Interim pastor Tom Schoech told three reformation stories in his sermon today.

The first story is in 2 Kings 22-23.  In 621 B. C. Josiah king of Judah authorized payment for the repair of the temple.  During the work a scroll was found, probably of Deuteronomy.  When they read it became clear that more than a repair of the temple was needed.  A reform of worship and faith of the people was needed.  The vessels and statues dedicated to false gods which cluttered the temple were removed and burned.  They renewed the celebration of Passover which had been neglected for a long time.  Josiah was a king who did what was right in the sight of the Lord.

The second story took place in the early sixteenth century, when Martin Luther discovered that he was not justified before God through his own actions and efforts.  It was as Paul wrote in Romans 3:28, “We hold that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”  Like Josiah, Luther was reformed through the word.  His re-formation of the church was based on that same word of and promise of God.

The third reformation story is about you and me.  Through the word we have been re-formed from sinners into saints through the forgiveness of sins.  We are new creations in Christ.  The old sinner has passed away replaced by a new person who has been given Christ’s rightness with God, thus through faith in God’s grace we are right with God.

Three stories, yet all of them feature the word of the Lord in the bible. As Jesus said in John 8:36, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”