Halloween - Pt 2

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV). October 31st is known for more in history than Halloween. It was this day with a hammer in one hand and a large scroll under his arm, that Martin Luther approached the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. He paused to take a couple of nails from a pouch hidden in the folds of his dark woolen habit then began pounding his 95 theses to the church’s heavy wooden doors. Luther’s protest was not against ghosts and goblins or children dressing up to trick-or-treat. As Luther studied Scripture, his eyes were opened to a new concept, the concept of God’s grace. The established Church in Luther’s day misled people into thinking they could be saved by their own works through pilgrimages, confessions and by purchasing indulgences, which were basically “get out of hell free” cards. It became clear to Luther that men could not purchase God’s grace; it was freely given. This conviction led him to write out 95 main points of contention with the Catholic Church, his “theses,” which he ended up nailing to the door of the church in Wittenberg. This act started one of the most far-reaching reforms the Church has ever known. We call it the Reformation. Perhaps we ought to revisit such a time in our lives and the lives of our children. Instead of giving them a list of things they should and should not do (though such instruction is not bad), perhaps we should give them a list of the things that are ultimate truth through a serious understanding of who this God of the Bible really is to us. Let me suggest a few things from our text today. First, He is the source of saving grace. There really can be no other more important truth. If what I said yesterday is true, that death is our real enemy, then the one who conquers death is of ultimate importance. That One is God through the work of Jesus Christ. Second, there are no works we can accomplish that will earn us this saving grace. I am continually amazed how subtly we teach the opposite of this principle. Somehow we have come to believe that there must surely be something we can and should do to merit this contraconditional gift of God. There simply isn’t. Eternal life is a gift solely from God, who is the creator and sustainer of all. Third, with this grace comes an opportunity to be a part of the good work God is doing in our world. We are saved and then empowered through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to do these “good works.” As you celebrate Halloween this year, through whatever means you deem best, teach this Gospel of grace!