faith

There are 14 posts tagged faith (this is page 2 of 5).

Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Joy Gone? – Christmas 1 2012 – Luke 2:(22-32)33-40

30. December 2012
First Sunday After Christmas
Luke 2:(22-32)33-40

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving. Christmas gifts come in all shapes and sizes. No matter the gift our expectations can vary. One kind of gift is the surprise. You had no idea it was coming. Another kind is the suspicion. You have some vague idea based the shape, size, or sound of the box. Then there is the expected gift. You know its coming but you’re still surprised when it finally comes.

In today’s Gospel, the young Christ-child of six weeks old was presented to the Lord and redeemed by the coin and the pair of turtledoves. The most precious treasure the world has known comes into the temple. Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. This man was of the third sort of gift receiver. He knew his sin and He knew the promise of the redeemer. He is waiting with hopeful expectation. He longs to see his salvation in the flesh.

Simeon had been promised that he would not die before he would see the Lord’s Christ. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, Simeon took him up in his arms and blessed God and sang the Nunc Dimittis. Simeon recognized that the infant child in his arms was Christ the Lord. He is to be the savior and a light not dimly shining to the Jews but as a bright morning star for the whole world. His piercing light would reach unto the ends of the earth, illuminating the hearts of all.

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. Despite having received each proclamation from the angel Gabriel and having already heard the message of the angels repeated to them by the shepherds, now Joseph and Mary hear the good news themselves. Simeon proclaims the angelic message again. This old and feeble man recognizes and praises the little child as Savior and Light of the World. All else are in darkness and this little child lights them up. All the world is dying and damned and in this baby is salvation.

How could this little man, wrapped in swaddling clothes, born to a poor mother, be the savior of the world? Yet, Simeon’s sermon makes this bold claim. While the angel before him told Mary the child was the Son of the Most High and shepherds repeated the message of the angels, now Simeon has even more to say. “He shall save His people from their sin,” said the angel. Simeon says this light is not just for “His people,” the Jew, but also for the Gentile. At this, the holy family marveled.

Were Joseph and Mary shocked? No, they saw this coming. Their astonishment is a sign of their great faith and profound understanding. You remember Abraham and Sarah who laughed at the gift of their son, Isaac? Both were advanced in age, far past childbearing age. When God announced that they would conceive, both laughed! We wonder if their laughter was doubting but no, this news was of great joy to the two. Abraham believed the Lord and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Gen 15:6; Romans 4:3). This is not laughter of doubt but of joy.

The person and work of Christ brings a similar response today. For some Jesus is an utter surprise. They had no idea they needed a savior. They are ignorant of their sin, happy with their guilt and shame, and content in their misery. The joyous blessing of God made man, born to redeem them is a unexpected wonder. It’s an utter shock and joy.

For others the Law has already done its work. They feel the weight of its burdens and want relief. They believe God is good and gracious and expect He must have provided some means of escape from the terror of the Law. They know they need saving and yet the wonderful way God chose to save them is still a surprise. God saves them by grace alone through faith alone by Scripture alone. Redemption is entirely the handiwork of Christ alone to His glory alone. What a joy!

And then for others, they not only know their sin but also know the promises of God. They live in the hope of redemption in Christ. They have received the Holy Scriptures, been given the faith, and trust that God will do all the redeeming by His own grace and favor. But just like those others, when Christ comes to redeem them they are still “surprised by joy.” They knew of this love of God and yet upon receiving the gift are surprised at the abundance of God’s grace and mercy in Jesus. Oh, what joy!

All three receive the same gift of Jesus Christ, unwrapped and revealed. The quality common to the three perspectives is “an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction.” (CS Lewis) This quality is called joy. It is not the same as happiness or pleasure. Joy, happiness, and pleasure are all experiences we want to repeat but that is where their similarities end. Happiness is merely a positive feeling or emotional state due a circumstance. Pleasure is a physical or non-physical feeling that brings satisfaction. Joy is different altogether.

Joy cannot be gained by your own will. It’s not in your power to make yourself joyful. You can please yourself and you can probably even find ways to make yourself happy. But joy comes from a deep longing fulfilled. Joy is not dependent on the circumstances of your life. Joy is not simply being happy. Joy comes from hope received in the presence of Jesus.

