Sermon for Pentecost 14: "Sinners Saved by Jesus" (1 Timothy 1:5-17)

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Expectations]

 

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). That is not what we would expect. Christ Jesus came into the world to condemn sinners. That is what we would expect. Christ Jesus came into the world to destroy sinners. That is what we deserve. Christ Jesus came into the world to punish sinners. That is what we think. Christ Jesus came into the world to teach sinners how to no longer be sinners, by being nice to one another. That is how we act. But this is not what today’s text says: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Yes, Christ Jesus came to save sinners.

 

This leaves us only with one thing to do: be a sinner. Being a sinner doesn’t seem like a particularly hard task. After all, all of us sin. Each of us break the Ten Commandments. The Apostle Paul in today’s epistle ran through the Commandments showing what sinners look like. Sinners are unholy and profane, striking father and mother, murderers, sexually immoral, homosexuals, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:9-10). This is me. This is you. Now, it might be that you have held back yourself from these sins, but our hearts and minds are constantly bent toward sin.

 

Recall how Jesus teaches us what is sin? He says to be angry is to commit murder (Matthew 5:22); to look with lust is to commit adultery (Matthew 5:28). We have these two great tables staring us down – especially with the return of these two restored stained-glass windows: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” – Commandments 1-3 – and “Love your neighbor as yourself” – Commandments 4-10 (Mark 12:30-31). Now, which of us can check these off the list? 

Do the dishes, check. 

Take out the trash, check. 

Fold the laundry, check.

Love the Lord with every ounce of my being? Hmm.

[We Are Sinners]

 

This means that you are a sinner, and this is a good thing, remember? Because that is who Christ Jesus came to save. He came to save sinners. “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12). Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. But who is so healthy that he or she doesn’t need a doctor? Who is so righteous that he or she doesn’t need a Savior?

 

This is where we get to the difficulty. The Pharisees and scribes that Jesus is talking to are just as sinful as you and me, but they don’t realize it. They think they are righteous, that they are all well, that they don’t need help, no Savior needed, and this is trouble. We all know people – our own family andfriends – who don’t realize they are sinners. Some believe that if the sinner doesn’t affect their life, they are fine with their sin. It’s a libertarian point of living – live and let live – by tolerating the unhealthy behavior of others. They don’t realize that they are about to walk off or drive off a cliff. Everything seems fine. They have a happy family, a well-paying job, a nice home, but they have no salvation. They are lost, but they are ignorant that they are lost. 

 

This is what Paul – inspired by the Holy Spirit – is describing in today’s epistle. He wrote: “Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions” (1 Timothy 1:6-7).

 

We are sinners, but we hate to admit it. Our Old Adam – our old sinful flesh – hates to admit our sin. We prefer to say things like: “Sure, I’ve made mistakes. Yeah, I’ve messed up. Everyone makes mistakes. My bad. Nobody’s perfect.” Those words are the soothing confession of our sinful flesh. We would prefer to say things like that. We would rather say, “I’ve tried my best.” But you haven’t, have you? And just because everyone else has messed up doesn’t make it okay with God. He is holy. God isn’t a college professor who grades on a curve. 

 

Remember, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but our flesh clings to the illusion of its own goodness with a death grip, like a cat at bath time with claws sunk into the carpet. To confess that we are sinners, to acknowledge this, is death to the Old Adam, but this is what we are after. The cure only makes sense after the diagnosis.

 

Just imagine some man coming up to you holding a pill and says, “This pill is going to make all your hair fall out; you’re going to lose your appetite; you will have to stop working for a few weeks because this pill will make you that sick.” What would you do? You would likely run away from this man! You may even call the police! But imagine if this man is your doctor, and he’s just given you the bad news that you have cancer. The diagnosis is bad, but the doctor caught it in time so that the chemo pills can take care of it. Now, you don’t run from him. You stay. You take the pills. You pay this man thousands of dollars! You rejoice because you know the alternative. What a difference the diagnosis makes.

 

We are all sinners. That is our diagnosis: poor, miserable sinners. God’s Law “is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and the disobedient, of the ungodly and sinners” (1 Timothy 1:9). We have all broken God’s Law and stand deserving of His judgment, His wrath. When we acknowledge that nothing good dwells in us, that we have deserved God’s anger because of what we have done – in thought, word, and deed – and because of who we are, then the cure comes breaking over us with light and joy and peace.

