YouTube -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 6, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, September 6, 2026.

Sermon -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 6, 2026)

YOU ARE LIVING SACRIFICES.

ROMANS 12:1-8

In the name + of Jesus.

      This weekend, we observe Labor Day, a day on which we recognize the contribution that workers make to our lives.  I suppose that many would argue a day off of work is better than any day at work, but God has given us work as a blessing.  Consider God’s creation of Adam.  Moses wrote, “The LORD God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to work it and to take care of it” (Genesis 2:15).  God put the man in the garden to work it.  This work was a blessing.  By it, the man would fill his days with purpose and provide for his family.  This was a practical way in which he would love his neighbor. 

     Work is not a curse.  When you feel like it is, it is because of sin which has warped everything.  After sin entered the world, the Lord told Adam, “The soil is cursed on account of you.  You will eat from it with painful labor all the days of your life.  Thorns and thistles will spring up from the ground for you” (Genesis 2:17-18).  Your labor has its own version of thorns and thistles—whether entitled customers, needless paperwork, or broken equipment.  All are the result of sin which makes work difficult and drudgery.  On top of that, our sinful nature prefers laziness over effort.  The book of Proverbs repeatedly gives warnings to the sluggard.  In general, those who are industrious find prosperity while those who are lazy suffer.  Besides bringing harm to himself, the sluggard produces nothing for his fellowman.  While work may be toil when you are engaged in it, you experience deep satisfaction when the task has been completed.

     Work is a good thing.  The Lord gives you the opportunity to do good works every day through your various vocations—as a worker, a parent, a spouse, or a citizen.  Other people are blessed by your good works.  St. Paul noted one way in which people are blessed by your labors: “Let [a man] work hard doing what is good with his own hands, so that he has something to share with a person who is in need” (Ephesians 4:28).  In this way, you are living sacrifices.  You give of your time and energy as you provide a service in your vocation.  This is a practical way in which you love your neighbor.  Through our labors, God is honored and our neighbor is blessed.  These are good things.

     It is sometimes said that Lutherans are opposed to good works.  Now, it is clear that we are not saved by our good works.  For, the Bible teaches us, “We conclude that a person is justified by faith without the works of the law” (Romans 3:28).  Nor do our good works contribute to our salvation.  If they did, we would have to deny that we are saved by grace alone.  If God’s salvation is a gift, then we did not earn it or contribute to it.  It is God’s good work done for our benefit.  But we cannot say that good works are unnecessary.  Our own Lutheran Confessions say, “Our churches teach that this faith is bound to bring forth good fruit.  It is necessary to do good works commanded by God, because of God’s will” (Augsburg Confession, Article VI, paragraph 1). 

     If anyone tells you that Lutherans oppose good works, he is either very sloppy with his words or he is dead wrong.  St. Paul wrote that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).  Good works do not save, but those who are saved are dedicated to good works.  It is God’s will for people to engage in good works.  This is why God has given you your labors.  God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.  You are a living sacrifice, spending yourself to glorify God and to love and serve your neighbor.  If your faith is living and active, you will be living and active in your vocations and in good works. 

     This is what St. Paul wrote about in our epistle reading today.  “I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—which is your appropriate worship” (Romans 12:1).  It is God’s mercy that motivates us to worship him with good works.  That is because Jesus Christ did his good work, which is to save sinners. 

     Jesus was a living sacrifice.  Jesus performed the good work of perfect obedience to his Father.  It was not merely avoiding sin; it was also pursuing and practicing good toward all.  He loved his neighbor—whether they were hurting or healthy, whether they were locals or foreigners, whether they were his allies or his enemies.  We have not been so willingly obedient.  Even our best works are flawed, as Isaiah testifies: “All our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth” (Isaiah 64:6).  Isaiah did not say that our sins are like filthy cloth.  Our righteous deeds are unclean because we are, by nature, unclean.  This is why we dare not take pride in our works before God.  But we have Jesus as our living sacrifice.  His pure work atones for our impure works.

     Even though we strive for good works, many of our works are not good.  Sometimes we do our works with resentment.  Sometimes we complain that our works are not getting what we consider to be proper attention or praise.  Sometimes we just don’t care to do the works at all.  Maybe we don’t want to be bothered.  Maybe we deem someone unworthy of our time and effort.  For these and for all sins, Jesus made himself a sin offering.  Jesus was not only a living sacrifice, he also died as a sacrifice for you.  All your sins were laid on him.  God’s wrath was redirected from you to Jesus.  By his sufferings and death, Jesus did the works that save you from divine judgment.  You are redeemed by Jesus’ works, not your own.  So, do not trust your own works, no matter how good you think they are.  You are saved by faith in Jesus.  He did the works, and you receive the reward.

     Now, in view of that mercy, we get to be merciful to others.  In thanksgiving for Jesus’ good work, we dedicate ourselves to good works.  We’ve been set apart from sin, death, and the devil.  We’ve been set apart for a good and godly life.  Jesus laid down his life to rescue us from our wickedness so that you and I could live in godliness.  You are a living sacrifice—living to serve others to the glory of God.

     To preserve us in this godliness, St. Paul urges, “Do not continue to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you test and approve what is the will of God—what is good, pleasing, and perfect” (Romans 12:2).  One way or another, you are being taught.  One way or another, someone is preaching to you and influencing your thinking.  Such influence can be good or bad.  You come to God’s house to hear the word of the Lord.  Hopefully, you are reading your Bible or some devotional material throughout the week.  This regular meditation is important because the world is preaching to you nonstop.  The devil employs worldly thinking to entice you to abandon God’s word for what is popular and for what appeals to your sinful nature.  The more you listen to that, the more you will be conformed to the pattern of this world.  The more you conform to the pattern of this world, the less you will care about God’s word and his salvation—although the devil will convince you that you are still a good person and that God should reward you for that.

