Whose Faith?

He says, ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS! What words?

Compline Sermon from 11-04-26

What Is A Saint? 3 See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.1 John 3:1–3 What is a saint? Many have known people they would consider giving this title to. But upon what criteria are we basing it on? Is it what they have done? An easy example is Mother Theresa. How about saintliness because of their sweet and caring personality? Nancy Regan, perhaps? Your Grandmother? All of these are our opinions, though. In the end, who gets to make the final call? God, of course, because all of this has to do with His rules and then, eternity. It is nice and all to be saintly here, but the reward at the end is what it is all about, right? And God is the one who gives out the awards in that ceremony. So then, maybe we should ask how God defines what a saint is. What does He say about this? First, God says you need to be born one—born a saint. 1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. So, it is not so much what you do, but who you are—and who you are related to. So, who here was born a saint? Go ahead, don’t be shy now…. What—no takers? Now, all of you who are baptized raise your hand! Do you who have been baptized believe that you are made a child of God—brother or sister to Jesus by His Water and His Word? Then you are a saint. God so loved the world…you know John 3:16. What is the rest of that whole chapter about? Being born from above—born again…not of will of man—not of the flesh, but born of the Spirit, says the text of the Gospel of St. John. Born of God by Water and His Word…in baptism…not just some baptisms, but your baptism. That is what Jesus says—is saying in this text. 1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. …and so WE ARE! 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now….NOW! What, you don’t do what Mother Theresa does? But Jesus did. What you are not as sweet and caring as your dear Grandmother? Jesus is. And that is what counts. What Jesus did for us. What Jesus was—is…for us. When we are baptized into Christ, we remain in Christ—He in us and we in Him. This life in Christ produces good works….but sainthood is not based upon works—it cannot be. Else there would be no one—no NOT ONE saint EVER! Any sin, the Bible says takes away a life time of good works….if we are counting…if Jesus is counting. He isn’t. This because God His Father, and now our Father has counted already—counted everything that Jesus has done…and… Jesus has given these works of sainthood to us. God the Father has accepted them as if we did them. They are counted to us for righteousness. So don’t count. Don’t count on your works—don’t count on YOU at all. Don’t count on me—on anyone else but Jesus. When we remain in Jesus—the Word God…that is who Jesus is, by the way—the incarnate Word of God. If you remain in His Word, you are His disciples. We heard Jesus say these very Words. Sainthood. Because of Him—and our proximity to Him—we are saints…and yes, we even end up doing saintly things. Not that they count—not toward getting—achieving sainthood. NO—as Jesus has already attained that for us. Yet, they are good works nonetheless. When they come out of NOT HAVING TO…they are of value. But that is not up to us. We—the left hand should not know what the right hand is doing. We are just to do. Do good—not to count, but just because. Why not? Saints do good, right? It does not matter who notices. You don’t even have to notice. We won’t most of the time. Jesus tells of that day when they will all be shown off—Jesus showing us off to His Father and to the whole universe. Yet, Jesus says that we will be shocked. We will ask Him…When, Lord? When did we do those things? Does it matter? No, not at all. God notices. Our focus is to be on Him and His Word—His things that His Word tells us to focus on. Word and Sacrament. When we do that, then we cannot but help doing saintly things. And here is why we do not have eulogies at Christian funerals. They—the person who has died—is not there—in church—for the very last time—because of what they have done. If that were the case no one could have a Christian burial. No. It was because of Jesus’ death and burial that they can be there. It is because of what He has done. He paid for all the sin we are—so that we can be saints—so that we can be allowed in His house…so that we can be called Children of the most high. We celebrate THAT at funerals. What Jesus has done to get them here—and then THERE—in heaven with Him. There never should be allowed any confusion with this. Any good is because of Christ, not because of us. Even when we do it. Everyone needs to hear this. That dead saint in heaven wants us all to hear this—and only this, because they know far better than we do, that it is Jesus alone that got them there. And because our flesh tells us differently all the time. The devil and the world is telling us differently all the time. They want us to think it is we who gets it done—who earn our way…who figure it out…who do what it takes to be called a saint. But this is not the case. Jesus is clear all through the Gospels. Those who think they are saints because of what they do…never get to go where true saints get to go. Sinners are only allowed to be with Jesus. Sinners are only allowed to eat with Him. What kind of sinners? Any kind—can and will be made saints. Now that does not mean intent sinning sinners. No. It is only those who are repentant. You cannot be intent on sin and think that Jesus will still call you saint. Does that mean it is only those who can—who succeed in stopping their sin, that get sainthood? No. We cannot do that. It is only those who will face what they are and look to Jesus ALONE for rescue. Not to themselves. Not to other people. Not to what they have managed. Jesus alone. Only those who agree with Christ that sin is as sinful as He says it is. Only those that will turn from it and thank Him that He has put it on Himself on the cross. Those that want to be saints and not sinners forever. Those who would give up their sin, even if they cannot. But, you cannot refuse to forgive and think you will be forgiven. You cannot think that you can eat with Jesus and eat at the table of your idols—whether this be money, fame, family, or career. We all have our favorite little house-hold god. No, only redeemed sinners can be buried from God’s house. Only born-again sinners. Only the worst of sinners who Jesus has called saints, are actual saints. Raise your hands if you are the worst of sinners. Now do so again if you are a saint. Yes, saints because Jesus says you are, not because you say so—or anyone else says so. Saints who want to live as Jesus says. Saints who speak as Jesus speaks. The rest are not children of God. That has been a false notion. Just because you are a creature of God, does not make you a child. Only the children remain in His house…only children get what the Father has. Only saints are allowed to benefit from God’s doing. Can you tell—if you are a saint, I mean? You got splashed didn’t you? But otherwise no, we can’t tell. No, you are not to trust in your sainthood, but rather in Jesus alone. If you keep your eyes on Him…which is keeping them in His Word and by participating in His Sacraments you will remain so. We don’t need to see it. We only need to see Him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. Then we will see it—as He does—as He sees us. Yet in the meantime…like today…until our last 3 …everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who hopes in Jesus—who trusts in Him—who acts as saints act—even though sinners still—even though dirty and not pure—even though we are blinded by how un-saintly we are…these sinners go where the water is…to be saints—to become—to be—to live—to exist as saints. Jesus’ Water and Word alone purify. He must wash us or we won’t be clean. The Bible says the Water and the Word do this. So be washed. Become pure. Live in your baptism. Come to the eternal fountain. Let the water of the Word make you His saints every day of your lives. He is willing.  He is here to do just that—He is doing just that in your hearing….right now. Blessed saints of God…you are. Amen.

