Happy Reformation Sunday, celebrating the re-forming, re-newing work of the Holy Spirit in the church in every generation. Lutefisk, lutefisk, lefse, lefse: We’re the mighty Lutherans—Yah, shore, you betcha!

We are also in week six of our series focusing on Emotionally Healthy Relationships—EHR for short—as Faith leans into our congregation’s vision and dream to grow “closer to and more like Jesus.” Emotionally Healthy Relationships is an eight-week preaching, devotional, and small group series based on the work of Pete and Geri Scazzero. This week’s lesson has to do with “Climbing the Ladder of Integrity.” You can learn more about Faith and about Emotionally Healthy Relationships at our website, www.faithshelton.org. Thanks for listening today. 

I’ve grown up in the Lutheran tradition. I’ve had the privilege to read a chunk of Luther’s writings and quite a bit about his life. He’s no saint. He wasn’t perfect, and was, in many ways, maybe just at the right place at the right time in history to be an instrument of the Holy Spirit to lead a re-formation of a Christian church that had gotten off track. 

There are countless stories about Luther, his life, what he accomplished, what he wrote and taught. Today I want to share four details about Martin Luther that are meaningful to me, and why they matter. Three are a matter of public record, and the fourth is just a good story that sounds true. But we’ve got to start where Luther would: with the Word of God. Grab your Bible and open it up to Romans 3:21-28.

Romans 3:21-28

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 

John 8:31-36

And now a short reading from the gospel of John, chapter 8, beginning at verse 31:

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  The gospel of the Lord.