     Do not be swayed by popular opinions and behaviors.  History has shown that the masses can be in full agreement about an issue and be terribly wrong.  Besides that, the masses can change their minds about what is good and what is evil.  In generations past, when a man and a woman cohabited before they were married, it was called living in sin.  Today, most consider it foolish if couples don’t do that.  The world changes its mind quickly about what is good and what is evil.  God does not, but the world does.  So, “do not conform to the pattern of the world” (Romans 12:2).

     God created us and loves us.  What he says is always true, and it always stands.  Therefore, we listen to what our Lord says, knowing that he is looking out for our good both now and eternally.  The more you listen to the Lord, the more you will “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2).  You will find joy in your life being a living sacrifice, and you will not consider it a major sacrifice to do so.

     For the most part, St. Paul describes how we all serve as living sacrifices in the church.  He wrote, “We have many members in one body, and not all the members have the same function.  In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  We have different gifts, according to the grace God has given us.  If the gift is prophecy, do it in complete agreement with the faith.  If it is serving, then serve.  If it is teaching, then teach.  If it is encouraging, then encourage.  If it is contributing, be generous.  If it is leadership, be diligent.  If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:4-8).  

     We all have ways that we can serve God’s people.  We all have talents, abilities, and interests which can benefit the body of Christ.  You don’t have to invent ways to do good works for your fellow Christians.  God places them right in front of you.  You serve according to your ability and where there is a need.  In this way, the whole body of Christ functions well and the whole body of Christ is served. 

     You are living sacrifices “holy and pleasing to God—which is your appropriate worship” (Romans 12:1).  But don’t get the idea that the only good works are the works done in the church.  A number of years ago, there was a woman who went to her church’s evangelism meeting.  They were given a pep talk and then sent out to their neighborhood to knock on doors.  As they were going, she said to the man who had teamed up with her, “I can’t believe I did not really do anything for Jesus until now.”  The man was confused.  This woman was the church secretary.  She sang in the choir.  She had raised her children and cared for her home.  Weren’t those things done for Jesus?

     You are living sacrifices.  Everything you do is done for God’s honor and for the good of your neighbor.  Your vocations may change over the years, but your place in God’s kingdom remains constant.  You are a living sacrifice.  Your good works may be known to all or invisible to all.  Either way, God knows them.  Your good works may be a special project or they may be the daily household routine.  No matter; God is pleased with them because Jesus has made you pleasing to him.  For, you are God’s handiwork—created for God’s honor, redeemed by God’s grace, and renewed for good works in God’s kingdom.  God’s work which was done for you is good, and the work God gives you to do is good. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

YouTube -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 1, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, September 1, 2024.

Sermon -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 1, 2024)

ROMANS 9:30 – 10:4

THE ONLY RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT SAVES IS BY FAITH ALONE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     You do not have to go to church to know how to behave.  You do not need to be a Christian to be a decent person.  Most people know how to be honest, moral, and decent.  That does not mean they always are, but it means they can do it.  If you took a foul-mouthed thug and put him before a judge, he would suddenly be able to curb his tongue and avoid profanities.  He would even demonstrate humility.  He may not want to, but he knows he has to.  He does not need a church to show him that.

     Throughout your life, you will meet a lot of nice people who have no use for the church, for a Bible, or for Jesus.  When they die, their eulogies will praise them for what wonderful people they were.  There will be stories about how much they volunteered to bring help and happiness to others, about their generosity, hospitality, and zest for life.  And they may all be true.  Those eulogies might put you to shame, as you wonder why you have not done as much as they did.  It is assumed that such people have done enough to find their way into heaven.  This may also boomerang on you, as you wonder if you’ve done enough.

     St. Paul speaks about two kinds of righteousness.  There is a righteousness which comes by faith, and there is a righteousness which people try to attain by their works.  To many, they look the same, but they could not be more different.  One saves, and the other does not.  One reduces you to nothing; the other strokes your ego and fills you with pride.  One opens heaven, and the other brings you down to hell.  In fact, some think the righteousness that results in death is more praiseworthy than the one that saves.  But the only righteousness that saves is by faith alone.

     St. Paul wrote, “Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law” (Romans 9:30-31).  In other words, the Gentiles did not know the Commandments.  Some were decent and moral; many others embraced debauchery, dishonesty, and drunkenness.  Nevertheless, those who heard the word of God, repented, and believed in the promises of Jesus were found righteous.  Their righteousness was not earned; it was given to them by faith in Jesus.  The only righteousness that saves is by faith alone.  On the other hand, the people of Israel had the Law of God.  They tried to keep the Commandments and the Levitical regulations, and they looked pretty good trying.  But they never lived up to God’s perfect Law.  God did not find them righteous by their works because, no matter how pious or abundant their works were, they remained sinful.

     The Gospel lesson gives us an example of the righteousness which comes from works.  The Lord had given Old Testament Israel numerous laws to keep them distinct from the nations around them.  They were to be set apart because the Messiah would come through them.  Among those laws were dietary laws—foods that were clean and lawful and foods that were not.  In addition to God’s Law, the Pharisees had added their own practices.  They prescribed the washing of hands, plates, utensils, and other things.  This was not about hygiene, but spiritual purity.  They taught that observing all these things would prove a person pure, or righteous, before God.  They taught that the failure to wash or to eat non-kosher foods defiled a person.  The Pharisees observed all of these laws and traditions, and it looked very impressive.  The eulogies for the Pharisees would gush: “How noble and pious they were!  They fasted.  They tithed.  They diligently observed all the traditions.  Surely, they have their place in heaven!”

     One thing you should understand about eulogies: Eulogies are our remembrance of someone.  We tell stories and reflect on memories about why he was so special to us, how faithfully he served in this or that capacity.  We fondly remember his interactions, his quirks, and his personality.  All of it may be true.  Eulogies are our judgment.  We overlook faults and highlight achievements.  On the one hand, such memories are to be cherished.  There is a reason the death of a loved one grieves you so much.  On the other hand, eulogies are not God’s assessment.  That’s why funerals in Lutheran churches do not have a parade of people telling their favorite stories.  There is a place for those outside of the funeral, no doubt.  But if we want comfort in our sorrows and assurance of peace and hope for the deceased and for ourselves, then we need to hear God’s promises.  We do not establish our own righteousness; Jesus does.  Only Jesus does.  Jesus alone does.  The only righteousness that saves us by faith in Jesus alone.

