1 John 4:7-11 | December 27, 2020 | Day of St. John the Apostle

 Theme: John Provides a Record of…

1. The proof of Christ’s birth (Hope and Expectation)

2. The effect of Christ’s work (Evidence and Effect)

1 John 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

The idea of record keeping was a sub-theme within the Christmas story. We’re familiar with the way that Luke 2 began, Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered… One major geo-political event that led up to the birth of Christ was the Roman census – a tracking of the people within the empire.

God had his own records of importance in the Scriptures as well. Matthew 1 lists the complete genealogy from Abraham (the father of the Jewish nation) to Jesus. This was a vital resource for the Jewish believer. Luke 3 contains a genealogy that connects Jesus to the very beginning of life with Adam, the first man. Though we don’t often read through the genealogies around Christmas time, we cannot discount the value they provide as we witness a historical record of God’s plan of salvation throughout the ages.

Today, as we consider the input of the Apostle John on the life and work of Jesus, we see that he provides another record of sorts. It’s not a genealogical record, or a list of peoples within a nation. John’s record is more like Jesus’ birth certificate. John’s purpose is very simple – to verify that Jesus indeed was born into this world. Now, as we know, the life of Jesus is not that simple. There’s a lot connected to His birth, as John certainly indicates. But it all traces back to the birth in Bethlehem when Jesus took on human flesh. Without that singular moment, nothing else in the plan of salvation would have happened. John’s message attempts to remind us of that truth.

Now, a birth certificate is an important document. It verifies the birth. It can be used later in life to obtain other documents of importance. It’s essentially the first record of a person’s existence. But, it is also is quite simple – typically one piece of paper with an individual’s name, date and location of birth, and parents. However, imagine if a birth certificate also went on to state what that child would go on to do in life – what their passions and hobbies would be, what their occupation would be? Even more than that, what if that birth certificate also stated how that child would make you feel, what important memories you would have with them, and a detailed list of their major accomplishments in life? That would be something indeed.

And that’s somewhat like what John provides for us in the birth of Jesus. John not only wrote a Gospel record about the life of Jesus, he also provided three epistles about the meaning of Jesus’ work for believers. But everything John wrote came back to the birth of Christ – without that pivotal event, there was nothing. And so, John spends time showing us the evidence – essentially telling us what happened.

Listen to the opening words of John’s first letter: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

The theme is clear, John wants you to have a record of Christ’s coming into the world – he wants you to see as he saw.

One of the ways John got this point across was an emphasis on the manifestation of Christ. The idea of this word is to make known something that was concealed or hidden from sight. John uses it 6 times in this letter, including verse 9 of our text.

There’s a two-fold purpose in this approach by John. For Old Testament believers, the manifestation of the Savior was a critical element in their faith. They were waiting for God to fulfill His promises. As we see with the genealogies of the New Testament this waiting extended back to Adam and Eve as the first parents of all people, and also to Abraham as the father of the Jewish people. Without the manifestation of the Messiah, not just in thought but also in human form, there would be no substance to the Old Testament believer’s faith. The peoples’ expectation flowed from God’s promise – there would be a visible Savior who would tangibly make payment for the sins of the world.

When you understand this about the faith of Old Testament believers, you can go back to the Gospels and see deliberate attempts by Jesus to affirm that He was the manifested Messiah. For example, in Luke 10:24 Jesus stated, "for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."

In other instances, Jesus would connect His physical presence with Old Testament prophecies. In Luke 4 Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2 and concluded by saying, “Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” He was telling them, I am the revealed Savior from God. You are seeing it. You are hearing it. This is not something mysterious and concealed – God is making it known for all to witness.

But clearly, the visible and audible witness of Christ was only for a time – and a short time at that. Though many saw and heard directly, many, many more did not. John is also aware of this reality and so his message is also directed at New Testament believers like us. John wants us to be able to rely on his eyewitness testimony so that, as he writes, “you also may have fellowship with us.”

Today, more than ever, people want irrefutable evidence of the claims of Christianity. The birth of Jesus is not exempted from that discussion. Many modern eyes see Christmas as nothing more than fable or myth. Many modern ears hear the story as little more than traditional fairy tale – right up there with Santa and Rudolph. John sets the record straight – Jesus was manifest. God revealed His Son by natural birth, and I am giving you the record. Therefore, Christianity is not blind faith because it is based on evidence delivered to us through the Bible. 

John was not just addressing people who wanted faith, he was addressing people who wanted evidence. In this way, John had in mind not only the Jewish believer – to whom religion would have been natural, but also the Greek skeptic – who saw the world through reason and logic. Those two categories continue to exist today in our culture, as some people find religion to be natural and others do not. John provides testimony to both. We see that most clearly in the first verse of his letter. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—

This verse is very similar to the first verse in John’s Gospel: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. By defining Jesus as the “Word” John is connecting with both groups of people. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises which God delivered by words. Jesus continues to be manifested through the Scriptures in our hearing and using of them. But John also wrote in Greek to a Greek culture. The word employed by John here was Logos, which is the basis of our English word logic. We might wonder why it is then translated as word.

It is true, on the one hand, that logos can mean individual words, it also has a deeper meaning referring to the substance (effect) of words. In this way, the logos was extremely important to Greek culture. Greek philosophers throughout the ages compared the idea of logos to the theoretical goal of their philosophical pursuits. They indulged in the activity of pursuing wisdom for the express purpose of finding the logos – the deeper meaning of life. And the path they walked in that pursuit was rhetoric – the use of words. John takes that meaning and attaches Christ to it – Jesus is the logos, not just the fulfillment of words, but the fulfillment of our lives. Jesus is the deeper meaning, the finish line of pursing wisdom. And the critical point of today’s lesson is that Jesus has been revealed by God as such. He is manifest for all by His birth.

This is truly an amazing lesson from John as it was given to him by the Holy Spirit. But, John adds one more miraculous truth – Jesus’ birth impacts our birth into God’s kingdom. Again, what a strange thing it would be if a child’s birth certificate also contained a record of their impact of your life. But this is also what John provides for us as he testifies about Christ’s incarnation. Just as it was with the word “manifest” in John’s letter, so we see this come out in the word “born,” which also occurs 6 times. In our text, John states in the opening verse (the effect on our lives), “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

The message of Christmas is not just one of expectation, it is also one of effect. Because Jesus was born in Bethlehem (and went on to accomplish what He did) we have the effect of a rebirth in God’s kingdom by faith in Jesus. John connects this spiritual truth to the physical reality of Jesus’ birth. Therefore, Jesus is not the only One that John declares as manifest to the world. We are too. No longer in our fallen, sinful state, but as holy, redeemed, and cleansed children of God. Through Jesus, the world sees for the first time, what God intended us to be – the new self that is born by faith.

