TEXT: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life
of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
How many of you remember the old Smothers Brothers show? Some of you younger
folks might recognize Tommy Smothers as the Yo Yo man. Well the Smothers
Brothers, Tommy and Dick, did a standup comedy routine. Their routine was
largely built around their attempt to sing a popular song together. Dick
played the Bass Fiddle and Tommy played guitar, but poor Tommy could never
get it right. Or at least right enough for his brother Dick. Invariably,
Tommy would get caught up in the song and do something silly, make a funny
face or ask a dumb question. Then Dick, the perfectionist, would start
scolding his brother and embarrass him in front of the audience. Finally,
Tommy screwing up his face in mock anger would sputter and stutter, "Well,
mom always did like you best!" This gag was the trademark, you might call it
the seal, of their act and their show. This is what made them the Smothers
Brothers.
As hilarious as their act was, the truth behind it cuts deeply. Other than
the death of a child, I can't think of anything more distressing to a parent
than to see one's children fighting amongst themselves - unless of course
they are doing it in front of company, out in the open for all to see.
Any parent who has more than one child has witnessed this. As distressing as
this may be, now imagine what it would be like to lose one's spouse and in
the midst of grieving, witness children arguing over funeral arrangements
and the disposition of the lost loved one's personal effects and affections.
My deepest condolences if you have.
This sibling rivalry, this familial fighting is what Paul has in mind when
he entreats the people of the church in today's epistle, when he says, "do
not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption."
Luther's writes about the Holy Spirit in his Explanation of the Third
Article of the Apostles' Creed:
What does this mean? 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.
In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole
Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true
faith.
In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the
sins of all believers.
On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to
me and all believers in Christ.
This is most certainly true.
The Holy Spirt has called you by the Gospel. Through God's means of grace -
His precious word and Sacraments - He has made you one of His family. That
calling came at great cost. 1 Cor 6:19-20 "You are not your own; you were
bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
That price of course, is the suffering and death of God's one and only son,
Jesus Christ. And in that death, the Father turned His back on His One and
only Son and heard: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matt 27:46
Talk about anguish. That is what it took to make us children of God -- to
forgive you and bring you into His family.
God went through that anguish so that He might also call us sons. Jesus
suffered the wrath of His Father so that he might call us brothers: "In
bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through
whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect
through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made
holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Heb 2:10-11
So imagine the grief of the Holy Spirit, the grief of God "who wants all men
to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Tim 2:3-4 when He
sees His children, His bought and paid for by the blood and condemnation of
His Only begotten Son children, fighting amongst themselves. For not only is
there the pain of seeing them argue and fight, but the pain of seeing others
turned away from His means of grace by that fighting. For it is through His
church, through you, brothers and sisters in Christ, that He calls, gathers
and enlightens others with His Gospel. It's through the church that you were
called.
And in turn God uses you to bring His grace, to bring His love to others. In
love for God and for the sake of those who must yet hear of His love through
you, His church:
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with
every form of malice.
These things are born of selfishness, a desire, a perceived need to elevate
ourselves. I will not go into how we do this. I truly don't think it is
necessary. And I do not want risk using an example that would cause anyone
in particular to come to mind. For that would be a violation of the 8th
Commandment. That might keep you from recognizing yourself.
Every church has this problem, for it is made up of sinners. We do fall back
into our old ways and need to hear of the forgiveness of God and to remember
our Baptisms in the name of the Father and of + the Son and of the Holy
Spirit that puts the seal of His name on us and makes us people of Christ -
brothers and sisters in Christ, brothers and sisters of Christ.
The fighting, the desire to be recognized, the selfishness comes at the
expense of others. For we all want recognition. But when that recognition
comes, when our self is lifted up, others are put down. And more than that,
the name of God is obscured.
Therefore Paul calls us to . . . 32 Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
He calls us to . . . Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved
children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself
up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Brothers and sisters, there is no need to for us to elevate ourselves by
bringing others down. For, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with
him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages
he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his
kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by
works, so that no one can boast." Eph 2:6-9
Knowing that you have been given the name of God the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit; knowing that you have been baptized into Christ's death;
knowing that you come forward to receive the very body and blood of Christ
to hold, and taste, and to receive the forgiveness of sins -- you know that
God loves you best!
God loves you best! And you! And you! And you! There is no need for rivalry.
For each of you bears the seal of salvation. That is what makes you brothers
in Christ. That is what makes you brothers of Christ. For you have been
given the name of the Father & of the + Son & of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Rev. Kurt Hering
Layton, UT
". . . the Lord will have no flatterer as a preacher. he does not say: Go
around the village,or to the one side of it: Go in bravely and tell them
what they do not like to hear." -- Martin Luther in an Advent I sermon
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