 

[Sinners Saved by Jesus]

 

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Hey, I am a sinner! Jesus came to save me! You are a sinner! Jesus came to save you!

 

And save us He does: His agony in our place. His death for your life. His blood is a flood washing away your sin, your fear of death, your condemnation. All of this comes to you through His crucified flesh on the cross.

 

In today’s epistle, Paul was bold to confess his sins. He called himself the “foremost” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). In his epistles, Paul boasts of his weakness, of his sins. In the Book of Acts, Luke records how Paul had overseen the brutal murder of Stephen and how Paul had obtained permission to trouble the Christians in Damascus, throwing them, even the mothers and children, into prison for believing that Jesus is God. Paul, here, makes no attempt to hide his sin. He is a sinner, but a sinner with a Savior.

 

Paul knows the horrendous depth of his own sin, but this, for Paul, simply means that he knows all the better the height of Jesus’ love. He wrote: “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

 

As Christ said in today’s Gospel lesson, sheep wander off without knowing the wolf is waiting in the wings. You see, God wants us to rejoice at others who are rescued. Jesus says to us, look around at all who are lost and to rejoice when they are found. But remember, it is Jesus who does the seeking and the saving.

 

God’s grace is that He is able to seek out to rescue those sheep who are lost. When we are looking for the one lost sheep, or the one lost coin, that is you, that is me. Like Paul, we were once lost, and Christ Jesus saved even you and me.

 

This is a trustworthy saying: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Every word here is the truth of the beating heart of our hope and joy:

§  Christ – the eternal Son of God promised as the Messiah, the Anointed One; 

§  Jesus – true man, son of Mary, so named “because He will save people from their sins”(Matthew 1:21); 

§  came – sent by God the Father, willingly leaving the glory that was His from eternity; 

§  into the world – humbly placing Himself under the Law and being tempted as we are (except without sin), obedient even to death on the cross; 

§  to save – His one great goal and accomplishment “to seek and save what was lost” (Luke 19:10); and save who?

§  sinners – those who deserved only damnation. For “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

 

Here in the Divine Service, Jesus gives us the cure for our sins. He gives us the medicine of immortality, known as the Means of Grace – His Word and Sacrament. Unlike earthly medicines that often come with devastating side-effects, Christ’s medicine is 100 percent effective, 100 percent of the time. His medicine kills our Old Adam, so that we would have eternal life. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is life and salvation. As sinners, we need to continue taking this medicine weekly, for we constantly need forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our weak faith.

 

By grace through faith in Jesus, your sin cannot stand in the way of Jesus. Your death cannot stand in the way of Jesus. Your trouble cannot separate you from Him. Your Savior is Jesus, the one who came to save sinners, who came to save you. So, repent and believe! We are sinners saved by Jesus! “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Funeral Sermon: "God's Grace Is Always Runneth Over" (Psalm 23)

Family and friends of Delores:

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

 

Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and my own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15).

 

Delores knew the Good Shepherd and the Good Shepherd knew her. Throughout her earthly life, Jesus – the Good Shepherd – provided for Delores. Today, this same Good Shepherd continues to provide all of Delores’ needs.

 

In her earthly life, Delores was known for her hospitality. She was one who found enjoyment in caring for other people. With her hospitality, she was a fabulous cook and a cheerful giver. One thing she thoroughly enjoyed was socializing with people. From what I learned, she really enjoyed talking. She enjoyed talking so much that she received a nickname: Windy. She could talk with just about anyone and about anything.

 

Here at Prince of Peace, Delores served her Lord in various vocations, including teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir.

 

All throughout her life, the Triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – certainly blessed Delores. The Lord provided her with a loving husband David; two children: Jeff and __; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But most importantly, the Lord provided her with the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

 

Today, Delores is resting from her labors as she has received the promise of eternal life. She no longer suffers the effects of sin. She is at peace as she has joined the Church Triumphant with all the saints in heaven!

 

But for us here this morning, we are experiencing a loss. With any separation, we come to a time of mourning. We mourn because death is not natural. You see, humanity was not created to die. But due to our first parents – Adam and Eve – we all die, because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). And so, we mourn. But mourning is a good and godly work. Your see, Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus. He wept because He loved His friend, so weeping and mourning the death of any loved one is a good work.

