We Are at War

June 30, 2008 by admin.

In the name of our God, whose presence is always with us, dear fellow believers,

It’s taken many months of campaigning, but we finally have our two candidates for this fall’s presidential election. No doubt over the next few months we’ll continue to hear Senator Obama and Senator McCain debate about key issues that they feel will influence people and how they vote. These issues will include health care, gas prices, the economy, and the like. Another hot topic is sure to be the war in Iraq and our involvement in the affairs of the Iraqi people. It’s a pretty polarizing issue. Either you feel that we don’t belong there and should pull our troops, or you’re of the opinion that we should stay put until we accomplish our objectives. Either way, it appears as if we will be “at war” for up to and possibly beyond a decade once all is said and done.

Even though the battlefield is miles away, the reports of casualties remind us that this battle is very real and affects many people in our country. And yet there’s another battle closer to home, a war that is being engaged in every human being. We’re not facing an army from another country. But we are up against a very real and a very dangerous adversary — three of them, in fact. We’re battling the devil, the sinful world around us, and an enemy who’s all too close for comfort — the sinful nature that lives in each of us. On the other side of the confrontation is what we call our “New Man,” the part of us that desires to please our Lord, given to us and supported by God the Holy Spirit. The battle these combatants wage is hard, and the battle is long. As St. Paul reminds us this morning, every day, every hour, every minute of our lives:

“We Are at War”

I. The cause

II. The conflict

III. The victory

Our enemy didn’t invade from another country. We were born with it. It’s our inheritance from Adam (Ro 5:12), “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” There’s no way of avoiding this fate. Earlier Paul describes us all as “slaves to sin” (Ro 6:20). We’re at war because we were born with sin.

The New Man in us is frustrated having to coexist with the enemy we call sin. Sin causes problems (v 15), “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Earlier Paul reminds us that as Christians we “have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God” (Ro 6:22). And yet our sinful nature still brands us as sinners and slaves to sin. The New Man in Paul wouldn’t acknowledge what his sinful nature did. He wanted to do only what was pleasing to his Lord, and yet when he takes inventory of his life, Paul sees just the opposite. It would be like working on an automobile assembly line, watching a car creeping down the line take shape. Doors, fenders, windows, the engine, and the transmission are all in place. Workmen have applied the last coat of lacquer. All that’s left is the final step of rustproofing. But what comes off the assembly line is covered with a bunch of dents and scratches, displaying areas of rust and erosion. What could have happened? What went wrong? That’s what Paul must have been asking himself when he took inventory of his life.

The problem wasn’t with Paul’s New Man or with God (v 16), “And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.” The war within us isn’t God’s fault. As Christians we recognize the benefits of having God’s law to guide us and to show us our sins. The real culprit is sin itself (v 17), “As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.” Sin is the intruder, the trespasser who doesn’t belong in us. And yet we appear virtually powerless to expel him from our lives. It’s as if we’ve become puppets, with Satan controlling the strings. Sin takes over, and since sin is still a part of us, we are responsible when our sins win out over our New Man.

The cause of our warfare goes deep beneath the surface. It’s like the old clock in the church that no longer kept the proper time. It usually went too fast, causing the people to think the pastor was keeping them too long. Finally the pastor made a little sign and posted it by the clock. It read, “Don’t blame the hands. The problem lies deeper.” The problem wasn’t the hands pointing out the wrong time. The problem was with the inner mechanism and springs. So it is with us (Mt 15:19), “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” That’s what causes us to go to war with God, for “the sinful mind is hostile to God” (Ro 8:7).

And yet God’s grace brings to our side a worthy opponent for sin. In 1 Corinthians we’re told (1 Co 6:19), “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you?” We’ve always got company, because through baptism we’ve gained an ally. Just like the Lord assured Moses of his constant presence, so also we aren’t fighting alone. We know the cause of the battle — sin. Now let’s take a look at the conflict between sin and our New Man, supported by our ally, God the Holy Spirit.

On the one side you have the desire for good. On the other side we find the failure to carry out that good (vv 18,19), “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.” Our sinful nature is rotten to the core. We want to do good, but our sinful nature overrules us. It’s like wanting to put up beautiful shining Christmas lights to adorn our lives, only to have sin keep pulling the plug.

It seems that even our best efforts are always overcome by sin (vv 20,21), “Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” Sin is responsible for turning “all our righteous acts . . .[into] filthy rags” (Isa 64:6). Sin taints everything we do. It’s like the sleeping dog lounging alongside us. It may seem harmless enough, but as soon as we make our move to do something good, that dog awakens and attacks, destroying any good intentions we might have had. Such is the conflict we face.

And yet our New Man continues to do battle, even though it appears to be a losing one (vv 22,23), “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.” As Christians we, like Paul, take pleasure in finding ways to please God. And yet we, too, find “another law” that often leads us instead to do things that are pleasing to the devil. It often seems as if our entire body is under the devil’s control, as he infiltrates our minds and takes us prisoner. In the end we might say that we feel like a boxer knocked out in the opening seconds of the fight — we’re defeated before we ever get a chance to fight! It seems as if our demise is inevitable.

Our conflict against sin and Satan is never-ending. It’s like pulling weeds in your garden — they keep coming back, no matter how many you pull. Satan keeps coming back, no matter how often we try to “pull” him out of our lives. When we go to war with him, be assured that there will be no cease-fires, no days off, no vacations from the battle. Peter tells us (1 Pe 5:8), “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He keeps tempting us into those pet sins that we find so hard to resist, and we end up giving in so many times. The worst thing we could ever do would be to underestimate our opponent. So let’s recognize the battle we’re in and the enemy we’re up against. If you don’t feel the heat of the battle, then you’re really in trouble because Satan has tricked you into a false sense of security. You sense a peace that you can’t obtain on your own. With Satan there is no such peace. We’re always in for a fight, battling for our eternal soul.

Yes, we may lose many of these battles, but there’s still some great news. We’ve won the war! It wasn’t our doing. But the victory has been achieved for us — all by the grace of God in Christ Jesus!

First of all remember your own inability to overcome sin (v 24), “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” When we see the losses brought on by sin, we’re dejected, but let us never despair. That’s because even though we may lose some battles, we’ve won the war. We know that eventually our conflict will end, and it will end in victory. That’s why we share Paul’s desire (Php 1:23), “I desire to depart and be with Christ.” We long for the day when the fighting will be done and we will be at peace for all eternity.

That day will be possible, not because of what we’ve done, but only because of our Lord (v 25), “Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Why do we say “thanks be to God”? Because “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8). God gave us the victory over sin and Satan, just as he had promised way back in Eden when he told the devil (Ge 3:15), “He [the Savior] will crush your head.” The Lord kept his promise and sent his Son: “Jesus,” the God-man, the one who mediates between us and our Father in heaven; “Christ,” the one anointed by God to fulfill all the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament; “our Lord,” the one who’s always in complete control, before whom “every knee should bow” (Php 2:10). That was Paul’s Savior. He is our Savior as well.

We are at war, but remember (1 Jn 4:4), “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Our enemy is tough, there’s no denying that fact. He’s impossible to defeat by ourselves. It’s foolish to even try. Many still do, as they attempt to moralize, rationalize, or even sympathize their sins away. But ignoring the battle won’t make it go away. The only solution is to repent and believe — believe that even though your enemy is strong, your Savior is stronger! He carried the entire weight of the world’s sins to Calvary, and there he disposed of them for all eternity. Now that same Savior picks us up and carries us through our daily battle with all our enemies. With him we know that the victory has already been won. Because ours is guaranteed to be a winning battle, we have the strength to keep at it. As we shall soon sing, (CW 537:1), “Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before.” And as we march on, we do so as winners, because with Christ in the lead, we can’t lose!    Amen

 

–Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff

Posted in Sermons | Print | No Comments »

Be True, Not Popular

June 24, 2008 by admin.

Peer Pressure is one of the more powerful influences that we have in our world. Almost everyone wants to be accepted in their social peer groups. Nobody likes to be the “odd man out”. Nobody likes to be singled out as “different” or “unusual”. Rather, people make every effort to be accepted, to be like the others in the group.

