For the 21st Sunday after Pentecost on October 5, 2008, the three readings in the 3-year lectionary are Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 3:4b-14 and Matthew 21:33-46. Chosen to apply in the sermon is Philippians 3:6, “concerning zeal, persecuting the church, concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

If you ask a Christian who was the only person who could consider himself as blameless in regard to obedience of the Law, the answer would be “Jesus.” Yet in this passage from Philippians, the apostle Paul lists a number of reasons why he considered himself as blameless such as being circumcised on the eighth day, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a Pharisee who was zealous enough to persecute those he believed were against God and in regard to obedience, blameless.

But two verses later he considers all such works as “rubbish.” The word can also be translated as referring to “dung” (the excrement of animals) or of things that are worthless and detestable. We are reminded of the key question at the time of the Reformation which was not, “Does sin send people to hell?” but rather, “What is the place of ‘good works’ in regard to your salvation?” The Romans said one was saved by faith plus works while the Lutherans insisted that the Bible revealed we are saved by faith alone.

That is exactly what Paul says in verse 9 that the righteousness which saves is not that from obeying the Law but from God by faith. So often the Christian only thinks of one benefit from the cross which is the forgiveness of sins. However, the Church teaches both the passive and active obedience of Jesus. The passive obedience is Jesus’ death on the cross while the active obedience is a reference to His perfect obedience while on earth.

In baptism the benefits of both the forgiveness of sins and the robe of righteousness are received by the believer. It is that to which Paul is referring to in verse 9 as the righteousness which is from God by faith. The application of the sermon is to accuse each of the members of often thinking like Paul that their works, their offerings, their prayers make a difference to God in deciding whether they go to heaven of hell. Then the Gospel needs to be applied when all hope is lost in regard to one’s works. And that hope is found at the foot of the cross.