September 24, 2007 by admin.

There is a place where peoples dreams have been crushed, their egos bruised, and their hopes dashed. Eager expectation has turned to frustration. Joyful hope has given way to grim despair. And silent pleas have seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. No, I’m not talking about Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. I’m talking about elementary school playgrounds across the country, and perhaps even around the world.
How many young boys and girls have stood in line while teams were being chosen, just hoping that, for once, they might be picked first or second, or at least anywhere but last. But as name after name is called they realize that they won’t be picked early, and sometimes not at all.

In our text for today, we find someone who was chosen to be a part of a team. But this person didn’t seem like the kind of person who should have been picked. He didn’t seem qualified, and he didn’t seem capable of helping the team. As we look at the words of our text for today, we will realize that none of us deserves to be a part of the team that has been assembled. We’ll see how God chose us to be a part of his team, his Bible-believing, Gospel preaching team of Christians. And as we review how that took place, it will lead us to

“Marvel at God’s Grace”

I. His Patient Pursuit of Sinners
II. His Powerful Plan to Save Them

Our text takes place long after God had chosen the man who wrote these words to be a part of his mission team. The Apostle Paul was nearing the end of his time on earth and was preparing to encourage a new, young partner in the ministry named Timothy to understand how blessed and privileged he was to be chosen by God to serve him.

Thinking back on his life, Paul wrote to Timothy, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.” Paul quickly explained why he was so thankful as he admits, “Even though I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” I’m sure you are all well aware of the past that Paul was talking about. We first heard of Paul as he kept the coats of the men who were stoning Stephen. We later learned that was well-known and feared for his relentless pursuit of Christians so that he could have them arrested and executed.

At that point in his life, Paul seemed like quite an unlikely prospect to serve on the Lord’s team of Christians. In Acts 26: 10 he admitted, “I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were executed, I cast my vote against them.” “Why pick him?” we might ask. And perhaps that’s a good question. Why pick your biggest enemy to be one of the people you want to help you? Paul knew why. He wrote, “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

Being chosen by God has nothing to do with qualifications, abilities, or personal talents. If that were the case, none of us would ever be chosen to be part of his family here on earth or eternally in heaven. In fact, we would all have to admit, along with Paul, that we are completely unworthy of being chosen by God to believe in Jesus and become heirs of eternal life.

I doubt that any of us acted as violently against the Lord as Paul did. I would be extremely surprised to hear that any of us has ever gone out and hunted down Christians so that we could have them executed. But we have all violently rebelled against the love of God, and we would all have continued to do so if God had patiently pursued us with his grace and mercy. Luke pointed out in Romans 8:7 that “the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” All of the horrors and terrors that are taking place in the world today are evidence of this hostility toward God, hostility that acts out against other people and causes pain and suffering every day.

We struggle every day with what the Bible calls our “sinful nature” or our “old self” or as I learned it years ago our “old Adam.” At times we fail when we fall into sin, and those sins are sometimes very mean-spirited and malicious. And the only reason that we don’t continue down that road to the point where we find ourselves hunting down God’s people and having them executed is because “The grace of our Lord was poured out on (us) abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” In my teen class last Sunday I asked how big God’s love is for us, and one of the teens answered “uber” big—German for “real”big. Paul used the Greek “Uper” big—overflowing big.

Along with Paul we will all find ourselves marveling at how patient and gracious God has been. He was patient with us when we rebelled against him and his Word. He was patient when we let our Old Adam’s or our Old Selves lead us away from him. He just kept pouring out his grace on us, knowing that he would never run out, and knowing that one day his love would overcome our hatred and he would claim us as one of his children.

So, we might ask, why would God spend so much time and effort on us? It’s simple. God knew what would happen if he didn’t. He knew what would happen if he allowed us to run away from him and follow our own sinful desires. We marvel at God’s Grace when we realize how much effort he made to rescue us from a sure and certain eternity in hell.