And so John concludes in the final chapter, giving us the final thought about our rebirth - 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith.

God sets the record straight through John by giving us the birth certificate of Jesus. The gospel was built on expectation and now from it flows gracious effects in our lives. And in the same way, with expectation and effect, we wait for the God’s final promise to be fulfilled, that we would be born into eternity at His side in heaven. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 | December 20, 2020 | Advent 4

Theme: The Tale of Two Faiths

1.     Find God (His Word, His Will, His Plan) in Yourself

2.     Find Yourself (Your words, Your will, Your plan) in God

We’ve been studying the creation account in Genesis the last few weeks in Bible Class & Sunday School. There are many worthwhile details from that account that are important to meditate upon regularly and to study. But no matter how often I read Genesis, I am always amazed at the beginning of all things. The very first words (or word) in the Bible – “In the beginning.” What a simple statement but what profound implications come from it.

If there was a beginning, then there was a time when nothing existed, except God. From the moment those words are spoken, one must believe or reject that God is the author of everything – the first cause, the intelligent designer, the Creator – whatever you want to call it. The fact that there was a beginning to all things demands that someone had to be present to start it all off – to begin the beginning.

And from that moment, that first moment of all moments, mankind has wrestled with understanding, appreciating, and trusting God. Say what you want about faith – one thing we cannot change is that it is shrouded in deep mystery. We believers, who may at times think we know a lot about God, know very little indeed.

Such is the reality set before us in God’s Word today, as we read from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31: For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." (ESV)

There are many stark differences in these words. Wise and foolish. Weak and strong. Noble and lowly. Man and God. But each difference comes back to one thing – things that are and things that are not. In terms of Genesis – things that God has begun and things that God has not begun. And there is an effect to these simple realities – “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The mystery of Advent is that Jesus Christ, true and eternal God – chose to have a beginning. Paul writes, “Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” Just like the word “beginning” in Genesis pertains to the mystery of Creation, so the word “became” in 1 Corinthians pertains to the mystery of Advent. Jesus became these things. Jesus began these truths. This should not, indeed from a rational standpoint, cannot be said of God. God is. God exists. That’s the very essence of His revealed name, Yahweh. “I AM” God says. But Jesus “became” these things – wisdom for us, righteousness, sanctification, redemption – the pillars of the gospel truth of salvation. (explain each word a bit more) 

Here you see the value of Christmas to your faith. Without Jesus “becoming,” none of these things would be yours. Yes, Jesus would still be wise, holy, set apart, and capable of loving forgiveness. But if he never became Man for you – these things would not be for you. This is a testament of God’s unbounded love for the world – that He would “become” – something that in theory was impossible for God.

But we also consider what it means for our lives. When God does something for someone, there is an effect – a consequence. And as we consider our lives we must consider that effect. That God did this for us means that there is one more division in this text – a tale of two faiths. Just as wisdom and foolishness, rich and poor, noble and humble are all clear distinctions – so also is believer and unbeliever. And this last division dictates how we see ourselves in relation to Christ’s becoming for us. There are two beliefs:

    1.     Find God (His Word, His Will, His Plan) in Yourself

    2. Find Yourself (Your words, Your will, Your plan) in God

This is the singular division that exists as a result of Christ’s work. Yet, within it, there is an additional consequence. Whether we believe or do not believe in Christ has a role in shaping our lives, specifically in how we view ourselves. There are labels that we attach to ourselves – wise, foolish, rich, poor, noble, humble, believer, unbeliever. But just like Christ’s becoming – this is more than an academic exercise. These labels mean something, or at least they should.

What Christian out there would call themselves an unbeliever? No one. Yet the distinction of faith is not always as simple as the words – believer and unbeliever. It’s about more than just a label. The deeper question is how many Christians see the effect of that label, namely that they are to find themselves (their words, their will, their plans) in God? It’s easy to take upon oneself the label, it’s another matter to embrace the consequence that follows.

Paul speaks about that very difference in a unique way. How many of those who hold to the label of believer also understand that it means being poor, foolish, and lowly in the ways of the world? How many of us are willing to trust – literally to stake our eternities – on the belief that God has things under control? In other words, the belief that God can make something out of nothing. Everything we have in our faith comes from God alone – but far too often we live like we are the ones in control.

This was the essence of Paul’s discourse as he summarized by writing, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. The consequence of faith vs. unbelief can be witnessed in a person’s boast – in what they glory in.

This section is one of those ones in the Bible that defy human logic and reason. Why would God choose things that are foolish, poor, and weak? How can God make something out of nothing? To human nature, status and outward appearance are more important than anything else. Consider the example of the Pharisees and Sadducees from last week’s text. John the Baptist condemned their outward vanity because their hearts were filled with poison. This problem was not unique to the Pharisees and the Sadducees – it’s a human nature issue.

So, why would God make this logic-defying choice? Paul tells us – so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. This is the core of every sin. It all is a matter of glorifying oneself, rather than God. It’s wanting to take credit for God’s work, wanting to have our say above God’s Word, wanting to follow our own path over God’s will, and wanting to turn our object of worship into something of our own devising. In terms of identity – it is finding God in ourselves, rather than finding ourselves in God. And to put it simply – it is the difference between faith and unbelief.

This is the true division in this text, and within the world. Every person is either on one side or the other. And it’s as stark a difference as wise vs. foolish, powerful vs. weak, and noble vs. lowly.

But it’s also the very reason why Jesus “became” wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Every person desperately needs what Jesus alone can grant. And so, on Christmas Day, God brought to pass what previously did not exist – the divine Creator in human form – the perfect Redeemer for an imperfect people. The beginning of salvation. Jesus became man so that we could become holy – fit for eternal life by God’s side. As impossible a notion as it is that eternal God could become something in time, so also it is impossible that we can earn our salvation before God. That is why Jesus alone could do it, and He did.

