Thursday, July 21, 2011
A New Bible Handbook
I recently ordered, and received in the mail today, "Concordia's Complete Bible Handbook for Students" published by CPH. At first glance it is a beautiful book with lots of helpful information. The pictures and illustrations alone are worth the price of the book. I plan on using it as reference, along with the Lutheran Study Bible, as a tool in my sermon and bible study preparation. But one thing that I have noticed which is lacking in this book is an index. I tried to find information on Pharisees but couldn't find it easily. I know it is in there, I just have to find it. So, in the next edition, perhaps it would be helpful to include an index for easier reference.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sinners on Trial
SINNERS ON TRIAL
I TIMOTHY 1:15
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
In the name of Jesus:
In the world of judges and juries, we have recently witnessed another “Trial of the Century” in the events, which transpired in the Casey Anthony trial. Not since the O J Simpson trial has our nation’s attention been fixated on a verdict of a trial. The headlines in the Columbus Dispatch on Wednesday blared the news: “Casey Anthony Cleared in the Death of Her Daughter.” Then, in an Associated Press story, the article explained: “Casey Anthony's eyes welled with tears and her lips trembled as the verdict was read once, twice and then a third time: "Not guilty" of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.
Outside the courthouse, many in the crowd of 500 reacted with anger, chanting, "Justice for Caylee!" and "Baby killer!"
In one of the most-divisive verdicts since O.J. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of murdering his ex-wife, Anthony was cleared yesterday of murder, manslaughter and child-abuse charges after weeks of TV coverage.
Anthony, 25, was convicted only of four misdemeanor counts of lying to investigators who were looking into the child's June 2008 disappearance. Anthony could get up to a year behind bars on each count when she is sentenced Thursday morning. But since she has been in jail for nearly three years already, she could walk free. Had she been convicted of murder, she could have gotten the death penalty.”
Many who watched the trial were stunned at this verdict. From the circumstantial evidence, it SEEMS as if Casey Anthony killed her daughter. And yet, the verdict was not guilty. Note, the verdict was not guilty; the jury decided that they had reasonable doubt as to whether Casey killed Caylee. Casey was NOT proven to be innocent, there is plenty of blame to go around in her dysfunctional family, and Casey is not without fault. But the verdict was not guilty, and she will be able to walk away a free person, no punishment for whatever crime might have been committed by whoever killed Caylee.
The nation’s sense of justice has been violated. Many think that this verdict is a travesty. It is not my intent to place blame on anyone in this case in this message, what I do want you to see, though, is that people do walk free who are as guilty as sin of crimes committed. It happens all the time. Maybe not in a court of law, but in God’s scheme of things, in His divine justice, sinners who deserve the death penalty hear the verdict of NOT GUILTY all of the time. That is the message of our text for today; it is the message of the Bible!
In the Old Testament there is a scene recorded in Zechariah 3 of a vision that Zechariah has, to explain God’s sense of justice. The scene is a courtroom and Joshua the high priest is on trial. He stands before God as a sinner. All of the good things that he has done in life are like soiled garments when placed in contrast to God’s holiness and goodness. Satan stands on the side accusing Joshua of his sins, reminding Joshua and God of Joshua’s unrighteousness. God in His divine justice has every right to give Joshua the death penalty, to damn him to Hell. But Joshua has the best defense attorney, the Angel of the Lord, none other than Jesus Christ Himself, who orders that Joshua’s clothes be changed, from soiled garments to clean garments, to signify that Jesus has paid the price for Joshua’s ransom from sin. God the Father, looking at Joshua and hearing Jesus’ plea renders His verdict: NOT GUILTY! Another sinner goes free! Such is God’s justice. And Joshua receives this verdict in faith, leaving the courtroom singing praises to God and telling others of God’s mercy in Christ.
Humanly our sense of justice is that someone who commits a crime should be punished. The punishment should fit the crime. Why would and why should the guilty go free? And yet, in God’s divine justice, this is what has happened to you and me, indeed it is offered to all.
If you were on trial before the throne of the one Holy God, how would He judge you? God has told you what is expected of you, of how you are to love Him above all things, to show love and mercy to your neighbor. In light of God’s commands, how have you fared? What would you say to God when He would inquire of you of how you have lived your life? King David prayed: “Search me O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! See if there is any grievous way in me and lead me in the way of life everlasting!” (Ps. 139:23-24). Have you searched your heart? Have you seen yourself in the light of God’s mirror of the Ten Commandments? If so, you will see yourself as you really are. You have not feared, loved, or trusted in God, as He demands. You have not properly used and heard God’s Word. You have been angry, resentful, and unforgiving toward your spouse, your family members, your friends and your neighbors. You have been envious, coveting that which does not belong to you, and you have spoken slanderous words to others. And these are only the things that you know! Think about those sins that you don’t know, that you have no clue that you have committed, but God still holds you accountable! Your unclean heart has led to a life polluted with sin. In light of God’s holiness, you are unworthy to be called His child. You have offended God with your ungratefulness. What should God do? He has every right to judge you as GUILTY, for your life shows that you are guilty of sin. You deserve no good thing from God; instead you should get God’s death penalty.
But God points you to His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus has rendered full payment for your sin. With His innocent life led Jesus stood in your place, offering Himself as the Substitute for sin, for He is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! You who should stand condemned before God’s throne of judgment now hear God’s verdict in Christ: NOT GUILTY! For God’s declaration is that Jesus who knew no sin actually became sin for you, that you might be right with God!
God has given this verdict. How then should the sinner respond? Some will reject the verdict, saying that it is baseless and without fact. Even though God says it in His Word, there will be those who reject the message. Others will hear the message of God’s forgiveness in Christ and rationalize why it doesn’t apply to them. Still others will shake their heads in disbelief. And do you know what? It is normal. Why? Because sinful man in his sinfulness cannot comprehend nor accept the things of God, for the Scripture says that sinful man’s heart and will is hostile to God.
So what does God do? God calls the sinner to change, to repent. But how can you repent? Even then God is gracious, sending His Holy Spirit working through Baptism and the Word to break the hearts of sinners to turn them to Him. The Spirit gives faith and works faith in your heart; so that you can know and believe that what God has done He has done for you! Even though you may regard yourself as one of the worst sinners, God is merciful and just, forgiving your sins in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul knew this from experience. He violently persecuted God’s Church, seeking to destroy those who believed in Christ. Yet God was merciful to Paul, forgiving His sin in Christ and changing his heart and life so that Paul became one of the foremost of the Apostles, dedicating his life to serving Christ and spreading the news of God’s forgiveness.
This is why Paul is able to stand before God and share His love with others. And just like Paul, God has forgiven you. No matter what you have done, no matter what you have thought, no matter what you have said, Jesus has paid the penalty for your sins in His innocent life, His bitter suffering and death. In Baptism God has laid claim to your life. You now belong to Him. Called by God He now sends you to share His verdict of forgiveness with those around you. As shocking as that verdict might be to the ears of sinners today, it is sweet music to those who stand guilty before God. God forgives sinners!
So let the sinner come to Jesus! Turn to Him for He is merciful and tenderhearted. Trust in Him all of the days of your life. Serve Him in thankfulness. And share His Good News with others. For this saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Thanks be to God!
Amen
I TIMOTHY 1:15
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
In the name of Jesus:
In the world of judges and juries, we have recently witnessed another “Trial of the Century” in the events, which transpired in the Casey Anthony trial. Not since the O J Simpson trial has our nation’s attention been fixated on a verdict of a trial. The headlines in the Columbus Dispatch on Wednesday blared the news: “Casey Anthony Cleared in the Death of Her Daughter.” Then, in an Associated Press story, the article explained: “Casey Anthony's eyes welled with tears and her lips trembled as the verdict was read once, twice and then a third time: "Not guilty" of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.
Outside the courthouse, many in the crowd of 500 reacted with anger, chanting, "Justice for Caylee!" and "Baby killer!"
In one of the most-divisive verdicts since O.J. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of murdering his ex-wife, Anthony was cleared yesterday of murder, manslaughter and child-abuse charges after weeks of TV coverage.
Anthony, 25, was convicted only of four misdemeanor counts of lying to investigators who were looking into the child's June 2008 disappearance. Anthony could get up to a year behind bars on each count when she is sentenced Thursday morning. But since she has been in jail for nearly three years already, she could walk free. Had she been convicted of murder, she could have gotten the death penalty.”
