The Gift of the Holy Spirit - May 28, 2023 - Text: Acts 2:1-21 - The Day of Pentecost

Not too long after the flood waters had subsided, Noah and his family, his three sons and their wives, eight people in all, began repopulating the earth. By the time we get to the chapter eleven of Genesis, just two chapters after the flood, the world had already begun crumbling back to its old sinful self. And then we get to the account of the tower of Babel. Remember the Tower of Babel? The people of the world were working to make a name for themselves, which is a nice way of saying they were perceiving themselves as being their own gods and goddesses. Instead of spreading out and filling the world, as the Lord had commanded, they stayed in one place, looking to make a name for themselves. The Lord’s response was quick and sure. He came down and He confused their languages and from there the people were scattered, as He told them to do in the first place, and from there we have the initiation of the various cultures which are present in our world today. And understand, these are not races as proposed by the religion of evolution, but cultures and people groups. Cultures which came about as the people of each language took certain dominate genetics with them to the various countries of the world.
 

Today we celebrate the Day of Pentecost. The day of Pentecost was fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection and ten days after His ascension. Also, in the year of Jesus’ death and resurrection, this day coincided with the Jewish festival of Pentecost which was not unlike our Thanksgiving celebration. This day, the day of the giving of the Holy Spirit, is called, by some, the undoing of the day of the confusing of the tongues at the tower of Babel. The day of Pentecost was celebrated by the children of Israel as the harvest festival. This festival was the second great Jewish festival.
 

Because this festival was an important festival, Jews came to Jerusalem on pilgrimage from around the world to celebrate. I certainly believe this timing was also a part of God’s plan, that His death and resurrection corresponded to this day, which He has now given to us as a day of celebration of the sending of the Holy Spirit. Because this holiday was an important Israelite holiday, there were many Jews in Jerusalem and many who spoke different languages.
 

So, what happened at the giving of the Holy Spirit? Luke outlines the visible phenomena. He says they heard a great wind. I guess that makes sense, because you cannot see wind, but we certainly know how, when a big storm arises, we can hear the wind and we can see the branches and bushes as the wind blows them. Luke describes the wind as a “mighty rush of wind.” And he says, “it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” So, this wind was not some natural phenomena that was occurring outside, but this wind was a supernatural phenomena that was happening in the house where they had gathered.
 

Next Luke tells us that “divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.” This fire is an image of divine presence, thus they knew what was happening was something from the Lord. The tongues appeared, certainly as a metaphor, symbolizing what was about to happen next, namely the speaking in tongues, or the languages of the people who had gathered and were present in Jerusalem from the various parts of the world.
 

Which brings us to Luke telling us that they “began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” This gift of tongues was not simply a babbling as some would think of speaking in tongues in our modern world. This gift of tongues was indeed the gift of languages, so that these disciples, these uneducated men were now, without any formal training, able to speak in languages or literally in the dialects of which they were not able to speak in before. At the same time we are told that the people were hearing the words of the Apostle’s in their own dialects meaning it could be that the disciples were speaking one language, but miraculously the people were hearing in their own dialect. Whichever is the case, we may understand this event in this way, since at the tower of Babel the languages of the people were confused and now the Lord gives the ability to speak in the languages of all the people, indeed this event is an undoing of the tower of Babel.
 

Luke outlines the visible phenomena and then he explains the invisible phenomena. How is all this happening? All of this is happening as a gift of the Holy Spirit. God is directing these doings. God is giving the gifts and the disciples and the people are being given to. This gift is what Jesus promised to His disciples just ten days earlier at His ascension when He told them to wait in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit.
 

Why is this day and the giving of the Holy Spirit important? Why is the ability to speak in other languages important? Because all these pilgrims to Jerusalem would be able to hear the Gospel message, the message of Jesus’ perfect life, His death and resurrection and then they would be able to take this message back to the people of their homes and share the message with them. It is the same in our churches each and every Sunday. It is so important that we regularly and rightly hear the message of law, of our sins, our sins of thought, word and deed, our sins of omission, not doing what we are supposed to be doing and our sins of commission, doing what we are supposed to be doing. It is so important that we understand our role, our part in putting Jesus on the cross, that is that He died for you and for me. It is so important that we hear the law so we might hear the Gospel, the Good news of Jesus’ perfect life, suffering, death and resurrection for us, in our place so we are assured of our own forgiveness and our eternal salvation. The sending of the Holy Spirit today is just as important as at the first Pentecost.
 

Again, the first Pentecost is what some refer to as the reversal of the tower of Babel. At the tower of Babel the languages were confused and people moved to the various places around the world. Unfortunately many of the fathers failed to share the message of salvation with their children and so, many were lost because they no longer had the message or heard the message. Now, there is a new opportunity today for the message to be heard.
 