The consequence of this faith vs. unbelief reality is that we find ourselves in Jesus. He leads our way. He is our truth. When we seek comfort, we trust in His power. When we are overcome with doubt, we return to His truth. When we are pressed down by our sins, we rejoice in His grace. When we face death, we triumph by the life He won for us. Truly, to the one who glories, let he or she glory in the Lord! Amen.

Matthew 3:1-12 | Advent 3 | December 13, 2020

 Theme: Unexpected (and underappreciated) Gifts from John

1.     1. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

2.    2.  “Bear fruits worthy of repentance.”

3.     3. “He (Jesus) is mightier than I”

Sermon Text: Matthew 3:1-12 (NKJV)

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’"

4 And John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6  and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 

Did you make a Christmas gift list this year? I usually don’t but I did this year. Typically, when I’m asked to compile a list, I struggle to think of anything to put down. All throughout the year I see things every now and then that I would like, but they’re not so easy to recall when asked to. For those of us that do make lists, I’m sure it would be somewhat comical to look back on them after several years. Trends and wants come and go. Needs come and go. Just a year or two ago, every kid on the block wanted a fidget spinner. I’m guessing that most would be disappointed this year to unwrap one. 

Listen to what one article compiled as the top toy gifts from each decade of the 20^th century.

·       1910s – Teddy Bear

·       1920s – Yo Yo

·       1930s – Shirley Temple doll

·       1940s – Slinky

·       1950s – Mr. Potato Head

·       1960s – G.I. Joe

·       1970s – Star Wars action figures

·       1980s – Cabbage Patch kids

·       1990s – Beanie Babies and Tickle Me Elmo

·       2000s – Nintendo Wii 

Depending on the generation you grew up in, one or several of these toys probably strikes an emotional chord in your heart. Maybe you begged mom and dad for one at some point. Maybe you heard the begging at a different point. The thing about it is, very few of these toys have staying power. Yes, Star Wars is bigger today than ever, but only because newer movies have come out. If that ever ends, it too will fade in relevance. Every toy, every gift in fact, has its time to shine. 

Imagine a kid today unwrapping a Yo-Yo or a Slinky. Not bad gifts in their own right, but chances are kids would be quite disappointed. Sadly, when a gift fades from the popular limelight, it induces less joy, even if in reality it is still a solid gift. 

If there was an example in the Bible of bucking the trends of popularity it would certainly be John the Baptist. Matthew tells us in our text that John wore Camel’s hair, lived in the wilderness, and dined on honeycomb and locusts. One wonders why John chose this lifestyle. He was different. He certainly wasn’t trendy. But His message and his work were indeed impactful. Matthew also tells us that “Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to John.” There was something about John that went above and beyond the current popularity of the day. 

In terms of gift-giving, John was the unexpected and underappreciated gift that ultimately proved valuable. You’ve received gifts like that before, haven’t you? Maybe you were upset and disappointed that you didn’t get what was on your list, the most popular gift of the year – whatever it was. But you realized later on it was better that you didn’t get what you wanted, that what you received was more valuable. That was John in a nutshell. Many tried to shut him down, and eventually John would be killed for his faith. But, John’s message was eternal, because it focused on Someone who was greater. 

Today, in this summary text from Matthew, the Holy Spirit gives us three unexpected, and in many cases underappreciated, gifts from John the Baptist. They come to us in the way that God’s revelation always comes, through words. The first gift is John’s first message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”   

Very little of John’s ministry is preserved for us in the Bible. We knew he had a career of ministering in the wilderness. He clearly made an impact on the people, as he had a following of disciples and some even wondered if John was the Messiah. But, given the effort John put into his work, we have almost nothing of it in the Bible. What we do have is telling. The first public message we hear from John is verse 2: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We might brush past this verse as the meaningless ramblings of a desert preacher, but it actually is the greatest gift John gives. This is the most treasured thought of this section. First, because John imparts the hope we have of freedom from sin. But second, because through these words we see past John to Jesus.

Where does Jesus come in? Well, this very statement was also the first public message that He delivered. You need only to page over to chapter 4 of Matthew in your Bibles and in verse 17 you’ll see that Jesus spoke the exact same thing when He began His public ministry. If both the Messiah, and the Forerunner, began their ministries with this thought, then we clearly want to take it to heart in our lives.

Repent has a negative connotation in our culture. But God defines the words He uses, not the culture. Repentance in the Biblical sense is based on the good news of salvation in Jesus. It means that we not only turn away from sin, but also that we trust that God has forgiven us by His mercy. Whenever God calls people to repent, we should consider that a message of hope. This is why repentance naturally flows into the kingdom of God. It is the tool that God lovingly gives us to offload the burdens of sin upon Jesus and to stand righteous and ready to become a member of God’s family. Both John and Jesus started with repentance, because that’s how faith starts, and that is the essence of life with God.

The second unexpected gift from John was a message about the results of repentance. We may not categorize these words as a “gift” because they sting. John said to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “Bear fruits worthy of repentance.”

John shows that he knows the Pharisees and Sadducees well. On the surface, it seems that John’s message is filled with hatred. One imagines a scene of two competing influences vying for the peoples’ attention. On the one hand you have the established religious elite, and the other hand you have the upstart preacher. To the untrained eye, John comes across as vindictive. But these words were indeed a gift, not because the hearers wanted them, but because they needed them.

No better or more loving message could have been given the Pharisees and Sadducees. John knew this because he knew what was in their hearts. That’s why he knew what their immediate reaction was going to be. Notice the connection between what the Pharisees and Sadducees claimed, and what they really believed. John says, “Do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’” John knew that these religious leaders staked their faith in God on their lineage as true Jewish descendants of Abraham. They believed that their bloodline was more necessary for salvation than the blood of a Savior shed for their sins. But by trusting in this vain idolatry, John states exactly what they really were – a brood of vipers, or in other words, offspring of the serpent.

The imagery is intense. The viper, of all the species of snakes, seems beautiful and exotic on the outside, yet it is the deadliest inside. Likewise, the Pharisees and Sadducees adorned themselves on the outside with rich, ornamental clothing and customs, but in their hearts they had no true faith in God. On a different occasion, Jesus compared them with whitewashed tombs, which are decorated in beauty on the outside, but contain death and decay on the inside.

