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1 Corinthians

1:18-31

 

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." (ESV)

 

 

The Most True Truth 

Monday of Pentecost 15

10 September 2012

Justification tells us what everything else means. The righteousness of Christ that is given to us by faith is so pivotal that it makes an impact on everything we believe and do. Justification then, becomes "a way of seeing." Justification is like the contact lens that clarifies everything else in the field of vision. A contact lens is quite small, even maddeningly invisible when dropped, as any contact wearer will attest. Unless it is placed on our eye it is quite unimportant looking; but once it is placed on the eye everything becomes clear. Justification appears only to be a small doctrine, one among many; it doesn't look too important according to the judgment of human reason. It might easily get lost if we drop it from our theology. But it is as important as a contact lens to a person whose vision is imperfect without it.

 

Once we have looked through justification we will see the gospel, Christ, His blood atonement, the cross, forgiveness of sins, God's gracious attitude toward us, our life in Christ, the power of baptism, and well, you get the picture. It really is about everything. This is why Luther is willing that everything, including the whole world, should be lost rather than give up one iota of this teaching. Luther is not a maniacal fanatic or a stubborn German in emphasizing the theological centrality of justification. It is a matter of life and death, just as seeing clearly is a matter of life and death when we drive a car. It is hardly fanatical to insist on seeing. Everything in our lives is given clarity and meaning if we look through the lens of justification.

 

This is especially important to us sinners. If we look at our sins without the lens of justification then we will see them as the law does: under the wrath of God and worthy of damnation. However, if we see our sins through the lens of justification, we will see that the Christ has them strapped onto His cross and that He has carried them away as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Our sins cannot plague and burden us for He has taken them away. We must see through this work of God in Christ and if we do we will no longer see our sins, but Christ. That lens is given us in the proclamation of the gospel.

 

Justification is not a pious fiction as both unbelievers and even some Christians have argued. Ask a contact lens wearer: "What do you see with the lens in? Do you see what is real or a fiction?" The contact wearer will confess that when the lens is in he is seeing the reality. If you doubt that, consider if you would allow the person who wears contact lenses for vision correction to drive your car during rush hour without those lenses. Ah, I thought not. The verdict of justification is no fiction. It is so true that it gives meaning to every other truth. Only with it do we see clearly God's grace at work for us and for others. 

 

Martin Luther

 

"The first and chief article is this: Jesus Christ, our God and Lord died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Rm 4:24-25). He alone is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29), and God has laid upon him the iniquities of us all (Is 53:6).

 

"All have sinned, and are justified freely, without their own works or merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood (Rm 3:23-25).

 

"This we must believe. This cannot be acquired in no other way or grasped by any work, law, or merit. Therefore, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us. As St. Paul says, 'For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of law' (Rm 3:28). 'That he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus' (Rm 3:26).

 

"Nothing of this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth and everything else falls (Mk 13:31). For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). And with His stripes we are healed (Is 53:5).

 

"Upon this article depends everything that we teach and practice in opposition to the pope, the devil, and the whole world. Therefore, we must be certain and not doubt this doctrine. Otherwise, all is lost, and the pope, the devil, and all adversaries will win the victory and right over us." 

 

Martin Luther, Smalcald Articles, 2.1-5 

 

Prayer

Lord God heavenly Father, You have sent pastors to us to proclaim the gospel of the death of Christ for sinners like us. Set the lens of that justifying message in our eyes that everything might be seen through the message of forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Your presence. Give us the grace to see others through that same lens with which You see us for Christ's sake. Amen.

                               

For Memorial Lutheran Church as she begins a building project, that she might face its challenges with patience and receive God's blessings with hope and confidence in God's gracious care for His people

 

For Joyce Murray, who is celebrating her birthday today, that the Lord would give her joy and gladness under His care

 

For the Board of Regents of Concordia Theological Seminary, as they meet in Fort Wayne, that the Lord would give them the wisdom to support the mission of the seminary to teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all

Art: D�RER, Albrecht  The Adoration of the Trinity (1511)

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