Archive for March, 2007

This coming Sunday, April 1, 2007, marks two holy events in the calendar year known as Palm Sunday and the Sunday of the Passion. Due to the Passion Sunday, the Gospel reading goes for 2 chapters from Luke, chapter 22 through chapter 23. The Old Testament reading is Deuteronomy 32:36-39 (No other God) and the Epistle reading is Philippians 2:5-11 (Humiliation of Christ). Chosen to preach on is Deuteronomy 32:29 which has God proclaiming, “Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me, I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.”

If you ask anyone whether they would want a god who kills and wounds or makes alive and heals, which do you think he would choose? Obviously the latter. However, we are faced with the Word of God that appears to depict God as One who not only kills and wounds but also makes alive and heals. Is He schizophrenic that He can’t make up His mind?

Not any more than is a physician or dentist schizophrenic who often causes suffering in order to heal. In fact, there is an alien work of God and a proper work. The alien work refers to that which God would not need to have done had sin not entered into the creation. His proper work is to bless His people. In light of sin, the new proper work is to take those who are under the curse of the Law and raise them from the dead of sin to new life in Christ.

Clearly, for someone to be raised from the dead or healed must mean that the person is dead or wounded. It is the love of God that disciplines those whom He loves (Hebrews 12) in order to wake them up to their condition of sin and prepare for them to receive a new heart and new spirit.

That process is best understood with the distinctions between the proper use of law (to accuse and kill) and the proper use of the Gospel (to raise from the dead and forgive). Unlike other religions in which the person is responsible for bringing himself back to life through obedience, meditation and so forth, in Christianity, God does all the work.

Those who assume that the Old Testament is Law and the New Testament is Gospel are in for a rude awakening when reading Deuteronomy 32:39. For in that passage we find God doing both the work of Law and Gospel. For the Law must come before the Gospel to make one aware of his true condition of sin and total inability to fix his fallen condition. That’s why the Gospel is such sweet news to those who have been crushed, wounded and put to death by the Law. And that is true Christianity.

The 5th Sunday in Lent on 3/25/07 has the following three assigned readings: Isaiah 43:16-21 (I will do a new thing); Philippians 3:4b-14 (not my own righteousness) and Luke 20:9-20 (Parable of the wicked vinedressers). Chosen to preach about is Philippians 3:4b as Paul writes, “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so.”

In this passage we find another distinction similar to that of “living under the Law” in contrast to “living under the Gospel.” Other similar themes include the “broad way” vs. the “narrow way” or the “theologian of glory” in contrast to the “theologian of the cross” or “the way of the devil” vs. “the way of the Christ” and from this passage, “the flesh” vs. “the Spirit.”

Paul’s point is that in comparison to others, he would have far more to boast about in regard to his life in the flesh including being circumcised, of Israel and Benjamin, a Hebrew, Pharisee, zealous against the Church and in regard to the righteousness that comes from the law, blameless. The latter refers to his ability not only to keep the ceremonial laws without fault but the moral law outwardly.

However, all this is considered as rubbish or garbage or sewage in comparison to the righteousness he receives from Christ. For through the Spirit, Paul not only does works outwardly but also inwardly; that is, with proper Christ-focused motivation. But the primary ingredient that now sets the spiritual Paul apart from the fleshly Paul is the righteousness he has received through faith.

It is impossible to have an unbeliever understand the righteousness that is received through faith because there is no analogy in our experience that comes even close to it. One would have to find an experience in which just “believing” the word of someone, changes your status. For that is what the Christian faith reveals. Simply through trusting the promises of God connected to the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ results in your being regarded by God not only as His child but also as a sinless saint!

How is that possible? Because of the glorious exchange that God did without your help in taking upon Himself your sins and giving to you His righteousness. That robe of righteousness is now what God sees you wearing which covers your sin much like the skin of the animal covered Adam and Eve.

Walking according to the flesh means that you are a sinner with no repentance on your way to hell. Walking according to the spirit means that you are a sinner in repentance (contrition plus faith) being carried to heaven as your home. Though the world cannot fathom the depth of this revelation from God, faith does, for it believes the impossible and in fact becomes the evidence of things not seen!

