October 2009
The Body of Christ Is Always Being Reformed

From the time of Moses, the Church of God was always in need of Reformation. No sooner had God miraculously delivered His chosen from death at the hands of the Egyptians either in Egypt or at the Red Sea, and His people were soon dreaming about the “good” life they had before.

While journeying in the wilderness, they murmured and complained about Moses and how God was taking care of them.

Upon their arrival in the Promised Land, the people soon forgot their deliverance and were once again attempting to find a religion of convenience. Again and again God would raise up a Judge to lead the people back to repentance and faith.

That the people had a desire for a king so that they could be like all the other nations was indeed a self fulfilling prophecy that came true. Yet God never abandoned His people in spite of their sin and rebellion.

When God the Father, sent His anointed Messiah many who were especially called to belong to God rejected His anointed one and settled for trying to earn God’s mercy by their keeping of the law. Does not scripture declare the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone?

By taking upon Himself the sins of the world this Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, reformed the Church once again.

When faced with differing understandings of how Gentiles become righteous before God, and what portion the law plays in the life of the faithful, the early Church of Jesus Christ under apostolic leadership gathered together in Jerusalem to clearly state the saving Gospel.

When faced with differing understandings of how one becomes righteous before God, the Church once again gathered together to clearly speak the truth in the ecumenical creeds.

At the time of the late medieval period, the truth of the gospel had once again become clouded by works-righteousness. In to this fray God brought Martin Luther, to point the Church of Jesus Christ back to the apostolic doctrine that man is saved alone by the Grace of God through the work of Jesus Christ.

Already in His lifetime many who claimed to support Dr. Luther secretly tried to change the theology of the ancient Church that Luther had once again revealed. “Yet Poisonous people, not only adversaries, but also false brothers who profess to be on our side dare to cite my doctrines and writings against me… even though they know very well that I write and teach differently from what they say. They want to dress up their poison with my labor. Under my name they want to mislead the poor people. What will happen dear God, when I am dead?” Smalcald Articles Preface p259 Concordia The Lutheran Confessions Readers edition. CPH 2006

Why should we think that this current generation does not need to be reformed? Only pride and arrogance through the temptation of the evil one could lead us to believe that today we are immune from the need for Reformation. From such deceit deliver us good Lord.

So Dear Brothers and sisters redeemed by Christ, cling firmly to that apostolic truth that you are saved by Grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ. And dear Brothers and Sisters in that knowledge continue in the Word and the Precious Sacraments that He has given to His church that she may remain forever.

In Him,


Pastor Froh