Many who watched the trial were stunned at this verdict. From the circumstantial evidence, it SEEMS as if Casey Anthony killed her daughter. And yet, the verdict was not guilty. Note, the verdict was not guilty; the jury decided that they had reasonable doubt as to whether Casey killed Caylee. Casey was NOT proven to be innocent, there is plenty of blame to go around in her dysfunctional family, and Casey is not without fault. But the verdict was not guilty, and she will be able to walk away a free person, no punishment for whatever crime might have been committed by whoever killed Caylee.
The nation’s sense of justice has been violated. Many think that this verdict is a travesty. It is not my intent to place blame on anyone in this case in this message, what I do want you to see, though, is that people do walk free who are as guilty as sin of crimes committed. It happens all the time. Maybe not in a court of law, but in God’s scheme of things, in His divine justice, sinners who deserve the death penalty hear the verdict of NOT GUILTY all of the time. That is the message of our text for today; it is the message of the Bible!
In the Old Testament there is a scene recorded in Zechariah 3 of a vision that Zechariah has, to explain God’s sense of justice. The scene is a courtroom and Joshua the high priest is on trial. He stands before God as a sinner. All of the good things that he has done in life are like soiled garments when placed in contrast to God’s holiness and goodness. Satan stands on the side accusing Joshua of his sins, reminding Joshua and God of Joshua’s unrighteousness. God in His divine justice has every right to give Joshua the death penalty, to damn him to Hell. But Joshua has the best defense attorney, the Angel of the Lord, none other than Jesus Christ Himself, who orders that Joshua’s clothes be changed, from soiled garments to clean garments, to signify that Jesus has paid the price for Joshua’s ransom from sin. God the Father, looking at Joshua and hearing Jesus’ plea renders His verdict: NOT GUILTY! Another sinner goes free! Such is God’s justice. And Joshua receives this verdict in faith, leaving the courtroom singing praises to God and telling others of God’s mercy in Christ.
Humanly our sense of justice is that someone who commits a crime should be punished. The punishment should fit the crime. Why would and why should the guilty go free? And yet, in God’s divine justice, this is what has happened to you and me, indeed it is offered to all.
If you were on trial before the throne of the one Holy God, how would He judge you? God has told you what is expected of you, of how you are to love Him above all things, to show love and mercy to your neighbor. In light of God’s commands, how have you fared? What would you say to God when He would inquire of you of how you have lived your life? King David prayed: “Search me O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! See if there is any grievous way in me and lead me in the way of life everlasting!” (Ps. 139:23-24). Have you searched your heart? Have you seen yourself in the light of God’s mirror of the Ten Commandments? If so, you will see yourself as you really are. You have not feared, loved, or trusted in God, as He demands. You have not properly used and heard God’s Word. You have been angry, resentful, and unforgiving toward your spouse, your family members, your friends and your neighbors. You have been envious, coveting that which does not belong to you, and you have spoken slanderous words to others. And these are only the things that you know! Think about those sins that you don’t know, that you have no clue that you have committed, but God still holds you accountable! Your unclean heart has led to a life polluted with sin. In light of God’s holiness, you are unworthy to be called His child. You have offended God with your ungratefulness. What should God do? He has every right to judge you as GUILTY, for your life shows that you are guilty of sin. You deserve no good thing from God; instead you should get God’s death penalty.
But God points you to His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus has rendered full payment for your sin. With His innocent life led Jesus stood in your place, offering Himself as the Substitute for sin, for He is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! You who should stand condemned before God’s throne of judgment now hear God’s verdict in Christ: NOT GUILTY! For God’s declaration is that Jesus who knew no sin actually became sin for you, that you might be right with God!
God has given this verdict. How then should the sinner respond? Some will reject the verdict, saying that it is baseless and without fact. Even though God says it in His Word, there will be those who reject the message. Others will hear the message of God’s forgiveness in Christ and rationalize why it doesn’t apply to them. Still others will shake their heads in disbelief. And do you know what? It is normal. Why? Because sinful man in his sinfulness cannot comprehend nor accept the things of God, for the Scripture says that sinful man’s heart and will is hostile to God.
So what does God do? God calls the sinner to change, to repent. But how can you repent? Even then God is gracious, sending His Holy Spirit working through Baptism and the Word to break the hearts of sinners to turn them to Him. The Spirit gives faith and works faith in your heart; so that you can know and believe that what God has done He has done for you! Even though you may regard yourself as one of the worst sinners, God is merciful and just, forgiving your sins in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul knew this from experience. He violently persecuted God’s Church, seeking to destroy those who believed in Christ. Yet God was merciful to Paul, forgiving His sin in Christ and changing his heart and life so that Paul became one of the foremost of the Apostles, dedicating his life to serving Christ and spreading the news of God’s forgiveness.
This is why Paul is able to stand before God and share His love with others. And just like Paul, God has forgiven you. No matter what you have done, no matter what you have thought, no matter what you have said, Jesus has paid the penalty for your sins in His innocent life, His bitter suffering and death. In Baptism God has laid claim to your life. You now belong to Him. Called by God He now sends you to share His verdict of forgiveness with those around you. As shocking as that verdict might be to the ears of sinners today, it is sweet music to those who stand guilty before God. God forgives sinners!
So let the sinner come to Jesus! Turn to Him for He is merciful and tenderhearted. Trust in Him all of the days of your life. Serve Him in thankfulness. And share His Good News with others. For this saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Thanks be to God!
Amen
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Great Banquet
THE GREAT BANQUET
LUKE 14:15-24
15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
In the name of Jesus:
It’s the Fourth of July Weekend, so let’s have a party! Imagine, if you will, that you have decided to throw a party for all of your closest friends, in honor of the 4th. You have spared no expense to make certain that all is in place. There are table decorations, party favors, a red white and blue theme, and the food, oh the food! You have purchased the finest of meats and the beverages are free flowing and will be unlimited! What a great time you are planning for your friends!
Everyone shows up. The food is all prepared, the barbeque and all of the fixings have been spread out, and the table service is set. You are ready to eat. Then one friend pipes up and says, “I am sorry, I have to leave. I just bought a house today and I need to go look at it so as to see what kind of house I bought and how many rooms it has!” Now, you being you, the perceptive person that you are, recognize that this is the Fourth of July. NO ONE sells homes on the 4th, NO ONE closes on a house on the 4th, in fact, you recognize that people just don’t buy homes THEN decide to look at them, the proper course of action is that the buyer looks at the house FIRST THEN decides to make a purchase or not. You see right through this person who you called a friend and realize the flimsiness of the excuse.
Soon, another person approaches you and says: “I need to go because I just purchased a car today and I need to look at it.” Immediately you wonder what is going on here, for the car dealerships are closed, no one buys a car on the 4th, no one can get financing on the 4th, and who in their right mind buys a car without first looking at it, knowing what they purchased and at least having a test drive! And so, this friend leaves with his excuse in tow but the excuse doesn’t hold water.
Immediately another friend says to you: “I need to go and be with my wife.” And you respond: “Your wife is here with you!” But that person winks and nods, and leaves. Soon, the banquet that you prepared for your friends has more than enough spaces at the table. What do you do? Probably you stew, your feelings are hurt, and you will write these so called friends off of your “friends” list.
Get the picture? Can you relate, even if this has not happened to you, anyone with feelings would feel incredulous at this type of thing happening to anyone. And yet, this situation is exactly what Jesus is describing in our text for today. Jesus is seated at a table, having a meal with the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day. The host would have gone to great expense to make certain all was in order at this meal, for Jesus was the guest. One who was eating with Jesus remarked: ““Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” And then Jesus responds by telling this parable.
In the Scriptures, a life with God is explained in terms of having a meal with God. One way to explain it would be table fellowship. In other words, just as you have Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas dinners, cookouts with family and friends which show your close relationship with your family and friends, so also those who of the family of God, who are God’s children, have friendship or fellowship with God in terms of having a feast or banquet with the Lord. This is an image, which is consistently used throughout the Scriptures. This is why one says in our text: “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” This one is remarking that whoever breaks bread with the Lord, whoever has a relationship with the Lord is truly blessed by God!
Listen to how Isaiah the prophet describes it in chapter 25 of his book: “6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. 7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Salvation is described in terms of a banquet. God prepares this banquet for ALL PEOPLES. On that day, God will dispose of sin, of death, and he will wipe away all tears and pain from His people so that God’s children will live with the Lord forever. On that day those who have been saved by God’s grace in Christ will sing praises to the Lord saying in effect: This is the day we have been waiting for! Praise God, let’s rejoice and celebrate God’s goodness to us forever!
