The Power of God's Word and Beautiful Feet - Romans 10.12-17

 

The Power of God’s Word & Beautiful Feet

 

Romans 10:12-17 (NKJV) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

Introduction

 

     What is power? When you hear that word you might think of a big tractor with an eight hundred horsepower engine? You might think of financial power like one of the thirteen billionaires who live in this state? You might think of political power and the ability to persuade millions of people to vote for you and the power that gives to affect the lives of even more people? These kinds of power have been well known and sought after for thousands of years. But they are not really the most powerful things in this world. Jeremiah said it well in this beautiful sentence: "Let not the wiseman glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth" (Jeremiah 29.23-24). The greatest power in this world and in our own personal lives is to know and believe in the true God of grace and salvation. This is the power of God's word. I encourage everyone to think about this, believe this, and live in the power of God's word. 

 

Hearing for Salvation

 

     It all begins with hearing and listening. The saying, "A picture paints a thousand words" is true. God has spoken to us with an infinite number of words that are painted for us in the amazing creation of this world. A beautiful sunrise, a majestic mountain, a sky filled with thousands of stars, are all ways in which God convinces us that He is our Creator and Ruler over this world. But God also speaks to us in an even more powerful way through the words of His prophets, apostles, and especially through His Son Jesus. As beautiful as the creation may be, it also has an ugly side that everyone knows. I picked up a peach to eat yesterday, but it was going rotten. One of our cats was slowing down last week, and we think it might be dying. The headlines constantly report terrible and frightening crimes. And try as I might, I can't stop every bad thought. I can't speak and do everything according to the Creator's will. Sin and all the effects of sin, especially death, are part of this world and my world. 

 

    For that reason God has spoken to us in another way and for another reason. In our current Sunday morning Bible study we are reading the Book of Hebrews. It begins this way: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..." (Hebrews 1.11-3). God speaks to us with words, particularly the words of Jesus, to save us from the corruption of sin in this world and to give us the fullness of His blessings.

 

     When Jesus came walking on the water to the disciples, they cried out in fear. Was it a ghost? But when Jesus spoke to them, “Be of good cheer. It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14.27), they began to believe. It was not the appearance of Jesus that helped them, but it was the voice of Jesus. 

 

     In the Bible, God tells us that “faith comes by hearing.” Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go, You have the words of eternal life" (John 6.68). In the upper room Jesus prayed “for those who will believe in Me through their word (the word of the apostles)” (John 17.20). Again and again in the Book of Acts Peter, John and the Apostles and Paul and Barnabus spoke in the synagogues and in the streets, and multitudes believed. 

 

The Response of Rejection

 

     However, as Paul points out in Romans ten, as many as believed, many more did not believe. In the synagogue at Iconium, Paul and Barnabus preached the good news and multitudes believed. “But," we are told, "the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren” (Acts 14.3). Most of the world not only rejects the Gospel, they actively work against it to suppress it trying to prevent people from believing. They try to poison peoples minds against the Gospel.  Christians have been arrested for protesting or even praying near abortion clinics. A few years ago the Atlanta Fire Chief was fired for self-publishing a book about his Biblical beliefs on sexuality and marriage. A student at Georgia Gwinnett College was forbidden to pass out Christian literature near the campus library because it made other students uncomfortable. During the COVID pandemic inconsistent rules of our government placed stronger restrictions on worship than on other activities. These examples reflect a strong desire by many to marginalize or restrict Christian beliefs with which they disagree.  The further we go from this country, the worse it gets. Just recently seventy Christians were beheaded in the Democratic Republic of Congo by Islamic radicals. Lord, have mercy! We need to remember the terrible ways the Ruler of Darkeness directs his disciples against the disciples of Jesus.

 

  The Final Victory

 

     Yet, when we see the world’s efforts to suppress the Gospel, we should not be discouraged. It actually confirms the truth of God’s word since He has warned us of this. God told Isaiah this about the people of Israel: [These are] Children who will not hear the law of the LORD... [Who say] to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits'" (Isaiah 30.9-10). Just before he died Paul warned: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Timothy 4.3-4). 

 

     We can also turn to the many promises God has made about how the word of God will not ultimately be suppressed: 

 

Isaiah: 55.11 It “shall succeed.”

Isaiah 40.8 “The word of our God shall stand forever.”

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock...

John 10:35 Jesus said, “Scripture cannot be broken.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross... is the power of God”

Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation...”

