Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, in order to shut every mouth and make it so the whole world has to answer to God. It follows that no human being will be treated as righteous in his presence by doing what the Law says, because the knowledge of sin comes through the Law. But now God’s righteousness has been revealed apart from the Law, which is confirmed by the Law and the Prophets. God’s righteousness comes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who have faith in him. There’s no distinction. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but all are treated as righteous freely by his grace because of a ransom that was paid by Christ Jesus. Through his faithfulness, God displayed Jesus as the place of sacrifice where mercy is found by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness in passing over sins that happened before, during the time of God’s patient tolerance. He also did this to demonstrate that he is righteous in the present time, and to treat the one who has faith in Jesus as righteous. What happens to our bragging? It’s thrown out. With which law? With what we have accomplished under the Law? No, not at all, but through the law of faith. We consider that a person is treated as righteous by faith, apart from what is accomplished under the Law. (Romans 3:19-28, CEB)
Martin Luther posted 95 Theses against indulgences on the Wittenberg Church door on the night before All Saints Day in 1517. Now, some historians say that Martin actually sent them in a letter and did not post them, but there is a handwritten note by Luther’s secretary, Georg Rörer, which was found later, that states that Luther “nailed theses about letters of indulgence to the doors of the Wittenberg churches on the evening before All Saints’ Day in 1517”. He may not have nailed them to the door but he posted them all the same.
Luther had been reading and discovered the bible said we did not achieve heaven through our works, or by paying the church to build a beautiful building. It was based upon the grace that came through the faithfulness of Christ. This is what saved us, and not completing works of the law.
We are made righteous by God and not by anything we do.
This does not mean we should do nothing. We must love as we are loved, for that is what God’s love leads us to.
Do not have faith in the law, but live in grace and love as you are loved.
aSacredRebel 