 

Christians mourn at the reality of death. Christians mourn because we were never intended to die and we should live forever. But Christians do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We mourn, but our mourning is mixed with hope. Our tears are mixed with faith. Our sadness is mixed with joy, since despite the wages of sin being death, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

 

Today, through her death as a believer in Christ, sin has no more power over Delores. She has a clear mind, and she has no more pain, no more hunger, no more thirst. For us, on this side of heaven, we hear about God’s encouraging Word as our Good Shepherd.

 

[The Lord Leads Us]

 

For us here this morning, we can only imagine what Delores is witnessing and receiving from her Lord. But let us not forget, our Lord is caring for us now just as He is caring for Delores in heaven. God teaches us this fact in Psalm 23.

 

“The Lord is my shepherd; 
         I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
         He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
         He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3).

 

In the first three verses of Psalm 23, we hear how the Good Shepherd leads us. The Good Shepherd cares for all the needs of His flock. In doing so, He cares for every human need: physical, emotional, and spiritual.

 

Under the care of the Good Shepherd, we shall not want. Now this doesn’t mean that we will never have any desires. Certainly, we still have wants. But, in Christ, all of our needs are met. The Good Shepherd supplies the basics through His daily bread: food, drink, and protection.

 

Each day of our life – and in the life to come – God provides for us abundantly. He leads us to “lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2a). Now, these green pastures are His Means of Grace – Word and Sacrament. In these “green pastures,” we are fed and strengthened, preserved from error, comforted in all temptations, protected against the devil’s power, and saved from all need.

 

The Good Shepherd also “restores our soul” (Psalm 23:3a). Christ teaches us saying, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). We are Christ’s sheep, because He has made us His own. You see, Christ restores our soul through His bloody sacrifice and death for His sheep – you and me. Through Christ’s death, we are restored in the eyes of God the Father and all by faith in His Son.

 

The Good Shepherd also leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. This path of righteousness is “the right path.” You see, Jesus will never lead us to a place of slaughter. He leads us to eternal life and salvation. Along the way, He leads us along safe paths to heaven through His Word. He leads us to heaven, for the Good Shepherd is the only Way (John 14:6) to travel the righteous path.

 

[The Lord is Present]

 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
         Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

 

Even in the most frightening situation in our life, the Good Shepherd is present. So, we can always be confident of God’s guiding presence. Valleys on the way to the high pastureland often have the best grass, but valleys can also be places of hidden danger for the sheep. Even so, as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” the Good Shepherd is with us. He is always present with us. The Good Shepherd never sends His sheep into places He will not go. He is always with us in our lives today and in the life to come!

 

[The Lord Provides Forever]

 

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
         Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
         and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:5-6).

 

These verses tell how the Good Shepherd always provides for His sheep.

 

He prepares a table before us. This shows how the Good Shepherd is hospitable to His sheep. The Good Shepherd not only gives us our daily bread – all the needs of our body, such as food, clothing and shelter – but He gives us the gift of His very Body and very Blood in the Lord’s Supper for the forgiveness of our sins and to strengthen our weak faith.

 

The “cup runneth over” is the grace that we have received by faith in Jesus Christ. For although we were dead in sin, Jesus took upon Himself the death we deserve upon the cross, so that we would be made righteous by grace through faith in Him. For although we sin much in thought, word and deed, God’s grace is the cup that is always runneth over. So, when we repent and confess our sins to God, our sins are wiped clean. We are forgiven.

 

The Good Shepherd gives all who believe in Him this goodness and mercy all their lives.

 

[Dwelling in the House of the Lord Forever]

For everyone who dies in Christ, they experience the ending of Psalm 23: “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6b).

 

As soon as those who know the Good Shepherd enter heaven, they are no longer sinners, but only saints. For Delores and her fellow saints, they “hunger no more, neither thirst anymore” (Revelation 7:16a), since they are in the presence of the Good Shepherd. While in heaven, the Good Shepherd continues to provide.

