It is the Sunday after the Ascension so that it might be important to have an Ascension theme even though it is the 7th Sunday of Easter on May 20, 2007. The three readings are Acts 1:12-26 (Matthias as apostle); Revelation 22:1-20 (the new Jerusalem) and John 17: 20-26 (Pray for oneness). Chosen to preach this Sunday at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Collinsville, IL is Revelation 22:15, “But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”
At first reading who would disagree that dogs (used in the Bible to refer to male prostitutes), sorcerers, sexually immoral murderers and idolaters deserve to go to hell? But what’s this about those who practice a lie? Maybe that is a mistake? Those other people deserve hell but telling a lie deserves hell??? In case some might think this is a scribal error, here’s what the previous chapter 21, verse 8 says, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
It is verses like these that at first reading give the impression that Christianity is just like every other religion. Those whom God regards as sinners will not be permitted to enter heaven. In all other religions the path to salvation is simply to stop doing such sins. Salvation takes place by becoming pure. And that is why Christianity is not just better but totally different than any other man-made religion.
Ready for a shock. In the context of these verses, the truth of Christianity is that from our point of view, those who are cowardly, murderers, sexually immoral and liars are going to heaven. But going to heaven is not from the point of view of humans but from the point of view of God Himself! What God does is refuse salvation to those who practice such things but provides free salvation to those who appear to be just like these people but from God’s point of view are no longer practicing them. What does that mean?
Those who practice these things are NEVER repentant (contrition plus faith) in regard to such sins. In contrast, through the faith that God puts into our hearts, the Christian believer is contrite over such sins. It is not the contrition that is the foundation of salvation but the cross of Christ. By faith in the Gospel given as a gift by the Holy Spirit through the means of grace we hear the words of Revelation 21 that God will be our God, we will be the Lamb’s wife even though we don’t deserve it and we will receive the fountain of the water of life FREELY (21:6).
Law and Gospel. It makes all the difference. For those who live under the Law expecting their good works to credit them with salvation have rejected the gift of salvation in contrast to those who live under the Gospel. Living under the Gospel does not mean that we are not sinners but that we are freed from the curse of sin we ought to deserve because of what Jesus Christ has done.
Who goes to hell? Sinners. Who goes to heaven? Sinners. The difference is not that the latter have less sin. It is that in God’s sight they have NO sin because of the two gifts of the forgiveness of sins and the robe of Christ’s righteousness. And that’s how the Ascension of Christ is included in the sermon explaining that Jesus is now our ascended Prophet, Priest and King!
Name:Tom Baker