APRIL 26, 2009  SERMON ARCHIVE

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our heavenly Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN

The text for our meditation today is the epistle lesson from 1 John 3. There we read these words:

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 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. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

We begin in the name of Jesus, AMEN

According to God’s Law, you’re not who you appear to be.

In the Small Catechism, we teach that God’s Law operates as a curb: it discourages evil from happening. In other words, you know better than to say some of the things that you want to say and do some of the things you want to do. You don’t always act on your thoughts or appetites or impulses. Why? Because they’re wrong. Because doing so would damage you. It would lead to punishment. It would harm your reputation.

So you young people, even when you want to talk back to your parents, you know better. If you do you’re going to pay for it.

You parents or anyone who works for someone else. You know better than to talk back to your boss because you may well get fired for it.

If you bear a grudge against someone in your mind, you know better than to act on it.

When you want to slug somebody, you don’t throw down.

When you want to indulge sexual temptation, you don’t.

When you want to take your neighbor’s new truck, you leave it where it is.

When you want to lie to get out of a bad situation, you know that it’s better to tell the truth.

Right?

Maybe?

Or, do you talk back, act on grudges, slug people, gratify your lust, steal from your neighbor or lie. Do you? You know that when you do, it’s wrong. And you know that sins like that will work to kill your faith, rob you of life and salvation.

As your Pastor I want to believe that most of the time you know better. You know better than to act on all those sinful temptations and impulses that lurk around your mind, that crawl out of your heart.

Because of the consequences, I want to believe that you suppress them as much as possible. In the words of that great theologian, Thumper in the movie Bambi, "If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all."

At the same time, remember what Jesus said: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person"

Before you do anything sinful, you’ve already thought about it. You’re already guilty before God. You’re already defiled and sinful. You’re not righteous before Him just because you’ve managed to quell a lot of temptations inside. That was what the Pharisees believed: they thought that as long as their actions were law-abiding, they must be righteous before God.

In response, Jesus called them white-washed tombs: they looked very nice and clean on the outside, but inside they were dead.

White-washed tombs. That’s what I mean when I say that you’re not who you appear to be. According to God’s Law, you’re worse. Far worse. You’re guilty of all the sin that you’ve held inside. Even though you haven’t acted on it, it’s death and decay to your soul. You may not feel that bad about it: but then again, Jeremiah tells us that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). You can’t begin to comprehend the depth of your sin.

And here’s where the Law really crushes: Jesus is coming back to judge in glory. You haven’t seen Him revealed in His holiness and glory yet. But you will. On that day, if your sins still cling to you, you’ll be exposed for who you truly are: and according to the Law, that deserves only God’s wrath and punishment.

According to the Law, you’re not who you appear to be. You’re worse.

Now, should I end the sermon here. I suppose I better not.

Dear friends, according to the Gospel, you’re also not who you appear.  

What with keeping all those bad thoughts and behaviors in check, you come across as a pretty nice person and all. But according to the Gospel, you’re not a pretty nice person.

You’re far, far better than that.

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are."

God the Father gave His only begotten Son, gave Him to death in your place. By so doing, God declared, "I so love you and desire your salvation that I have judged My Son in Your place. I do not ask you to earn your salvation by your works and efforts and sacrifices. Instead, I gave My Son to work and sacrifice and die. And I raised Him up again!"

What does this mean to you? It means that by the grace of God, you’re a child of God.

You’re not a lawless lost one looking in from the outside, not a hypocrite who pretends to be good and hopes the Lord doesn’t get wise, not a slave who has to earn your keep, not an employee who has to get a good performance review in order to make the cut.

You’re a child of God.

For Jesus’ sake, God says, "At your Baptism, I made you My own. I put My name on you, made you a member of My household—and My household lasts forever."

For Jesus’ sake, you are a child of God. Not, "you will be a child of God," but "you are."

Heaven is yours. Your sins are gone, because Jesus has taken them all away. He died for them all.

You’re a child of God—now.

You’re perfect before God—now.

You just don’t appear that way right now. I mean think about it. If the world seriously acknowledged that you were a child of God, do you think it would hassle you at all for being a Christian? Bullies don’t pick on kids with really big brothers, so why would the world choose to dismiss Christianity and mock it?

The text tells you: "The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." The world didn’t recognize Jesus as the Son of God—instead, the world crucified Him. Don’t expect any praise or favors from the world for being a Christian. Expect the world to say, "You don’t look like a child of God, so you’re getting no respect from us."

Furthermore, you don’t appear pure, either. People will see and remember your mistakes, not the grace that God gives. You’ll remember them, too, especially those sins along the way where the Law has especially crushed you, where the regret still feels fresh. Sin still clings to you in this life, and will try to persuade you that you’re not pure and never could be. But that’s the appearance, and the Gospel declares that you’re far better than you appear.

You don’t appear to be a pure child of God—to the world or to yourself. But you’ve got Jesus’ Word on it.

Today, He’s declared His powerful, effective words, "I forgive you all of your sins."

If your sins are forgiven, you’re pure. If your sins are forgiven, you’re a child of God.

You just don’t see it yet—you don’t appear that way. Neither do you see Jesus yet— rather, He cloaks Himself in His Word and Supper to give you forgiveness and purity again.

It won’t always be like this. Jesus is coming back in glory for all to see. You haven’t seen Him revealed in His holiness and glory yet. But you will. You will see Him as He is, the glorious Son of God who took on flesh and died for you. And then, as one redeemed and forgiven, you’ll be exposed for who you truly are even now for Jesus’ sake.

You’re pure.

You’re a saint.

You’re a saint. You’re a child of God

Because you are forgiven for all of your sins.

Christ Is Risen.

AMEN