Revelation

14:6-7 English Standard Version (ESV) The Messages of the Three Angels 6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water. Romans 3:19-28 English Standard Version (ESV) 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being[a] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. The Righteousness of God Through Faith 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his

grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 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. 26 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. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. John 8:31-36 English Standard Version (ESV) The Truth Will Set You Free 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 33 They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? 34 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Witness, Warrior, and Winner: Transformed by Gods Amazing Grace

To say the church isnt always in status of reformation would be to completely ignore the work and person of the Holy Spirit. Call it a moment of absolutely irony, a moment of dejavu we heard of the reemergence of contrary living and extravengence in the Catholic church yet this week. When the church goes array God is swift to bring her back into line. Perhaps not as strong as dear Martin Luther it certainly reminds us of the importance of keeping our eyes open lest we become complacent. Pope Francis temporarily relieved a spendthrift German bishop of his post Wednesday, taking an extraordinary step against a Catholic official whose penchant for luxury living appeared to clash with the new popes efforts to foster a more humble church. Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst had dominated tabloid headlines for weeks in Germany as details emerged of a multimillion-dollar renovation of his official church residence in the western town of Limburg. Analysts said the popes rare personal intercession in the matter,just months into his papacy, sent a strong signal that he intends to back up his rhetoric about shifting the churchs focus to the worlds poor with tough actions. Consider the church of Martin Luthers day. What was the real issue the troubled Martin? If we were to step into his shoes for a moment what we would we see and hear would our stomachs churn and our hearts quiver at the gross infractions living and breathing in Christs church? What would ever lead a hot tempered monk who struggled against his own demons to stand before the church and state, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can

do no other, so help me God. Amen. He had every chance to recant, to say he was wrong, to convience the church that what it was doing by selling itself for a price was inline with the Holy Word of God. He couldnt. It wasnt Martin alone who stood before the church but a man captivated by the very Word of God and compelled by the Holy Spirit to point out the grave sins of the church and point her back to the very Savior who died and rose for very soul. Salvation comes not from our own means, our feeble efforts to scratch and claw our way back into the good graces by obeying every stitch of the law. Martin discovered that being good enough was never enough. That paying indulgences for those who had died in order to earn their salvation was contrary to the absolute grace penned by the very movement of Gods holy Spirit. What Martin discovered and let loose on the church brought her back to life and out of the depths of sinful self serving surviving by its own merits and addictions to lures of this world. Beloved know that the church continues to struggle against this. The reformation cannot be a once and its done experience. We are a church that believes on the very Word that states the Spirit is actively recreating, reigniting, and pouring out its passion on the church for just as Gods grace and favor is new every morning and His faithfulness is great His church cannot become complacent, stuck, nor buy into the idea that the reforming nature of the church ended nearly 500 years ago. 1. Witness a. Now we know that whatever the law says it

speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being[a] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

b. Like St. Paul before him Martin Luther came

face to face with the bold and absolute truth of Gods tangible grace revealed in Romans. Writing then his commentary he offered these powerful words of discovery a witness which can still ignite us today!
i. Faith is a work of God in us, which changes us and brings us to birth anew from God (cf. John 1). It kills the old Adam, makes us completely different people in heart, mind, senses, and all our powers, and brings the Holy Spirit with it. What a living, creative, active powerful thing is faith! It is impossible that faith ever stop doing good. Faith doesn't ask whether good works are to be done, but, before it is asked, it has done them. It is always active. Whoever doesn't do such works is without faith; he gropes and searches about him for faith and good works but doesn't know what faith or good works are. Even so, he chatters on with a great many words about faith and good works. Faith is a living, unshakeable confidence in God's grace; it is so certain, that someone would die a thousand times for it. This kind of trust in and knowledge of God's grace makes a person joyful, confident, and happy with regard to God and all creatures. This is what the Holy Spirit does by faith. Through faith, a person will do good to everyone without coercion, willingly and happily; he will serve everyone, suffer everything for the

love and praise of God, who has shown him such grace. It is as impossible to separate works from faith as burning and shining from fire. Therefore be on guard against your own false ideas and against the chatterers who think they are clever enough to make judgements about faith and good works but who are in reality the biggest fools. Ask God to work faith in you; otherwise you will remain eternally without faith, no matter what you try to do or fabricate. 2. Warrior

a. If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 33 They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? b. 34 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
c. What liberates us from our captivity to sin, death and the devil is the very grace and sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. The Son set us free and we are free indeed can I get an Amen? d. The warrior who goes into battle must have a cause to fight for. Consider those battling against Nazi oppression in World War II. The fought to bring what to those held captive in the concentration camps? FREEDOM! e. Do you beloved what to be a slave to sin? Abide in His Word, know that the truth of God revealed in the

Word will give you absolute and unconditional freedom. 3. Winner! a. Its not whether you win or loose but how you play the game? b. When considering our very souls it does matter who wins. Who has the ultimate victory of sin, death, and the devil? c. WE must be a church that is concerned about winning souls for Jesus Christ. This cannot be just a Baptist battle cry but a cry echoed by the whole Christian church. d. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have

sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. e. There is NO distinction. ALL and I do mean all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (LAW) yet we are all justified by HIS grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus to be received by faith. We all face the same devil the same sinful nature whatever that sin may be. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We face the same Savior who embraces us in our sinful nature, exchanges happily our nature and bears that very nature on the cross dying in our place to grant us life and salvation.

When the accuser comes pounding on the door of your heart hear these words of Martin Luther today: So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: "I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!