The sale of indulgences made justification too expensive and sanctification too cheap. Luther's 95 Theses identified both difficulties, and he succinctly stated in his October 1517 letter to Archbishop Albrecht that "indulgences confer on us no good gift, either for salvation or for sanctity."

Of course we celebrate that from the Reformation re-emerged with resounding clarity the life-giving good news that Jesus fully paid the price for our justification. Perhaps, in these permissive times, we might more deliberately acknowledge the dangers of presuming upon God's grace and highlight the good news that we are not only forgiven but have been saved into a holy calling -- a costly but fulfilling way of life by which we are blessed and God is glorified this side of heaven (2 Cor. 5:15, Eph. 2:10, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 2:9).