Note, the Bible says that ALL ARE INVITED. But the point of Jesus’ parable is that even though all are invited, many refuse to come. Many find excuses as to why they cannot fellowship with the Lord. This is more than evident every Sunday where the Lord provides His banquet of the gifts of salvation in the Lord’s Supper, where Jesus gives us Himself, His very body to eat and blood to drink so that we might taste of God’s salvation. But how do those who are invited respond to God’s invitation to come to His house on a Sunday morning?
Sadly, with excuses such as I need my own time, it’s the only day off I have, I need to sleep in, it doesn’t interest me. What excuses have you heard, or used????
Dear friends, God has invited you to His Great Banquet. This relationship and feast has already been prepared. God’s only Son offered up Himself, giving His body and shedding His blood on the cross. God has invited and called you into a relationship with Him, not on the basis of your works, or excuses, but on account of His Son, Jesus. For you have been saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ, it is not of your own doing. He has called you by name in the waters of your Baptism. By the powerful working of the Spirit through water and the Word you possess a saving faith in Christ. Even though many today make excuses and reject God’s gracious invitation, know full well that God will not be mocked. His judgment is swift. For those who reject Christ, on the Last Day they will be rejected by Him, but those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be satisfied.
God invites all to the Banquet that He has prepared, but note that the Banquet is for only those who are hungry, who hunger and thirst after His righteousness. If you are righteous in your own eyes, don’t come to the Banquet. The Banquet is not for those who are full of themselves; it is not for those who don’t believe that they are sinners; it is not for those who don’t want what God has to offer; it is not for those who believe in Jesus; it is not for those who reject Christ; or who love the world more than God. God offers this Banquet to those who are truly hungry, who hunger for a relationship with God. God offers in this Banquet help for sinners who repent of their sins and turn to Him for salvation. God offers in this Banquet His Son who was sacrificed on the cross for your forgiveness. God offers in this Banquet the Lamb of God who takes away your sins and the sins of the world.
So God invites you and sinners who hunger for what God offers satisfaction for your hunger by giving you Jesus to be your Savior. Today in our Old Testament Lesson God issues an invitation to you: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight” (Prov. 9:5–6). The Lord calls you to repentance and faith. Repent of your sins, turn from the wisdom and the temptations of the world and trust in Christ for all things. Today He offers Himself to you in this Holy Supper, as a foretaste of what is to come. Even though many reject His offer, as did the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, His invitation to you is to come and taste and see that the Lord is good, that His mercy lasts forever.
His offer of salvation if for you this day, and His offer of salvation proclaimed through you as your live your life for Christ. For you have been reconciled to Christ, so that by the power of His Spirit you are empowered to love one another, in keeping with God’s will. For in Baptism you have been placed in Christ, and through His Word and Meal you have been fed at His Table so that you might be strengthened to live your life in His service. For this is the good and gracious will of God: “16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (I John 3: 16-18).”
Amen
LUKE 14:15-24
15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
In the name of Jesus:
It’s the Fourth of July Weekend, so let’s have a party! Imagine, if you will, that you have decided to throw a party for all of your closest friends, in honor of the 4th. You have spared no expense to make certain that all is in place. There are table decorations, party favors, a red white and blue theme, and the food, oh the food! You have purchased the finest of meats and the beverages are free flowing and will be unlimited! What a great time you are planning for your friends!
Everyone shows up. The food is all prepared, the barbeque and all of the fixings have been spread out, and the table service is set. You are ready to eat. Then one friend pipes up and says, “I am sorry, I have to leave. I just bought a house today and I need to go look at it so as to see what kind of house I bought and how many rooms it has!” Now, you being you, the perceptive person that you are, recognize that this is the Fourth of July. NO ONE sells homes on the 4th, NO ONE closes on a house on the 4th, in fact, you recognize that people just don’t buy homes THEN decide to look at them, the proper course of action is that the buyer looks at the house FIRST THEN decides to make a purchase or not. You see right through this person who you called a friend and realize the flimsiness of the excuse.
Soon, another person approaches you and says: “I need to go because I just purchased a car today and I need to look at it.” Immediately you wonder what is going on here, for the car dealerships are closed, no one buys a car on the 4th, no one can get financing on the 4th, and who in their right mind buys a car without first looking at it, knowing what they purchased and at least having a test drive! And so, this friend leaves with his excuse in tow but the excuse doesn’t hold water.
Immediately another friend says to you: “I need to go and be with my wife.” And you respond: “Your wife is here with you!” But that person winks and nods, and leaves. Soon, the banquet that you prepared for your friends has more than enough spaces at the table. What do you do? Probably you stew, your feelings are hurt, and you will write these so called friends off of your “friends” list.
Get the picture? Can you relate, even if this has not happened to you, anyone with feelings would feel incredulous at this type of thing happening to anyone. And yet, this situation is exactly what Jesus is describing in our text for today. Jesus is seated at a table, having a meal with the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day. The host would have gone to great expense to make certain all was in order at this meal, for Jesus was the guest. One who was eating with Jesus remarked: ““Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” And then Jesus responds by telling this parable.
In the Scriptures, a life with God is explained in terms of having a meal with God. One way to explain it would be table fellowship. In other words, just as you have Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas dinners, cookouts with family and friends which show your close relationship with your family and friends, so also those who of the family of God, who are God’s children, have friendship or fellowship with God in terms of having a feast or banquet with the Lord. This is an image, which is consistently used throughout the Scriptures. This is why one says in our text: “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” This one is remarking that whoever breaks bread with the Lord, whoever has a relationship with the Lord is truly blessed by God!
Listen to how Isaiah the prophet describes it in chapter 25 of his book: “6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. 7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Salvation is described in terms of a banquet. God prepares this banquet for ALL PEOPLES. On that day, God will dispose of sin, of death, and he will wipe away all tears and pain from His people so that God’s children will live with the Lord forever. On that day those who have been saved by God’s grace in Christ will sing praises to the Lord saying in effect: This is the day we have been waiting for! Praise God, let’s rejoice and celebrate God’s goodness to us forever!
Note, the Bible says that ALL ARE INVITED. But the point of Jesus’ parable is that even though all are invited, many refuse to come. Many find excuses as to why they cannot fellowship with the Lord. This is more than evident every Sunday where the Lord provides His banquet of the gifts of salvation in the Lord’s Supper, where Jesus gives us Himself, His very body to eat and blood to drink so that we might taste of God’s salvation. But how do those who are invited respond to God’s invitation to come to His house on a Sunday morning?
Sadly, with excuses such as I need my own time, it’s the only day off I have, I need to sleep in, it doesn’t interest me. What excuses have you heard, or used????
Dear friends, God has invited you to His Great Banquet. This relationship and feast has already been prepared. God’s only Son offered up Himself, giving His body and shedding His blood on the cross. God has invited and called you into a relationship with Him, not on the basis of your works, or excuses, but on account of His Son, Jesus. For you have been saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ, it is not of your own doing. He has called you by name in the waters of your Baptism. By the powerful working of the Spirit through water and the Word you possess a saving faith in Christ. Even though many today make excuses and reject God’s gracious invitation, know full well that God will not be mocked. His judgment is swift. For those who reject Christ, on the Last Day they will be rejected by Him, but those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be satisfied.
God invites all to the Banquet that He has prepared, but note that the Banquet is for only those who are hungry, who hunger and thirst after His righteousness. If you are righteous in your own eyes, don’t come to the Banquet. The Banquet is not for those who are full of themselves; it is not for those who don’t believe that they are sinners; it is not for those who don’t want what God has to offer; it is not for those who believe in Jesus; it is not for those who reject Christ; or who love the world more than God. God offers this Banquet to those who are truly hungry, who hunger for a relationship with God. God offers in this Banquet help for sinners who repent of their sins and turn to Him for salvation. God offers in this Banquet His Son who was sacrificed on the cross for your forgiveness. God offers in this Banquet the Lamb of God who takes away your sins and the sins of the world.
So God invites you and sinners who hunger for what God offers satisfaction for your hunger by giving you Jesus to be your Savior. Today in our Old Testament Lesson God issues an invitation to you: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight” (Prov. 9:5–6). The Lord calls you to repentance and faith. Repent of your sins, turn from the wisdom and the temptations of the world and trust in Christ for all things. Today He offers Himself to you in this Holy Supper, as a foretaste of what is to come. Even though many reject His offer, as did the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, His invitation to you is to come and taste and see that the Lord is good, that His mercy lasts forever.
His offer of salvation if for you this day, and His offer of salvation proclaimed through you as your live your life for Christ. For you have been reconciled to Christ, so that by the power of His Spirit you are empowered to love one another, in keeping with God’s will. For in Baptism you have been placed in Christ, and through His Word and Meal you have been fed at His Table so that you might be strengthened to live your life in His service. For this is the good and gracious will of God: “16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (I John 3: 16-18).”
