Keeping the Main Thing as the Main Thing.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen

When listening to sermons from various brands of modern evangelicalism we see something is lacking. Some of the sermons are more of a behaviour modification seminar than a Christian sermon. It is true we have specific things that God our Father expects from us. Being loving children we all would love to behave in ways that would please Him. Even when the sermon is laden with scripture it is presented in such a way as to be about the Christian rather than the Christ.

Another popular subject is end times. Whether the preacher is in his mind Premillenial, Post millennial or Amellenial the main emphasis is proving the point of where we are in history and what happens next. This is all very interesting and makes for great seminars and bible studies but is not Christian preaching.

Still another popular subject, especially around Eastertide, is proving through evidence that Jesus rose from the dead. The evidence is compelling and will leave no doubt in the honest brain that Jesus did indeed rise again from the dead as promised. However, that type of sermon is information not proclamation. You can speak to many an unbeliever and many will agree that Jesus rose from the dead. But it does not mean that person trusts this truth for a saving reason.

Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ESV

We see in the above section what Jesus said is the main proclamation. No matter the part of the bible being preached it is about Christ crucified and resurrected. The Gospel is not merely the facts surrounding what happened to Jesus. It is the promises associated with his finished work which makes up the Gospel.

Yes indeed the law must be laid down in all its crushing force. There should be no wiggle room for any sinner to escape its condemning diagnosis. And after the diagnosis is pronounced and the death sentence given then the sweetness of the Gospel can come forth into the ears of the sinners. By this hearing we receive the forgiveness of our sins. This Gospel is received through the waters of baptism when God’s name is placed on us and we become new creatures risen with Jesus, We also receive this when we take in the body and blood of our Lord into our mouths as he promised. What wonderful peace is ours after a week, in all honesty, we knew coming into worship we have been defeated by our own fallen and sinful nature.

And this is to be proclaimed in Jesus name to all nations. This includes the 21st century USA to believers in Christ. The objection is raised that as believers we all ready know this. In deed we do but we get sidetracked and therefore leak faith. In this world one gets ahead by trying hard and being faithful. Those are laudable actions and the duty of those baptized into the name of the Triune God. However, that is not how we get ahead as far as our relationship to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He has proclaimed us ahead by granting repentance and the forgiveness of sin. We receive this good news by faith and live in the peace that it offers. In addition we can know we are set free to do the things that please Father because of His grace and the robe of righteousness we also receive by faith in baptism.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen †

Fruit Inspection 2.

1 John 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. ESV

Many times the above section of scripture is used for judging another person or oneself is in the faith or not. From the initial appearance it does seem to be a proving text for settling the question. This however, comes from a not making the distinction between law and Gospel. To make this clearer one needs to use the context in which this passage is placed.
The nearer context is backing up to the first verses in the chapter:

1 John 1:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. ESV

God the Father has called us his children. It is by His pronouncement that we know this. The difficulty presents itself when we see sin in our lives and in the lives of our brothers and sisters. The statement is often made that we and should know better than to act a certain way or to serve our neighbour more fully. When one keeps on reading it shows that we are children of God now not in the sometime future when we have personally resisted all temptation. This promise is to be looked at for the assurance not what we see with our own eyes. The further promise is that it will appear what we will become. This refers to the time after we depart this veil of tears and trouble. These promises also serve as a motivation to resist temptation when we see it coming and serve those in need when we see it. This is done throughout our daily rounds in our vocations as family member, employee, employer and citizen.

If a person finds him or herself not loving another brother or sister as earlier in the letter confess his or her sin and God will cleanse of all unrighteousness. The law always accuses and never gives strength to overcome sin. In this way the law serves the Gospel by pointing us back to our Triune God. So where would one find this strength?

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ESV

What we need to hear again and again is how we are loved by God. How that this love was such that He sent His son into the world so that we may live through Him. God loved us first, dwells in us by his Spirit so that we love one another. This again is the fruit of the cross of Christ and not something we muscle up from within ourselves. We receive this fruit at our baptism when we are born of water and Spirit. Again all glory to God alone.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen. †

I'm With Him

Imagine that! Friends with the Creator of all that is seen and unseen! Every being created is a servant of God. By nature we are servants who are hostile toward God and are worthy only of His present and eternal punishment. We all know this don’t we. This causes much fear in people that they either deny the existence of God or form one whom they can manipulate into loving them.