     The Pharisees tried to establish their own righteousness before God by all their pious acts.  But outward acts do not make us pure.  They might look attractive.  They might produce impressive eulogies.  But they do not make the heart pure or the person righteous.  Jesus said, “Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?  … What comes out of a person is what defiles him.  For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mark 7:18-23). 

     The heart is sinful.  It is naturally corrupt and selfish.  When we encounter nice people who do nice things, we might compliment them, saying, “She has a good heart!”  But what about when nice people do not-nice things?  When you are jealous of someone else’s blessings, is that a good heart?  When your impatience results in giving someone the stink-eye or uttering a nasty word, is that a good heart?  When a man gazes at a woman’s figure and fantasizes about what he could do to that figure—caring not about her name, her feelings, or her well-being—is that a good heart?  All these sinful attitudes come from within, from hearts that have been corrupted by sin.  If your heart is corrupt, the works that come from it will also be corrupt.  Righteousness before God is not an occasional thing, it must be a constant thing.  For God is not good occasionally, he is a good and holy God constantly.  That is the standard he holds us to.

     There are two kinds of righteousness—the righteousness that comes from inside of you, and the righteousness which comes from the outside.  If it comes from inside of you, then you are trying to establish your place with God by doing enough good works to please him.  That does not mean such people are irreligious.  Some might be atheists who are confident in their niceness, but others are people who confess to be Christians who still depend upon themselves for their place before God.  Consider St. Paul’s assessment of the people of Israel: “I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness” (Romans 10:2-3).  In other words, people know how to behave.  They know they should be upright, decent, honest, and moral.  But they reject the righteousness that God provides, convinced that they are doing enough to establish their own righteousness.  Some want to split the credit—“Jesus did his part.  Now I’m doing mine.”  But if you are corrupt, then your part is corrupt.  It cannot be righteous.  This cannot save you.  The only righteousness that saves is by faith alone.

     Now, if your righteousness comes from outside of you, then it is not yours by nature.  God must bestow it upon you.  This is the righteousness of God and it comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  This is what St. Paul says is “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense” (Romans 9:33).  The offense is that we have nothing to contribute.  We want to think so.  We want to believe that we are God’s people because we are better than those who are not.  But Jesus destroys all that.  If your righteousness comes from outside of you, then you have nothing to boast about—not works, not effort, not sincerity, not a better performance than anyone, not even being nice.  The righteousness of God comes from Jesus, and he gives it to you freely and fully. 

     The only righteousness that saves is by faith alone.  Faith alone does not mean that no works were done.  It means that the works have been done by someone other than you.  The holy obedience which pleases God has been lived by Jesus.  This Jesus gives to you.  Jesus has also done the work which takes away your sins.  Jesus suffered and died bearing your guilt.  He endured the sinner’s death for you and took in all of God’s wrath in your place.  That’s why St. Paul wrote, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).  The works of the Law do not make you righteous; Jesus does.  Thanks to Jesus, the Law does not condemn you; Jesus has fulfilled it.  Your sin does not stand against you; Jesus has taken it away.  So, while you cannot boast that you have done anything to receive your place in heaven, you can boast that in Christ all things have been done.  It is just as Martin Luther confessed: “Lord Jesus Christ, you are my righteousness, I am your sin.  You became what you were not so that I would be what I am not.” 

     And now what does the Bible teach you?  “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).  If you trust in Jesus’ merits instead of your own, then you are sons of God.  If you are baptized into Christ, then you are clothed with Christ.  If you are clothed with Christ, then you are righteous in God’s sight.  If you are righteous in God’s sight, then you are saved.  The only righteousness that saves in by faith alone. 

     Fast forward to your funeral.  There will be people who will eulogize you.  They will share stories and memories.  They will talk about what you have done for them and for others.  They will remember your good works, and what they say will probably all be true.  But the good works are not what saved you.  They sprang up from a heart that was purified by the blood of Jesus and enlivened by the Holy Spirit.  They are evidence of God’s work in you.  But when you are standing before God, no eulogy will help.  Your Savior, however, will.  Jesus Christ will present you to his heavenly Father dressed in his own righteousness.  And he will uphold the word of the Lord: “whoever believes in him will not be put to shame” (Romans 9:33).    

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

YouTube -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 10, 2023)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, September 10, 2023.

Sermon -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 10, 2023)

EZEKIEL 33:7-11

TRUE LOVE MEANS SAYING THE HARD TRUTH.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Lord had called Ezekiel to a watchman over the people of Israel.  The job of a watchman was to stand on the walls of the city and keep a look out for any threat to the city.  People who lived in the city would commute to the fields around the city to tend their flocks and herds or to till the ground for crops. 

     The watchman allowed the people to tend to their daily work without concern for their safety.  If he saw an enemy approaching, he would blow the trumpet to alert everyone.  The people in the fields would, then, flee back to the safety of the city and take refuge behind its walls.  If they ignored the trumpet, or if they did not want to bother to stop their work, their blood would be on their own heads.  On the other hand, if the watchman failed to blow the trumpet and alert the people of the danger, the people would be killed, but the watchman would be accountable for their blood.  Therefore, it was crucial that the watchman be faithful in his calling.  The lives of people were at stake.

     The Lord told Ezekiel, “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel.  Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me” (Ezekiel 33:7).  The trumpet that Ezekiel sounded the call of the people to repent of their sins.  They had turned away from God’s word; and by turning away from God’s word, they turned to evil.

     Ezekiel was sent by God to proclaim the word of the Lord.  His life would have been easier if he had just kept his mouth shut and let people do whatever they wanted.  Many would have preferred Ezekiel mind his own business.  But Ezekiel’s business was that he was a watchman.  He was duty-bound to tell people the word of the Lord.  He might not have been able to make them care, but he would not let them remain ignorant.  Ezekiel was a man under orders—God’s orders.  So, Ezekiel had to tell people the hard truth about their sins and God’s judgment whether they hated it or loved it.  It was crucial that the watchman be faithful in his calling.  The lives of people were at stake.