 

Today, it is only through Christ’s work that Delores is now resting from her labors, as Jesus has accomplished salvation for her and for you and me! By grace through faith in Christ, death is but a portal, since “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

 

Delores has joined the Church Triumphant in heaven as she has left the great tribulation of this life now. She is clothed in Christ’s Robe of Righteousness as she is before the throne of God where she hungers no more, neither thirst anymore as she is in the presence of the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:14-17). Today, Delores and her fellow saints are free from sin and its power.

 

But heaven is not the end. For all the faithful, there is still something more on the horizon. “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). You see, death does not have the final say. Life has the final say. Since Christ has been raised from the dead, we too, will also be raised. So, Delores’ grave will be as empty as the grave of Jesus! This body buried will be the body raised on that glorious resurrection day!

 

May we follow Delores’ example of faith in the Good Shepherd and receive the free gift of His grace that is always runneth over. Amen!

 

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Delores Taylor's Obituary: http://jandtfredrickson.com/obituaries/index.php?id=2456

Sermon for Pentecost 13: "Counting the Cost" (Luke 14:25-35)

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Intro]

 

Although Jesus may not have been popular with the Pharisees and lawyers, wherever He went, great crowds followed Him. These crowds witnessed so many signs and miracles and they were ready to be eyewitnesses to the next great event.

 

But being a follower of Christ isn’t always about waiting for the next sign or miracle, as much as these crowds – and many of us – often may think. You see, being a Christian comes at a great cost that includes denying family, ourselves, and our possessions. Today, on this the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Jesus teaches us the true cost of discipleship.

 

Now, for some Christians, they say, there is no cost in being a follower of Christ. They say essentially that, “You can have your cake and eat it, too,” by being a Christian and also living a worldly life. They say, “I can pick what I like, and disregard what I don’t like in the Bible and still be a Christian.” This leads to arguments like, “Faith only belongs within the walls of the church on Sunday mornings.” For Jesus, however, if you want to truly be a Christian, He demands sacrifice. So, being a Christian only on a Sunday morning will not do. He demands loyalty.

 

[Three Conditions of Discipleship]

 

In today’s Gospel text, Jesus speaks to the crowd who desire to follow Him wherever He goes. But in order to follow Jesus, He demands true repentance and genuine discipleship. He says, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). Ouch! Those are some harsh words! But, Jesus does not stop there! He continues, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27) and “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33).

 

Here, Jesus sets forth three conditions for following Him – we must hate family, carry the cross, and leave possessions behind. 

 

First, there must be a willingness to leave behind family ties, including the tie to oneself. Now, for us, the word “hate” sounds so harsh to our ears. How could I hate my parents? How could I hate my spouse? How could I hate my siblings? How could I hate, myself? Does Jesus really mean that we are to hate our family, and even ourselves?

 

Well, yes and no. Here, when Jesus uses the word “hate,” He is using a Semitic expression which literally means “not love more than.” So, when Jesus says, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own [family and themself]” … “he cannot be My disciple,” Jesus is really saying, “You are not to love family and yourself more than Me.”

 

Family ties can often become a barrier to repentance and to genuine discipleship of Jesus. We would rather compromise with family instead of holding true to Jesus. We begin to idolize our family, our friends, ourselves, our own houses, our cars, and other possessions. You see, Jesus divides families. So, Christians sooner or later will face challenges from unbelieving loved ones saying: “Choose meand my ways rather than Jesus and His ways.” A non-believing spouse, or parents, or siblings, or children will demand allegiance and conformity in ways that a Christian simply must not agree. When this occurs, the Christian must love Jesus more than any family ties.

 

§  Many of us may become pressured from within our own families and close friends to stray from Christ due to social pressures.

§  Many of us may be pressured by your teacher or professor to stray form Christ’s teachings in order to receive a good grace.

§  Many of us may be pressured by your employer to stray from Christ’s teachings in order to remain employed or to even get employed.

 

So, what would you do? Who are you going to choose?

 

Jesus says that to be His disciple, we must renounce family, self, and possessions. Unless this happens, the follower will be like the builder who can’t finish his tower or a king who can’t win his war. So, when the going gets tough, lukewarm allegiance to Jesus will grow cold. Any halfhearted commitment will not do.

 

This is the cost of being a disciple of Christ. With knowing this, who really wants to be a Christian? Do you really want to renounce family, yourself, and possessions?