Amen
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The End in Near
THE END IS NEAR
I PETER 4:7-11 (12-14)
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
In the name of Jesus:
Early this year there was a billboard on the corner of Coonpath and Business Route 33, which proclaimed in no uncertain terms that Jesus was coming on May 21, 2011. At the bottom of the proclamation was a website which, when entered into the web browser, would take you to an organization called Family Radio. The owner of the radio station and the web site, Harold Camping, spent thousands of dollars warning the world that the Rapture would take place on May 21, 2011, and then, six months later, on October 21, 2011, the end of the world would take place. How did Harold Camping make just a bold announcement? It was based in large part on his “calculations” which used symbolic passages of the Bible in order to ascertain his date. Many people looked expectantly for Jesus to return on May 21, some even spent their life savings in anticipation. Well, May 21 has come and gone, and there has been no rapture. And who knows if the end of the world will take place on October 21? The fact of the matter is that no one knows, save the Holy Trinity, when the world will end. Sadly, many have mocked God and His Word in due to the false prophet Harold Camping. Now, to be certain, Camping should be branded as what he is, a false prophet. But because of this jokester, many now don’t seriously consider that the world will come to an end. For a person to have a serious discussion on the end times would provoke laughter today because of Camping’s false assertions. And yet, God warns us that the end is coming, it is near, and so we need to be prepared.
The Scripture is clear. “The end of all things is at hand.” The end IS near. In the readings for Ascension Day, that great day when Jesus returned to heaven triumphantly after accomplishing His mission of fulfilling God’s Law on our behalf, offering His life upon the cross, and rising from the grave, the angels proclaim to the onlookers: “why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”(Acts 1:10-11).
Jesus will come back. To the unbeliever it is a warning. To those who believe, it is looked forward to in anticipation. To all it is a matter of fact. The end is coming. What shall we do? How then shall we live?
The Apostle Peter in our text for today answers those questions. Just try to imagine yourself back in the days of Peter. Crucifixions took place frequently throughout the Empire. It was punishment reserved for criminals and the cursed. In those trying days, there were those who claimed to be god. So think of what it must have been like when the Apostles claimed to everyone that Jesus, the One who was crucified, cursed, despised, was true God and offered all people eternal life! Those who heard this message believed it to be so by the power of the Holy Spirit. But most who heard this message shook their heads in bewilderment. Christians were persecuted for their faith because they believed that Jesus alone was the Savior and was God, there was no other way to be saved. Some Christians were mocked, others were ostracized, and still others were put to death. It was not easy to be a Christian at that time. Peter wrote our text to comfort those of faith, to assure them of Jesus’ promise that He was coming back and the end was near.
The names and faces have changed but the times really have remained the same. In the light of Harold Camping’s false prophecies concerning the rapture and the end of the world, many do not take seriously Jesus’ words nor do they take seriously the Word of God! And it is no easier to be a Christian in these days, is it? Some Christians don’t want to talk about their faith because they live in fear of being ridiculed or having their name drug in the mud. How many times have you heard the question: “Who made you judge? Or Am I my brother’s keeper? It isn’t easy to live out your faith in Christ when it seems as if you are the only one and you are swimming upstream.
And yet, you and I are called to be faithful to Christ. His charge to us is to be faithful unto death, so that we might receive the crown of everlasting life. How does this look? I will let Peter explain: Peter writes under the inspiration of the Spirit: “7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” Seeing as the end is coming, you are not to live like the rest of the world. To paraphrase Luther, don’t live like the heathen, don’t live like a pig. Don’t covet money, don’t be a glutton, be sexually pure in what you say and do. You have been bought with a price, the price being the holy precious blood of Christ. You belong to Christ, so live as His child. Seeing as God has given to you faith in Christ in your Baptism, then live out your life as a baptized child of God. Daily confess your sinfulness to Christ, receive His forgiveness full and free, and then seek to live out your faith so that Christ is manifested in your life. To be self controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers means that God calls us to humbly trust in Him for all things in life. Seek the Lord in His Word; seek to serve the Lord in all you do. Root your life in Christ so that your life will bring forth abundant fruit, that your faith in Christ will be active in a life of good works.
Peter explains what these good works look like: “ 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” First and foremost seeing that you have love for God, show that love to one another. Seek to outdo one another in showing love to one another, not just to the family of faith, but also to those who do not have faith. The Scriptures state: “ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (I John 4:20). To show love is to thank God for His love for us in Jesus Christ and to keep the commands which God gives us to follow. Love is the fulfillment of the Law. Love God above all things, and show love to your neighbor.
But Peter gets even more specific in these last days. Listen to what he says: “. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Be hospitable to others. What is hospitality? It is living your life so that you serve others. You treat others kindly despite being wronged. You forgive for the sake of Christ. Instead of seeking to show power or lording something over another, you show power by submitting yourself to help and for the betterment of the other. No greater example in the Scriptures can be found but in the account of the Good Samaritan.
You remember that story, how the Samaritan went out of his way to help a stranger. A Samaritan in those days was considered an outcast, an outsider, someone who was beneath the common Jew. Yet this one who was held in contempt went out of his way to be a friend and neighbor to one in need, even telling the hotel manager that if I can do anything else to help this one, charge it to my account and I will take care of it. He essentially gave the one in need a blank check that he would pay so as to help the one in need.
Dear friend in Christ, don’t be deceived. The end is near. Just as Jesus came down from heaven to save sinners, so too He will come again to be our Judge. You have been judged in Christ as one forgiven. By faith you possess this forgiveness. God now calls you to live out that faith, in love toward God and love toward your neighbor. It should be of no concern to any of us as to the date of Christ’s return. NO one knows that date, not Harold Camping, it is known only to Jesus. Christ will come, just as we confess in our Creed, He will come to judge the living and the dead. There will be no literal 1000-year reign of Christ. No one will be left behind; there will be no second chance. No, today is the day of salvation. God calls all to believe in Christ! So rather than being anxious for that day, God calls us to put our faith into action! Repent of your sins. Trust in Christ as your Savior. And then in thanks to God live out your faith so that your faith is active in love toward others. In this way many more will come to know God’s love in Christ. And this is God’s good and gracious will, that all be saved and come to know the truth in Christ. This is how God is glorified. And this is our mission. Until He comes, so to Him be glory forever and ever.
Amen
I PETER 4:7-11 (12-14)
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
In the name of Jesus:
Early this year there was a billboard on the corner of Coonpath and Business Route 33, which proclaimed in no uncertain terms that Jesus was coming on May 21, 2011. At the bottom of the proclamation was a website which, when entered into the web browser, would take you to an organization called Family Radio. The owner of the radio station and the web site, Harold Camping, spent thousands of dollars warning the world that the Rapture would take place on May 21, 2011, and then, six months later, on October 21, 2011, the end of the world would take place. How did Harold Camping make just a bold announcement? It was based in large part on his “calculations” which used symbolic passages of the Bible in order to ascertain his date. Many people looked expectantly for Jesus to return on May 21, some even spent their life savings in anticipation. Well, May 21 has come and gone, and there has been no rapture. And who knows if the end of the world will take place on October 21? The fact of the matter is that no one knows, save the Holy Trinity, when the world will end. Sadly, many have mocked God and His Word in due to the false prophet Harold Camping. Now, to be certain, Camping should be branded as what he is, a false prophet. But because of this jokester, many now don’t seriously consider that the world will come to an end. For a person to have a serious discussion on the end times would provoke laughter today because of Camping’s false assertions. And yet, God warns us that the end is coming, it is near, and so we need to be prepared.
The Scripture is clear. “The end of all things is at hand.” The end IS near. In the readings for Ascension Day, that great day when Jesus returned to heaven triumphantly after accomplishing His mission of fulfilling God’s Law on our behalf, offering His life upon the cross, and rising from the grave, the angels proclaim to the onlookers: “why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”(Acts 1:10-11).
Jesus will come back. To the unbeliever it is a warning. To those who believe, it is looked forward to in anticipation. To all it is a matter of fact. The end is coming. What shall we do? How then shall we live?