      This is still the role of the Church.  The Church has been entrusted with the word of God.  We are not to keep it to ourselves, but to proclaim it.  You could argue that the Lord’s instruction in these verses is just for pastors.  That is true, to an extent.  Pastors are under orders to speak the word of the Lord and to warn people so they will not be swept away by their sins.  Pastors are accountable to God for their faithfulness in doing this.  It is crucial that the watchman be faithful in his calling.  The lives of people are at stake.

     But this is your concern, too.  Jesus taught his disciples, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Matthew 18:15).  These are instructions about one Christian speaking to another.  Out of love for each other, we do not want to see anyone turn away from the Lord and be swept away by sins.  Since you love your family and friends, then you can love them enough to tell them the hard truth.  You can tell them what God’s word says so they can escape being condemned by it.  True love means saying the hard truth.

     Many people will tell you that this is not what love does.  People say that love means accepting people no matter what.  Love means letting people do what makes them happy.  But this is not true.  Think about raising children.  If they run amuck in your house, draw on the walls with markers, pull all the pots and pans out of the cabinets, and flush socks down the toilet, will you let them keep doing it because it makes them happy?  Will you let them keep acting this way because you love them?  On the contrary, precisely because you love them, you will discipline them, correct their destructive behavior, and teach them self-control.  If you don’t, they will suffer much worse consequences when they are older.  True love means saying the hard truth, even if it results in a tantrum from those children.

     It is no different when we get older.  Some insist they have the right to do whatever they want, even if it is clear rebellion against what God has said.  Many immoral behaviors are defended with the phrase, “Love is love.”  It is a nonsensical phrase, suggesting that anything is good if it is wrapped up in terms of love.  But what would you say to a married man who becomes enamored with his co-worker?  What if he becomes so involved with her that he leaves his wife for this new woman, insisting, “She is my soulmate.  This is true love.”  If “Love is love” and if “the heart wants what it wants,” will you fault this man for leaving his wife and family because he found love in another woman?  Wouldn’t you instead tell this man, “This is not love.  It is selfish and it is evil.  Repent”?  Examples like this abound.

     Now, the phrase, “The heart wants what it wants,” is true.  We have desires, sometimes intense desires, and we want to act on them.  But the phrase fails to recognize that our hearts are sinful and corrupt.  The heart often wants to do or to take what God forbids.  And the slogan, “Love is love,” might be popular, but it is not Scriptural.  What does the Bible teach us?  “God is love” (1 John 4:16, emphasis added).  That means whatever God says is said in love.  In love, God directs us to what is good and pure.  And if it is good and pure, we benefit others as we do it.  When God calls us to repent because we are not good or pure, he is doing it because he loves us.  True love means that God will tell us the hard truth so we will not be condemned for chasing the lies.

     You might be afraid to speak to your loved ones about their sins and to urge them to repent.  What if urging loved ones to repent means they get angry and you never see your family again?  It is true: Families can be torn apart by such conversations.  But would you be willing to keep your family for a time only to lose them for eternity?  Like Ezekiel, all you can do is sound the trumpet.  You sound the trumpet because you love your loved ones, and because it grieves you to see them in danger.  It is crucial that the watchman be faithful in his calling.  The lives of people are at stake.  True love means saying the hard truth. 

     If you should find yourself having a hard conversation with a loved one about his sins, he might become defensive or angry.  That is often how we try to hide our guilt.  He may also accuse you of being judgmental or acting superior.  This is why it is best to sound the trumpet of God’s word.  Even if your loved one is not accountable to you—though his sin grieves you and may influence others—all are accountable to God.  Therefore, we proclaim God’s word.  We say, “This is what the Lord says, but this is what you are doing.  You are fighting against God, and I would hate to see you suffer for it.  You are on a dangerous path.  Please put a stop to your sin.  If you need me to, I will help you however I can.”  You are not having this conversation for your good, but for his.  This is true love; and true love means saying the hard truth.

     The Lord told Ezekiel: “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11).  If you urge people to flee from their sins, it may produce better behavior in them.  Better behavior will spare them of harm to themselves and to their loved ones.  The man who puts away his internet porn will focus on improving his marriage to the woman in his house who is real and not virtual.  The liar can get back some respectability by being honest.  Rather than pondering evil about someone, the gossip can devote his words and his time to praying for them.  There is benefit in that, but to be saved, we need more than better behavior.

     True love means saying the hard thing.  But true love does not just expose the wound; true love also puts salve on the wound and provides its cure.  So, in love, God does not just inform us of our sins; in love, God informs us how he takes our sins away.  The Lord does not take pleasure in damning.  He is not a God who is eager to smite and destroy.  He is eager to redeem, to rectify, and to restore. 

     God proved his love by becoming a man and taking our sins upon himself.  Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.  He willingly gave his life as the ransom price to set us free from all wickedness, guilt, and shame.  This is true love because Jesus did not do this for his good, but for ours.  Jesus did not suffer and die for us because he owed it to us or because we proved ourselves worthy.  Long before you and I were in this world, long before we had sins on our record or reason to fear God’s judgment, Jesus gave himself as the atoning sacrifice for us.  This is love—that Jesus suffered what sinners deserve so that we will not suffer what we deserve.  The Lord has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but it pleased the Lord to make himself a guilt offering for us.  It pleased the Lord to die the death of the wicked in order to pardon us.  And Jesus willingly took up the task he was given because he loves his Father, he delights in God’s word, and he is also eager for our redemption.  Jesus was not only eager to do these things, he accomplished them.  And this is not a hard truth, but joyous good news and the truest, purest love there is.  For, God is love.

     But what hope is there for someone who rejects God’s word?  The writer to the Hebrews asks: “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3)?  If people reject God’s word, where will they find forgiveness or comfort or peace?  How can they cope with guilt or shame or death?  Denial and defensiveness can only last so long, and then comes the reality of death and judgment.  True love cannot stand by and let loved ones perish.  If they reject God’s word, if they prefer to let the heart have what the heart wants, then the truth of God’s word becomes especially hard—they are lost.  But God’s truth still stands, so we say so.  And then we pray for their repentance.