Jesus came in human flesh to accomplish what we cannot even dream of doing. He came to make us different by declaration. He calls us His friends:

John 15: 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. ESV

In a recent conversation with some Christians it was mentioned that a few of them do not believe only in one Day of Judgment. Rather what is hoped is that Christians are taken out of this world in a special move of God prior to the last day. This view goes by the name of Premillennialism. The bothering part of the single Day of Judgment taught clearly by Jesus is each time the statement is made about being judged according to our works. This causes much fear in many Christians about the final judgement. This is one of the reasons for the wishful thinking about seperate days when Jesus takes the church home and judges the lost. When we are honest with ourselves we have to admit we fall short on a continual basis. So how can we survive this last Day of Judgment where works are going to be examined?

In a sermon a while back the following illustration was used by Pastor Wm Cwirla of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hacienda Heights California:

A person I know got an invitation from a friend of his, who happened to be the director of the San Francisco Bach Society, to come to a rehearsal of the San Francisco Orchestra. He got to tour backstage and see the side of the concert hall that usually only the musicians saw. One of the security guards saw him wandering around backstage and questioned him. “What are you doing here,” he asked. “I’m with him,” the man said, pointing to his friend. I imagine that’s what Judgment Day will be like, when the Law says, “What are you doing here?” and the only response will be to point to Jesus and say, “I’m with Him.” *

So we can lay aside our fears that the law generates in us about meeting Jesus on that day. He fulfilled the laws requirements for us. In addition Jesus paid for our transgressions of that law with His holy and innocent sufferings and death. As those who are baptized into the Name of the Holy Triune God can know we have this promised to us as well as in this life we are no longer hostile servants but truly His friends.

In the name of Jesus. Amen. †

*Used by permission of Rev William Cwirla. His podcasted sermons are linked at the right of this blog.

At The Lamb's High Feast

Oh how I long for the Divine Service. Jesus being true God is with us each and everyday. However, in this service Jesus promises to be present in a very special and salutary way. The high point of this service is the reception of the body and blood of our Lord for the forgiveness of sin.

At the Lamb’s high feast we sing

Praise to our victorious king,

Who has washed us in the tide

Flowing from his pierced side.

Alleluia!

Praise we him, whose love divine

Gives his sacred blood for wine,

Gives his body for the feast

Christ the victim,

Christ the priest.

Alleluia!

Where the paschal blood is poured,

Death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;

Israel’s hosts triumphant go

Through the wave that drowns the foe.

Alleluia!

Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,

Paschal victim, paschal bread;

With sincerity and love

Eat we manna from above.

Alleluia!

Mighty Victim from the sky,

Hell’s fierce powers beneath you lie;

You have conquered in the fight

You have brought us life and light.

Alleluia!

Now no more can death appall,

Now no more the grave enthrall;

You have opened paradise,

And your saints in you shall rise.

Alleluia!

Easter triumph,

Easter joy!

This alone can sin destroy;

From sin’s power,

Lord, set us free,

Newborn souls in you to be.

Alleluia!

Father, who the crown shall give,

Savior, by whose death we live,

Spirit, guide through all our days;

Three in One,

Your name we praise.

Alleluia!

The above hymn is frequently sung during distribution. It drives home the point Jesus made on the night He was betrayed:

Matthew 26: 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ESV

Through these words of promise we know that when we receive the bread and wine in our mouths we are receiving the true body and blood of our Lord. In this way we can receive our sins forgiven. We cannot go back in time to Calvary to receive the fruits of Jesus’ work. He has promised this meal does deliver those benefits to us each and every time we receive it by faith. To say otherwise renders this an empty work one does for God instead of a powerful work God does for us.

We also come to appreciate another promise of Jesus:

Matthew 28:20b And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen †

Fruit Inspectors.

In speaking with Christians who are Bible literate and the subject of how one knows if one is saved fruit inspection will come up. In the sermon on the mount Jesus said these words:

Matthew 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. ESV

From the first reading one can come away with the idea that one knows another’s faith by what they do. This is also how many will claim to know that he or she is a Christian as well. What this leads to is to always judge another person to see if he or she is in the faith. Now humans are quite adept at finding fault with another human. I have heard many people toss doubt at another person due to perhaps a loss of temper or a word will slip that should not be used. Or man made pietism will take the place of God’s law for a person to live up to in order to have knowledge of peace with God.

