Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, August 11, 2024.
Showing posts with label 12th Sunday after Pentecost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 12th Sunday after Pentecost. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Sermon -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost
%20(Mk%206.45-56).tif)
GOD THE SON JOINS US IN OUR FEARS AND STRUGGLES.
In the name + of Jesus.
St. Mark’s Gospel shows us what is typical
for Jesus’ miracles. “Wherever he
came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the
marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his
garment. And as many as touched it
were made well” (Mark 6:56). The
miracles were acts of mercy—restoring sight to the blind and hearing to the
deaf. Jesus made the lame walk and cleansed
those who were possessed by demons. These
miraculous healings give us a glimpse of the heavenly kingdom in which there
will be no blind, deaf, lame, sick, or demon-possessed. Jesus often commanded those who were healed
not to talk about it. That’s because he
acted in mercy, not for show or acclaim.
That’s
what makes the miracle of Jesus walking on water so strange. What was the point? If it was to be for show, it would have been
done in broad daylight in front of a crowd.
If it was for acclaim, the response would have been cheers and applause,
not screams of terror. As far as an act
of mercy? Mercy for whom? Whose life was relieved of its burden because
of this event? Well, maybe there is
something to consider there.
Our Gospel
begins, “Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and
go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he
went up on the mountain to pray” (Mark 6:45-46). The crowd which was dismissed was the crowd
of 5,000 (not including women and children) who were fed with the loaves and fish. You could make the case that this miracle was
unnecessary. If the crowd had to skip one
meal, they would have survived. In
mercy, Jesus fed them anyway. It was not
for show, but it was received as a pretty good show all the same. I imagine that even Jesus’ disciples, each
holding a basket of surplus loaves and fish, said to each other, “That was
pretty cool!”
After the
leftovers had been collected, Jesus ordered his disciples back into the
boat. He did not go with them. He bid farewell to the crowd and dismissed
them in an orderly fashion. Then he went
up to the mountain top to pray to his heavenly Father.
Jesus’
prayer is usually overlooked. We take
for granted that Jesus prayed often.
True enough, but note the time Jesus dedicated to pouring out his
concerns and offering up intercessions to his heavenly Father. The crowds were dismissed in the evening, probably
before the sun went down about 6:00 PM. And
when did Jesus meet his disciples? St.
Mark wrote, “about the fourth watch of the night” (Mark 6:48). The Romans divided the night into four
watches of three hours each. The last
watch of the night, the fourth one, would have been from 3:00 – 6:00 AM. That means Jesus was engaged in prayer for
perhaps eight hours! He had a lot to
pray about—his mission to be our sacrifice for sins, for his disciples, for the
crowd, for his enemies, for all the people of Israel, for all the people of the
world, and more.
I don’t know if any of us has the stamina
to devote eight hours to Bible study, meditation, and prayer. Most Christians do not devote even eight
minutes to prayer! There is a lot that
you can pray for in just a few minutes, and we all have a lot to pray for. What are your concerns and fears? What temptations do you fight against? Who seems to fight against you? What about your loved ones? What burdens are they carrying? What blessings can you give thanks for? What about our leaders? Rather than treat them with scorn, how about
praying that God would grant them wisdom and direct them to act according to
his will? If you really cannot think of
anything to pray about, which is impossible, get a membership list and pray for
each member of our congregation. That
will be time well spent.
After hours in prayer, Jesus returned from
the mountain and headed out to the lake.
Jesus walked on the water to meet them.
In fact, he was giving the impression that he was about to pass them
by. But again, we ask, “Why? What was the point of this miracle?” It seems the disciples’ reaction gives us the
answer. When they saw Jesus, none of
them was pointing to him and saying, “Wow!
That is so cool!” Rather, “when
they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for
they all saw him and were terrified” (Mark 6:49-50).
The sea
has always produced hair-raising stories among sailors. Many have stories of strange sights and
unexplained occurrences. The seasoned
fishermen among the apostles probably had their own stories to tell. And here, out in the waters of Galilee, they
saw a figure walking out to them. They
saw the figure, but the grey of dawn did not allow them to recognize who it was. But since this figure was coming right at
them, they cried out in terror.
“But
immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not
be afraid.’ And he got into the boat
with them, and the wind ceased” (Mark 6:50-51). Jesus showed his disciples that he is more
than a prophet who can do cool things.
He proved that he is none other than God in the flesh. For, who else can circumvent the laws of nature
because he has control over them? Rather
than confess, “This is cool!”, the disciples were given reason to confess,
“This is God!” Even Jesus’ greeting said
as much. The phrase, “It is I”, is
literally in the Greek, “I am.” While
“It is I” is an acceptable translation, Jesus identified himself correctly with
“I AM.” He spoke the name of the Lord
because he IS the Lord who came to them.
God the Son joined them in their fears and struggles.
“Take
heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50). Even though they were face to face with God,
they did not need to be terrified before him.
He spoke words of comfort, and then—THEN!—he joined them in the
boat. He settled in among them and made
himself one with them. He did not pass
them by because they did not understand about the loaves. He did not avoid them because they were slow
to confess that he is God. Instead, God
the Son joined them in their fears and struggles.
Jesus has
done as much and more for you. That is
not to say if you place a “Mayday!” call at sea that Jesus will suddenly walk
out to you. That is not to say that
Jesus will relieve you of every fear or struggle you have. In fact, Jesus might deem it good for you to bear
up under your struggles or to pray and battle over your fears. It might be good for you to have reasons to
call upon the Lord for strength and hope.
You won’t think it is good because you still have fears and
struggles. But God the Son joins you in your
fears and struggles. He does not ignore
you or pass you by. He does not despise
you because you are weak or even because you fail. He assures you, “Take heart; it is I.
Do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50).
God the
Son has especially joined himself to you in becoming a human being, just as you
are. This is how he gets into the boat
with us. He takes on our flesh,
submitting himself to a world of mockery, jealousy, fickleness, and
betrayal—and that was from his own family and friends! Then there were his enemies—slandering him
when he healed the sick, trying to entrap him with no-win questions, and
pouring on scorn as his blood-soaked body endured the agony of
crucifixion. Jesus saw family and
friends die. He saw his countrymen
oppressed by Roman soldiers. God the Son
knows what a sinful world we live in because he joined us in our fears and struggles. He got in the boat with us.
More importantly, God the Son became the
Son of Man to redeem us from our own sins.
He does not despise us because we are slow to understand, are afraid, or
have struggles. Rather than pass us by
because of our sins, he comes to deliver us from them. Jesus took up the cross for all the times we
found fault with God that he does not take away our struggles and make life
easier. Jesus endured crucifixion for
our fear of losing earthly blessings more than we fear, love, and trust in
God. Jesus stood under the curse of his
heavenly Father, taking into himself all the punishment for our sins. And upon rising from the dead, Jesus declared
peace and forgiveness to his disciples.
He declares peace and forgiveness to you. He says, “Take heart; it is I. Do
not be afraid” (Mark 6:50). He does
not come to strike fear, but to join us in our fears and struggles.