1 Thessalonians 2.13. The word, “also effectively works in you who believe.”  

 

    Years ago I was called to a hospital to comfort a member. This young lady had been overwhelmed by the powers of sin in this world and in her life. She had what people today would call a "melt down." It's one thing to go to the doctor for a cut. It's another thing to struggle with bitter disagreements between people. But one of the worst attacks the Evil One can level against someone is to overwhelm them physical, mentally and spiritually with despair. By the time I saw, she was much better. As she sat on her bed she told me how things began to turn around for her, how the roller coaster of despair leading to a likely suicide was stopped. Since she came in late in the afternoon when the shifts were changing, and there wasn't much the medical staff could do except to keep her safe in a hospital room. At least there she was under their watchful eye and wouldn't be able to hurt herself or anyone else. But this was far from any kind of recovery. But as the darkness desended upon her, something beautiful happened. The cleaning lady came in to tidy her room, and she was quietly singing Christian hymns to herself. Noticing the poor young lady crying, the cleaning lady put down her mop and went over to her to rub her back and continued to sing about Jesus. She stayed with her as long as she could, and then went on with her work. That simple act of love and particularly a love rooted in the words of God in those hymns halted the powers of evil at work in her life. This cleaning lady was a good example of what Paul, quoting Isaiah, called "beautiful feet." "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 

 

   The world God created is beautiful, but it is a rotting world, rotting away in sin. The good news of Jesus, of His perfect life, of His great sacrifice for us on the cross, of His assurance that our sins are forgiven and that we won't rot away with this world; this good news is even better that all that God has created. Together, knowing the beauty of God's creation and the beauty of His good news in Jesus, we have all we need to be happy forever. 

 

Conclusion

 

     For our part, we are very thankful for any way in which the Gospel is proclaimed. We personally take advantage of our own opportunities to hear it, and we actively support its continued publication and proclamation. Paul’s words, “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” is our great motivator. This is all we have to know to remind ourselves to turn off the TV and turn to the word of God. This is all we have to know to write a check that helps make the preaching of God’s word possible. This is all we have to know to find the courage to bring up the Gospel in our everyday lives like the cleaning lady I mentioned. As we live in the Gospel and share the Gospel it spreads from one person to the next. Faith comes by hearing so that all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

 

     Let the devil try to drive us to doubt and despair. Let the world try to stop the hearing and the believing of the word of God. We will not be discouraged. We will continue to trust God and the power of His word. Amen. 

The Best Survival Tip of All Luke 12.31-34

The Best Survival Tip of All

Luke 12.31-34

 

Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

     Dear Friends in Christ Jesus and Those Who Will become So…

 

Introduction

     There is a growing interest these days in survival. There are television shows and many books and videos showing how to survive in difficult situations. This probably stems from the uneasy feeling people have when they wonder how they would survive if all their technology, utilities, and police protection were taken away from them. This is exacerbated by the low-level fear, but an increasing fear, that some kind of terrorist attack or natural disaster could occur leaving people to survive on their own. Some people are stock-piling food, learning how to use firearms, or preparing bug-out bags. In addition to all this there is still the constant fear that people have about finding a decent job or surviving a job loss; facing illness; or battling depression or addiction. People are afraid of the changing religious climate and the possibility of losing the freedom to practice their faith without persecution. They fear the pressure that an increasingly immoral culture puts upon their children and whether they will remain faithful to Christ. There are many different reasons why people might feel anxious today. Regarding these things Jesus warns us against anxiety and total reliance on earthly efforts to control it. He commends us to faith in Him as our King who will save us and to a generous spirit that helps to save others. 

 

Anxiety

     The first thing that Jesus warns against is anxiety and worry. “Concern” is good. We should be concerned about the dangers and difficulties around us. It causes us to plan, prepare, and work to avoid unnecessary loss. When concern is coupled with faith, it causes us to turn to God in prayer and to seek His help. Anxiety and worry, on the other hand, paralyze us. They can cause us to stop doing anything – either praying or working to overcome our difficulties. This is what happened to the disciples when Jesus was arrested, and they hid in fear. Worrying is putting all our attention on the problems of life, and giving no thought to the solutions and especially to God, who has promised to help us. One of the important keys to relieving anxiety is to know God and His promises so that when you cry out to Him you really have something to hold, something to help. Sometimes people expect God to perform a miracle for them to make their problems go away. God can certainly do this, and sometimes He does. But at other times God helps us to endure our problems in faith. Here is a great promise: "No temptation/test has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted/tested beyond what you are able, but with the temptation/test will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10.13).  Either way, God helps us with our anxiety.