This was hypocrisy at its core. You couldn’t find a greater contrast between John and the Pharisees and Sadducees, both in appearance in belief. The Pharisees and the Sadducees would never stoop to wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts, but they also would never humble themselves by repenting of their sins. Their religious acts were hollow and self-centered. They only cared about what other people thought, to maintain their status in society, not about what God thought. Indeed, they came to John even to be baptized by him. They wanted to be accepted into the movement that was growing, but not because they actually desired to follow the true God, or to accept the teachings about Jesus that John delivered.    

Both of these unexpected gifts from John are still desperately needed in our time, and especially in our hearts. They may not be on our gift list, but we need them just as much as the Pharisees and Sadducees. Growing up in a Christian lineage will not save us from the wrath to come over our sins anymore than the Pharisee’s and Sadducee’s claim as Abraham’s children saved them. Repentance is the nourishment each sinner needs. When that repentance finds its confidence and hope in Jesus, souls are enlivened with the gospel to bear fruit to the glory of God.

John marks the difference maker in verse 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Repentance is a gift from God because it is the way we receive salvation in Jesus. Without repentance, all signs of religious virtue and piety are hypocritical.

John’s words are not only unexpected, but also underappreciated – especially by our generation. We live at a time of hyper-sensitivity when it comes to right vs. wrong. But, far too often, the attitude behind these activities mirrors the religious elite of Jesus’ day – they look good outwardly but they are filled with deceit and poison inwardly. Such is the result of any virtue that becomes detached from Christ and His Word. It ultimately is a dangerous idol leading one away from God.

This hyper-sensitivity plays out today as people boast of their virtue to others. There is a constant struggle to be shown more pious, more kind, more compassionate, more empathic, more wise, and more moral than the rest of the average population. There is great shaming and criticism given to those who do not reflect the proper virtue of the societal elite today – the loud voices on social media, in newspapers and television, on college campuses, and even many churches.

But if you look closely enough at these movements and the attitudes and beliefs behind them, you’ll see a spiritual shallowness. The virtues striven for are not from God, but from this generation of humanity. There is no humility or repentance, only pride and lust for power. It’s not about bringing people closer to Jesus as their Savior, but shaping the world to conform to popular belief by mob force. It’s a religion of the self, and though it is prevalent today, it is not new.

This was the same spiritual fog that John scattered when he came as such a unique Forerunner of the Savior. Both he and Jesus preached with an intensity of conviction and compassion based on the central truth of God’s Word. They did this for the express purpose of shattering this self-centered framework. It was unexpected and underappreciated back then, as it is today. But, what a gift from God above! These words from John, delivered to us by the Holy Spirit, are the exact nourishment our souls need to be assured of salvation in Jesus Christ alone – not for being lifted up on a pedestal above others. They protect us from the vain dream of human ambition and from trying to recreate heaven on earth according to our terms. They may not be the gift we want, by they absolutely are what we need to be in heaven with God.

Treasure this gift this Advent season. That you may be sustained in repentance through Jesus, that you may bear real spiritual fruits, and that you may have confidence and assurance as a redeemed and forgiven child of God. Amen.

Psalm 47 | December 6, 2020 | Advent 2

Peace Comes at a Cost

• ·       God Subdues the Nations
• ·       Only Two Sides Exist

Psalm 47: O Clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy. 2 For the LORD Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth. 3 He subdues peoples under us, And nations under our feet. 4 He chooses our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah. 5 God has ascended with a shout, The LORD, with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm. 8 God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. 9 The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham; For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

When you think about themes around Christmas time, peace is right at the top of the list. But even something as simple sounding as peace can be spoken of differently depending on the person. What do we mean by peace at Christmas time?

I think it’s safe to assume that most people mean world peace – that being peace among peoples and nations on earth. Peace in this sense would mean the absence of conflict, war, and anger. This kind of peace may be a noble goal but it’s hardly close to a reality. The more educated and sophisticated humanity becomes, the more that insight it put into finding new ways to get what is wanted and to hurt others if necessary. More lives have been taken in conflicts since the dawn of the 20^th century than at any other point in history. Yet, we are regularly conditioned to accept that the more progressive and enlightened society becomes, the closer we come to achieving peace.

Others who speak of peace at Christmas time mean something more generic than world peace. Some take the concept of peace and make it more abstract, more of an idea in your mind that settles your heart, without attaching any specific thing or action to it. But what good is peace if it’s just an idea? Doesn’t there have to be a certain amount of reality behind the peace that we desire?

These cheaper imitations of the true peace of Christmas are popular because part of the challenge that we face is a lack of desire to truly understand what it takes to have real peace. This could apply to world peace, but we’re looking past this world into the things of God. To have divine peace, harmony with one’s Creator, is really what the peace of Christmas is about. We connect this peace with Christmas because it was for this peace that Jesus came and was born into this world. Jesus clearly did not bring an end to earthly conflict among peoples’ and nations when He was born. Jesus also intended something much more real and meaningful than a different mental outlook on life. Jesus came to destroy sin and death – not just as an idea, but as a tangible threat to our eternal futures. Sin destroys and fractions wherever it exists. This is reality. There are direct consequences. We have to live, everyday, with the tragic results of sin’s existence in this world. Sin is what makes world peace in an earthly sense impossible.

So, why wouldn’t the entire world beat the doors down to get this peace from Jesus? Because we who are in the world are part of the problem. And when you’re part of the problem, you naturally do not want to be honest about what it takes to achieve a solution to the problem. That’s why people aren’t lining the streets today reciting Psalm 47. In these words, God describes the cost of true peace through Jesus Christ. And it’s not the typical Christmas message we’re used to hearing around this time of year. It’s a message of power. A battle cry in the midst of conflict. A declaration of God as almighty and Lord of heaven and earth.    

What makes this psalm the atypical message of peace is because it portrays how peace is achieved. Peace came at a cost. We see that first come out in this psalm as God speaks of reigning over the nations. It’s hard to imagine a word more different from peace than “subdue.” Subduing brings to mind holding others back. It’s a word that heightens the power differential between two individuals or groups. Peace makes us think of equality. Subdue makes us think of inequality. But for peace to exist through Jesus, the nations of the earth needed to be subdued under God’s power.

What’s interesting about this word for “subdue” is that the basic meaning in Hebrew is “to speak.” The passage is literally saying that God “speaks” the nations down under the power of His people. In the Old Testament, God’s people were obviously the Israelites. We see how the words of this Psalm applied in a literal sense to the conquest of Canaan, when God allowed His people to subdue the foreign nations. But that was not allowed by God because of some worldly nationalistic pride, or because Israel proved to be a better nation than the others. God’s allowance of this power difference was solely to provide an avenue for the Anointed One, the Messiah, to be born of the nation of Israel.