God the
Son joins us in our fears and struggles, and he assures us that there is really
nothing to be afraid of. If he is with
us, he brings salvation to us. If he is
with us, he shows us a loving Father who desires us to be with him as his own
beloved children. We ought to fear God
above everything because justice means that he should damn us, but Jesus has
taken away our sins. He has removed
God’s wrath. He has proved that God is
on your side. God the Son joins us in
our fears and struggles. He joins us as
our flesh-and-blood brother. And since
he has joined himself to us, he assures us that we will join him in death, in
resurrection, and in heavenly glory. No
struggles you face can erase that promise.
No fears you have can overrule God’s gracious decree.
God the Son
joins us in our fears and struggles. He joins
himself to you in a visible, smellable, tangible, and tastable way in the Eucharist. He who delivers you from sin and death, who alleviates
fears, and who gives you strength to endure your struggles gives himself to
you. His body and blood are given to you
to enable you to endure this wicked world, to give you the promise of divine
peace, and to sustain you with the hope of heaven. He says, “Take heart; it is I. Do
not be afraid” (Mark 6:50). “I am with
you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Once you and I enter the heavenly kingdom,
we will enjoy all the bountiful blessings of Jesus. He will put an end to all fears. For, there will be nothing to threaten you. He will put an end to all struggles. Jesus will provide eternal healing. As Jesus’ miracles prefigured, in the
heavenly kingdom, there are no blind or deaf or lame. There will be no mental anguish or emotional
stress. And in the heavenly kingdom,
there will be no end to God’s goodness.
God the Son has joined us in the
boat. He came to be with us, and he will
bring us to be with him. God the Son has
joined us in our fears and struggles, and he will bring us through them into
endless peace.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Sermon -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost (August 20, 2023)
.tif)
JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE NATIONS.
In the name + of Jesus.
If you had been at the temple with Jesus,
you would have marveled with the apostles, “What
wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings” (Mark 13:1)! You could
have walked among the columns of Solomon’s colonnade and seen the hustle and
bustle in the temple courts. You would
have seen people praying and others bringing animals for sacrifice. Maybe you would have seen the high priest
vested in his high priestly garb walking toward the altar. If you had followed him, you would have encountered
a fence with a sign. It was written in Latin,
the language of the Roman Empire, and in Greek, the international language of
commerce. Anyone who could read would understand
it. It read, “No stranger is to enter
within the balustrade round the temple and enclosure. Whoever is caught will be himself responsible
for his ensuing death” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Warning_inscription).
The Lord had made a distinction between
the people of Israel and all other nations.
The people of Israel were God’s chosen people—chosen to be the nation
through whom the Messiah would enter the world.
The Law of Moses enforced this distinction. It directed the people of Israel about the foods
they ate, the clothing they wore, and the worship they practiced. This was done to protect and preserve the
promise of the Messiah.
This is the culture that the apostles grew
up in. They accepted it not only as
normal, but also as God’s will. When a
Canaanite woman pleaded for mercy from Jesus and Jesus replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel … It is not right to take the children's bread
and throw it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:24,26), it did not sound harsh or rude to the apostles, but
sensible.
There is always a temptation to think that the Christian Church is reserved
for a select few and—worse!—that it is up to us to select them. We might be afraid to speak to a Muslim or an
immigrant from Syria. We might avoid someone
whose past is checkered or who is presently addicted. We might conclude that some people are lost
causes, such as an idol worshipper, a murderer, or a persecutor of the Church. But if such people are beyond salvation, then
we must renounce Abraham, Moses, and St. Paul.
All are sinners; there is no doubt about that. But beware lest you think, “Sure, all are
sinners, but I am not that bad.” What
is that but to confess, “I don’t need God’s grace like others do”? Repent.
God forgive us if we ever toy with such thoughts! All need the grace of God, and no one is
beyond God’s grace.
The Jewish believers in the early Church did not think the Gentiles
would ever be God’s chosen people like they were. They believed that there would always be a
distinction and that the Gentiles would be second class. But that has never been the case according to
our Lord. The Lord protected and
preserved the promise of the Messiah by setting
Israel apart from other nations, but the Messiah would come for all the
nations. Jesus is the Savior of the
nations.
The promise of the Savior goes back to the Garden of Eden. As soon as a Savior was needed, the Savior
was promised for all. It was never
restricted to a certain group. When the
world population was reduced to Noah and his family, the promise was repeated. And again, it was given to the world. Even when God funneled the promise through
Abraham and his descendants, it was not limited to Abraham and his
descendants. The prophet Isaiah demonstrated
that in the words of our lesson today: “The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name
of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath
and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—these I will bring
to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their
burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my
house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:6-7). Jesus is the Savior
of the nations.
The
Gospel is good news of great joy which is for all the people. In the same way, the Law is God’s will for
all the people. It declares the good
that God demands of all people. Isaiah
declared, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Keep justice, and do righteousness’” (Isaiah 56:1). No one disagrees that we
should keep justice. When there is injustice,
people rant, protest, and even riot. But
we regularly distort what justice is.
Think back to
when you were a child and your parents scooped out the ice cream. If someone got an extra scoop, you would cry
out for justice. You would protest, “That’s
not fair,” and demand your extra scoop.
If, however, you got the extra scoop, you be smug and maybe even gloat, “I
got more than you did!” And you would
have called it fair. I wish I could say
that we outgrow this, but we don’t. If
you see someone else get a perk or enjoy some special event, you feel ripped
off. Although you lost nothing, you are upset
that someone else gained something. You
want what they have make things fair. On
the other hand, if someone suffers, you don’t feel too bad because you did not
lose anything. We don’t keep justice.
In addition, we do
not do righteousness. We treat other
people badly and insist, “They deserve it!”
But doing righteousness does not ask about what people deserve, it seeks
to be honest, kind, decent, patient, and even generous no matter how others
treat you. But we aren’t. We seek to even scores. We prove that we are no better than anyone
else. No one is righteous. No one is superior. No one wins God’s favor because of behavior, background,
status, or ethnicity. As St. Paul reminds
us, “There is no distinction: for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-23).
This is why all people need a Savior, and Jesus
is the Savior of the nations. He has
come for the benefit of all. Jesus has kept
justice and done righteousness. Jesus
did not show favoritism in how he treated others. Jesus was gracious to synagogue leaders and
prostitutes. Jesus had mercy on
Samaritans and Romans as well as Jews.
Even that Canaanite woman who pleaded for mercy found it. Jesus tested her to coax a confession of
faith out of her. She held Jesus to his
promises, knowing that he is merciful.
And Jesus was and granted healing to her daughter.
Jesus also kept justice. Justice is that the guilty pay the price for
their guilt. So, Jesus took upon himself
the guilt of us all. He bore the sins of
the whole world, leaving no one out. For,
Jesus is the Savior of all people of all nations. Isaiah foretold, “Soon my
salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed” (Isaiah 56:1). The good news of
great joy which is for all people is that salvation is revealed in Jesus. Jesus is the Savior of the nations.
