The View from the Pulpit:
Dear People of God, as We Journey through Epiphany,
GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU ALL!
Works on the Heels of Faith!
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
Self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” [Titus 2:11-12]
There should be no doubt in the Lutheran Church regarding the necessity of good works in the lives of people saved by grace alone through faith in the Christ, who lived, died, and rose again to accomplish our salvation FREELY for us. Again and again is the call for good works to follow on the heels of the assurance of that full and free salvation, as it does in the above quotation from St. Titus.
Christmas is the celebration of the greatest gift in the history of the universe – the gift of God’s Son to be the Savior of the world. That great gift teaches us more than the greatness of God’s grace! That wondrous gift teaches us that ungodliness and worldly passions are incompatible with God’s grace in our lives. Just say “NO!” in the power of the Spirit, the Apostle Paul exhorts us!
- Say “No” to those temptations that elevate creatures and created things to the level of God.
- Say “No” to those sinful passions that tear at the fabric of society by breaking up marriages and families.
- Say “No” to the host of other sins that do not reflect the glory of God’s people, the Christ of Bethlehem, the Christ of Calvary and the Christ of the Empty Tomb.
Thank God that a perfectly lived “No” is not a pre-condition for our salvation. But also thank God that the perfect salvation from Jesus Christ teaches us the necessity of working at saying “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, all to His glory!
May you all have a most blessed, most happy, New Year of 2017 – as we seek to live out the good news of our salvation in Christ our Lord!