The Apostle Peter in our text for today answers those questions. Just try to imagine yourself back in the days of Peter. Crucifixions took place frequently throughout the Empire. It was punishment reserved for criminals and the cursed. In those trying days, there were those who claimed to be god. So think of what it must have been like when the Apostles claimed to everyone that Jesus, the One who was crucified, cursed, despised, was true God and offered all people eternal life! Those who heard this message believed it to be so by the power of the Holy Spirit. But most who heard this message shook their heads in bewilderment. Christians were persecuted for their faith because they believed that Jesus alone was the Savior and was God, there was no other way to be saved. Some Christians were mocked, others were ostracized, and still others were put to death. It was not easy to be a Christian at that time. Peter wrote our text to comfort those of faith, to assure them of Jesus’ promise that He was coming back and the end was near.
The names and faces have changed but the times really have remained the same. In the light of Harold Camping’s false prophecies concerning the rapture and the end of the world, many do not take seriously Jesus’ words nor do they take seriously the Word of God! And it is no easier to be a Christian in these days, is it? Some Christians don’t want to talk about their faith because they live in fear of being ridiculed or having their name drug in the mud. How many times have you heard the question: “Who made you judge? Or Am I my brother’s keeper? It isn’t easy to live out your faith in Christ when it seems as if you are the only one and you are swimming upstream.
And yet, you and I are called to be faithful to Christ. His charge to us is to be faithful unto death, so that we might receive the crown of everlasting life. How does this look? I will let Peter explain: Peter writes under the inspiration of the Spirit: “7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” Seeing as the end is coming, you are not to live like the rest of the world. To paraphrase Luther, don’t live like the heathen, don’t live like a pig. Don’t covet money, don’t be a glutton, be sexually pure in what you say and do. You have been bought with a price, the price being the holy precious blood of Christ. You belong to Christ, so live as His child. Seeing as God has given to you faith in Christ in your Baptism, then live out your life as a baptized child of God. Daily confess your sinfulness to Christ, receive His forgiveness full and free, and then seek to live out your faith so that Christ is manifested in your life. To be self controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers means that God calls us to humbly trust in Him for all things in life. Seek the Lord in His Word; seek to serve the Lord in all you do. Root your life in Christ so that your life will bring forth abundant fruit, that your faith in Christ will be active in a life of good works.
Peter explains what these good works look like: “ 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” First and foremost seeing that you have love for God, show that love to one another. Seek to outdo one another in showing love to one another, not just to the family of faith, but also to those who do not have faith. The Scriptures state: “ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (I John 4:20). To show love is to thank God for His love for us in Jesus Christ and to keep the commands which God gives us to follow. Love is the fulfillment of the Law. Love God above all things, and show love to your neighbor.
But Peter gets even more specific in these last days. Listen to what he says: “. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Be hospitable to others. What is hospitality? It is living your life so that you serve others. You treat others kindly despite being wronged. You forgive for the sake of Christ. Instead of seeking to show power or lording something over another, you show power by submitting yourself to help and for the betterment of the other. No greater example in the Scriptures can be found but in the account of the Good Samaritan.
You remember that story, how the Samaritan went out of his way to help a stranger. A Samaritan in those days was considered an outcast, an outsider, someone who was beneath the common Jew. Yet this one who was held in contempt went out of his way to be a friend and neighbor to one in need, even telling the hotel manager that if I can do anything else to help this one, charge it to my account and I will take care of it. He essentially gave the one in need a blank check that he would pay so as to help the one in need.
Dear friend in Christ, don’t be deceived. The end is near. Just as Jesus came down from heaven to save sinners, so too He will come again to be our Judge. You have been judged in Christ as one forgiven. By faith you possess this forgiveness. God now calls you to live out that faith, in love toward God and love toward your neighbor. It should be of no concern to any of us as to the date of Christ’s return. NO one knows that date, not Harold Camping, it is known only to Jesus. Christ will come, just as we confess in our Creed, He will come to judge the living and the dead. There will be no literal 1000-year reign of Christ. No one will be left behind; there will be no second chance. No, today is the day of salvation. God calls all to believe in Christ! So rather than being anxious for that day, God calls us to put our faith into action! Repent of your sins. Trust in Christ as your Savior. And then in thanks to God live out your faith so that your faith is active in love toward others. In this way many more will come to know God’s love in Christ. And this is God’s good and gracious will, that all be saved and come to know the truth in Christ. This is how God is glorified. And this is our mission. Until He comes, so to Him be glory forever and ever.
Amen
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
True Religion
TRUE RELIGION
JAMES 1:22-27
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
In the name of Jesus:
In my frequent travels I run across bumper stickers on the back of cars. Some are humorous, but most convey a message. One such bumper sticker that I have seen around town, in fact it is prevalent throughout the country is the sticker “Coexist” The sticker has the term coexist spelled out with the religious symbols: the crescent and star for Islam; the pentagram for Wicca; the relativity formula for science; the star of David for Judaism; the Karma Wheel dotting the i for Buddhism; the Tao symbol for Taoism; and the cross for Christianity. The message is one of religious tolerance and a proclamation that all religions are the same, so wouldn’t it be nice if we all just got along?
I am all for getting along, but there is something to be said about truth and error. You see, the Scriptures do not speak of religious tolerance. God in His Holy Word does not tell us that all religions lead to heaven. NO! The Bible clearly says that there is only one name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and that name is JESUS! Jesus Himself says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life, NO ONE comes to the Father except by Me.”
It is with this understanding that James writes his epistle, and from which we read in our text the marks of true religion. Francis Pieper, one of the early presidents of the LCMS, once wrote in his book entitled Christian Dogmatics that there are only two religions in the world, one by which a person is saved by what he does, works, or one by which the person is saved by grace. Christianity is the only religion, the one true religion, whereby sinners are saved by grace, through faith in Christ, not of works, so that no one may boast. So then, what are we to think of this passage of which James writes? To be not just hearers of the word but doers as well?
James here is warning Christians against hypocrisy, of saying one thing and doing another. True religion for James, for that matter the entire Scriptures, is a matter of the heart. James warns about sitting in church and not listening to the Word. He warns of a kind of hearing that, as my moms used to accuse me of, letting things go in one ear and out the other. James is warning about the kind of hearing that deceives itself, a kind of hearing that promptly forgets after the person has heard. Being only a hearer means to hear without real faith. This is what was happening among the Christians whom James is writing to. The sinful flesh had gained control of the people. They were more concerned about their fleshly needs and living to fulfill their sinful appetites rather than living according to God’s Word. So James is calling them out, in fact, he calls out all of us who hear the Word today. James’ message is one of repentance.
Don’t fall into Satan’s trap by thinking that sitting in church merits any favor from God. Don’t think that just going through the motions in matters of your relationship with God is pleasing to God. James calls us to repentance, for this is what it means to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Do what the Word of God requires. And what does it require? God calls you to repentance, to faith, and newness of life.
Martin Luther in the first of his 95 Theses wrote: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, repent, He will the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”” God calls you to examine your life in light of the Ten Commandments. You know, the accusations of the world are right. When the world says that the church is filled with hypocrites, they are right. We are hypocrites. We have said one thing and done another. With our lips we say we love God and our fellow human beings, but in reality, we have fallen far short of God’s demands in the Law. God says to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as we do ourselves. And yet, what do our lives show? In our Confirmation vows we stated that we would live according to the Word of God throughout our lives. Have we? Have you really shown love to God when you have lived your life as if God did not matter when you have stubbornly sought your own way and not God’s way? Have you shown love to God when you have lived as if you mattered the most? How does it show love for God when you half-heartedly sing praise to God, or attend worship when it pleases you and fits your schedule? Have you shown true love for others or have selfishly lived so that others have not been helped by your apathy or indifference? Have you been so wrapped up in your life that you have not seen or neglected the needs of others?
Each of us stands condemned before God. We have sinned against God and deserve no good thing from Him. But God is good and gracious, even though we are sinners God loves the sinner with and everlasting love. God has shown His love in the Person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven to be God’s sin offering for sinners. His perfect life and innocent suffering and death are the price that Jesus has paid for the forgiveness of your sins. His shed blood cleanses you from sin. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God in your Baptism has changed your life so that you might lead a life of repentance every day of your life.
Repentance begins today, here and now in worship, where you hear the Word and apply it to your life. James uses an illustration, saying that if one listens to the Word in church and does not do what it says, namely, does not show the new life that he or she has in Christ, that person is like one who looks at one’s image in the mirror. Taking a good look at oneself, that person forgets what it seen and goes on living as if it doesn’t matter. Dear friend, if you look at yourself in the mirror in the morning and see your hair disheveled, you will comb your hair, and you will make a change in what you have seen so that there is a difference that is noticeable. So it is with the Christian life. Hearing God’s Word, you make it a point to change your life by the power of the Spirit. God has given to you His Spirit in your Baptism. Confessing your sin, and trusting in Christ God has changed your heart so that you will now go forth living a changed life, in accordance with God’s will. God has recreated you in Jesus Christ to abound in good works, not to save yourself, for you have been saved in Christ. Your life is to abound in good works toward others so that they will see the light of Christ in your life. You see, God in Jesus Christ has blessed you; now God wants you to go forth in your life to be a blessing and share God’s blessings with others. This is done as you abound in good works before God, sharing God’s blessings in Christ with others.