Only Jesus can satisfy the demands of God’s
justice. As true man, Jesus was
obligated to keep the Law of God. As
true man, Jesus was able to die for breaking God’s Law. Jesus did both—keeping the Law for us and
dying under God’s Law for us. As true
God, Jesus did both behalf of the whole world.
Bearing the guilt of all, Jesus bore the punishment of the guilty. Jesus suffered the curse of God for sins of feeling
superior to others, for sins of excluding others, and for sins of treating
others with contempt. Jesus endured the
curse of God for the sins of all people.
Therefore, the curse has been lifted from you. In exchange, Jesus’ righteousness has been
put upon you. There is no other salvation. There is no other source of forgiveness. There is no hope except through Jesus. Jesus is the Savior of the nations.
Since Jesus has saved you completely,
there are no second-class Christians. There
is no such thing as a better or a worse Christian. If we think this way, we are basing our
thoughts on people’s behavior, or perhaps on how long someone has been a Christian. But salvation is not determined by behavior
or tenure any more than it is determined by ethnicity or culture. Salvation is based on Jesus. His righteousness covers you. That means you are blameless before the Father
in heaven. Isaiah foretold, “Soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed” (Isaiah
56:1).
That has been completed by Jesus.
He is the Savior of the nations.
Jesus has also converted your minds and
hearts to love God’s word. You not only
love the good news of great joy which delivers forgiveness and salvation, you
also love the Law of God which shows you what is good. And you love God’s Law not only in theory (“Wouldn’t
it be great if everyone lived this way?”), but also in practice (“Holy Spirit,
give me strength to live this way every day”).
Therefore, you are the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. You have been joined to the Lord as his
chosen people. You minister to the Lord,
and you are his servants. For, in
everything you do, you bear his name and strive to give him glory. You love the name of the Lord and declare his
goodness. You keep his Sabbath by resting
from our labors and gathering in God’s house so that God may serve you. You receive his blessing, his mercy, his
encouragement, and his peace.
This is good news of great joy which is
still for all the people. It is not limited
to us; therefore, we want to be sure that this word is not limited by us. We declare God’s good news to as many as we
can. Jesus is the Savior of the nations,
and there are many nations who have settled in among us. Jesus is eager to have mercy upon all—black,
Hispanic, Indian, Japanese, and even white people. Nobody rejects God’s word because they have a
different skin tone, come from a different culture, or have a different accent. If people reject God’s word, it is because they
are ensnared in sin. The only way people
are set free from sin and death is through Jesus. And the only way people will know about Jesus
and his deliverance is if they are told. Isaiah said, “Soon my
salvation will come (and it comes only through Jesus), and my righteousness be revealed” (Isaiah 56:1) (and it
is revealed only by God’s word).
Isaiah had declared God’s plan: “The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord … these I will bring to my holy mountain” (Isaiah 56:6,7). God brings people into his kingdom. We don’t know whom God will bring in. We only know that God’s word is the only way people are brought in. The word which sustains our faith is the same word which will instill faith into the hearts of many. Therefore, we will make known the good news of great joy because it is for all the people: Jesus is the Savior of the nations, and he desires all to be saved.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, August 28, 2022
Sermon -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost (August 28, 2022)
From the Pen of St. Paul
In the name + of Jesus.
St. Paul reminds you of your status as one
who has been baptized. He wrote to the Galatians,
“as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). You are clothed
with Christ which means that Jesus’ innocence covers your guilt. Jesus’ blood and righteousness are your
beauty, your glorious dress. When God
the Father sees you, he sees Christ.
Therefore, God’s favor rests upon you.
But your baptism is
more than just a change in your status. We
sing along with King David in Psalm 51: “Create in me
a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”
(Psalm 51:10).
Baptism produces a clean heart which is focused on what is pure. It creates a right spirit which is devoted to
righteousness. Baptism clothes us with Christ and works a change in our minds,
hearts, words, and actions. We want to
be like Jesus because his righteousness covers us, and his name is upon us.
St. Paul wrote to the Colossians about the old sinful nature being taken
off like a ratty, filthy garment and about the new man being put on who is being
restored to the image of God. The metaphor
of putting on a new garment continues in our reading. “Put on then, as God's chosen
ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). St. Paul tells
us to put these characteristics on because they are not inherent in us. But now we are a new creation in Christ; this
is what we were created to be, and what we are restored to be.
There is a
bumper sticker which says, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” We would agree with that. But the fact that people have to be told to
be kind betrays the fact that many people are not. Restaurants and shops are posting notes to
remind customers that they are short-staffed and ask them not to get angry at
the people who did show up for work. The
fact that such notes are necessary tells you what kind of behavior they are
experiencing. People are demanding, rude,
and arrogant. They cut people with sharp
tongues and pour bitter words into the wounds they have made.
That’s not to say we are above it. We are impatient when we have to wait for attention. We become unkind when our schedule gets interrupted. We are short on compassion: “My problems matter;
yours don’t bother me at all.” It is a daily
battle against our sinful nature. Therefore,
put off these sinful traits like a ratty garment and dress yourself with godliness. This goes way beyond, “Be kind.”
St. Paul says, “If one has a complaint
against another, [forgive] each other; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:13). Our natural reaction when people sin against
us is to retaliate. We favor vengeance over
mercy. And you might argue, “They don’t
deserve my forgiveness.” That is
true. We judge rightly when we recognize
that sin is wrong. We should not tell
anyone who sins against us, “It’s okay,” because it is not. Sin is never okay. Mercy is never deserved. Forgiveness, by its definition, is not deserved;
it is graciously given. We are clothed with
Christ; therefore, we also act like Christ who has freely forgiven us.
Our Lord
did not choose to save sinners because we have earned or deserved it. He did it because he loves us. He loves all mankind. He does not want anyone to perish. God the Father sent his Son to deliver us
from fiery punishment because he loves us.
The Son came willingly because he loves us. Jesus lived in meekness and humility among people
who flaunted superiority over others. He
had compassion for people who did not show mercy to anyone. Then Jesus accepted every charge of guilt despite
his perfect innocence. All this because
Jesus came for all to redeem all.
So, Jesus
went to the cross for all people—for those who loved him and for those who hated
him; for those who spoke well of him and for those who slandered him; for those
who were eager to listen to him and for those who wanted him to shut up. Jesus’ love for mankind is not determined by how
well mankind behaves or responds to him.
Out of his steadfast love for all, Jesus died to deliver all out of the
curse of sin and the sentence to hell.
Jesus made the sacrifice which pays for the sins of the world, even
though many in the world still do not care and, sadly, will not benefit. But the Lord has made you wise for
salvation. By faith that trusts in
Christ alone, you are cleansed of sin and arrayed in a robe of righteousness. You are clothed with Christ.
So now, continue
to shed whatever filth tries to stain you and put on the godly qualities which the
Lord has always intended you to have. “And
above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony” (Colossians 3:14). Love is not
an emotion; it is the policy. It is committing
yourself to doing what is good for others.
