A Reformation message: passing on what we have received

At the heart of our Reformation witness is the call to ‘pass it on’. In his first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul begins his focus in chapter 15 verse 3 with the words, ‘For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received …’.

What are we handing on as, on 31 October, we annually look beyond the ever-increasing commercialism of Halloween to the Christian commemoration of the Reformation? In those words, from 1st Corinthians 15, we pass on ‘what is of first importance’.

St Paul explains what this is: ‘that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.’ We call this message the gospel. This is the good news story of what God has done for us out of love for us and for the world.

Celebrating the festival of the Reformation is making a public witness to the gospel. Being a ‘Lutheran’ Christian is all about keeping our focus on this matter of ‘first importance’ that we have learned from the Scriptures: God has come to us in Jesus Christ, to bring life, salvation and the forgiveness of sin.

‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no-one may boast’ (Ephesians 2:8,9).

We pray:

Almighty and eternal God,
in mercy you have restored to your church
the pure light of your gospel.
Keep us in sound teaching,
so that we may firmly believe
and faithfully follow
your saving word,
and finally, with its holy comfort,
die in peace and joy.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.*

Pastor Paul Smith, Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand

*Prayer from LCA Commission on Worship Commemoration of the Reformation resources