​Trinity 4                                                                                                                                                                 July 5, 2020
Genesis 50:15-21
 
Payback Time!
 
v.15, 19, 21          When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.”  But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?...So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.”  Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
 
Dear friends in Christ, this day we have as our text a familiar story.  For this is a story common to all families—especially those with siblings.  For where brothers and sisters are concerned—and other family too—when they get into fights or play tricks on each other—what so often happens next?  Payback!  Payback in full—or, as is often the case, payback beyond the scope of the original offense.
Such is what Joseph’s older brothers thought would happen to them.  For you see, in their anger and frustration with their younger brother—who also was their father’s favourite son—they devised a plan to sell Joseph (their overly annoying and obnoxious brother) into slavery—get rid of him and tell their father Jacob that Joseph was dead—which was exactly what they did.  Kind of makes the family squabbles we have pale in comparison, doesn’t it?
However, many years later, they discovered that Joseph, by God’s grace, had been made into a powerful figure in Egypt—indeed, the most powerful man in Egypt beside Pharaoh himself.  Initially, Joseph had taken his family in during a terrible famine—had moved his entire extended family to Egypt—but now the boys’ father, Jacob, was dead.  And the older brothers assumed that with dear old dad gone, it was now going to be time for some payback.  That their former misdeeds—their sin—was now going to be their ruin.  Uh-oh. 
Beloved, does this same situation not happen to us as well?  I know that in our youth we often do not seem too bothered by much of anything.  But as we grow older, as we mature—especially in our faith as Christians—we grow more and more aware of our sin and the terrible nature of it all.  Each of us is 100% sinner in the sight of God—each of us is deserving of God’s full and complete wrath—not just for the times we’ve fought with our siblings and family—but for all that we do—all that we are—which is in opposition to God and His perfect and holy will.  And sometimes, we can even be brought to despair over the severity of our sinfulness, as Joseph's brothers were—wondering if true forgiveness can ever be ours.
May this never be, dear friends.  For when the magnitude of our sin drives us to despair, the magnitude of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, which swallows sins—no matter how great they are—should be praised and increased all the more.  Joseph’s brothers were terrified of him after their father died because they didn’t truly and fully believe that Joseph had forgiven them.  At times, we can’t believe that God would forgive such rank and horrible sinners as ourselves. 
But you see, dear friends, when Satan has driven you to your knees with the crushing weight of your sin before your eyes—when the world would seek to grind you up and lead you away from the light of the Saviour—Jesus comes to you.  He speaks words of comfort and reconciliation to you.  Jesus is your Joseph—who consoles you with the sure and certain promises given and confirmed to you in His own body and blood that He sacrificed unto death for your sins.  Jesus is the One who does not condemn—He does not judge you harshly as you deserve—but declares you righteous and holy—as those who believe in Him and His cleansing blood.
It is through Jesus Christ that God gives life that runs over in the face of death.  It is Jesus who gives hope in the face of despair.  For through faith in Christ we are truly children of the heavenly Father—who has shown mercy to us—forgiving us and cleansing us from all evil and darkness.
Jesus speaks to you this day in the words of holy absolution.  You are a sinner?  You confess it freely?  Thanks be to God—the Lord Jesus has died to take away your sin.  He has suffered for it all in your place when He went to the cross and was pierced with cruel thorns, nails, and spear.  All for you.  All by grace.
Jesus washes you in your baptism, day by day, to remove the crushing weight of sin that perpetually hangs over your head.  He removes the stains of the guilt—the filthy refuse that clings to your sin-spattered soul.  He takes it away and covers you in His own holiness and righteousness—presenting you to the Father as one who has been redeemed by His blood.
Now this is not license to sin.  For both wrath and mercy are with God and His anger rests on sinners.  Therefore, we should look at it in this way.  The greater the goodness and mercy of God is, the less it is to be abused.  The more that we are forgiven, the more we are moved by the Holy Spirit to flee from sin and temptation.  However, as sinners we will fall.  And whoever falls should continually run for refuge to God’s grace.  For we cannot buoy ourselves up—rather we must be lifted up by the merciful arms of our Saviour Jesus Christ.  When forgiveness in Christ has been grasped, sin has already been cured.
Beloved, you will at times feel horrible—you will wrestle with God’s Law, with your own sinful nature and habits—you will fight against the world and the devil all the days of your life.  For you will be sorely tempted to disappear from church for weeks/months/perhaps even years at a time (even without a pandemic!).  Remember that faith is not obtained, nor retained, by your own strength—rather it is God’s gift given to sinners. 
Therefore, we do not despair.  Rather, we gather together in worship so that we may be lifted up and strengthened in the one true faith—fed and nourished by God’s gifts to us in His Word and Sacrament.  As you come before this altar to eat and to drink of Christ’s body and blood in bread and wine—you are strengthened in your faith through the sure and certain proclamation of the forgiveness of your sins.  Remember that each time sin bites you and hounds you—flee to the promises of God made sure and certain in the Word of Christ Jesus given unto death for you and all people.
Joseph spoke kindly to his brothers and promised to provide for them.  Just so has the Lord Jesus done for you.  He has not given you payback according to your sins, rather He has paid for your sins with the stripes on His own back.  He took the full wrath and punishment of God into His own flesh so that you and I could be spared what we deserve.  Instead, He pours out His riches and mercy upon you and me—undeserving sinners. 
The Lord God confirms His Word of salvation spoken to you in your Baptism when you are absolved of your sins by the Word of the pastor who stands in Christ’s stead.  He gives you a pledge of your salvation in bread and wine, which is also His own true body and blood—that you may not despair—but rejoice in the gift of salvation given to you this day and every day.   For there is no payback from the heavenly Father to worry about—for Jesus has paid all our debt in full with the blood of His cross.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

​Trinity 3                                                                                                                                                      June 28, 2020
Luke 15:1-10
 
Joyful Repentance!?
 
v.1-2 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Him.  And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
 
          Dear friends in Christ, at this point in St. Luke's Gospel, Jesus is being accompanied wherever He goes by great crowds of people.  His teaching and preaching is lighting a fire in the Israeli countryside that is burning out of control.  People want to hear this Jesus—see Him—touch Him—be healed by Him—and they will come great distances to do so.  The religious leaders of the day take note of this—wondering exactly who this popular Rabbi might be?  He certainly seemed to be a holy man—but then Jesus would do things that struck them as wrong—things that were out of place in their understanding of holiness and righteousness. 
          You see, in first century Jewish Palestine, things were much different than they are today.  To eat with someone back then indicated a close relationship and fellowship—there was a level of intimacy and comradeship that occurred when people broke bread together.  So, while the Jewish authorities were glad when Jesus came to dine at their tables, yet they were confused and distressed by His Table fellowship with "sinners"—the undesirables of society—those who neglected the Law of Moses—and especially the many other rules that the religious leaders of the day had invented.
          "This man receives sinners and eats with them," they remark in shocked outrage and undisguised scorn.  How could He?  If Jesus truly were a prophet, they reasoned, then He should know with whom He is eating—and should turn away from them in disgust—even as the Pharisees and Scribes did in their daily lives.  They would never be seen talking with—let alone sharing  a meal with—such sinners as those Roman sycophants—the tax collectors—not to mention the prostitutes and the other unsavory characters Jesus interacted with.  It just wasn't done!  It wasn't seemly!  Think of the children!  We can't have them associating with those wicked people.
          Jesus, of course, will have none of this nonsense.  For He has come into the world to save sinners—which includes the obvious sinners of the day:  tax collectors, prostitutes, etc., but which also included the Pharisees and Scribes—the outwardly righteous ones who thought they had no need of repentance.  So in mercy Jesus tells them a series of parables to demonstrate just how great God's love is for all people—and to help us see that we too are sinners in need of repentance. 
          Luke 15 is the Gospel within the Gospel of Luke.  For herein is highlighted the gracious provision of God for sinful humanity.  Each story grows in the value of that which is lost:  1 sheep out of 100, 1 coin out of 10, two sons out of two (yes, both were lost, albeit in different ways!).  And what is the recurring theme that echoes throughout these stories:  the joy in heaven over the one sinner who repents. 
          This strikes the human heart and ears as rather strange at first.  Why would we want to rejoice over someone's repentance?  Doesn't that mean that they have first done something wrong—have sinned?  Why would we be happy about that?  Indeed, we do not rejoice in sin or wrongdoing of any kind, but the Christian does find joy in repentance—in turning away from sin and turning toward God and His mercy in Christ. 
          Make no mistake, dear friends, we are all lost—we are all sinners—dead and lifeless—unable to help ourselves—or even to reach toward God.  We are lost—like the dead and lifeless coin—and must be found.  Only God can do that great work.  Only God can bring us back to Himself.  Only God can seek us out in our sin and death—and rescue us—putting us on His shoulders like a lost sheep—and bringing us back to life by the Light of His saving Gospel.  And each and every time He does so—each time a person is reborn a child of God in Holy Baptism—each time an individual confesses his sinfulness before God and man—each time one humbly approaches the altar of God to receive the body and blood of Jesus in bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins—there is an uproar in the Kingdom of heaven—a great exclamation of joy, praise, and thanksgiving!  For the Kingdom of God belongs not to the righteous—but sinners.  And so the Kingdom of God belongs to you, dear friends—people of faith—people called by God to repentance.
          While we take no joy in our sin—yet we know that God has come in Christ Jesus to save sinners—that means you and me!  It means the neighbor we hate!  The relative we can't stand!  The politician who make our blood boil!  The criminal!  It means He came to save us all.  He calls us to repent of our sin—to leave our self-made righteousness (which is no righteousness at all)—to leave it all behind—and to cling only to Jesus for our salvation.  To look to Christ on the cross, sacrificed for your sins and mine.  See the blood flow from His sacred veins!  See the blood flow from His grievous wounds!  He suffered and died for you!  He bled to rescue you from your sin—to deliver you from death—to usher you into His blessed kingdom of life and peace.
          But to those who scoff at Jesus!  To those who would look down their noses upon their neighbors—to those who would say in their hearts, "I'm no sinner—I don't need saving—I'm certainly better than that other person!"—those people are lost.  Lost in their own delusion of self-righteousness—and barreling toward damnation in hell.  When those prideful thoughts enter your own hearts, beloved, repent!  Turn away from them as that which is of the devil—and flee to Christ!  Seek His mercy, which is ever for you—behold His cross—repent—and rejoice!  Just as you rejoice over every sinner who repents—no matter who they are—no matter what they have done—for if Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—that means He came to save them—and you—and me!
          How can you be sure of His love and mercy?  Just as Jesus received sinners and ate with them during His earthly ministry—so He continues to do so today.  He calls you, beloved—you who have been baptized into His holy name—washed clean of your sin by the blood of Jesus—He calls you to heed His voice and receive the Supper He has prepared for you—a Holy Supper of His own body and blood in bread and wine—given to you sinners to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of your sins.  When you struggle with self-righteous pride—when you flounder under the weight of the guilt and shame of your great sin—you turn to Christ's own Supper—and receive into your very mouths His own body and blood which was given into death to pay for your sin and grant you everlasting life.  This simple meal, is but a foretaste of the Feast to come.  The Feast which will continue unto eternity—as all the saints and angels gather round the throne in heaven—offering worship and praise to the Lamb who was slain—whose blood set us free to be people of God! 
          Are you a sinner, dear one?  Yes!  Give all praise and glory to God who has led you to this acknowledgment—granting you repentance and faith.  For Jesus receives sinners and eats with them!  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Trinity 2                                                                                                                                                      June 21, 2020
Luke 14:15-24
 

v.23-24       “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.  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.”
 
                Beloved, have you ever been invited to a party?  Maybe a birthday or Father's Day bash?  It feels good to be invited and many of us look forward to attending such events.  And you can always tell when it is a really special event, like a wedding or anniversary celebration.  The invitation may even come by special courier instead of regular post--it's often printed on special quality paper, inscribed with high quality ink (like gold)--to indicate to you the special nature of the party to which you are being invited.  We feel really good when we're invited to something special, don't we?  It's a chance to dress up, perhaps, eat and drink at someone else's expense, rub elbows perhaps with friends and family long missed, and best of all--no dishes to clean up after!
                It may surprise you to learn that Jesus was often invited to parties.  Indeed, as the greatest miracle worker the world has ever seen, people longed to have Him at their house--a kind of feather in their cap--He was bigger than David Copperfield and Chris Angel--He was the greatest show in town...and so many people sought His attention and favour whenever He was in town. 
                Here in our text, Jesus, while attending a dinner party (at the invitation of the local rich Pharisees), uses the very image of dinner, a great banquet feast to which many were invited, to relate the message that the Kingdom of heaven is not for a select few, the social/religious elite (which rather shocked His pharisaic listeners!).  Rather, Jesus speaks of a kind and gracious host who planned a very special dinner party—the master sent out invitations—not once, but twice!  He sent the first one to invite all the people to come, then he sent a personal messenger to announce to the invited guests that all was prepared—all was ready—and so to come and receive the bounteous feast that had been arranged.
                Jesus declares to us in His holy word that His kingdom is for all people.  He calls all people to repentance and faith.  Come, all who are weary and heavy laden, downcast and downtrodden, all those who have been lost and are hiding in the highways and byways of the streets and the wider countryside—those who are stricken with fear and self-loathing over their sin—those who are bowed down with grief and pain and sorrow—those who are newly married--business owners--vacationers--young and old--He calls you—He calls me—sinners all—and says to “come.”  Come and receive His mercy, receive His forgiveness, receive His life that He so freely and generously gave up on the cross so that we might feast upon His holy body and blood.
                The Lord's message is not about you and me meeting Him halfway, or even part way there.  He does not beckon us to come to Him as though He is standing at the top of the ladder into heaven and we are at the bottom—He is not waiting for us to make that first step, or several steps up to Him (for He knows that because of our sinful pride and arrogance—our very corrupted nature—that would never happen—for we enjoy it down in the pit of sin and despair and death—we wallow in it—we relish it).  He has sent His servants out into all the world to "compel people to come in, that His house may be filled."  Does He compel through force?  No, through gracious invitation.  An invitation rooted and grounded in His coming to us.  Indeed, Jesus has come down to us—He has descended from on high—He has come.
                In the womb of the virgin Mary Christ came and was made flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit.  He has come among us—Emmanuel—God with us.  He has come to live that perfect life—fulfilling all of God’s “thou shalts and thou shalt nots” in our stead, because we could not.  He has come to suffer—the excruciating agony of death and eternal separation from the Father in heaven, what you and I deserve for each and every single sin in our lives—He suffered for it in His own flesh and blood on the cross of Calvary.  He has come to rise victoriously on the third day so that in Him we might have life eternal and salvation. 
                No, indeed, our Lord does not stand up at the top of the ladder of salvation, dangling the carrot of forgiveness over our heads if we would only do as we’re told.  He does not say to us, “Come on, you can do it, I’ll forgive you, bring you into my kingdom, if you just do this or that—follow these 7 steps to a new and better you, if you just climb these rungs on the ladder and do a few good deeds.”  No, it is not an “I’ll come to you if you come to me” type of arrangement at all. 
                Rather, it is "I’ll come to you, because I know that you cannot come to me.  For you are truly dead in your trespasses and sins.  You are justly under my Father’s eternal wrath and condemnation for all your iniquity and the guilt of your sins is heavy upon you.  Therefore, I come."  He comes to you, dearly beloved in Christ, compelling you through His sacred reassuring means of grace.  He has come to you in your Baptism, He has come to you in Holy Absolution and He comes to you in the blessed Supper of His own body and blood freely outpoured for your sins.  In His incarnation, His entire life, death, and resurrection, He has come to you—and through the sacraments He gives you all that He has won—for He has fully redeemed and purchased you from your sin so that you are no longer under God’s wrath, but have been set free.
                What’s more the Father has not just set you free to be on your merry way, but rather He has invited you, brought you into His kingdom so that you may attend the greatest dinner party ever given!  His invitation call was given when water was poured upon your head in His triune name in Baptism.  His call is whispered and shouted each time the Gospel is proclaimed in your hearing.  He calls you to the eternal feasting of His heavenly banquet, of which the Holy Supper we celebrate is but a foretaste, but in which we have the assurance and fullness of all that is ours by faith in crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ.       
                Our gracious God the Holy Spirit is calling you into a gathering, a holy communion of likeminded, believing individuals, united in the doctrine and Word of Christ, to participate in the greatest and longest dinner party ever—one in which the very host Himself, our Lord Jesus, offers Himself to you His own true body and blood in bread and wine so that you may eat, drink, and be merry—rejoicing in the free forgiveness of all your sins—receiving His life, salvation, and heavenly kingdom—strengthening you for a life of good works—filled with the good food of the Good News—unto life everlasting.   And so, my beloved friends in Christ.  Come.  Come and taste and see that the Lord is good.  For in Him you have everything you need and so much more, clinging to the simple food of the greatest banquet ever, and to which you have been personally invited and called.
                Your Baptism into the Lord's name serves as your invitation--one written in the blood of Jesus upon the wood of the cross.  An invitation like no other that promises joy and everlasting life.  We dare not ignore that invitation--turn away from our Baptism--think we have more time to come to Him--for we know not the day nor the hour when Christ will return, or even of our own death.  So, we live confident in His invitation to us, knowing, trusting, and believing in His promises to us wherein we will feast with and all the saints in glory--now and forevermore.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Trinity 1                                                                                                                                                      June 14, 2020
1 John 4:16-21
 
v.21   And this commandment we have from Him; whoever loves God must also love His brother.
 
          Dear friends in Christ, our text from the first letter of St. John hits us rather hard, doesn't it—kind of right between the eyes—or, should I say—right in the heart?  He reiterates this command from our Lord Jesus Christ that whoever loves God must also love his brother.  Some may look at this as being opposed to the very Gospel of Jesus—that is, that one is saved by God's grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone—and not by loving one's brother.  Of course, these two things: love of God (faith) and love of brother (good works) are not opposed to one another, but rather go hand in hand. 
          For, beloved, faith in Jesus Christ alone saves, but saving faith is never alone.  As John writes, "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."  So, if you declare, "I love God"—meaning "I have faith" and therefore I am saved—but at the same time hate your brother—you are a liar.  You are one who tells falsehoods.  For your life gives evidence of the lie in your heart.  "For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot (is not capable/does not have the power) to love God whom he has not seen." 
          Think of the story from Luke 16 that Jesus tells of the Rich man and Lazarus.  Lazarus was a poor beggar—a homeless, sick, and starving man—laid at the gate of the Rich man.  The Rich man no doubt knew all the right people—had all the right connections—had lavish parties and sumptuous feasts to which his friends and family were invited.  He was a good Jew who attended synagogue—was well-known to the Rabbi/preacher.  By many appearances he seemed to be a good and faithful child of Abraham.  But the lie was shown by the fact that he ignored Lazarus placed by his gate.  He did not even attempt to feed, clothe, or help Lazarus in any way, but rather kept him kicked off to the side—by the garbage—where only the dogs came and licked Lazarus' sores.  When the Rich man died, he was shocked to find himself in the fiery torments of Hades.  He called Abraham "Father"—he thought he had lived a good life of faith.  But he did not truly love God whom he had not seen, for he did not love his brother, Lazarus, whom he had seen.  He had failed to heed and listen to Moses and the Prophets—to hear the Word of God and believe and trust in the promises of God concerning Jesus His Son.  There was no faith—for there was no love.
          Beloved, does this not make our blood turn cold?  We must all take a long, hard look at ourselves in the mirror of God's Holy Law—the 10 Commandments—as we reflect upon our lives of thought, word, and deed.  We must confess our sins and repent.  For we have not loved our neighbor—our brother—as ourselves.  This is seen vividly, if we are honest with ourselves, each time we go on social media or watch the news, and we encounter people with different viewpoints than our own: politically, morally, whatever.  Be honest.  When they do or speak things that you think are wrong or evil—even considered by God to be wrong or evil—do you LOVE them—or does the wellspring of hatred rise up in your heart?  Do you think nasty thoughts about them—say mean things?
          What about the people you come into contact with in your daily life?  The neighbor who is sick, but whose dog poops on your lawn?  What about the disheveled, smelly person walking down the street—do you think good thoughts about them—do you take the time to love them as your brother?  Or do you turn away in fear or disgust—annoyed that you should even have to look at them?   So, you see, dear friends, that it is not just people of different skin color or ethnicities that sometimes hate—but that it is those all around us.  And this is sin.  For every person on this planet—every person who has ever lived—or will ever live—is someone for whom Jesus Christ has suffered and died on the cross.  They were considered worthy enough—loved by God so much—that He sent His Son to die for their sins too—for they have been made in His image and likeness—just as are all the children of Adam and Eve—Noah and Abraham.  And so we are called by Christ to love our neighbor—our brother—even our enemy—those who persecute and hurt us—we are to love them as God has first loved us.
          But how, dear friends?  How can I ever love like that?  How can I exhibit the love that God has for me to my brother—especially when bitterness and hatred wells up within my heart?  Not on your own, of course!  Not by yourself.  As John writes in his epistle (v.16), "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."  God is love.  As John wrote earlier in v.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."  Our love does not come from within us—from our own sin-filled—hate-filled hearts.  Rather, our love flows from Him who loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the means by which we are forgiven—through His shed blood).  God shows His love for us in that while were still sinners, Christ died for us.  He has taken away the guilt and shame of our sin by the redeeming tide of His blood. 
          As Christians, we abide in this love of God for us in Christ—for this is the very Gospel—the Good News of our salvation.  We are forgiven through faith in Christ—believing and trusting in His Word and promises—just as elderly Abram believed the promise of God in Genesis 15 to send him an heir from his own body—and the Lord counted it to him as righteousness.  Just so, we Christians believe in the same promise given to Abram—the seed of Abram who has come—Jesus—to destroy the power of sin and death by conquering them with His own death in our place—as our substitute. 
          Certainly, dear friends, we see our many sins by the light of God's holy Law.  As we examine our lives in view of the 10 Commandments our lack of love toward God and neighbor is clearly evident.  God grants us His own Holy Spirit to lead us to repentance—to turn away from our lack of love—and turn to the love of God for us in Christ—trusting in His mercy toward us for the sake of Jesus. 
          This is why we don't fear the Day of Judgment.  As Christians, we are perfected in the love of God for us in Christ.  His blood washes away all our sin.  For Christ has not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  "As He is, so also are we in this world."  How is Jesus?  He is the Beloved of the Father—perfect in righteousness, holiness, and purity. 
          "Whoa!" you think.  "That can't mean me!  Look at my sin-filled heart.  Look at my lack of love toward God and brother.  Surely, God could not look at me in the same way He looks at Jesus!  I don’t deserve that!"  No, beloved, you don't.  But that is what makes it God's grace.  It is His undeserved kindness and favor toward you on account of Jesus by which you are saved—simply by believing and trusting in His work for you on the cross.  All this is because of God's love for you in Jesus.  When the Father looks at you now, He does not see your sin—your hate—your wickedness and evil—now He sees only the perfect love and righteousness and holiness of Jesus.   
          This is why John writes (v.18), "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts our fear.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."  You do not fear the Day of Judgment.  For you know that Jesus has been judged in your place—suffered the full wrath of God for your sins on the cross.  The perfect love of God—Jesus—casts out the fear and the sin of your heart.  How, then, can you NOT love your brother?  For you live and abide in the powerful, transforming love of God for you in Christ Jesus. 
          So this commandment from God to love your brother (whomever that may be) is not a burden, but rather a joy!  "For [you] have come to know and to believe the love that God has for [you].  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."  As our hymn put it so beautifully (LSB 845:5-6), "Let us recall that in our midst  Dwells Christ, His only Son;  As members of His body joined  We are in Him made one.  For love excludes no race or clan  That names the Savior's name;  His family embraces all  Whose Father is the same."  Truly, we are one in our love for God and our brother—through faith in Him who loved us to death on the cross. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.
          

Holy Trinity Sunday                                                                                                                                     June 7, 2020
John 3:1-17
 
v.16   For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
 
          Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate perhaps one of the most difficult to understand festivals in the whole church year: Holy Trinity Sunday.  It is a day in which we marvel at the mystery of God revealed in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) united in one eternal Godhead, just as we confess in that ancient ecumenical (universal) creed of the church: The Athanasian Creed.  The Athanasian Creed is by far the longest of the three ancient ecumenical creeds, and so we tend only to confess it on this particular Sunday.  It also has difficult language with which we need to wrestle—that offends our North American sensibilities regarding tolerance and the love of God.  For the Creed begins, "Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic [universal] faith.  Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.  And the catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance."  Furthermore, it concludes, "At His [Jesus'] coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds.  And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.  This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved."
          Whoa!  That doesn't sound right, does it?  Especially to our Lutheran ears that are so well trained to believe that all people are saved by God's grace alone through faith alone on account of Christ alone, and NOT of works.  The ending of this creed seems to undermine that.  We are also taken aback by the confession that one must believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to be saved—a doctrine that we cannot fully understand, as it is a divine mystery.  "Isn't it enough just to believe in Jesus?" we wonder.  Why must we keep the persons unconfused, while at the same time not divide their substance as being One Holy God?  How does all this fit in with our text from John 3, wherein Jesus tells the teacher Nicodemus that "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life"?  Doesn't God's love override everything else?  Can't I just take it easy and let God do everything?
          Beloved, today as we examine this Holy Scripture from St. John's Gospel we will see that everything that John says is upheld by the Athanasian Creed.  That they are not in conflict with one another, but rather are harmonious in their confession of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
          For dear friends, it is not enough for someone simply to declare, "I believe in God" or "I believe in Jesus."  For what is it you believe about God?  Which God do you claim to fear, love, and trust above all others?  The same with Jesus.  Who is this Jesus you claim to hold dear?  Is this God—is this Jesus—the God of the Bible—or of your own imagining—your own making?  This is why studying and knowing the Scriptures is so important, beloved.  So that we know the God in whom we believe—we know Him and trust in Him—just as He has revealed Himself to us in His Word—rough edges and all. 
          Nicodemus certainly seemed to believe in God.  He was a leading Pharisee and teacher of the Jews.  But he was having a difficult time reconciling his understanding of God with what Jesus said and did.  He confessed Jesus must be "a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."  We have many today who also hold that Jesus is a fine teacher—perhaps even did some great miracles: Jehovah's witnesses, Mormons, Muslims, and even some atheists confess Jesus in this way.  But is this saving faith?  Is this faith in the one true God?
          Jesus answers Nicodemus by saying, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born again [born from above] he cannot see the kingdom of God."  He went on to say, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."  Jesus says quite clearly here that unless one is born from God through water and the Holy Spirit (we call that Baptism)—unless one is made new by the power of the Holy Spirit working through water and the Word—he cannot—he will not—see nor enter into the Kingdom of God—he will not go to heaven—he will not be saved.
          To further demonstrate how God saves His people, Jesus goes on to provide an Old Testament example for Nicodemus.  Jesus states, "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness [Numbers 21], so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."  As the Israelites were saved from deadly snake bites by looking to the bronze image of a serpent on a pole (as God had told them), just so will all people be saved from eternal death and damnation who look to Jesus—the Son of Man—who is lifted up on the cross. 
