Sermon for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed!) Alleluia! In today's First Reading
from the Book of Act, St. Peter says concerning Judas, the betrayer of our
Lord, "He was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this
ministry."
Dear Christian friends,
Our earliest Lutheran forefathers had great confidence in the "living and
abiding Word of God" (1 Peter 1:23). So confident were they in the unfailing
power of God's Word that these men confessed before kings and princes their
belief that God's Word does its good work no matter what. God's Word does
its work even when wicked and unbelieving men preach it and administer the
sacraments. Our Lutheran forefathers boldly proclaimed,
We know that the Word and the sacraments are efficacious [that is, powerful
and faith-producing] even when wicked men administer them (Apology VII.19).
This was Luther's own personal confession as well, as he stated in his Large
Catechism:
Even though a knave should. administer it, it is the true sacrament (that
is, Christ's body and blood) just as truly as when one uses it most
worthily. For it is not founded on the holiness of men but on the Word of
God (Large Catechism, The Sacrament of the Altar.15)
Several decades later, the second generation of Lutherans
confirmed and repeated this confession that God's Word and sacraments remain
powerful and beneficial for you, even if your pastor or preacher should only
pretend to be a believer but not himself believe:
Even though a rascal receives or gives the sacrament, it is the true
sacrament (that is, Christ's body and blood) just as much as when one does
so in the most worthy manner, for the sacrament is not based on the holiness
of men but on the Word of God (Formula of Concord, SD VII.24).
Our Lutheran forefathers repeatedly made this good confession
because there were many Christians in many congregations who had great fears
about their salvation. For many years, these Christians had listened to the
preaching of men whom they later discovered did not even know what they were
talking about when it comes to God's Word of forgiveness and life. These
Christians had spent their lives receiving Holy Communion from men whom they
later learned did not even believe in Holy Communion; they brought their
children to be baptized by men who were, a the very core, deniers of
Baptism. These Christians wanted to know, was it all for nothing?
In answer to their fears, our Lutheran forefathers declared, No!
We know that the Word and the sacraments are efficacious [that is, powerful
and faith-producing] even when wicked men administer them (Apology VII.19).
Imagine, not only the great sadness, but also the terror that the
Christians of the Early Church felt in their hearts when they learned that
Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus. Not only had this man caused the arrest
and crucifixion of their dear Lord; not only was this "son of destruction"
(John 17:12) personally lost and condemned; but Judas Iscariot had baptized
people (John 4:1) and Judas Iscariot had preached that "The kingdom of
heaven is at hand" (Matthew 10:5-7). Forget the fact Judas went to hell-that
was a done deal and he got what he deserved. What about those people who had
received Baptism at Judas' hand? What about those who believed Judas when he
preached the kingdom? Had they believed for nothing? Was their faith in
vain?
St. Peter answers such fears in today's First Reading. St. Peter
speaks the same sort of assurances that our Lutheran forefathers later spoke
in their confessions. St. Peter declares concerning Judas, "He was numbered
among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." That is to say, Judas
Iscariot had been given the office of an apostle-he had his share in this
ministry-and God's Word faithfully did its work through Judas' office. St.
Peter does not invalidate any of Judas' apostolic acts, but he recognizes
and declares even after Judas' terrible death that Judas had preached and
baptized according to the Word of God.
A lot of people will debate and wonder whether Judas was ever even
a Christian. Some people say that he never was, but that he was a pretender
and a hypocrite from day one of his call. Others see the possibility that
Judas might once have been a Christian, but later fell from the faith. St.
Peter's point in today's First Reading takes any concern about Judas' faith
completely off the table. It truly does not matter whether Judas ever was a
believer or not. Why? Because Judas "was numbered among us," says St. Peter,
"and was allotted his share in this ministry."
This a good thing for you, dear Christians. Today's First Reading
announces to you the joyous news that your forgiveness, your salvation, your
righteousness and holiness do not depend upon anything other than the
powerful, life-giving Word of God.
· I am your pastor, and yes, I believe in the forgiveness of sins.
The one point of today's sermon is that this forgiveness of sins is fully
yours and it comes to you through the Absolution whether I personally
believe it or not.
We know that the Word and the sacraments are efficacious [that is, powerful
and faith-producing] even when wicked men administer them (Apology VII.19).
· I also believe in the true body and blood of our Lord, given and
shed both for you and for me. The one point of today's sermon is that-God
forbid!-even if I should fall from the faith as Judas fell, you receive no
less of Christ from an unbeliever than you do from the holiest of all
pastors or bishops.
Even though a rascal receives or gives the sacrament, it is the true
sacrament (that is, Christ's body and blood) just as much as when one does
so in the most worthy manner, for the sacrament is not based on the holiness
of men but on the Word of God (Formula of Concord, SD VII.24).
I say these things to you for your certainty, so that you may
believe and so that nothing at all-not even your pastor-shall disturb your
faith.
The peace of God which passes all understanding guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.
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