As it was with Jesus, so it is with us: We will do good no matter what. If people do not notice, do not care, or do
not like it, we will do good. When it is
hard, costly, or when we just don’t feel like it, we will do good. Just as Jesus’ behavior was based on his love
and not on people’s response, so it is with us.
We are clothed with Christ, and we strive to act like little Christs to
the world.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “The most important (commandment) is, ‘Hear, O
Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second
is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater
than these” (Mark 12:29-31). Our Lord not only gives us the commandment,
he also gives us the neighbors whom we are to love.
St. Paul instructs us to serve in our various vocations—wives and husbands,
children and parents, bondservants and masters (we would update this to be “employees”
and “employers”). In these and in all
other vocations, we get to exercise “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility,
meekness, patience” (Colossians 3:12), forgiveness, and love. To be kind, there must be someone to show
kindness to. To be patient, there must
be someone to be patient with. To have a
compassionate heart, there must be someone to show compassion toward. So, we put down our cell phones and look
others in the eye to listen to their concerns.
We put our task on pause to give our full attention to the request of
others and show consideration. We acknowledge
that our problems are not the only problems, and we help others to bear the
burden of theirs. In all our interactions
with other people, whether they are noble or wicked, we are clothed with Christ. The way we treat others reflects the way
Jesus Christ has treated us.
Now to be sure, some people make it hard
to do this. As Major Frank Burns once said,
“It’s nice to be nice to the nice.” But
it is hard to be kind to those who are rude.
It is hard to show patience to the one who keeps messing up. It is hard to remain humble when you listen
to the one who brags about how great he is.
And it is hard to have compassion for people who do not seem to have
compassion for anyone else. Perhaps you
heard about the story of the restaurant in northern Michigan which closed because
of the customers who were so demanding and demeaning to the staff who was
working there. When the owner of the
restaurant witnessed how badly her employees were being abused by the customers,
she decided that no profit was worth what they had to put up with. She evicted the customers and closed her doors. And who could blame her?
So,
what would motivate you to keep putting on “compassionate
hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience” (Colossians 3:12),
forgiveness, and love? St. Paul answers
the question for you: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God”
(Colossians 3:15-16).
It is the Lord
Jesus who fills you with his peace. He
continues to be faithful to you. He does
not cast you off because you had your own moments when you were impatient,
rude, and condescending. He forgives all
your sins because he has paid for them.
It is the Lord Jesus who works in you a clean heart and right spirit so
that you love what is good and desire to do it, even for people who are not
good. For, the love of Christ which dwells
in us is based on his undying love for us.
Love gives. Love seeks what is good
for others, regardless of what other people do.
We are clothed
with Christ. We all are. Therefore, we all encourage one another to
continue in purity of mind and spirit. We admonish one another so that we will not
embrace sinful desires for pride, revenge, or superiority. Rather, we encourage one another with the
word of Christ, with songs that teach the faith, and with prayers. Of course, to do that, we have to be together. We are here for the good of each other, and
we are here so that our Lord will continue to preserve us in the faith and
prepare us for acts of kindness, patience, compassion, forgiveness, and love.
We are clothed
with Christ. We are perpetually clothed
with Christ. There is never a time when
you are not a Christian. That means
there is never a time when you are excused from doing good or allowed to
embrace wickedness. If we are clothed
with Christ, then we always seek to have the mind and the heart of Christ. Likewise, there is also never a moment when the
blood of Jesus Christ fails to purify you of all sins. There is never a moment when the Holy Spirit
abandons you. There is never a moment
when God the Father hesitates to call you his “chosen ones, holy and beloved”
(Colossians 3:12). Whether you are with
your family or your colleagues at work, whether you are traveling or at home,
whether you are among friends or strangers, whether you live or die—you are clothed
with Christ.
Therefore, “Whatever
you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians
3:17). Whatever you do, whatever you
say, however you act, wherever you go, do everything in the name of the Lord—because
you always bear his name. He is pleased
to call you his chosen, holy, and beloved.
You rejoice to call him your Savior.
We are clothed with Christ. This holy garment marks us as the Lord’s now and forever. And so, let us join in our hymns to encourage one another with this promise and confession: Jesus, your blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress. With these before my God I’ll stand when I shall reach the heavenly land.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Sermon -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost (September 1, 2019)
GENESIS 15:1-6
FAITH TAKES GOD AT HIS WORD.
In the name + of Jesus.
The letter to the Hebrews defines faith this way: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) This description of faith leads people to conclude that Christians are delusional people, as if we believe in made up things. Archie Bunker once described faith this way: “Faith is believing something so ridiculous that no one in his right mind would believe it's true!” (Quotation found in “Taking Truth Next Door,” by David Faust, p 140) But faith is not merely wishful thinking.
Ironically, people do often find solace in wishful thinking. When someone is going through hard times, you might hear someone say, “Don't fret. Things will get better.” But how do you know things will get better? On what do you base this assertion? It is a nice idea, but these sentiments are wishful thinking. The Christian faith is not wishful thinking. We have an assurance of things hoped for because God promises them. These promises were backed by Jesus. Jesus declared the Scriptures to be the very word of God. The sign he gave to claim his authority was that he would be crucified and then rise from the dead on the third day. He did exactly that. This is no fairy tale or myth. It is a historical fact verified by the preaching, ink, and blood of the apostles. Jesus gives us a promise which gives us our hope. His death and resurrection make us sure of these things. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Faith takes God at his word.
Our Old Testament lesson focuses on the faith of Abraham. It says: “(Abraham) believed the LORD.” (Genesis 15:6) A little background helps us to understand why this is remarkable. When Abraham was 75 years old and his wife Sarah was 65, God called Abraham to leave his home and his homeland and to go to a land God would show him. Abraham took God at his word. Abraham headed out in a direction, but did not know his destination. A few years later, Abraham settled in Canaan.
God spoke to Abraham again and swore that he would give to Abraham and his offspring the land of Canaan as his possession. Abraham had no offspring. He lived in tents, not in a city. There was no evidence that Abraham would become a nation or possess all the land. Still, Abraham took God at his word.
Abraham had a nephew, Lot, who had moved to Sodom. Lot was taken captive with the citizens of Sodom, Gomorrah, and other towns. Abraham rescued all the people from their captors. When the King of Sodom gave Abraham permission to keep the booty he had rightfully won, Abraham refused. He stated, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” (Genesis 14:22-23) Abraham denied riches that were rightfully his, and he lived in the open fields without protection against future invaders. It looked and felt like a hard life. Nevertheless, Abraham believed the LORD. (Genesis 15:6) Faith takes God at his word, even when the evidence says we should not.
