Reformation and All Saints - How Does One Become a Saint?

 2022 31 October - The Eve of All Saints  

Rev. 7:2-17 1 John 3:1-3St. Matthew 5:1-12

In the name of the Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Today is the distinctively Lutheran Festival known as Reformation Day.  In 1517, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther posted 95 statements about repentance and the usage of Indulgences on the church door in Wittenberg.  What was intended to be an announcement for an academic debate with 95 talking points turned into a revolution. We are still living with the effects of the reaction to these 95 statements.

At the heart of the issue lay questions about salvation.  What role do we play in salvation? Not only our own salvation but others.  And, because Reformation Day moves right into All Saints day, the question may be framed as thus: How does one become a saint?  

Luther taught us that doctrine and theology are important. He also taught us that it all begins with Holy Scripture. The center of Holy Scripture is the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Christ Jesus is born for us and he dies on the cross for us.  He does all the work for our salvation. We receive this gift of God through faith.  Our salvation is Christ’s work alone. We receive Christ’s gifts through faith alone. And, we learn about God’s work in our behalf through Scripture alone. 

Revelation 7 provides a beautiful picture of the future that already is in God’s time. There are those who have gone through the great tribulation.  Since the first and second centuries, there have been many tribulations for those who confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior.  There they are in heaven along with the 144,000 from every tribe of the sons of Israel. And, there are the faithful, a multitude that no one can number from all nations and peoples and languages. Together they confess “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 

Right there is a key insight of how a saint is made.  “Salvation belongs to our God and the Lamb.” Salvation does not belong to me or to you or to our parents or to our grandparents or to our best friend.  Salvation belongs to God and the Lamb.  Salvation is God’s to give.  Salvation is not for us to take and make our own.  Salvation is the gift conferred upon us.  We receive this gift through faith that the Holy Spirit gives us through the Word.  

All the people in heaven wear white robes. They are in a place of perpetual worship.  There is no gray or black in heaven. They are all in white because as the elder explained, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” The people in heaven wear white because they have faith in Christ Jesus.  Jesus shed his blood for our righteousness.  He takes our sins from us and gives us his righteousness.  It is a blessed exchange. On account of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, white is the color of eternity. 

While we are not in heaven yet, all the baptized live with that promise.  In this life, in this world, we live with the promise of being called children of God. On account of the Son, Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father calls us His children.  He has an everlasting relationship with us. John writes in his first letter: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”  As the children of God, we live in trust of him. As the children of God, we live in perpetual hope.  

In trust, we take our sins, our difficulties, our doubts, our worries, to our Heavenly Father. He hears our prayers. When we repent, we are forgiven.  When we are lost we are found. When we are aggrieved, we are comforted. When we need mercy, we receive mercy. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we are granted righteousness on account of Christ.  

Indeed all of the blessings of which Jesus speaks in the beatitudes are gifts of God for the saints on earth.  We are blessed beyond measure, not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for and to us through the cross.  In faith we receive God’s promises. In faith, we rejoice in the promise that the kingdom of heaven is ours.  

Living in faith and trust of God’s work is not easy.  Our human nature wants to help God all the time.  Satan whispers into our ear regularly to seize the moment, seize the day, seize the opportunity to make yourself presentable before God.  Our sinful nature and Satan are lying to us.  God’s Word tells us that we do not make our own salvation.  We do not save our selves.  Our own death, no matter if it is for the most noblest of causes, does not bring a person one inch closer to heaven.  The promise of God’s kingdom only comes because of God’s gift.  God’s gift to us is the Son taking up the cross for our sakes.  His blood brings our salvation.  We receive this gift with faith.  

God’s Word, the Son’s cross and resurrection, the Holy Spirit creating faith within us, this is what saves us.  God is the one who makes us saints. God is the one who makes us holy. God is the one who declares us righteous.  God is the one who places us in His kingdom forever. 

In the name of the Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.