 

 

Total Reliance on Earthly Solutions

     The second thing that Jesus warns against is total reliance upon earthly solutions to protect ourselves and to survive. Physical preparation and protection are important, but they are not the primary way to survive the things that can go wrong in this world. If a tornado is coming, you can't just sit in your living room and pray. You better go to the basement and pray! But when it comes to the things of this earth, Jesus assures us that there will always be thieves that steal and moths that destroy. There is no way to completely and thoroughly protect ourselves from the physical dangers of this world through our own physical efforts.  Jesus says, “Instead…” Instead of all these things to which people naturally gravitate in a difficult situation, Jesus calls us to “seek His (that is God’s) kingdom.” That is what I want to explain and what I want to encourage you to do. This is the greatest survival tip of all. 

 

What Does It Mean?

     What does it mean to seek God’s kingdom? First, we need to think about what a “king” is? In our country we are used to leaders who have limited power. They work together with other leaders. For example, the president has to work with the congress.  But a king is a “monarch.” “Mon” means “alone,” and “arch” means “rules.” A king is a person who rules alone and is not limited or balanced by other rulers. The founding fathers of our country did not like monarchies because they knew that all human beings are sinful, and they hoped that spreading out the rule among different people would prevent the rise of evil rulers. But this does not prevent the whole group of leaders from being evil. When Jesus says that we should seek God’s kingdom, He is saying that we should seek God’s complete and perfect leadership of our life. God doesn’t need to be one of a group of leaders. He is good and just, and He can be trusted to direct us in our all our ways. 

 

     What does God, our King, lead us to do? The first and foremost thing is that He leads us to repent of our sins and to receive His gift of forgiveness and love. This is what He means when He says that He will give us the kingdom. Sin is a huge problem for us, and it is the ultimate destroyer. It is really what we are all trying to survive against. Yet Jesus did not survive. He allowed Himself to be destroyed on the cross so that sin itself could be destroyed. Jesus died as the King on the cross. Luke records the request of the repentant thief who died next to Jesus on his own cross. “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23.42).  Jesus gave him the kingdom when He said, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23.43).  That exchange was all about repentance and forgiveness. Consider how different God is from the leaders and kings of this world. Everyone blames, blames, blames, but no one confesses their faults. This is one reason why the world is always in the trouble that it is in. The most broken marriage can be healed if the two spouses can honestly say to each other: “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.” The walls that sometimes rise up between parents and children and brothers and sisters can be taken down by “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.” Estranged friends can also be united by these simple words, “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.” But I can’t just tell you to do this, nor will you be able to do it on your own. The power to destroy sin by confession and forgiveness begins with God’s forgiveness of our sins. So, as our King stresses the importance of practicing forgiveness, above all He leads us in it by constantly showing His forgiveness to us through the cross and teaching us to pray: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." 

 

     Is there something else that God, our King, would lead us to do? There is. In Satan’s world survival is always about selfishness. Satan’s logic is a this: Only a limited number of people can escape disaster. Take care of yourself and your own, and if you’re lucky, you’ll survive. What he really knows and is actually lying about is that in his kingdom no one survives, but he thoroughly enjoys watching everyone destroy each other in their selfish pursuit of survival. This is his game. One of his names in the Book of Revelation is simply “Destroyer.” He is the author of sin, and he leads us to destroy ourselves through selfishness. In God’s kingdom there is true and real escape from disaster because there is true and real escape from sin in Jesus. Since we have this sure and certain promise, we don’t have to worry about being destroyed. For this reason we can show compassion on those around us and can help them in their physical and spiritual needs. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2.8-10). Jesus is so forceful about this that uses an exaggeration: “Sell your possessions and give to the needy.” This doesn’t mean that we have to sell everything and become so poor ourselves that we can’t help anyone else. But it does mean that helping those in need should be a big priority for us. We teach the love of Jesus in this world with words and deeds. Satan teaches us selfishness so we will destroy ourselves. Jesus teaches generosity so we will save others. I said before that God doesn’t always bestow miracles to make life better for us. He often wants to work through His word and other Christians. So just as we look to God to help us when we’re in trouble, we also are being called to help others when we are blessed and living prosperously.  Your offerings each Sunday are part of this, but so is your whole life as you make personal sacrifices to help others in need. 

 

Conclusion

 

     So how are we going to survive the sin-caused destruction of this world? Not by becoming anxious. Not by focusing exclusively on our physical assets. We will survive by receiving the kingdom that God is giving to us in Jesus. This kingdom gives us a new treasure and a new kind of wealth that will endure all disasters. Jesus assures us: “Have no fear little flock, for it is Your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom…”  That is, forgiveness, salvation, and every other good thing that we need.  Again, the Bible says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8.32). 