God appeared to Abraham again, right after the rescue of Lot and the meeting with the King of Sodom. After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” (Genesis 15:1) God told Abraham not to worry about threats from enemies or lack of wealth from kings. God would be his shield. He would defend Abraham and protect his life. For God had promised Abraham that he and his descendants would possess the land of Canaan. More than that, God had promised to bring the Savior through Abraham's son. God would defend and protect that promise. Abraham could trust that, and he did. In addition, the wealth of kings and kingdoms did not matter. Kings die. Kingdoms rise and fall. But the Lord would be Abraham's reward. He establishes a kingdom that endures forever. Abraham believed the LORD. It did not matter if the evidence suggested differently. Faith takes God at his word.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for.... (Hebrews 11:1) We may hope that God will do a lot of different things for us. Certainly we can pray for all of them. But in order to have assurance of what we hope for, God actually has to promise it. Sadly, many Christians have abandoned the Christian faith. They claim that God failed them. They were convinced that God would do what they hoped for—that he would resolve problems, that he would cure diseases, that he would eliminate debt, and that he would deliver a loved one from death. And when it did not happen, they concluded that the Christian faith is a disappointing lie. The problem is not that God failed on his promises; the problem is that people hold God to promises he did not make. We have no assurance that God will do something he has not promised to do. Our wishes are not the same as God's word, no matter how badly we want our wishes to come true.
In order for us to be assured of the things hoped for, we need to know the things that are promised. Abraham had a very specific promise from God. (The LORD) brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5) All the evidence told Abraham that this would not happen. Nevertheless, Abraham believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) Abraham believed the word of the Lord, because faith takes God at his word. Our faith is not based on what we see. Our assurance is not based on what we feel. Our hope is based on the words and promises of God. Faith takes God at his word.
Why? Because God has proved himself faithful. God loves you. Now, many will say that God loves us and even assume that God forgives our sins. But if you don't know why God does this, this is wishful thinking too. God does not overlook sins, which is what most people assume. Others assume that their sins aren't sins or that their sins are not serious. Again, that is wishful thinking. It is based on nothing.
To have hope, comfort, and peace, you have to be sure of what you hope for. And your assurance is this: God demonstrated his love in sending his Son, Jesus, to redeem sinners. Jesus does not overlook sins; he pays for them. Jesus came to make himself a sin offering for you. He told his disciples several times before the fact that he would go to Jerusalem, be put to death, and then rise from the dead on the third day. And he did exactly that. Jesus' sufferings and death are the payment for your sins. Jesus' resurrection is the proof that his payment is both complete and acceptable to God. Therefore, you are forgiven—not because you want to be. That is wishful thinking. That is faith based on nothing. You are forgiven because Jesus has taken away your sin, conquered death, and lives and reigns to guarantee your salvation. That is God's authoritative word, based in historic fact.
Faith takes God at his word. (Abraham) believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) By faith, Abraham was saved. That does not mean his life all of a sudden got easy. He still faced challenges, and the evidence of his life still gave him reason to wonder if God was really going to keep his word. But God's promises stood. And they stand for you, too. God's promises give you a hope you can be sure of. The Lord has eliminated the debt of your sin; you are forgiven. The Lord has overcome your enemies of sin, death, and the devil; they cannot harm you. The Lord will eventually bring you perfect healing of every ailment; there is no pain or sickness in heavenly glory. And you will finally be delivered from death; for we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting. Meanwhile, even with the hardships you face in this life, you have this promise: We know that for those who love God all things work together for good.... (Romans 8:28) It may not always be clear how things are for your good. What God has in mind may not match your idea of what “good” looks like. But God has made the promise. You can be sure of it; for faith takes God at his word.
These are not cross-your-fingers, make-a-wish dreams. This is the Christian hope—proclaimed by God, backed by a crucified and risen Savior, and sealed in your baptism. Faith takes God at his word, and holds him to it. Such faith saves you and accounts you as righteous before God. It is a hope you can be sure of, and whoever hopes in Jesus will never be put to shame.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Sermon -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost (August 12, 2018)
EPHESIANS 4:25 – 5:2
WE BUILD EACH OTHER UP, BY GRACE.
In the name + of Jesus.
These verses from Ephesians could be summed up rather simply. You can take them to mean, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39); or you could even take it one step higher and quote Jesus who said, “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34) Jesus wants the perfect, selfless love he has for us to be demonstrated among each other too. “For we are members of one another.” (Ephesians 4:25) We are to be reconciled to each other. We are to strive for each other's good. We are to build each other up, by grace.
If there is one phrase in here that sounds bizarre, it is this one: “Be angry and do not sin.” (Ephesians 4:26) The fact is that we are all sinners. Given enough time, we will prove it by sinning against one another. We each have our own agendas, and we get absorbed in them. As a result, we either belittle or ignore the needs and concerns of others. It puts a strain on relationships—colleagues, family, and fellow members of the church. And when you are sinned against, you will become angry.
Our Lord knows what it is to be angry. As much as we think of Jesus as a friend of sinners and as one who loved even the outcasts, he had more personality than a plush toy. Jesus grew angry. When the priests had allowed the temple to be turned into a stockyard, Jesus angrily drove out the money changers and sellers of animals. After frequent attempts to call the Pharisees to repent of their self-righteousness, Jesus finally devoted Matthew chapter 23 to stern judgment against them. Even Jesus' apostles did not escape his anger. When mothers were bringing their toddlers to Jesus, the disciples shooed them away, as if to say, “No, no. Jesus is too important to be bothered by them.” But Jesus became indignant with them. He rebuked his disciples and summoned the children to come to him. Jesus grew angry over sinful assumptions, stubborn pride, and selfish ambitions, but he did not sin in his anger. Zeal for God's house, God's truth, and God's mercy consumed him. Jesus' anger was directed at anyone who stood in the way of these things being given to others.
You and I, however, do not have such pure motives in our anger. When we we feel the sting of someone's sin against us, we are not motivated by love for the one who has sinned against us. We do not want reconciliation, but revenge. We tell others how we were wronged. Whether our story is accurate or enhanced, we enlist friends to despise the person who wronged us—thereby wronging that person. Rather than reconcile, we divide. Rather than build up, we destroy. Our anger usually turns to sin. It brings harm to others, and often to ourselves as well. And it gives the devil an opportunity to lead us into even greater sins. Repent.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27) St. Paul reminds us that sins which are left to fester will not go away or get better. They are like a tick on your leg. It is a problem that must be dealt with and removed, because once it burrows in, it does greater damage. Husbands and wives probably know this better than anyone. When they have a disagreement about something, they may try to pretend it does not matter. They ignore their issues and their feelings. But the anger and resentment build until they are having an all-out shouting match about where the toothpaste gets squeezed or which way the toilet paper should hang on the roll. Finally, neither can breathe right without the other finding fault. Their sins against God and each other continue to mount. And while they may want to be reconciled, they would much rather be right. It happens similarly in friendships and in congregations.
Holding on to grudges may make you feel superior, but grudges do not cure anything. Grudges keep the wound open. Worse, grudges destroy. They give an opportunity to the devil to seize us. They grieve the Holy Spirit. A sinful spirit and the Holy Spirit cannot dwell together in the same heart. If we allow our sins to fester, take root, and harden us, the Holy Spirit will finally have to depart—for it means that we love our anger and our sin more than we love our neighbor and more than the Lord who calls us to forgive, to seek the good of others, and to build each other up. Sin that is not dealt with destroys much more than friendships and marriages; it destroys faith. Repent.
