“Nothing Past, Present, or Future Can Separate Us from God’s Love”
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
Dear New Year’s Eve worshippers, grace, mercy, and peace from God
the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord [Amen.]
“Yet even though I suffer
The world’s unpleasantness,
And though the days grow rougher
And bring me great distress,
That day of bliss divine,
Which knows no end or measure,
And Christ, who is my pleasure,
Forever shall be mine.”
(Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.
713:6)
Epistle
Reading...................................................................
Romans 8:31b-39 (esp. 38-39)
38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor
things present nor things to come, 39nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor
anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of
God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prologue: The Associated Press’ top ten stories for 2015 are, in
order: 1. The Islamic State, 2. Gay marriage, 3. The Paris attacks, 4. Mass
shootings, 5. Black deaths in police encounters, 6. Terrorism fears, 7. The
U.S. election, 8. Climate change, 9. The Charleston shooting, and 10. Europe’s
migrant crisis. (Dr. Jim Denison in “Denison Forum on Truth and Culture …
Cultural Commentary: Today’s News in Spiritual Perspective” for December 23,
2015) That paints a pretty dismal picture, doesn’t it? Quite frankly, it
seems that we’re in a losing battle with the secular society and culture in
which we’re living. It’s downright deplorable and depressing! Satan, the
world, and our own sinful selves are waging a war against Jesus and His
remnant of Believers that seems, well, overwhelming. In fact, it sometimes
leads me to wonder whether the fight is even worth continuing.
Well, there’s good news even amidst the flood of bad news. As we
reflect back on the past year filled with all sorts of doom, despair, and
agony (Oh my!) the good news comes in the form of a reassuring promise from
the apostle Paul, namely …
“Nothing Past, Present, or Future Can Separate Us from God’s Love.”
So, what’s plaguing you this evening as we close out 2015 and
prepare to welcome 2016? Is it some fear or fright about your physical
health, your financial stability, your emotional balance, or your, well, you
finish it out for yourself? Is it one or more sins that you committed this
past year … or farther in your past … that continue to scratch and claw at
your conscience, even making you question or doubt your spiritual security?
Is it a relationship with a family member, work associate, neighbor, fellow
congregational member, or whomever that’s strained, close to breaking,
severely bent, or already broken? The reality and widespread nature of sin
is present all around us and no matter how hard we try, we simply cannot
escape it. Because of that, we would do well to keep in our hearts and
minds today’s Collect: “We commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now
ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the
new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in
the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
You see, the solution to our sin dilemma is not complicated and,
in fact, it doesn’t demand anything from us which is why today’s Gradual is
so meaningful: “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of
wisdom. Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may
rejoice and be glad all our days.” (Ps 90:12, 14 ESV) So whatever is
plaguing you at this time be comforted and consoled by the fact that …
I. Our Gracious God Justified Us and Jesus Is Interceding for Us.
(31b-34)
31bIf God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own
Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously
give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It
is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who
died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who
indeed is interceding for us.
Let’s make this very simple, succinct, and soul-strengthening.
The fact is that Immanuel “has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet
we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded
for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the
chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.” (Is
53:4-5 ESV) The fact is that the newborn King “Himself bore our sins in His
body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By
His stripes you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 ESV) The fact is that
almighty God “made Him [that is, Jesus] to be sin who know no sin, so that
in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21 ESV) The fact
is that “you were ransomed from the futile way inherited from your
forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the
precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1
Peter 1:18-19 ESV) The fact is, as hymn writer Nicolas Herman declared in
that Christmas hymn “Let All Together Praise Our God”: “He undertakes a
great exchange, Puts on our human frame, And in return gives us His realm,
His glory, and His name, His glory and His name.” (Lutheran Service Book,
389:4.) The fact is that “[Jesus] died for all” (2 Cor 5:15 ESV) and “The
blood of Jesus [God’s] Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 ESV)
As if that’s all not enough (and, just for the record, it’s more
than enough!), “We know that the exalted God-man, Christ … as our Priest
pleads and prays for us before the Father … .” (Luther’s Small Catechism
with Explanation. Copyright © 1986, 1991 Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis, MO. Page 141.) How do we know that to be true and trustworthy?