This is OK until it happens that what the group is doing is wrong. Other people in your office may help themselves to stamps, staplers, pens, and other equipment that belongs to the company. Our faith demands that we NOT join them, that we not participate in the sin, even though it may seem somewhat insignificant. In fact, our faith tells us that weshould try to prevent people from doing what is wrong.

I imagine that you would be a bit unpopular if you confronted your fellow employees. It would be easier for you to mind your own business, or perhaps even join in doing what the others are doing. At the time of our text, God had sent a prophet named Hananiah to warn the people of Judah about what they were doing. But Hananiah knew that if he did that, it wouldn’t make him very popular with the people. And Hananiah wanted to be accepted. Hen wanted to be liked. So rather than do what God sent him to do, Hananiah patted the people on the back and told them to keep up the good work.

Our text today describes the reaction of Jeremiah when he heard the words of Hananiah. He wasn’t afraid of confronting him, and he didn’t worry about how his rebuke would sit with the people of Judah. He had a responsibility that he had been given by God, and he knew that it was more important for him to

“Be True, Not Popular”

1. The World’s Sinfulness Demands It

2. God’s Love Demands It

Jeremiah wrote, “Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD. He said, ‘Amen! May the Lord do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you h ave prophesied by bringing the articles of the LORD’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.’” God selected men through whom He would reveal His will to His people. When Hananiah was chosen by God, it was his responsibility to relay the message from God accurately. Hananiah was commissioned by God to speak a harsh message to the people, a message of captivity and destruction. Such a message would make Hananiah unpopular with the people. So he changed it. He told the people that they would soon be free from the enemy and that good times were just around the corner.

Jeremiah immediately confronted Hananiah. Before the priests and the people who were at the temple, he challenged the message of Hananiah. But he did so in a pretty unique way. “Amen! May the LORD do so!” he said. Jeremiah had prayed that the exile into Babylon would not be necessary. He had hoped that the people would confess their sins and repent. If so, God would forgive them and, perhaps, spare them from the Babylonians.

But Jeremiah knew that the people had not turned from their sinful ways. They had not repented and were not going to be spared from God’s punishment. The message of Hananiah only led the people to continue along their path of sin. If Jeremiah did not stand up and confront Hananiah and the sin of the people, they would soon meet the full wrath of God. He called the message of peace that Hananiah proclaimed “the words you have prophesied.” Hananiah had failed the LORD. He did not proclaim God’s message. He proclaimed a message that would make him more popular with the people.

While confronting people with their sins may be difficult, it is vital. God tells us that when a person sins against us we are to “go and show him his fault…” (Mt. 18:15) In the Old Testament Moses wrote, “Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.” (Lev. 19:17) What God wants us to do is clear. But doing it won’t make you the most popular person at the time. Unfortunately, the devil has misled people into believing that a harsh rebuke of sin isn’t so necessary. Misapplied Bible verses about God’s love and mercy have been used to downplay seriousness of sin and its consequences. We are surrounded by churches and religions that do not hold people accountable for sin, but rather preach a message of tolerance so that they do not offend anyone.

In our text, Hananiah took that route and was challenged by Jeremiah. He wrote, “Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.” Pointing to the prophecies of the other men whom God had sent, Jeremiah noted a warning far different from the sugarcoated pat on the back spoken by Hananiah. So who was right? Jeremiah wrote, “But, the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true.” While Hananiah meant to bring joy and relief to the people, all he really did was lead them further away from God’s love.

II. God’s Love Demands It

When Adam and Eve fell into sin, God searched them out to offer them His help. When King David fell into sin, God sent Nathan to bring him His love. Jesus Himself reached out to a woman whom He met at a well who was spiraling toward hell because of her adulterous life. But in each case, the love was first shown by leading the person to recognize his or her sin. God said to Adam and Eve, “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Gen. 3:11) Nathan spoke to David in a picture story describing a rich man who stole a poor man’s only sheep to lead David to realize what he had done with Bathsheba. And Jesus made a simple, but leading, request of the woman He met at Jacob’s well, “Go, call your husband and come back.” (Jn. 4:7)

The justice of God demands that He punish sin. He is not able to ignore it or close His eyes to it. Sin will be punished, and the sinner will pay eternally. But only the unrepentant sinner. For those who confess their sins and turn to God for mercy, the blood of Jesus will set them free. God’s great love moved Him to punish His son in our place. Those who trust the words of the Lord and the forgiveness He promises will be set free from their sins.

And that is what leads us to preach God’s law, even when it is not a popular message. While a parent or doctor does not enjoy telling a child or patient that they are sick, it is necessary so that the problem can be confronted. If God had allowed the people of Judah to go about their lives misled by the sugarcoated message of Hananiah, they would have lived comfortable while on earth, but faced a horrible verdict on Judgment Day. God’s love demanded that He send Jeremiah, and His love demands that He send us to preach the whole will of God.

And, yes, that includes His love and mercy. We will never hesitate to assure a grieving sinner of God’s love for him. But it also includes God’s wrath and anger against sin. It means holding the guilty accountable. In love, we will need to do that without sounding condescending or arrogant. We will have to be careful about how we approach someone who has sinned. A parent can use each day to establish God’s will in the heart of his child. Other times we need to work slowly to win the confidence of a friend or neighbor so that they understand our intentions when it is necessary for us to speak with them. And in a world that wants to soften the message, we must hold firm to the unchanging will of God.

Peer pressure can be used to prevent us from doing what God calls us to do. We don’t want to be unpopular. We don’t want people to be angry with us. But imagine how angry they will be as God convicts them of their sins and sends them away into hell if you don’t help them. God calls on us to be true to Him, not popular with the world. Sometimes you can be both. Pray the people will follow the will of God and turn to Him in repentance and true faith. Amen

 

–Rev. Roger Rockhoff

Posted in Sermons | Print | No Comments »

Follow Me!

June 3, 2008 by admin.

In Christ Jesus, the only Way that leads to our salvation, dear fellow-redeemed,

The statement is so straightforward and simplistic, we’re often tempted to just slide by it (v 9), “‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” Was this some kind of mind control being displayed by Jesus, some divine power that caused Matthew to drop everything and follow after our Lord? No doubt Matthew had heard about Jesus and the gracious words of forgiveness that he had spoken, but those words wouldn’t have meant anything to Matthew unless he had first realized the tremendous burden he had been carrying in his heart.

Matthew was a tax collector, a Jewish man chosen by the Romans to gather in taxes from his fellow Jews. And the Romans loved to tax everything — clothing, food, land, slaves — you name it! You can imagine that these tax collectors weren’t local favorites, working for “the enemy” and taking their hard-earned dollars. Add to it that many of these tax collectors were crooked individuals known for inflating the price of merchandise and taxing it accordingly, just to line their own pockets with extra profit, and you see why they’re often lumped together with “pagans” in Scripture.

Like all tax collectors, Matthew suffered shame and disgrace because of his vocation. He wasn’t allowed into the synagogue for worship, in addition to being treated as an outcast by his own people. We’re not told that Matthew personally was a shady character known for taking advantage of people, but you have to wonder what else was weighing on his conscience that day. What led him to so quickly take Jesus up on his offer? We may not know the specifics, but what we do know is this: Matthew realized that he was a sinner. He knew he needed help. He knew he had no answers of his own, and here before him was the one sent “to seek and to save the lost” (Lk 19:10). His was an invitation Matthew couldn’t pass up.

This morning we rejoice, not only for Matthew, but also for ourselves, because we also have received our Lord’s invitation. This morning he says to each one of us:

“Follow Me!”

I. An invitation meant only for those sick with sin

II. A call meant only for those saved from sin

The account before us this morning occurred early in Jesus’ ministry. While up in Galilee, he had been giving evidence of his divine authority by healing a great number of people. He had just finished taking care of a paralyzed man, the one whom his friends had lowered down through the roof to get close to Jesus. Not only did Jesus make it possible for this man to walk again, but he offered him something even more important. He said to him (Mt 9:2), “Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven.” What a happy day, right? Not in the eyes of the Pharisees! These self-proclaimed religious “know-it-all’s” rained on the parade by accusing Jesus of blasphemy, of making himself out to be God! Keep this in mind when we come back to these same Pharisees a bit later as they continue to stick their noses in Jesus’ business.