The day of Pentecost is also important, especially for the Apostles and disciples of Jesus, because at the giving of the Holy Spirit, God now gives a complete understanding of the events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Remember, before Jesus’ death, whenever Jesus spoke about death and dying, His disciples did not fully understand. Now they have a complete understanding.
 

And so, they are also given boldness. Now that they understand the purpose of Jesus’ life, that is He lived for them and for us. Now that they understand the purpose of Jesus’ death, He died for them and for us. Now that they understand His resurrection, He is and remains a living God, watching over, ruling over, and interceding for them and us. Now that they understand He has sent the Holy Spirit so that He is with them and us, even to the end of the world. Now they no longer need to fear. They no longer need to be afraid of the Pharisees, or the teachers of the law, or the Romans, or anyone. Now they may freely, with all boldness and confidence, go out and proclaim the message of salvation, by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ alone.
 

What does this mean for us today? Today we continue to celebrate Pentecost and the giving of the Holy Spirit. We celebrate that the Holy Spirit continues to come to us today. Today He comes to us through means and in particular through the means of grace, the Word, that is the Bible and the Sacraments, that is, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as well as through Confession and Absolution. Through these very means our Lord comes to us to give us the good gifts and blessings He has to give.
 

And what are those good gifts and blessings our Lord has to give to us? Through these means of grace the Holy Spirit gives, strengthens and keeps in faith. Through these means of grace the Holy Spirit gives forgiveness, life and salvation. Our Lord’s usual way of coming to us today is not to come to us directly. In other words, in Jesus’ day and immediately following His resurrection, ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit, Jesus continued for a short time, coming directly through His apostles and disciples, through their ability to perform signs and wonders, as Jesus Himself did, so that His Word through them might be confirmed as just and right and true. As time moved on and the days of the apostles ended, our Lord decreased His immediate activity among us. Even though our Lord may choose to come to us directly today, that is not His usual way of coming to us. Today His usual way of coming to us is to come through means, through external means, outside of us, namely through the means of grace. Thus, we see the importance of making regular and diligent use of these means. In other words, to make regular use of the means of grace means to be in Divine Service as often as worship is offered. To be diligent in use of the means of grace means to pay attention to the proclamation of the Gospel. To make regular use of the means of grace means to personally, daily, read the word of God or hear it read, to have personal and family devotions. To be diligent about these means of grace means, again, to pay attention to that Word. To make regular use of the means of grace means to daily remember your baptism and how at your baptism the Lord washed you and put His name on you. He forgave you, He wrote your name in the book of Life. To make regular use of the means of grace means to come and confess our sins and hear the greatest words we can hear, that our sins are forgiven. To make regular use of the means of grace means to hunger and thirst for the Lord and to come to His Table to eat and drink His body and blood at His holy supper. For, to absent ourselves from these means takes away the means through which our Lord comes to gives us His good gifts and blessings. To absent ourselves from these means would be like refusing gifts at your birthday or at Christmas. To absent ourselves from these means, to not desire them may indicate a lack of or a weak faith indeed. Thus, we certainly see the importance of these means of grace.
 

But, not only does the Holy Spirit give us individual gifts, faith, forgiveness, earned by Jesus’ life, suffering and death on the cross, life and salvation. The Holy Spirit also gives gifts to the Church, that is, the Holy Spirit gives the Church, His Holy Christian Church, all the gifts, talents and abilities it needs to be His Church here on this earth.
 

And finally, the Holy Spirit also continues to give us boldness. Our nature is certainly not the nature of our Lord. Our nature is to sin. Our nature is not to make use of the means of grace. Our nature is not to acknowledge our Lord. And so, our Lord takes care of this weakness in us as well. For the Holy Spirit works in us and through us to, with all boldness and confidence, respond to all our Lord has done, all He does and all He will continue to do for us, by living lives of faith as He would have us to live. And yet, even here we fail and so He must continue working in and through us. Notice again, our focus is always back on our Lord who gives all and does all.
 

Today we celebrate Pentecost. We celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus continues to send today. We celebrate that the Holy Spirit also points to Christ, who has taken care of everything for us, namely our forgiveness, life and salvation. We celebrate that the Holy Spirit works in us to give us, strengthen us and keep us in faith. We celebrate that the Holy Spirit works in us to respond to the faith given by moving in us, stirring in us, working in and through us to believe the message of Jesus Christ alone for our salvation, to live that message in our lives, and to speak words of thanks and praise to our Lord for all that He does for us. Yes, to Him be the glory for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

The Lutheran Way - It Makes A Difference? (Series 4 of 9)

(Excursus, Contemporary and Building)
 

We define “contemporary” as “con” (with) and “temporary” (time) or, “with time” belonging to today, here today and gone tomorrow. The usage of contemporary worship entails using whatever style or form reflects a particular place, time, culture and the like. To truly present contemporary in its broadest conception would mean having more types of services than one would have time for, such as 80s worship, rock worship, hip hop worship, jazz worship, country worship, easy listening worship, heavy metal worship, etc., etc., etc. More often than not, any attempt at such contemporary worship is an attempt to appease those who have such a preference for what is offered.
 

