…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
(Romans 3:23-24, ESV)
The Three “Solas” of the Reformation
A Three Week Sermon Series
For the Reformation
This Week
Scripture Alone
The Text for Today
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:20-25, ESV)
What is the “Reformation”
- A movement, in the 16th Century, to restore the Christian (catholic) church to its earlier condition focusing on…
- Salvation by Faith through the work of Christ
- The Reformation focused on three basic teachings
- Sola Scriptura
- Sola Gratia
- Sola Fide
- Sola means “alone”
Sola Gratia – Grace Alone
Sola Fide – Faith Alone
… all on account of Christ Alone!
The Text for Today
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:20-25, ESV)
We are Justified!
- To be “justified” is to be declared _________ by God
- A person is justified by
- ______ alone,
- through ______ alone,
- on account of ______ alone
- we learn about this in ________ alone.
- __________ have no place in becoming right with God
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:20-25, ESV)
Propitiation
- What is Propitiation?
- Propitiation is…
- To appease anger
- Example #1
- Husband and flowers
- Example #2
- The Safari
- Why is God angry?
- How is this anger appeased?
- Jesus paid the price for our sin
- By grace – God’s ____ that goes way beyond ______
- Grace is “God’s undeserved love”
- Thorough faith – Faith is the _____ that holds on to ______ alone
- On account of Christ – Jesus_____, _____ and _____ _____ in our place
- Through scripture – The Bible ______ ___ God’s work of ________ in Jesus Christ
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21, ESV)
- Scripture is the work of God through the hand of man
- Scripture is…
- Therefore, if you cannot feel it, at least believe the Scriptures; they will not lie to you, and they know your flesh better than you yourself. Yea, St. Paul further concludes in Rom. 7, 18: I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. If St. Paul may speak thus of his flesh, we do not propose to be better nor more holy. But that we do not feel it is so much the worse; for it is a sign that there is a leprous flesh which feels nothing, and yet [the leprosy] rages and keeps spreading. Yet, as we have said, if you are quite dead to all sensibility, still believe the Scriptures, which pronounce sentence upon you. (Large Catechism, V, 76-78)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)
- “Inspiration” says that all scripture is God-Breathed
- Every part of the Bible is God’s Word
- It is the work of God, the Holy Spirit
- But… faith in Scripture comes by faith in Christ… first!
- We should not expect unbelievers to believe in scripture
- i.e. Newsmedia
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, (John 5:39, ESV)
- Jesus says Scripture is about Him
- Jesus is the sum and substance of Holy Scripture
- The Bible contains two separate and distinct teachings
- Law and Gospel
- Properly Distinguishing between them…
- Keeps the Gospel pure
- Keeps Jesus at the center
- The Law says
- You are a sinful person
- You cannot change
- God hates sin
- God demands eternal punishment for your sin
- The Gospel says
- God loves all people
- Jesus has done everything necessary to gain forgiveness for all people
- We have that forgiveness through faith in Christ
- As Lutheran Christians…
- Scripture alone determines what we believe, teach and confess
- Not Scripture and
- tradition
- human reason
- experience
A Three Week Sermon Series
For the Reformation
Next Week
Grace Alone
The Three “Solas” of the Reformation
…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
(Romans 3:23-24, ESV)
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