Main Text: John 8:31-36 (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 3:19-28)
Luther was greatly troubled by the failure of the church in his day to live God’s love. The church failed to represent Christ to a world hungry for grace. Instead, they sought to preserve their own positions and power in the world and over the people. He tried to live within the church, but ultimately recognized that though the church had failed, God remained faithful. He discovered the gift that could not be taken away through the grace of God in Jesus Christ and it changed his life and ultimately the world. Jeremiah shares a message from God that despite God’s covenant and promise, the people of God had also failed to be the light to all nations and instead followed the ways of the world. The letter to the Romans reminds us that we are accountable to God for our failure, but then offers us the opportunity to step up and receive God’s free gift of forgiveness and grace. We are not justified by our failure, but by God’s righteousness embodied in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The Gospel of John reminds us of our freedom in Christ from the failure and brokenness of the world. We are saved not by our works, but by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Now, let us be reformed from the failure of the world as we continue in God’s Word that faith may increase through Christ in us!