Article 6 of the Augsburg Confession asserts, "our churches also teach that this faith is bound to bring forth good fruits and that it is necessary to do the good works commanded by God. We must do so because it is God's will and not because we rely on such works to merit justification before God, for forgiveness of sins and justification are apprehended by faith" (Augsburg Confession VI.1-2). Faith, which comes by receiving the Word of Christ, is what makes an unrighteous man righteous in the sight of God. Faith receives the forgiveness of sins and trusts in Christ's merit for our salvation. Good works cannot salvation gain, they merit only endless pain, forgive us Lord to Christ we flee who pleads for us endlessly. Have mercy,  Lord! Our good works for not merit us salvation, but they are the fruit of the faith that justifies us. Good works flow from a heart that is forgiven and loved by God.

Jesus teaches on the justified and sanctified life saying, "“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴ Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” When Jesus speaks in this passage, He is not saying that it's better to be a terrible sinner, than just a fair weathered transgressor. He is saying that those who know their sin and know the gravity of their forgiveness love more than those who do not confess their great depravity. A heart that is forgiven a great debt loves much, whereas a heart that does not confess it's trespasses does not love because there is no need to. Love, good works, flow from a heart that is freed in the forgiveness of sins that comes only in the grace of God delivered to us in the mercy of Jesus the Christ.  The good works that flow from faith must never be our comfort, but rather evidence that we are forgiven. A forgiven heart, a conscience that is unburdened, lives out in faith toward God and fervent love toward their neighbor.

This is the New obedience, or the Baptismal life. We return to Christ in our failures, in our sins, and we are forgiven the heavy debt that we owe.  With the heavy burden of our justification taken by Christ, we are free to love our neighbor. We live out our lives then, not in service to the self, but in sacrifice for our neighbor. Let us take heart that our good works do not merit salvation, but rather flow from our hearts that have been forgiven by Jesus freely as a gift. Take heart my friends, Jesus loves you and by His love you live a life of freedom and love for all that Christ brings into your life.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull