart of the matter. First, he wants to let you know that life isn’t about you and what you can ultimately do. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. (Galatians 2:20). Your power, your ability, your achievement do not define you. Thank God, because that is never going to be enough. By grace, through His death on the cross and His resurrection, Jesus defines you. Jesus gives you His life to live as a gift.
Second, Paul outlined the high price that Jesus paid for this gift that He wants you to have. Paul said: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). The heavy weight of the curse you feel was taken by Jesus. He not only carried your burden, He became the curse that God the Father destroyed so that it would no longer have power over you. Now, in Christ, grace prevails in your life! That is what the Apostle Paul heralded and proclaimed; that’s what He brings to you today. Hear his words in Ephesians, two: “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions and sins, He made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved. 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 nobody may boast” (Ephesians 2:4-9).
It is a gift of God. Grace changes everything.
Author Philip Yancey spoke eloquently about God’s grace in his book, What’s So Amazing About Grace? He noted: “What better can the church offer than the ‘means of grace’?” (278) Then he talked about the far reach of God’s grace. He said it this way:
Strangely enough, the lens of grace reveals those outside the church in the very same light. Like me, like everyone inside the church, they too are sinners loved by God. Lost children, some have strayed very far from home, but even so the Father stands ready to welcome them back with joy and celebration.”
Grace is unique; grace is real. And grace can change everything, even in the world in which we live.
The scene was unfolding in London’s Wembley Stadium. There was a massive musical celebration happening because of the changes in South Africa, rock bands blared and guests partied. Groups like Guns ‘n’ Roses blasted their music through speakers riling up the fans already high on booze and dope. For twelve hours the music rocked the stadium and they yelled for curtain call after curtain call. But for some strange reason, an opera singer, Jessye Norman, was scheduled to be the closing act. The crowd was sill wound up when Jessye approached the stage. Here’s what happened next. Philip Yancey describes the amazing conclusion to that concert that again shows the uniqueness of God’s grace.
Norman, as she moved to the stage, suddenly the crowd reacted. They wanted more Guns ‘n’ Roses. They didn’t want to recognize an opera diva at the end of their revelry. This is what he said:
Alone, a capella, Jessye Norman began to sing, very slowly:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found-
Was blind, but now I see.A remarkable thing happened in Wembley Stadium he said. Seventy thousand raucous fans fell silent before her aria of grace.
By the time Norman reaches the second verse, “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved…,” the soprano had the crowd in her hands.
By the time of the third verse when she sang, “Tis grace has brought me safe this far, And grace will lead me home,” several thousand fans are singing along, digging far back into near lost memories for the words that they’ve heard so long ago. What an incredible thing happened that night. Yes, like the song says:
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.Jessye Norman confessed she had no idea what power descended on Wembley Stadium that night. But Yancy said, “I think I know. The world thirsts for grace. When grace descends, the world falls silent before it.” (282)
Today, dear friend in Christ-you who are listening, fall silent, yes. Find rest for your soul, yes. And start living the life of freedom in Christ because you are saved by grace. Grace will keep you now. Grace will strengthen you tomorrow, and grace will bring you home forever with God when nothing else can. Believe it.
Amen.
Action in Ministry for June 12, 2016
Guest: Lorri HackettANNOUNCER: You’re listening to The Lutheran Hour. This is Action in Ministry. Christians respond to God’s love by serving their neighbor but also by sharing Christ with them.
SELTZ: You know, Mark, adult volunteers, they can travel to other countries on mission trips and they can see firsthand how the Gospel is changing people’s lives.
ANNOUNCER: Now there’s even a way elementary school students and teachers and even families at home can take part in a mission trip without ever leaving the classroom, without ever leaving the house actually. Joining us today is our colleague, Lorri Hackett, and she’s going to tell us more about this unique opportunity.
SELTZ: Lorri, thanks for joining us today.
HACKETT: Thanks so much for having me.
SELTZ: Mission trips typically involve a group of volunteers going to a different country, to a different culture to share the Good News of Jesus with the people there. Volunteers might have building projects. They might be involved with giving of health care, other services. What is different about this mission trip that you’re talking about with us today?
HACKETT: Well, I’m glad you asked that. The beauty of this mission trip is that it’s completely online. So, we actually bring the mission trip to the classroom. We send a video team to one of our over 34 ministry centers where they’re able to record what a day in the life looks like for our ministry center directors and the volunteers that do the work in the trenches sharing the love of Christ is a very personal way.
ANNOUNCER: For example, where could we go on a mission trip like this?
HACKETT: Typically we pick one of our ministry centers. We have over 34 ministry centers around the world; so we have a large range of choices to pick from. Our past trips have included: Paraguay, Latvia, Thailand…
SELTZ: …yeah, and I heard we’re also in Africa too; aren’t we doing something in Kenya as well?
HACKETT: Yes, absolutely. We took a trip to Kenya and our most recent trip was to Guatemala.
SELTZ: Wow, we’re everywhere. Now, we do a lot of things on these trips, but what ultimately is the goal of these online trips?
HACKETT: The goal of this kind of a mission trip is really to allow the children to see what life is like in another part of the world and how Jesus Christ is able to use us to reach out to the people around the world who don’t know about His love and about His sacrifice. In our 34 ministry centers around the world, these are things that happen daily; but these children don’t have the opportunity to witness these kinds of things.
ANNOUNCER: You were in the classroom for one of these trips and watching the students’ reactions, I think that must have been pretty special to see how they were interacting. What kind of questions did they ask?
HACKETT: Well, they really enjoy the interaction that this trip allows. In the past, we’ve had live streaming but now we do it all via social media platforms…
ANNOUNCER: …all right.