          And all this is a loving act of God the Holy Trinity.  For God the Father so loved the world that He sent God the Son to suffer and die on the cross for your sins and mine—for the sins of all people for all time.  However, this saving act of Christ, though freely offered to all people—is only apprehended or received by faith—by looking to Jesus and trusting in His work on the cross for your salvation.  This faith is a new birth—a new creation—and it happens in Holy Baptism—wherein God comes through water and the Spirit in His Holy Triune Name and washes the sins of the individual away—driving off the devil—and filling them with the Holy Spirit—who leads people to faith in Christ Jesus.  This is just as John wrote at the beginning of his Gospel (1:12-13), "But to all who did receive Him [the Word—Jesus], who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood [not of the lineage of Abraham by Jewish descent] nor of the will of the flesh [your sinful nature would never choose to believe in Jesus] nor of the will of man [it is not the decision of your will to turn to Christ and believe], but of God [you are born again by the working of God almighty alone]."
          So, beloved, we see the entire Holy Trinity at work to save sinful humanity from the consequences of sin and death and the power and dominion of the devil.  We confess that each person of the Holy Trinity works in unity with the other persons to bring about our salvation.  And that as we are born again of the Spirit, we are to walk a new life—a life of faith and good works—to love and serve our neighbor in every way.  As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."  And those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death.  "We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3b-4).  And Hebrews 11:6 states, "without faith it is impossible to please Him [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."
          So we see, beloved, that God creates faith in our hearts through His Word of the Gospel—as well as through Holy Baptism.  That the Holy Spirit causes us to be born again by believing and trusting in Jesus—the One whom the Father has sent to redeem the world through His bloody cross and sacrifice.  And now, by faith, we are able to do good works that please God.  We are not saved by our good works.  We are saved by looking to the Son of Man lifted upon the cross for our sins.  But those who are saved do good works by the leading of the Spirit—and God rejoices in these good works that we do by faith in Him—for His glory—and for the benefit of our neighbor whom He has given us to love.
          Now, in looking at the news in North America these past days of protests, riots, injustice, and mayhem, we may be tempted to conclude that God must be angry with us—that His condemnation is upon us.  However, we must remember that "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him."  Jesus has come and suffered the full wrath—the full condemnation of God the Father—on the cross.  Now, we are given to freely trust and believe in Him who died for us—so that we may see and enter into the Kingdom of God.  Not by our works—but by His own blood and righteousness.  This is the love of God that we know and believe—and that we confess and proclaim to others—so that they too might receive with joy the peace that surpasses all human understanding—the peace that flows only from the wounds of Christ crucified for sinners like you and me.  What incredible love of God that dispels our doubts and fears—and gives us faith to trust in the One Holy "God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance" of God the Father Son and Holy Spirit. 
          So, dear friends, why all this heartache and brokenness and sorrow?  Why does evil continue to persist in people as well as the natural world?  For while God has redeemed His fallen creation by the blood of His Son, yet this restoration of the new creation will not take place until the Final Day of Judgement.  Until then, we live in this fallen creation where racism and injustice persist—where greed breeds violence and strife—where discord between people runs rampant.  Until Christ returns in glory to Judge the living and the dead, we as Christians have the joy and privilege of continuing to confess and proclaim the Holy Triune God who has acted in love to save this dying world—to save sinners.   So we work to bring reconciliation between people by pointing them to the reconciliation that has been provided for them with God by Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  We point people with anger, bitterness, and hatred in their hearts to the wondrous love of God who gave up His only Son into death so that those who hate Him—who cried for His blood and death—might themselves be reconciled to Him at last—made at peace with Him.  And in this great love of God for sinners—peace is brought to a broken and dying world—a peace that will last until eternity in the Kingdom of God where there will be no more sin or sorrow, anger or hatred—but only love and joy!  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