Dear Christian friends, we are all sinners, but we are also all joined together into one body. Jesus did not join us to his body because we are justified in our anger. On the contrary, Jesus has every right to be angry with us for our sinful self-importance. Jesus could tear us down for exalting ourselves, and he would be right to do so. But rather than execute his righteous judgment, Jesus seeks our reconciliation. Rather then destroy us, Jesus seeks to build us up. Jesus came into this world with an agenda—to save sinners. Jesus made you his top priority. Jesus saved you from God's righteous anger. He humbled himself to exalt you. He was destroyed to save you. Jesus took the cup of God's wrath and consumed every last drop. Jesus prayed over the agony in Gethsemane, and was consumed by this agony at Golgotha. But even as Jesus suffered in innocence and was punished for sins he did not commit, he did not sin. He did not get angry that he had to endure this for you. He does not get angry that you now because you continue to need forgiveness from him. Jesus' love for you is constant. He does not hold a grudge, and he does not seek revenge. He forgives all your sins. He reconciles you to the Father. He seeks your highest good.
Jesus has brought you into his Church, which is his body. And he has joined you to others whom he has labored to save. To Jesus, these others are as precious as you are. For, they have been purchased by his innocent blood. And that innocent blood is given to each of us to strengthen and keep us in the body together. The cup which our Lord gives to us now is the cup of blessing, given for our good. By it, Jesus builds us up—in faith to him and in love for one another. For, it is by this grace that we are motivated to love each other, as St. Paul says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
We build each other up, by grace. For we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25) If part of your body was in pain, you would not want to dismember that part of your body. You would want to seek relief for the pain so that your body would be sound again. In the same way, you should not be willing to cut off those whom God has joined to you. If one has sinned against you, love will seek his good. You may put the best construction on his words and actions. For, you don't know if his thoughts are consumed with an ailing brother or with a lost job. If someone sins against you, they need your prayers more than your anger. On the other hand, love may require you to correct him. It is not loving to say, “Well, my neighbor has stolen from me. I suppose he needs it more than I do, so I will not bother him about this.” It is not love to let someone become hardened in his sin. Love demands that we seek each other's good. And that includes upholding God's word to him. It is not love to let your fellow member violate the Commandments and to stand by as if it does not matter. Love will seek to reconcile your neighbor to God and then to each other. The body of Christ is not built up by ignoring each other's sins, but by the Lord absolving us of what is wicked and directing us to what is good. The body is built up by the mercies and grace of Christ alone.
We build each other up, by grace. We uphold Jesus Christ to each other as the one who has saved us from our sin and from every emotion that comes from our sins. We uphold Christ by acting toward another as little christs. We seek each other's good with our words and actions. We put away falsehood for truth. We put off anger for compassion. We forsake revenge for reconciliation. And we empty ourselves for the building up of each other. In this way, you become imitators of God, as beloved children. (Ephesians 5:2) In this way, you honor your God, even as you reflect his love for one another.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Sermon -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost (August 27, 2017)
ROMANS 9:1-8
YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN
BY MEANS OF A
GRACIOUS PROMISE.
In the name + of Jesus.
Paul of Tarsus was an Israelite, a Jew. He could trace his lineage to the tribe of Benjamin. He had been chosen by God to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and was chosen to be an apostle to the Gentiles for Jesus Christ. Yet, he was grieved that his fellow Jews, by and large, were not disciples of Jesus Christ. Paul was bothered that anyone would perish outside of Christ, but he is understandably bothered all the more that his fellow countrymen would perish because they rejected Jesus. There is no other Savior. There is no other source of forgiveness. No one else delivers from death or opens the gates of heaven. So, if anyone does not believe in Jesus alone, he dies in his sin and his lost.
The Israelites boasted that they were the chosen people. The Jews today still boast that. But if anyone should boast that they are chosen, you should ask the question: chosen for what?
Prior to Abraham, God extended a promise to the world: A Savior would come. The promise did not tell anyone where the Savior would come from, when he would come, or how we could know him. But then God chose Abraham. God pinpointed the promise to one man and his offspring. The Savior would come through Abraham. That promise was repeated to Isaac, and then to Jacob whose name God changed to Israel. That is why the Old Testament devotes most of its attention to the nation of Israel. They were chosen by God from all the nations on the earth to be his own. They were chosen by means of a gracious promise.
St. Paul declares what Israel was chosen for. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. (Romans 9:4-5) They were chosen to be the people through whom the Savior would come into the world. For that reason, the Lord gave specific decrees to Israel. The law of Moses gave Israel a culture and customs which were distinct from all other nations to keep them separate so that God's promise would be preserved. The Lord instructed the Israelites how to worship him so that they would always know that salvation comes from innocent blood being shed on behalf of the guilty. God chose Israel by means of a gracious promise so that the salvation of the world would come through them and so that they themselves would benefit from God's gracious promise.
When someone is chosen, there is a tendecy to boast about it. If you are chosen first for the baseball team, you assume it is because you are better than all the others. This is now how God's choosing works. Israel was not chosen because of anything they did. God did not chose Israel because they were bigger or stronger, because they were better, or because they deserved it. They were chosen by means of a gracious promise.
The fact is, the Israelites proved repeatedly that they were sinners. When the Lord gave his Law at Mt. Sinai, God thundered from the dark cloud on the mountain, “You shall have no other gods.” (Exodus 20:3) The Israelites responded, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.” (Exodus 24:3) And yet, just over a month later, the Israelites made a golden calf to worship right under God's nose. The story repeats throughout the Old Testament. Israel was a sinful, stubborn, and rebellious people. Nevertheless, God was faithful to his gracious promise—not because they deserved it, but because God is gracious and desires the salvation of mankind. God sent the Savior he had promised.
That Savior is the Jewish man, Jesus of Nazareth. God's Son became a child of Abraham, an Israelite. Jesus himself came by a word of promise. The angel Gabriel spoke to Mary that she would conceive, and by that word, she did. You are not saved by mere flesh and blood, but by God in the flesh who spilled out his holy blood for you. Just as the Lord had directed Israel's worship, so it is with Jesus—his innocent blood was shed on behalf of the guilty. And God attaches a promise to the bloodly sacrifice of Jesus: Whoever believes and his baptized shall be saved. (Mark 16:16) Though God sent his Son through the nation of Israel, God sent his Son to be the Savor of all nations. You have been saved by a gracious promise.
Now, you have a great deal in common with the Old Testament Israelites. For you are now a chosen people. And again, we will consider the questions: chosen for what?
You have been chosen by God to receive his good gifts and to be saved. As it was with Israel, so it is with you. God did not choose you because you are smarter, richer, or better than anyone else. Like Old Testament Israel, we, too, prove that we are sinners. We have been contolled by our greed, our lusts, and our pride. We lie to others about ourselves and we lie about others to make ourselves look good. We know what God has declared in his word, and we don't care. We prefer our sins to holy obedience. Like Old Testament Israel, we are a sinful, stubborn, and rebellious people. We have no reason to boast. We have not earned God's favor, but his curse.