This is the uniqueness of the Christian life. The firmer one receives and believes, the more one marvels and the happier one is. Too often those who are sad and lonely absent themselves from church. As their faith weakens, so do they lose the source of joy and its marvel and happiness. “If I were to believe with certainty that the child born to the Virgin Mary is my brother, flesh and blood, and that His righteousness is my righteousness,  His life, my life (as we have heard these last days about the birth of Christ), I say, if I were to believe this with all my heart, then I would so marvel and be so overjoyed that I could not think enough about this infant child.” (Luther)

The key to Christian joy is to recognize in the Holy Gospel all your hopes and dreams fulfilled. This good news should produce such amazement in you that you would cry out: I am baptized into Christ! There is no doubt that in my Lord Jesus I have overcome death and sin. No other possession of mine gives me makes me happy and amazed as my baptismal inheritance in Jesus! On the day of judgment, Jesus will say I am his dear brother and everything that is His is mine, and we all shall live with Him into eternity.

This is gift. If we were to try to believe this of ourselves, we would never fall for it. It would seem that death and sin have the upper hand, the devil is ruling, and our lives are in the toilet. We be frightened and sullen, with no amazement and no joy. This is because Christian joy comes from receiving faith, hope, and love in Jesus. We receive the gift of the Christ Child and by faith we respond with joy. We can’t help it! In Jesus, there is every grace and blessing of the Father! How could we be sad or dismayed when the child has defeated everything that gets us down?

Have no fear, little flock. For in Jesus Christ you have inherited the kingdom. Eternal life and heaven are yours, gained for you by the precious child’s death and resurrection and given to you as a gift. Marvel now, oh heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth! Sing with joy for your hope is fulfilled in Jesus.

In Name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
Grace Lutheran Church
Dyer, Indiana

“Who’s God Gonna Call?” – Matthew 22:1-14

07. October 2012

Catechetical Sermon on Election from the Article XI, Formula of Concord.

When the Formula of Concord was written, there had not been a controversy yet over the doctrine of election. In the Reformed and Zwinglian churches this most comforting doctrine had caused quite a stir. Our Lutheran forefathers prophetically authored article XI of the Formula to prevent unnecessary disagreement and separation among their successors. That’s you. In our midst, despite this comprehensive summary of teaching of Holy Scripture, many have fallen off the wagon—so to speak—into either denying the consoling Word from God or taking it too far in way of the Calvinist. Despite the abuse or misunderstanding by others we ought to explain this teaching from the Scriptures and find in it the grace our Lord intends.

First, God sees and foreknows everything that is and will be, that is happening or will happen, whether good or bad. While He foresees and foreknows both good and evil, His gracious will is not that evil happen. All the perversity of the devil and your wicked wants and desires is restrained by His knowledge. He limits evil—how far it should go, how long it should last, and when and how He will hinder and punish it. Our Lord orders all to his glory and your salvation. The author of evil is fallen man and his father the Devil. In His foreknowledge God even uses our perversity to His glory. To everyone but the godly, this is an astonishing thing [1 Cor 2:7-8].

While God forsees and foreknows who will receive Him in faith, the source of this saving faith is His gracious will and pleasure in Christ Jesus. The Holy Scriptures say God predestines or elects us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ [Eph 1:4-5]. This means God himself causes and works everything needed for our salvation, start to finish.

I’m betting you can already guess how some react to this teaching. “If God causes me to believe and He already knows I will believe then I don’t need to do anything.” Or for others: “God has chosen some and damned others already. I’m a total screw-up and there’s no way I’m one of the elect.” When challenged by these questions, many pastors will just throw up their hands in a panic. The doctrine of election is not to strengthen self-confidence without repentance (“Look at what I did! I accepted Jesus!”) nor is to leave you hopeless and in despair (“No one could save me!”)

Too many people who call themselves Christian, including many who remain on the membership roster here fall into the former camp. They say they are a Christian, that God will save them no matter who they are or what they do, acting as if they are invincible. They sin without repentance. They ignore the Word preached and the Holy Sacraments. Prayer, faith, and a godly walk are forgotten. And then others fall into the latter, claiming that no matter how much they go to church, repent, believe and receive the Sacrament, they could be lovely to God.