 

Pastor Michael P. Walther, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Greenville, Illinois

Ninth Sunday After Pentecost, August 10, 2025

Worship While You Work Ecclesiastes 2.24

Worship While You Work

Ecclesiastes 2.24

     Work and wealth are things that a lot of people think about. Many people probably think about work and wealth more than anything else in life. Jesus talked about these things a lot, and He gave us important warnings about the temptation to greed. In my message today I'm going to focus especially on Ecclesiastes 2, and Solomon's wisdom about work and wealth. He was certainly one of the richest men who ever lived. We can approach work and wealth in unhealthy ways or healthy ways. Work and wealth can ultimately destroy us and separate us from God. Or, they can be a wonderful blessing for which we give thanks and through which we glorify God now and forever.

Solomon

     So, who was Solomon? He was the son of the Israelite King, David, undoubtably the greatest king of Israel. He has the unique distinction of being both the wisest person and the most foolish person in the whole world. A famous example of his wisdom is shown when two women came to him with a dilemma. They both had newborns. One had slept upon her child and smothered it. During the night she switched the dead baby with the living baby of the other mother. But that mother knew her own baby, and she knew that a foul thing had been done to her. She appealed to Solomon. He listened, and then decided to find out who was lying. “Bring a sword,” he said, “I’ll cut the baby and half and give one piece to each mother.” Immediately the mother of the living baby cried, “No. Let her have it.” With this Solomon knew who the true mother was. But Solomon’s foolishness is also well-known. One wife wasn’t enough for him. He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines who turned him away from God. With that turning eventually came confusion, doubt, and despair. He talks about this a lot in Ecclesiastes. “I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure” (2.10). Yet, in the end, he found this to be nothing but “vanity” and “grasping for the wind” (1.14). Solomon talked about a lot of things that he thought would bring him pleasure and happiness. Work and wealth were two of them. Solomon was very wealthy and a hard worker. He had built the Temple and had built Israel into a great nation. But because he drifted away from God, all of this was worthless, “vanity,” as he called it. The same will happen to you and me if we let God drift out of our lives. No matter how hard we work or how hard we pursue happiness in this life, without God, it will all blow away like dust in the wind. Nevertheless, Solomon did find his way back to God. He repented of his foolishness, and he found the eternal significance and happiness that only God can give. In terms of work and wealth, he said it this way: 

Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 2:24

     The key words are, “This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.” Now, let’s expand on that and see how our work and wealth come from the hand of God. Here are four key concepts: Dedication, Thankfulness, Stewardship, and Spiritual Rest.

Dedication

     The Bible says, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3.23). This is one of the first keys to finding significance and happiness in our work. Dan Doriani, a professor at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, wrote in his book* about work that many people, when asked about their work start out by saying, “I just…” “I’m just a truck driver.” Or, “I’m just a teacher.” Or, “I’m just a stay-at-home mom.” We all know there are people who do have really important jobs, but compared to them, we don’t feel ours is that important. Doriani goes on to talk about a guy who owned a hamburger place. Is he “just a small business owner”? No. He is honest. He pays fair wages. He produces good food for families to enjoy. He mentors young workers to inculcate in them a good work ethic. He uses the fruit of his labors to support his family, his church, and other charities. When your work is dedicated to God, everything about it is connected to God, and when it’s connected to God, it’s good.

Thankfulness

     In the Parable of the Rich Farmer notice how Jesus says "The ground produced..." Farmers work hard, but the food they produce depends even more on the sunshine, topsoil, and a few inches of rain. A wise farmer gives thanks to God for these things. Notice that the foolish farmer in the parable never once does this. Psalm 115 says it well, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy and because of Your truth.” God gave us this earth. He gave us our life. He gave us our minds and bodies. He gave us each other. A Godly view of work and wealth always depends on thankfulness God.

Stewardship

     The Bible never condemns wealth. It condemns the love of wealth and the misuse of wealth. The Bible always commends Christian stewardship. The Bible is full of rich people like Abraham, Job, Solomon, The Wisemen of Christmas, Joseph of Arimathea, who donated his grave to Jesus (for only three days!), Lydia, and many others. But the one thing these people all had in common with each other is their love for God that was so strong that they had a kind of indifference to their wealth. I have often met people like this, and I truly marvel. The more indifferent they are to wealth, the richer they usually become. On the other hand, I have met many people who are hungry, hungry, hungry for wealth. They are always trying to make that fast buck. The vast majority of these people are never going to become rich. And the few of them who do become rich will end up like Solomon – frustrated – because life is going to come to an end. They’re going to find out, “It ain’t going with them.” And where they’re going there’s nothing to buy but the misery of life without God. John Wesley, the famous leader of the Methodist movement, once preached a sermon about wealth in which he said: Make as much as you can. Save as much as you can. Give as much as you can. I can’t argue with that. 