Jesus wasn’t about to let a little opposition deter him from his mission. That’s why he goes on to issue his invitation to Matthew, the tax collector. He knew that Matthew was sick – sick with sin – and only he as the Savior had the antidote. And there was enough to go around for everyone who needed it.

Good thing, too, because Matthew had some friends for Jesus to meet who were as sick as he was. So he issues an invitation of his own to Jesus, inviting him over for dinner (v 10), “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ came and ate with him and his disciples.” A motley crew indeed! You might say it was a whole houseful of Matthews! Here the word “sinners” has the connotation of social degenerate. This designation could have included everyone from prostitutes and thieves to those who were just guilty by associating with tax collectors and other social rejects. Even with various backgrounds and their own unique stories to tell, they still had one thing in common – they were all sinners.

It didn’t take long for the Pharisees to log their complaint (v 11), “When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and “sinners”?’” In those days sharing a meal with someone was one of the closest expressions of fellowship you could make. The Pharisees wouldn’t be caught dead in the company of such lowlifes, and they wanted to know how Jesus could lower himself to such a level. Even though they couldn’t stand Jesus, still they were miffed because he was wasting his time with these “sinners” while neglecting to hold an audience with them.

Why didn’t Jesus spend time with these Pharisees? Why didn’t he invite them to follow him? Because his was an invitation meant only for sinners, and the Pharisees didn’t think they fell into that category. They didn’t think they were sick. So Jesus explains why they were left out (v 12), “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Jesus’ invitation was meant only for sinners. Matthew and his friends knew they were sick. The Pharisees claimed otherwise. Jesus came with a cure – in Matthew’s case, he even made house calls! He came calling with the medicine of his blood and righteousness, through which he could heal all people with the balm of forgiveness. But the Pharisees rejected the cure. In their eyes they were just fine, able to save themselves from the cancer of sin. Little did they know, they erred in their self-diagnosis, and the result would be deadly.

Jesus still comes calling today with his invitation, “Follow me.” And, just as in Matthew’s day, that invitation is meant only for those who know they are sick with sin. Unfortunately, the world around us is intent on convincing people that they’re not sick, that there’s nothing wrong with them, and that anyone who would tell them otherwise is out-of-line and judgmental. What’s even worse, this faulty and fatal perception is also being perpetuated in the religious realm, even among many Christian churches. No one wants to talk about the sickness of sin, choosing instead to ignore such negative thinking in light of offering more of a “feel good” message instead. Just check out the sermons of the popular TV preachers today, and let me know how often you hear self-esteem being promoted and sin being ignored. No one likes to hear they’re sick. No one wants to hear they’re a sinner.

But unless we know how sick we are, we’ll never appreciate how precious our Savior’s cure is. Until we realize how helpless we are in producing a cure, we’ll never long for the cure found only in the blood of Jesus. Unless we take a long, hard look at the x-ray of God’s law and see how terminally ill we are, we’ll never treasure the antidote of God’s grace. So don’t be surprised when you come here to Messiah and you get a dose of reality in all its ugliness dumped on you every Sunday by hearing over and over again that you’re a sinner. Then and only then will you appreciate the joy of hearing Jesus say to you, “Follow me.”

Jesus’ invitation to Matthew actually served a twofold purpose. Not only was he inviting him to receive the solution to his sinfulness, but he was also issuing him a call – a call meant only for those saved from sin.

Take note again of how Matthew responded to Jesus’ invitation, “Matthew got up and followed him.” The verb tense used in the original Greek language indicates that his following of Jesus began at that moment and continued uninterrupted into the future. In his account, Luke adds the information that Matthew “left everything” to follow Jesus (Lk 5:28). He left his counting table and everything else behind to serve his Savior, no longer collecting taxes but now eager to collect souls for his Lord!

Matthew started his ministry at home with a little “friendship evangelism,” inviting his friends and coworkers over to meet Jesus. We can just picture how elated he was, realizing what a difference Jesus had made in his life and now being so anxious to share his joy with those around him! So it works with us too. We know what we were and what we are now because of Jesus. We’re satisfied customers, and everyone knows that satisfied customers make the best salesmen. Just like Matthew, we know that we’ve been called to share our Lord’s cure with the world!

This is where the Pharisees got it all wrong. Jesus concludes by telling them (v 13), “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” You heard me read those words earlier as part of the First Lesson for today. They were first spoken by the Lord to the hypocritical Israelites in the Old Testament who continued to make sacrifices and carry out other outward signs of worship even though their hearts weren’t in it. That’s the same pit the Pharisees had fallen into. On the outside they prided themselves in keeping God’s laws, but their sacrifices were empty of mercy, as evidenced in the fact that they protested Jesus’ healing of the paralyzed man along with many others. They had refused mercy to sinners. They refused to heed Jesus’ invitation to forgiveness and his call to service. In their own eyes they considered themselves “righteous.” Jesus only wanted sinners – saved sinners – to serve in his kingdom.

Today I want you to take home with you the positive example of Matthew in heeding the Lord’s call, while recognizing the error of the Pharisees and their attitude towards worship. Sometimes we tend to think that our service to God only has to do with attending church, reading the Bible on occasion, saying some prayers, and plunking a few dollars into the collection plates each week. But the Lord wants more than our outward sacrifices. He once told his prophet Ezekiel (Eze 33:11), “My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.” Lip service is just pharisaical hypocrisy. God wants more – he wants our hearts! He wants us to take to heart what we’ve learned, to appreciate our Savior’s forgiveness, to abandon our sinful lives, to make changes in line with his will, and to seek out ways to serve him by reaching out to others. We’re all equipped to do so, because Jesus’ call was meant only for those saved from sin, and we all fall into that category.

So did Matthew. While recognizing his sinfulness, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he also recognized his Savior and heeded his call to “follow me.” Tradition has it that, in addition to writing the Gospel that bears his name, Matthew ended up doing mission work in Ethiopia where he was either burned to death, stoned, or beheaded – just for following Jesus! For Matthew it was all worth it, for as sick as he was with sin, he was healed by Jesus, and he considered it a privilege to serve him. May we also heed his invitation and his call, always considering it a joy and a privilege to hear our Savior say to each of us, “Follow me.”

Amen

–Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff

Posted in Sermons | Print | No Comments »

Righteousness: A Done Deal

May 26, 2008 by admin.

In the Name of Him Whose Blood Sets Us Free, Dear Friends in Christ,

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” So says the supervisor at work when the presentation isn’t what it should be; or the frustrated parent whose child leaves half the chores undone; or the man who notices a few missed spots on his vehicle after the workers at the car wash are done wiping it down. There tends to be a general rule of thought that somehow when faced with a problem or challenge, the best person to fix or solve it is ME! “I can do it better than anyone else.” “I can handle things on my own.” “I got myself into it, I can get myself out of it.” Even though we may fail, still our attitude of self-reliance seems to urge us to try and fight so many of our battles completely by ourselves.

Unfortunately, this same attitude prevails in our sinful nature when it comes to our salvation. The temptation is so strong to believe that our status in eternity somehow depends on what we do, on our ability to fix what we messed up. Yes, when it comes to making things right with God, we hear our sinful nature’s constant reminder, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”

There’s only one problem with this way of thinking – you can’t do what’s already done! And this problem for our sinful nature proves instead to be a blessing for each of us, because no matter how much we tried to win our own salvation, we could never pull it off. We needed someone else to do it for us. We needed a Savior!

Today I have wonderful news for you from God’s Word. The words before us from the Book of Romans is the beginning of what has been called “one of the most wonderful gospel sermons that you can find anywhere in Scripture” (Becker). Today we’re going to talk about:

 

“Righteousness: A Done Deal”

I. From God

II. Through Christ

III. By faith

This month marks the end of the school year for most children, which also means that the last report cards had to be handed over to parents. Perhaps some children did so with a little fear and trepidation, knowing that their grades may not have reflected their abilities or reached their parents’ expectations. Imagine the fear that would be ours if we had to present our report card to God in order to get into his heaven – especially when it would be filled with nothing but F’s! In the verse preceding our text, Paul points out that we cannot get a passing grade here on this earth by ourselves (Ro 3:20), “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” God’s law only shows us where we’ve gone wrong. It does not provide a solution.

So what the law could not do, God did instead (v 21), “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” Trying to make ourselves right with God is useless. We’re like a man sinking in quicksand: Insist on saving yourself, and you’ll only quicken your demise. In order to survive, you have to find something to cling to. So it is with righteousness. We have to cling to someone other than ourselves in order to be saved. Our righteousness comes “from God,” and he revealed it to us in his Word, “the Law and the Prophets.” Way back in the Garden of Eden God told Satan that he would be the one to make things right (Ge 3:15), “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Throughout the Old Testament God’s spokesmen proclaimed this righteousness that came from God (Ac 10:43), “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Do you see what great news this is? The perfection, the righteousness that you and I could never accomplish on our own, God provided for us! We couldn’t keep God’s law. We failed miserably. There’s no righteousness of our own to present at God’s throne. So we have to look outside ourselves, “apart from law.” That’s where we find hope, for we’ve been given “a righteousness from God.” So now our salvation is secure! We have what it takes to enter our Lord’s eternal kingdom — we have righteousness! Yes, our righteousness is a done deal!

We’ve seen where our righteousness comes from, but now let’s take a closer look to see through whom it comes. It’s been won for us by that Seed of the Woman – our Savior, Jesus Christ.

No matter how different people may be, we all have one thing in common – we’re all incapable of living up to God’s expectations (vv 22,23), “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The Greek word translated here as “glory” in some contexts can also mean “praise.” So then we could see Paul telling us that all people have sinned and, therefore, fall short of God’s praise. In other words, we all have sinned and lack his approval. God demands perfection from us, and we’ve all fallen short – way short! – of that standard. Try buying a $1 ice cream cone with a nickel, and you’ll get the picture of coming up short. Our sinfulness rules out any chance of winning God’s approval on our own.

But whereas all have sinned, our gracious God has seen to it that all also are justified, declared “not guilty,” in his sight (v 24), “And [all] are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Notice the piling up of terms used by Paul to drive his point home. All people have been declared “not guilty” “freely” – that is, as a gift, without payment. This has been done “by his grace” – by means of the undeserved love that God bestows upon sinners. And this status has become ours “through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” – literally, through the payment of a ransom in which you and I were bought back from the devil. Notice who paid the price – “Christ Jesus.” Remember, the price was steep (1 Pe 1:18,19), “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed . . . , but with the precious blood of Christ.” Nothing less than the blood of Christ could open heaven’s door for us.

When we failed, God sent his Son to take our place (v 25), “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” There’s some beautiful picture language here that sometimes gets lost in translation. I’m sure you remember that in the word “atonement” we’re reminded that through Christ we are once again “at one” with God. But here the word is being used by Paul to picture the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant in the Old Testament. Remember how the Children of Israel carried around this box-like structure as a sign of the Lord’s presence and power? Inside this ark were the two tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments. When the Lord looked at these tablets, he was reminded of how all people had sinned against his will. But this same God in love sent his Son “as a sacrifice of atonement” – as the one who would cover up those commandments by keeping them in our place. Our God now looks at his law through Christ and sees those commandments kept perfectly. Instead of failure he now sees righteousness – righteousness won for us by his Son!

Jesus was a complete Savior. He did everything for our salvation. That’s what he meant when he cried out from the cross (Jn 19:30), “It is finished.” If your children tell you that they have finished their homework, you may ask them to prove it by showing it to you. When Jesus says he finished his work of salvation, you can ask him to prove it and he’ll show you his hands and his side. He’ll show you the empty tomb. He’ll tell you that all authority on heaven and on earth has been given to him as the resurrected Lord and Savior. Our salvation is complete! It’s finished! Jesus said so! Righteousness is a done deal!

How does this righteousness become our own? How does it get applied to our account? By faith you are saved!

Faith makes the difference (v 22), “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Faith doesn’t create righteousness. It’s already there, an accomplished fact. But this righteousness is revealed to us through the preaching of the Word. The gospel awakens faith in us, and this faith opens our eyes to all that God has done for us. Faith is the empty hand that receives what God gives, the hand into which God pours his righteousness. Faith is simply trusting in something that has already been accomplished.

So no bragging allowed! “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.” You and I are saved through faith, not because of faith. Remember, even the fact that we’re able to believe is an act of God (Eph 2:8,9), “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that on one can boast.” Or, as Paul writes to the Corinthians (1 Co 1:31), “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” After all, the Lord did everything for our salvation. He deserves all the credit. It’s his righteousness that makes salvation possible. And it’s all a done deal!

All of which brings us to Paul’s beautiful conclusion (v 28), “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.” Seems so simple, doesn’t it? “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Ac 16:31). And yet the devil has a way of even making the simple complicated. He tempts us to hang on to the idea that we still have to do something to help God out. But the message is clear: “Just believe.” What a comfort to know that our righteousness is a done deal! It’s an accomplished fact. Our salvation is secure, even on those days when the devil’s causing us to doubt it. That’s why I’ll never ask people on their deathbed how they feel about their salvation, as if that makes a difference on where they’ll be spending eternity. No, I’ll just keep pointing them to Jesus and what he did for their salvation. I’ll keep telling them that the righteousness they need to enter God’s kingdom is already theirs. It was given to them on the cross. It’s a done deal!

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” That statement might be true most of the time, but it can’t be true if what you’re talking about is already done. Righteousness was never meant to be a “do-it-yourself” project. There’s too many parts, and we could never follow the directions. Be thankful that Jesus put it all together for us! Everything’s taken care of! Thank God that your salvation is secure – all because your righteousness is a done deal!

Amen

Posted in Sermons | Print | No Comments »

Our Triune God—We Believe, We Respect, We Praise

May 21, 2008 by admin.

Sometimes people are defined by a single moment in their lives.  By that I mean that there might be one accomplishment or one achievement that stands out in our minds when we think of certain people.  For instance, if I say “Thomas Edison” you probably think of the man who invented the light bulb.  Orville and Wilbur Wright—the first airplane flight.  Bill Gates—Microsoft Computers.

So what comes to mind when I say “God?”  Maybe, like me, you think “Where do I start?  There is so much that we can say about God.  But someone once said that almost everything that we know about the character of God can be found in the first 3 chapters of Genesis.  I think I would have to tend to agree with him.  As you read those three chapters, there is much that you learn about God.  It’s not possible to review all of it today.  Instead we’ll keep our thoughts focused on those areas that are defined by today’s theme–Trinity Sunday and Graduation Sunday.  As we do, we’ll note that there are certain things about God that define who he is and why we put our hoe and trust in him.  So let’s look at a few selected verses from our first reading today to find

“Our Triune God—We Believe, We Respect, We Praise”

 

I.  We Believe

II.  We Respect

III.  We Praise

 

Some of the men who have been elected President of our country have been remembered for statements they made in their inaugural address.  “We have nothing to fear except fear itself” is the often quoted statement of FDR.  “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” came from JFK.  God’s “inaugural address,” if that’s what you want to call Genesis chapter 1 makes a very bold statement about him.  “In the beginning, God created the heaven’s and the earth.”

That is quite a statement to make.  Over the years it has been criticized and critiqued.  It has been denied and debated.  And it has been believed.  When you heard that statement this morning, I don’t think that it caused a great deal of concern or anxiety.  You believe it.  You know what it means and what it claims, and you believe it.

            So what makes you different from those who don’t believe it?  Why can you hear those words and agree with them when so many others who hear them take great offense at what they say?  Is it because you are so much smarter than they are?  No, that’s not it at all.  We believe that what those words say are true because God the Holy Spirit has put that faith in our hearts.  The Holy Spirit has erased our skepticism and doubt, and replaced it with faith and trust.  We regularly express that faith when we confess in the Apostles Creed, “I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”  In other words, we are saying, “I believe Genesis 1:1.”

But we’re saying more than that, and Genesis chapter 1 is saying more than that about God, because 25 verses later we hear God say, “Let us make man in our image.”  In verse 26, we learn something else about God.  He referred to himself in the plural, “Let us make man….” That wasn’t a mistake or a wrong pronoun that Moses used.  It is what God meant to say.  Genesis 1:2 tells us that “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” and John 1:1 and 1:14 further explain “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the

 

Word was God….The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”  “The Word,” the one who became flesh and made his dwelling among us” is a reference to Jesus.  Here again we have a teaching that many do not believe with us.  We believe that God is “triune.” Or Three-in-One.  We believe there is one God, but three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We can’t explain it, but we don’t have to.  God says it, so it is.  Once again, the Holy Spirit has erased our doubts and filled our hearts with faith to believe it.

Our faith in God, the triune God who created the heavens and the earth, leads us to a special respect and admiration of God.  As we continue to see God unveiled for us in the first chapter of the Bible, we see that when he created us, he created us to be like him, “in his own image,” our text says to us.

 

II.  We Respect

 

God, speaking as the triune God, said, “let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (1:26)  I find it quite amazing that, after creating the earth and everything in it, God turned it all over to us.  He made a wondrous creation filled with plants and animals and resources, and then he gave it to us and told us to take care of it, to use it and enjoy it.

And God did that after making Adam and Eve in his own “image,” like him.  They were created to be like him, to want what he wanted, to be in perfect compliance with the will and mind of God.  He equipped them, fully and completely, to carry out the care for the creation that he had just finished.  Sin, of course, took away the image that God gave Adam and Eve, and left them with many shortcomings and faults.  But God did not abandon them or turn his back on them.  He continued to be with them and to enable them to be the managers of his creation.

We see that today as we celebrate the Graduations of our students today.  Your years of study have now taken you to a new level of knowledge and understanding.  And that doesn’t just mean that you will be able to get into college, get a better job, and be able to enjoy more of what life has to offer.  It means that you are better equipped to be the people that God has intended you to be.  It means that you are better able to know God and what he wants.  It shows that you have the intelligence to function in the world in which you live, and combined with your faith in God, to serve him in a way that will bring him joy and honor.  To think that God in his great wisdom and love made it possible for us to live our lives this way and to enjoy the rewards that come from our earthly efforts gives us a great respect for him.

That respect for a God that we can’t see or prove is often held against us.  Those who do not share our faith cannot understand our feelings for our Lord.  And as you move forward in your lives, into college and beyond, you will sometimes find that respect for God challenged.  God’s ways will not always be respected.  God’s commands for you and you life will not be respected.  And God himself will not be respected.

So it will be important for you to keep the Lord in your life.  Statistics will bear out that many people who turn from the Lord do so at this time in their lives, when they are learning and experiencing so many new things, and when they are being exposed to the false teachings and false teachers who work the world for the devil.  Remember the sage advice God gives in Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage each other—and all the more as we see the day approaching.”

 

III.  We Praise

 

Continued contact with God’s Word and sacraments will insure a life-long respect for God.  As a result we will have a desire to thank and praise him for his many blessings and his divine goodness.  In our text, we see why it is appropriate to give God this praise.  Moses wrote, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” 

The point should not be lost here about how God reports what took place.  He doesn’t try to explain it, but simply states it as a fact.  And that’s because it is.  That is what happened, and that is why we gather together on a regular basis, not only to grow in faith by using God’s word and sacraments, but to give back to God by praising him.  One of the constants of the Christian church has always been the praise that we give to God when we gather to worship.  For years we have been known as the “singing church,” and rightly so since singing is a common way of expressing joy and praise.

Through the pen of Paul, God has allowed us as New Testament Christians to choose which day we want to gather to do this.  In Colossians 2:16 Paul wrote, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  These are a shadow of the things that are to come…”  In our Christian freedom, we have chosen to gather to worship on Sunday.  We have done that again today.  We have done that so that we can be blessed by God and so that we can be a blessing to God.

Think about what you are doing here.  Think about why you are here, how you are here.  The God of Genesis 1, who made the heavens and the earth, who has revealed himself to us in his Word, who first made us in his own image, has called you to faith and to a future in heaven with him.  Thank him for the many blessings he has given you in the world that he created so many years ago.  God is not defined by a single event in his life, but by the countless graces, mercies, and blessings he has given to us.  We believe, we respect, and we praise our triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

“The peace of God….”

 

–Rev. Roger Rockhoff

Posted in Sermons | Print | No Comments »

We All Need Somebody to Lean On

May 13, 2008 by admin.

In Christ Jesus, the Savior worthy of our praise and our trust, dear Christian friends, and especially you, Thomas, today’s confirmand,

Bill Withers was born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, in 1938, the youngest of nine children. He was raised in nearby Beckley, a small coal-mining town. His father died when he was just 13. Bill entered the Navy when was 17 and served for nine years. When he returned, he became a song-writer, and in 2005 was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His songs included such hits as “Just the Two of Us” and “Ain’t No Sunshine.” But he’s probably best known for a song that he wrote after reflecting upon life back in the town in which he was raised. Bill Withers remembered that even though times were hard during his childhood, still it always seemed that whenever someone needed something, the rest of the community would chip in and help. With this in mind he wrote a song that reached the top of the charts in July of 1972 and summed up this kind of giving spirit. The song was entitled, “Lean on Me.”

That’s a fitting theme in and of itself for today, a day in which we remember our mothers and how often they were there for us, encouraging us to “lean on me” when we were in need. But this morning I’d like to use one of the lines from this song of Mr. Withers to center our thoughts. As he offers to help others by telling them in song to “lean on me,” he rightly concludes:

“We All Need Somebody to Lean On”

I. Our own understanding will let us down

II. Trust in the Lord will clear paths for us

We like to think that we can truly be self-sufficient, that we really don’t need anyone else’s help in life, that we can handle things on our own all by ourselves. Such thinking gives us a feeling of power and independence. But such thinking is only foolishness. Truth is, “we all need somebody to lean on!” That’s because we’re sinful people, which means we’re imperfect people, which means we’re going to face situations which will require some help from others. It’s not so much a sign of weakness on our part to admit that “we all need somebody to lean on.” Consider it more a case of simple reality. Back in the Garden of Eden the Lord stated that it was not good for man to be alone. There are times when we need others in our lives.

Living in a sinful world guarantees that there will be times when we will be in need. What are some of those times? Get out your checklists. Have you ever had financial difficulties, when the dollars in your checkbook ran out before the days in the month did? Anyone out there have the perfect marriage, or are there times when you’ve needed a little help? How about your job? Never a problem there, right? Parents, you always love your kids and, kids, you always love and obey your parents, right? What about school? Everything you want it to be with great teachers and friends who always treat you right? And we’re all pictures of physical and mental health, so not anything to worry about there I suppose. Need I go on? Anyone doubt me now? So often in our lives it’s true: “We all need somebody to lean on.”

Still, when the going gets tough, we tend to turn to ourselves for answers. Our text for today exposes such faulty thinking (v 5), “Lean not on your own understanding.” This isn’t to say that we’re ignorant, with no coping skills and no ability to help ourselves. But the reminder is needed that ultimately we need to understand that we have limitations, especially in the spiritual realm when it comes to our salvation and our ability to live as God’s children.

Consider for a moment what happens when man leans on his own understanding to figure things out, apart from any divine assistance. When it comes to the origin of the world, we develop a theory known as evolution that hides its unprovable nature behind millions and even billions of years. And yet we call it “scientific.” Mankind’s understanding has declared that anyone who purposefully injures a pregnant woman and causes her to lose her child can be tried for murder, and yet if that very same woman decides to “murder” that child by having an abortion, it’s mankind’s understanding that this is perfectly legal. Our own understanding of the source of true happiness points us to a god, but that god is made up of the green paper and plastic cards found in our wallets. When it comes to troubles in marriage it’s our understanding that instead of taking the time to work things out, it’s much easier and more convenient to just part ways and divorce. By our own understanding, you better enjoy the time you have on this earth, because once you’re gone, that’s it. Any talk of an afterlife is simply a way of giving hopeless people hope for a future that will never come to be. And don’t think for a moment that the weakness of our own understanding is limited to unbelievers. How many Christians haven’t given into the temptation of leaning only on their own intellect and exposing such a fault with questions such as: “Why is God punishing me?” “Doesn’t God care about me?” “Why doesn’t God do something to help me?” “Why doesn’t he answer my prayers?”

Unbeliever and believer alike can be found guilty of misplaced trust. Far too often we misuse our intellect. Keep in mind that wisdom is meant to be a gift from God, not a rival to him. There’s nothing wrong with being smart, but use that gift with humility in service to the Lord and to others.

Just don’t lean on it. Proverbs 14:12 warns us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” If it’s true that we all need somebody to lean on, and we can’t lean on our own understanding, then where do we turn? Trust in the Lord! Such trust will clear paths for us!

Sometimes at night when I go to bed, Thomas has fallen asleep with his TV on in his room. Being the room of a typical 14-year old boy, I navigate carefully in the dimly-lit room to turn off the TV because of the many things which are often found on the floor, obstructing my path. My son’s room can serve as a picture of life in this sinful world. There are so many “things” – so many temptations – threatening to clutter up our path through this life to our life eternal. It’s only with divine intervention that we can complete our journey safely (vv 5,6), “Trust in the LORD with all your heart . . . and he will make your paths straight.” Only God can clear the way and make our paths straight, safely leading us to heaven.

How does he accomplish this? By getting us to become more acquainted with him (v 6), “In all your ways acknowledge him.” To “acknowledge” the Lord simply means to “know” him. First of all know what he has done for you. At the top of the list has to be the cross, since without the cross we’d have no reason to trust in the Lord. It’s by that cross that God in heaven gave full proof of his love for us, not even holding back his very own Son when it came to our salvation. Knowing what he has done for us, that he delivered on his promise to make things right with us again, encourages us also to be anxious to know what he can do for us still today. He can still guide us with his Word, protect us with his power, rescue us from troubles, and strengthen us with his love. And as we “acknowledge him” in our words and actions, we serve as living advertisements for the rest of the world to see, giving more and more people the opportunity to learn more about their Savior.

Since we all need somebody to lean on, we are wise to pick someone who won’t let us down. So we’re told (v 5), “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.” To “trust” could be defined as putting your full weight upon someone or something. If I came running up to you and yelled out “Catch me!” while jumping into your arms, I better trust that you have the strength to support a “full-bodied” man such as myself. If we are told by God himself to “trust” in him, then he’s assuring us that he is powerful enough, not only to catch us, but to carry us through this life to the life that is to come.

Notice that we’re told to trust in the Lord “with all your heart” – not necessarily with all our mind. Remember, our “own understanding” often leads us astray. So it’s with the heart that we believe what doesn’t always make sense to our minds. For example, with our hearts we believe what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” With our hearts we believe that no matter how lonely we may feel, God promises us (Heb 13:5), “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Our own understanding may question it, but with our hearts we believe that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28). The Holy Spirit has already convinced us in our hearts to believe that Jesus is God’s answer to his promise and to our prayers. Should there be any reason not to trust him now?

“We all need somebody to lean on.” If that’s the case, then trust in the Lord, the one who “will make your paths straight.” He does this by putting blinders on us when needed, much like those worn by a horse running a race. As we run the race of life, we need to keep focused on what’s ahead, on the goal of heaven. Otherwise we could be too easily distracted and led off the path to what’s most important. Thomas, as you look forward to entering your high school years, the distractions will become greater. You will have pressure from your peers, even if you attend a Christian high school, to do things contrary to God’s will. You’ll be tempted to resist and rebel against those in authority. You’ll be enticed into thinking that you have all the answers you need. The devil will want you to lean more on yourself and less on your Lord.

When this happens, I want you to turn to your confirmation memory verse, the words before us this morning, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Of all the things that I could teach us as your father, the greatest blessing I can pass on to you is found in these words: “Trust in the LORD.” Here’s your key to a happy life, a fulfilling life, a life that has true meaning and purpose: “Trust in the LORD.” He’s the one who made us, who redeemed us from death and the devil, and who will glorify us for all eternity. “Trust in the Lord.” He has all the answers you’ll ever need – for this life and the next!

On Mother’s Day we take time out to thank our moms for all they do, for always being there to put that band-aid on our scraped knee, for giving us that reassuring hug after a bad day, for running us around to all our sporting events and appointments – for just being someone we can always lean on. But even moms make mistakes and, yes, even moms may let us down at times. That’s why we thank them most of all for helping teach us about Jesus, the Savior who’s always there for us! There is no greater gift that a mother could give!

“We all need somebody to lean on.” That’s not a problem, not when we have a Savior who proclaims, “You can always lean on me!”

Amen

Posted in Sermons | Print | No Comments »

Meanwhile, Back on Earth . . .

May 5, 2008 by admin.

In the name of our ascended, yet ever-present Lord, dear friends in Christ,

This past Friday I was asked to sit in on a meeting with our district president, Joel Frank, up in Salina. Afterwards we stopped by at McDonald’s for something to drink. While Pastor Frank enjoyed the “senior citizen special” – the $.59 cup of coffee, I took advantage of his offer to pay and got a $2.79 cappuccino. While discussing our meetings, I noticed one of the new DVD-rental “red boxes” a few feet away. Having never seen such technology up in little Plymouth, Nebraska, I showed Pastor Frank how these boxes worked and explained what a bargain they offered – DVD’s for $1/night. Although somewhat impressed by the technology, Pastor Frank still expressed surprise at why people rent so many movies in the first place. To him sitting and watching a movie comes across as a complete waste of time.

I doubt if I won him over with my logic, but I argued that for many watching a movie offers a brief escape from reality, a chance to forget about their problems and cares for a couple of hours. Many like to imagine living in a different world, under different circumstances, perhaps longing for a life different than their own. But then comes “the end,” the movie’s over, the lights come on, and it’s back to the life as they know it. It’s back to reality.

The disciples may have felt as if they were watching a movie that lasted for three years. For the past three years their lives had been different – they had given up their occupations to follow after Jesus, the God-Man himself, hearing him preach a powerful message of salvation and watching him exhibit miraculous abilities in healing the sick and raising the dead. Then the “plot” took a sad turn, with their Lord undeservedly being found guilty of a crime that brought with it the death sentence. But – hang on! – there was another twist in the storyline, for Jesus broke free from the grave and was back with them once more. Still, the story didn’t end here, for the living Lord would leave them yet again, only this time in triumph as he returned to his throne in heaven.

So the lights came on, and the skyward-gazing disciples had to get on with life. Jesus may have returned to heaven, but the disciples were left behind. What would they do? The same thing we are to do still today. Jesus is back in heaven:

“Meanwhile, Back on Earth . . .”

I. We witness

II. We wait

III. We worship

After his resurrection Jesus did stick around on this earth for another 40 days. Earlier in this chapter Luke tells us why (Ac 1:3), “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Jesus wanted the disciples to be convinced, without a doubt, that he was alive and well. They may have still been a bit confused as to why he had come back from the dead, still holding out hope of him setting up an earthly kingdom, but Jesus would help straighten out their thinking. Our text begins with Jesus promising to send them someone special (v 8), “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” For three years these disciples had been privileged to see Jesus’ power in action, culminated by his own resurrection from the dead. Now this power was going to be at their disposal. They would be sent out in Jesus’ name with a message of good news all wrapped up in a powerful little package known as the gospel, the message Paul calls “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Ro 1:16).

With this little dynamo of a message the disciples would have all they needed for their new occupation. No longer would they just be followers of our Lord – now they would also be his witnesses! “You will be my witnesses” (v 8) is the command Jesus gives them before heading back to heaven. A witness is one who verifies the truth. With Jesus leaving this earth, the disciples were to verify the truth of what he had accomplished for the world’s salvation. Peter does just that when he writes (2 Pe 1:16), “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” The baton was being passed. With Jesus in heaven, meanwhile, back on earth, the disciples were to take over as his spokesmen. The world had been saved from sin. That mission was accomplished. Now all that was left was to get the word out.

Jesus even came up with a plan for their witnessing. Call it “the ripple effect.” Toss a stone into a pond, and you’ll see ever-widening circles branching out from the spot of the splash. So it was to be for the disciples (v 8), “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” He was telling them, “Start at home in Jerusalem, but then keep branching out into the surrounding territories until finally you cover the entire world. Make sure everyone hears that their sins have been forgiven!”

Today we assume the role of those first disciples. We are the Lord’s witnesses, and our assignment — our “ripple effect”– might be stated this way, “You will be my witnesses in your homes, at work and in your neighborhoods, and to the ends of the earth.” Our Lord has ascended to heaven. Meanwhile, back on earth, we witness. And that means all of us, not just the pastors or the Board of Evangelism members. Witnessing is the responsibility given to all our Lord’s children, and it’s something that requires us to be proactive. Sitting around and waiting for people to “find” their Savior won’t cut it. We have to go out and search for the lost. Start with those you know. Studies have shown that up to 75% of people who visit a church do so at the invitation of a friend or relative. Those who have joined our church as adult confirmands support this fact. We are God’s tools for reaching the lost! We have the power of the gospel to proclaim! It’s our calling. Jesus empowers us from above with the same Holy Spirit he promised the disciples. Meanwhile, back on earth, you and I, we witness!

And we wait. The disciples would have to wait for Jesus to come again. As Jesus ascended to heaven before their very eyes, their heavenward gaze was interrupted by a couple of angels sent to snap them back to reality (v 11), “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” “He’s coming back, but not right now. Don’t linger in the past. Remember, he has work for you to do. And you will see him again, because he’s going to come back again in the same way you just watched him leave. Just be patient and wait!”

We can understand the disciples’ reluctance to let Jesus go. They thought they had lost him once before, and they were so distraught and upset with him gone that they huddled together and hid behind locked doors. Was he going to leave them for good this time? Not at all! Angels came to tell them he’d be back. Angels always showed up for important occasions. One came to announce the Savior’s birth. They were there when Jesus was tempted by the devil, when he was in Gethsemane, and after he had risen to announce his resurrection. Now they came to his ascension to comfort and assure the disciples. Jesus was back in heaven. Meanwhile, back on earth, the disciples were to wait, but they were to do so confident that Jesus would be coming back for them.

The assurance of our Lord’s return is what gives us today the patience to wait while living in a sinful world. Most people don’t like to wait. Think of the last time you had a doctor’s appointment and had to wait to be called in and had to wait again for the doctor to finally come see you. Try waiting five seconds after the traffic light has turned green and the horns sounding behind you will let you know that people find it hard to wait. Patience is a rare virtue here on earth.

And yet as Christians we know our wait will be well worth it. We know what we’re waiting for, and the end result of an eternity with our Lord makes our wait here on this earth all the more bearable. While we wait, we don’t sit idly by, but we look for ways to serve in which we might exhibit the joy that is ours as redeemed children of God with a future in heaven. Keep in mind that others are watching. May we never be guilty of turning others off to Christianity by the way we lament our lot in life as if we had no hope and were only living for the here and now. May we never give people the impression that living the Christian life is nothing but a burden and a hardship for us to endure. Instead, may people see in us our joyful hope and our enduring patience. And may they see through us the reason for our hope – may they see Jesus! Right now he’s preparing places for us in heaven. Meanwhile, back on earth, we wait, letting others know that our wait will not be in vain!

So what do we do when this world starts to get the best of us, when the doom and gloom of sin keeps popping up all around us? When you’re sick, you take medicine to start feeling better again. When you’re feeling spiritually worn out, take your spiritual medicine. Take healthy dosages of God’s Word! While waiting on earth, it’s important that we also worship.

That’s what the disciples did. After their angelic experience, while waiting for the Lord’s promised gift of the Holy Spirit, we’re told the disciples “returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives. . . . They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (vv 12,14). “They all joined together” with one another to be mutually strengthened through the Word in prayer and in worship! Makes sense, doesn’t it? They all shared a common faith, and they wanted to express that unity in prayer and worship. Jesus was gone, but he had left them with so very much for which to be thankful – the certainty of his resurrection, the assurance of forgiveness, the hope of heaven. So while Jesus was in heaven, back on earth they joined together to praise their Lord. They worshiped!

That’s what we do. That’s what we’re doing right now. That’s what we do every time we assemble here in God’s house. And it’s a good thing. God encourages us to worship in his Word (Heb 10:25), “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” As Christians we’re called to worship. It’s a response of faith. That’s why, if you’re not regularly found in God’s house, we see it as a faith-problem. I once had a member take me to task for telling her that she had a faith-problem, even though she had been absent from worship for over six months! Think of your church attendance as the barometer of your faith. Those strong in faith can’t help but worship the Lord in all they do, and that includes the act of coming to his house to praise him and to be strengthened in faith. Someday we’ll be singing our Lord’s praises for all eternity. In the meantime, while here on earth, we take advantage of the opportunities to recharge our spiritual batteries and to encourage one another by gathering together around God’s Word. It’s important to be here. It’s important to worship!

Jesus is back in heaven, but “life goes on.” Ever have someone say that to you – “life goes on”? It’s as if they’re trying to tell you that even though something bad may have just taken place in your life, still you have to keep living. You can’t escape reality. Even movies end, and “life goes on.”

Maybe that’s the advice Jesus had in mind for the disciples as he was about to ascend back into heaven. Yes, he would be leaving them, but before he went, he would leave them with one last promise (Mt 28:20), “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” That’s a promise he has made to each of us as well. Even though he has ascended into heaven, our Savior never really left us. That’s why, back on earth, we witness, we wait, and we worship. Yes, life goes on. But, remember, we’re never alone. Life goes on with Jesus at our side, and he’ll accompany us all the way home to heaven!

Amen

-Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff

Posted in Sermons | Print | No Comments »

Your Final Assignment

May 2, 2008 by admin.

      Much in our lives is based on the work/reward system.  We are taught from the time that we are little that there are rewards which come to people who work for them.  People put in many years of school so that they can be prepared for a job or career that rewards them with financial means to live and enjoy their lives.  Athletes put in hours of training and practice so that they can enjoy the thrill of victory.  And Christians strengthen and protect the faith God has given them so that they do not lose the great reward that God attached to their gift of faith.

As Jesus prepared to leave the earth and return to his throne in heaven, he reminded his disciples of the great work that there was for them to do.  Faith, the ticket to heaven, is given to people by means of God‘s Word and the sacrament of Baptism.  The Holy Spirit works through those two tools alone to overcome unbelief and make someone a child of God.  Since that is true, you know what it means when these tools are not used.

Jesus final meeting with his disciples emphasized the privilege and importance of the work that Jesus had trained his disciples to carry out.  It is the same work that he now is training and sending us to do for him.  As we look at this Ascension Day text from the book of Luke, we can consider these words as

Your Final Assignment

I.  Expand the Kingdom of God

II.  Trust the Promise You Have Been Given

      Jesus had spent three years personally training his disciples for the work he was about to send them out to do.  During that time, they didn‘t always fully understand or appreciate what Jesus was telling them.  It would soon all make sense to them.  Jesus said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.“  Luke then adds an important commentary on what took place during that meeting.  He wrote, “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

The story of salvation has been described by God himself through the inspired words of Paul to the Corinthians as “…foolishness to those who are perishing…” (I Cor. 1:18) Keep in mind that “those who are perishing” refers to everyone before he or she is brought to faith.  In other words, believing that Jesus is your Savior is not a natural thought.  We would not come to that conclusion on our own.  Something, or more accurately, someone has to tell us that and convince us that it is true.

Jesus pointed his disciples to that message as it is explained in the Bible.  He said, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.“  Jesus then looked at his disciples, the men he had taught and trained, and gave them their final assignment– “You are witnesses of these things.“  A witness is expected to tell what he knows to be true.  Jesus promised the disciples that he would help them do that.  He added, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.“

The disciples did what Jesus told them to do.  After God fulfilled his promise to them and sent them his Holy Spirit on Pentecost, they went out into the world and boldly preached the message that they had been given.  Doubting Thomas and Denying Peter and the rest of the “Run For your Life” disciples now became the band of courageous witnesses whom Jesus gathered on the hill outside of Jerusalem to send out with his word and sacraments to enlarge his kingdom in all the world.