And yet, God chose you. God chose you because he is good and gracious. God chose you because he is a Redeemer and Savior, and it has pleased him to redeem you and save you. He gave up his life as the price for you. He has purchased and won you from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil. Through Jesus, yours is the adoption. You are children of God. Through Jesus, yours is the glory. You are heirs of heaven. Through Jesus, yours is the worship. Jesus comes to you through word and sacrament to bless, to comfort, and to save. Through Jesus, yours is the new covenant in his blood by which he feeds you and sustains your faith. Through Jesus, yours is the gracious promise which releases you of all guilt and gives you the resurrection to life everlasting. God has chosen to proclaim his proimse to you to bestow his blessings upon you and to save you. You are chosen by means of his gracious promise to be his people now and forever.
God chose to do all the work to save you. Jesus lived, suffered, died, and rose for you. God sent people to proclaim his promises to you—whether from a pulpit, at your family's dinner table, or at a Lutheran school. Through that preaching, the Holy Spirit planted faith in your heart to receive and to believe God's promises. Through that preaching, God continues to sustain you in the true faith. He does not do this because you were born in the right country, belong to the right family, or go to a WELS church. He does this not because you are better—or even good. He does this but because he is good and gracious. You are chosen by means of God's gracious promise.
Sadly, not all who have heard this message believe it or benefit from it. St. Paul was grieved that his fellow Jews had forsaken the precious gifts once given to them. “But,” St. Paul writes, “it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.'” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (Romans 9:6-8) Since God has not withheld his promise, he has not denied his grace. Sadly, many reject God's gifts because they do not hear or believe his word. They are sinners who insist on remaining in their sin and call God a liar. Be warned. There is no room for boasting in ourselves. Your place in God's kingdom is God's gracious work, not your birthright.
God has revealed these good and gracious promises to you. God has chosen you to be his own, and he longs to be your Savior forevermore. Once again—not because you are better or have the right heritage. You are chosen by God because he is good and gracious. You have been chosen to display God's glory and declare his praise. God's choosing of you is not a reason to boast, but it is certainly a reason to give thanks and to continue to hear God's promise. By means of this promise, God reveals his grace. By means of this promise alone, you are chosen for salvation.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Sermon -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost (August 7, 2016)
HEBREWS 11:1-3,8-16
FAITH SEEKS A BETTER HOMELAND.
In the name + of Jesus.
Faith always effects a person's life. Even if you believe in something that is untrue, it will effect what you say and do. I think last summer there was a story about a man whose faith in the Detroit Lions prompted him to get a tattoo which said: Detroit Lions, Super Bowl Champs, 2015. Give him credit for his optimism, but now he has a permanent reminder of his misguided belief. But his faith demonstrated itself in his actions.
As foolish as that Lions fan might be, his actions are harmless, all things considered. Other beliefs are not so harmless. Many are now believe that men should have the right to consider themselves women and that women should have the right to declare themselves to be men. Beliefs have consequences, such as men using women's locker rooms and public bathrooms. Because some believe that this is a matter of civil rights, they tell you that you have the problem if you still believe that a man is a man and should use facilities that were designed for men. But just as we would not humor a man who declared himself to be Jesus and insisted we treat him that way, so also it is neither loving nor healthy to pander to people who, for whatever reason, despise the sex they are and strive to “fix” it by mutilating their bodies. Such perverse beliefs result in perverse actions. Faith, even wrongly placed, will always effect what you say and do.
Faith always effects a person's life. What a person believes matters. The writer to the Hebrews states: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) In other words, Christian faith is convinced in the reality of things you have not seen yet. But Christian faith is not wishful thinking; it is based on the very words of God. Our conviction of good and evil is not based on shifting morals or opinions; it is based on God's unchanging word. The word of God, therefore, effects what we say and do. Our hope for heaven is not just because it sounds nice; it is because the Lord Jesus Christ has promised it. Though we have not seen it, we are convinced of it because we have God's word on it. Faith seeks a better homeland.
The patriarch Abraham made a journey across miles of rugged and dry terrain to go to a new homeland. He was not exiled, nor was he running away from debt or enemies. Abraham went because God told him to go. Because Abraham believed God's word, that effected what he did. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. (Hebrews 11:8-9)
God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would one day possess the land on which they lived. They took God at his word. They did not leave to find a better place to build a permanent settlement. They lived as strangers in a land which God said would someday be theirs. After decades of living as nomads, the only thing the patriarchs ever actually owned were the graves of their family members. Nevertheless, even though Abraham himself did not see the fulfillment of God's promises, Abraham believed God. Faith sought a better homeland.
Of course, the main promise that God made to Abraham was not for a plot of earth, but for a place in heaven. God promised that the Savior would come for Abraham through Abraham's family. That Savior would pay for all sins, conquer death, and bring eternal life to all who believed. God had declared that it would be so, and Abraham believed it. For that reason, Abraham sought the better homeland of heaven. Abraham know that even the grave he bought he would eventually not need. Abraham believed God. Faith in that promise effected how Abraham lived—not longing for this world but for the heavenly kingdom which he had been promised. Faith seeks a better homeland.
The same is true for you. Jesus Christ has forgiven all your sins, no matter how bad, how frequent, or how many. You are not forgiven sins because you think you should be. You do not have relief from your guilt or deliverance from the grave just because you want it. That is wishful thinking. Christian faith rests on what is certain, which is the word of God. The only way you can know that your guilt is removed is if God himself removes it. He has—through the sufferings and death of Jesus.
God points you to Jesus with the promise: “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. It was the will of the Lord to crush him; … his soul makes an offering for guilt.” (Isaiah 53:6,10) Faith takes God at his word when he applies that forgiveness to you personally. He says, “Repent and be baptized, all of you, for the forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 2:38) So, if you are baptized, then you are forgiven and saved. That is what baptism is for. You do not have to look inside yourself to determine if you are forgiven. God has done the work. God has made the promise. God has applied the blessing to you. And he continues to provide that salvation when we feast on the body and blood of Christ. Jesus summons us: “Take, eat and drink. This is for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Faith takes God at his word and finds the certainty of forgiveness, life, and salvation.
Because faith takes God at his word, faith also seeks a better homeland. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ...But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. (Hebrews 11:13-14,16) As a result, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not feel ripped off that they did not rule over their own country. They could gratefully receive the blessings God gave to them, and then bid farewell to the world when their time here was done. They knew that a better homeland awaited them, and they looked forward to it.
Faith seeks a better homeland. Faith takes God at his word, and that effects how we live. We believe that the best this world has to offer will never compare with the glories of heaven. We are not ingrates, however. We recognize the blessings that God gives us here, and we joyfully receive them for the time that God gives them to us. But we also know that every blessing in this life is just for this life. All are temporary. A good meal, as sumptuous as it may be, will only please your palate for a moment and satisfy your belly for a while. Friends may bring you happiness for a number of years. Family members are cherished for perhaps decades. But it will all come to an end. When we willingly let go of these blessings, it is not because we regarded them as useless or worthless. It is because we look forward to the permanent, glorious blessings God has promised to all who believe in him. Faith seeks a better homeland.