HACKETT: …so, they get to ask all kinds of questions. But I do remember the first year, the kids were watching as our ministry center director was visiting children around the area in Paraguay and I remember their questions were, such as, “Oh, where do they plug in their Xbox?”
SELTZ: Radically different perspective.
HACKETT: Very different.
SELTZ: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still the center to what makes life worth living. Lorri, you and your team have done much of the teaching work already. What other things are available that you have as part of this kind of program?
HACKETT: Well, it’s a perfect opportunity for teachers to take advantage of some of the resources that we do have available. We have online a curriculum that’s created each time to go along with the country that we’re traveling to as well as past trips and videos; so it really doesn’t have to be any specific time throughout the year. Teachers are really encouraged to take advantage of these resources at any point in time.
ANNOUNCER: How do you get started?
HACKETT: That’s a good question as well.
SELTZ: Always a good question.
HACKETT: We’re very close to announcing the destination for our next trip; that should happen within the next month, so we would love for everyone to join us. Simply visit lhm.org/onlinemissiontrips and you’ll get complete information on how to register and how to become connected.
SELTZ: Well, having been on various mission trips I know how exciting they can be. I think this is a tremendous opportunity for the schools and families, but I also think it sounds like anybody could do this if they just go to our website and participate, correct?
HACKETT: Absolutely. They just have to register with an email address and they’re allowed to use all the videos and all the resources that are found there.
SELTZ: What an exciting thing to be a part of-sharing the Gospel with another culture and learning about other cultures as we go. Lorri, thank you so much for being here and sharing this incredible thing with us today.
HACKETT: Thank you. Thank you so much.
SELTZ: And that’s our Action in Ministry segment today; to bless, to empower, and to strengthen your life in Christ for others.
ANNOUNCER: And for more information about online mission trips, go to lutheranhour.org and click on Action in Ministry. Or call, 1-855-john316. That’s 1-855-564-6316. Our email address is info@lhm.org.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for June 12, 2016
Topic: Can I Be Good Enough to Make it to Heaven?ANNOUNCER: Now Pastor Gregory Seltz responds to questions. I’m Mark Eischer and today a listener asks, “Can I be good enough to make it to heaven?”
SELTZ: How to be good enough, that’s an important question on so many levels, Mark. So, let’s step back and tackle this from another perspective. Ready? In fact, let me ask you a question to help illustrate the answer: can I be good enough to start on a NBA championship basketball team?
ANNOUNCER: Well, I know you had an illustrious basketball career in college and the guys on your church league tell me you still have some great moves–for a guy your age.
SELTZ: Just give it to me straight, Mark.
ANNOUNCER: Realize this is coming from someone who hasn’t touched a basketball since the seventh grade. You do have some great skills; you are probably not good enough to start on an NBA championship team. Honestly, I don’t think you’d be really good enough to even make it on to the roster of any professional team. At this stage of your life, I doubt any major college teams would take you. In fact, even when it comes to some high school teams…
SELTZ: Okay, okay. I get the message. I think our listeners do too. I am amply humbled (even though my pride still protests). So, Mark, job well done. You see my point, don’t you?
ANNOUNCER: I think I do. You may have talent, but at that level you’ll never be good enough.
SELTZ: So, let’s talk life. You and I do some nice things. We’re generally kind people. Many of our listeners may make the same claim. But that’s not the whole story of our lives, is it?
ANNOUNCER: No matter how nice we are, no matter what good things we do, we’re not good enough to stand shoulder to shoulder on the same level as the perfect, holy, almighty God.
SELTZ: Right. I may be able to make fifty free throws in a row, but I can’t be on an NBA team. I may have clean language, go to church every Sunday, give lots of money to charity, help people in need, and be very nice, but I am not perfect and will never be able to equal God in goodness or perfection. There is no way you or I can make it to heaven based on our merits; no matter how good we try to be in this life. Nobody can.
ANNOUNCER: I suppose that just as it may have been hard to hear about your basketball reality, it’s hard for people to hear about this reality.
SELTZ: It IS hard. But God pulls no punches because He loves us. He tells us the truth so we don’t live in deception and then miss out on the gift of life He gives in Jesus Christ. Romans, chapter three is a great source of truth and answers for these questions about whether we can be good enough to make it to heaven. Listen to this verse: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, and have become together worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (NIV).
ANNOUNCER: Verse 23 reinforces that when it says: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 ESV).
SELTZ: It’s pretty clear, isn’t it? We all fall short. There is no one righteous. Even if you were frozen in time and didn’t do anything wrong for the rest of your life, you are still separated from God because of your sinful condition.
ANNOUNCER: We call that original sin.
SELTZ: Right, but the story doesn’t end there and that’s the key. Following that verse in Romans 3, it says: “And you are all justified (which means declared innocent) freely by his grace through the redemption that came in Jesus” (Romans 3:24 NIV). Then Paul later says: “We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28 ESV). These are two important truths. First, you can’t be good enough to make it to heaven on your own, but Jesus was good enough for you. He was perfect and now you get to live life in His Name.
ANNOUNCER: And, that’s where that second truth comes in.
SELTZ: Exactly, Jesus paid for your imperfection, purchased you from a sentence of death through His death on the cross. He gave you His righteousness so that you can stand with Him in heaven and you also can live with Him on earth.
ANNOUNCER: That’s what we mean by justification. Jesus put His holiness in our lives freely as a gift, so that when God looks at us, He sees the perfect righteousness of Jesus.
SELTZ: Some say that justification means: it’s just as if I’d never sinned;” yeah, because of Jesus. And it is by grace, through faith in Him. It is a gift. Our listener can’t rely on himself to make it to heaven. The good news is: he can rely on Jesus Christ as His Savior.
ANNOUNCER: Good news indeed! Thank you, Pastor Seltz. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music Selections for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.“Today Your Mercy Calls Us” From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)
“Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ” From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)