Archive for May, 2008

Moving forward into the season of Pentecost, the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost on 6/1/08 has the following 3 readings: Deuteronomy 11:18-21; 26-28; Romans 3:21-28 and Matthew 7:15-29. Chosen to preach on is Deuteronomy 11:28, “and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.”

It is of some interest that the 28th verse of Deuteronomy 11 which results in a curse if you don’t obey the Law, appears to contradict the 28th verse of Romans 3: “Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified apart from the deeds of the law.” The resolution of this apparent dilemma is again found in using the distinctions between Law and Gospel.

Unlike every other religion in the world in which obedience gives blessings and disobedience results in being cursed, Christianity reveals that even sinners are blessed. The key is found in what it means not to obey the commandments of God in the 28th verse of Deuteronomy 11. The verse explains that not obeying the Lord your God means to “turn aside from the way which I command you today” and also “to go after other gods which you have not known.”

Man-made religions of the world teach that the way is through obedience. Christianity teaches that the way is through repentance which also is a gracious gift from God. By repenting of one’s sin–which includes not only contrition but also faith in Jesus Christ–the believing Christian is on the narrow way of salvation. For the repentant believer receives not only the forgiveness of sins but also the robe of righteousness.

Thus, from God’s point of view–which is the only viable point of view–the believing Christian is regarded as a sinless saint but not by one’s own works but because of the works of Jesus Christ Who died on the cross to remove the penalty for our sin and prepare the way for us to be dressed in His robe of righteousness. Yes, from our point of view we disobey God’s law and deserve both temporal and eternal punishment. But in light of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God declares those who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior to be righteous in His sight and ready to receive blessing after blessing.

For the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost on 5/25/08, the three assigned readings are Isaiah 49:8-16a; Romans 1:8-17 and Matthew 6:24-34. Chosen to preach about is the definitive passage that initiated the Reformation. It’s Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Verse 17 is important in this regard as it reads, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

We have been so used to the proper understanding of this verse that it may not occur to us how misunderstood it once was. To realize how this verse was explained to a peasant of the 15th century under Roman Catholic doctrine, the following paraphrase is offered: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is most helpful to those who believe as a power source of grace to receive the righteousness of Christ.”

In other words, faith was not sufficient but needed the additional works of righteousness that were made possible by grace given by God to those who then cooperated with that grace to make their salvation more sure. Martin Luther spent many hours in punishing himself for the lack of his own righteousness even with all the grace that he supposedly was receiving through the sacramental system of the Roman Catholic church.

Only when the Holy Spirit opened his eyes did Luther realize how different is this passage understood when the righteousness of God is not demanded but given as a gift. The Reformation began in earnest as Luther came to the realization that the gospel of Christ was not a power to salvation becauses it provided the grace needed to become more holy. No, the gospel of Christ was the power to provide the righteousness of God Himself because He is so gracious.

The righteousness of God which humans receive through faith alone is not the intrinsic righteousness of God’s inner holiness but the perfect righteous obedience that Jesus accomplished after His taking our human nature. There is a glorious exchange in which Christ gives us His righteousness in exchange for our sin! The sacraments do not offer the possibility of more perfection; they instead provide the perfection and righteousness to stand before God Himself on that day of Judgment.

What a difference Romans 1:16 makes when examined from the viewpoint of living under the Gospel rather than living under the Law. It’s the difference between Christ-righteousness and self-righteousness. It’s the difference between giving God the glory or boasting of our own glory. It’s the difference between Law and Gospel.

With Trinity Sunday on May 18, 2008, the three assigned readings are Genesis 1:2-3:4a; Acts 2:14a, 22-36 and Matthew 28:16-20. Selected to preach about is Matthew 28:20 as Jesus says, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Is not Jesus God? And since He is, then is He not everywhere in his omnipresence? Then what is He talking about that He will be with us always? Is it a different presence than His being everywhere? And if so, then how does a person know that he is part of that group which Jesus is addressing?

It is clear from the context that Jesus is speaking of a different presence He has with those who are of this special group. The question the sermon addresses is whether becoming a member of that group is conditional of unconditional. If it is conditional, then you must fulfill some obligation prior to becoming a member of that group.