II. His Powerful Plan to Save Them

Paul wrote, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” There are times when we get a glimpse at how powerful sin really is. When we struggle with a repeated sin in our lives, even when we are determined to overcome it, we often find ourselves falling prey to its power. Paul couldn’t help but think about how terribly he had fallen to his sinful desires in his life as a persecutor of God’s people.

But Paul was thrilled to know that God was still willing to send his Son, his only Son, to take the punishment that he deserved and pay for the sins that he had committed. And he painfully confessed what he had done as a lesson for us. He added, “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” Paul’s logic is simple. If God’s grace was sufficient to save a horrible sinner like him, it can save anyone. God sent his Son because he knew that he would win. He would withstand the attacks of the devil and send him to a crushing defeat on Calvary’s cross. He knew that those who would “believe on him” would “receive eternal life” and escape the pain of eternal hell.

As Paul reflected on what God had done to make it possible for him to one day live eternally in heaven, he broke out into a verse of praise. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy to encourage him to serve God faithfully as the minister that God was calling him to be. If he had written this letter to each of us, he would have also told us to serve God faithfully in the roles that he has given to us. So often we forget the real purpose of life. Too often we get caught up in the whirlwind of activities that surround us, the pressure to succeed that will mark us as a winner or a loser, the pursuit of earthly happiness that too often ends in sorrow.

Each day we live under the powerful guidance of our Lord. He waited patiently for his love to take hold in our hearts, and he sacrificed his Son to save us from the sins that had doomed us. We have been “appointed to his service” to live each day of our life with thanksgiving for what he has done and a desire to show our gratitude in all that we do.

In a perfect world, everyone would be the first pick on every playground in every town in the world. While that perfect world doesn’t exist here on earth, it does exist in God’s earthly kingdom of grace in which he has chosen each one of us to be a part of his family. Make God glad that he chose you as you live now to his glory, Marveling at His Grace.

Amen.

“The Peace of God….”

– Rev. Roger Rockhoff

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September 17, 2007 by admin.

Proverbs 9:8-12

In the name of him whose Word makes us wise for salvation, dear friends in Christ Jesus,

If you’re a fan of game shows, no doubt you’ve heard of Ken Jennings. Over a six-month period back in 2004, Jennings appeared on the game show Jeopardy and ran off a streak of 74 victories. It tied the longest winning streak in game show history. During the streak, Mr. Jennings ran up against and defeated 149 opponents. Finally, on the 75th show, in the Final Jeopardy round, the clue was: “Most of this firm’s 70,000 seasonal white-collar employees work only 4 months a year.” Jennings wrote down “What is FedEx?” Wrong answer! His opponent had the correct one: “What is H&R Block?” The champion was dethroned! But don’t feel too sorry for Ken. His vast display of knowledge in any number of categories proved to be quite lucrative. In one game alone he won $75,000. In the end his winnings totaled over $2.5 million!

It seems as if we often have a fascination with those who possess knowledge that is far beyond the average person. Sometimes we might even become a bit jealous, wishing that we were that smart. Well, wish no longer! The wisdom that you possess right now as a child of God makes you some of the smartest people in the world! The wisdom that you possess right now opens the door to an eternity in heaven!

Let’s talk about this wisdom, where it comes from, and how it continues to grow in each of us. This morning our Lord tells us that when it comes to life, it’s important to:

“Get Smart with a Good Start!”

I. Learn the lesson
II. Receive the reward

If you want to change-up your Bible reading for awhile, read the Book of Proverbs. Written by Solomon, it offers a collection of short, compact statements meant to teach spiritual truths about human behavior. In the first eight chapters, Solomon highlights the blessings of godly wisdom when compared to the consequences of foolishness and immorality. Now in chapter 9 he reaches the high point of his message, summarized in verse 10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”

Let’s start there, at the “beginning.” The Hebrew word used here implies that this is the first of a series of things that are to happen. In other words, “the fear of the LORD” is the first thing we have to have if we’re going to grow in wisdom. It also means that we’re not going to stop with just this knowledge, but we’ll “learn the lesson” that Christianity involves constant growth in biblical knowledge and insight. We start out with the fear of the Lord, but we build from there.

Perhaps we should take some time to mention what kind of “fear” we’re talking about. Usually our first thought is to think about being afraid of God, of “fearing” what he can do to us. There’s a little bit of truth behind this definition when applying it to “the fear of the LORD.” However, as it’s used here the phrase is best understood as meaning “the recognition of the greatness of God.” Again, that could mean that we understand his power to judge us in our sinfulness. But for the Christian it’s more of a comfort, knowing that he has power to defeat the devil, take away our sins, and take us home to heaven.

Having that kind of wisdom makes you a smart person. It separates you and me from the rest of the unbelieving world. Go back to the first verse before us this morning where this difference is pointed out (v 8), “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” Jesus tells us that it is our duty to confront and correct our neighbors when they sin. He says in Matthew 18 (v 15), “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” But here Solomon warns us that a “mocker” isn’t inclined to listen to such admonishment. A “mocker” is one who arrogantly refuses to listen to anyone else because he assumes he has all the answers. Offer a mocker some advice, and “he will hate you.” Throw into this category all those who scoff at Christianity and its teachings, calling them “unscientific,” “repressive,” “old-fashioned,” and “irrational.” Certainly this would include the arrogant atheist who denies the existence of a god. The Bible minces no words when it comments on such a person (Ps 14:1), “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.” But there are other “fools” out there as well. Many educators today will promote the “wisdom” of evolution and arrogantly scoff at the mere thought of supreme being having a hand in creating this world. Is it any wonder, then, why there are so many who can’t accept needing that same God for their salvation? Paul tells us that the message of Christ-crucified is “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Co 1:23).

How different it is for you and me! We’ve learned the lesson that the very same message of Christ-crucified is anything but foolishness, but instead it’s “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Co 1:24). We’ve learned the lesson! We’re different than the “mockers” out there (v 8), “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” Be thankful someone taught you that you were a sinner. They made you smart by pointing out your inability to work out your own salvation and instead directed you to a Savior who took your place and won your salvation for you. That’s why we don’t feel threatened when our sins are pointed out, when we’re reminded of our failures. We know where we stand with God. We know we’re forgiven! We’ve learned the lesson of God’s justice, but we’ve also learned the message of God’s love in Christ!

And we’re meant to get even smarter! “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning” (v 9). We admit that we’re not “know-it- alls.” Not only are we willing to be confronted with our sins, but we’re eager to learn more, to become students and listen to our Lord. We’re far from being filled with knowledge when it comes to knowing about God and his Word, so we’re open to instruction, to being “given” (as the Hebrew puts it), to receiving more wisdom. We’ll never arrive at the end of our journey when it comes to growing in our faith, because that journey is never-ending. There are always more lessons to learn – all for our benefit because then we “will be wiser still.” You might say that the rich get richer! Jesus puts it this way (Mt 25:29), “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.” The more one knows God’s Word, the more one trusts God’s promises, follows God’s way, accepts the crosses God sends, and is generally better prepared for this life and the next.

By now you can probably make your own applications. If you want to “get smarter” when it comes to understanding your Lord and his plan for you, you have to “get into” the Word! So that’s why on a rather constant basis you’ll find me reminding you and myself about the importance of making it your Sunday morning routine to be here in God’s house. I’ll continue to encourage you to open your Bibles at home, to read your Meditations, and to lead your families in devotions. I want you and your loved ones to get smart with a good start, and to continue to get smarter each and every day – to grow more and more in “the fear of the LORD.”

When you learn the lesson being taught in a classroom at school, you receive the reward of getting a good grade on the test. When you learn the lesson God teaches in his Word, you also receive a reward: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (v 10). As we know more about God, as we learn more about his nature, then we know more about ourselves as well. He’s “the Holy One,” emphasizing his majesty and his perfection, the God who demands the same of us. But he’s also “the LORD,” the title used to describe him as the God of free and faithful grace, the God of our salvation. So we’re reminded of both our sinfulness and our forgiveness as we grow in our understanding of who we are by God’s grace.

True wisdom, based upon the fear of the Lord and knowledge of the Holy One, blesses God’s people. We have some of those blessings outlined for us (v 11), “For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.” Growing in spiritual wisdom means we’ll learn to leave things in God’s hands. We’ll learn to “cast all [our] anxiety on him because he cares for [us]” (1 Pe 5:7). And that will often lead to a longer, more stress-free life. But spiritual wisdom not only leads to many days and added years on this earth. It above all makes us “wise for salvation” (2 Ti 3:15), infinitely extending our days and years into life eternal.

Verse 12 serves as a nice summary, “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” Notice the personal emphasis here. Wisdom blesses “you” — each of us as individuals! Likewise, each “mocker” is left by himself to suffer. The Hebrew for “suffer” actually means to carry, giving us the picture of an unbeliever “carrying around” the effects and burdens of his foolishness. They have no answers. They have no comfort. They’re left only with suffering – suffering that will only get worse once they leave this world.

Compare the reward we receive with wisdom with the lonely effects of unbelief. Paul Getty, who died in 1976, was considered at the time to be the richest man in the world. He lived alone in Surrey, England. He owned oil wells, refineries, pipelines, hotels, insurance companies, and aircraft companies. But all his wealth could not give him happiness and security. He lived in constant fear. He had surrounded his 700-acre estate with guards, vicious dogs, steel fences, searchlights, sirens, and bells. He was also dreadfully afraid of germs, diseases, sickness, and death. He suffered alone, and he died alone – all because he lacked the fear of the Lord!

Get smart with a good start! Learn the lesson of godly wisdom, and then step back and receive its reward! Ken Jennings displayed a great deal of earthly knowledge during his run on the Jeopardy game show, and yet unfortunately his knowledge is still lacking. You see, Ken is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – he’s a Mormon, meaning that he doesn’t believe in Jesus as his Lord and Savior but only as someone who shows him how to earn his own way into God’s favor. In the end, all his earthly knowledge is useless for eternity.

Contrast this with the wisdom of a young girl named Kennedy. One night while her mother Maggie was getting supper on the table, Kennedy blurted out, “Mommy, Jesus died for you.” A few seconds later she turned to her father, Jeff, and said, “Daddy, Jesus died for you too.” Kennedy is one of the children from our child care center, and she’s all of two years old! But she’s one of the smartest little girls you’ll ever meet, because she knows about Jesus! Kennedy’s receiving a good start! She’s getting smart! She’s living proof that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”!

God grant that we all continue to grow in that very same “fear of the LORD” that makes each of us, like little Kennedy, “wise for salvation”!

Amen

–Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff

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September 10, 2007 by admin.

Hebrews 13:1-8 9/9/07

In the name of Jesus, who humbled himself to be our Savior, dear friends in Christ,

This morning we’re worshiping under the theme of “Christian Humility.” A large part of being humble is looking outside ourselves and our own interests and being more concerned with those around us. We take on a Christ-like attitude in showing love for others, and as a result, we become more sanctified Christians as we exercise the faith into which we have been called.

Before we get too much farther along, I’d like to make two assumptions: First, I’d like to assume that everyone here today is a sinner who still hasn’t reached the standard of perfection. If you don’t fit in that category, you may leave because this sermon is meant only for sinners. Secondly, we must assume that any change that comes about in our lives, any improvement that might be made, comes only as a result of the faith which the Holy Spirit has worked in our hearts. So today we’re going to receive practical applications concerning changes that are needed in our lives – changes that can only take place by the power of a Savior who always remains the same.

This morning I’ve expressed these thoughts for today’s sermon with this theme:

“A Changeless Savior Changes Lives”

I. Jesus Christ is always the same
II. Because of him, we can never be the same

This letter to the Hebrew Christians follows a familiar pattern set forth in many of the Apostle Paul’s letters. After presenting the facts of how we are justified, or declared “not guilty,” through Christ, the writer continues with applications as to how to take the faith that’s in our hearts and let it shine forth in how we live our lives.

That’s what we have in the words before us this morning. Let’s start out with the last two verses, the first of which serves as a reminder of how we were exposed to the Lord’s message of salvation (v 7), “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” We’re not told who these “leaders” were, but we do know how they led: they “spoke the word of God to you.” They didn’t come to these Hebrew Christians with their own wisdom or ideas, but they simply presented the truths of God’s Word. Many of these leaders were no longer with them, but they still were alive – living eternally with their Savior in heaven. By imitating their faith, these Christians could look forward to the same outcome – the same eternity – as those who brought them this life-saving message.

We do well to also remember – and to thank! – those who spoke the Word of God to us. Ultimately it is the Lord who’s responsible for you being here today, but he did use someone as his instrument to bring you the gospel. Most of us have our parents or grandparents to thank. For others it might be a pastor or Sunday School teacher, or perhaps just a friend or an acquaintance. Take a look at what the Lord did for them and how he’s been their source of strength and comfort through life. Then take their example to heart and “imitate their faith.” As we’re told earlier in this letter (Heb 6:12), “Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Then, by God’s grace, someday someone might be imitating you!

As important as our faith may be, it’s the object of our faith that saves us. Jesus Christ is the content of what the leaders taught, the one whose life motivated their lives of God-pleasing service. He’s their Savior from sin, and he’s ours as well, because he doesn’t change (v 8), “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” This is one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture! No matter how much we may feel that our world and our lives are falling apart, our Savior’s love for us remains constant. As the psalmist proclaims (Ps 73:26), “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” In an ever-changing world, we still have a changeless Savior. We have one who has always had our eternal welfare in mind. Jesus didn’t want us to remain in a world filled with evil, decay, and the consequences of sin. He wanted us to enjoy a life of peace and happiness in God’s kingdom. That’s why he came to this earth – to rescue us from the rubble of sin. So he became one of us, giving us the greatest example of what humility is all about (Php 2:8), “He humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” It’s through that death that we were given the forgiveness of sins!

All this took place almost 2000 years ago, but it might as well have been yesterday, because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His promises are the same, his power is the same, his forgiveness is the same, his love is the same! With Jesus nothing has changed! And with that assurance and comfort, we have all the motivation we need to make changes for him. Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 5:15, “He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” In other words, we’ll strive to put off sinful desires and live instead for our Savior, because a changeless Savior changes lives! Because of him, we can never be the same!

Understand that while here on this earth we’ll always be a combination of “saint” and “sinner.” There will be a constant battle being waged within us between what we call our “New Self” and our “Old Adam.” Paul speaks of this confrontation in Romans (7:18,19), “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.” Understanding what we’re in for, we still can be victorious in these daily battles. That’s because we have a changeless Savior on our side!

Let’s turn our attention to the applications presented in our text. The first centers around love (v 1), “Keep on loving each other as brothers.” As Christians we share a common bond, centered in our love for the Savior. That makes us brothers and sisters in Christ, members of the same spiritual family. We’re all fighting the same spiritual battle against the devil and a world of sin, so it makes sense that we solve any differences that may arise and keep working toward the same goal. That requires that we “keep on loving each other as brothers.”

