It shows us hope that even when the whole world is falling apart (when I sing the song, I imagine large earthquakes shaking the foundation of the whole land, with everything around crumbling), Christ still protects and defends His people. He has promised to come to us in His grace with His holy meal and baptism. These contain and deliver to us the grace by which we're saved, won for us on the cross of Calvary by the vicarious, atoning death of Jesus Christ. These are the body and blood of our Lord, broken and shed on that same cross for the forgiveness of ALL your sins.
And this is what the Reformation sought to reclaim: God's free grace promised to His people for all time. "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." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
How may we be assured of that grace? How may we be forgiven? And since we may not actively work to attain salvation, for that would be the very works righteousness of the Roman church which Luther and the other reformers fought against, and we continue to fight against it, how may we passively receive His salvation? Very simply: through Word and Sacrament.
This teaching of Word and Sacrament, the Church has had from its inception; 2000 years of Church history point us very clearly to this end. Anyone who stands in the way and says that the Sacraments are not efficacious are denying the very promise of God and stand against those years. Moreover, those who deny God's grace in this way are the very cause of the steeples crumbling, for the people who are convinced by this Satanic argument fall away with nothing to assure them of their salvation, save their own, sinful, damning works.
This Reformation Day, set free your doubts, not by your own work, but by the Holy Spirit's conviction of you in Truth. Cling to Christ. Cling to the Cross on which Christ won your salvation. Be free from your sin, not by your own works, but that the Son of the house has set the slave to sin free (John 8:25-26). Cling to the physical God, the physical Christ still in our presence in His Word and Sacrament.
The very Word of Christ is spoken to you and comes to you through your ears. The very body and blood of Christ is given for you and comes to you through your mouth. This allows us to see that the very communion of the body of Christ is among you and comes to you through your eyes. As well, the very Truth of Christ then comes to you in your mind and soul.
This is to what we cling, not because we have earned it or are holy, but that Christ is holy and these are His gifts, His continuing gifts to us.
Amen.
1 Built on the Rock the Church shall stand
Even when steeples are falling.
Crumbled have spires in ev'ry land;
Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the soul distressed,
Longing for rest everlasting.
2 Surely in temples made with hands
God, the Most High, is not dwelling;
High above earth His temple stands,
All earthly temples excelling.
Yet He who dwells in heav'n above
Chooses to live with us in love,
Making our bodies His temple.
3 We are God's house of living stones,
Built for His own habitation.
He through baptismal grace us owns
Heirs of His wondrous salvation.
Were we but two His name to tell,
Yet He would deign with us to dwell,
With all His grace and His favor.
4 Here stands the font before our eyes,
Telling how God has received us;
Th'altar recalls Christ's sacrifice
And what His Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
And evermore, our Redeemer.
5 Grant then, O God, Your will be done,
That, when the church bells are ringing,
Many in saving faith may come
Where Christ His message is bringing:
"I know mine own, My own know Me,
You, not the world, My face shall see.
My peace I leave with you. Amen."
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