Truly, if you track the nation of Israel’s history throughout the Bible, you’ll find that they were often the ones who were subdued. But despite the ups and downs, God remained faithful in His promise, first to Adam and Eve, and second to Abraham, and then to all humanity, that a Savior would be born of the nation of Israel. Spiritually speaking, for peace to come from Jesus, the evil and wickedness of the heathen nations needed to be put in check. This battle continues to this day. It’s not about the nation of Israel anymore, they served their purpose in God’s plan. Now, it’s about the real estate of a person’s heart – of you and God. Peace by faith cannot exist if sin still has dominion over a person. Only Christ can subdue that enemy.

When we understand the spiritual side of this Psalm, we see not only where we fit into the picture, but also why we have a unique and powerful peace from Jesus. The battle that was portrayed in a literal sense through Israel’s conquest as a nation, is now carried on by believers and continues to be blessed by the same almighty and eternal God in a spiritual sense. Biblical imagery in the Old Testament often follows this pattern. There was an intended meaning for the original audience in the Old Testament, but also a future meaning for believers of all time. This is the Holy Spirit’s handiwork upon the text. The sons of Korah themselves could only speak to their generation. The Holy Spirit alone is able to impart truth to all of God’s people – the universal Church.

So, the Spirit-intended meaning as it concerns our lives is about the battle that continues until time on this earth ends. We praise the LORD with shouts of joy because He reigns over this battle. We strive and we fight, but the peace that Jesus brought to earth extends over the entire story. This is the battle that the Apostle Paul referenced in our Scripture reading, Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1Ti 6:11 NKJ). 

Peace also comes at a cost because there are only two sides to this struggle. There are those who follow God by faith and those who do not. We know that when it comes to life with God there is only one way – as Jesus Himself taught and confessed that He was “the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).” But, for those without God, many and vast are the beliefs and teachings that are confessed. There is no one standard way of unbelief. So, while we live in a world of many different faiths, the simple truth that there are really only two outcomes helps clarify reality. For all people, a side must be chosen. And whichever path veers away from God’s truth of salvation in Christ is also subdued by God in His love and power.

And so this peace that comes at a cost is the only thing that can protect our souls from eternal damnation. The danger we face around Christmas time is that peace becomes meaningless – empty of Christ - worldly or generic. Both senses lose the true hope and foundation of Jesus Christ.

It will forever be true that the value of your peace is determined by what it cost to achieve. Cheap fluffy peace, the kind in many Christmas songs or plastered on the media today, comes at a very small cost. That type of peace is often spoken of in such vague terms that one is left at a loss as to what exactly necessitates peace. Why do we need it if we don’t have any problems with our beliefs, our attitudes, or our behaviors? What value does peace have if we are free to choose what is best for our lives and no one can say that one way is better or more moral than another?

We wind up in a similar place with earthly peace alone. How can one argue against advocating for worldly peace? It sounds inhumane. We certainly should desire earthly peace with fellow humans, but not as a substitute to eternal peace in Jesus. This is especially striking during a season when we get gifts for others. Which of us, when considering a gift, would prefer something artificial to something real? If you bought a diamond necklace, and had an equal choice – wouldn’t you choose real diamonds over fake? If you gifted a wooden hutch, wouldn’t you prefer oak over particle board? If you are going the gift card route, isn’t it better to have a gift card with actual money attached to it, rather than a fancy looking card with no value?

These images impress upon us the stark difference between world peace and peace by faith in Christ. Both are admirable goals, but one is clearly more realistic and more important than the other. And God testifies repeatedly in His Word that the new heavens and new earth of Christ’s reign will usher in a time of world peace. It’s simply a matter of which one must come before the other. God does want world peace, as do we, but the battle reminds us it can only come through Jesus.

Why? Because the cost He paid. You can estimate the value of peace by the cost it takes. Jesus paid the ultimate cost by laying down His own holy life for underserving sinners. He did what no one else could or would. And it started, at least from a physical standpoint, when He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of Mary into this world. From that moment, the warrior that would win the battle for peace entered the arena. The lines between faith and unbelief have always been set, just as they are today. But Jesus struck the first blow toward the serpent’s head as He lay on the manger in Bethlehem.

This was how God achieved peace, and the battle language of Psalm 47 is a continual reminder of this cost. We shouldn’t stray from peace as we read these words, rather we should learn more about it and be left treasuring such a gift even more. Peace will undoubtedly be spoken about this Christmas season and all others. Let us make sure our words mean something – in Jesus Christ. Amen.   

 

 

Luke 1:68-79 | November 29, 2020 | Advent 1

Theme: Zechariah’s Song - Prepare Your Heart

Luke 1:68-79

"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, 71 That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. 76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."  

When was the last time you had a heart-stopping moment? I’m thinking of a time when you were shocked or surprised in such a way that time seemed to stand still. I guess “heart-stopping” really isn’t the best description because usually during such times our hearts race faster. A few weeks ago as I was helping re-shingle the parsonage in Tacoma, I had one such moment. While I was carrying a bundle of shingles, my feet started to give out on the steep roof and my momentum began to carry me toward the edge, with gravity obviously pulling me in that direction. Thankfully, I was able to steady myself and regain my footing, but I just as easily could have completely lost my footing. Even now, my hands sweat a bit thinking about and my heart begins to beat a little faster.  

We have those kinds of unexpected moments from time to time. And that’s part of what makes them heart-stopping – we can’t anticipate them. Today, we begin the Advent season, which is all about anticipation. But our first lesson focuses on someone who was completely surprised by the Lord’s grace and mercy – even if he should have known better. Zechariah was a priest and you can tell from his words that he knew the Scriptures well. Yet, he was dumbfounded at the Lord’s declaration that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to the forerunner of the Savior – John the Baptist.    

Zechariah is most well-known for the fallout of this doubt - being muted by the angel Gabriel. Zechariah doubted Gabriel’s message because he and Elizabeth were too old to have a child. Because of this unbelief Zechariah was not able to talk for the entire duration of the pregnancy. It was only after the baby was born, and after Zechariah confirmed that his name would be John, that his tongue was loosed. The first words Zechariah spoke after John’s birth are recorded as our text. 