Like Abraham, we confess that we are strangers in this world. Our true homeland is in heaven. Faith seeks what is better. And if you are seeking and striving for what is better, you will be all the more willing to forsake whatever keeps you tethered to this world. Faith always effects a person's life and will shape everything you say and do. If you love this world, you will cling tightly to every widget and gizmo you get here. And then you will perish with it. But if faith seeks a better homeland, you will dedicate yourself to living like it. Faith leads you to forsake sin and flee from temptation because you believe that these lead to death. Faith compels you to hear God's word and to partake in the sacraments because you know that these bestow forgiveness, life, and salvation. Faith even makes you willing to part with earthly goods and glory because they do not save, and they can even ensnare you. Faith does not seek these; faith seeks a better homeland.
Faith seeks a better homeland. Since God does not lie, our faith is not misplaced. When our time on this world comes to an end, we will be grateful for whatever blessings we got to enjoy, but we will also gladly say “Good riddance” to this world. For, as we confess, we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come because rather than cling to this world, we crave the one to come. The Christian faith always effects our life now, because we are convinced of a life of heavenly glory later. Faith seeks a better homeland, and it will not be disappointed.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Sermon -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost (August 16, 2013)
HEBREWS 11:1-3,8-16
FAITH LOOKS FOR A BETTER HOME.
In the name + of Jesus.
The Christian faith allows you to be honest about this world and everything in it. We recognize that God has filled his creation with many blessings and with much beauty. People schedule their vacations to go to national parks to see the natural beauty of God's creation. Families go to the zoo to see the amazing variety of animals, birds, and fish. God gives us families and friends who bring happiness, stability, and comfort to our lives. For all of these, we give thanks to God.
But we are also honest enough to recognize that this world has its problems. Yes, there is natural beauty, but there are also natural disasters. Animals can be pretty, but they can also be pretty deadly. Families and friends are a great source of blessing, but they can also be a great source of strife. The world has its share of tragedies, heartaches, pains, and problems. We are not immune to these. We have endured hardship, sickness, and sorrow. Our Lord has rightly taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil.”
Therefore, faith looks for a better home. We long for a better life, one without problems and pain. One without sorrow and strife. In that way, we are no different from anyone else on the face of the earth. No one enjoys the diseases, disasters, and difficulties that we face. But, of course, just wanting a better home does not produce it. For millennia, people have worked hard to make this world a better place. And we are honest enough to recognize advances in that. Life expectancy, for example, is much longer than it once was. But it also means you have longer to expect pains and problems. Despite man's best efforts, disease, disaster, and disorder are just as common as they ever were. That's not doom and gloom; it is honest.
The reason there are so many problems in the world is because sin entered the world. When sin entered the world, all of creation was effected. The Lord said to Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you.... By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17-19) The pain, the toil, the sweat, the curse upon the earth, and death are all the consequences of sin. This is why you suffer as you do. Sin has corrupted everything—even our bodies and lives. That is why this world is not a perfect home. It is dying. It is marked for destruction. And so faith looks for a better home.
Now, faith is not grounded on wishful thinking. You can have faith that the Tigers are going to turn it around this year, but such faith is not based on anything but your love for the Tigers. Many of the things we hope for are only based on our desire to have them. They are pious wishes, perhaps even pie-in-the-sky wishes. You may be disappointed that you do not get what you wish for, but you are probably not surprised—especially if not one promised you anything.
The Christian faith, however, is not based on pie-in-the-sky wishes. The writer to the Hebrews says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Christian faith is based on the promises of God who does not lie. When God declares something, it is certain. When God created the world, he simply summoned things into being out of nothing. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3) And since the world we are standing on is very real and solid, so we know that every other word of God is real and solid. We have no reason to doubt anything God tells us.
And so it was for Abraham. God appeared to Abraham and told him to go to a land that he had never seen. Why would Abraham listen to that? Abraham knew that the world was created all on God's say-so. God said it, and so the world exists and continues. God had warned that he would send a flood to destroy the world. God had also told Noah to build and ark in which he and his family would be saved. God was true to his word. The flood destroyed the world, but Noah, his family, and all the animals with him did not perish in the flood. Therefore, Abraham knew that his faith in God's promises was not foolish or pie-in-the-sky. Faith is the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) God promised Abraham a better home. Faith looked for it and was certain of it.
After Abraham had gone where the Lord told him to, Abraham was told that his offspring would inherit that land. Logically, God's word was nonsense. Abraham was almost 100 years old. Sarah, his wife, was almost 90. Nevertheless, Abraham believed God's word. The Christian faith does not believe our senses and logic are greater than God's word. If God has said it, it is real, reliable, and solid. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
The Lord promised Abraham that he would receive a better home. Abraham never owned the land that he had been promised. But Abraham did not regard this world as his everlasting inheritance. Nor did Isaac and Jacob. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. (Hebrews 11:13-15) Faith looked for a better home.
You are not much different from Abraham in this regard. You, too, are looking for a better home. It is not pie-in-the-sky dreaming. It is taking God at his word. For God had promised to send a Savior into the world who would deliver us from our sin and all of its curses and consequences. And God was good on his promises. Jesus has come and has paid for all your sins. To deliver you from the curses, Jesus received the curse for you. He took your sins to the cross where he suffered and died in your place. Jesus suffered the God-forsaken pains of hell so that you would be delivered from them. He died for your sins so that you would be forgiven for them. You are forgiven, cleansed in the blood of Jesus, and therefore you are now righteous in God's sight. And if you are righteous, you shall enter the home of righteousness. That's the home faith looks for.
God has one more promise to fulfill for you—to deliver you from this corrupted world to a perfect Paradise. Though you have never been there or seen pictures of it, you are certain that this is your eternal future. That is because you believe God's promises, and God does not lie to you. At the resurrection of the dead, you will be raised with a glorious, perfect body. You will be delivered to the city of God, in which there is no sin, and therefore no sorrow, no pain, no difficulties, no death, and no problems. It is the kind of world which most people dream of. But our faith is not based on our dreams. Faith takes God at his word. Faith believes his promises. Faith looks for a better home.
Until that day, we will enjoy the blessings God gives us here. God has not been stingy with his kindness. We are grateful for the beauty of God's creation, the variety of the animals, the camaraderie of friends, and the consolation of family. We are honest enough to recognize these as true blessings of God. Nevertheless, we are also honest enough to see that there are evils from which we long to be delivered, including our own sin and death. Jesus Christ has taken away our sin. He will raise us up from death. And he will bring us at last to a kingdom where we will once and for all and forever be delivered from every evil. We don't have to dream about it, we simply have to wait for it. For God has promised us a better home, a heavenly one. Faith takes God at his word; and your faith will not be disappointed.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)