The Fifth Sunday in Lent - Judica - March 21, 2010

The Church Season of Lent,
Judica,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (March 21, 2010)
One Year Series

“I AM HERE”

Readings:
Psalm 43
Gen. 22:1-14
Hebrews 9:11-15
John 8:42-59

Sermon Form: Deductive

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 8th chapter of St. John, especially the following verses.

John 8:42-59 (ESV)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” 48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

Have you ever had a conversation with someone but it seems as if you are speaking two different languages, let alone speaking and understanding two different things? The more you try to clarify your points, the more the other person misunderstands what you are saying and turns the whole conversation around.

That’s exactly what’s happening between Jesus and the crowds of the Jews in John chapter eight. Jesus uses very simple sentences. There is no slick silvery double forked tongue talk coming out of our Lord’s mouth. Jesus asks some simple questions. The Jews know the answers, but they respond as if they ignore what Jesus says. They hear what they want to hear rather than that what they actually hear.

This crowd creates a whole universe for themselves around a lie. When Jesus began to preach and perform signs and wonders for the Jews to show He is the Messiah, the Son of God promised by the patriarchs and prophets, many who heard, believed what they heard and saw. Many others heard and saw Him, but refused to believe what He said was true. So they twisted His Words and made Jesus say and do what they wanted Him to say and do. They created a world that centered around everything they wanted to believe no matter how bizarre it may have seemed.

Sometimes our world is a lot like that bizarre world. People destroy our reputation with hurtful words and action. People take advantage of us. We fall headlong into that crazy world and do things according to mob rule. After all, revenge is a dish that’s best served cold. If someone acts cold-blooded to us, we should act cold-blooded…and then some…in return!

In the midst of all the craziness, our Lord’s Words sound precious to our ears. There’s a lot of comfort when He says: “if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” God’s Word says so time and again. Jesus is the Word made flesh. He cannot lie. But His words sound to this crowd like a dagger to the heart. Our Lord speaks fighting words because He wants to tear down their crazy world that has no room for a Savior Who is incarnate and conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

Jesus’ Words to the Jews have some bite too. “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God…. Yet you have not known [My Father], but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. “

When you build your house in a crazy rule-less world of loving sin and hating righteousness, you need to hear what Jesus says to the crowd gathered around Him. He speaks to the crowd and He speaks to you too. He doesn’t speak words to make Himself look good and make us look like a fools, He speaks words in order that we would acknowledge our sins and repent. That’s all Jesus wanted from the crowd and from you and me. He wants repentance toward the forgiveness of sins. Psalm 95 says, “Today, if you will hear His voice: do not harden your hearts.”

We need to repent. We need to tear down those walls of the crazy world we build to hide ourselves from God. We need to turn to Him and confess our transgressions. He will remove the iniquity our sin. He forgives our sins because He can. We believe He can because He tells the us that, “before Abraham was, I AM.”

Those are the Words that will send our Savior to the cross. As He speaks, we hear that the crowd picks up stones to stone Him. But, Christ’s time had not yet come. The time is coming when they will come after Jesus as a criminal. They will trump up charges of blasphemy: He said He was the King of the Jews. They will sentence Him to death. They will put the blame on themselves, though unknowingly, when they cry out to Pontius Pilate, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

Those are the Words that bring us comfort in Christ’s sorrow. Before Abraham was, Jesus is. He was there when the world was created. He was there when His Father promised to Adam and Eve that the serpent’s head would be crushed by the seed of the woman. He was there when His Father made that same promise to Abraham. Abraham believed God. God accounted Abraham’s faith in that promise as righteousness. Abraham sees the day of the Lord and is glad. Sadly, Abraham’s children by blood refuse to see that day for what it is.

But, the day when Jesus was sentenced to die, He brings us again to Paradise. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews says this is most certainly true, “Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation…. He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

Hear Christ’s voice that gives you life. But first know the Word kills you, as it breaks down the walls around your soul. The Word first proclaims you dead in order to bring you back to life. The Word transforms you through preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ who won for you eternal life. The Word washes you clean in baptismal waters. The Word declares your sins forgiven. The Word goes in your mouth under bread and wine. The Word delivers, seals, and guarantees the forgiveness of sins, for you, grants eternal life, for you, and grants to you the salvation for your soul.