Well, not only does today’s text declare it but also “the disciple whom
Jesus loved” wrote in his first general epistle: “If anyone does sin, we
have an advocate [that is, One who ‘goes to bat for us,’ who pleads our case
before the almighty righteous Judge] with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous.” (1 John 2:1 ESV) In addition, Isaiah wrote that our Redeemer
“bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Is
53:12 ESV) The anonymous author of the letter to the Hebrews stated:
“Consequently, [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near
to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
(Heb 7:25 ESV) In his gospel narrative the apostle John recorded that Jesus
said: “Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, He will give it to you.”
(St John 16:23 ESV) There’s absolutely no better intercessor with or
defense attorney before our fair and impartial heavenly Father than Him
about whom we sing: “Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble
anywhere? We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus
knows our every weakness—Take it to the Lord in prayer.” (Lutheran Service
Book, 770:2.)
Of course, all that would be of little or no meaning and value
were it not for the further fact that …
II. Christ Himself Has Given Us the Victory. (35-37)
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As
it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are
regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us.
In order for someone to be able to give something to someone else
the giver must first possess that which he desires to give to the recipient.
In order for the quarterback to pass the football to the receiver he must
first possess the football, something that happens when the center gives it
to him. If there’s to be trustworthiness in what Saint Paul wrote that
Christ gives us, namely, victory over sin, Satan, and death itself, then
Christ Himself must possess that victory. And indeed He does!
Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “But if there is no
resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not
risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain. Yes, and we
are found false witnesses of God, because we testified of God that He raised
up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if
the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen,
your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have
fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in
Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from
the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by man [lower case m] came death, by Man [upper case M] also came
the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all
shall be made alive.” (1 Cor 15:13-22 NKJV) Later in this same chapter we
have the victory proclamation: “Death is swallowed up in victory. ‘O Death,
where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death
is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 15:54c-57 NKJV)
And that’s not all. Doctor Luke reported: “God raised Him [that
is, Jesus] on the third day and made Him to appear, not to all the people
but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with
Him after He rose from the dead.” (Acts 10:40-41 ESV) Of course, the
crowning statements came from the mouth of Christ Himself as recorded by
Saint John: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me,
though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me
shall never die.” (St John 11:25-26 ESV) and “Because I live, you also will
live.” (St John 14:19 ESV)
The Reverend Mark Jeske wrote the following in a devotion entitled
“He Always Has the Last Word”: “May I say that generally, I am not fond of
my children having the last word? All to often, that last word is a
complaint or criticism, usually accompanied by eye rolling, sighs, or
tsking.
“May I say also that I am ecstatic that my Savior always has the last
word? Risen from the dead, ascended to heaven to the supreme seat of power
over all things, the Lord Jesus has the final say over everything that
happens on planet Earth.
“When Jesus has the last word in our troubles, it sounds like this: ‘I
love you.’ ‘You will be okay.’ ‘I will guarantee that Satan can’t harm
you.’ ‘This is temporary—heaven is eternal.’ ‘Your fears are illusions—My
commitment to you is real.’ ‘I will make even your hardships work out for
your good.’” (Mark Jeske in Time of Grace: A Devotional Companion.
Copyright © 2010 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 312.)
It all comes down to the reassuring certainty that ...
“Nothing Past, Present, or Future Can Separate Us from God’s Love.”
So strive to keep that truth in mind as we turn the page from 2015 to 2016
in just a few hours recalling that, as this evening’s Introit said: “Our
help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Ps 124:8 ESV)
Remember always that Christ atoned for your sins even as He did for mine
with His holy life, innocent suffering, crucifixion death, and victorious
resurrection from the dead. Remember always that He gives you certain
reassurance of that in your Baptism, the reading and hearing of His Holy
Word, the declaration of Holy Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. And just
what it that He reminds and reassures us of? It’s the fact that …
I. Our Gracious God Justified Us and Jesus Is Interceding for Us.
(31b-34) In light of that divine justification and intercession, be always
ready for and anticipating Christ’s return on the Last Day, knowing that, as
Jesus instructed us in today’s Gospel Reading, “Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds awake when he comes. You also must be ready, for the
Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (St Luke 12:37a, 40 ESV)
In the meantime, let’s not only celebrate the Old Year out and the
New Year in tonight, but let’s be always celebrating the fact that …
II. Christ Himself Has Given Us the Victory. (35-37) It’s in the shadow
of that victory that today’s Old Testament Reading reminds us: “For thus
said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall
be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’” (Isaiah 30:15
ESV)
God grant it all for the sake of Jesus Christ, His humble Son, our
holy Savior. [Amen.]
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
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