Not a new gospel
by Maria Rudolph
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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).
Read James 1:16–27
When Martin Luther translated the Bible and later wrote commentaries on the books of the Bible, he called the Book of James the ‘epistle of straw’. It was his way of expressing his concerns that the Book of James emphasised ‘good works’ too much over the saving grace of God.
The core of Luther’s understanding of Scripture lies in this passage from St Paul: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ’ (Romans 3:23,24). For Martin Luther, the concern with the Book of James was that people could be misled to understand salvation through good works if they didn’t know much about the Scriptures. Applying the gospel lens each time we read the Bible was important for Luther, and it needs to be important to us. What is the gospel lens? It is simply that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, nothing more and nothing less. There is no new or different gospel.
If you should ever hear the words, ‘The church has stepped away from the gospel’ (or to that effect), check whether or not the church still holds to and teaches being saved by grace through faith in Christ. Nothing more and nothing less is required. According to our Lutheran Confessions, this is the essence of our faith as Christian people. Every other matter on how we live and structure our church, offices and lives is not a core part of that pure gospel message.
That is where the Book of James is helpful by reminding us to put our faith into action. We do this not by telling each other off about how to interpret the gospel but by actual deeds: to look after orphans and widows in distress and keep a tight rein on one’s tongue (James 1:26,27).
What James is really saying is this: Faith in God, which saves us, automatically produces good works in us. When we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, we cannot help but do what he says. So, let us go forth and bless the people around us with our good works today!
‘Lord Jesus, we belong to you, you live in us, we live in you; we live and work for you – because we bear your name.’ Open my eyes to the needs around me, so I can put my faith in action today to bless others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maria is overjoyed to be a candidate for ordination as a pastor of the LCANZ while serving the St Johns Perth congregation and supporting the ministry of her pastor husband, Michael, at Concordia Duncraig congregation in Western Australia. They are parents to three children who are busy with primary and secondary schooling. Maria also serves the church as a member of the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
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