Thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon on Faith

This past Sunday, I preached on the concept of faith. I hoped to convey that faith is more than a set of ideas or principles. I desired to share that faith is not simply a list of things to believe but a life to live. To be faithful is to be fully engaged in life with our whole mind, our whole spirit, and our whole body. Faith does not just live in our heads. Faith is visceral. To that end, I shared a quote from our dear friend, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, who lived and worked 500 years ago. 

"Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favour that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly, and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace."

As you can see, Luther intends something quite different from our modern and everyday use of the word. Sadly, we've turned faith into a concept that is typically only invoked in times of distress. Now, please do not misunderstand me. Faith is critical in times of distress. I always pray for faith in my distress, and I frequently pray for the faithfulness of others when they are in distress, but it is meant for so much more. 

Let me also share Luther's quote in its context. It comes from the preface of his commentary on the Book of Romans. This definition speaks directly to our current condition and social situation. I will make some brief comments following. 

"Faith, however, is a divine work in us which changes us and makes us to be born anew of God, John 1 [12–13]. It kills the old Adam and makes us altogether different people in heart and spirit and mind and powers; and it brings with it the Holy Spirit. O it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works incessantly. It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has already done them, and is constantly doing them. Whoever does not do such works, however, is an unbeliever. He gropes and looks around for faith and good works, but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Yet he talks and talks, with many words, about faith and good works.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certian that the believer would stake his life on it a thousand time. This knowledge of and confidence in God's grace makes us glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and with all creatures. 

And this is the work which the Holy Spirit performs in faith. Because of it, without compulsion, a person is ready and glad to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer everything, out of love and praise to God who has shown him this grace. Thus it is impossible to separate works from faith, quite as impossible as to separate heat and light from fire. Beware, therefore, of your own false notions and of the idle talkers who imagine themselves wise enough to make decisions about faith and good works, and yet are the greatest fools. Pray God that he may work faith in you. Otherwise you will surely remain forever without faith, regardless of what you may think or do."

Holy cow, this is strong stuff. You can see first that faith is a divine work In Us as a gift of grace. Second, you see that faith and works are tied together. Faithfulness leads to bold action. Third, Luther has little patience for those who do not engage in faithful deeds and yet claim to be faithful. Fourth, faith brings with it gladness, boldness, joy, light, and, best of all, the Holy Spirit. 

Next week, we'll explore what divine work truly means and what divine action looks and sounds like. 

May this day find you rich in abundant faith, and may you enjoy the peace which passes all understanding.

Pastor Kurt