What magnificent words they are! Zechariah confirms for us that despite his inability to speak and his moment of doubting; he held with great confidence to the promise of His Savior. While Zechariah no longer doubted, and certainly was not surprised at what had transpired, he had a heart-stopping moment in reflection of God’s goodness. At the time, Zechariah’s song of praise was quite possibly the greatest confession of the coming Messiah made by someone since the prophecies of the Old Testament. That was a time period of over 400 years! 

We might well ask, how did Zechariah come to such a confession? What caused him to “get it” when he so easily doubted 9 months earlier? We shouldn’t be surprised by the answer, for it’s the same way we have come to confess Jesus as our Savior, and Zechariah clearly states it: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.” Zechariah knew about Jesus because “God spoke” about Him in the Old Testament. So often when people want to find out something about Jesus, they look immediately to the New Testament. Surely Zechariah, as well as all other Old Testament believers, would have been at a loss if only the New Testament gave a clear record of our Savior. But certainly that isn’t the case for the Old Testament has much to teach about Jesus, even to us New Testament believers.

Essentially, Zechariah used what the Lord had given him, and that was sufficient for all he needed to about the Messiah and even more. Look at all the many aspects of Jesus’ life and work that Zechariah knew from the Old Testament:

• Jesus would visit His people (v.68)

• Jesus would redeem His people (v.68)

• Jesus would bring salvation (v.69)

• Jesus would come from David (v.69)

• Jesus was promised long ago to Zechariah’s fathers (v.72)

• Jesus would establish that long-awaited covenant from God which was first given to Abraham (vv.72-73)

• Jesus would allow His followers to serve Him by faith, not by fear (v.74)

• Jesus would grant holiness and righteousness (v.75)

• Jesus would bring a message of repentance and forgiveness (v.77)

• Jesus would bring light and peace in a world of darkness and strife (v.79)

Zechariah knew all of these truths from what the Old Testament promised about Jesus. And this is only what he chose to share at the birth of his son, surely he knew much more! How many of us, who have the entire Bible, are able to confess such a list of truths? How much of the world around us takes time to consider these aspects of our Savior around the time of Christmas? Talk about putting “Christ” in “Christmas!” Zechariah certainly does that here by specifically outlining the work of the Child who, from his perspective, was not even born yet. 

This type of confession, this type of knowledge, can only come just as it came for Zechariah, through the work and blessing of the Holy Spirit. It was precisely because Zechariah worked with the Word of God that he had the gift of the Holy Spirit. There’s no doubt that Zechariah showed the strength of his faith through this song. But how interesting was the way that this faith grew to be so strong. It was first through humility and lowliness that Zechariah understood his place in the Lord’s work. Whereas he was initially quick to doubt God and to try and figure things out on his own, months later he would boldly confess the truth in great detail, and willingly offer his own son for the work of preparing people for Jesus. 

It’s unfortunate that Zechariah will forever be remembered for that moment of doubt and weakness, because in reality he showed the rock-solid foundation of his faith through this song of praise. But perhaps this is good because it stands as a reminder for us. Just as the purpose of John the Baptist’s life was one of preparation, so also the few short moments of his father’s life that we find recorded in the Bible remind us of a similar preparation. God prepared His people throughout thousands of years to receive the gift of His Son, the “fullness of the time” which John the Baptist ushered in. So, too, Zechariah’s story and song continues to prepare us today by reminding us how the Lord works in our lives. Sometimes He needs to humble us in order lift us up. Sometimes He needs to close a door so that another one can open. Sometimes He needs to shut our mouths so that we listen to Him. Our job is to stay focused on the truths of our faith, the same things that Zechariah confessed: 

• Jesus brings us mercy, salvation, and forgiveness. 

• God rescues us from all evil through Jesus. 

• We learn about Jesus through God Word. 

• The same promise that was given to Abraham and the Old Testament prophets, is given to you and me.    

All of these truths are part of what made the “fullness of the time” for Christ’s arrival on this earth. They are also what lead us to confess as Zechariah did, that Jesus Christ born of the virgin Mary is my Lord and Savior. May we both keep the same confidence of faith that Zechariah had and keep ourselves from rebelling against the Lord’s work in our lives, even if it often corrects and humbles us. And may we readily prepare ourselves to see and listen to Jesus, not only during His Advent, but at all times and in all places that His powerful Word comes to us. Amen.

Thanksgiving Day 2020 | Lamentations 3:21-26

A Portion and a Promise on Thanksgiving Day

1. The portion of the LORD’s unchanging mercy

2. The promise of the LORD’s unfailing compassion

Here we are at another Thanksgiving Day. But it’s 2020 – is there really any reason to be thankful?

·       A continuing pandemic

·       A tumultuous election year in our nation

·       Racial discord

·       Civil unrest

·       Rates of depression and anxiety are skyrocketing

·       Many people in financial distress and suffering from lost jobs

By all accounts, this has been an excruciating year for many people. Most people can’t wait to turn the chapter on this year and move on. And yet, we have the annual day of Thanksgiving. Is it anything more than a traditional obligation this year? Are we truly thankful today – do we have reason to be?

Well, it’s clear that we do. We should always take stock of the daily blessings that we have. Some may be lacking, but for most of us we are well taken care of with plenty of blessings from God. Good health, a loving home, friends and family, food on the table, living in peace and freedom, good weather, money in our bank accounts and savings. There may be things in the extended list of daily blessings that come and go, or that we suffer in from time to time, but for all of us we have much more than we need or deserve. And the wise adage that things can always get worse is certainly fitting in any season of life.

But, today as we reflect with Thanksgiving, let us take it one step further, a step that can only be taken by faith. Let us reflect not only on the everyday blessings we have, but the weightier, reaching-to-eternity blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus – things which our earthly eyes do not see. Today, we consider how, because of those blessings in Jesus, we can rejoice with Thanksgiving even in the most troublesome times, as we read from God’s Word in Lamentations 3:21-26: This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.

It's hard to imagine a more hopeless scene than the one surrounding the book of Lamentations – the one book of the Bible that is literally named after sorrow. Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah as he witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Unlike Daniel, who was carried off to Babylon, Jeremiah was left behind. We can only imagine the horrors that Jeremiah witnessed. Indeed, it is difficult because few of us have ever seen things that could be deemed similar. War, destruction, famine, pain, captivity, death – and the list goes on. Considering the context of these verses certainly helps us put our current trials in perspective.