     True love means saying the hard truth.  Confessing God’s truth is not optional for us.  God’s truth keeps us secure and preserves our faith.  Therefore, we cling to it.  And since God’s word is the only way that sinners can be rescued from their sin and its judgment, we eagerly confess it and proclaim it.  God’s word reveals the Savior we need, the Savior we have, and the only Savior there is to deliver us from sin, death, and the devil.  It should not be hard to speak these truths, because they are good news of great joy which is for all the people.  God’s love for us is our reason to rejoice.  Our love for God is our reason to confess his word.  And our love for others is the reason to confess it to them.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 18, 2022)

 PROVERBS 25:6-7

KNOW YOUR PLACE BEFOFE THE KING.

In the name + of Jesus.

     King David had many children from multiple wives.  You probably don’t know the names of many of them.  You likely recall Solomon who became king after David.  And if you remember any others, it is likely Absalom who tried to depose his own father and become king in his place.  Absalom’s reign did not last very long.  He was also fearful that his memory would not last very long.  2 Samuel records this: “Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King's Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.”  He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's monument to this day” (2 Samuel 18:18).  Although the monument was still standing when 2 Samuel was written, it was lost to history long ago.  If it were not for the Bible, we would have no record of Absalom.

     Absalom’s fear infects us all.  We want to be remembered.  We want to believe that we are important and that our lives matter.  We want to know that WE matter.  Some have become convinced that they do not matter and conclude that suicide is a sensible course of action.  It is heart-breaking to see people—young people!—consumed by despair like that.

     None of us has the clout or the cash to establish a monument to ourselves like Absalom did.  So, in order to feel important, we build up claims about ourselves.  It does not matter if they are true or not, just so other people will hear them and acknowledge us.  Who does most of the work around your house?  Who is the busiest person at your workplace?  Chances are, you would say, “It’s me!”  Maybe it is.  But if I am convinced that no one is busier or works harder or accomplishes more than I do, it is because I am aware of my work more than anyone else’s.  I know my burden and remain unfamiliar with the burdens of others.  This is how I convince myself that I matter and that I am valuable. 

     We measure our importance by full schedules, titles, accomplishments, and income.  But this is a dangerous game.  What if you lose your job?  Are you suddenly worthless?  Are you insignificant if you don’t accomplish as much as you used to?  Are you unimportant if you don’t have a title?  The world probably thinks so, so you might think so.  Absalom propped up a monument to prove to the world that he was someone.  If you prop yourself up, it is to prove to the world that you are something.  Or maybe you are only trying to prove it to yourself.  Either way, you will end up disappointed.  Someone else will always be busier, make more money, get more done, or have a higher title.  You will age and decline.  If this matters to you, it is probably because you think it means that you won’t matter anymore.

     David’s son, Solomon, ended up being king of Israel.  More importantly, King Solomon was guided by the Holy Spirit to pen the book of Proverbs.  In his book, Solomon tells us what a godly life is.  And he who was king urges all of us: Know your place before the King.  “Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble” (Proverbs 25:6-7). 

     If you prop yourself up before others, they usually respond by trying to one-up you and propping themselves up higher.  It ends up being a contest which only produces boasting, but not winners.  Maybe you will win that contest.  Or maybe you will be humiliated because you are not as big a deal as you thought.

     If that is true in a worldly sense, it is all the more true before the Lord.  Know your place before the King.  “Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble” (Proverbs 25:6-7). 

     This is why we begin every service with a confession of sins.  There is no point in approaching God and boasting how much we have done.  Whoever does this expects payment from God.  Even if we achieved perfect obedience to God’s commands, Jesus told us how we ought to respond.  “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10).  But we have not achieved perfect obedience.  Rather, we come before God with an honest admission.  We are, by nature, sinners.  Our hearts and minds are corrupt, and it shows itself by what comes out of our mouths and what we do with our actions.  Know your place before the King.  “Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence” (Proverbs 25:6), especially because he knows your life, your motives, your thoughts—every dirty little secret.  If not now, then at the final judgment, the King will expose you for the sinner you are and humiliate you for all your boasting.

     Now, we do not confess our sins to God as reverse psychology, as if we grovel and say, “Lord, have mercy on me, a wretched sinner,” so that God would reply, “Oh, you are not that bad.  Don’t worry about it.”  No, God judges justly and accurately.  Sinners deserve his wrath and punishment, both now and eternity.  We do not confess that to gain pity; we confess it because it is accurate.  And we confess our sins because we hold God to his own promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

     Our King is a most merciful king.  Our glorious king laid aside his glory to come to earth for sinners.  He came because he loves us.  He loves us because we are his creation.  Therefore, he acts to redeem us from sin and death.  The King of heaven and earth became the lowest of the law by accepting all the charges that stand against you and all mankind.  Bearing the sins of the world, Jesus suffered accordingly.  Jesus died the cursed death that sinners deserve.  The eternal Son of God was damned in place of all mankind in order to deliver all mankind from eternal death and shame.  And the Savior who went into death for sinners overcame death for sinners.  Jesus lives and reigns to declare that your sins are pardoned and that all charges have been dropped.  Jesus lives and reigns to decree that you will live and reign with him.  You have his royal decree on it.  When you were baptized, he granted you the blessed status as a child of the Most High God.  And if you are a child of God, then you are an heir of his heavenly kingdom.  Know your place before the King who summons you, “Come up to a higher place, and take your place at the heavenly banquet.”

     Do you see how valuable you are to the Lord?  Do you see how much you matter to King Jesus?  Whether you are a genius or suffer from mental health issues, whether you are living comfortably or from paycheck to paycheck, whether you are strong or frail, whether you are in the prime of your life or at its sunset, you matter to the Lord.  For you are his creation, his redeemed, and his beloved child.  God the Father showed you your worth by the price he paid to make you a member of his family. 

