The Book of Jude for Lenten Repentance The First Midweek Service in Lent
Contend for the Faith Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! In tonight’s reading, Jude calls upon all Christians, including you and me, “to contend for the faith that was once delivered for all to the saints.” Why does Jude want us to contend for the faith? Because “certain people… pervert the grace of God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Dear Christian friends, 1. Do you know that, in our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, we are not allowed to “contend for the faith that was once delivered for all the saints?” Our synodical bylaws have been revised to prevent it. Suppose you or I were to go to one of our fellow congregations or its pastor and say, “Hey, what is this strange new thing you are doing?” We would be the bad guys. We would be the ones whom people think are acting lovelessly. We would receive the rebuke. “Pastor Rottmann is attacking me. Grace Lutheran is an unloving bunch. They haven’t followed synodical guidelines, but dare to question what we are doing.” Because it is unacceptable for anyone to “contend for the faith” against those who “pervert the grace of God into sensuality,” lots of strange things can now happen in our midst! Some of these strange things have been happening for so long, they no longer even seem strange! · A congregation may advertise a special event for re-dedicating yourself to Baptism. They are so interested in getting you excited about your Baptism that they will even give you a chance to re-enter the water and get wet a second time. Such congregations “pervert the grace of God into sensuality.” · Pastors, possessed by the spirit of Pentecostalism, may conduct worship in such a way as to make the preaching of the Word and the celebration of the sacraments totally moot. They also “pervert the grace of God into sensuality.” · Boards, committees, and service organizations in our synod may promote guest speakers who believe an unscriptural and who reject our Lutheran confession of faith. We are supposed to welcome these false teachers with opened arms. We are supposed to look beyond their false theology and focus only on their successful methods! Such speakers—and those who promote them—“pervert the grace of God into sensuality.” All of these, and many others like them, deny the power of God’s Word. When you deny the Word, you also “deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” According to what St. Jude has written to me here in his letter, I must repent. I must repent of not calling others to repentance. Jude tells me that I must “contend for the faith.” I have been hunkering down lately, keeping my mouth shut. Jude wants me to exert myself in the contest, like a runner would race or a wrestler would grapple. I have been avoiding the gym, so to speak. Very recently I skipped a conference because the guest speaker smelled like an American Evangelical (essentially a Baptist who doesn’t admit that he’s a Baptist.). We were all supposed to love the guy because he went to one of our Concordia universities, or something. Such guests really just undermine our faith and the faith of our children. I was wrong for skipping. I should have attended that conference, contending “for the faith that was once delivered for all the saints” and losing friends in the process. I wasn’t. Lord, have mercy! 2. Do you know that your faith and my faith are both continually under attack? I am not talking about the devil. I am talking about the “loving” attacks made by our friends and neighbors. I am talking, for example, · about those who reject and hate our faithful practice of closed communion. They cannot bring us a Bible verse to show us our error. They only denounce us and wait until we supposedly soften up. Essentially, they want us to “pervert the grace of God into sensuality.” · also about those fellow Christians of ours who totally ignore those parts of God’s Word that seem inconvenient to their lifestyle. You know how it is that many of our own family members believe themselves to be exempt from God’s commandments or some other aspect of God’s Word! They, too, “pervert the grace of God into sensuality.” And they do so while we silently watch. · about those tense situations in family arguments or conflicts, when people feel as though they can say absolutely anything they that comes to mind, no matter how nasty, just as long as no one quotes a Bible verse. After all, Bible verses are for Sunday morning, not for family warfare! Sensuality. All of these, and many others like them, deny the power of God’s Word. When you deny the Word, you also “deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” According to what St. Jude has written to us here in his letter, you and I both must repent. We must repent of not calling others to repentance! Jude says we must “contend for the faith.” Jude then paints a sober picture of our serious battle: “have mercy on those who doubt,” Jude says—even when you grow tired of hearing about their doubts; “save others by snatching them out of the fire,” Jude says—even when it would be easier to let them burn; “to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh,” even when that garment looks somewhat appealing to try on and perhaps to wear. Jude would be appalled at us. Jude would be appalled, not merely at our synod, but also at us. At me personally. Lord, have mercy! God has given us a good—a wonderful—congregation. God has given us the pure preaching of the Gospel and the faithful administration of Baptism and Holy Communion, according to the Word. These are rare gifts in the Church today! Through His Word and His sacraments, God has done miraculous things for us: He has called us; He has named us His dear, beloved ones; He has promised to keep us for Jesus Christ, who will appear on the day of His great glory. Jude wants us to know that there is more than the church building here that needs care and maintenance. We must “to contend for the faith that was once delivered for all to the saints.” Too much will be lost, if we do not! The grace of God can be easily and quickly perverted into sensuality, but sensuality does not save. Only Jesus does. Only Jesus has. Only Jesus will. Act out your Lenten repentance by contending for the faith in your homes and families. Act out your Lenten repentance by insisting that your pastor stop playing the role of the opossum. Act out your Lenten repentance by keeping your eyes on Jesus—only Jesus and His pure, powerful Word—and by continually calling upon others to do the same. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen _______________________________________________ Sermons mailing list [email protected] http://cat41.org/mailman/listinfo/sermons
