Justified and Welcomed

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. … Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:14a & 16b ESV) The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, followed immediately by the account of Jesus blessing the infants and children that were brought to Him, points to the truth that our justification and welcome into God’s kingdom is not based on ourselves or our actions but is dependent on the grace and mercy of God. Today at International Lutheran Church, we celebrate the Reformation and are reminded that we are saved by Christ Alone – Solus Christus!

The close association of these two truths - God’s justification of the sinner and our welcome into the Kingdom of God - is a critical part of Luke’s account of the gospel. Luke’s gospel is the story of the “Great Reversal.” Here the exalted are humbled and the humble are exalted. Here the Kingdom belongs not to the rich and powerful, but to babes and children. Luke’s careful account of the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus recounted to a disciple named Theophilus reflects again and again this amazing truth of the entire Scriptures that we are saved by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone.

The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector carries on the themes of prayer, justice, and the great reversal that we saw in the parable of the unjust judge and the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). Where the first parable was focused on our need to hang on to God in faith, no matter what, the second parable shows us just what that faith consists of as it looks not to self but to God alone for mercy and grace. Where the religious leader prays a prayer of thanks as he recounts his religious achievements, the tax collector only begs humbly for mercy. What is shocking is that the tax collector (or public sinner) goes home justified. Before we make a “good work” of his “more righteous” prayer, Luke connects this parable with the account of Jesus blessing the infants and children that are brought to Him. Not only are the children and infants welcomed with open arms to the consternation of the disciples, but they are said to be the ones who possess the Kingdom!

In these two separate accounts, Luke reminds us that our welcome into the Kingdom is a gift of God’s grace and an act of Jesus’ mercy to save - His act to justify us. This is the core message of the Reformation – that salvation is by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone as taught in Scripture Alone. As our special Reformation presentation today retells the life events of Martin Luther, the focus is not on the man Luther or on his achievements as a religious leader. Rather the focus is on an amazing God who would send His One and Only Son to welcome us, justify us through His life, death, and resurrection.

The great reversal that Luke highlights in his gospel is the very good news that justifies us and welcome us into God’s Kingdom. Luther reflected on this often in his life and work of teaching as he struggled with the amazing truth of God’s grace – though we are beggars before God we are rich in Christ. We, too, experience this daily as we recall that it is not our deeds, our prayers, or our gifts that make us right before God, but the prayers, deeds, and gift of Christ Alone that make us “return home justified.” Yes, only in and by God’s grace is our self-reliance and contempt for others reversed as we are welcomed by Jesus and justified by His actions on the cross.

Pastor Carl