And yet, in the midst of an entire volume dedicated to lament – we have these words of hope expressed by God’s prophet. Themes such as hope, mercy, faithfulness, and salvation – where do such blessings come from when one is trapped in the valley of the shadow of death? They come from the LORD almighty – the one, true God. These blessings are also the bigger ones. Yes, food, home, and family had been taken from God’s people in Israel. Yet, no enemy could touch God’s mercy, faithfulness, and salvation for them. The trials they endured highlighted the eternal blessings that they treasured, and the same lesson is played out in each believer’s life when their physical blessings are threatened or taken away.

In fact, at times, God strips us of those very things to lessen the attachment we have to this world. For Israel, God’s greater plan was to humble their hardened pride so that they would no longer drift away from their heritage of faith in the true God. Even the pain and destruction in this sense was used by God for their good. And we’d be foolish to think that we are that much different from Israel and the same principle is not also at work in our lives.

It’s one thing to understand such things. It’s a completely different thing to be thankful in the midst of trials. We may recognize God’s ability to work through trial and difficulty in our lives, but how can be thankful for those very circumstances? The answer is that a change must take place and we see that change in the way our text reads. As Jeremiah quotes his own soul he says, “The LORD is my portion.” The great exchange that must take place is that God must take our place – both in the punishment suffered by also in the hope gained. First, we see that we have a portion of God’s unchanging mercy.

Part of what makes these words remarkable is that a few verses before, Jeremiah confessed the exact opposite: Lamentations 3:17-18 “You have moved my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity. My strength and my hope Have perished from the LORD.” But notice the difference, that sentiment was based on Jeremiah. His strength. His hope. Those things were what perished before the LORD – any desire to be sustained by Jeremiah’s efforts. Only when Jeremiah recalled the LORD’s unchanging mercy did hope return to his heart.

Both elements can be true, and even must, for hope by faith to exist. We must abandon any notion that we can accomplish our soul’s needs, or that we can confront and conquer the enemies of our faith. We must discard the idea that we can replicate the fulfillment and happiness that God alone can give. The LORD alone guides and sustains us. Therefore, it is not wrong for Christians to display weakness, discouragement, or failure. The strength of our faith is not in ourselves, therefore, we cannot expect life to look like that. Many have built their image of the Christian life on what they do or what they look like – but what hope does that offer when the storms of life come our way?

When the LORD’s mercy becomes our portion, we lose that false mindset. But consider what mercy is. Mercy is kindness and goodness directed toward those who do not deserve it. Think of it as synonymous with grace. One scholar’s rendering for this Hebrew word is “kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable).” That is what we are. That is why we need the LORD’s mercy. We are lowly. We are needy. We are miserable – and it comes back to our transgressions before the LORD’s holy Word. We are in need of mercy because we have messed it. The difficulties we face are not always someone else’s problem. We are not innocent bystanders. Even as Jeremiah contemplated Jerusalem’s destruction in great sorrow, he reflected on his own hopelessness as a sinner that led to that very judgment. Even God’s prophet was not innocent.

The reason we can be honest about that reality today and still be thankful – is because of what God’s mercy does. It keeps us from being consumed, literally “finished,” by our sinful deeds. God does not give us what we deserve. That is one reason we are thankful today – even if the year has not been what we expected it to be. And sometimes when things don’t go our way, it can be a greater blessing because it helps us recall, as Jeremiah did, the LORD’s mercy in unchanging in the chaos and destruction of life.

Paired with God’s unchanging mercy is the promise of His unfailing compassion. To our ears it may seem that the LORD is expressing the same thing with compassion as we talked about with mercy. It is true that they are synonymous, and they are used that way by Jeremiah. But there is a difference worth highlighting too. The focus of mercy is upon the individual in need of help. The focus of compassion is on the individual giving help. Both thoughts center on love but from different perspectives. Mercy reminds us of what God rescues us from while compassion reminds us of depths of God’s care for us. One word expresses love from the sinner’s vantage point while the other expresses it from God’s vantage point.

We see this connection in Jeremiah’s words as he compares sinners not being consumed with God’s mercy not failing. Our lives with God are directly tied to His compassion and the way His mercy works for us. Mercy points to how He removes the wrong – our sin, and compassion points us to the never-ending supply of His care for us. So as Jeremiah puts it, BECAUSE God’s compassions do not fail, we are not consumed as we are kept in God’s mercy. The blessings that flow from this reality are abundant. We can say with Jeremiah, no matter the circumstance of our lives:

·       The LORD’s mercy and compassion are new every day.

·       The LORD’s faithfulness is great.

·       We have hope in the LORD.

·       The LORD is good to those who wait upon Him by faith. 

These truths are valid and certain for every aspect of our physical lives. When it comes to food, homes, family, health, finances, studies, jobs, hobbies, and all other things – the LORD is present and acting upon your behalf in unchanging mercy and unfailing compassion. But these truths reach highest when you consider your soul and the lengths that God went to secure eternal salvation for you. Because you have the mercy and compassion given by Jesus, as your Savior from sin and eternal damnation – you have heavenly blessings in abundance.

Has 2020 been rough? Sure. Are we ready to move on? Probably. It’s okay to think that way. But trials, struggles, and personal obstacles because of sin will always be present in different forms. The severity of such things may come and go, but let us not trust in man’s planning or crossing our fingers that the next year will somehow be magically better. More productive, and more realistic, than bemoaning our present circumstances, is rejoicing with thanksgiving in the blessings of God that never change. In all things, the LORD gives you a portion of His unchanging mercy and a promise of His unfailing compassion. Oh give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good! In all things and at all times. Amen.

Matthew 5:13-16 | Pentecost 25 | November 22, 2020

Theme: The Christian Difference

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Most of you know that when it comes to sports, I am a Michigan fan, especially when it comes to college athletics. I know that’s tough to hear out here in Husky (or sometimes Coug) country. But when you’re watching a college game on TV, it’s common for each University that is competing to have an advertisement (a commercial) for their school. As I happen to tune into Michigan games, I’ve become quite familiar with their commercial.

In it, they highlight some of the groundbreaking work they are doing as a research university, as well as certain studies and disciplines that set them apart from other schools. The overall theme of the advertisement is “The Michigan Difference.” To the inquiring student, the University of Michigan wants to be seen as different than the rest. They want the student to believe that there are opportunities and experiences at Michigan that cannot be found anywhere else.