Today, dear Christian friends, God is reminding us that this is also our assignment.  “You are witnesses of these things,” he says to us today, and we are.  Through his word we have seen the Old Testament prophecies of God‘s plan to save the world.  Through the Gospels we are told of Jesus‘s life and death to carry out that plan.  And by the power of the Holy Spirit the message of “foolishness“ has now become a sure and certain belief in our hearts that shapes who we are and guides us through every day of our lives.
“You are witnesses,” Jesus says to us today.  So what are we doing to witness what we know?  We pray for God‘s guidance and blessings on our work.  We study his word to better equip ourselves to serve him.  We treasure his sacraments and the blessings that they bring.  We support a church and school where we can gather around the Word and the Sacraments to strengthen and be strengthened.  We teach and apply the teachings of the Bible in our homes and use them as the standard for our own lives.  And we tell people by our words and actions the amazing gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus.

You can see how important that assignment is by looking at the things that are happening in our world, in our communities, and even in our own families and homes.  The Devil is putting up a strong fight against the Lord and his armies.  And he is winning many of the battles as souls perish daily without saving faith.  When we see people as either God‘s children or Satan‘s children, we see how important the assignment is that God has given to us.  And at the same time we rejoice in the promise that Jesus gave us to bless our efforts to carry out that assignment.

II. Trust the Promise You Have Been Given

Luke wrote, “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.“  The report that we are given by Luke is very brief, and may be overlooked because of its brevity.  But it shouldn‘t.  It is the highlight of the Ascension Day celebration.  As Jesus left them–which is too often the focus–he blessed them.  The risen, victorious, almighty Savior gave his power and authority to the men he had assigned to do his work.

The disciples understood the significance of that moment.  Luke says, “Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.  And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.“  The disciples were not left wondering what happened to Jesus.  They did not go back to Jerusalem to try to figure out what to do next.  They saw their glorified Lord ascending to his seat of power and glory, and they believed that he was the true and powerful of God that many denied he was.

No longer did the disciples hide behind locked doors.  No longer did they worry about when he would set up his earthly kingdom for them to rule over.  “…they stayed continually at the temple, praising God,“ Luke tells us.  There were no doubts in their mind any longer about Jesus or his work.  There were no questions left unanswered about who he was or what he had come to do.  It all made sense now, and the disciples were anxious to go out and tell everyone what they now firmly believed. Our risen Savior is still governing his kingdom on earth from his kingdom in heaven.  He still equips his people through his Word and Sacraments to do his work here on earth.  And we see the blessings of our Lord on the work that we do as children are brought into his kingdom by baptism, as adults seek to find answers to life’s questions by turning to God‘s Word, as families build on the promises of God‘s Word, and as people gather together around the Word and Sacraments to make their public confessions of faith.  We praise and honor the Lord as we worship him because we believe that he is in heaven watching over us, protecting us, and guiding us to the eternal homes he has prepared for us.

The efforts that we make to keep the Lord in the center of our lives will be rewarded because of his promise “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.“ (Lk. 11:28) The ascended Lord stands ready to bless us when we use his Word in our lives and when we rightly use his sacraments.  He promises to give and strengthen faith through these two important tools.  We see the change that his blessing had on the disciples–no longer confused and afraid, but now bold and excited.  The same blessings await us as we take our final assignment from the Lord–Use his Word and Sacraments to build and strengthen his kingdom and Trust the Promises he has made to you as you serve him faithfully.  Amen.

AThe peace of God….

–Rev. Roger Rockhoff

Posted in Sermons | Print | No Comments »

Skeptics Need to Hear the Truth About the True God

April 29, 2008 by admin.

In the Name of Our Savior, Whose Word Is Truth, Dear Friends in Christ,

Do you know what a paleontologist is? It’s someone who studies the fossils of plants and animals. Many conduct such studies with the purpose of determining the age of this earth and the origin of mankind. One such paleontologist by the name of Stephen Jay Gould, after doing his research, came up with this conclusion about man’s origin: “We are here because one odd group of fishes had a peculiar fin anatomy that could transform into legs for terrestrial creatures, because comets struck the earth and wiped out dinosaurs, thereby giving mammals a chance not otherwise available; because the earth never froze entirely during the ice age; because a small and tenuous species, arising in Africa a quarter of a million years ago, has managed, so far, to survive by hook and by crook. We may yearn for a higher answer to the meaning of life–but none exists.”

How do you feel when you hear such a blatantly anti-Christian statement? There are two possibilities: First, it probably makes you angry to hear of someone defying the creator God and his power, foolishly proclaiming instead to have the real answer to where man came from. But you might also feel a bit sad, because such a belief indicates that there are many living today who are lost in their own intellect, in their denial of the true God. You’re moved to feel sorry for those who are caught up in such ignorance, an ignorance which keeps them from knowing their Lord and Savior.

I’m sure the apostle Paul felt some anger when he was in the city of Athens. But for him, sorrow won out in the end. He cared for the people, lost in their ignorance, and he felt a sense of urgency to set them straight. He wanted to let the people in on the truth.

What Paul found in Athens parallels what we find in our world today. Our task remains the same:

“Skeptics Need to Hear the Truth About the True God”

I. Their ignorance moves us to care

II. God’s truth compels us to share

The city of Athens was a major metropolis of its day. It had a rich military and political history, being well-known for its architecture and art, and especially for its philosophy. And yet it remained a totally pagan city. The people of Athens worshiped many gods, gods invented by the heroes and writers of their past. They prided themselves on being open-minded, for they were quite willing to allow for the gods and goddesses of other cultures as well. It was this spiritual ignorance which Paul met upon his arrival at Athens, and it moved him (Ac 17:16), “He was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.”

Paul went to work, preaching in the synagogue and the marketplace every day. But some philosophers became a bit upset with his teaching, so he was taken to the Areopagus, the place where Athen’s Supreme Council met. There he was questioned about his work (Ac 17:19,20), “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” Paul seized this opportunity by beginning his answer on a positive note (v 22), “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: ‘’en of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.’” During his time in their city Paul had seen the many shrines, statues, altars, and temples they had constructed. It was said that Athens had more gods than men. Certainly they fit Paul’s description of being “very religious.”

But their religious beliefs were founded on ignorance. Listen to what Paul stumbled upon during one of his walks through the city (v 23), “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” Imagine that! The Athenians were trying to cover all the bases. Fearing that they might offend some yet-to-be-discovered deity, they built this altar just in case. So totally steeped in spiritual ignorance were the Athenians!

That was the situation Paul found in Athens around the year 40 A.D. I’m afraid he’d find much the same in the year 2008 A.D. Today most people will admit to believing in a “god,” but they don’t know the true God. They feel that empty spot in their heart, but they try to fill it by believing in modern day idols such as money, entertainment, fame, or even themselves. Our coins may say “In God we trust,” and we may pledge to be one nation “under God,” and yet the true God still remains unknown to many who are left to grope around in darkness, hoping somehow to stumble upon what’s missing in their life.

But we still consider our country to be a “very religious” one. Over 1800 Christian denominations bear witness to this fact, and yet many who have been introduced to the true God have since forgotten him. We may be a “very religious” nation, but that doesn’t make us a “very godly” nation. Signs of this fact are quite evident: Christian worship attendance is declining, respect for the Bible as the Word of God has decreased significantly, and immorality of all kinds is on the rise. Spiritual ignorance abounds today, much as it did in Athens.

And our response? Do we find ourselves saying, “So what! It’s their funeral.” Perhaps we too often view unbelievers as savage wolves, waiting to attack our faith, instead of as lost sheep, having wandered from the fold. Paul always saw opportunities instead of threats. He cared for the lost. He knew he had what they needed, and he exercised great patience in dealing with them. Like children who need to be taught, use the same patience with those who are spiritually ignorant, those who don’t have what we have, those who need to hear the truth about the true God.

The ignorance of those living without Christ moves us to care about their souls’ welfare. We have the remedy for that ignorance — God’s Word. The truth of that Word compels us to share that remedy with all people.

Paul isn’t shy about pointing out the true God to these people (v 23), “Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.” Paul was going to change the “what” of their worship to a “whom.” He would take the unknown, impersonal “something” and change it into the living, personal God. He would show them the truth about the true God.

Paul proclaims the true God to them as the God of all creation (vv 24,25), “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” This was a God quite unlike the idol gods of the Athenians. Paul’s God didn’t need anything from mankind — mankind needed him! He was the one who created man, so how foolish it was to think that man, the offspring and creation of God, could itself create God (v 28), “For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Even their own poets and philosophers recognized that man came from God!