How is this done? Not by letting the Word go in one ear and out the others. Not by appearing to be religious. For in doing this, you deceive yourself and others. God says that you can’t say you love God and then show hatred toward your neighbor. True religion begins in the heart, whereby you see your life in the light of God’s law, repent of your sins, trust in Christ as your Savior, and then in joyful thanksgiving seek to share and reflect God’s love to all in Jesus.
Last week we watched in horror as a F5 tornado ripped through the heart of Joplin Missouri. Our former church members and friends, Steve and Talitha Elsea, live in Joplin. They were unaffected by the tornado, but their community looked like a nuclear weapon was dropped upon it. What does God call us to do as Christians and as a Church? Do we sit in our comfortable homes in Lancaster and say hypocritically, “I am glad that it wasn’t Lancaster?” Heaven forbid! No, the love of Christ compels us to see our neighbors in their suffering and respond to them in their need. In consultation with our congregational president, we decided to send a check to our sister congregation, Immanuel Lutheran in Joplin, to assist in their relief efforts. School teachers and other members of Immanuel have lost their homes. Many have had friends and family members who have lost their lives. The love of Christ compels us to do what we can to show the love and compassion of Christ to those in need.
But it doesn’t begin in Joplin. It begins here, at home. For we have opportunities before us to show our faith to our neighbors in need here in Lancaster and in Fairfield County, to assist those who are affected by unemployment, homelessness, and hunger. That is why we link with LSSCO (Lutheran Social Services), the Food Panty, community shelters and the like. It is why we support the work of COMA and its efforts with the Somali people to bring them the Gospel of Christ. It is why we work with other congregations in an organization like DORCAS, to bring Christ’s compassion to the people of Central and southeastern Ohio. It is why will host a servant week on the third week of June, to help a family in need in our community. We do this not to bring glory to this congregation or ourselves. We do it all to bring glory to God. We do this so that our faith might be active in love. This is what we are called to do, for God’s word is clear: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
There is only one true religion, and that truth is revealed in this: that sinners are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ. And this faith is revealed in how we treat those around us. God has touched you with His grace in Christ, so that in living lives of repentance, you might be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only, thereby giving glory to God by showing and sharing the love of Christ with others. May God grant each of us such repentance and faith, in Jesus’ name!
Amen
JAMES 1:22-27
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
In the name of Jesus:
In my frequent travels I run across bumper stickers on the back of cars. Some are humorous, but most convey a message. One such bumper sticker that I have seen around town, in fact it is prevalent throughout the country is the sticker “Coexist” The sticker has the term coexist spelled out with the religious symbols: the crescent and star for Islam; the pentagram for Wicca; the relativity formula for science; the star of David for Judaism; the Karma Wheel dotting the i for Buddhism; the Tao symbol for Taoism; and the cross for Christianity. The message is one of religious tolerance and a proclamation that all religions are the same, so wouldn’t it be nice if we all just got along?
I am all for getting along, but there is something to be said about truth and error. You see, the Scriptures do not speak of religious tolerance. God in His Holy Word does not tell us that all religions lead to heaven. NO! The Bible clearly says that there is only one name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and that name is JESUS! Jesus Himself says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life, NO ONE comes to the Father except by Me.”
It is with this understanding that James writes his epistle, and from which we read in our text the marks of true religion. Francis Pieper, one of the early presidents of the LCMS, once wrote in his book entitled Christian Dogmatics that there are only two religions in the world, one by which a person is saved by what he does, works, or one by which the person is saved by grace. Christianity is the only religion, the one true religion, whereby sinners are saved by grace, through faith in Christ, not of works, so that no one may boast. So then, what are we to think of this passage of which James writes? To be not just hearers of the word but doers as well?
James here is warning Christians against hypocrisy, of saying one thing and doing another. True religion for James, for that matter the entire Scriptures, is a matter of the heart. James warns about sitting in church and not listening to the Word. He warns of a kind of hearing that, as my moms used to accuse me of, letting things go in one ear and out the other. James is warning about the kind of hearing that deceives itself, a kind of hearing that promptly forgets after the person has heard. Being only a hearer means to hear without real faith. This is what was happening among the Christians whom James is writing to. The sinful flesh had gained control of the people. They were more concerned about their fleshly needs and living to fulfill their sinful appetites rather than living according to God’s Word. So James is calling them out, in fact, he calls out all of us who hear the Word today. James’ message is one of repentance.
Don’t fall into Satan’s trap by thinking that sitting in church merits any favor from God. Don’t think that just going through the motions in matters of your relationship with God is pleasing to God. James calls us to repentance, for this is what it means to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Do what the Word of God requires. And what does it require? God calls you to repentance, to faith, and newness of life.
Martin Luther in the first of his 95 Theses wrote: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, repent, He will the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”” God calls you to examine your life in light of the Ten Commandments. You know, the accusations of the world are right. When the world says that the church is filled with hypocrites, they are right. We are hypocrites. We have said one thing and done another. With our lips we say we love God and our fellow human beings, but in reality, we have fallen far short of God’s demands in the Law. God says to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as we do ourselves. And yet, what do our lives show? In our Confirmation vows we stated that we would live according to the Word of God throughout our lives. Have we? Have you really shown love to God when you have lived your life as if God did not matter when you have stubbornly sought your own way and not God’s way? Have you shown love to God when you have lived as if you mattered the most? How does it show love for God when you half-heartedly sing praise to God, or attend worship when it pleases you and fits your schedule? Have you shown true love for others or have selfishly lived so that others have not been helped by your apathy or indifference? Have you been so wrapped up in your life that you have not seen or neglected the needs of others?
Each of us stands condemned before God. We have sinned against God and deserve no good thing from Him. But God is good and gracious, even though we are sinners God loves the sinner with and everlasting love. God has shown His love in the Person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven to be God’s sin offering for sinners. His perfect life and innocent suffering and death are the price that Jesus has paid for the forgiveness of your sins. His shed blood cleanses you from sin. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God in your Baptism has changed your life so that you might lead a life of repentance every day of your life.
Repentance begins today, here and now in worship, where you hear the Word and apply it to your life. James uses an illustration, saying that if one listens to the Word in church and does not do what it says, namely, does not show the new life that he or she has in Christ, that person is like one who looks at one’s image in the mirror. Taking a good look at oneself, that person forgets what it seen and goes on living as if it doesn’t matter. Dear friend, if you look at yourself in the mirror in the morning and see your hair disheveled, you will comb your hair, and you will make a change in what you have seen so that there is a difference that is noticeable. So it is with the Christian life. Hearing God’s Word, you make it a point to change your life by the power of the Spirit. God has given to you His Spirit in your Baptism. Confessing your sin, and trusting in Christ God has changed your heart so that you will now go forth living a changed life, in accordance with God’s will. God has recreated you in Jesus Christ to abound in good works, not to save yourself, for you have been saved in Christ. Your life is to abound in good works toward others so that they will see the light of Christ in your life. You see, God in Jesus Christ has blessed you; now God wants you to go forth in your life to be a blessing and share God’s blessings with others. This is done as you abound in good works before God, sharing God’s blessings in Christ with others.
How is this done? Not by letting the Word go in one ear and out the others. Not by appearing to be religious. For in doing this, you deceive yourself and others. God says that you can’t say you love God and then show hatred toward your neighbor. True religion begins in the heart, whereby you see your life in the light of God’s law, repent of your sins, trust in Christ as your Savior, and then in joyful thanksgiving seek to share and reflect God’s love to all in Jesus.
Last week we watched in horror as a F5 tornado ripped through the heart of Joplin Missouri. Our former church members and friends, Steve and Talitha Elsea, live in Joplin. They were unaffected by the tornado, but their community looked like a nuclear weapon was dropped upon it. What does God call us to do as Christians and as a Church? Do we sit in our comfortable homes in Lancaster and say hypocritically, “I am glad that it wasn’t Lancaster?” Heaven forbid! No, the love of Christ compels us to see our neighbors in their suffering and respond to them in their need. In consultation with our congregational president, we decided to send a check to our sister congregation, Immanuel Lutheran in Joplin, to assist in their relief efforts. School teachers and other members of Immanuel have lost their homes. Many have had friends and family members who have lost their lives. The love of Christ compels us to do what we can to show the love and compassion of Christ to those in need.
