Reformation Sunday (NTA)

Romans 3:19-28
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 will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 

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. 

By the works of the Law no man can be saved, you are only saved through the work of Jesus Christ. "you are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." It is not our job to cover up our sins. It is not by our doing that we are saved. It is only through the work of Jesus Christ.

One of the fancy things I think we have started to hurt ourselves with is that you need to confess your sins. When you confess your sins you will receive forgiveness of your sins. But what if I can't confess my sins? What if I can not accomplish even this simple task? Similarly, What if I don't accept Jesus Christ into my heart? How can one be saved without these works? Oh, it is not about my works!

We forget that even when it comes to faith and confession, these can become works. But there are no works of the Law that any human can do to save themselves. It is the Holy Spirit who works faith in our hearts. It is the Holy Spirit who calls us to confessing our sins. It is even the Holy Spirit that places the words of forgiveness on our tongues and lips.

The Holy Spirit even drives St Paul to write, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and [all] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.