Today, our readings show the time when a crowd dug in their heels to reflect a crazy world that has no room for God’s Son taking on flesh, dying, and rising from the dead. But greater still, than anything any crazy world could muster, the Lord Jesus Christ dug your heels out of the quicksand of hell and brought you to safety in the shadow of His cross and tomb. In His death and resurrection He has given you the promise that He will heal your minds and your bodies, in fact He will make them perfect. He will take away your tears, and give you joy beyond your imagination. For Jesus Christ’s body and blood given and shed for you, bestows upon you every good thing which will most certainly come true and give you eternal life. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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The Fourth Sunday in Lent - Laetare - March 14, 2010

The Church Season of Lent
The Fourth Sunday in Lent - Laetare (March 14, 2010)
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI
One Year Series

OF MIRACLES AND MEN

Readings:
Psalm 132
OT Exodus 2:-21
Epistle Galatians 4:21-31
Gospel John 6:1-15

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The text for today’s message is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 6th chapter of St. John.

John 6:1-15 (NIV)

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

SO FAR THE TEXT

Jesus was walking along and a great crowd followed Him. They followed Him because He had performed “miraculous signs on the sick.”(v. 2) But, is there no reason that they followed Christ other than their curiosity? Did this crowd follow Jesus because they had seen something and wanted to see more? Well, if so, they were about to see more, for all 5000, or more probably closer to double that number, would see a great deal more. This crowd would see everyone around them fed from a miracle. And not only would this crowd be fed, there would be leftovers too. But before the miracle the apostles struggled with the task of feeding a crowd this large. Philip couldn’t figure it out, the crowd was just too big and the money in the purse was just too little. So Andrew speaks up and mentions to Christ that there was a boy in the crowd with a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread. So you might say that at this point in scripture it appears that Andrew is ready to punk a young boy out of his lunch in order to try to feed the masses. But ultimately Andrew and Philip couldn’t make the situation add up in their heads, so Jesus, knowing their thoughts He took over. The apostles faith in logic had failed, but the grace of God in Jesus Christ would not fail. At first blanch it would appear that the apostles trust in Christ was not enough for them so they could not see how the whole crowd could be fed.

We too fail to trust the Lord’s Word. We’ve heard time and again how God saved His people from the brink of disaster. And we really want to trust that God will do the same for us. That God will bring us forth out of our illness, through our challenges, and that all will be just the way we want it to be. It doesn’t appear that we can get over ourselves enough to trust completely in our Father’s care. When our prayers aren’t answered quickly enough or just the way we want them to be answered we tend to think God is a liar, and we think He has forgotten us. We think that this will be the time that He will let us down. So we know it’s our turn to take matters into our own hands, so we need to get busy, so we can get it all done on our own.

But, God never forgets. He knows what you need before you ask it. We forget that God knows only one way to give, and it from the abundance of His love and compassion for His people. And that’s just how He gives to His people in John chapter six. Five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand men, not including women and children so closer to ten thousand people. And lest we forget there are leftovers; twelve baskets full of leftovers! So God gave them more than enough, what about me?

The feeding of the five thousand teaches us that we can trust God in Jesus Christ in all things, and that He can provide abundantly. That provision isn't just for some pie in the sky, hope and dream. He provides for us now, each according to His good plan for our life in Him, and according to our needs. And God does know your every thought and He knows your every need. He takes care of us in our day to day pressures, desires, passions, and temptations. But, God does not always give us what we desire, surely not always what we expect, and sometimes we get what we expect the least. I’m not sure any one of those five thousand plus people expected to receive a meal way out there in the no where. But, God does provide what we need, and then some, so that we may accomplish what He has planned for us.

God has planned for us and He has taken care of our every need. He feeds us with His true body in Holy Communion. In the holy Supper, we receive Him - His body and blood. It is not a mere "symbol". We receive Him. We receive His righteousness - which means that our sins are forgiven and we are cleansed. We receive His life, which means that we cannot die. We receive His standing before God the Father, and so, God treats us as though we are His only-begotten Son, precious and beloved.

So, what is going on in your life? What is it that you need? It is a miracle? Is it a big miracle or a small one? Then hear what God says to you, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

Now, we may wonder from time to time, especially if it is not going well for us, why things are going the way they are, if this whole God thing is true. Is God out there? And if He is, is He out there for me? Will He answer my prayers the way I want them to be answered? Yes, God is out there, but more than that He is here for you. And what about the why and how of your prayers, God hears your prayers, He hears your cries for mercy and He gives you His Son to give you mercy which will never end. And so then you may ask, what is our part? Well in response to Gods grace, we need to be faithful, trust in God and go forward with the confidence that God knows His plans for us.