There are only 2 religions in the world–Christianity and everything else! And everything else teaches a conditional salvation on the basis of your proper works, will, choices, meditation, belief or whatever. At first hearing, it appears that Christianity also demands a condition which is belief. But unlike man-made religions which assume that a fallen human being has a will that can make a proper spiritual choice, Christianity reveals that our reason is blind and our wills are bound only to do sin. True faith is an unconditional grace received by God’s grace and not by our efforts to believe by making a choice.

The question is not how we get into that group where Jesus always is, but rather where is it that Jesus says He always is. From the context Jesus is promising to be where disciples are made through baptism and teaching. In fact, the group of which Jesus is addressing is not just disciples but those who are members of the holy Christian Church here on earth. And what do you do to become a member of this Church? Answer: nothing!

For becoming a member is accomplished through an unconditional adoption into the family of God and that is a gift from God Himself. The Biblical definition of the location of the Church is where the Word of God is taught in its purity and the sacraments are administered according to God’s directions. Through baptism you are brought into the family of the holy Trinity and through teaching you are sustained by God Himself.

Unlike every other Law-oriented religion, Christianity gives all the credit to the work of the holy Trinity as the three Persons recreate within us a new Man, redeem us from the devil, the world and our flesh and sanctify us in the one true faith. In this way, Jesus will never leave us and is with us in a special, holy way as He was with Moses on Mt. Sinai at the burning bush.

It’s the high festival of Pentecost on May 11, 2008 with the 3 assigned readings of: Numbers 11:24-30; Acts 2:1-21 and John 7:37-39. The text for the sermon is Acts 2:21 which reads, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

On that great day of Judgment, how do you know that you will be calling on the name of the Lord? And just what does it mean to call on His name? Can you wait until that Day and make sure you say, “Jesus!” Is that sufficient to call on His name? Probably not in light of the passage in which Jesus says that on the last day there will be those who did use His name and even did miracles in His name and He will not know them!

There are two approaches to the Bible prior to delivering a sermon. The first is interpretation using the principle of “Scripture interprets Scripture.” The second is application using the principle of “Law and Gospel.” Obviously, prior to applying a text to the hearers, the proper interpretation of a passage needs to be understood. If the interpretation of this passage is that simply speaking the name “Jesus” is sufficient to meet the criterion of “calling on His name” then the sermon just needs to teach the names of God so the hearers will be prepared.

Obviously, that is not the intent of the passage. My name is Thomas Baker. However, there are over 7 of us with that name in the Greater St Louis area. If my mother sends a birthday card to me but has the wrong address, I won’t receive it. It is not enough to use the name; one must have the right address.

There are many in this world who use the word “god” and even “Jesus” but have the wrong address! For example, both Muslims and Mormons even regard Jesus as a great prophet but when they pray, the caricature to whom they direct their prayers is the devil himself. So how do you know that you are rightly calling on His name? How do you know that you are sending your prayers to the right address?

From the immediate context we learn that Peter is preaching his Pentecost sermon. However, in this portion of the message he is quoting from the prophet Joel. While the quotation includes part of verse 32 of Joel, chapter 2, it does not include the entire verse which reads, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”

The context of the entire Bible reveals that those who call on the name of the Lord are those whom the Lord has called! So the question is no longer, “Are you properly calling on the name of the Lord?” but rather “Have you been properly called by God?” The theologian of self-glory will examine his works, his faith and his experience to make that determination. Such an introspection should result in great doubts.

But the theologian of the cross will look outside of himself to the promises of God connected to the cross of Jesus Christ. Where does one look? One looks to the promises of God attached to an event in which we were passive and God was active. That event is, of course, our baptism, during which God attached the promises of His call to you in the waters of salvation.

So when the question as to whether you are included in those who call upon the name who will be saved is asked, you can confidently reply, “Yes, because I have been baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” What God demands for salvation (calling upon the name of the Lord), He supplies in us through the power of the Holy Spirit who calls, enlightens and keeps you in the one true faith. Then, when you as a believer calls upon the name of the Lord, your prayer is going to the right address.