Preparing for Worship - October 30, 2022

Many churches will probably be using this weekend the Scripture readings for Reformation Sunday, celebrating the beginning of the Lutheran Reformation on October 31, 1517, 505 years ago. The First Lesson is from the New Testament, the words of Revelation 14:6-7. We are to “fear God” by “giving Him glory” and “worshipping” Him as our Creator and as the One who has made us “a new creation” through the saving work of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is the “eternal Good News,” the Gospel, which is to be “proclaimed” to us and to everyone who “dwells on earth.”

The psalm is Psalm 46, which helped inspire Martin Luther to write his hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” Twice we hear, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” These words echo the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, that the coming Savior would be called Immanuel - God with us. He will be “a very present help in trouble;” and as he is with us, “we will not fear,” no matter what is happening around us. We can “be still” and simply trust our Lord and Savior.

There are two possible Gospel lessons. The first is from John 8:31-36. Jesus promised, “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples and will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus was talking about freedom from the “slavery to sin,” to which everyone who sins is subject. But He, God’s Son, will set us free, by His saving work for us.

The second possible Gospel reading is from Matthew 11:12-19. Jesus reminds people that there was violence against John the Baptist and that opposition was growing against Him as well, no matter what He did. He was even accused of being ”a friend of sinners.” That is exactly what He was, because He came into the world to save people from their sins, by suffering violence in their place, to pay the penalty for their sins.

The Epistle lesson, Romans 3:19-28, explains why Jesus had to come to rescue us and how He did it. The Law of God condemns us all and shows us that we are all sinners. None of us can be justified by our own works and efforts. All of us “fall short” of what God expects of us, but the “righteousness of God” came to us as a gift in and through Jesus Christ. He made the one great atoning sacrifice for our sins, by His death in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. God now justifies, declares righteous, “all who have faith in Jesus.” This was the great re-discovery of Martin Luther, from Scriptures like this one. “One is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”