Our love is not to be restricted only to those whom we know. The real test of love is often seen in how we treat those we don’t know (v 3), “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Remember Abraham and how kind he was to the three strangers who happened to be passing through? Although he didn’t know it at the time, they were actually angels – and one of them was God himself! This doesn’t mean that the only reason we should be kind to strangers is because they might be angels, but it does remind us of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 (v 40), “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” I ran across a definition for “hospitality” that I found rather interesting: “the outward expression of love for the unexpected and uninvited.” It’s interesting especially when we apply this to those who may visit our church. As fellow believers move and travel more, let’s make sure our church is warm with hospitality. Let’s welcome strangers to our services and new members into our midst, showing them how anxious we are to have them as a part of our church family.

Not only should strangers receive our love and concern, but especially those who are suffering (v 3), “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” The prisoner and the persecuted need our attention. We emulate our Lord’s own love for the lost when we show love for those who are suffering by trying to put ourselves in their shoes. Those in prison may be most open to hearing about what their Savior has done for them, eager to receive true hope in what may seem like a hopeless situation. And let’s do more than simply give our “silent applause” to those who are being mistreated, whether it be at school or at work or even in our own homes. Learn to stand up for others, especially for those who may be suffering for their faith, for doing “the right thing,” for speaking out against sin and those who promote it. Let those who suffer know that we’re there for them and that they’re not alone!

The author turns to another area where love is expressed and where changes may have to be made (v 4), “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” This is an admonishment for both those who are married and for those who are single. It’s an area where the devil works overtime to lead us astray. Let me throw some scary statistics at you: One poll on marital infidelity indicated that about one in every five married people had been unfaithful. Another source gave even more grim numbers, stating that approximately 50% of husbands and wives will have an affair at some time in their marriage. Those who have been unfaithful like to ease their guilt by referring to their infidelity as a “romance,” an “affair,” a “beautiful experience,”and the like, but God gives it a different name – “adultery” and “sexual immorality.” Add to this the increase in pornography, the lack of any kind of sexual morality on most TV shows, and society’s eagerness to accept whatever “any two consenting adults” want to do, and you see the problem. We need to make changes, and so do our children. Unfortunately, they’re learning from our bad examples. Some more alarming statistics: Teenagers, on average, experience sexual intercourse for the first time at age 15. Almost half of those ages 15-19 claim to have had sex. Approximately 75% of those claim to not feel any guilt as a result. Is marriage being honored by all? Do our children accept premarital sex as the norm? Is it any wonder the divorce rate is out of control, and our children aren’t understanding what marriage is all about?

Changes are needed, and here’s some more statistics – this time more encouraging than alarming: Even though estimates have one in every three marriages today ending in divorce, that ratio drops to one in every 50 marriages for those who were married in a church. It drops even more, to one in every 105 marriages, for those couples who attend church regularly. And it drops to one in every 1155 marriages for those couples who attend church and have home devotions. That has to affect our teenage children as well in their relationships. Get the picture? Center your life around the changeless Savior, and you’ll see changes – positive, God-pleasing changes – in your life!

There’s one more area of our lives mentioned that tempts us to go astray. It also involves misguided love (v 5), “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” We’ve talked about this area before. Suffice it to say that as we live in a country where the average household carries $8000 in credit card debt, where almost every licensed driver has his or her own vehicle, and where we’re surrounded by more possessions than we know what to do with, still we find ourselves struggling financially as a synod, complaining about things we don’t have, and worrying ourselves sick about our bank accounts, our 401Ks, and our financial portfolios. The apostle Paul learned to make some changes in this area. In Philippians 4:11 we hear him proclaim, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” What was his secret? Read on in verse 5, “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” With God at our side, we have all we need! We can be content! We echo the words of verse 6, “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” Content with God’s perfect provision and covered with God’s perfect protection, the believer walks toward heaven’s shores unafraid. He knows that with God on his side he has a majority of one, regardless of what foes or fears he faces! Such confidence comes from having a changeless Savior who promises (Mt 28:20), “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Because of Christ, you and I will never be the same. He’s made a change in us, taking away our sinfulness and replacing it with his righteousness, making us fit for heaven. Until we reach our eternal destination, our lives are to be ones of constant change, striving to resist temptations and instead to follow our Lord and his will. And when we do fall, our Savior picks us up and dusts us off. He calls for us to repent, to acknowledge our failures, to trust in him for forgiveness, and to use his power to make changes and to amend our sinful lives.