​Pentecost Sunday                                                                                                                                                           May 31, 2020
John 14:23-31
 
The Spirit's Response to Fear
 
v.27   Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
 
          Dear friends in Christ, what a joyous day this is!  A day in which we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon God's people in great power and might at the Festival of Pentecost.  In our epistle reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the dispersion of God's people and the confusion of human language in Genesis 11 is reversed.  Herein God gathers His people around the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ--that Good News of Christ crucified for sinners such as you and me.  We see here the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit to call and gather people together, and no impediment--even other languages--will stand in His way, as the Apostles are given to proclaim the Gospel in languages they would not otherwise have known or been able to speak.  But the Holy Spirit used them mightily to point people to Jesus so that they might receive the forgiveness of sins through faith in Him who died for them.  Now THAT'S something to celebrate.
          Into this time of celebration and joy at the gifts of the Spirit comes our text from the Gospel in which Jesus preaches peace to His disciples on the night in which He is betrayed.  A peace they must cling to despite troubled hearts and fears.  For He is going away (first to die and then rise again, followed by His ascension to the Father's side in glory). 
          Which leads us to ask the question: "What am I afraid of?"  The disciples feared the way that Jesus was talking--did not understand how He was leaving them--that He was going to die.  We have many fears that afflict us throughout our lives--be it the COVID-19 virus that is unseen and transmitted so easily; or whether it is the fear of returning to social gatherings—even church; while at the same time we fear NOT returning to church and other activities.  We fear the all-too-possible financial crisis that will result from this pandemic.  We fear for our lives—our friends—neighbours—our families.  We fear the persecution of the world—what will happen to us and our loved ones if we do not capitulate and give in to the world's view of human sexuality, life issues, etc.  However, should we really fear any of these things? 
          As Christians, we are at peace and secure in Christ our Saviour who is our protector and defender against all evil.  He is the Light in the darkness who brings healing to body and soul (if not now, later in the resurrection).  The worst that the world can do to us is send us to be with Jesus (kind of a win-win there for us).  And through it all the Lord Jesus continues to be the Good Shepherd (Good Pastor) to all His people.  As Christians, the blood of Jesus has redeemed us from the power of sin, death and the devil.  In Christ we have no fear of any of these things.
          So, then, beloved are there things that we SHOULD rightly fear?  Let us examine our text.  V.23 says, "If anyone loves me [Jesus], he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."  There is a fear that all Christians should rightly have of abandoning God's Word, which is akin to no longer loving Jesus.  We examine our hearts and lives and find in the light of God's Word that our love for Jesus is most definitely lacking.  We quickly see how we do not fear, love, or trust in God above all things, but rather look to ourselves.  Indeed, all too often we fear the persecution of the world if we stand up for Biblical teaching.  We love the attention and praise of others and so deny Christ and His Word in order to be at one with the world.  This sin condemns us all. 
          Yet into this seemingly hopeless situation come the words of Jesus.  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you."  Are you  a sinner?  Yes!  Thanks be to God, for Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  By His cross and resurrection you are given the forgiveness of sins.  Though your love falters, yet His love for you is sure and certain.  And He has given you His peace, the benefits of Christ, in your Baptism.  Your sin has been washed away, cleansed through water and the Word, bathing you in the redeeming blood of Jesus. 
