I Give Up
Over the last few weeks we have talked about the things that unite us as Christians, and the liberties we have. If you have been in one of my studies, you may have heard me say that I am not a Lutheran, I am a Christian of the Lutheran tradition. I follow and proclaim Christ, and I believe Luther set a system in place that properly guides my Christian life. And, as a Christian, this is the time of year that I get bombarded with one question, over and over again. Are you (or what are you) giving up for lent. Of course this habit just confuses my non-Christian friends. They shake their heads and say “Why?” Traditionally, new members were baptized into the church near Palm Sunday, so the body of Christ might be united on Easter. So they would fast and study with the new members during lent. It was a way to prepare for (and now remember) the persecution the early church faced. It was a time to remember one’s own sin and be reminded of the undeserved gift of faith we have been given, the acceptance found in our baptism, and our salvation paid for upon the cross.
Today we call Lent a penitential season. We step back and we acknowledge our need for a savior. We give up….we give up trying to save ourselves. We Lutherans have a unique view of this. We call them the Sola’s
The five Solas are five Latin phrases popularized during the Reformation that emphasized the distinctions between the early Reformers and the Roman Catholic Church. The word sola is the Latin word for “only” and was used in relation to these five key teachings:
- Sola scriptura: “Scripture alone”
- Sola fide: “faith alone”
- Sola gratia: “grace alone”
- Solo Christo: “Christ alone”
- Soli Deo gloria: “to the glory of God alone”
We are going to tackle one each week as we move forward.
When we say scripture alone, what we are giving up is the idea that we have the right to read the Bible as we see fit. We believe that the Bible is:
inspired by the Holy Spirit,
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God las they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. – 2 Peter 1:20-21(ESV)
and written by God through the prophets and apostles.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God2 may be complete, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
We give up seeing the Bible as something we can place our will over. Instead the Bible shapes us. We may not like everything we read there. In fact, the Law challenges us directly. It shows us our sins, and no one likes to do wrong, let alone BE wrong. But by giving up the ability to read what we want to into the Bible, we gain the assurance of what God tells us constantly. And that is his constant love for us. I know you know John 3:16, so I want you to see some of these other verses:
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8 (ESV)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
And especially:
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:7-11 (ESV)
Because I know that God is the author of the scriptures, I know that His words are true. I can trust in His promise. History shows God keeps His promises. From Adam to Abraham, David to the disciples –
And now to you.
Sometimes when you give something up, you find that you have gained so much more. This lent you may give something up. I encourage you to give of your time. Get back into the Word, make time for devotions, church, Bible Study. Give up the demands that the world places on you. The temporary stuff is temporary; We are called by and to the eternal.
I gave up trusting in my ability to find salvation through my own works.
What’s amazing is the way God works. My salvation was never up to me. Jesus did all the work.
But that really leads us into next week….Sola Fide…..we are saved by faith alone.
Still a control freak,
But no longer needing to be in control,
Pastor Dan