Spiritual Rest

     Dedication, Thankfulness, Stewardship: These are three marks of anyone with a divine perspective on work and wealth. But there is one more: Spiritual Rest.  One of the most famous passages in the Bible about work and wealth is found right in the Ten Commandments. “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.” “Sabbath” means “rest” in Hebrew. As the commandment goes on it tells us to work six days and rest on the seventh just as God worked six days to create the universe and rested on the seventh. “Rest” here doesn’t really mean “go to the beach,” as much as it means, “go to church.” To be sure the beach is good because God made it, and He wants us to enjoy things like that. But He definitely wants us to go to church first where we remember our greatest treasure as Peter told us, "Knowing you were not redeemed with corruptible things like gold or silver from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but by the blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Peter 1.18-19).  By remembering them and by living them, we then can go on to enjoy everything God gives us. Paul explained it this way in 1 Timothy 6.17: "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” Take careful notice of these last words, “who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” God wants us to enjoy His blessings. But, it is in the remembrance that these are His blessings that we “worship while we work” dedicating our work to God, being thankful, practicing good stewardship, and always resting from our labors to listen to God. Out of this flows the next two verses: "Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,  storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6.18-19).

     This is exactly what Jesus was saying in the Parable of the Rich Fool. “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” There is nothing wrong with treasures… as long as our greatest treasure is God. 

Conclusion

     Throughout his book Solomon struggles to find anything good in this life because he was always looking “under the sun.” But when he began to look above of the sun, that is, to God; he began to understand the real meaning and purpose of life and the real path to happiness. Work, not because you have to, or simply to get as rich as you can. Rather, bring your work and worship together. Work with God in mind. Dedicate your work to Him. Be thankful for the rewards He gives us. Use those rewards wisely as a good steward for the sake of God’s kingdom and not only for your personal pleasure. Always seek the spiritual rest of God’s word and worship that your earthly work might be the better, and that you might avoid the temptations of laziness on the one hand and greed on the other. Amen.

* Doriani, Daniel, “Work: Its Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation” 2019

Michael P. Walther, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Greenville, Illinois

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost, August 3, 2025

Self-Righteousness or Christ-Righteousness?

Self- Righteousness or Christ-Righteousness

Colossians 2.8-10

 

Watch lest someone takes you captive through philosophy or empty deceit according to the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ. Because in Him dwells the fullness of the divine nature* bodily. And you have been filled/fulfilled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

 

*“the state of being god, divine character/nature, deity, divinity” (BDAG) 

 

To the Holy Ones, the Faithful Ones, the Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

Introduction

     Today's readings show us that God is very personal. God came to Abraham and ate with him, and then the two of them had a very personal discussion about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham wanted to save Sodom for the sake of his nephew Lot, who lived there. Jesus taught us to pray to "Our Father, who art in heaven..." That whole prayer is basically a prayer about salvation from the evils of this world addressed in the most personal way to "Our Father." In the letter to the Colossians, Paul shows how personal God is in that Jesus is the very presence of God in this world. This God is so personal that He not only came to eat with us, teach us, and live with us - He came to die for us, to make us His holy people, and to save us from all evil. 

 

     People outside of Christ see God differently. To them He is farther away, impersonal, and transcendent. Some are very casual about this, even flippent as they refer to God as "The Big Guy Upstairs," or "The Sky Daddy." Others are more respectful referring to God as "The Great Spirit," or "King of the Universe." But in either case the God they believe in is not intimate. Nor is he a god who comes to suffer and die for us and to take away our sins. His purpose is to guide us by his commandments so that He will reward us in the end for our good life. Each person has a different idea of what the good life is. Some think it is hard to live a good life worthy of divine reward. Others think it isn't so hard as long as you try to be a decent person. In either case it is a matter of self-righteousness. You do what is right to one degree or another and God rewards. That is the relationship that most people have with God.

 

Self-Righteousness at Colosse

 

     Colosse was one of the first Christian churches not planted by an apostle but by a pastor. A pastor by the name of Epaphras brought them the message of salvation in Christ, Christ-Righteousness, and they believed. But as Jesus had warned, there are always false teachers who are very opposed to Him and His Christ-righteousness. These "influencers" were tempting these new Christians to return to the religion of self-righteousness. Now this is something that always amazes me. Those who practice self-righteous religion are very open to different approaches to God. They don't care to much which way you think of God or what you believe in as long as you follow the rule that everyone tries to live a good life and gets rewarded accordingly. But they are never open minded to the religion of Christ-righteousness. The reason for this is that Christ-righteousness is so different. It is unique. There is only one way to heaven as Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14.6). 

