The Festival of Martin Luther, Confessor and Doctor
Posted on February 18, 2025 by under
Scripture: Romans 10:5-17 (NKJV)
10:5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Devotion
St. Paul uses the word “believe” three times in our reading. Of course, he is emphasizing the instrumentality of faith with regard to obtaining righteousness before God. He here contrasts the dependence on the Law for righteousness versus the dependence on faith for righteousness.
The absolute dependence on faith for righteousness had, at times, been obscured in the teaching of the Church. Martin Luther is such an important theologian in the history of the Church because he so clearly and forcefully emphasized faith once again. Luther says of this passage: “We obtain the true righteousness by believing sincerely the promises of God, as we read in [Romans] 4:3: ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.’” (Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans).
Note that belief in the heart is expressed by confession with the mouth and calling upon the Lord. This is worship and prayer. The faith-life of the Christian is expressed in worship. To “call upon” is to invoke Jesus in prayer. To confess is to exclaim His grace. We receive the promises of God in faith. We believe that what God gives us in the Gospel saves us. We are given permission to trust, in spite of our unworthiness. To disbelieve God’s promise would be to call Him a liar. “Let God be true but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).
Collect: O God, Who didst give Martin Luther as a faithful teacher of the saving truth in a time of great trial, grant to Thy people zeal for Thy Word and faithful teachers for Thy Church, that they may stand steadfast against all error; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Septuagesima Sunday
O Lord, we beseech Thee favorably to hear the prayers of Thy people: that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by Thy goodness, for the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