The 4th Sunday in Lent occurs on March 18, 2007. The three assigned lectionary readings are Isaiah 12:1-6 (God is my salvation); 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (God is already reconciled) and Luke 15:1-3a, 11-21 (The Compassionate Father). One text that makes for a great L&G sermon is Luke 15:18 in which the younger son decides, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.’”

Most commentaries interpret this verse as one of repentance on the part of the younger son who at the beginning of the parable told his father to drop dead since he wanted his share of the inheritance. The story is understood as the son losing all of his fortune in prodigal living and thus comes to his senses (verse 17) to realize that he needs to go back to his father in repentance over his sins. Of course, such an interpretation leads to encouraging others also to repent of their sins so that they might be restored by God the Father.

The problem with such an interpretation is that it contradicts the rest of the chapter in regards to the lost sheep and lost coin. For what does the lost sheep or lost coin do to get found? Nothing. But if the wayward son returns in repentance, then he would get partial credit for being restored as a member of the family. The context of the verse demonstrates an attitude though on the part of the son that most commentaries miss.

For the passage reads, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’” As Dr. Ken Bailey points out, the son is coming back to manipulate the father. He knows what the father needs to hear about repentance but then he is going to ask not just to be a slave or servant on the farm but the top-paid hired independent craftsman!

True repentance does not take place until AFTER the father sees him from a great way off, has compassion on him, runs to him and kisses him. This totally unexpected action of the father then leads the son to respond properly with repentance but now without any request for a good paying job. When the true repentance is recognized, which is contrition plus trust in his father’s merciful attitude, the father then restores the son to full sonship.

It is an important passage to once more demonstrate that those who attempt by their works or attitude to win God over are never truly repentant. Only the action of God, in the person and work of Jesus Christ, truly is used by the Holy Spirit to create faith in the unbeliever which results in proper repentance which is contrition along with faith in a merciful and gracious God.

The month of March 2007 marks the 11th year that I am hosting the radio program “Law and Gospel” on AM 850 KFUO in St. Louis Missouri. On yesterday’s program the following information was shared during both hours. You can actually hear the first hour by going to kfuo.org and clicking on the Archived section of “Law and Gospel.” The file you are looking for is from Wednesday, March 7. The second hour is not archived. However, you can obtain a copy of the second hour by emailing me at lawgospel@lawgospel.com and I will send you a copy for $5.00. Don’t hesitate to comment or question what I have to say with the following outline of the broadcast.

ATTENTION! ATTENTION! WE INTERRUPT THIS RADIO BROADCAST OF LAW AND GOSPEL WITH THE LATEST NEWS FROM U.L.I. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THE BONES OF JESUS CHRIST HAVING BEEN RECENTLY DISCOVERED. FURTHER EXCAVATION HAS UNCOVERED ANOTHER GRAVESITE RIGHT BESIDE THE ONE WITH THE BONES AND INSIDE WAS FOUND THE CROSS OF JESUS. WE KNOW IT IS THE CROSS OF JESUS BECAUSE STILL AFFIXED TO THE WOOD IS A SIGN WRITTEN IN THREE LANGUAGES READING, “THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS.” CARBON DATING HAS REVEALED THAT THIS WOOD IS APPROXIMATELY 1,984 YEARS OF AGE WHICH WOULD PLACE IT IN THE YEAR 30 A.D. EVEN MORE AMAZING, DNA SAMPLES FROM THE BLOOD STAINS ON THE CROSS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO MATCH IDENTICALLY THE BONES FOUND IN THE GRAVE. THE ODDS OF THOSE BONES NOT BEING THE BODY OF JESUS ARE 3 TRILLION, 4 HUNDRED MILLION, 650 THOUSAND TO 1! WE NOW RETURN TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED BROADCOAST OF LAW AND GOSPEL.

