/To no one, nothing do you owe, if not the love of others. For the one
who loves the other (with God's love) fulfills Law. For this: "Do not
commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet," and if a
certain other commandment, in this saying it is summarized, "You will
love (with God's love) your neighbor as yourself." God's love to the
neighbor does not work evil; God's love, then, fulfills Law. And this,
knowing the season, that the hour already (for) you from sleep to
awaken; for now nearer is our salvation than when we believed! The night
is far gone, and the day is near. Let us remove (as filth), then, the
works of the darkness, and be clothed in the armor of the light! As in
daytime let us walk decently, not in excessive feasting and in
drunkenness, not in sexuality and in debauchery, not in quarreling and
in jealousy. But be clothed in the Lord Jesus Christ and in foresight
you do not proceed into desires of the flesh. /
Each year as the season of Advent rolls around, it gets almost forgotten
amid all our holiday preparations. Some of us fall into the trap of
thinking that it is already the Christmas season. It isn't. It's Advent.
It's a time for some rather serious reflection on the Advent of Jesus.
Not the first one that happened as He came to Jerusalem. It's the Advent
we now await, Jesus' return on the last day as Judge of all people,
both the living and the dead. He's coming back soon, and we should be ready!
The Advent season is a "wake up call" for us. It's a time for us to
pause from our holiday planning and look instead at God and what He's
doing! The night has already come. Satan and the minions of darkness are
working overtime to tempt you because he knows that his time is short.
The Day of Jesus' return is imminent! He's coming as your Judge. He may
be coming sooner than you think. And He's coming back to judge you based
on the criteria of your *works*, whether they are good or evil!
"Say what?! I thought we Lutherans were the church of grace & mercy,
love & forgiveness? Are you saying that God cares about what we do?" You
better believe it! God expects you to be rid of all the filthy works of
sinning, and for you to walk in such a way that loves your neighbor just
as God's Own love does. "Wow! That's a tall order." Indeed it is. Your
works are not to do evil, but they are to fulfill God's law perfectly.
But who among us can claim to keep all of God's commandments without fail?
Truth be told, you have failed miserably in this regard. Some have
brought about strife by dwelling on problems, and offering their own
ideas as solutions as though they are the gods of the universe. Others
have acted out of envy, desiring to do things that God has given as
tasks for others. Still others of us over-indulge in any manner of
activities in ways that cross the lines of decency. Not one of us can
claim to have always walked in the light of day as God bids us to do.
So what is the answer to our dilemma? Well you need to have the filth of
your sin removed from you-- those works of darkness forgiven. You can't
do this to yourself. God does it for you in your baptism. And He makes
that baptism your daily bath to cleans you from sin's filth when, by
daily contrition & repentance, your Old Adam drowns & dies with all your
sins & evil lusts. God offers absolute forgiveness for you in that same
Name in which you were baptized when you come to Confession.
Then God clothes you with the protective armor of Jesus! You now wear
Christ's Own holy righteousness, which is credited to your account by
faith. You are holy in God's sight, but not because you've acted that
way, because you haven't. His strong Word, Christ Jesus, bespeaks you
righteous with His Own holiness! The righteous works of Jesus are now
your very own good works. And He is the One Who will come back soon to
judge you based on your righteousness.
That being said, it is a very good thing that Jesus' holy righteousness
is not a dormant thing. It clothes you outwardly so that it can actively
shine brightly to love others. Not your love. For it is God's Own agape
love with which you are called to love your neighbor! Although you have
not loved others with your own brotherly-love as you should have, God
finds a way to succeed where you have failed. For it is Jesus Himself
who loves your neighbor through you with His Own perfect agape love!
That's why those who foolishly address Jesus at His return with "Lord,
Lord, look what we did for you!" will be harshly rebuffed for thinking
it was their own works which make them righteous. You know better. You
are blessed with Christ's righteousness as a garment-gift so that He can
shine through you upon others with good works about which you may not
even be aware!.
For Jesus alone is able to fulfill the Law with His agape love. He did
that for you as a perfect sacrifice at the +, when He gave up His body
for you unto death, and shed His blood for your redemption at Calvary.
From there He has made you His Own workmanship, a new creation in
Christ Jesus, given to walk in Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Light.
His righteousness blessing you unto your salvation, and continuing to
bless others through you that your neighbor too may be saved! Amen.
John C. Drosendahl, Pastor
[email protected]