God does see us through in every need. He will see us through every sorrow. He will see us through any danger. He will see us through any crisis. He will see us through even the door of death into everlasting life in glory. God has enough compassion for us, in fact He has more than enough compassion and love for each and every person and each and every situation. God grace is an abundant never ending supply which our demand cannot outpace. Trust in Him, as St. Peter writes, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. “(1 Peter 5)

Whatever your circumstances, and whatever your need, God is ready with everything you need, He has made sure of that. For God gave His only Son, that is one Son. And from that one Son Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for you, from Him alone, God gives you and every one the promise of eternal life. Today you will have a taste of heaven in the bread and wine, that is Christ’s body and blood. One day that miracle of Christ will allow you to step from this earth to an eternity of heavenly bliss. Do not fear what life will dish out for you, rather rejoice that the main course is Jesus Christ and He is the bread of eternal life for you. Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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The Third Sunday in Lent - Oculi - March 7, 2010

The Church Season of Lent,
Oculi,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (March 7, 2010)
One Year Series

“The Strong Man”

Readings:
Psalm 136
Ex. 8:16-24
Eph. 5:1-9
Luke 11:14-28

Sermon Form: Deductive

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 11th chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verses.

Luke 11:14-28 (NIV)

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils. 23 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. 24 “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” 27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Quite a crowd gathered around Jesus in this Gospel reading for today. Some who heard His message were amazed, but all the rest either didn’t hear Jesus message, didn’t want to hear His message, or were distracted by the thoughts of their own personal agendas. That about sums it up for all but one person, and that last person heard the message, and the parable, but didn’t understand what Jesus meant.

A little bit different than today’s crowds where we have many messages coming at us from many directions and we don’t know which one to believe. But still the question is with us today, what do we believe? So, why not straddle the fence, it’s much easier that way. It’s much easier to pretend to be a Christian for an hour or so while Christ or our neighbors are watching than it is to stand up every day and defend our Christian beliefs or biblical standards. Because we’ve seen what happens to people who say they’re Christians and it ain’t pretty. Those who stand up for what is moral and right are often called closed-minded or hateful.

But, Jesus is just doing something good. He is casting out a demon from a man who had been made unable to speak. When the demon had gone out of the man, he was able to talk again. Then the crowd that saw this, marveled at the wonderful thing that Jesus had done.

But there were still some who hated Jesus, and out of envy couldn't stand or accept His goodness. And those people called good =>evil. They said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."(v. 5) In other words they were saying, "The only reason Jesus can cast out demons is because He gets His power from Satan." Christ’s opposition tried to raise suspicions about Him because they saw what He did.

Isn’t this the way of the devil? To plant a seed of doubt and then work against our faith in Jesus? These people had seen a great miracle yet tested God by asking Jesus for a sign from heaven. Sounds all too familiar, we’ve all tested God daring Him to do a miracle, and usually that dare comes in our prayer. Dear Jesus, Lord in heaven I dare you to make me well, and I’ll spend the rest of my life proclaiming the wonders of God. Somehow it seems that only God keeps His part of those kinds of prayers.

The people in the crowd around Jesus had already seen a miracle. Everyone of you have seen a miracle too, in fact you’ve seen thousands of miracles. In the Gospel lesson Jesus cast out of the demon, but unbelief always wants something just a little bit more and different than what Jesus does or what He gives. Funny thing, we want what we want and we want it now, instead Jesus gives us what this crowd needs and somehow that’s not enough.

But Jesus is not hard hearted about the crowd, rather he continues by returning their obvious lack of faith by continuing to teach. So in Christian love, Jesus calls this crowd an evil generation which seeks a sign, which wants to walk by sight and not by faith, which trusts in experiences and emotions more than Christ and His Word. Jesus gives them what they need a sign. But, the only sign that would be given them is the sign of Jonah, the sign of a man buried three days in the belly of death but who rose again from the depths to new life. Jesus spoke of his own death and resurrection. He would give them a sign which faith clings to, the sign of the cross where Christ was crucified to save all us sinners.

