It has been 500 hundred years since Luther posted the 95 theses (sentences)! How shall we celebrate?
TRUTHS TO TREASURE AND TEACH -
We give humble thanks to God for using His servant, Martin Luther, in extraordinary ways, educating people with the Word.
We, with Luther, continue to embrace the chief teaching of the Bible, the doctrine of justification by grace through faith in Christ! God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not charging their sins to them, but to His Dear Son! Amazing grace! God’s declaration to an underserving world is received personally through faith in Jesus. What marvelous gifts God has given – His One and Only Son, and the faith to believe in Him. Here is a summary statement of these truths as it is expressed in our Synod’s statement “We Believe, Teach, and Confess”.
By His perfect life and His innocent sufferings and death Jesus has redeemed the entire world (See 1 John 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:19). God thereby reconciled the world to Himself, and by the resurrection of His Son declared it to be righteous in Christ. This declaration of universal righteousness is often termed “objective justification.” One has this justification as a personal possession and is personally declared by God to be righteous in Christ when he or she is brought to faith in Him as Savior. This is often called “subjective justification” (See Romans 1:17 and Romans 5:1-2).
Another Reformation marvel is the fact that the Word of God was translated into the common language of the people. The Bible put into the language of the people and into the hands of the people cannot be underestimated! Seek a way to read your Bible on a daily basis.
Luther was a prolific writer! He published the Small Catechism in 1529, a gem which still guides both young and old alike! We continue to teach children and others from the Catechism.
Luther refreshed the truth that God comes to us, meets us, deals with us, yes forgives us our sins and grants us peace through His Means of Grace, the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are not just rituals or church ceremonies, but the divine ways which God interacts with His people.
Luther’s constant stand on the Word of God alone, transcending the voice of worldly reason, remains a legacy we cannot do without!
Can we through teaching and through any influence we may have in our vocations in life have some impact on preserving and sharing this large dowry from the Lutheran Reformation?
REFORMATION WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES -
King of Grace Lutheran Church will have its Reformation Sunday Worship on October 29th at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. At 9:30 a.m. we will have a special Reformation Hymn Festival in the sanctuary. Our Senior Choir will participate and we hope that you will as well.
On Sunday, November 5th at 4:00 p.m. St. Croix Lutheran High School, 1200 Oakdale Avenue, West St. Paul is hosting an area Reformation Worship Service.