God demands purity. Cleanliness…but not just on the outside. Jesus would point out very bluntly that just keeping the outside clean is like painting tombs bright white, even though there is black, stinking, rotting decay on the inside.

When we hear what God says through His prophet, we need to ask what He means... For us… as it was also meant for us… for us to hear…

This, our Gospel text, is a very interesting text to think about. The stopping point—the place to pause and wonder about…at least for me…in what Jesus did…

Sermon from the 10-07-26 Compline Service

How Real Do You Want God To Be? 34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” 41 While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “David’s.” 43 He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’: 44 The Lord declared to my Lord,‘Sit at my right handuntil I put your enemies under your feet’? 45 “If David calls him ‘Lord,’ how, then, can he be his son?” 46 No one was able to answer him at all, and from that day no one dared to question him anymore. Matthew 22:34–46 We like things in little boxes—neat, in their place…contained…under control. Don’t know what I am getting at? It’s like this: We like to keep all the physical stuff in one box and all the rest—the spiritual in another… Well, except on Halloween…and maybe on Sunday…although Sunday has become less and less consigned…set aside for things spiritual… …well...maybe just an hour is okay… …unless you confuse Tom Brady with a god… I mean… I might… …or think twelve noon is the witching hour in which you must be at home…or you will turn into…what...I wonder? But anyway, as long as God stays in the box called spiritual—the non-physical, the metaphysical…the emotional… …you know… As long as God stays in the church, and when you are not in it, He stays there… Don’t let Him follow me out there…where I live or where I work… At least not until you need something…or you need Him to fix things…then it is different—am I right? Then it is okay for Him to enter into your little world to do the rescue mission…but until then… …but until then, God should stay in the unseen, the unreal…the after death…the other places… You have heard people say that church people know nothing about real life—that they are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. Pastors—too…as they don’t know what it is like out there…so how can they ever expect me to ...what? Yes  ... to do what? No... God and pastors are to stay in their own lanes… in their own world. We will come and visit, on some Sundays and other times, but…keep in your rightful place and we will stay in ours. Don’t expect us to do what you do pastor...and be that…or act like…or think like that…out in the real world. Boxes. Neat little boxes. Safe, isn’t it? No, not really, but keep believing that little lie and you end up in a box, in the ground...and then in a cell in hell. I am not kidding. No… not at all! That is what our text is all about. That is what the Christian Life is all about. The fight over the two worlds…over territory…property…rights… And nobody wants for one side to have the right to interfere with the other. God and church can stay where they are, and me and mine is to be left alone….well...again...unless I need some help…some rescuing… …but otherwise just stay away. Problem is, even if somehow that is what God wants—each side to stay in their corners, within their boundaries… The World—your...you...(I hope not) they (them) and the world they have made for themselves wants all of it…wants to invade and take over even the church. And it has been, if you haven’t noticed! It wants the church and God to play by its rules, to look like it does—to do what the world…what the culture does…to play nice. To tolerate false teaching, and all manner of sin. So yeah, just keep to yourselves. Live and let live. Because if you really preach on sin, people will leave the church. I have heard them say, “You pastors… you can believe that, but don’t ask me to. I have relatives that… Yes? So, who should come first in life—and no longer is it a life in this or that box…but in all places? What is the first commandment? We should fear, love and trust in God ABOVE all else. God comes first—and in ALL areas. His Word is the final authority. Then family, then work, and then whatever other GOOD thing or whomever is in the world. Problem with us is we have it all mixed up. Yeah… and God has come to invade and take over lives. Remember: Jesus said, I do not come to bring peace, but a sword—peace between you and God, but NEVER between you and the world. The Christmas story that states that now there is peace on earth and good-will toward men, is not between people, but between God and people. It is not peace on earth as we all get along, but peace