 

Discipleship is hard. But do you know what is easy? It is much easier to just give into temptation. Walking in step with the world appears to be much easier. The world doesn’t seem to be all that bad. 

 

Jesus also says, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). This is the second condition of discipleship: carry the cross. Now, what exactly does that mean? Well, following Jesus means self-denial. It means the sacrifice of one’s own will for the sake of Christ. “Cross” here does not refer to the afflictions and troubles that commonly come to Christians and non-Christians alike. Rather, a Christian taking up the cross means to accept whatever suffering might result from a sincere commitment to Christ and His kingdom. For many of the disciples, their confession of Christ would mean death.

 

Jesus’s words today are enough to discourage us of discipleship. But one thing is clear from the Scriptures, Jesus wants us to become His disciples. He yearns for us to build that tower called Christianity and to fight that enemy twice our size called Satan. We are sure of this because that’s why Jesus – who is fully God became man – lived in our place, suffered and died in our place, and rose again, so that we might become His disciples. 

 

But Jesus wants to make clear to us that being one of His disciples means more than joining an organization called the church, just as we could join a Kiwanis or Rotary Club. Christianity is more than having one’s name on a membership list or one’s picture in a congregational directory. It’s more than getting baptized, confirmed, married and buried under the confines of the church. Christianity is a life living 100 percent under the sway of God. And the one true God – the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit – doesn’t want only a part of our life; He wants all.

 

So, what does “all” look like? God the Father wants us to let Him take over through His Son Jesus Christ. That is discipleship. That is what is meant by forsaking all we have. It means giving up our self to God. It means trusting in Jesus, clinging to Jesus, depending on Jesus. That is discipleship. 

 

Bearing the cross in 21^st century America is tough. We have to be willing to sacrifice everything for our faith in Christ. We must be willing to sacrifice our family, ourselves, our employment, and even our possessions when we face ridicule for the one true Christian faith. Often, we would rather just give in to the world’s changing doctrine in order to preserve our family, ourselves, our employment, and our possessions.

 

But walking in step with the world is only a way of curses as God proclaims in today’s Old Testament lesson. He says: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse” (Deuteronomy 30:19). So, walking in the way of obedience is a blessing. But how so? How could it be a blessing to renounce everything?

 

[Christ Paid the Cost]

 

Jesus says that we must take a good long look at what it means to be His disciple. So, take a good long look, take a good long listen. He says, “Wake up, pay attention and count the cost.” You see, being a disciple of Christ is not always fun and games. 

 

Remember, Christ bore the sufferings for the whole world upon Himself. He suffered and died on our behalf. So, we won’t end up suffering that. But we will bear crosses. We will have conflicts in families. If our parents, spouses, or siblings come between us and the Lord, we must choose the Lord. If holding on to our lives in the face of martyrdom, we must be willing to give up our lives. If not, we cannot be Christ’s disciple. So, we must count the cost.

 

Being a disciple is tough. But even as it is difficult, we know that we are always blessed. We have a cost to consider, but Jesus paid the ultimate cost. So, our costs pale in comparison to what Jesus did for us. You see, Jesus paid the entire price. So, even when our days are difficult, we still stand very blessed.

 

Jesus concludes saying: “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?” (Luke 14:34). Salt is critical in a world that lacks other means in preserving food. Just as salt preserves meat, our faith in Christ needs to be preserved. The Means of Grace — Word and Sacrament — is the salt that preserves our faith in Christ.

 

Christ knows that we are not perfect. He knows of our failures. He knows that we don’t always put Him first, despite our pledge for allegiance. Thanks be to God that when we fail to put Christ first, we can confess that sin and receive His forgiveness. To us, who are poor, miserable sinners, He says to us: “Peace be with you! Your sins are forgiven!” This is why we are here. We are here to receive Christ’s gift of forgiveness. We are here to receive salt to strengthen our weak faith.

 

So, in a way, Christianity is easy. It’s easy, because we don’t have to scrounge around for methods to get in good with God. We are good with Him already – thanks to Jesus, and all we have to do is believe wholeheartedly that Jesus has taken care of everything. He paid the price. The cost has been accepted. All we can do is trust in Jesus for our salvation for He has paid the cost. Amen!

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +