Several years ago Martin Luther discovered… that many people in the church were wearing masks. They were living their lives in costume trying to hide their imperfections… trying to be something they were not. And he realized how very dangerous this was. So Luther had to take a stand.
And so it was, actually 499 years ago TO THE DAY… it was on October 31st… that Martin Luther proclaimed to the entire world that we needed to stop deceiving ourselves… that no matter what we do… we can not hide our sin… we cannot earn heaven. And people began to hear the real gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a gospel that is as true today as it was 2000 years ago. We fall down, and Jesus picks us up… every single time.
Sin is one thing that connects us all. Whether it was 2000 years ago, 500 years ago… or today, we’re all in the same boat – we’ve fallen. The good news is that our salvation does not depend upon us… it rests in God and God alone. 1 John 1 9-10, “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
We aren’t perfect people… we all have flaws… we all fall short… and no costume can cover that up. We need Christ. This is the message that Jesus tried to teach his followers 2000 years ago, it is the message that the reformers used to launch a reformation 500 years ago, and it is the same message that we need to remember today.
The tragic mistake that we still make is to think that we can take care of the problem ourselves. 500 years after the reformation, and there is still the temptation to think we can earn God’s favor. There is still the temptation to think that we can earn it ourselves. But when we think like that, we really just come to church in costume… dressed up as somebody else. We wear masks… hiding ourselves from others… trying to hide ourselves from God.
Some times we wear a costume trying to be like the world, to fit in, belong, be one of the guys.
Let me tell you of another Martin of the Reformation.
At the beginning of the Reformation, Martin of Basle came to a knowledge of the truth, but, afraid to make a public confession, he wrote on a leaf of parchment: "O most merciful Christ, I know that I can be saved only by the merit of thy blood. Holy Jesus, I acknowledge thy sufferings for me. I love thee! I love thee!" Then he removed a stone from the wall of his chamber and hid it there. It was not discovered for more than a hundred years.
About the same time Martin Luther found the truth as it is in Christ. He said: "My Lord has confessed me before men; I will not shrink from confessing Him before kings." The world knows what followed, and today it reveres the memory of Luther; but as for Martin of Basle, who cares for him?
Freedom comes when you decide to choose which side you are going to be on.
The thing that we need to remember… is the same thing that the reformers championed 500 years ago… THE truth: that while we were sinners, Christ died and rose from the dead to give us a relationship with God. While we were STILL YET sinners… Christ died for us! We do not have to come to church in costume. We do not have to hide ourselves from God or hide God from man. We need to remember that.
We need to remember the true power of all that God has done for us, need to know all that he continues to do for us. He has set us free! He has set us free from sin, free from bondage… and free from all the silly games that we thought we had to play to earn God’s favor.
On Halloween night… children all over the country will be dressing up in costume going door to door and saying “Trick or Treat.” As you come to church today, know that you don’t need any costume to receive the treat that God has for us, and that this is no trick. Christ died for you, and he wants you to receive forgiveness and live eternally with him… and with the Father. So shed your costume… come as you are to Christ… and receive the treat that is eternal life in Christ.
Join us today on this Reformation Sunday as we learn how to take the mask off and live like believers.
And so it was, actually 499 years ago TO THE DAY… it was on October 31st… that Martin Luther proclaimed to the entire world that we needed to stop deceiving ourselves… that no matter what we do… we can not hide our sin… we cannot earn heaven. And people began to hear the real gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a gospel that is as true today as it was 2000 years ago. We fall down, and Jesus picks us up… every single time.
Sin is one thing that connects us all. Whether it was 2000 years ago, 500 years ago… or today, we’re all in the same boat – we’ve fallen. The good news is that our salvation does not depend upon us… it rests in God and God alone. 1 John 1 9-10, “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
We aren’t perfect people… we all have flaws… we all fall short… and no costume can cover that up. We need Christ. This is the message that Jesus tried to teach his followers 2000 years ago, it is the message that the reformers used to launch a reformation 500 years ago, and it is the same message that we need to remember today.
The tragic mistake that we still make is to think that we can take care of the problem ourselves. 500 years after the reformation, and there is still the temptation to think we can earn God’s favor. There is still the temptation to think that we can earn it ourselves. But when we think like that, we really just come to church in costume… dressed up as somebody else. We wear masks… hiding ourselves from others… trying to hide ourselves from God.
Some times we wear a costume trying to be like the world, to fit in, belong, be one of the guys.
Let me tell you of another Martin of the Reformation.
At the beginning of the Reformation, Martin of Basle came to a knowledge of the truth, but, afraid to make a public confession, he wrote on a leaf of parchment: "O most merciful Christ, I know that I can be saved only by the merit of thy blood. Holy Jesus, I acknowledge thy sufferings for me. I love thee! I love thee!" Then he removed a stone from the wall of his chamber and hid it there. It was not discovered for more than a hundred years.
About the same time Martin Luther found the truth as it is in Christ. He said: "My Lord has confessed me before men; I will not shrink from confessing Him before kings." The world knows what followed, and today it reveres the memory of Luther; but as for Martin of Basle, who cares for him?
Freedom comes when you decide to choose which side you are going to be on.
The thing that we need to remember… is the same thing that the reformers championed 500 years ago… THE truth: that while we were sinners, Christ died and rose from the dead to give us a relationship with God. While we were STILL YET sinners… Christ died for us! We do not have to come to church in costume. We do not have to hide ourselves from God or hide God from man. We need to remember that.
We need to remember the true power of all that God has done for us, need to know all that he continues to do for us. He has set us free! He has set us free from sin, free from bondage… and free from all the silly games that we thought we had to play to earn God’s favor.
On Halloween night… children all over the country will be dressing up in costume going door to door and saying “Trick or Treat.” As you come to church today, know that you don’t need any costume to receive the treat that God has for us, and that this is no trick. Christ died for you, and he wants you to receive forgiveness and live eternally with him… and with the Father. So shed your costume… come as you are to Christ… and receive the treat that is eternal life in Christ.
Join us today on this Reformation Sunday as we learn how to take the mask off and live like believers.
Several years ago Martin Luther discovered… that many people in the church were wearing masks. They were living their lives in costume trying to hide their imperfections… trying to be something they were not. And he realized how very dangerous this was. So Luther had to take a stand.
And so it was, actually 499 years ago TO THE DAY… it was on October 31st… that Martin Luther proclaimed to the entire world that we needed to stop deceiving ourselves… that no matter what we do… we can not hide our sin… we cannot earn heaven. And people began to hear the real gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a gospel that is as true today as it was 2000 years ago. We fall down, and Jesus picks us up… every single time.
Sin is one thing that connects us all. Whether it was 2000 years ago, 500 years ago… or today, we’re all in the same boat – we’ve fallen. The good news is that our salvation does not depend upon us… it rests in God and God alone. 1 John 1 9-10, “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
We aren’t perfect people… we all have flaws… we all fall short… and no costume can cover that up. We need Christ. This is the message that Jesus tried to teach his followers 2000 years ago, it is the message that the reformers used to launch a reformation 500 years ago, and it is the same message that we need to remember today.
The tragic mistake that we still make is to think that we can take care of the problem ourselves. 500 years after the reformation, and there is still the temptation to think we can earn God’s favor. There is still the temptation to think that we can earn it ourselves. But when we think like that, we really just come to church in costume… dressed up as somebody else. We wear masks… hiding ourselves from others… trying to hide ourselves from God.
Some times we wear a costume trying to be like the world, to fit in, belong, be one of the guys.
Let me tell you of another Martin of the Reformation.
At the beginning of the Reformation, Martin of Basle came to a knowledge of the truth, but, afraid to make a public confession, he wrote on a leaf of parchment: "O most merciful Christ, I know that I can be saved only by the merit of thy blood. Holy Jesus, I acknowledge thy sufferings for me. I love thee! I love thee!" Then he removed a stone from the wall of his chamber and hid it there. It was not discovered for more than a hundred years.
About the same time Martin Luther found the truth as it is in Christ. He said: "My Lord has confessed me before men; I will not shrink from confessing Him before kings." The world knows what followed, and today it reveres the memory of Luther; but as for Martin of Basle, who cares for him?
Freedom comes when you decide to choose which side you are going to be on.
The thing that we need to remember… is the same thing that the reformers championed 500 years ago… THE truth: that while we were sinners, Christ died and rose from the dead to give us a relationship with God. While we were STILL YET sinners… Christ died for us! We do not have to come to church in costume. We do not have to hide ourselves from God or hide God from man. We need to remember that.
We need to remember the true power of all that God has done for us, need to know all that he continues to do for us. He has set us free! He has set us free from sin, free from bondage… and free from all the silly games that we thought we had to play to earn God’s favor.
On Halloween night… children all over the country will be dressing up in costume going door to door and saying “Trick or Treat.” As you come to church today, know that you don’t need any costume to receive the treat that God has for us, and that this is no trick. Christ died for you, and he wants you to receive forgiveness and live eternally with him… and with the Father. So shed your costume… come as you are to Christ… and receive the treat that is eternal life in Christ.
Join us today on this Reformation Sunday as we learn how to take the mask off and live like believers.
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