Yes, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He doesn’t change – he doesn’t have to! But he changed us from sinners into saints. Let’s be sure that while on this earth we continue to change – for the better – and for him!

Amen

–Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff

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September 4, 2007 by admin.

Hebrews 12:18-24

In Christ Jesus, our only Way to the heavenly Jerusalem, dear followers of our Lord,

Mountain-climbers often are fooled by it. From lower elevations, they gaze heavenward and are convinced that they are looking at a mountain’s high point as they prepare to ascend and reach its peak. But they soon learn that their eyes betray them, that they’re actually looking at a lesser peak that blocks the view of the true peak. To follow what they think they see would only lead them far off course. Many a climber has done just that, falling prey to what is called a “false summit.” Once one has made it to the top of the true summit, it’s easy to look down and see the false summit below. From below it may have appeared high and impressive, but no one would trade it for the view from the true summit.

Today we’re going to do a little mountain-climbing of the spiritual type, and we also want to be sure that we don’t fall for any “false summits.” This morning as we continue our study of the Book of Hebrews, we consider:

“A Tale of Three Mountains”

I. Sinai – where sin is revealed
II. Calvary – where sin is forgiven
III. Zion – where sin is no more

Last week we talked about the importance of “running life’s race with grace.” We were encouraged to “strengthen [our] feeble arms and weak knees” (Heb 12:12), and the writer goes on to once again tell us how to do just that (Heb 12:15), “See to it that no one misses the grace of God.” There’s the key – God’s grace! His undeserved love makes all the difference in the world. It’s grace that revealed God’s answer to sin. It’s grace that points us to Jesus!

To truly appreciate a Savior from sin, we first have to understand what sin has done to us. That’s our first stop this morning – Mount Sinai, the mountain where sin is revealed.

On Mount Sinai we’re reminded of what our relationship with God would be like without Jesus. Remember what took place on this mountain? It’s where the almighty and all-powerful God handed down his divine law in written form. The writer to the Hebrews pictures the scene first described back in the Book of Exodus (vv 18-21), “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.’ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’” I’m reminded of the fire alarm drills that we conduct each month down in the child care center, especially seeing the frenzied look on some of the children when they hear that ear-rattling alarm sound for the very first time. Magnify this to a much greater level, and we might get a picture of what Israel was going through while listening to God bellow down his law from Mount Sinai. In the original language you could translate our opening verse by saying, “You have not come to stay” on this mountain. Sinai was just a stopping point for Israel on their way to the Promised Land. It was a place where they were to learn about the reality of sin. Yes, as Paul writes, it’s through the law that we “become conscious of sin” (Ro 3:20). To impress this message on his people, the Lord appeared on Sinai in this glorious yet terrifying form.

It’s here on Sinai that we also have our sins revealed. We roll out the Ten Commandments and, if honest, must admit to not only failing God’s test but actually scoring a complete zero. Even as Sinai at that first law-giving was unapproachable because of its fire and darkness, so also our holy God, who is later described as “a consuming fire” (He 12:29), is unapproachable because of our sins. Even as touching Mount Sinai led to dire consequences for Israel, so also our sin results in death and eternal separation from our God. If even Moses was heard to proclaim, “I am trembling with fear” as he took in such a sight, how can we do anything less when our sins are revealed to us in the mirror of God’s holy law?

Thank God that Mount Sinai was meant to only be a stopping point, a place where we were never meant to stay! While it’s so important that we do travel up this mount to see the ugliness of our sins, it’s also so necessary for us to move on from this “false summit” to the true peak where God would have us dwell. But in order to get there we have to take in another mountain – this time, Mount Calvary, the mountain where sin is forgiven!

