White joyous rose

By Pastor Luke Berntson

In 1530, a seal was created to summarize Martin Luther’s theology. At the center of this seal stands a black cross, in a red heart, in the middle of a white rose. Luther wrote, “Such a heart should stand in the middle of a white rose to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In other words, it places the believer into a white, joyous rose, for this faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives” (John 14:27).

The heart marked by the cross reminds us that we are saved through faith in Jesus. Jesus lived a sinless life for us. He died for us. He gives forgiveness and life to all who believe. No one can be saved by their own good works or sacrifices, but only by the good work, suffering, and death of Jesus. This faith, this joyful confidence we have in the Word and promise of God, marks our hearts with the cross of Christ and lifts us up, placing us into a joyous white rose.

There are many people who struggle with terrible anxiety of the heart. They are not sure of their salvation. For example, a child once said, “I can never be sure that I am saved because I can never be sure that I believe enough.” Friends, faith is not a firm confidence in your own commitment. Let this child hear of a merciful Savior who has chosen to forgive his sins and to make him his own dear child. Faith is not the result of our efforts. Faith is the gift of God. By faith, we believe that God has mercy on us and smiles upon us, not because of our goodness or sincerity, but because of Jesus. As a rose opens to the sun, so our hearts rejoice when we hear of Jesus.

Faith is a gift. Ephesians 2:8–10 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. This is not your own doing. This is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Our faith is God’s work. Our salvation is God’s work. We ourselves are God’s workmanship. By faith, we work and live with confidence and joy, knowing that we have a gracious Lord who is working in and through us.

Along with faith, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit give us joy, comfort, and peace. We receive these gifts through faith in Jesus, who died for us. The cross is always at the center of Luther’s seal and our lives. Concerning peace, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Concerning peace and joy, the Scripture testifies, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Concerning comfort, see how lavishly God gives it! The Bible says, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word” (II Thessalonians 2:16–17). God is not content to give us the minimum amount of faith needed for our salvation. Rather, in love, God places us into a joyous, white rose of faith in which joy, comfort, and peace blossom.

The white rose of faith opens up to a blue sky, signifying hope. Christian faith is filled with hope. When we struggle with challenges and opportunities, we have hope because Jesus is our Lord. When we age, we have hope in the resurrection. When we see wickedness in the world, we have hope because Christ is on His throne. When we see sin within us, we have hope because Christ has died for us. When we baptize and teach, we do so in the confident hope that Christ is risen and that his command to make disciples through baptizing and teaching is still the means by which he is marking hearts with the cross of Christ.

Around the blue sky of Luther’s seal lies a golden ring because the white rose of faith looks up with confident hope to see the fulfillment of all God’s promises. In joyful faith, we wait “for our blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). We live in the joyous white rose of faith as we wait for the glorious appearance of Jesus, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Berntson serves Hope Lutheran, Northome, Minn., and Bethesda Lutheran, Mizpah, Minn.