"A Christless Christmas? God Forbid It!"
On St John 1.1-14
the Sermon Preached at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church—UAC
for Holy Christmas Morning
by the Rev. Frederick E. Davison, Pastor
December 25, 2008
+ + +
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ
our Lord, [Amen.]
Today's sermon speaks from the Gospel appointed, according to John
chapter 20th with particular focus on these words:
". . . the Word was with God and the Word was God and dwelt among us . . ."
Thus far our text. Please sit.
In the Name of the Father and of + the Son and of the Holy Ghost. [Amen.]
"And the Word dwelt among us . . ." Yet imagine for a moment of
indeed the world had its' way. Imagine the Bible scholars you watch
on PBS, the Discovery Channel, and the History Channel, imagine for a
moment that they are all right. I watched for a moment yesterday, I
had taped something that looked interesting—I should have known
better, I know. Becky can tell you it's true, I could not bear to
stomach even the first two minutes of it, for it began something of
the effect musing upon whose father Jesus was after all, and that in
the end we really have no way of knowing it. . ." and of course, my
sermon lay before me for last evening already prepared . . ." That
meant I had to leave away with proclaiming, "Born unto you this day in
the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord."
For indeed, if it be true—that is, if the ELCA Seminary
professors—the ones who teach the Pastors of St John for example, if
it be true what they really teach; there really is no virgin birth.
That was just the story made up by the people who followed Jesus, and
who held Him in such high regard and esteem as a godly man that they
made up stories of virgins conceiving and bearing children; but of
course we all know that *no* virgins can conceive children, much less
give birth.
So much for Isaiah "sign" then for, fact is, the very definition of a
virgin is that the birth canal is intact from a little girls' youth
and how in the world can someone give birth to a son without that Son
passing through the opening by which all men must pass—I mean, how can
a Virgin give birth.
So imagine again that those professors are all correct, and this is
all nothing more than a romantic story about a man named Jesus, who
was born to a promiscuous Palestinian peasant woman, who Himself, lay
both with the men who followed Him and the women too—for that is what
the Jews also tell us. So imagine the scholars and the reprobate
so-called Lutheran pastors who follow Braaten and Jensen, the Jesus
Seminar, and now the Quest for the historic Jesus. If they are all
true.
Then there is no Saviour which is Christ the Lord. But merely
another in a lomg line of dead teachers, because, after all, no one
really believes he rose from the dead either. After all dead is dead,
and no one can do that either. Remember this is all just a religious
story made up to make everyone feel better in the midst of this
entropy—the falling away from order to chaos, that we all call life.
Because if that is true, there is no Lord and Giver of life, but
simply a cruel Mother called nature that stands ready and always
willing, and always able to take it away. And IF There be no "born
unto you this day" no Saviour, there is no forgiuveness of sins,
because there is no sacrifice acceptable as payment for them. And
being no sacrifice for sins, there is surely no divine Meal in which
we partake of that sacrifice, no participation in the Lord's Body, the
Lord's Blood—remember they say that's all a story—and without the
birth of the Lord, there was no real Baptism, no true Christening of
Him, and no water made holy in which He stood, and there is no holy
water for any head, no baptism, no faith, no Eucharist, no Lord. If
those who spurn the Apostolic proclamation are right, we are yet in
death, and are most miserable in our sins, though we yet imagine
ourselves most happy, if they are right, we have believed a lie. But
no matter for when we die, we merely stop breathing, our brain doesn't
function, and the Light, so many seem to have seen and come back is
merely an electrical discharge when ended is ended, and we—like the
animals, go to dust and are by that cruel mother nature made elements
to be used by something other. If they're right, eat, drink, and be
merry for tomorrow we die.
But as I told you, I would stand to hear such lies proclaimed in the
name of better knowledge for but a moment. And I stand before all to
bare witness, indeed, if I be the last one on earth, I shall not
change my story—for what I have been handed over I also yet give unto
you. Teachers who teach such things in the name of Christ are indeed
as they have been since our Father Apostles gave us witness; they are
of antichrist to be certain and are as false as I am yet over my
medically sound body fat and body weight. For born unto you this day
*IS* a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. The prophets foretold it.
The Apostles—the eyewitnesses from the very beginning to His Ascending
into Heaven—affirm it is true. They varied not one jot, not one
tittle, neither to the left nor to the right, even to the shedding of
their own blood. To the end they would not deny it. But suffered
every manner of indignity and cruelty known to mankind so that you and
I could have the faithful witness to this very day.
1 John 1:1-4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we
have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have
handled, of the Word of life; [2] (For the life was manifested, and we
have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life,
which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) [3] That which
we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and
with his Son Jesus Christ. [4] And these things write we unto you,
that your joy may be full."
1 John 2:18-28
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that
antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we
know that it is the last time. [19] They went out from us, but they
were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have
continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest
that they were not all of us. [20] But ye have an unction from the
Holy One, and ye know all things. [21] I have not written unto you
because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie
is of the truth. [22] Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is
the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
[23] Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he
that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. [24] Let that
therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If
that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye
also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. [25] And this is
the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. [26] These
things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. [27]
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth
you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath
taught you, ye shall abide in him. [28] And now, little children,
abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and
not be ashamed before him at his coming.
For "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things
were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was
made. In Him was life; and the life was the Light of men. And the
Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
"There was a man sent from God—indeed a prophet, "among them born
of woman no one greater"[Matt 11.11]—"whose name was John. The same
came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through
Him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear
witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every
man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world
was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own,
and His own received him not. But as many as received Him, to them
gave He power to become the sons of God, indeed to all them that
believe on His Name: born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us—"His Name was called
Jesus" Luke 2.21, "for He should save His People from their sins"
[Matt 1.21], "and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the Only
Begotten of the Father,) full of Grace and Truth . . . whom I proclaim
unto you bearing witness to the faithful testimony of our Fathers, He
is born unto you this Day, a Saviour Christ the Lord.
Born not to judge the world, but that the world might be saved though
Him, yes,
to as many as believe on His Name. And when the doors were closed,
and only those who had been graced to believe all things concerning
this Christ, and who confessed to all the Mysteries of the Kingdom,
"Amen" that is, "I believe" He handed over to the Faithful Fathers who
in turn handed it to faithful Sons, such that this Day, on which He
was born, I proclaim in your hearing, we shall again celebrate, and
give thanks—the holy Eucharist, the Sacrifice of His Body and His
Blood offered once in the Holy Place by the power of the Spirit, is
this day—and on all otherdays like it in His holy Church—that
Sacrifice is now to be opened and by God's Will and God's Way present
here among you, His true Body and His true Blood, given and shed for
many for the forgiveness of sins. And all you, who have been so
instructed, and whom I have examined so as to know your confession, I
again invite you, "Come to the Banquet—all made ready, clothed in the
BanquetMasters clothing—the very Righteousness of God's own Son.
For as I received of the Lord, I shall soon give unto you. We first
receive the Altar's gifts, whereby the Altar's Gift is provided and
maintained . . .
In the Name of the Father and of + the Son and of the Holy Ghost. [Amen.]
The peace that passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus, [Amen.]
--
the Rev. Frederick E Davison, Pastor
St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church--UAC
the Pastor's E Mail: [email protected]
the Pastor's Cell: 608-475-0860
Box 230 23357 CR AA
Richland Center, WI 53581
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"For the question is not (to borrow words from Cyprian) what someone
before us has done but what He who is before all both did before and
commanded us to do." Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of
Trent, vol. II, p. 250.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
___________________________________________________________________________
'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. Stefanski <[email protected]>