Hi, I’m Tom Baker and you are listening to Law and Gospel on this Wednesday, March 7 in the year of our Lord, 2007. Or is it the year of anyone’s Lord if this new broadcast is true. For the sake of argument let’s assume that such a news report is provided. What does this do to your faith? In fact, in light of this report, let’s open the phone lines right now to get your reaction. The phone numbers are 505-7850 in St. Louis or toll free at 1-800-730-2727.

I’m reminded of a class I took at the seminary years ago. The professor asked the question as to what impact would the news have on our faith if they found the body of Jesus. He said that it would have no impact on his faith. Why did he say that? He used much the same argument as Simcha Jacobovice did during Sunday night’s broadcast on the Discovery channel of the documentary about finding the tomb of Jesus with his bones. He said that Jesus would have risen spiritually and therefore finding his body in the grave would have no effect on his faith.

Do you know how I answered? The answer I gave to the professor was that my faith would be gone if the body of Jesus were found. He accused me of Bibliolatry which means that my faith was not in Jesus Christ but in the Bible. The Bible had become my idol from his point of view.

I now have changed my mind as to what my answer to him should have been when he asked what effect would it have on my faith were the body of Jesus to be found even with the evidence as suggested in the news report just heard. What is my new answer?

In another class I had given a proper answer to a similar question. The seminary professor tolerated the view that evolution, not Biblical creation, was how God had formed the world as we know it today. I, of course, disagreed with him. He then asked me, “Mr Baker, if Adam was stung by a bee in one part of the Garden of Eden, would Eve who was in another part of the garden be aware of it?” My response was, “Professor, bees didn’t sting human beings before the Fall.”

Which leads me to the theme for today’s broadcast of Law and Gospel. I’m gong to have to say it twice because you may not hear it correctly the first time and so I will explain it further.

The level of your faith is directly proportional to how relieved you felt when you heard how ridiculous were the claims of movie producer James Cameron’s Discovery channel documentary about finding the bones of Jesus Christ. The more relieved you were, the weaker your faith is!

Let me say it again only clearer. If you were at first concerned about the discovery of the bones and then upon hearing the evidence became relieved, you have weak faith. Or to put it in Biblical language, you are still on the milk of the Word and have not yet matured to the meat of the Word.

I know that this is a serious accusation of Law because who of us did not feel relieved when we heard that the DNA evidence did not prove that these were the bones of Jesus. Instead, the DNA proved that the male and female bones were not related. It was a leap of faith to contend then that they were therefore probably husband and wife which meant that were the theory to hold water, you had also to believe that Jesus was not only married to Mary Magdalene but they had a son whose bones were also in the grave! These guys are nuts!

Was that your happy reaction to either seeing the documentary or hearing from some theologian or proper archaeologist as to how ridiculous were the claims of this movie producer? If so, then the theme I am using today is that you have weak faith. How so?

There are two ways to defend the Christian faith. A defense of the Christian faith is referred to as “apologetics.” While it sounds like the word “apology” that refers to saying you are sorry for something you said or did, the word actually is from the Greek word “apologia” which means a defense. For example, one of the great confessions formulated at the time of the Reformation is called the “Apology of the Augsburg Confession.”

It is a defense of the Confession given at the city of Augsburg in 1530 after the Roman Catholics attempted to criticize its teachings. The Apology is simply a longer explanation of the various doctrinal articles stated in the original Augsburg Confession. For example, Article 4 on Justification which is only a few paragraphs long in the Augsburg Confession is lengthened to 400 paragraphs in the Apology.

Let’s return to the notion that there are two ways to defend the Christian faith. The first is to use our reason and point to evidence to make the Christian faith sound reasonable to those who doubt it. The second is to use Scripture alone. I would challenge anyone to find where the Lutheran Confessions turn to so-called evidence apart from the Word of God to make their case.

It is the theme of today’s broadcast that when Christians are confronted with apparent evidence contrary to the Christian faith, those on the milk of the Word will turn to additional evidence to prove the rationality of the faith while those on the meat of the Word will be comforted not by evidence but by the Word of God alone.