          Connected to this fear of forsaking God's Word is the fear that God interacts with us in a transactional way.  What does that mean?  That "if I do this (love God and keep His Word), only then will He come me and make His home with me."  That God gives to us as the world gives, which is a tit for tat relationship.  You know this.  You don't get something for nothing in this world, do you?  NO!  In fact, when someone approaches you with an incredible offer, be it a cruise, or vehicle or some such, you know…"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't true at all!"  Right, and in our sin-fallen minds, we begin to think this way even about God.  That He will only love us and dwell with us, IF we keep up our end of the bargain.  IF we fully and completely love Him above all things and keep His Word perfectly.  Only THEN will He be with us.
          Beloved, may we be preserved from this horrible doctrine of the devil!  Listen to the words of Jesus, "Not as the world gives do I give to you."  Hear that?  Jesus doesn't give as the world gives, "you want something from me, you gotta give me something first."  Never.  Romans 5:8 says, "but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  God doesn't wait around for you to come to Him--for you to be perfect--for you to give something to Him--rather He comes to you--in your sin--in your death--in your fear--and gives you His forgiveness, life, and peace.  While you were a sinner--while you were an enemy of God--while you were running away from Him and despising Him in every way--Christ Jesus died for you.  He died for you to change you.  To forgive you and lead you to life and salvation.  This Jesus has done.  For you.  Now and in eternity.  So we don't have to be afraid of that either.
          Another fear that I want to address is that of the ruler of this world.  Who is this?  The devil.  That great liar and deceiver.  Jesus says in our text that He "will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming."  Kind of scary.  Many a movie has been made with this theme at its core--the devil is coming and you're gonna be in big trouble.  We know we are sinners, and so we fear that we are under the rule and authority of the devil.  That he has some sort of claim on us.  That we are doomed no matter what.  For we know we have failed to heed God's Word (boy does the devil delight in pointing this out!)--we have failed to give to God and neighbour as we ought.  Therefore, we must belong to Satan.
          Dear friends, fear not.  For though you daily sin much.  Though you rightly fear the wicked and evil nature of the devil and your own sinful hearts.  Yet Christ has overcome the devil.  Indeed, St. John writes (1 John 3:8b), "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."  In Christ, you are made new.  You are no longer under the thumb of the devil, because Christ lives in you and with you.  He has washed you clean and given you His Spirit of truth.  Jesus, by His death and resurrection has undone the works of the devil.  He has undone sin and death.  The devil no longer has any claim on Jesus, nor on you, by virtue of your faith in Jesus.  You belong to Christ.  You are His and He is yours. 
          Jesus has done all that the Father has commanded.  He has loved God and neighbour perfectly.  He has done all this for you.  When our sin or the devil threatens to overwhelm us, we are blessed to have the Holy Spirit, the Helper, whom the Father has sent in the name of Jesus--to teach you all things and bring to remembrance all that Jesus has said.  And what has He said?  That you are redeemed by His blood.  That you are washed clean by His name.  That though your sins be as scarlet they are as white as snow.  That the devil is bound and has no power over you any longer.
          So, beloved, when faced with any time of fear and tribulation, whether it be a global pandemic caused by an unseen virus--whether it be sharing Christ with a neighbour or family member--whether it be your own sin or the temptations of the world and the devil--"Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  For Jesus has overcome the world, the devil, and yes, even your own stubborn sinfulness and pride with His sacrificial death on the cross--for you.  The Holy Spirit—the Comforter—will continue to preach this consolation into your wounded and fearful hearts through the Word and the Sacraments all the days of your life.  For the Spirit's primary purpose and task is to direct you to Jesus to dispel your fear—to soothe your troubled soul—through faith in Him who died and rose again for you.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.