Coram Deo
Romans 3:19-28
27 October 2013 – Redeemer
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[audio:http://batinthebelfry.org/wp-content/uploads/Rom0319-Reformation-2013.mp3]October 31, 1517. 496 years ago. Martin Luther. The Reformation. Any time we go that far back in history it is a good time to learn some old words. So this morning’s sermon theme is in Latin – Coram Deo. Lest you think Latin is irrelevant a few years ago, about 1000 youth (including some from Redeemer) went to Higher Things conferences called “Coram Deo.” They received eight or nine sermons of Coram Deo, Bible studies on Coram Deo. If a Latin theme kept them coming back for God’s Word for four days you know Latin must be exciting and relevant.
Coram Deo means “Before God” literally in “the presence of God” or “before God’s face.” Perhaps an illustration is in order. One of my favorite father lines to my children is “Remember whose child you are.” I’m asking them to live and act as if I am with them wherever they go, as if they are always before me. If I put my line in Latin it might be, “Children, live coram dad, live always before your father, as if I’m always with you.”
The question that sparked the Reformation, the question that plagued a young Roman Catholic Pastor named Martin Luther was a Coram Deo question. Martin wanted to know how he stood Coram Deo? How do I stand before God? It’s a question that is before you every time you pray – for you pray Coram Deo – before God. It’s a question for you this morning as you sit in the Lord’s house – what is your standing Coram Deo, before God as you come to His Table? It’s the question of the moment when you’re in trouble – when your favorite sin pursues you, when disease dogs you and chases you to clinics and chemo, when the treasures of your life are being plundered – when your children suffer, when your marriage is mediocre or messy, when work is more sweat than sweet, and especially on the day when death visits you. Those are the days and times when you find yourself standing “Coram Deo” and asking, “God, what do think of me? What’s my standing in your eyes, before your face?”
Martin Luther was given a great sense of his standing before God, although he probably thought it was a curse. For Luther the most pressing question on his mind, especially once he entered the monastery and began serving as parish priest and professor in Wittenberg, was this, “How do I stand before God? Does He favor me or hate me? To put it bluntly Martin believed he had no standing coram Deo. He knew God’s commandments too well. His sins were too great. His conscience too soiled. His deeds too meager. No matter what he did – worship the skull of John the Baptist, sleep naked on a cement floor in the cold of winter, whip himself before bed to purge the evil from him, pray to Mary, scrub floors with a tiny brush, he never felt he had any standing before God. He was not righteous.
Luther knew what Saint Paul proclaimed in Romans 3 “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:19–20, ESV). No human being will find favor before God, coram Deo, by works of the Law. What’s the best thing you’ve ever done in life? It counts as nothing before God. It doesn’t make Him smile or favor you. Saint Paul says if you are standing before God you’d better mouthing off about yourself. Luther was right about his standing. On his own, by his own worship, deeds, spiritual exercises, feelings, he had nothing coram Deo. By your works, says Saint Paul, you cannot be justified, you will never have a standing, you will never find favor coram Deo – before God.
The greatest lie of Satan by which he would deceive you is a Coram Deo lie. And this is his lie, “You can tell what God is thinking of you by measuring your life, your emotions, your accomplishments. Measure your happiness. Measure your bank account. Measure your pleasure. Measure your health. Surely the person who is right before God would have a right life – a happy marriage, a fulfilling job, a nice home (with a shed), 2.7 children who grow up to marry doctors and corporate executives and have 5.4 grandchildren.” It sounds reasonable, but it is the Devil’s lie. That same lie was being told in Luther’s day by the Roman church. They preached a salvation of works, by accomplishments and measures – buy a piece of paper, worship the relics of dead Saints, staying celibate earned you God’s favor, getting married earned you God’s pleasure, going to Rome, eventually even killing a Lutheran could get you God’s favor.
Through his study of God’s Word Martin Luther heard the words of the Apostle Paul, and rediscovered the truth of his standing Coram Deo. “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” (Romans 3:21–22, ESV)
This truth was what finally set Luther free to stand before God in confidence and joy. We do not earn our standing before God by what we do. We stand before God righteous because of what Christ has done. Christ lived a righteous life, died a sin-atoning death, and rose a justifying resurrection. Jesus lives as the perfect Son in your place. He dies the wicked son in your place. Risen from the dead Jesus sends His Holy Spirit with His Word preached with Words, sprinkled with Water, and fed with bread and wine to declare this truth to you. You’re forgiven all your sins. You stand before My heavenly Father as His Son because I stood, lived, hung, died, and rose in your place. In Holy Baptism everything I have done is declared yours. You stand before God justified as a gift from me. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law
Do you realize what this simple truth means – that you are justified by Christ? It means you live Coram Deo. You live always under the loving gaze of your heavenly Father. Wherever you go, whatever trouble you’re in, whatever sin you wrestle with – you are in good standing, perfecting standing before your Father in heaven.
This righteous standing Coram Deo made meek Martin into a Lion named Luther. He roared his confession of the faith even when the pope put a contract on his head. I think this great confidence is the reason he told Christians to “sin boldly.” Now Luther didn’t mean we should willingly and gladly engage in sin, rather when Satan comes around to plague you with your sins you should boldly stand before Satan and say, “What of it, Devil? I’m not worried about my sin because Jesus has taken it away. I am right coram Deo in Christ. If you want to talk about my sins why don’t you talk to Jesus? And if you don’t have the guts to face him leave me alone.”
You are righteous Coram Deo in Christ. No matter what you have done or have not done, whether your name is known or unknown, whether you are alone or sad or worried, you are in God’s presence and His face shines upon you. You are not alone. You are not forsaken. You are forgiven. You are righteous. You are favored and all of that is true before God – Coram Deo in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
26 October 2013 anno Domini