Recall the example of the seminary professor who asked me about my faith if the body of Jesus were to be discovered. I should have answered the way I did to the other professor who asked about if Adam had been stung by a bee in the Garden of Eden that bees didn’t sting before the Fall. I should have said to the professor that it would be impossible for the body of Jesus ever to be discovered because Jesus had risen from the dead. Therefore the question is ridiculous.

The theme for today is really about a bigger concern of mine that I have had for a long time. And that concern is about the inability of most Christians to think critically. Theologically speaking, that is because most Christians are so captivated by their old Adam that they are unaware of how powerful he is in getting them disturbed over false teaching that from God’s point of view is pure nonsense.

That part of each of us that causes unnecessary concern is the Thomas within each of us. I am referring, of course, to doubting Thomas in the 20th chapter of the Gospel of John. When the other disciples report to him that they have seen the Lord, remember how he responds, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into His side, I will not believe!”

Do you recall Jesus’ words to Thomas when He did appear before him and Thomas believed? “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Permit me to update this meeting between Jesus and Thomas to today. James Cameron announces that he has found not only the tomb of Jesus but his bones. Christians become worried. They run to their pastors and theologians to hear how to counter the facts presented in this documentary. And when they hear how ridiculous are the suggestions of this documentary, they are relieved, comforted and have their faith strengthened. And Jesus says, “O, ye of little faith, who believe because of the evidence against the documentary. Blessed are those who have not seen the evidence yet have believed.”

Now let’s cut to the chase. James Cameron announces he has found the body of Jesus. As stated before, there are two ways to defend the faith against such an unbeliever. The first way, which I refer to as the milk way, is to decide to become a part of Cameron’s game and play on the field of evidence. That takes place by picking apart the so-called facts of the documentary until the Christians have been comforted and relieved that we stayed on the field of evidence and won the game again. By sight we have better evidence and rationale for what we believe.

The second way is to use the Word of God. Here’s one example of how the Christian could respond upon hearing the news that James Cameron has found the body of Jesus. “Oh, that’s not possible because last Sunday I ate His body and drank His blood in the Lord’s Supper which of course would never have happened if that body is found in a grave and that blood has decayed.”

You see, reason is used in both arguments. But the second use of reason is that which serves the faith and is captivated by the Word of God. That is all which the Christian needs for anxieties to be relieved and faith to be strengthened. Now I’m not suggesting that some Christians do feel relieved and comforted by hearing how ridiculous are the notions of the James Camerons of the world. What I’m suggesting is that this occurs because they are Christians whose faith is weak because they are still on the milk of the Word.

I’m also suggesting that theologians who continue to play on the field of evidence are making a big mistake. It’s not that evidence doesn’t appear to work comfort. The point is why use an inferior means of comfort and relief when one has a far greater means of grace that really comforts and relieves. It is true that Thomas believed when he saw the evidence. But Jesus’ words are that the truly blessed are those who come to faith apart from such evidence.

Permit me to provide another scenario to show the difference between a faith based on evidence in contrast to a faith based on God’s Word. You are a second century Christian parent. Your spouse has converted and your three month-old child has been baptized into the faith. The Roman soldiers arrest you and give you a choice. Worship Caesar or watch your spouse and child eaten by lions. They even tell you of the rumor that the body of Jesus was stolen by the disciples and that is why the tomb was empty. You respond, “Unless I can be shown by the Word of God that Jesus has not risen from the dead, I will not recant.” With tears in your eyes you watch as the lions devour your family.

Note well how the early martyrs responded to the James Camerons of their world. They rejected their notions out of hand, not on the basis of any so-called evidence of any empty tomb from secular sources or because it is more reasonable to conclude that Jesus rose from the dead. They rejected it because the Holy Spirit had given them the faith that is all the evidence they needed. In fact, is that not exactly what the Bible reveals in Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

There are only two ways to respond to the nonsense of supposedly having found the bones of Jesus Christ. The one is by using reason outside of the Bible; the other is by using reason within the Bible. I have heard the latter used two times in this past week. The one occasion was during the hour after the showing of the documentary when Ted Koppel interviewed three theologians. Surprisingly, all three rejected the conclusions of the documentary. However, only one—and that was the Roman Catholic priest David O’Connell—made the point that his faith could not possibly even entertain the idea that the body of Jesus was found. It was a decisive confession of faith alone regardless of the evidence and that from a Roman Catholic!

