Sermon -- 3rd Sunday of Advent (December 16, 2018)

LUKE 3:7-18

REPENTANCE RECOGNIZES 

WHAT IS RIGHT.

In the name + of Jesus.

     A little while back, there was a sign outside a local business which said, “It is more important to be kind than to be right.”  While I am in favor of people being kind, I whole-heartedly disagree with that sentiment.  “It is more important to be kind than to be right”?  I sure hope my surgeon does not have that attitude, or my accountant, or my attorney, or even the person who cooks my food. 
     One person who did not share that sentiment was John the Baptist.  John was completely focused on one thing—that you would recognize your need for a Savior.  You can argue that John was not kind with his words, but you must understand that John was more concerned about your salvation than he was about your friendship. 
     John declared, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3:16-17)  In other words, if you think the warning is harsh, wait until you face the judgment.  The Lord is very serious about his word.  Those who do not take it seriously will burn with unquenchable hell-fire.  Therefore, John says: “Repent!”
     Repentance recognizes what is right.  In some ways, repentance is very practical.  In general, John noted that the right thing to do is doing what is kind.  “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (Luke 3:11)  Your fellow man may not always have need for your possessions, but he will always need your patience, kindness, and compassion.  You and I are absorbed by our own challenges, stress, deadlines, or problems, and we are unaware that our fellow man is grieving over a divorce, a suicide, or a lost job.  We only know that he is in our way, and we despise him for it.  You cannot credit yourself for being a good person when you are dismissive of others.  Repentance recognizes what is right.  Repent.
     John the Baptist also noted that repentance demonstrates itself very specifically in one's vocation.  Tax collectors ... said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”  And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”  Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?”  And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:12-14)  We are disgusted by business magnates and politicians who make deals which enrich each other at the expense of regular people.  But regular people also scheme and lie to gain a few bucks were we can—fudging on a time card to get a few more dollars on a paycheck or figuring out how to get a free dessert out of a restaurant.  You cannot credit yourself for being a good person when you defraud others.  Repentance recognizes what is right.  Repent.
     Perhaps it is not nice to say things so bluntly.  But if being kind is important, being right matters even more.  No one enters eternal life because they are nice.  Only those who are righteous in God's sight and obedient to God's word may enter eternal life.  And even if you commit yourself to cleaning up your life and doing better, the very fact that you have improvements to make shows you are guilty.  We all are.  John the Baptist may not be kind in saying so, but he does have us all dead to rights.  And you would be right to listen to him; for, repentance recognizes what is right. 
     If John has your attention, then you pay close attention to the one John declares is your only hope—Jesus Christ.  While it is true that he comes to judge, it is also true that he came to save.  Jesus' kindness is not revealed in giving you a free pass for your sins.  If that were true, you could ignore every call to repent, figuring that if Jesus gave a free pass to previous sins, he will also give a free pass to the next ones.  Jesus knows what is right.  He knows that we are not.  And he enforces the Commandments against anyone who does not live according to them.
     The kindness of our God is revealed in this—that Jesus delivers you out of your sin and guilt.  Jesus, who did all things right, was put to death for every one of your wrongs.  Your way into eternal life was paid for with innocent blood.  The very God whom you have disobeyed so desired to have you in his everlasting kingdom that he became a man to take the curse in your place and to die a wretched death for you.  It was right for God to condemn Jesus because he bore your sins.  And it was the ultimate kindness, for he did not owe it to you.  Rather, he did it to save you.  In Christ, God is proved both right and kind.
     By baptism, you are washed clean of all your sin, covered in the righteousness of Jesus, and given a new heart which is eager to do the good God desires of you.  It is this kindness of God which makes you right and holy and pleasing in his sight.  This is what saves you.  And this is what we celebrate every Christmas, every Sunday, and every day.  The Lord Jesus has come to comfort all who are grieved by their sins with full and free forgiveness.  For, he does not want to judge you worthy of hell-fire, but covered in his righteousness.
     This is not only kind, but it is even right—for Jesus has taken away your sins.  Repentance recognizes what is right and strives for it.  But repentance also recognizes the kindness of Jesus who has mercy on sinners and saves them.  And even John the Baptist rejoices with you in that.

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