It’s Friday
It’s Friday…
And some might think that Lutherans (Luther) made up what we believe…
Like the proper distinction of Law from Gospel… those two messages of Scripture.
An artificial divide, or “false dichotomy” as it might be called.
Part of the problem is that the Law is written into us. We know the Law, even though we cannot keep it. We know that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Those that deny it are crazy.
And they are right. Even God does not deny that—or even thwart it. Justice is INDEED served.
Payment must be made. It is. It was.
That is the real point of all of this. We cannot believe it.
No, by nature we do not. By nature, we think there is no way God would want to do that for such a one as me! And in most ways that would be correct. We offer nothing. We are nothing to write home about… and even if your mother looked too close, she might have sent you back too….
But IT IS paid for. And in full. That is the Gospel. God paid for your company. In full. He only could have. No one ever has enough of anything to cover the loss, to cover the debt.
So what about the Law then?
It still remains. It is Holy and Good. It is God’s will for all of His creation. It defines Good. But it is not the final Word on things.
If you could get there by the Law there would have not been a reason for Jesus to be born and be killed.
So, you have that side. Scripture teaches that anyone who does not do all of it perfectly, dies.
Only Jesus did. Not that He needed to. For Him it was like breathing. You see, He did not inherit Adams fallen nature. We do.
No, Jesus kept the Law for us. To give us His earnings. And He took our sin in exchange.
And paid for that sin as if it were His own. That is the Gospel.
He earned our way. This is what we are to believe.
But why would He? Because He loves us. He loves all people. All sinners. He died and paid for all people. He earned the status of “LAW-KEPT” for everyone.
That is the Gospel. And it is the Power unto Salvation, as St. Paul puts it.
And this Gospel is to be believed. Not earned. Had by faith.
Yet even faith is not something we have by right or birth. That too is a gift. Grace. All Grace.
And no, there is no Work there. No part of an obligation to be met here.
But someone might say, “Wait a minute! We still have to believe this! In fact, doesn’t the Bible command it? Believe the Gospel?”
The Bible does. But that would be like telling someone to come and sit and have their dessert. Sit down and eat your ice cream, why don’t you!?
Or that would be like telling your heart to beat or your lungs to breathe.
But you were given these at birth, weren’t you? Yes, but not the faith to believe the Gospel.
So how, then?
Augustine found out when He realized how people were made righteous. He went all the way back to Adam and Eve. How did they get theirs? God gave it to them when He made them.
We get ours when He remakes us. When we are born anew by the Gospel, found in Word and Sacrament.
God gives this gift of faith that believes these Words of the Gospel– that is, forgiveness because of Jesus, by the very Words themselves, and/or the places He puts that Word… like in Water at our Baptisms.
Very different that those demands of the Law.
And so…
…around 1980 or so, Augustine’s book, The Spirit and The Letter was discovered in Germany, that had Luther’s own notes in it. It was Luther’s copy. This book is Augustine’s work on the proper distinction of the Law and the Gospel. This was written in 412 AD! Luther’s notes seem to be dated somewhere around 1509 to 1513.
Where do you think Luther got this teaching from? He was an Augustinian monk after all!
But even 100 years or so before this, there was another church father, Tyconius, who wrote a book called The Book of Rules, in which he outlines these two distinct teachings in the Bible. Basically, the rules were how to keep them in there proper place so that we don’t try and earn our way to heaven.
It is also mentioned in other works of the ancient church fathers like St. Anslem, St. John Chrysostem, and St. Ambrose, among others.
So, this is not new teaching that we Lutherans have invented. No, it had be obscured by Law mongers just like you see in those who harassed the Galatians. Pharisees, they are, who do this! Happens all the time—even by Lutherans! Yes, because it is natural to us to do so.
That is why, thank God, that it is not “of ourselves” but of God’s doing—outside of us.
No, the Law cannot save unless you keep it perfectly your entire life. So in other words, you can’t.
Staying with the Law predominating in your life leads only to pride (Pharisee) or despair (Judas).
So, believe the Gospel. It is for YOU no matter what kind of a sinner you are. He came such as you and me!
Not because of you. But because of Him. He loves you, not because we ever loved Him. We need to stop trying to find a reason within ourselves. There is none. Only in Him is a reason found. That is the way it has always been—even before Adam and Eve sinned. God is always the cause. We are always the receiver of that, His Grace.
It is then… once we have from Him, that we can start doing a little in that Huge Grace given us. This not to earn our salvation. That is secure in Christ already. No, but for the sake of those around us.
One day at a time, as they say. One sinner at a time, as some also say.
And so, yes, it is Friday, but in just two days, you will be able to hear that faith creating Gospel once again…
Not to mention all else that He has to offer.
Because even though it is only Friday, Sunday is a’comin…
——————————————————–
Twentieth Sunday after the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity – October the 18th in the year of our Lord, 2026
Readings:
Old Testament – Isaiah 65:1-2
Epistle – Ephesians 5:15-21
Gospel – Matthew 22:1-14
Sermon – GOD IS HERE
Based on the Gospel reading – Matthew 22:1-14
———————————————————–
Prayers: For a lasting peace that would be established and would remain between the people of Israel and Gaza as well as for the People of Russia and the Ukraine. Between the US and Iran. For our congregation that it would please our Lord that we would increase in numbers and there remain in this place a congregation that calls upon Him rightly, practicing the faith according to the Scriptures. For those who are being persecuted and murdered because they call upon the name of Jesus—especially in Africa. For the end of violence in our cites and that our schools and congregations would be protected from those who wish them harm. For our families that parents would courageously discipline their children and raise them in the fear of the Lord, teaching them about salvation in Jesus alone.