When we study the history of the Divine Service, we see it is a service which is not German as some would claim. Rather it is a service that transcends time, generations and cultures. The Divine Service which is in use today is very similar to the Divine Service which has been in usage around the world since the time of the Apostles, certainly not always in the exact form, but using all the parts of the service. As we look at the heart of the Divine Service, we can see how it reflects much of the Ceremonial Laws God gave the Children of Israel, except in its fulfilled form in Christ. In other words, the Divine Service does not seek to cater after what people think they want or need. Rather it gives the people exactly what God desires to give. When it come to the genre of the Divine Service, it does not fit any which we have mentioned above. For a short time on Sunday morning, we give up our favorite genre and attend a Divine Service with its own genre.
 

Another important aspect of the Divine Service is that as one grows older and perhaps forgetful, the liturgy is what comes to mind because it has been spoken time and time again. To constantly change the worship service with no continuity takes away the learning aspect of the service. We might imagine that, while we would never sit down and memorize the lyrics of any particular television commercial, we do know many by heart, for the simple fact that we have heard them over and over again which is the purpose for hearing them over and over again. Such is the learning of the parts of the Divine Service, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and so forth.
 

We have also posed the question concerning the church building itself, “Is there such a thing as a ‘Lutheran Church Building?’” And if so, what would it be? What does our doctrine say or does it say anything about how we should build a church building? Another way to ask that question is “What is the “rhetoric” of the building, including the inside?” In other words, when you see a building, first from the outside, can you tell what is the function and usage of that building? Can you distinguish between an office building, an education building, a retail store, a gas station and a church building? And what does it say about your building and the function and usage of your church building if you cannot tell that it is a church building?
 

And what does the inside of your building say about its function and usage? Does your building contain multiple rooms conducive to teaching, or cubbies conducive to an office space, or shelves full of merchandise for sale, or seats and a screen conducive to watching a movie, or even a stage with band instruments conducive to a concert? Or does your building have a cross, an altar, a pulpit, a Baptismal font, a communion rail, etc., conducive to a Divine Service?
 

Next time we will address why and how does “worship” and “practice” match and why does “worship” and “practice” have to match “Divine Service” and “doctrine” as well as the design and furnishings of the church building and the liturgy or order of the Divine Service?

St. Matthew Lutheran Church Newsletter, June 2023

 As I mentioned in Bible Class and in the Divine Service, it was a great interest and encouragement at the District Theological Convocation listening to the stories of people who have come out of other church traditions talk about the joy of hearing the Gospel in the Lutheran Church. What joy we have as Lutherans (Missouri Synod) to have the fullness of the Gospel! Many other traditions proclaim salvation by grace through faith in Jesus and yet then drive their members back to the Law with all the rules and regulations, imposing the necessity of “making a decision for Jesus,” “being obedient to God’s Word,” “dedicating and living their life” for Jesus. Perhaps as lifelong Lutherans we take for granted the joy we have in the Gospel that Jesus chose us, accepted us, lived for us, was obedient for us, so much so that we sit on our grace. We fail to revel in our privilege to come and hear that our sins are forgiven and to hear the blessings of the good news of salvation by not making regular (as often as offered) and diligent (continually being in the Word) use of these opportunities.

My hope and prayer for many of those who have come out of the other traditions into the Lutheran Church is that they will continue to move even more in the teachings of the Lutherans Church, including and especially in our practice of Divine Service. Hopefully and prayerfully they will move to even more appreciate our church building and our Divine Service and how both our facility and service also reflect our faith, that is that what we believe, our doctrine, determines how we practice, how our building is structured to point to the Means of Grace, and how our Divine Service teaches our confession.

So, why is there a difference between we Lutherans and these other traditions? Several reasons and probably the main reason is the fact that many other traditions elevate human reason (failed, sin tainted human reason) over God’s Word, such that when there is something difficult in God’s Word that does not make “reasonable” sense, they will elevate their own reasoning over God’s Word instead of simply letting God’s Word be God’s word.

