This is my first sermon at Saint John's Lutheran Church, the Cove (Accident), Maryland
Rev. Charles Lehmann + Matthew 7:15-29 + Pentecost 2 In the Name of + Jesus. Amen. Forgiveness isn't easy. Even though it's the only thing that matters, it's also the thing that we sometimes fight against most. Personal responsibility is important. Moses tells us that every inclination of the mind of man is only evil continually, and so accountability does matter. When someone pulls a gun in anger and murders their neighbor, we want to see justice done. We want them behind bars for a good long while. We don't want our children and our friends to be afraid that the gun might be pointed at them next. That's good. It's good that the Lord has given us government to punish and to restrain evil. If the Lord did not limit Satan's power in the world, you'd never have any peace. The devil would come at you with everything he has. He'd destroy your house. He'd send plague to your cattle. He'd riddle your family with cancer. And if that isn't bad enough, he'd do much much more. Satan hates you, but he's not all powerful. Though when he tempted our Lord he claimed divine power for himself, Satan is not God. He's a creature. And though it chafes at the devil constantly, God is in control. But Satan hates it. If he can't kill us, Satan at least wants God to give us what we deserve. Satan knows that sinners cannot stand before the holy God. Without Christ and the forgiveness He has won for us on the cross, we will suffer for all eternity in the place prepared for the devil and his angels. Misery loves company. Satan oozes with joy at the very thought of any of us burning in hell with him. But your God doesn't want you to bear the punishment for your sins. Your Lord does not rejoice in the death of a sinner. He is the Savior of husbands who fight with their wives, children who disrespect their parents, drivers who run stop signs, and even murderers on death row. The love that Jesus has for you and all the world is indiscriminate. He has forgiven even those secret sins that shame you. Even if you've never spoken of your sin to anyone and it scares you to death and wakes you up at night, Jesus took even that sin to the cross. And so we come to the Lord's words. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” False prophets are the apostles of Satan. He sends them out among you, the Lord's beloved children, to draw you away from the Lord's forgiveness. They will not tell you about the cross. They will not point out your sins. They will not tell you that Jesus has taken your punishment on Himself. To sum it all up, a false prophet won't forgive you. False prophets will say what their satanic master tells them to say. They will tell you that you can please God if you work hard, pay your taxes, and kiss your wife when you come home at night. They will soften the Lord's Word of Law. But Jesus says, “Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Those are words that a false prophet can't stand to let you hear. They are words that cut to the heart. I hear them and think, “Woe am I, for I am a man of unclean lips. I am a sinner. I am not perfect. I have sinned against God and my neighbor. It is absolutely impossible for me to fulfill the Lord's command.” If I am to hear the word of the Gospel, I must first hear the Word of the Law. I must know for certain that I have failed. I must totally despair of ever saving myself by my own works. I must let the sword of the Holy Spirit cut me straight to the heart so that I know that before the Holy and Righteous God, I can offer nothing but sin, death, and a body prepared for the fires of hell. But the false prophet wants you to be comfortable. The false prophet wants you to think either that you are perfect or at least that you're close enough. The false prophet wants your Savior to be the last thing on your mind. After all, says the false prophet, you're not all that bad are you? You don't need forgiveness that much, do you? You're working hard. You're having your 2 ½ kids and making the world a better place. Surely God doesn't want more than that. But He does, dear Christians. Our God demands utter perfection, and without it, we are condemned eternally. Without the holiness that God requires we have no hope of peace now or of life in eternity. And that's the way false prophets want it. They will replace hope in Christ with false hope in yourself. They will replace the comfort of the forgiveness Christ won for you on the cross with confidence in your own works and your own religious piety. So long as the false prophets can keep you away from Jesus, they can keep you and your sins together. They can drag you along with them to hell where the worm does not die and the fire does not go out. And so Jesus tells us to beware. Beware of false prophets because they will kill you. But who are the false prophets? They are all around us. They offer us everything but forgiveness. They draw our focus to everything but the cross. We must be careful when we read or listen to anything that claims to be Christian. Because the Lord also tells us, “Not everyone who calls 'Lord, Lord' will inherit the kingdom of heaven.” Where does that radio or TV preacher point you? How does that Christian book say you can improve your life? Sometimes it may be great on helping your relationship with your family. It might even give decent advice on financial planning. But does it give you what you need? Does it come to you like Nathan did to David and say, “The Lord has taken away your sin, you will not die.” It is only Christian if it gives you the gifts that Jesus won for you on the cross. It is only from God if it forgives your sins. Forgiveness isn't just the most important thing in Christianity. In many ways, it's the only thing. There is nothing that you can do to save yourself because in Christ, God has already saved you. When Jesus went to the cross he suffered for all of your sins, all of my sins, and all the sins of the whole world. God is just. A price must be paid for our sin. Our sins must be paid for because God demands absolute perfection. But even more than that, God loves you. He has not left you to the grave or to everlasting torment. He has sent His Son to the cross. Jesus, the holy and sinless one, has become sin for you. The Father has poured out all the wrath that you and I deserve upon His Son. That is why Paul said that he resolved to preach nothing but Christ and Him Crucified. By Christ's death, He has destroyed death. By His resurrection Jesus has become the guarantee that all who trust Him will live forever in perfect peace and joy. The Lord delivers the life and salvation that He won for you through the preaching of words. It is by the Word of the Gospel in water that you became the Lord's children through baptism. It is by the Word of the Gospel in bread and wine that Jesus gives you His very body to eat and His very blood to drink. It is by the Word of the Gospel that I spoke a few moments ago in the absolution that all your sins were wiped away. It is by Christ's very Word that I preach to you now that your faith is strengthened and He forgives your sins yet again. If I did not come into this sanctuary and speak the Lord's Words of life and salvation to you, I would be useless. I would not be giving you anything worth listening to. But I am here to do what the Lord sent me here to do. I am here to forgive your sins. I am here to speak of the tender mercy of the Lord. Jesus loves you, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. And so the Lord has sent me to you. I am the most recent in a long line of pastors that the Lord has sent to you for one reason, and one reason only. I am here to forgive your sins. I am here to tell you that Christ has taken your punishment on the cross. I am here to tell you that God loves you. He desires you. Christ has cast the father of lies into Hell because He will not stand by and let the devil murder you. Christ has borne the punishment for all your sins because it is unthinkable to Him that you would die forever. Do not fear, O little flock. Christ is your Savior. He has died for you. He has risen and reigns with the Father. He prays for you even now. He speaks of His love for you to His Father and your Father. He says, “Father, they are mine. You have given them to me. I have taken their sins to the cross. I have forgiven them. They are perfect even as you are perfect because I have taken away all their sin.” God's love for you is tangible. It looks like a man dead on a bloody cross. Jesus has died, and so your punishment has perished with him. Jesus lives, and so shall you live with your Savior forever and ever. There is nothing to fear. There is nothing to worry about. God has taken care of all your needs. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the true prophet who has given us His very words of life. He is the rock upon which you are built. He is the end of the race. He is the reward. And by His cross He has already delivered to you the victory. In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. And the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in faith in Christ Jesus. Amen. Rev. Charles R. Lehmann Pastor-Elect, Saint John's Lutheran Church, Accident, MD http://chaz-lehmann.livejournal.com ___________________________________________________________________________ 'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_ _attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author, as well as for quoting or use in a congregational setting _with_or_without_attribution_. Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list. Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster. Subscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive? <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> For more information on this or other lists offered by Confess And Teach For Unity, you can contact the CAT 41 list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. 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