Even believers trap themselves in these thoughts and have to be drug out of the pit of despair or humbled from the throne of self-righteousness. Here is the sure response to this delusion: Holy Scripture is inspired by God. It is given for a confidence boost but for reproof, correction, and training in righteousness [2 Tim 3:16]. Nor is it given to drive us to despair but rather that we have hope [Romans 15:4]. When these Scriptures speak of our election, they drive us to the Word, encouraging us to repentance, godliness, and to strengthen our faith with the assurance of salvation.

We should idly speculate about God’s foreknowledge. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. Instead we look to God’s revelation in Christ Jesus. His purpose, will, and counsel which for you belongs to your redemption, call, justification, and sanctification. [Those doctrines will have to be explained more fully at another time!]

Christ taught this doctrine in today’s parable of the Wedding feast. Those who have ears to hear and eyes to see will know the comfort and consolation of their election. God himself has given His Son to be your bridegroom and you his bride. In a splendid way, all those who come to the wedding feast are not merely guest but the chose bride. None of them are worthy of the Son but are redeemed and reconciled by His faultless obedience, suffering, and death. This righteousness is given to you in a spotless and brilliant wedding garment. Joined to the eternal Son of God, you too will live eternally.

All that He did for us and every benefit of this matrimony of Christ and His church are shown, offered, and given through His Word and Sacraments. God works salvation in us by His Holy Spirit through this Word when it is preached, heard, and pondered. Christ himself works on us, converting our hearts to repentance and preserving them in true faith. By this gracious working, we are justified before God, receiving adoption of sons, and the promised inheritance [Gal 3:19].

Not only that, His Spirit will sanctify us, that is, make us holy in love and all good works [Eph 1:4]. He will protect us from the devil, world, and our own flesh. He will rule and lead us, lift us up when we stumble, comfort us when under cross or in temptation, and preserve us forever. This work which He began in us at Holy Baptism, He strengthens and supports in those who cling to His Word, pray at all times, abide in God’s goodness, and use the gifts they have received [Matthew 25:14-30]. Finally, He will eternally save and glorify in life eternal all whom He has elected, called, and justified.

All this must be included in the doctrine of election or you will fall into error. Those who refuse to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament can no longer find comfort in election. Those who reject the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit will find no help when they refuse to repent. Those who reject their baptism will show up to the feast ashamedly naked and damned.

There is still yet a sticky wicket. How can we know and why or how can we perceive who are the elect and thus receive this doctrine for their comfort? Only the elect, whose names are written in the book of life are saved [Revelation 21:27]. We cannot use our reason or appearance who are the elect. We cannot plunge the murky depths of God’s hidden will.We turn to He revealed will made clear in Christ [Eph 1:9].

St. Paul tells us that “those whom He predestined [elected] He also called” (Romans 8:30). God calls through His Word, when repentance and forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in His name [Luke 24:47]. In today’s parable, the King called the guests that He wants to have at His Son’s wedding through the minsters He send out. He calls at the first, second, third, sixth, ninth, and even the eleventh hour.

This doctrine only bothers us if we fail to remember that the preaching of repentance and the promise of the Gospel are universal, belonging to all people. Thus, we preach to all nations. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son (John 3:16). Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)! Jesus is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). He does not wish any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God will work through His Word in the people He calls to enlighten, convert, and save them. The Holy Spirit wills by the Word to work salvation. It is God’s will that all receive the Word, believe it, and obey it.

You hear His voice. He knows you and you follow Him. You gladly hear the Gospel, believe in Christ for salvation, pray and give thanks, are made holy in love, with hope, patience, and comfort in suffering. All this may be weak in you and yet you hunger and thirst for righteousness. He has begun the good work in you. He will preserve it to the end, granted that you do not turn from Him, but hold firmly to Him unto the end. This is God’s revealed will in Jesus Christ.

Christ said “strive to enter through the narrow gate” (Luke 13:24). And in today’s Gospel parable He said: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” This does not mean that while God calls everyone He only means to save a few. He desires all to come to saving knowledge and faith. He desires none to be damned. Our God is loving and He is merciful in Jesus. This is certain and true. This is His will and promise for you. This is why He not only gives to you the promise of salvation in the Gospel in general but attaches it to testaments of Baptism and Lord’s Supper. As the baptized, you know the Gospel is for you. As you eat bread of life that is His flesh you receive the life of the world (John 6:51). The blood of Christ cleanses you of all sin (1 John 1:7).