Perhaps we might understand the difference between Lutherans and other traditions by understanding where we agree and where we do not agree, at least as far as God’s Word. We certainly agree with our Evangelical (Reformed, Anabaptist, Calvinist, etc.) friends on the issues of: Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Infallibility, that is that the Bible is inspired by God, does not contain errors, and does not fail. But, as Lutherans we go on to confess the: Sufficiency, Clarity, Efficacy, and Power of the Bible, that is we believe we do not need human reason to understand God’s Word because it is sufficient in itself in Law and Gospel, and it is clear in its teachings. We believe the Word of God has power and is effective such that it does and gives what it says it does and gives. Thus, when we hear the Word of Holy Absolution, we believe that our sins are forgiven. When we hear God’s name put on us with water put on us in Holy Baptism, we believe we are saved, given faith, forgiveness and life. When we hear God’s “given and shed for you” in the Holy Supper, we believe we are given Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Indeed, it is the very Word of God which is the power to do such things and give such gifts. And for that we rejoice and say, “Thanks be to God1”

Cast All Your Cares On Him - May 21, 2023 - Text: 1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11 - Seventh Sunday of Easter

How quickly we move through life. For some of us, it feels like we were just getting ready to celebrate the turn of the millennium and now here it is 2023 already. As I began looking at Peter’s words in our text for this morning I could not help but be reminded that God is omniscient, that is He is all knowing. Well, of course He is all knowing, He lives in the eternal present meaning that for God there is no yesterday or tomorrow, only today. Remember, on the very first day of creation He created time for us, giving us light and night and day. Because God lives in the eternal present and sees all of our time at one time, He is all knowing, thus as we see, read and hear these words He inspired Peter to write we can see just how true these words are. Indeed, we do live in a world which seems to be moving more and more away from the Christian faith and the further the world moves the more it has, is and will turn against those who do hold the Christian faith, in other words, it will bring fiery trials to us.
 

We have been following along in Peter’s letter for the last few weeks and it is interesting that Peter warns us so much of what trials may come. Of course we understand that the people to whom Peter was writing were already facing persecution for their faith. This persecution is something we may not completely understand, because we do not really suffer for our faith, at least not as the people to whom he is writing and at least not to any great degree here in the United States of America, at least not yet. Yet, I believe we would do well to heed Peter’s words because there may come a day and will come a day when these trials will affect us directly and that day may come soon.
 

We begin with Peter’s warnings that trials will come. We begin at verse twelve (v. 12-19), “12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”
 

Peter warns us that we may suffer persecution simply for the fact that we are Christians. Why is it that we may suffer persecution? I believe it is simply for the fact of our exclusive claims as Christians. As Christians we believe there is one and only one way to eternal salvation in heaven and that way is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This exclusive claim discounts all the other religions, cults, and sects of the world and judges them to be condemned. And really, this is not our word of judgement, but God’s Word of judgement. Interestingly enough, as churches in our country and in our world today are overtaken by our culture we are getting to the point when more and more so called “Christian” churches are upset at these exclusive claims. More and more so called “Christian” churches want to compromise, as they believe, for the sake of peace, and say that there are other ways to eternal life, or enlightenment as it may be called and that there are other viable options to salvation. Personally I can see happening in the United States what happened in the Roman Empire years ago, that is that one day it will be okay to be a Christian as long as we first acknowledge that all other religions, cults and sects are equally valid, which of course we cannot do, which will bring persecution.
 

When the day of persecution comes we will certainly want to read and reread Peter’s words of encouragement. Peter reminds us that Christ suffered first, and He suffered unjustly. Yes, of course, we know that is the reason Jesus came into this world, that is to suffer, but how often do we really acknowledge that it was because of my sin and because of His great love for me that Jesus did what He did. Yes, it was because of my sin that Jesus came into this world. It was because of my sin that Jesus went to the cross. It was because of His love for me that Jesus suffered unjustly. What Jesus suffered was ours to suffer and yet we have never, nor will we ever have to suffer the eternal consequences, the eternal death penalty of hell for our sins.
 

Just as Peter reminded us last week, so he reminds us again this week that it is better on earth to suffer unjustly for doing right and good than to suffer justly for doing wrong. At the same time he says it will also even better in heaven to suffer unjustly here on this earth for doing right and good than to suffer justly for doing wrong. Our earthly suffering is but for a short time, especially compared to our eternal life in heaven, thus it is certainly better to keep the faith even in the midst of suffering, rather than give up the faith because eternal life in heaven is a far greater thing than eternal death in hell.
 

Peter encourages us, “Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good,” knowing that with the Lord’s help, with God on our side, we can remain faithful and we will be given the reward He has won for us in heaven.
 

