The Truth Leads to Reformation :: John 8:(28-30) 31-36
Therefore, Jesus said, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM and (that) I do nothing from myself, but just as the Father taught me, these things I speak. And the One who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone because I always do those things pleasing to him.
As he was saying these things, many believed in him. Therefore, Jesus said toward the Jews (who believed and continued to believe in) him: If you remain in my Word, truly you are my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
They responded to him: We are the seed of Abraham and (we have never been, nor continue to be) enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be free’?
Jesus answered them, Amen, Amen, I say to you: Everyone doing sin is a slave of sin. Now the slave does not remain in the house forever. The son remains forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free (vv 28-36).
[Introduction]
Why do we celebrate the Reformation every year? Is it really like all the other feast days of the Church year ... you know, Christmas, with our celebration of the Incarnation of Christ ... or Good Friday, with our observance of the Crucifixion of Christ ... or Easter, with our celebration of the Resurrection of Christ ... or Pentecost, with our celebration of Christ pouring out the Lord and Giver of Life upon us all?
Is the Reformation as important as our recent Feasts of Saints Matthew, Peter and Paul, who together proclaimed the same by writing one of the Gospels and 15 epistles?
Do we celebrate the Reformation to commemorate Martin Luther tacking his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517? Or is our celebration of the Reformation about something that is much bigger?
WE CELEBRATE THE REFORMATION BECAUSE IT KEEPS US FOCUSED ON THE TRUTH OF HOW JESUS SETS YOU FREE.
I. The world offers many truths, but only Jesus’ Truth sets us free.
That is one of the primary points in our Gospel reading today from John 8, where Jesus is speaking to two groups of people.
On the one hand, there are those Jews who believed and continued to believe in [Jesus]. These are the Christians who understood the Truth that Jesus not only is the living bread that came down from heaven, but is the Living Water and the Light of the World (6:50, 7:38, 8:12). They had begun recognizing that Jesus is therefore, in fact, Immanuel ... God with Us ... the Christ who will show us that he has set us free by fulfilling the prophecies Isaiah and Hosea, among others, by being lifted up on a cross where he will die for the sins of the world, and by rising into eternal life on the Third Day. Then you will know that I AM, Jesus said (v 28).
Alas, sadly, there were also a number of people in the crowd who were blinded by their self-idolatry and hatred of the Truth that God loves us in this way. Listen to what they said in response to Jesus’ plea that ... If you remain in my Word, truly you are my disciples, and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free (vv 31-32).
The doubters and grumblers in the crowd began arguing that ... We are the seed of Abraham and (we have never been, nor continue to be) enslaved to anyone (v 33). In other words they were actually arguing that they had no need to receive the forgiveness of sins from God himself. Some in fact were arguing that they didn’t even have sin and therefore the need of a savior. They were arguing they were good on their own merits. Others were arguing AGAINST Jesus’ own word that they need to eat and drink his body and blood to remain or abide in him (6:56). That’s a hard saying, they were still telling themselves. Who is able to listen to this? (6:60)
The idea that God could deliver salvation to us in this way through these means is the reason many have turned away from Jesus and stopped following him (6:66). They prefer instead to work out their own self-righteousness.
Luther learned this truth the hard way. As a young monk, he tried everything to free himself from the guilt and the shame of sin. Before seeing the Light of the World in our epistle reading, he prayed continually ... fasted daily ... confessed his sins repeatedly. He punished himself ... denied himself ... tried to heed the traditions of men. But the more he tried to ascend, the more he descended into despair ... crushed by God’s holiness.
II. But by remaining in the Word Alone, he also learned the truth of how Jesus sets us free.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, try as you might, you can’t stop sinning. As Paul repeats immediately before our epistle reading: We are all sinners who sin. All (of us) have turned aside. Together, we have become worthless. [No one] does good; not even one. ... [We have] the venom of vipers is under [our] lips. ... And feet [that are] swift to shed blood.
Don’t try to hide from this truth. Don’t try to convince yourselves you are saved on your own merits. We will sin until the day we die. That’s what sinners do. As Jesus says, in verse 34: Amen, Amen, I say to you, everyone who does sin ... (or we should say doing sin) ... is a slave to sin.
But here comes the Gospel.
III. Then Jesus said: If the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
And now you can repent.
Jesus set us free by uniting himself with us. Though we were dead in sins and trespasses, Immanuel came to us to stand in our place. He set us free. He entered our prison and bore our iniquities. He shackled to himself every one of our sins ... all of our guilt and pain ... every accusation of the Law. He carried our burden to the cross, and he allowed our venom to crucify him. But ... when he cried out ... It is finished! ... he destroyed sin and death. And he is now risen! He gave us his freedom.
Jesus has freed us from guilt so that your past will not own you. As Paul writes, There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Jesus has freed us from sin’s power. The Lord and Giver of Life now lives in you. ... He has made you holy ... washing you clean in baptism. You who are no longer are not a slave to your old sinful nature.
Jesus has freed us from death. You are now justified in his grace through the redemption that in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in his blood.
This truth ... that was once hidden ... has been returned to the church through the Reformation. And now we get to celebrate that every Sunday. The Gospel of the forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake is yours.
IV. Therefore, remain in His Word which sets you free.
When you do, you will learn the truth as Luther did that ... Now the righteousness of God has been manifested in everything that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done, and continues to do, for you. He alone has set you free from the law of sin and death (Rm 8:2). He has done this by his Grace alone, which is received through the Faith he alone gives you. He does this to the Glory of God alone, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth. And now that you have been set free from sin ... the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life (Rm 6:22).
So remain in His Word by reading your Bible at home every day, and studying it with us on Sunday morning and/or Wednesday evening. Remain in His Word by faithfully attending the Divine Service. Remain in His Word by forgiving one another, teaching your children and grandchildren to do the same. His truth leads to our reformation ... in Jesus’ name. Amen.