Jesus has given us this same sign of the cross too. He has performed before us those thousands of miracles which I mentioned a few moments ago. The sign and miracle is that of baptism, where our very bodies are marked and sealed by water and the Word. At the font Jesus fulfilled the words of the old baptismal liturgy, "Depart unclean spirit; make room for the Holy Spirit." Like the mute, we are conceived and born with an evil spirit. Now, we may not come into this world demon-possessed in the strict sense. But we are by nature in the possession and the dominion of the devil.

But thanks be to God that you have been conveyed into the kingdom of God's beloved Son. The strong man has come and for those who believe and are baptized He has given you a greater miracle and that is eternal life. The tongues of the faithful are loosed to sing the praises of Jesus Christ who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Christ is the truth over and against all the falsehood of this world and of all those who call what is good an evil. satan is not divided against himself. But Christ has divided and conquered satan's kingdom by the power of His holy cross. But satan still desires to conquer us by causing us to doubt who Christ is and why He came to this earth. Satan still seeks to turn our eyes and our ears from the miracles Christ performed and to turn our thoughts to that which is around us.

We make false gods out of our desire for things, we make false gods out of the people we see in life, sports figures, politicians, and leaders. And worse yet, we even have the audacity to make heroes out of ourselves. But true faith does not trust in ourselves, nor in men, for a Christ said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”(v.28)

And Jesus made it clear to the crowds and to us that there can be no sitting on the fence in this matter. Our Lord says, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters." There is no stance of neutrality when it comes to Christ, either you're walking on the path of light or you're wandering down the path of darkness. There are no third options.

In the midst of our daily struggles, let us never forget that it is in Christ, that has won the victory for us. Christ is the strong man who defeats the devil, the world, and even our sin, and this victory He does not keep to Himself, He gives to you freely in your baptism. You are in Christ, and Christ is in You. Jesus Christ, not only the Strong man, but the Strongest One, He is the Lord over death and the devil. You have heard of Christ’s miracles, you have seen them too, thanks be to God for sending His Son into this world to die for us. For by Christ’s strong hand the door to heaven is opened for you. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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The Second Sunday in Lent - Reminiscere - February 28, 2010

The Church Season of Lent,
The First Sunday in Lent - Reminiscere,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (February 28, 2010)
One Year Series

“Called to Purity”

Readings:
Psalm 121
Gen. 32:22-32
1 Thessalonians 4:1-7
Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon Form: Deductive

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Epistle Lesson from the 4th chapter of 1st Thessalonians, especially the following verses.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 (NIV)

1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Back in the times of Paul, to many people the freedom of the Gospel and forgiveness of sins meant that they could now go out and sin deliberately and do whatever their hearts desired and it didn't make any difference to their salvation. It would seem that they thought that anyone who called themselves a Christian was going to go to heaven, no questions asked. Quite frankly, for many Christians, almost 2000 years have passed but these thoughts are not much different today. Many people think that anyone who can pronounce the name "Jesus" are all going to heaven, whatever they may imagine that means. And, to be honest, calling yourself a "Christian" back in the early church was a lot different than it is in the modern America of today.

Back in the day, Christians were hated, they were hunted, they were persecuted, and if captured, they were killed for just being a Christian. Christianity was illegal. In fact being a Christian meant that really you were an illegal atheist because you didn’t believe the Roman Emperor was God. Confessing Christ made you an outlaw. The Christian faith and the confession of that faith required a risk and a commitment, that it just seem to doesn't demand today.

Risk or no risk, St. Paul tells these so called Christians that they were to walk in Christ to please God. That is serious advice and it also applies to us. Christians are called with a purpose, and part of that purpose, at least, is sanctification. What does that mean? Sanctification is holy living. St. Paul writes that those who have been called into a relationship with God in Christ Jesus have been made holy by the forgiveness of sins. We as Christians are to live out that holiness. St. Paul also tells his readers that any confusion on this issue can be dangerous. And why is that? Well, because God, will punish those who have been injured by the immorality of others. There is no hiding from judgment by merely claiming God as your God. For God will Judge us all and He will not be tricked by lip service or pretending to be just. He is impartial, the final judge of what is moral and what is not and He has given us the scriptures to tell us just that.

