In Luke 12:35-40, our Lord Jesus talks about spiritual preparedness and faithful readiness — about staying faithful, staying awake, staying alert, because we don’t know the hour when the Son of God will come again to make all things new. In fact, Jesus says, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like those waiting for their master to return…”
So, how do we stay “dressed ready” with our “lamps burning” when the world around us is shouting at us from every direction? How do we avoid getting tangled up in the lies and deceptions that surround us? How do we endure in true faith when the pressures of life and the noise of the culture try to lead us astray from Jesus Christ our Savior?
Well, the answer is the living and active Lamp of God’s Word within the Holy Scriptures that lights our path and keeps us from stumbling in the darkness of this world’s falsehoods. It’s trusting in the Word of God come what may, just like Abraham and Sarah, Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Joseph and Mary. That’s faith — trusting in what God says, even when the world says it’s foolish.
In Hebrews chapter 11, we hear about a kind of Faith Hall of Fame, listing those who lived by trusting in God’s Word, even when they couldn’t see the whole picture. They didn’t see the fulfillment of all God’s promises in their lifetime, but they kept their eyes on the “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). They stayed faithful because they anchored their lives in what God had spoken, and that’s what we’re called into as we await the eventual return of Jesus our Lord.
But let’s be honest: There’s so much confusion, so many voices telling us what’s true, telling us what’s up and what’s down. For indeed, it’s spiritual warfare we’re engaged in! And our Lord Jesus warned us in Matthew 24 that many will come in the last days claiming to have the truth, with false teachers and deceivers trying to lead even God’s people astray.
Now, I have to confess that I consider myself to be a very ecumenical person. That is, I’m someone who respects and encourages interdenominational relations and cooperation within the Universal Church of Jesus Christ. In other words, I’m broadly supportive of Team Jesus in all its forms and expressions. In addition, I also consider myself to be generally affirming of interreligious dialogue, which means I’m supportive of conversation between the different religions of humanity for the purpose of mutual understanding and nonviolent coexistence. However, as a Christian of the Lutheran Confession, I am bound by conscience to the Word of God to always assert and freely declare the preeminent gospel truth that reconciliation and salvation with God comes in/with/through Christ alone — which is the Solus Christus of the Protestant Reformation. (Solus Christus is Latin for “Christ Alone.”)
Honestly, I really don’t like being controversial in my gospel proclamation, but the New Covenant gospel principle of Solus Christus will always be controversial no matter what, in all times and places. As a result, the following is some straightforward gospel controversy… Like the TV streaming platforms of Apple+, Disney+ and Paramount+, our fallen and sinful humanity will always prefer a “Christ+” belief (so to speak) over and above the gospel principle of Christ Alone. Consequently, throughout history we have seen attempt after attempt to uplift some sort of Christ+ theological scheme. There was the “Christ + good works” theology of the opponents of the Apostle Paul, as they tried to add our good works in cooperation with Christ’s atoning work for our salvation. But St. Paul, in no uncertain terms, completely and categorically rejected any idea of our ability to add anything to Christ’s work for our eternal salvation.
Not that our good works are bad, of course. In fact, good works are very much a part of our Christian faith. We are saved by God’s grace alone through faith in Christ alone, not by our good works; however, we are saved by God’s grace in Christ for the sake of living a Christ-like life of good works as best we can — for doing good works as our way of life in response to God’s free grace given us (see Ephesians 2:8-10).
Continuing on, there was also the “Christ + secret esoteric knowledge” of the ancient Gnostics, seeking to add secret spiritual knowledge to Christ for our salvation. But here’s where it gets even more controversial… Much later, in the Seventh Century AD, the “Christ + a Prophet” theology out of Arabia came along and insisted on the addition of the ministry of Muhammad for the salvation of the human race. Then fast-forward to the Nineteenth Century AD, when there arose yet another “Christ + a Prophet” theology that promoted the idea of an additional lost-and-found testament to Christ that had been buried away by an ancient American named Moroni. And then, during that same Nineteenth Century, in the Year of our Lord 1854, there was the “Christ + Mary” dogma of the Immaculate Conception of St. Mary, stating that Mary herself was born without sin — which arguably, and in all actuality, elevates Mary to the status of co-redeemer with Christ our Lord.
So, whether it’s Christ plus good works, or Christ plus a secret esoteric knowledge, or Christ plus some prophet, or Christ plus Mary, or Christ plus any other prophetic addition or unbiblical innovation, we are conscience-bound to the plain and precious gospel truth of Christ Alone. For there is only One who was born without sin: Christ alone. There is only One who is the Almighty God incarnate in human flesh: Christ alone. There is only One who conquered sin and death on our behalf: Christ alone. There is only One who is the Mediator between God and humanity: Christ alone.
Therefore, regarding Christian faith and salvation? Regarding Christian justification and sanctification? Regarding Christian life and hope? All thanks, praise and glory be to God, because it’s CHRIST ALONE who bestows these all-surpassing gifts!
So again, how do we guard our hearts and stay on the right path? We cling to the Word of God within the Holy Scriptures. For indeed, when we read the Bible regularly, and when we explore it with others in small group Bible studies, then the Word of God within the pages of the Bible becomes a shield around our hearts, keeping our spiritual lamps full with the oil of the Holy Spirit, ready for the Great Day of our Master’s glorious Second Advent yet to come.
In these times of rampant deception, as we wait for the Lord’s return, let’s be a people who cling to the Word of God like all those in the Faith Hall of Fame found in Hebrews 11. The world may try to fool us, but God’s Word will never fail — for the Word of the Lord is our guiding light in the darkness, our spiritual sword and shield in these days. So, let’s keep ourselves in the Word — abide in it and know it well — and by God’s grace and Holy Spirit, it is Christ alone who will keep us firmly grounded in his truth and salvation unto the very end, and beyond the end.
Together in Christ, Pastor Tim