 

     So in Colosse and in other cities where Christian churches had been planted there were people trying their best to bring the Christians back to the self-righteous religion. They used different arguments and often violence to do so. Paul mentions four things influencers of self-righteousness were using: philosophy, empty deceit, the traditions of men, and the elements of the earth. Philosophers ask great questions like "Where did we come from?" and "Why are we hear?" It is good to ask these questions and to search for answers. But philosophers often make the mistake of refusing to believe the answers given to these questions in the Bible. Empty deceit probably refers to some forms of idolatry where people are told to believe in imaginary gods. The traditions of men probably refers to the Jewish practice of adding rules that go beyond the Bible commandments. The elements of the earth is a little difficult to translate. It probably refers to elemental spirits like wind, fire, rain, etc. or even angels. 

 

     Paul warns against these things with one very important principle: They are not "according to Christ." That is really what I want to press home to you in the rest of this sermon. What does it mean when something is "according to Christ"? This is a very, very important teaching that will absolutely save your life and protect you from all sorts of temptations and pitfalls. 

 

According to Christ

 

     Like the Colossians we also have many influencers who are not happy with the Christ-righteousness religion. They will work very hard to bury it and stamp it out. Some years ago I attended a large religious festival in Germany called the Kirkenfest. I got into a discussion with a German pastor, and when he found out I was from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod he asked: "Are those the narrow-minded or open-minded Lutherans?" I smiled and said, "They are the Christians that follow the Bible." There are two clear signs of the religion of self-righteousness. The first is that if you do good, you get a reward, and second is, it doesn't matter what god you follow. One of the most common metaphors of this teaching is that salvation is like a mountain. There are many different paths to the top of the mountain, but they all lead to the same place. Those who don't believe this are often ridiculed and mocked with the accusation, "So you think you are the only ones who will be saved. How dare you say that good, decent people of all other religions aren't going to be saved." Here is how the apostle Paul answers this by pointing out that salvation must be "according to Christ."

 

     First, the self-righteous don't take sins as seriously as they should. Jesus took all sins very seriously. He said, "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5.19). Self-righteousness says that good and decent people go to heaven. But what is "good and decent"? What if that standard is based on human ideas and not on God's word? All I have to do is lower the standard so that I can achieve it. In this way many sins get passed over. The goal isn't just to be a good and decent person. God's goal is holiness, perfection. "You shall be perfect as Your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5.38), Jesus taught.  The sins that many think are small such as lies, lust, laziness, gossip, sexual lifestyles and hatred are very dangerous and damning according to God's word.

 

     Second, only Christ-righteousness has the cure for sin. Jesus came in the flesh, God Himself to save us with His sacrifice. More on that in a moment. The self-righteous have three ways in which they think their sins are forgiven. One way is compensation. My good works compensate for my bad works. Yet if you scrub a white shirt to make it gleam, and still it has a stubborn and ugly stain right in the middle, the whiteness all around makes no difference. Another way is to compare myself to others and say, "I'm as good as the next guy." But God doesn't compare us to one another; He compares us to Himself. The worst of all is the very popular but very evil, twisted teaching that since God is love (a true statement from the Bible), He will overlook my sins like a grandfather overlooks the faults of his grandchildren. This is the worst because it uses Scripture in a way that actually makes God the evil one. In this view God goes back on his own commands, and now it is He who is not taking sins seriously. 

 

     Christ-righteousnessis different. It is not according to us, but, as Paul said,  "according to Christ." This is where we begin to see how beautiful the Gospel really is. This is beautiful, as Paul explains, "Because in Him dwells the fullness of the divine nature bodily." Every wise person knows that God exists. But our sinful nature makes it difficult for us to see God. This doesn't mean that God is far away. In fact God overcomes this wall of sin by coming into this world Himself. Jesus is God in the flesh. In the first chapter of Colossians Paul explained: "For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross" (1.20 ESV). John told us, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (1.14). And Jesus Himself said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14.9). So the God we know is that is perfect, the God we know that can save us, is in fact the God we see in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. 

 

     But it get's better. Paul said, "And you have been filled/fulfilled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority." Why is God personal? Why does He come to us as He came to Abraham and ate a meal with Him? He comes to save us by taking away our sins. God visited Abraham in the flesh to confirm His promises to Him that He would have a son and that eventually all the families of the world would be blessed through His family. He was speaking of the Messiah, Jesus. God came to Abraham to save him and his nephew, Lot, from the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. These self-righteous cities, like many cities today, thought they could rewrite the laws of God and live in any lifestyle they chose. They even wanted to force their lifestyle upon God Himself. Read on into chapter nineteen of Genesis and see their depravity which included homosexuality and other sins. The LORD rescued Lot and his daughters, but the rest perished in His wrath. Many years later, not that far from the remains of Sodom and Gomorrah, God's wrath was again poured out on the sins of this world, on your sins and mine. But instead of destroying us as it should, it saved us because it was poured out upon Jesus - not just any man, not just any prophet, but God's own Son. As Paul went on to say to the Colossians and to us, in Christ's death on the cross He took away our sins and nailed them to the cross (2.14), and there they have all perished. We are now righteous "according to Christ."

 

Conclusion

 

     Remember how I started this sermon? "To the holy ones, the faithful ones, the brothers and sisters in Christ." This is how Paul began his letter to the Colossians. He did not address them as "the decent ones, the mostly good ones." That's because the goal of God's salvation and Christ-righteousness is the complete forgiveness of sins and the complete happiness without sin in heaven. All of that is reality in the person and personal salvation of God in Jesus Christ in whom dwells the fullness of the divine nature. Amen. 

 

Pastor Michael P. Walther, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Greenville, Illinois

Seventh Sunday After Pentecost, July 27, 205

 

8 Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου καὶ οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν· 9 ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ κατοικεῖ πᾶν τὸπλήρωμα τῆς θεότητος σωματικῶς, 10 καὶ ἐστὲ ἐν αὐτῷ πεπληρωμένοι, ὅς ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ πάσης ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας.

Do Good to All - Galatians 6.9-10

Do Good to All

Galatians 6.9-10

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

 

Introduction

 

     Freedom is God's gift to us. Freedom is the forgiveness of sins in Christ. As we believe and do good, that freedom is preserved and given to others. John F. Kennedy was the youngest American elected to the office of president. On January 20, 1961 he gave his inaugural speech* to set out his goals. He boldly stated that the rights of man come from the hand of God not from the state. He said we would pay any price to assure the survival of liberty. He called our country to confront the problems of tyranny, poverty, disease and war.  He famously said: "My fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country." He concluded by appealing to God's blessing and help, "knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." What is God's blessing? What is God's help? And what is God's work that must truly be our own? The Bible beautifully answers all those questions, and shows us how the Christian life is exactly the life that every country on earth needs. 

 

Faith and Freedom

 

     God created all human beings to live and to thrive. He wanted Adam and Eve and all their decendents to “be fruitful and multiply.” He also wanted them to fear, love and trust in Him. In this way they would always have His blessings and do well in life. But sin breaks the bond between God and men. As soon as this bond is broken, men begin to try to dominate other men and to control them. Just as they refuse to love God, so they refuse to love their neighbor as themselves. This is the beginning of tyranny, and it takes at least two forms. First, there is material tyranny. Egypt enslaved Israel and forced them to labor until Moses led them to freedom. The Midianites plundered Israel until they were stopped by Gideon. Material tyranny robs people of their livelihood or life itself. The second, which often goes along with the first, is spiritual tyranny. This is a forced system of belief and worship. Daniel was forced to worship an idol and was thrown into a den of lions for refusing. Peter and John were put in prison for preaching in the name of Jesus. Spiritual tyranny robs a person or people of their conscience and faith. Why do these kinds of evil happen in this world? 

 

     Let me answer with a parable: A farmer once bought a herd of cows. They were not very healthy and had not been cared for in the past. He gave them food, water and good bedding until they regained their health and strength. But as they regained their strength a couple of the cows began bullying the other cows. They tried to get more of the food that the farmer gave to all of them. They deliberately butted and kicked the other cows in order to subject them to their own will. The farmer didn’t appreciate this because he wanted all the cows to thrive, not just a few who decided they would dominate all the others. Therefore the farmer had to ship these bullies off to the butcher.  

 

    Tyranny arises when men deny God's rule over them. They write their own rules for their own benefit. God told Israel that their kings must read the Bible all the days of their lives so that they would fear the LORD and "not lift up their hearts above their brothers" (Deuteronomy 17.19-20). This command applies to all of us at every level. Jesus taught us not to "lord it over" each other but to be servants to one another (Mark 10.42-44). A pastor, an employer, a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, a friend -- must all treat others as God wants them to be treated. 