on earth through Christ between us sinners and God. There will never be peace on earth until it has been destroyed and remade without sin. Until then, we fight sin—our flesh, the devil, and yes, a sinful world... All so the right one will dominate...at least with us… the church. You see the Bible says that the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. Scary, isn’t it? Yes, this taking...we are taking it by dying—our dying, sacrifice and love. Don’t you realize what sort of pain the TRUTH causes in the World? …how much destruction comes to sin and suffering by real love and sacrifice? It kills and destroys—that is what it does—our flesh, the world and the devil are buried, destroyed and crushed by TRUTH…. The Bible says that it is “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Well, He is here to take prisoners...and to take lives.... These first century church people in our text, met that invading force…the living hands of God Himself. Jesus. The 16th Century church met that force in the Pure Gospel being preach again. Jesus. You are hearing Him today. Jesus. It was not—and it is not comfortable. It never is. It uncovers corruption and sin. He always does. It shines the light of truth on the lie of our little world, culture, and doings. It will…and watch out because that is why church people will rather keep all that in that perverbial box and well away from their dirtly little secrets…their pet sins and lies in that other box kept in the dark somewhere well hidden. Won’t happen. If you really want church to be church—I mean real and Jesus real. If you want the real Jesus and really to be a Christian. If you want to be on His side. There is no middle ground. Either you are for Him or against. So, Jesus comes and makes a mess of our lives…demands of us to let His light shine in on our darkness…wakes us up from our comfortable slumber…as He always will—don’t ever think otherwise. God demands your life. Don’t think He doesn’t. He demands you to repent and amend your life of sin. He demands entrance to your day…each and every day. He demand you remain in His Word—that you confess your sins—turn away from them—drown them in your baptism…every day of your lives. He demands you forgive those who sin against you. He demands that you love Him and your horrible neighbor…your enemy even— But… we… I can’t! The Law demands it. And it is right, but it is of no help. Jesus comes anyway. So take heart. He knows all of this already. And He will be there even so…  to do this… in you… in me… for you and me… all the way home. But… that, by this way…  is the way… it is how we fight…by His Truth, even if it hurts (even if it is against oursevles and our own)…all by truth, love and forgiveness…BUT WITHOUT COMPROMISE…WITHOUT EVER GIVING INTO IT—that error and sin that have no rights and cannot go on—they must be put down, stopped and never tolerateed. NEVER! TRUTH, LOVE AND FORGIVENESS… Yes, for your worst enemy even—not by ignoring him, or tolerating his evil sin, but by telling him Christ Jesus is here to take that burden away… To make them right with God. Yes, Jesus has come to invade and destroy all that they, (and you and I) have built. This is good. This is salvation. It cannot stand against the heat of His wrath. Nor can it stand against the heat of His love either…it melts hard hearts and stubborn heads. And He is here even today to rip down the little walls we have put up…to wreck our little boxes we love to keep everything in…or to try and keep things out.... Jesus did this. He came in the flesh to make spirituality real and human again—by being that. Spirituality is not of the mind and emotions. It is of the real world now, as it was in the beginning. Sin caused the division. Still does. Jesus came and tore the curtain in two, from top to bottom. It is Jesus who heals the broken hearts and bodies. It is Jesus who mends fences…but on His terms alone. Never ours. Jesus is the invasion force. Jesus will have His way. His way or the highway…the broad and easy highway to hell. Jesus is the invasion force and He is here today. He wants you. The few. The chosen. He wants you to fight at His side…to invade the lives of your family, your co-workers, and neighbors. He wants to charge in and pull them out of harms way…out of the fall into the eternal box called hell. He came to save…His enemies even. Which used to mean us. But in any case… He is here to save right now. He is here to take you. All of you. This by Truth, Love and Forgiveness. His way. Amen.

One Sabbath, when he went in to eat at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching him closely. We too…keep watch…on Jesus…in our lives. We do.

We have to spend some time thinking about thing… when we are asked, "And who do you say that I am?"