Our text then picks up in chapter five with more of Peter’s words of warning and encouragement. We read beginning at verse six (v.6-11), “5:6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
 

Peter’s gives us words of instruction. His first words are probably some of the hardest, that is that we are to humble ourselves. How difficult it is, in our “me first,” society in our “get ahead” culture, how difficult it is to humble ourselves before the Lord and especially before others.
 

We are to humble ourselves before the Lord and a part of humbling ourselves is that we are to cast all our anxieties on Him. Here again we get back to our roots and our American culture where we believe that we have to do everything for ourselves. How can we take care of our own anxieties if we cast them on the Lord? Perhaps a big part in humbling ourselves is in humbly recognizing what we cannot do, that is we cannot take care of our anxieties.
 

Peter encourages us here with the instruction to be sober-minded. To be sober-minded means to rightly admit what we can and cannot do. We can sin and we do sin. We sin and we sin boldly. We sin in thought, word and deed. We sin sins of omission, not doing what we are supposed to be doing. We sin sins of commission, doing what we are not supposed to be doing. And we cannot help ourselves. We sin and it is natural for us to sin. To be sober-minded means to admit and confess our sins and our inability to do anything about it, so we thus cast our sins and all our anxieties on the Lord, knowing that He has taken care of them.
 

Peter goes on to encourage us to watch. We are to watch because Satan, the devil, is a roaring lion. The devil hates anything good. He hates anything of God. His whole will and purpose is to destroy us. And so Peter encourages us to be on watch against the devil.
 

Peter reminds us that we are not alone. He says, consider your company, in other words, consider your fellow Christians around the world who are suffering for their faith. There are many who have suffered and we know that the Lord was with them during their suffering and as He was with them, so He will be with us.
 

And finally, Peter reminds us that our suffering will only be for a little while, then we will be given glory forever. Sometimes, especially in times of persecution, it is best to put things into an eternal perspective. An eternal perspective is to understand that our lives on this earth, although they may be up to a hundred years, yet, when compared to eternity, our lives on this earth are very short. So, what is important? Certainly our faith is important.
 

I believe Peter’s words give us a better perspective on life. While we are living on this earth, bearing the name “Christian” may not always be easy. And even though it may not be too difficult at this time, it may get harder. And I believe it will get harder.
 

Being a Christian may actually be the reason that testing comes to us. And testing may come  from the world as well as the devil. Testing may come from within our own families, even within our own churches and congregations. Understand, the devil always works the hardest on those he does not yet have.
 

At the same time, as Christians, we have Christ on our side. As Christ has overcome all temptation, sin and death, so He helps us to overcome. Jesus knows what we are facing because He has already faced it all and even greater and He is ready, willing, and able to help us especially in times of need. Remember, the fullness of the Gospel is not simply that Jesus died for us, but the fullness of the Gospel is that Jesus lived for us. What we could not and cannot do, live a perfect life, be perfectly obedient, choose Jesus as our Savior, dedicate our lives to Him, He has done for us. He has chosen us. He was obedient for us. He dedicated His life for us. He lived in perfection for us because of His great love for us and He gives it all to us including faith, forgiveness, life and salvation.
 

Finally, we will always remember that the ultimate overcoming is eternal life in heaven. Perhaps we would do well to keep an eternal perspective in our own lives. Remember, this world is but a blink of the eye compared to eternity. Whatever difficulties, whatever persecution, whatever sadness, whatever anything we face in this world is nothing, really nothing, compared to eternal life in heaven which is what awaits us by faith in Jesus who won it for us and gives it to us. Remember, when difficulties come, even when our lives are threatened, what is the worst that can happen? We can die. If we die, by faith in Jesus we go to heaven and there we will have eternal joy and pleasure and that is a great thing.
 

And so, I encourage you as Peter does, when suffering comes, entrust yourself to the Lord who is your Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. Until then, immerse yourself in the Lord, making regular and diligent use of His means of grace for strengthening and keeping in faith. To God be the glory for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Christ’s Exaltation - May 14, 2023 - Text: 1 Peter 3:13-22 - Sixth Sunday of Easter/Mother’s Day

Today is also the most sacred, secular holiday of Mother’s Day and here, indeed, we in the church should be first in celebrating Mother’s and motherhood, as we might suggest one of the primary ways the church grows is through the birth of children who are to be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. So, Happy Mother’s Day to our Mothers here today. We are so glad you are here and we are so glad you brought your family.
 

What is our purpose in life? That is the question asked by many people in our world today. Some answers that are given are that our purpose in life is to do something for God, to praise Him, to work for Him, to do His bidding, to please Him, to appease Him and so forth. The assumption behind these answers is that God needs something from us. My question is, “What kind of a God does one worship who needs something from us?” That sounds a lot like the gods Paul was referring to in our first lesson when he addressed the Athenians on Mars Hill. And so, as Paul says, I say to you, we worship “24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:24,25). Therefore, our purpose in life is simply to be loved by our God who created us to love us.
 

