“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph. 2:8-9
Lord Jesus, in the annals of salvation-history, today is called “Reformation Day”—a day for remembering the sweetest, most necessary and liberating fruit of the Reformation. From beginning to end, our salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. The only thing we contributed to our salvation was our need of it. You took care of everything else… Hallelujah!
When Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Castle, Oct. 31, 1517, he began a fresh chapter in the back-to-the-Gospel story—a story which preceded him and will continue till your return. For we suffer from chronic Gospel-amnesia, grace-allergies, truth-dementia, and faith-forgetfulness.
The Gospel declares us to be more needful than we want to admit, and more beloved than we can hope or imagine. We needed a new heart, not a fresh start—to be grafted into the True Vine, not merely to “turn over a new leaf.” Indeed, we needed resurrection to new life in you, Jesus, not an opportunity to “do more and try harder.” Your saving grace and perfect righteousness are alone sufficient to save us. You have given both to us—freely and fully.
Jesus, thank you for exhausting our guilt, taking our shame, and breaking our chains. Today we reaffirm that our hope is built on nothing less, other, or more than you and what you accomplished for us. All other saviors are snake-oil carpetbaggers and grace-less frauds. All other gospels are mirages of mercy and anti-gospel gospels. You save to the uttermost, Jesus, and we are utterly grateful. So Very Amen.
