Romans 3:19-25a
“For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” vss. 22b-24
Martin Luther had studied Paul’s words in Romans for years and then one day a light went on for him and for the first time he saw them as an offering of grace. He had struggled with his own righteousness for so long, always believing that there was some way for him to overcome his sin and live as God desired. But the harder he tried, the more depressed he became…he was a sinner and the prescription of confession and satisfaction offered by the church could never give him peace. He never could feel that he had done enough! And then out of the depths the Spirit gave him insight. The righteousness that he craved had been given to him by God as a gift through what Jesus had done on the cross. And this marvelous gift of grace was for all sinners. By faith Luther embraced the salvation that was his…and then did everything he could to share that good news with other sinners. In a few days we’ll be acknowledging the 500th anniversary of Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg. While that was indeed a momentous occasion the real start of the Reformation came in the stillness of Luther’s study as he pored over the words of Paul. There the Spirit spoke and he glimpsed the serenity that had been his heart’s desire.
Thought for the Day: What insights have come to me through scripture?
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