In our text for today, Peter continues encouraging us in our own faith life. He encourages us especially in times of suffering. We being in our text at verse thirteen, “13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil” (v. 13-17).
 

If we are good people, as we often believe ourselves to be, if we do good, that is, if we follow the law, if we do not speed, do not steal, do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not gossip, and so forth, then we need not fear harm. If we are being good and are doing what we are supposed to be doing and not doing what we are not supposed to be doing, then we really do not have anything to fear in this life.
 

On the other hand, and this is where Peter is encouraging us, if we suffer for doing good, then we are to rejoice. If we suffer, especially because we are Christians, we are to rejoice. Now, I have said it before, I do not believe that this affects us much here in the United States of America, at least not yet, but I do know for a fact that there are Christians throughout the world that are suffering, that are persecuted simply because they bear the name of Christ, that is, because they are Christians. And they rejoice in their suffering.
 

Verse fifteen is one of my favorite verses, especially in the context of what we are to be doing for our Lord, or at least what we think we are to be doing for the Lord. Thinking in terms of what is our purpose in life, for many years we have all heard the great commission and how the great commission tells us how we are to go out and tell others about Jesus, and I would never discourage you from doing so. However, I believe Peter gives us a better way. Peter tells us that our response of faith is to have a natural consequence and flow that is that as we are living lives of faith we are to always be ready to give a defense, that is an answer, of our faith and certainty of heaven. As we live lives of faith and as others ask about our faith we are to give the reason, the answer or as our text literally says, an apology, that is a defense of our faith and we are to do this in gentleness.
 

Perhaps you have heard the phrase, “Kill them with kindness,” or as Paul says in Romans (12:20), “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” In other words, in our making a gentle defense of our faith against those who work to slander us, we put them to shame. We put them to shame because our good behavior highlights their sin. So, here, Peter reminds us, it is certainly better, as a Christian, in God’s eyes, to suffer for doing good than to rightly suffer for doing evil.
 

But Peter is not done. He goes on to give us Christ’s example. We pick up at verse eighteen, “18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him” (v. 18-22).
 

Rather than simply encouraging us, Peter gives us the example of Jesus who suffered unfairly. Jesus, who was without sin suffered for our sins. Of course, that is the reason Jesus came into this world; that is the reason He was born, to restore our broken relationship with Himself. Jesus came to pay the price for sin, the price of eternal death and hell, the price that was set in the Garden of Eden. And that is what Jesus did. He who was without sin, took our sins upon Himself and He suffered, on the cross, the eternal death penalty of hell, for us, in our place, and not only for us, but for all those who had already lived, for us living today and for all those who ever will live.
 

After suffering on the cross and dying, when Jesus descended into hell it was not to suffer any more. His suffering was completed on the cross. His descent into hell was to declare victory over the devil as well as His victory over sin, death and the power of the devil.
 

And then Peter gives us the example of God’s patience in dealing with us, His sinful human beings. Some may wonder why God is waiting so long to end the world. Some may be wondering how long the Lord will put up with this world. The answer is seen in God’s patience and not wanting anyone to perish, but in giving enough time as possible for as many people as possible to come to faith. The answer is seen in God’s patience in the days of Noah and how long He waited to send the flood, giving enough people time to see what Noah was doing so they might repent. In the same way He is waiting today for His return.
 

And now we get to Peter’s words on Baptism. Notice how Peter tells us that Baptism saves. Let me say that again so we do not miss it, Baptism saves. We see Baptism save every Sunday we witness a Baptism. We see how those being baptized are saved through the waters of Holy Baptism. They do nothing, but their Baptism saved them. Baptism saves because Baptism is God’s doing. Unfortunately there are those who reject these words of Peter suggesting that baptism is something we need to do to show our obedience to God. They say this because they do not understand how simple water and God’s Word can do such great things. Here Peter tells us, as he says, “Baptism now saves.” Baptism saves because we put the focus back where it needs to be, not on us, but on God who does the work in and through theses simple means, water and God’s Word, God’s name. Peter gives the example of the flood. In the flood, the water killed the evil and the ark saved the righteous. Water saved the eight in the ark. Interestingly enough, those who believe that the only valid baptism is a baptism by immersion need to see that they find little support for their views here. Notice, the only persons who are immersed were those who were drowned by the flood waters, not the ones who were saved. In Holy Baptism water washes away our sins and saves us through the putting on of Christ’s name. In Holy Baptism God is doing all the work, God is doing all the doing and we are the ones who are being done to and being given to. And notice how we get it right when we get the focus right.
 