In this particular piece of St. Paul’s letter, he appears to be addressing sexual morality, or immorality, and the instruction is that we are not to engage in sexual immorality, or lustful passion, or impurity. We have a commandment from God stating this same thing, that would be the sixth commandment, Thou shalt not commit adultery. In fact, we are to learn to have self-control, and possess our bodies in sanctification and honor. Sexual morality has always been an issue because it is so very difficult for people, and being a Christian does not insulate us from the temptations of the world. Quite frankly, it makes us a bigger target for the devil, the world and our own sinful flesh. The culture around us in steeped in sex, lust, and permissiveness, even open invitation to wanton sexual desire and activity. You only have to turn on the T.V. set to see how this pervades our culture and even our language. Though our flesh also fights against God's holy will in us, we, the holy people of God, are called out of sin into holiness, and God's purpose in making us His holy people is that we abstain from sins and live in that holiness. We are called to purity, not an easy task to undertake today, and certainly purity is not an attribute that is popular to our culture.

This call to lead a pure life isn't a call in which God demands everything from us, and gives us nothing from Himself. In fact, it’s just the opposite. God has sent His Son, and it is Jesus who lived a holy life, and then laid down His own body for us. He purchased your holiness and purity by His own life and by giving that life upon the cross.

In this time of Lent, with repentant eyes we look at the cross to see Christ nailed there and dying in agony. How important and precious is your sanctification and Holy living? Important enough that God gave His only Son for you. Jesus Christ has purchased holiness for you. Jesus freely gives it to you. He chose you from amongst all mankind, and called you to live before Him in faith and in sanctification. So now we ask ourselves, have I led a pure and decent life encouraging others at all times to do the same? If we answer honestly we would cast our eyes to the ground acknowledging failure. Now cast your eyes on Christ whose incarnation brought Him to our world, and know that He lived that life for you. If you want to see the answer to all that concerns, confronts and dismays you, cast your eyes on the cross, there victory is won for you.

Jesus knows how difficult living in this corrupt and sinful world is for us, and the weakness of our flesh. That is why He has given us this holy meal, which we shall eat this morning, to strengthen us, to purify us, to forgive us and encourage us in holy living. Here is the very body of Christ, for your forgiveness and sanctification. In this Holy meal Christ gives you the very blood which He shed for your sins to cleanse you and raise you up from sin to holiness and everlasting life. You have been called to a life of purity, to ever strive to do better, to proclaim your faith in God by your actions, and also by how you also reconcile your inactions. Come eat and drink and be refreshed, cleansed, and strengthened for here Christ prepares you to fulfill that call.

Today Christianity is slipping once again into the unfavorable category in the perception of our culture. The lives of many who call themselves "Christian" is not good, or clear, or faithful, or holy, or biblical. Sanctification, again meaning Holy living, is tolerated as a personal option, but sadly it’s not a public expectation. The world today needs the witness of our holy lives to contradict the growing persuasion that faith in Christ solves nothing, and that Christians are just like everyone else. Our holiness continues to be a silent witness to the presence of Christ in us, and brings glory to God even when we are unaware that it our sanctification is being observed. It is, at least in part, the purpose of the Lord for calling us into faith in Christ. If God did not have that purpose, He could summon us to Himself in glory just as soon as we came to faith. But God has called us for the purpose of purity.

This is not to say at all that we can live perfect lives, that you and I won’t fail miserably in the face of our own actions or inactions, we will and we do fail. And for those who may be tempted the world’s deceptive religiosity or meandering non-biblical pseudo-religious views, or the people who would tell us it doesn’t make any difference how a Christian lives. Or by those who would tempt you by saying that it doesn’t matter whether or not you sin, since our sins have been forgiven, or the notion that God will accept any form of behavior that we may give to Him. No, and for all of us who have fallen for all those lines, we all need to go back and read this text again and hear it’s warning. It is more than a warning shot across the bow. It is an order to cease and desist, to turn our lives about, and to repent, for we have been given much, much is expected of us.

We are all tempted in one way or another, whether it be by this society, by other people, or by our thoughts of what may be in our own future. But in the face of all that will face you, always know that you are God's holy people. God has given you much, in fact He gave you everything when He gave His only Son for you. God in Jesus Christ made you holy when He cleansed you in the waters of your baptism, and does so today when He gives you the forgiveness of sins and renews your faith in Holy Communion. In Christ, you are forgiven and made holy by His great work on the cross. We who have been made holy are called to lead holy lives and though we fail it doesn’t mean that we should quit trying. Jesus Christ did not quit. In fact, Jesus led a holy and perfect life that we could not live. And Jesus Christ gave His life for you His holy ones, so that you have the promise an eternal holy life. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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