     Know your place before the King.  Although you do not see him in his glory yet, you still live and serve before the King in whatever it is you do.  The works God has given you to do are important, too.  Those works matter, especially for the people you are serving in your various vocations.  You do not need to change the world for your works to delight God or for your service to matter to others.  You might feel that your job is mundane, and you might wonder if anyone would care if you never showed up to do your job.  If you feel that way, you can bet that it is not Jesus who is suggesting that to you.

     Know your place before the King, because everything you do in his name is glorious to him—sweeping the floor, scrubbing the toilet, driving courteously, calling your parents, pushing buttons for the company, or being the person who runs the company.  God presents you daily with opportunities to honor him and to serve your neighbor.  What a glorious task he gives you.  The world may put value on it according to your paycheck, but the Divine King values it because he values you.  He is delighted to see his royal servants be his loyal servants.

     Know your place before the King, and do not be discouraged if the world is unimpressed by you.  In the sight of God the Father, it does not matter.  If you have enjoyed a safe, pleasant upbringing or if you endured a rough childhood, it might affect the way you see the world.  It does not affect the way God sees you.  He sees you as cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  If you look at your life and see many impressive accomplishments, or if you are disappointed that you did not achieve more, it might affect the way the world views you.  It does not affect the way God views you.  His love for you is not determined by how much you have done, but by what Jesus has done for you.  Whether you have earned impressive titles or those titles were given to someone else, whether your achievements are honored or go unnoticed, it does not change your value.  Even if you scrape by in life, you still have treasure in heaven.  You are children of the Most High God.  What greater title could you have?  The world may strip you of your titles or wipe out your achievements.  But the King of heaven and earth assures you that your title as child of the Most High God cannot be taken by anyone and your inheritance will never lose its value.  Jesus lives and reigns to guarantee it.

     Absalom, the son of David, built a monument to himself so that people would remember him.  His monument did not last.  If you built a monument to yourself, it would not last either.  Even if it were still standing in 100 years, many would look at it and comment, “I guess someone thought they were important, whoever that was.”  King David had many other children besides Solomon and Absalom.  Do you know their names?  So it will be with you and me.  Like Eleanor Rigby, we will die and be buried along with our names.  No one will remember us down the road.  That’s okay.  The King of heaven and earth not only knows your name, he has written it in the Book of Life.  God the Father knows who is children are, and he will never forget you.  Why?  Because you matter to him.  You are valuable to him—enough that he gave his only-begotten Son to gain you.

     Know your place before the King.  Because you know King Jesus, he will honor you and say, “Come up here,” and bring you to the eternal feast.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

YouTube -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 5, 2021)

Here is the service from September 5, 2021.

Sermon -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 5, 2021)

MARK 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

SIN COMES FROM WITHIN US,

BUT SALVATION COMES FROM OUTSIDE OF US.

In the name + of Jesus.

      When Jesus debated with the Pharisees, he often exposed how their traditions violated God’s word.  From that, we might get the idea that traditions are bad.  Traditions, however, can be valuable and useful.  They are even cherished.  Tell a Michigan fan that their last game of the season will be against Maryland instead of Ohio State, and you will get a lecture on what tradition means.  Imagine a New Year’s Eve without the ball dropping in Times Square.  What about a Christmas Eve without singing Silent Night?  If these things happened, they should not rock your world, but they probably would.

     The Church has its share of traditions, as well.  We make the sign of the cross on themselves.  We stand for the Gospel reading.  We kneel for receiving the Lord’s Supper.  The pastor wears vestments when he leads the service.  Now, none of these save anyone.  But whatever traditions a church uses are supposed to teach the faith.  If you don’t know why we do what we do, please ask.  Every tradition is supposed to support Christian doctrine.  Any tradition that fails to do that is useless or even destructive.

     Traditions are usually defended with the phrase, “We’ve always done it that way.”  That may be true, but it does not explain why we have done it that way.  When we defend the tradition rather than teach the reasoning behind it, the traditions take on a life of their own.  They become more important than the teaching they are supposed to support.  That’s what happened with the Pharisees.

     In fairness to the Pharisees, their traditions were intended to improve the observance of God’s Law.  In the case of today’s Gospel lesson, the issue was ceremonial washings.  God’s word did prescribe ceremonial washings for the priests before going into God’s presence, for lepers after they were cured, or for pots and pitchers which had contact with an unclean animal like a lizard.  The Pharisees expanded God’s directives.  To make sure the vessels for eating were ceremonially clean, they were always to be washed; so also the hands of the people who were eating.  So, when Jesus’ disciples reclined at their table without washing their hands, the Pharisees were mortified.  We might tell our children, “Oh, that’s gross!  Wash your hands!”  For the Pharisees, the rebuke was, “That is unlawful.  You are clearly wicked men!”

     Therefore, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and corrected their practice.  “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’  You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” …And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him” (Mark 7:6-8,14-15). 

     The Pharisees’ traditions had trumped God’s word.  They condemned people who were guiltless.  This was not only slander, but it produced a burden of guilt on people which they never should have carried.  It would be like making too much out of making the sign of the cross on yourself.  If we started to have debates about the proper way to make the sign of the cross (cross right to left vs left to right, how you form your fingers when you cross), we would make people fret that they are not faithful to the Lord unless they get the tradition right.  We would put the focus on the ceremony and forget what it teaches.  Making the sign of the cross is supposed to serve one purpose: It is a reminder that you are a baptized child of God.  If it does not do that, it is useless.

     Jesus turned the meal time conversation to the dietary laws observed by the Jews.  Now, these laws were divinely given.  Some food was declared to be clean, some unclean.  The kosher laws and all the ceremonial laws were designed to set Israel apart from other the other nations for the Savior who would come through them.  But now the Savior has come for all the nations.  In establishing his new covenant, Jesus stated that righteousness does not come by what you eat or don’t eat.  “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him” (Mark 7:15). 

     There is nothing outside of you that makes you sinful or unclean.  To be sure, there is much wickedness in this world.  Wicked men plot wicked schemes.  People are rude and insulting.  Authorities abuse power.  Liars manipulate, slander, and steal.  People sin against you—sometimes thoughtlessly, sometimes intentionally.  But there is no one in this world who makes you a sinner.  There is nothing outside of you which makes you sin.  Sin comes from within you.  Sin dwells in you and corrupts your thoughts, words, and actions.  Our confession is correct: “I confess that I am by nature sinful and unclean.”  As Jesus stated, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, and so on…  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mark 7:21,23). 

     It is not people out there who make us sin.  Sin comes from within us.  Sin arises from a heart and mind that are sinful from the moment we are alive.  That’s why you have wicked thoughts, words, and actions.  When someone gets a promotion, wins a contest, or gets recognized for some achievement, there is nothing wicked about that.  It should be a time for everyone to rejoice.  Instead, you become envious.  Sin comes from within you.  When man gazes at another woman and fantasizes how his life would be better if she ditched her husband for him, the woman did not do anything evil.  That covetous desire comes from within you.  Even when someone sins against you, they don’t make you sin.  If a man defames you or defrauds you, he is guilty of evil.  You have a right to recognize his sin and call it what it is.  But when you dream of seeing him die or suffer harm, that comes from within you.  That’s because we are by nature sinful and unclean.  Sin comes from within us. 

     The Pharisees tried to fix this with harsher laws and traditions.  Threats and fear may enforce better outward behavior, but they do not change a single corrupt heart.  Medieval Christians tried to avoid the wickedness by hiding in monasteries, but they did not escape sin.  They brought their own sinful nature in with them.  You can find traditions which curb your behavior, but traditions will never save you.  He who is impure cannot make himself pure.  “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him” (Mark 7:15).  Sin comes from within us.  It does not come from outside of us.  But salvation does.

     Salvation comes from God through his Son, Jesus Christ.  God sent Jesus who is pure, innocent, and righteous to save us.  When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, he did it not to receive forgiveness, but to unite himself to us.  In his baptism, Jesus soaked up all our sins and guilt and made them his own.  This is why Jesus went to the cross to be put to death.  Bearing our sin, he made himself the sin offering which atones for us.  Jesus died as one defiled with all sin.  Jesus was sacrificed for those guilty of debauchery and deception, for envy and anger, for selfish fantasies and foolish pride.  Jesus was consumed in the fiery wrath of God.  In this way, Jesus consumed death and damnation for you.  Jesus took God’s curse and God’s wrath for you.  If God’s curse and wrath are taken away from you, God has nothing left for you but peace and love.  If death and hell are conquered by Jesus, they cannot have you.  Jesus has purchased and won you from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil.

     Sin comes from within us, but salvation comes from outside of us.  Pardon and peace come from outside of us.  They have to.  These things cannot be claimed by us, they have to be granted by one with authority.  It works that way in our world, too.  You cannot walk into a court of law, tell the judge you have acquitted yourself, and walk out.  The judge must pass the sentence to grant you a pardon.  So it is with God’s forgiveness.  It does not come by you thinking you should have it.  God must declare it. 

     Salvation comes from outside of you.  The Lord applies his salvation to you through preaching and his word.  The word is revealed by God, recorded by prophets and apostles, and related through others.  You probably first heard it from your parents.  You hear it preached through pastors.  You are encouraged, or if needed, admonished, through your fellow Christians.  Pardon and peace are a divine proclamation.  Your confidence comes from God’s decree rather than your own intentions which are not always good and your reflections which are not always right.

     Salvation comes from outside of you.  You were baptized into the name of Jesus.  By your baptism, God washed away your sins, covered you in Jesus’ righteousness, and gave you his Holy Spirit to drive out the unclean spirit that was in you.  He made you a new creation.  He created in you a clean heart, which is your status before God.  Jesus presents you pure and undefiled before the Father.  Jesus also sends his Holy Spirit to renew in you a right spirit.  The Holy Spirit works in you your desire to live a godly life and to put to death whatever sinful desire would entice you.  So, even the good you and I do is what God wills and works through us. 

     Salvation comes from outside of us, but it is given freely and generously by our Triune God who designed and desires our salvation.  God the Father sent his Son to save you.  Jesus paid the price to redeem you.  The Holy Spirit created and sustains faith in you.  It is all the work of a holy God rather than an impure person.

     For the most part, our traditions are the inventions of mankind.  Good traditions reinforce the teachings of God’s word.  Good traditions aid us in our discipleship.  Good traditions guide our mouths and our bodies to say and to do what we believe in our hearts.  If they point to Jesus, they are doing what traditions are supposed to do.  But the traditions themselves do not make us pure, and they cannot save.  For, salvation is never our work.  Salvation comes from outside of us; and God has been pleased to plant that salvation in us.  The Lord dwells in our hearts, so our hearts are not only close to him; they are his. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

YouTube -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 13, 2020)

 Here is the service from September 13, 2020.

Sermon -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 13, 2020)

MATTHEW 16:16-21

THERE IS NO SALVATION WITHOUT A CROSS.

In the name + of Jesus.

      The gospel reading begins with the phrase, “From that time on....” (Matthew 16:21)  It begs the question: What just happened?  What was the event that sparked Jesus repeated instruction that “he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21)?  It was this, that the disciples confessed and acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  

     There was a great misunderstanding among the Jews about what the Christ would do when he came.  All the Jews were awaiting the Lord's Messiah, but they also had various ideas about the mission of the Messiah.  One common expectation was that the Messiah would restore the throne of David, the glory of Israel, and times of prosperity to the people of God.  In practical terms, that could mean expelling the Romans, an abundance of wealth, great honor and prestige, and continual dominance over surrounding nations.  In short, they wanted a worldly Messiah who would bring in a worldly kingdom of worldly success.  

     The disciples had confessed that Jesus was the Christ.  So, “from that time on,” Jesus continued to teach his disciples what that meant.  It meant that Jesus must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and on the third day be raised from the dead.  The reason this must happen is that there is no salvation without a cross.