And now, Peter reminds us that Christ is exalted and He is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, not that He cannot be anywhere else, because we know He is God and as God He can still be all places at all times, but Peter tells us He is at the right hand of the Father so we might find comfort in knowing that He is there watching over us, ruling over us and interceding for us.
 

And so, now in good Lutheran fashion we ask, “What Does This Mean?” First, we understand that there is a difference between suffering as a consequence of sin and suffering for one’s faith. Certainly there are times that we suffer as a consequence of our actions, but we need to be assured, that we never have, nor will we ever suffer the eternal punishment of hell for our sins, because that is what Jesus suffered for us on the cross. Yet, when the time comes and it may come in even in our own country, and soon, but when the time comes that we may suffer for simply the fact that we are Christians, Peter encourages us that we would rejoice in our suffering for our faith.
 

And in those times of suffering for our faith, God’s will is that we would give a defense for our faith. In other words, God will give us the strength to bear up, and He will give us the words to say in defense of our faith.
 

Notice, again, how we get it right when we get the focus right. When focus on ourselves, on what we must do, or have to do, then we tend to get confused about our purpose in life, we get confused like the Athenians on Mars Hill. But when we get our focus right, that is when our focus is on what God has done, what God does, and what God will continue to do for us, then we get it right, then we get our purpose right, then we get our lives right. God gives, and we are given to.
 

Jesus has done it all and He gives it all to us. And we have the assurance that Jesus is exalted and He is seated at the right hand of the Father where He continues caring for us. And we say, thanks be to God.
 

And so, finally, I again encourage you, brothers and sisters in Christ, be zealous in doing good, let your light shine, have no fear of the troubles of this world, instead, focus on Christ and all that He has done, does and will continue to do in and through you knowing that He has taken care of your eternal life. To God be the glory, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Now, You Are God’s People - May 7, 2023 - Text: 1 Peter 2:2-10 - Fifth Sunday of Easter

In our first reading for this morning we are reminded, once again, of the importance of the means of grace, and here, let me reiterate what I have been saying in Bible Class as well as in my last two Newsletter articles, the Objective Means of Grace, the Objective Word of God. The early church was growing. It was growing so fast that more leaders needed to be enlisted to help take care of the believers. Notice the importance that was placed on the means of grace. The apostles knew that the church would not grow except through the means of grace and so they wisely suggested that they enlist helpers while they continue to be in the ministry of the Word. “And” as verse seven says, “the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.” It is through the Word of God, as well as through His Sacraments, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, that our Lord grew His early Church and through which He still grows His Church today.
 

In the Epistle Lesson, our text for this morning we are reminded of our beginnings in the Church, through the means of grace, and the importance of continuing in those same means of grace. Peter begins by reminding us of our being given faith, we begin reading at verse two, “2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation—3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (v. 2-5). For most of us, we were given faith through the water and God’s name placed on us at our Baptism. At our Baptism Jesus put His name on us, He put faith in our hearts, He gave us the forgiveness of sins He had earned for us on the cross, He wrote our names in the book of life, He made us new people. And now, now that we are growing in our Christian faith life, he encourages us to grow even more in our faith life. He encourages us to grow by making use of the means of the Word of God.
 

Some of us may have been brought to faith through Holy Baptism, others may have been brought to faith through the Word of God, which works faith and then the desire to be Baptized. Either way, either being brought to faith through Baptism or through the Word, our faith is given to us by God and is shown in our desire is to continue to be in the Word which is what strengthens and keeps us in faith.
 

We are given faith, either through Holy Baptism or through the Word, yet that faith has to have an object. Faith in a tree does not bring eternal salvation. Faith in ourselves or in what we think are our good works does not save. Faith in an idol does not bring eternal salvation, at least not in heaven. Only faith in Jesus brings eternal life in heaven. Faith, true faith must have Jesus as its object in order to be saving faith.
 

Peter tells us that with Jesus being the object of faith dead stones are turned into living stones. Most of us understand that stones are inanimate objects. Stones are not living things, yet we are described by Peter as stones. Before being given faith through the means of grace we were not living beings. We were dead beings. We were dead in our trespasses and sins. We were conceived and born in sin. We were spiritually dead, spiritually blind, and enemies of God. We were certainly as good as dead, as nonliving as stones. But by faith given through the means of grace we have become living stones, because we are connected to the main living stone, the main foundation and cornerstone, Jesus Himself.
 

Again, the object of faith is important. We continue reading at verse six, “6For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’ 7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ 8and ‘A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” (v. 6-8).
 