This is why our churches have retained private Absolution. It is God’s command that you believe such Absolution. Jesus said you are truly reconciled to God as though you heard a voice from heaven, even though it sounded like your pastor [John 12:28-30]. This opportunity to hear the Gospel personally applied to you grants the certainty of Christ’s Word. He has elected you and has called you in repentance and faith.

Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit effective through the Word preached, heard, and considered, all are heathens. Some simply despise God’s Word, rejecting the invitation just like those of the parable. Others make great excuses about their farm or business and thus thrust aside the Word. And still others are openly hostile to the Word, blaspheming it and persecuting the church and her messengers. So, hearing the Word refuse to take it to heart, hardening it in sin. Some resist the truth they have learned by the Holy Spirit. Others persist in sin without repentance. Some make an outward show but truly do not believe. And still others try to find righteousness and salvation outside of Christ [Romans 9:31]. The heart of flesh is inclined towards nothing but evil.

The challenge of the doctrine of election for us is that God allows man to reject Him. The Holy Spirit calls, enlightens, and converts the elect through the Word [Romans 10:7]. He justifies and saves those who in true faith receive Jesus. In the same way, He hardens and condemns those who reject the Word and resist the Holy Spirit, even while the Holy Spirit is working in them through the Word. They are like the man of the parable who want the benefits but do not desire to be clothed in Christ’s grace.

Few receive the Word and follow it. Most despise the Word of invitation and will not come to the wedding (Matt 22:3-6). The cause of their contempt is not God’s foreknowledge or election but their own perverted will. The human will rejects the means of the Holy Spirit. The fallen will hates the Word preached or the Sacraments given. How often the Christ would gather by the Holy Spirit but many will not allow Him. People willfully turn away from Christ and His gifts, even after receiving them with joy. They instead love the filth of the world and redecorate their hard hearts to be homes for the devil.

This is as much as the Scriptures reveal to us on the mystery of election. If we abide by this teaching, it is useful, saving, and consoling. We are justified and saved without works or merits of our own, but purely out of God’s grace for Christ’s sake. Even before the foundation of the world was laid—even while we could do no good—we were chosen by grace in Christ for salvation, all according to God’s purpose.

God wants to know He is greatly concerned about your salvation. He provided for it from before the world was made and will preserve it in you until the end. You can be certain even while weak in spirit, tempted by evil, or even tormented by devil and the world, that this eternal purpose cannot be overthrown. Your salvation is sure in Jesus Christ, from whom no one can snatch you. Jesus will give you patience, consolation, hope, always working for the good even in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation. Not even the gates of hell can topple the church nor you His bride.

In Name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
Grace Lutheran Church
Dyer, Indiana

Fathers’ Faith Visited to the Children

A 1994 statistical report from Switzerland (“The demographic characteristics of the linguistic and religious groups in Switzerland” by Werner Haug and Phillipe Warner) shows the crucial impact of church attendance by fathers.

* If both father and mother attended church regularly then 33 per cent of their children became regular churchgoers, a further 41 per cent irregular attenders and about a quarter not practicing at all.

* If the mother was a regular church attender but the father irregular then only 3 per cent of their children became regular church attenders, 59 per cent irregular attenders and 38 per cent non-attenders.

* If the father was non-practicing and the mother regular only 2 per cent of children were regular and 37 per cent irregular church attenders. 61 per cent did not attend church at all.

* Surprisingly, if the father is a regular church attender the children’s religious practice varied in an inverse relationship to their mothers’ practice. If the mother was regular 33 per cent of children were regular. If she was an irregular attender then 38 per cent of children were regular. If the mother was non-practicing then 44 per cent of children became regular attenders.

* Even when the father is an irregular attender and the mother non- practicing 25 per cent of the children were regular attenders and 23 per cent irregular attenders.

In summary, if a father does not go to church, no matter how regular the mother is in her religious practice, only one child in 50 becomes a regular church attender. But if a father attends regularly then regardless of the practice of the mother at least one child in three will become a regular church attender.

It may seem strange that it appears better to have a father who is a regular church goer but a mother who is not. I attribute this to the fact that within the group of both parents being regular church goers, there are some where the mother is the spiritual head and the father is simply tagging along. When the father is the only church going parent he is more likely the spiritual head of the family as well. What matters most is fathers fulfilling their God-given role of being the spiritual head of the family and raising their children in the faith. That shouldn’t seem strange, given Ephesians 6:4.