 

     Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians to teach them that freedom is founded upon a loving relationship with God which is brought about through His mercy and the forgiveness of sins. Whenever we turn from this gospel, we deny our sin, become dominated by it, and inevitably begin to tyrannize each other. False teachers had come to the Galatians telling them that a good relationship with God must be achieved by obeying the Law. Humility, repentance, and forgiveness were being replaced by self-righteousness and pride. In chapter five Paul said, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit to a yoke of salvery” (5.1). The "yoke of slavery" is the denial of the gospel of forgiveness. As soon as this happens sin comes back to dominate our lives. As soon as we stop praying, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," we are no longer delivered from evil but instead ruled by it. If you really want freedom, focus on forgiveness. 

 

Freedom for All

 

     Just as we do not want to suffer the tyranny of sin in our hearts, so also we do not want to suffer the tyranny of others around us and especially of our leaders. What God does for us in our own hearts doesn't stop there. It is meant to spread and to benefit others. Our freedom in Christ is the freedom that God wants for all. President Kennedy said that one of the goals of his presidency was to fight against tyranny. He said he would do it with God's blessing, God's help, and "knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." What is God's work that we do to push back against tyranny? Paul also addresses this very thing in Galatians.

 

     It is found toward the end of his letter. Having explained that sin is the beginning of all slavery, and that Christ has ransomed us from this slavery in His own life, death and resurrrection, now he also mentions the importance of simply doing good: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6.9-10).

 

     First, God wants us to believe this faith and hold onto to it even if a thousand people call us evil for doing so. At the beginning of the letter Paul said, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (1.8). Jesus warned us not to follow false prophets, "who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7.15). Those who teach any other kind of "liberty" are setting us up for tyranny, and we must resist. 

 

     Second, if people are to find freedom through the forgiveness of sins, it is important that they hear the message of repentance and forgiveness in Christ. Not long ago Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the "Duck Dynasty" family died. Several years ago I read the story of his conversion to Christ. Phil described the point of his conversion by simply saying "When I came to repentance..." Matthew and Mark both summarize Jesus' preaching with one sentence: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4.17). One of the best ways to share the gospel with people is simply to describe what the gospel has done for you. "I have been brought to repentance. I have believed in the forgiveness of Jesus.  I am free from the bondage of sin." That is the simple message that the world needs to hear because that is the message that will put them on the course of true freedom. 

 

     Those who tyrannize others will do all that they can to turn us from our faith in Christ. They will do all they can to suppress the teaching of the gospel. But the one thing they have the most trouble suppressing are the good works of faith. This is why Paul concluded his teaching to the Galatians about freedom with the importance of good works. This is what President Kennedy meant by God's work being our work. Peter urged us “Have your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2.12).  Good works do not cause us to be saved. It was the good work of Christ that did that. Nevertheless our good works done by faith have a way of opening the eyes of the lost to see Christ in us and to hear the word of Christ that they would otherwise reject. We may work for an unbelieving person. But when we do a good job, it gets noticed. It can’t be denied. Your neighbor may not like your faith, but when you help them and make their life a little easier they will see that your beliefs have a good outcome. When someone says something ugly and unkind to you but you do not retaliate with the same thing, they notice.  It is true that some, those who are very hardened against God, may only be angered by good works done in faith. But there are many who God still wants to call. He calls them through us as they see us holding steadfast in our faith – even suffering for it, telling them what that faith is, and showing them the good that comes from that faith. 

 

Conclusion

     On this fourth of July weekend you might do some nice patriotic things like say the Pledge of Allegiance, read the Constitution and Bill of Rights, listen to patriotic music, watch fireworks, or even pay your property taxes. But one of the best things you can do for the sake of freedom is to believe in the true God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit – to the God of forgiveness and salvation. Sharing Christ's repentance and forgiveness with others, begining with your own household, spreads the true freedom of faith. Finally, doing good to all, whether friend or foe, points sinners to God that they might glorify Him. May God bless America and every country with many Christians who do this work of God. Amen. 

*John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Speech, January 20, 1961

 

Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, Reverend Clergy, fellow citizens:

We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom--symbolizing an end as well as a beginning--signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.

The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe--the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

This much we pledge--and more.

To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do--for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom--and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required--not because the communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge--to convert our good words into good deeds--in a new alliance for progress--to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support--to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective--to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak--and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.

Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.

We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.

But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course--both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.

So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.

Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free."

And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.

All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Now the trumpet summons us again--not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need--not as a call to battle, though embattled we are-- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"--a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.