Scripture and the Reformation: A Living Faith

This week begins a two week series on Scripture and the Reformation, leading up to
Reformation Day on October 31st. 
For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” ~ Romans 1:16-17
Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a (person) could stake his (or her) life on it a thousand times. ~ Martin Luther
I discovered later, and I'm still discovering right up to this moment, that is it only by living completely in this world that one learns to have faith. By this-worldliness I mean living unreservedly in life's duties, problems, successes and failures. In so doing we throw ourselves completely into the arms of God, taking seriously, not our own sufferings, but those of God in the world. That, I think, is faith. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

What does it mean to live by faith?

 What does it mean that faith is living?

 What does it mean that faith is daring?

 What does it mean to throw ourselves completely into the arms of God?

 I think of that old team building activity where one turns their back and falls backwards into the arms of their teammates. Not knowing intellectually whether the person or persons will catch them, but trusting with something else that grace will win out and they will be caught.

 It takes daring, chutzpah, confidence, to live a life of faith. 

 To live a life of grace.

 It is one thing to believe intellectually that God exists.

 It is another to fall backwards into the waiting arms of that God, trusting you will be caught. Loved. Held together.

 And trusting that you have been given the power the show that grace to others through a living, breathing, active faith as well.
Prayer from Martin Luther: 
Dearest God and Lord, strengthen and uphold us in your pure, precious Word through Jesus Christ our Lord, and help us to show and live our thanks with our fruits of faith to your praise and thanks forever. Amen.

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