Another occasion in which there was a proper response to this nonsense was a sermon preached last Sunday, March 4, 2007. The preacher made mention of the Discovery channel’s documentary to be heard Sunday evening but did not once attempt to dissuade the congregation against the so-called facts of the finding. Instead he properly used the distinctions between Law and Gospel and preached a sermon that both confronted the hearers with the documentary as an attack against their faith and then comforted them by the words of Scripture alone.

Now, who do you think that preacher was? No, it was not me. I was to be preaching in South Dakota and for the second week in a row got canceled out due to inclement weather. The preacher’s name is Pastor Timothy Ostermeyer from Hope Lutheran Church in St Ann. Would it not be wonderful if you were able to hear that sermon? Well guess what? You can. For it was broadcast over AM 850 KFUO as the late service last Sunday. You can find it on the Internet at kfuo.org. Then go to the column entitled “Archives”, click on “Sermons” and then click on “Hope Lutheran” and “Sermon WMA” to hear it live or “Sermon mp3” to download it to your computer.

So what would be our reaction to the fabricated news bulletin that they not only found the bones of Jesus but they found the cross and they have DNA evidence that the blood on the cross is also that of the bones? Our reaction is to point once more to the Word of God and proclaim with a sure confidence and assurance of what God has written from I Corinthians 15, verse 14 and 17, “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain…and if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”

The second Sunday of March, the 11th, 2007, is known as the 3rd Sunday in Lent with the following three assigned readings from the Revised Lutheran Lectionary: Ezekiel 33:7-20 (Watchman); 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (God is faithful) and Luke 13:1-9 (Tower of Siloam). Ezekiel 33:20 is the text chosen to interpret and apply which reads, “O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.”

Who looks forward to being judged by God according to his own ways? Very few people as is evident from the myriad of man-made religions that provide safety from their god(s) by means of one’s works. Yet at first reading it appears that this verse from Ezekiel is no different from all other religions if God is going to judge us according to our works.

In fact, one of the problems with many in the evangelical movement today is that the cross of Christ took care of my sins up to the time when I decided to become a Christian but then I have to work at making sure that I remain saved. Listening to such preachers on the radio and TV gives one the impression that a human being can actually reach a level of goodness of rarely sinning and everything in his life is working out grand.

How then do we understand this reading from Ezekiel 33:20? The key word in the English is “ways” which most people think means one’s works. However, the Hebrew language is better translated as road, street or highway. It is what Jesus speaks of as the two WAYS to heaven–the broad and the narrow. The broad way is populated by most people who imagine that their works make a difference to God as to whether He loves you and will save you.

The two ways are also referred to as the theology of self-glory on the broad way and the theology of the cross on the narrow way. How can we differentiate the two? For all other religions in the world, the mark of distinction focuses on the works of the individual. If he is obedient to god(s), he will be saved. That’s the broad road.

In contrast, the theologian of the cross finds his only and full salvation at the cross of Jesus Christ. Having had one’s sins forgiven and then dressed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness, there is nothing more a Christian can do to become more saved. Being saved is like being a child of your parents. There is no neutral area; it is either yes or no. And that decision for you to become a child of God was not yours; it was God’s. You were adopted by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

Therefore, it is NOT true that the difference between the broad and narrow way is that the former consists of sinners while the latter consists of obedient saints. No, instead, both ways are populated by sinners! The difference is that the broad way has a parade of self-righteous unrepentant unbelievers while the narrow way has a remnant of Christ-righteous repentant believers. Though both are sinners, one dies in their sin while the other has already died from their sin in Christ.

So on Judgment Day, God will examine the way on which you are found. If it is the broad way of the wicked, then your eternal god is Satan. If it is the narrow way of the believer, then your eternal God is the holy Trinity in heaven itself. The way of the Law is your works but the way of the Gospel consists of the works of Christ and Him alone!