     One reason the Christ must suffer this way is because that is what the prophets foretold.  If God had promised it, the Christ must fulfill it.  So Jesus must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert (John 3:14-15).  Jesus must be pierced in his hands and feet (Psalm 22:16).  As he hung from the cross, the Christ must have his bones disjointed (Psalm 22:14) but not broken (John 19:36).  He must die according to God's will (Isaiah 53:10).  And more prophecies foretold what must happen.  If God had promised it, the Christ must fulfill it.  The cross was not an option; it was a pre-determined destination.  There is no salvation with out the cross.

     But the Christ does more than merely fulfill prophecies.  The prophecies were given for a purpose—to proclaim the Lord's salvation for sinners.  Therefore, the Christ must do what he was sent to do in order to win salvation for you; and there is no salvation without the cross.  The Christ, the Son of God, must come to take upon himself the sins of mankind.  The Christ must submit himself to the righteous judgment of God and die as one accursed.  The Christ must lay down his life as a guilt offering on behalf of the guilty.  The Christ must endure this condemnation publicly so that all the world could know what God has done to remove the curse of sin and to graciously pardon our offenses.  After the payment for sins has been made, the Christ must be raised up from the dead to prove that the payment is complete, that sins are forgiven, that the grave is powerless against mankind, and that Jesus has been entrusted with all judgment.  Since he has taken away your sins and emptied the grave of its sting, he has already assured you of a judgment of innocence and eternal life.  All of this is only fulfilled through his death on the cross.  There is no other way of salvation, and that is why Jesus taught his disciples that this is what it means that he is the Christ.  This must happen, for there is no salvation without the cross.

     Jesus' instructions, however, continued.  He said that the cross was necessary for him, but he adds this: The cross is necessary for you, too.  “Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'” (Matthew 16:24-25)  There is no salvation without the cross.

     This is, perhaps, where you start to appreciate Peter's rebuke of Jesus.  Jesus had just taught his disciples that he must suffer many things and be killed.  Peter was appalled.  “Suffer shame, rejection, and a bitter death?  No, Lord!  God have mercy on you and spare you this.  And what about us, your disciples?  What do we get?  What is in this for us?”  Such opinions are held today as well.  What benefits does Christianity deliver to you?  What blessings does Jesus bestow?  Our longings are often as misguided as the people in Jesus' day.  Many want Christianity without a cross.

     Perhaps this is illustrated best by athletes who succeed or win championships.  They give glory to God, which sounds noble.  But underlying these claims is the belief that God rewards those who follow him with worldly success.  God gives strength to hit a home run.  God gives trophies and medals to those who honor him.  God will bless you if you share the Facebook post.  But what blessings are we expecting?  Like the Jews of Jesus' day, we want a worldly Messiah who will bring worldly success.  

     There is no salvation without the cross.  Jesus did not take a path of glory, fame, success, and wealth to the cross.  Why should his disciples expect a different path?  Jesus called Peter's thoughts about this Satanic, and indeed, they are.  These are the dreams and schemes of men—to seek worldly blessings from a worldly Messiah and to bask in a worldly kingdom.  But the world and all its riches will pass away.  If you devote yourself to them, you will perish with them.  “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)  

     There is no salvation without the cross.  That is why Jesus teaches us: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)  We never overcome our desire for personal glory.  We accumulate wealth not to benefit others, but ourselves.  We tell stories to enhance our own honor.  You can discover your true nature when you consider the kinds of things you daydream about.  How often are your daydreams about helping other people?  How often are your daydreams about the kingdom of God?  Are they not about your own pleasures, your own pride, and your own kingdom?  This is why Jesus tells you to deny yourself.  Jesus delivered you from your selfishness so that you would not be condemned for it, but not so that you could continue in it.  

     There is no salvation without the cross.  “If anyone would come after me, let him … take up his cross.” (Matthew 16:24)  Sometimes the cross is what the Lord lays on you.  In his wisdom and in his mercy, he has you endure pain and loss.  It surely does not seem like mercy, and your own wisdom strongly disagrees with the Lord's.  But the Lord is not looking for you to be happy in the next few minutes.  The Lord seeks your eternal salvation.  Therefore, he may take away from you good gifts.  The losses that truly grieve us are the loss of good things.  And yet, the Lord chooses to take them away from us to teach us to not put our trust in them.  We can give thanks for them, but we cannot rely on them.  Sometimes this is the cross that we must bear—to put to death our reliance on gifts that can be lost.

     There is no salvation without the cross.  Each one of us has a cross that is unique.  You take up your cross to put to death the sinful inclinations that you struggle with.  Every one of us is plagued by a different set of temptations.  Things that appeal to you may have no appeal for me, and vice versa.  If you than shrug your shoulders and say, “Oh, well, this is just who I am.  God will forgive me anyway, so I will not fight against sin and temptation”, This means you have no interest in denying yourself or in casting away your sins.  But God has not saved you so you can still dabble in the sins you find attractive.  These are the thoughts of men which lead to death.  But you have been transformed by the thoughts of God who calls you to flee from your sins.  He teaches you that defiance of his word is never good or harmless.  He calls you to put those desires to death.  This may be especially hard for you.  Daily, you may find yourself in a battle to resist temptation.  Just as Jesus did when he was facing his cross, you will have to call on God to strengthen you as you bear your cross.  And God is merciful.  He does not leave you to face sin and temptation alone.  He summons you to pray, and then he gives you a promise: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15)  And if you still fall, he extends another promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) 

     There is no salvation without the cross.  The cross was designed for killing things, and the sinful nature cannot be tamed; it must be killed.  Our sinful desires must be put to death in us so that they will not claim us and control us.   And that is why you pick up your cross.  You have been set free from your sins; do not welcome them back.  You have been saved from sin's curse; do not return to it.  Rather, follow Jesus.  We devote ourselves to his word for comfort, guidance, and hope.  We consume his body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.  We follow not just his words, but also his ways; and his way is the way of a cross.  Then, after the cross, everlasting glory.  These are the things of God.  And there alone do we find salvation.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.