But it doesn’t begin in Joplin. It begins here, at home. For we have opportunities before us to show our faith to our neighbors in need here in Lancaster and in Fairfield County, to assist those who are affected by unemployment, homelessness, and hunger. That is why we link with LSSCO (Lutheran Social Services), the Food Panty, community shelters and the like. It is why we support the work of COMA and its efforts with the Somali people to bring them the Gospel of Christ. It is why we work with other congregations in an organization like DORCAS, to bring Christ’s compassion to the people of Central and southeastern Ohio. It is why will host a servant week on the third week of June, to help a family in need in our community. We do this not to bring glory to this congregation or ourselves. We do it all to bring glory to God. We do this so that our faith might be active in love. This is what we are called to do, for God’s word is clear: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
There is only one true religion, and that truth is revealed in this: that sinners are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ. And this faith is revealed in how we treat those around us. God has touched you with His grace in Christ, so that in living lives of repentance, you might be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only, thereby giving glory to God by showing and sharing the love of Christ with others. May God grant each of us such repentance and faith, in Jesus’ name!
Amen
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Your Helper
YOUR HELPER
JOHN 16:5-15
5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he would take what is mine and declare it to you.
In the name of Jesus:
This little card provides some peace of mind to my family and me when we are traveling. This little AAA card guarantees that whenever my car is disabled, I will receive roadside assistance. If I need a tow truck, one will be made available, within certain parameters and limitations, of course, but if I need help from a tow truck, help will be on the way. If I need a jump for a car battery, or have a flat tire, this little card provides access whereby I can get the help that my family and I need when on the road. This isn’t a commercial for AAA; it is, though, one common example available to many of us that we have within our reach a helper when we need assistance.
Spiritually we are in need of God’s help. Lost and condemned because of sin, God sent help to sinners in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. By Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection salvation has been secured forever for sinners. When Jesus spoke to His disciples in the context of the lesson for today, Jesus was preparing to depart from earth to return to heaven. His mission had been accomplished. There was nothing else left for Jesus to do. So Jesus speaks to His disciples and tells them of His impending departure. Their hearts sink when they hear this news. Their beloved Savior is about to leave them, and their hearts are filled with grief. Their lives are obsessed with grief; it would be accurate to say that they were overcome with grief. The Gospel writer John tells us: “5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.”
How is it to the disciples and our advantage that Jesus departs and goes to heaven? Jesus answers that question by telling us that if He does not go away to the Father, the Helper, the Holy Spirit will not come to help us. Why does Jesus need to go away? Because His mission is complete, He returns from whence He came. Much like a solider who in victory returns home to a hero’s welcome, so too Jesus ascends to heaven, to receive heaven’s accolades on His victory over sin, Satan, and death for sinners. But Jesus, in love for sinners, promises to send help in the Person of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, who is called the Comforter or the Helper. Jesus says that it is to our advantage, to the sinner’s advantage, that He goes to heaven so that He will send the Holy Spirit.
What an understatement by our Lord! The Holy Spirit will come to help us in our salvation. Why do we need help? Because we can’t help ourselves! We are by nature sinful; we are spiritually dead and enemies of God! We have not spark, no energy, to love for God. We are spiritually dead, lifeless before God. So the Spirit comes to give us life! He comes to give us faith! He comes to bring us Jesus in a way, which comfort and help us today.
Jesus says: “. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” The Helper comes to help the sinful world AND to help those who belong to God. He has a two-fold task. The Helper comes first of all to convict the world of sinners, which include each and everyone of us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Helper convicts us of sin, because no one believes in Jesus of his or her own volition. By our very nature we reject God, His word, and the work of Jesus Christ. Each of us is by nature unbelievers. The sin of sins is unbelief, for in unbelief you reject Jesus. And so the work of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, is to convict us of our sin, to show us our utter sinfulness and hopelessness in the light of God’s Law. We are hopeless without God. We truly need a Savior. The Spirit works through the Law to show us that great need.
The Spirit convicts us of righteousness. He helps us in our righteousness, in that first of all, He shows us how unrighteous we are in God’s sight. Our righteousness is like filthy garments; hence the Spirit helps us by showing us and revealing to us another righteousness outside of ourselves, the righteousness of Christ, which we all need. God made sinners right with Him on account of Jesus. Even as all have sinned, all also have been made right with God on account of Jesus! The blood of Christ cleanses from all sin and by faith Jesus becomes our Righteousness. God exchanges your sinfulness and gives you Jesus’ right standing before the Father. The Spirit not only shows you this, but also actually GIVES you this. This is why He is our Helper.
The Spirit finally convicts us of judgment, by revealing that the ruler of this world, Christ has judged Satan. Even though the world lies in the tight clutches of Satan, Christ has crushed Satan’s head, and this judgment is for now and forever. It has happened and it has lasting results. The work of the Spirit bears witness to what Jesus has done and now shows us and now GIVES to all who believe in Jesus.
This is the absolute truth that Christ came to save sinners. The Spirit is our Helper to reveal to us our sinfulness and also to give us the faith we need to believe in Jesus, thereby making what Jesus has accomplished our very own possession. This is not a new truth. It is, though, divine truth. It is God’s truth. It is a truth that people do not want to hear. This is why Jesus calls the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the “Spirit of Truth” for He tells the truth about Jesus, about the world, and about Satan.
Note what the Scriptures say about Satan. He is called a liar, the father of lies, and that by his very nature no truth resides in him. And so, the Spirit, our Helper, shows Satan for what he is, and exposes his lies to us. And yet, the message of the Spirit is not to expound on the lies of Satan, but to reveal to sinners their only Hope for salvation, Jesus Christ. The Spirit’s sole message is all about Jesus. The Spirit does not point to Himself, He does not seek glory in and of Himself, and the Spirit does not speak what separately apart from the Father and the Son. No, instead the Spirit works with the Father and the Son and the Spirit point’s sinners to Jesus, who died and rose for our salvation. The Spirit only speaks what the Father and the Son tells Him to say. The Father points to His Son and says: This is my beloved Son; listen to Him, for there is salvation in no one else. The Spirit also points us to the Son and tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, and that Jesus alone is the Way, Truth, and Life, that no one can come to the Father except through faith in Jesus. The Spirit is our Guide, our Helper, leading us into the truth of Jesus as our Savior and our Lord.
But how does this happen? How does the Spirit help us in this way? He does so by giving us the very faith we need. He does so by working through definite means. He uses things in our existence whereby we may know for certain that God is at work to give us His gifts.
God’s good and gracious Gifts are given to us in His Holy Word and Sacraments. Here we know and receive God’s truth, and THIS TRUTH AND THESE GIFTS ARE NOT TO BE DESPISED!!! We despise these gifts when we take them for granted, when we deem not going to church as important, when we minimize and trivialize God’s gifts to us. Here we need to hear once again God’s command: Remember the Sabbath Day! Luther explains that this means that we should fear and love God that we do NOT despise preaching and His Word, but rather we are called to GLADLY HEAR AND LEARN IT.
God desires that we gladly receive His gifts and gladly hear and learn His truth, the Word of God. God tells us all we need to know and we have all that we need from God in the Bible. God hides nothing from us regarding our eternal salvation, it is all revealed in the Scriptures. The Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation for the Spirit speaks to us in and through the Word to tell us God’s truth concerning His Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit tells us in the Scriptures what we need to know concerning the kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of God so that we might be forewarned and forearmed in our daily battles with the Devil.
So how can we be armed for this battle with Satan? All we need is Jesus. Jesus has defeated Satan for you and all who believe. In Baptism, God places you in Christ for the Bible says that if anyone is baptized in Christ he or she becomes a new creation, the old things have passed away and all things have now become new. Christ’s victory becomes your victory for He gives you that victory in Baptism.
Christ also speaks to you in His Word, to not only announce to you the forgiveness of your sins but also to GIVE to you that forgiveness that you need. The Spirit speaks in His Word, so we can say that Christ speaks because the Spirit speaks only words, which have been given to Him to speak through the Father and the Son, and these words give Jesus to us. The Holy Spirit is our Helper because He receives from Jesus so that He can lead us to the Father.
One of the great times we have as a family is remembering. Sitting around the dinner table after a meal, someone will recall a certain event in our lives that caused laughter. Soon there is much joy around the table, as one of the family will share their family recollection. And whenever we forget the details of the story, someone is there to help us remember, to fill in the blanks, not only so that the story is told correctly, but also to spread the joy. The Holy Spirit has been sent from God the Father, through His Son Jesus Christ, to help us remember Jesus. There are trials and difficulties in our lives, which get in the way of our remembering what Jesus has done. And so Jesus has sent to us the Holy Spirit, who points us to Jesus, that even in our trials we might have joy. The Spirit is Jesus’ gift to you, to point us to Jesus, who is our ever-present Help in our times of need. Amen
JOHN 16:5-15
5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he would take what is mine and declare it to you.
In the name of Jesus:
This little card provides some peace of mind to my family and me when we are traveling. This little AAA card guarantees that whenever my car is disabled, I will receive roadside assistance. If I need a tow truck, one will be made available, within certain parameters and limitations, of course, but if I need help from a tow truck, help will be on the way. If I need a jump for a car battery, or have a flat tire, this little card provides access whereby I can get the help that my family and I need when on the road. This isn’t a commercial for AAA; it is, though, one common example available to many of us that we have within our reach a helper when we need assistance.
Spiritually we are in need of God’s help. Lost and condemned because of sin, God sent help to sinners in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. By Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection salvation has been secured forever for sinners. When Jesus spoke to His disciples in the context of the lesson for today, Jesus was preparing to depart from earth to return to heaven. His mission had been accomplished. There was nothing else left for Jesus to do. So Jesus speaks to His disciples and tells them of His impending departure. Their hearts sink when they hear this news. Their beloved Savior is about to leave them, and their hearts are filled with grief. Their lives are obsessed with grief; it would be accurate to say that they were overcome with grief. The Gospel writer John tells us: “5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.”
How is it to the disciples and our advantage that Jesus departs and goes to heaven? Jesus answers that question by telling us that if He does not go away to the Father, the Helper, the Holy Spirit will not come to help us. Why does Jesus need to go away? Because His mission is complete, He returns from whence He came. Much like a solider who in victory returns home to a hero’s welcome, so too Jesus ascends to heaven, to receive heaven’s accolades on His victory over sin, Satan, and death for sinners. But Jesus, in love for sinners, promises to send help in the Person of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, who is called the Comforter or the Helper. Jesus says that it is to our advantage, to the sinner’s advantage, that He goes to heaven so that He will send the Holy Spirit.
What an understatement by our Lord! The Holy Spirit will come to help us in our salvation. Why do we need help? Because we can’t help ourselves! We are by nature sinful; we are spiritually dead and enemies of God! We have not spark, no energy, to love for God. We are spiritually dead, lifeless before God. So the Spirit comes to give us life! He comes to give us faith! He comes to bring us Jesus in a way, which comfort and help us today.
Jesus says: “. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” The Helper comes to help the sinful world AND to help those who belong to God. He has a two-fold task. The Helper comes first of all to convict the world of sinners, which include each and everyone of us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Helper convicts us of sin, because no one believes in Jesus of his or her own volition. By our very nature we reject God, His word, and the work of Jesus Christ. Each of us is by nature unbelievers. The sin of sins is unbelief, for in unbelief you reject Jesus. And so the work of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, is to convict us of our sin, to show us our utter sinfulness and hopelessness in the light of God’s Law. We are hopeless without God. We truly need a Savior. The Spirit works through the Law to show us that great need.
The Spirit convicts us of righteousness. He helps us in our righteousness, in that first of all, He shows us how unrighteous we are in God’s sight. Our righteousness is like filthy garments; hence the Spirit helps us by showing us and revealing to us another righteousness outside of ourselves, the righteousness of Christ, which we all need. God made sinners right with Him on account of Jesus. Even as all have sinned, all also have been made right with God on account of Jesus! The blood of Christ cleanses from all sin and by faith Jesus becomes our Righteousness. God exchanges your sinfulness and gives you Jesus’ right standing before the Father. The Spirit not only shows you this, but also actually GIVES you this. This is why He is our Helper.
The Spirit finally convicts us of judgment, by revealing that the ruler of this world, Christ has judged Satan. Even though the world lies in the tight clutches of Satan, Christ has crushed Satan’s head, and this judgment is for now and forever. It has happened and it has lasting results. The work of the Spirit bears witness to what Jesus has done and now shows us and now GIVES to all who believe in Jesus.
This is the absolute truth that Christ came to save sinners. The Spirit is our Helper to reveal to us our sinfulness and also to give us the faith we need to believe in Jesus, thereby making what Jesus has accomplished our very own possession. This is not a new truth. It is, though, divine truth. It is God’s truth. It is a truth that people do not want to hear. This is why Jesus calls the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the “Spirit of Truth” for He tells the truth about Jesus, about the world, and about Satan.
Note what the Scriptures say about Satan. He is called a liar, the father of lies, and that by his very nature no truth resides in him. And so, the Spirit, our Helper, shows Satan for what he is, and exposes his lies to us. And yet, the message of the Spirit is not to expound on the lies of Satan, but to reveal to sinners their only Hope for salvation, Jesus Christ. The Spirit’s sole message is all about Jesus. The Spirit does not point to Himself, He does not seek glory in and of Himself, and the Spirit does not speak what separately apart from the Father and the Son. No, instead the Spirit works with the Father and the Son and the Spirit point’s sinners to Jesus, who died and rose for our salvation. The Spirit only speaks what the Father and the Son tells Him to say. The Father points to His Son and says: This is my beloved Son; listen to Him, for there is salvation in no one else. The Spirit also points us to the Son and tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, and that Jesus alone is the Way, Truth, and Life, that no one can come to the Father except through faith in Jesus. The Spirit is our Guide, our Helper, leading us into the truth of Jesus as our Savior and our Lord.
But how does this happen? How does the Spirit help us in this way? He does so by giving us the very faith we need. He does so by working through definite means. He uses things in our existence whereby we may know for certain that God is at work to give us His gifts.
God’s good and gracious Gifts are given to us in His Holy Word and Sacraments. Here we know and receive God’s truth, and THIS TRUTH AND THESE GIFTS ARE NOT TO BE DESPISED!!! We despise these gifts when we take them for granted, when we deem not going to church as important, when we minimize and trivialize God’s gifts to us. Here we need to hear once again God’s command: Remember the Sabbath Day! Luther explains that this means that we should fear and love God that we do NOT despise preaching and His Word, but rather we are called to GLADLY HEAR AND LEARN IT.
God desires that we gladly receive His gifts and gladly hear and learn His truth, the Word of God. God tells us all we need to know and we have all that we need from God in the Bible. God hides nothing from us regarding our eternal salvation, it is all revealed in the Scriptures. The Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation for the Spirit speaks to us in and through the Word to tell us God’s truth concerning His Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit tells us in the Scriptures what we need to know concerning the kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of God so that we might be forewarned and forearmed in our daily battles with the Devil.
So how can we be armed for this battle with Satan? All we need is Jesus. Jesus has defeated Satan for you and all who believe. In Baptism, God places you in Christ for the Bible says that if anyone is baptized in Christ he or she becomes a new creation, the old things have passed away and all things have now become new. Christ’s victory becomes your victory for He gives you that victory in Baptism.
Christ also speaks to you in His Word, to not only announce to you the forgiveness of your sins but also to GIVE to you that forgiveness that you need. The Spirit speaks in His Word, so we can say that Christ speaks because the Spirit speaks only words, which have been given to Him to speak through the Father and the Son, and these words give Jesus to us. The Holy Spirit is our Helper because He receives from Jesus so that He can lead us to the Father.
One of the great times we have as a family is remembering. Sitting around the dinner table after a meal, someone will recall a certain event in our lives that caused laughter. Soon there is much joy around the table, as one of the family will share their family recollection. And whenever we forget the details of the story, someone is there to help us remember, to fill in the blanks, not only so that the story is told correctly, but also to spread the joy. The Holy Spirit has been sent from God the Father, through His Son Jesus Christ, to help us remember Jesus. There are trials and difficulties in our lives, which get in the way of our remembering what Jesus has done. And so Jesus has sent to us the Holy Spirit, who points us to Jesus, that even in our trials we might have joy. The Spirit is Jesus’ gift to you, to point us to Jesus, who is our ever-present Help in our times of need. Amen
Sunday, May 8, 2011
A reminder of the ancestral homeland
Thanks to Rachel, the blog has a little bit of a new look. The picture in the background looks a great deal like the landscape of Scotland. And so, in a tip of the cap to my ancestors, I have changed the background to give the look of the Scottish coast. The cliff reminds me of the cliffs outside of Arbroath.
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