Pastor Clayton ~ October
Furthermore, it is taught that we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God through our merit, work, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God out of grace for Christ’s sake through faith when we believe that Christ has suffered for us and that for his sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us.”
Augsburg Confession, Article 4
As the judge’s gavel strikes the block, the booming sound is accompanied by his even more booming voice. “Not guilty!” he declares. The room erupts into celebration as the man who thought he would be sentenced to lifelong imprisonment instead is set free. He, his family, and all his friends celebrate this verdict, that the man has been justified; that the judge has declared that he is not guilty.
But as the excitement begins to calm, a question comes into the man’s mind. “Why?” While thankful for his freedom, the man can’t help but find out why this was the verdict. So he approaches the judge and asks, “Why did you say I’m not guilty? I did everything the accuser said.” The judge leans over, looking down into the man’s eyes and replies, “Yes. Yes you did. But someone else took your place.”
This sort of image is what comes to mind when reading Romans 3. In that chapter, the Apostle Paul writes, “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. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
You are forgiven. You are justified, declared “Not guilty!” by God. Yet this is not because you have lived a perfect life or because you have earned God’s forgiveness. It is only because Christ did. He lived according to God’s Law and took your sins upon Himself. He lived, suffered, and died for you, in your place, so that you can live with Him forever. That is why you are forgiven. And this teaching is central to our understanding of who God is and what He has done for us. If the understanding of how we obtain the forgiveness of sins strays from what God has said, we lose the Gospel all together! This is why it is helpful to come back to the basics as we continue to grow.
Our Christian Basics Bible study meets each Sunday from 9:30-10:15am in the Sycamore Room. Our topics for October will focus on how we obtain the forgiveness of sins, talking about how we hear of what Jesus has done for us all. This Bible study is meant for all different people, from all different generations. So, I hope you can join us as we work through the basics, learning and refreshing ourselves with the foundations of the faith.
Blessings,
Pastor Bryce
To keep up to date with Youth Group activities, go to
immanuelrapids.com/youth-ministry/