It’s a catchy, and I’m sure, effective, advertisement. The PR group that developed it has tapped into the growing desire in our culture to be different – to highlight one’s uniqueness and to strive for things that will set us apart from others. We live in a culture where being different is highlighted and celebrated. But, as Christians, we have to be careful with this as well. People are encouraged to strive to find ways of emphasizing their uniqueness and originality to the world – even if their expression comes at the expense of God’s design for their life. The Church has always been on guard against becoming too different from the way that God intended our lives to be.

It’s not wrong for a public university to highlight what makes it unique. But, you can take that same line of thinking and multiple by ten in terms of the prevalence of humanity today to glorify individual expression and choice above God’s will. On both an individual and societal level, we tend to take our self-expression to the extreme over and against God’s Word. We live in a generation that pressures young people especially to define their lives and express their thoughts and actions in whatever ways they choose – even more so when it bucks the traditional trends of Christianity. Newer and bolder ways of identifying oneself are lauded and celebrated. It’s considered mature and enlightened to push the envelope of what is deemed acceptable.

I saw another example of this much more blatant form of being different this past week. It was a web article about a popular male singer and actor in his twenties who recently conducted a photo shoot for a trendy magazine where he dressed up in women’s make-up, jewelry, and clothing. The move was celebrated by many in the media as original, bold, and brave. The young man was praised as being socially conscious enough to liberate himself from the shackles of traditionalism. Perhaps this kind of thing isn’t surprising anymore but it’s also clear that it would not have been celebrated or accepted to such an extent in a different era. Our culture has changed and part of that change has been a desire to be different to an extreme – where choices are deliberately made to make others uncomfortable, to generate debate, and to stretch the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable, and even moral. The attitude behind such a movement is nothing new – it’s rooted in sinful human pride that wants to exalt itself over the rules and laws of the eternal God.

The desire to be different is simply the current manifestation of this sinful pride. The Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day suffered from the same root issue, but they showed it in being unwilling to change from tradition instead of craving personal liberty above all else. Many other examples could be brought to mind from history – both as it concerns those within and outside of the church. Human pride has no limit in its desire to subvert God’s standards of righteousness. Under the thin veneer of human acceptance and popular trends lies the rotten, corrupted human heart that seeks to control your identity and your every expression, rather than letting the Holy Spirit conform you closer to Jesus.

The impression has long been that Christians never want to change or be different in any way. There can be isolated attitudes from Christians which exemplify that stereotype but often it is a very limited characterization of the Church. The truth is – Christians are called to be different – very different, but in a different kind of way. The words of Jesus in our text from the Sermon on the Mount talk about what this difference is to be – and it’s more radical that anything the world can come up with.

Two illustrations are used – salt and light. These images encapsulate the Christian difference. Jesus first says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Today, we think of the primary use of salt in providing flavor to our food, but it wasn’t that way in Christ’s culture and many other ancient civilizations. Salt was used with food, but as a preservative. The use of electrically powered refrigerators to cool and freeze food is a very new development in history. For thousands of years before this invention, salt was used as the standard preservative – to keep food good to eat for a longer amount of time.

The preserving agent in the life of the Christian is the gospel message of Christ. When this permeates in our lives, it acts as a preserving agent in the world around us – both in stemming God’s righteous judgment of sin but also giving people a confidence and hope for salvation that doesn’t rest in their own works. Paul put it succinctly in Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. The law of God reveals the rottenness and corruption of sin – the grace of God in the gospel abounds over the curse of the law and covers the imperfections we carry in our lives – it’s a preserving agent against the effects of sin. And God guarantees that wherever sin’s rottenness resides, the gospel can be more powerful in its effect.

Jesus also says, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Believers are also different as lights. A light has one very basic purpose – to reveal something, to make it known and open to the world. Jesus mentions the illogical idea of lighting a lamp just to cover it up with a basket. By doing so, you are defeating the entire purpose of the light.

We are used to enjoying the blessings of having plenty of lights to keep darkness at bay – in our homes, on our vehicles, and on our streets. We might wonder why anyone would want to cover the light that we are called by God to shine. Well, sometimes we don’t like to see what the light reveals. You see, that’s the other aspect about using a light as it’s intended to be used. It shines light on everything – not just on what we choose to reveal. In terms of our lives with God – there are many areas that we’d rather keep hidden in the darkness of sin.

David confessed this of his own life in Psalm 19 saying, 12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. 13 Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Like mold in a damp basement, sin loves to stay hidden in the dark – either by willful ignorance on our part of genuine lack of awareness. When sin stays covered and hidden it can grow. That’s why David asked the LORD to forgive even the hidden areas of sin that David wasn’t thinking about. We need God’s light to shine even on the parts of our lives that we don’t want it to.

It’s no wonder that Jesus would declare Himself to be the light of the world in John 8, and that John would continue building on that theme throughout his gospel account and three epistles. The difference between light and dark in terms of our sin and God’s righteousness is clear and basic to our faith. Therefore, Jesus, the light, expects the same expression in our lives - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Believers are to be willing to reveal God’s truth in whatever direction it takes. Paul says, Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Here you can see that believers are called to be different, and these differences are something we should celebrate and support in our lives and in the lives of fellow Christians. But here also we see the primary difference between the world and the Church. The differences fueled by human pride are designed to center a person’s identity and expression on themselves. The differences fueled by faith in Jesus are designed to center a person’s identity and expression on Jesus.

It really comes down to identity. For the child of God – his or her identity is no longer in their own desires, efforts, or even thoughts. But they have been changed – made different – by Jesus. Paul writes in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Differences exist and abound in life and that reality certainly is present in the Church. Part of the difficultly of being in a church, at times, is working with the differences of others. But the beauty of the Church is that it provides a level of unity despite our differences. We are all the same in Christ Jesus – sinner redeemed to saint – a prodigal son or daughter who has returned to their Father, and the many differences we have begin to fade in importance to the oneness we have in Jesus.

Part of that unity of faith is embracing how God calls us to be difference. The salt preserves in order to keep God’s truth intact. The light reveals the Savior’s will – not our own. In so emphasizing Christ, we also indirectly emphasize the most important and valuable aspects of who we are – how we are identified and found in His name by faith.  Amen.