Jesus is the stone, the Cornerstone, the Living Stone. As the Living Stone, He is also a stumbling block to those who do not want to acknowledge their sins and repent. I believe the old cliche’ goes something like, “Pride goes before the fall.” In other words, sometimes we are too proud to confess and acknowledge our sins, our part in Jesus’ death on the cross, so much so that we end up refusing and rejecting the benefits of Jesus’ death, namely the forgiveness of sins, which means the fall into eternal death and hell. We confess this almost ever Sunday morning, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8,9). Thus, Jesus is a stumbling block for all those who do not believe they are so bad that Jesus had to die very much for them.
 

Jesus is a stumbling block, He is also an offense. He is an offense to those who believe they can be good enough to earn their way to heaven. Yes, He is an offense to many Americans, because we know the way we were raised, that is that there is nothing free in life. We are raised to believe that anything that is free has strings attached. We have to make our own way in life. We have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We have to make our own way. And this idea makes its way into our churches and our own faith life with our thinking that there must be something we can do to earn heaven. Thus when we are told how sinful we really are, how spiritually depraved we are, how our only inclination is to evil, how our will is completely tainted by sin and all we can do is refuse and reject Christ, when we are told these things we tend take offense at Jesus.
 

Peter reminds us here that Jesus is the Cornerstone to those who have been given faith. Earlier we were reminded that stones are not living things, but are inanimate objects. Here we are reminded that every good structure needs a good foundation and a good cornerstone. When we speak about the Church (capital “C”) we are speaking about all believers in Jesus. The Church (capital “C”) also needs a good foundation. The foundation of the Church, the Cornerstone on which the Church is built is Jesus Christ Himself. Remember Jesus words to Peter after he confessed for himself and the disciples that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus said, “You are Peter and on this rock,” that is on Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, in other words, on Jesus, “I will build my Church.” Jesus is a living Cornerstone and by faith in Jesus, faith given to us through His Word and through Holy Baptism, faith which has Jesus as the object, through faith in Jesus we dead stones become living stones and a part of the Church.
 

Which brings us to the priesthood of all believers. We pick up at verse nine, “9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (v. 9-10).
 

At conception we were very much like stones, inanimate objects, spiritually dead, spiritually blind and enemies of God. It is only as our Lord has called us to faith and given us faith in Jesus that we are given to be a part of the priesthood of all believers. Being a member of the priesthood of all believers means that we have immediate access to our Lord. We may go directly to Him in prayer at any time and any place. He speaks to us through His Word at any time and any place and we speak to Him through our prayers at any time and any place. That can be quite a conversation.
 

Being a part of the priesthood means that we were brought out of darkness into His marvelous light. As He gives faith through His means, so He strengthens and keeps us in faith through those same means. As we confess in the explanation to the Third Article, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” Notice the call by the Gospel and the enlightening with His gifts, again the means of grace.
 

Finally, being a part of the priesthood moves us to do the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do, namely to proclaim His excellencies. How can we not, after all our Lord has done for us, how can we not help but shout to the world of the great things our Lord has done, does and will do for us.
 

Perhaps this morning, instead of asking the questions, “What Does This Mean?” we might instead ask, “What is our purpose in life?” And we might rightly answer that our purpose in life is to be loved by God.
 

Remember, we are conceived and born in sin. And we add to that the fact that we daily sin much and are in need of forgiveness. We sin in thought, word and deed. We sin sins of omission, not doing as we ought and we sin sins of commission, doing those things that we ought not to do. Our nature and our will is only to sin. And our nature is to want to not admit our total depravity and our total dependance on someone outside of us for our salvation. We sin and we sin boldly.
 

Yet, even though we sin, we have a great God who is a God of love who looks after us, cares for us and does everything for us. He gives faith through His means of grace, the Word or Holy Baptism. He works to strengthen and keep us in faith. He has taken care of our sin, the price of which is eternal death and hell. He took care of our sins once and for all by suffering the price on the cross, because of His great love for us. He gives us His means of grace, including and especially His Word of Law which reminds us of our total depravity and His Gospel which tells us of His total love for us. He gives faith, forgiveness, life and salvation.
 

Our response of faith, again, our response of faith, is to live lives of faith, that is, to do the good works which He has prepared in advance for us to do, to confess our sins, to encourage and build each other up in the body of Christ. Our response of faith is to have a craving for the Word. Our faith shows itself in our constant need and desire for His Word, being in Divine Service and Bible class as often as offered, having personal and family devotions and reading His Word. Our response of faith is being given the gifts. Our response of faith is not seeking some purpose we might think we need to have to appease an angry God, or to need to do something for a God who might need something from us. No, our response of faith is simply to be loved by God, to be loved by our God who created us to love us.
 

And so, brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow members of the priesthood of all believers, I encourage you as well, know that you are God’s people, living stones, members of the priesthood, by His help, live as God’s people. To Him be the glory, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.