There is only one way that we dare to approach our righteous God, and that’s through Jesus, the “one mediator between God and men” (1 Ti 2:5). Drop down a few verses in our text (vv 23,24), “You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Later this morning we’ll be singing about this mountain (CW 106:1): “Come to Calv’ry’s holy mountain, Sinners, ruined by the fall; Here a pure and healing fountain Flows to you, to me, to all, In a full, perpetual tide, Opened when our Savior died.” Calvary is the mountain that makes the difference in our relationship with God. It’s where we’re introduced to Jesus, the one who flawlessly took on God’s law for us so that we could be included among the “righteous . . . made perfect” when Jesus negotiated a “new covenant,” unlike the old covenant handed down on Sinai to Moses that none of us has kept. Now Jesus has signed a new, one-sided covenant of grace in which he bore our sins while we received his righteousness. The cost? His “sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Abel was just mentioned back in chapter 11. Remember him? He was a righteous man whose blood was shed and whose blood cried out to God for justice. Jesus’ blood is that of a perfect man, blood that perfectly fulfills God’s justice. We sing of this comparison in another Lenten hymn (CW 103:1): “Abel’s blood for vengeance Pleaded to the skies, But the blood of Jesus For our pardon cries.” God the Father heard that cry and accepted the blood shed on Calvary as payment in full for our sinfulness! Calvary is the mountain on which our sins are forgiven!

It’s so vital for our spiritual welfare that we spend time on Mount Calvary and not become overly preoccupied with Mount Sinai. And yet that’s exactly what Satan tempts us to do. He would much rather have us believe that somehow we have to figure out how to appease a righteous God on our own. The more he can get us caught up in our own self-righteous efforts, the more we lose our focus and our view of Calvary. We start taking in the “false summit” and allow it to obscure the mountain on which our salvation was won. We allow Sinai to block out Calvary.

With the Spirit’s help we can resist such temptations and instead be led through God’s Word to look away from ourselves – away from Sinai – and instead give all glory to our Savior and what he accomplished – in full – on Calvary. Don’t try winning something that’s already been won! Don’t try obtaining something that has already been given to you! Leave Sinai behind and “come to Calvary’s holy mountain” – the mountain where sin is forgiven!

There’s one more mountain to visit on our journey, our final stop. Because of what Jesus did for us on Mount Calvary, we are now headed to Mount Zion – the place where sin is no more!

Mount Zion is the mountain on which Jerusalem is built. Here it’s the symbol for the church triumphant, the final gathering place for all believers in heaven. Now, because of Jesus, it’s as if we’re standing with one foot already in that everlasting city. Our Savior says in John 6:47, “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.” Listen to how this blessed mountain is described in our text (vv 22,23), “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.” We are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, able to enjoy that citizenship to some extent right now as we live in the peace and joy of our Savior’s forgiveness, but someday we’ll enjoy our citizenship even more fully. That’s because Mount Zion is a place where sin is no more! And, as a result, the effects of sin will be missing as well. Listen to how it’s described in Revelation 9 (vv 16,17), “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. . . . And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

There’s no comparison between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. Sinai was empty and barren, an untouchable place where no living things were allowed. Zion is a city, alive with people and thronging with “thousands upon thousands of angels.” Sinai was terrifying and unsettling, while Zion is a “joyful assembly.” Sinai announced death as the just punishment for sinners, while Zion is the home “of the living God” who has justified us through his own Son. On Sinai were written the Ten Commandments, which wrote off all our deeds as evil. On Zion our names are written in the book of life!

As we travel from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion by way of Mount Calvary, be sure and take in the view from each mountain. On Sinai you’ll see your sin revealed. On Calvary you’ll see your sin forgiven. And, finally, on Zion you’ll see your sin no more! My friends, that’s a view that can’t be beat!

Amen

-Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff

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