Another problem with this is that due to our flesh still being with us it is easy to either not recognize our own sin or excuse it away. Perhaps and unkind word was said to another. The person speaking it is called to account for it. “Well they made me mad and I was right in saying this to them!” That is impenitent sin. Impenitent sin is a sign of unbelief.

1 John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ESV

In addition we should back up one verse in the Matthew 7 scripture to see in context to what Jesus was speaking.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ESV

Jesus was finishing up teaching about Himself. In that he was comparing and contrasting himself with those who contradict him. This is not at all about how to examine another or even yourself to find out if you are in the faith. What shows that to us are the promises that God has adopted us in the waters of baptism and Jesus comes to us in the Holy Supper in the form of the bread and wine for the forgiveness of our sin. In these very tangible ways he delivers to us the fruits of his cross. In this way we do not have to subjectively examine our works to determine how God regards us.

We praise you Oh Christ. †

The Large Part of God's Heart.

We just cannot understand God can we? Throughout the Christian church we hear of this harsh Creator who is waiting to zap us. Pastor Shrank today mentioned how he met a Christian family who in conversation told him at their church they were taught if you missed worship during one week and died that week you would not go to heaven. He was amazed at that. As a life long Lutheran he has never heard of such a thing. As a pastor he would never dream of saying such a thing. He was hoping they were misunderstanding or misinformed in this. Well those of us who were raised in other parts of the holy Christian church have heard similar things. Obey God or else!

Exodus 20: 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. ESV

In the above passage I have heard many Christians concentrate on God visiting the iniquity of the fathers to the third and fourth generations. This is certainly true. Approaching God from His attributes of Sovereignty and Holiness we are toast. This is how all religions in the world try to approach God apart from Christianity. However, we see the next statement that He shows steadfast love to thousands who love Him and keep his commandments. We must resist the temptation to make God like one of us. We are more judgmental than forgiving. We keep a record of sin against others. How sad when we think to ourselves and say to others that God is like we are in this way. So He allows us a glimpse inside His heart where there is justice and judgment but also much more mercy and grace.

God in His kindness has gone through the trouble of bringing us out of slavery to sin. Jesus by taking on Him human flesh, living the life for us He requires, taking our sin upon Him and suffering our just punishment and rising from the dead for our justification He shows His heart for us and frees us from slavery to sin. Jesus having gone through all that it does not follow that He would look for opportunities to zap us as if that opportunity would be difficult to find. No He gifts us with His righteousness and in His sight we love Him and keep His commandments by His grace through the gift of faith.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen †

Something to Brag About.

The theology of self glory is running rampant in this Purpose Driven, Best Life Now, and Christian Hedonistic Church where Christ crucified is seldom the main topic of sermons. It is no wonder one can usually hear another trotting out his or her sanctified life as some sort of encouragement. Granted good works and victory over some temptations is part and parcel of a Christian’s life. In fact these works are incidental since we have God’s Name placed on us in the waters of Holy Baptism.

Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ESV

Why all the bragging as if it is the work of the Christians instead of the Spirit of Christ delivering the fruit of the cross to us? As mentioned earlier it is the Christian centered sermons which are so living under the law based the cross is hidden and that which Christ won for us is minimized. When one however, is hit upside the head with the law it is a dismal outcome. The law when it is presented to us in all its crushing accusation will terrify the reader or hearer of even his or her salvation. And they should be terrified if they look to their works for anything with God. Nothing new about this problem:

Martin Luther in his Heidelberg Disputation stated:

By so much more are the works of man mortal sins when they are done without fear and in unadulterated, evil self-security.

He further comments: The inevitable deduction from the preceding thesis is clear. For where there is no fear there is no humility. Where there is no humility there is pride, and where there is pride there are the wrath and judgment of God, for God opposes the haughty. Indeed, if pride would cease there would be no sin anywhere.

So we see the good that a believer does is sin which the Lord hates because of the pride associated with it when it is done to gain merit with God. This is why we should never look to our good works to gain anything from God. Jesus did all the good works necessary for our being pleasing in God’s sight. This is liberating for we do not have to be concerned about how much our works are done out of love for God and how much because we may like the person we are serving. We are set free to do that which is pleasing in God’s sight not in order to please Him.

Thanks be to God. †