Every Life for Christ: Because of Christ and for others

God called us by grace and placed us where we are for the benefit of others.
 As Lutherans we start our religious discussions in a different place than most. Some begin with their obligations here on earth and what they can contribute to God and their neighbors. For them, the laws of God are meant to be followed in order to make God happy and to ease the suffering of others. They earn God’s approval by their service. That principle is not distinctively Christian; anyone can follow some moral compass no matter what the religious faith.

Others suggest a concept that is a little more Christian. They think that God has only given humans a start by sending Jesus. In other words, God has opened the door so that his followers can walk through on their own power. After that they’re more or less on their own and can follow God’s laws and please him.

By nature sinful

We, however, start this discussion with a deep sense of our helplessness. Lutherans confess regularly that we are “by nature sinful” and have “disobeyed [God] in [our] thoughts, words, and actions.” All of us confess, “I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good” (Christian Worship, p. 15). Yes, God’s laws are meant to be followed, but we confess that we cannot keep them well enough to earn God’s favor even after we know Jesus.

When we start at that point, we place Jesus at the center of all our thinking. His suffering and death paid the penalty our sins deserved. He made a great exchange with us. Not only did he take responsibility for our sins, but he also gave us credit for his perfect life of service. We are declared perfect on account of Jesus—acquitted of our sins and credited with a perfect life.

Lutheran motivation: Because of Christ

Some object at this point because they claim that Lutherans have no motivation to live a moral and upright life; there’s no reward for services rendered. Well, we are not motivated because we want God to be more kindly disposed to us. He already loves us more than we deserve and can’t possibly love us more than he did in sending Jesus.

But we do have a powerful motivation to live moral and upright lives. We live each day thankful that God so loved us unworthy sinners. We daily turn away from the sinful nature we still possess, embrace the full and free forgiveness of Christ, and find the power to follow his will as best as we can. Then we repeat the process.

Lutheran focus: For others
Author: John A. Braun
Volume 94, Number 7
Issue: July 2007
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