Sermon - Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

Ministers of a New Testament
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

KJV 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity


The Hymn #199
The Invocation p. 15
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 2 Cor. 3:4-11
The Gospel Mark 7:31-37
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #207
The Sermon
Ministers of a New Testament

The Offertory p. 22
The Hymn #195
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #188

KJV 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The present situation in the Lutheran Church prompted me to choose the Epistle for today. More about that later.

A key term in this passage is testament. I used covenant when I first wrote out the title, knowing it was the wrong term. Then I checked the KJV and the NIV. The precise KJV uses testament and the Reformed-Pentecostal NIV uses covenant. The distinction in the New Testament was significant then and remains just as significant.

A testament or will is a one-sided agreement. I can leave to any person or any organization I choose, without their knowledge or agreement.

A covenant is quite different because it involves both sides of an agreement. Familiar covenants are zoning restrictions. The city agrees that a certain type of home may be built on property, but the owner of the property also agrees that a public business will not be established there. Nations have treaties or covenants, with the idea that both sides will keep the agreement.

This distinction between testament and covenant is significant because of the difference between the Biblical doctrine of justification by faith (testament) and the Reformed distortions (covenant).

God willed that His Son would die for the sins of the world. Man did not request this ultimate blessing, did not plan for it, did not agree to it in advance. God also willed that the Means of Grace would be the instruments for giving the Gospel message to people across the ages. The First Gospel was delivered to Adam and Eve. The Old Testament is full of Gospel passages: the Psalms, the Prophets (especially Isaiah 40ff). Before the Incarnation the Gospel created and sustained faith. When the Word became Incarnate in the Virgin Mary, people were able to see the human face of God, to hear His voice.

Jesus represented the Gospel already in the manger, when shepherds came to worship Him as the Savior. Jesus spoke the Gospel in Temple when He was still a boy, planting the faith in the very city that would reject Him as the Messiah.

After Jesus was baptized by John, He suffered in the desert wilderness, tempted by Satan, and then gathered the disciples. He performed many miracles to show people the authority of His Word, but people also knew from His teaching that He had divine authority “not like the scribes and Pharisees.” The religious leaders, those not converted by His Word, were His enemy. Jesus taught that their righteousness must come from without, from God, not from within, from their works.

The Bible is very clear about the power of the Word in converting people. Every believer is the creation of the Word, whether by Holy Baptism or by the spoken Word. In some cases the written Word alone converts people to Christ.

What passages prove this?

KJV Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 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? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

If we reverse the order of this great passage from Romans, the preachers sent from God proclaim the Gospel, and people believe from hearing this great message. Every single person who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

KJV Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

How does God work, except through the Word. Man does not work out the means to will (to decide) and to accomplish His will. God moves man through the Word alone.

KJV 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

This is where the Reformed-Pentecostal Church Growth guys should put their hands to their faces and say, “Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!” Their entire agenda is destroyed by 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (and hundreds of similar passages) The remedy to their false doctrine lies in that little word effectually, which is King James for effective. Effectiveness is their claim to fame. Statistics make them effective. Entertainment makes the Sunday seeker service effective. A zippy, how-to, fix-it message (not a sermon) makes the minister effective. Friendly ushers make the congregation effective. According to Paul Kuske’s Church Growth guru, Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, the “best Law and Gospel sermon will do no good unless the ushers are friendly.” A crypto-Baptist said, “Amen” to that absurdity.

The message of the Reformed is simple – God’s Word is not effective unless man makes it effective.

The Bible says just the opposite. As long as it is God’s Word, man and Satan cannot hinder it. But, neither can man brag about God’s work, although Paul comes perilously close to that at times.

KJV 1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

What I love most about Paul’s letters is the humanity coming through at all times. The Gospel-writers are very much in the background, so much that John, the disciple Jesus loved, is often disputed as the author. The other authors have been debated, too, except for Luke. The debates are easy to generate because of this lack of information. That is, liberals use whatever wedge they can find.

Liberals hate Paul because we know so much about him from his letters. Paul believed in his own works and lived accordingly. That meant God could use him most effectively in teaching against our human nature, in teaching against salvation by works. To this day Rome and the Eastern Orthodox avoid this topic in Paul.

Sincere believers, once they are detached from faith in the Word alone, gradually become attached to salvation by works. It may take more time that the first generation, but one event leads to another. I was reading about Fenton, the man who left the LCMS ministerium for Eastern Orthodoxy and his former church (Zion, Detroit). Zion, Detroit was once the biggest Lutheran congregation in the LCMS. When they confronted the Lodge in the early days, a group of people left and formed a church that is now United Church of Christ. The big WELS church in New Ulm and the independent Lutheran church in Columbus, St. Paul’s, both had their early Reformed-Lutheran union days and their final split (only to welcome false doctrine back). The defectors became the United Church of Christ and are now Unitarian (recognizing all faiths as equal). What happens to institutions happens to individuals.

KJV Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

Notice that she did not open her heart. She did not make a decision. The Lord opened her heart. People who do not trust God’s Word to accomplish His will turn to human methods and devices. When ministers start defending methods, they are always headed toward rationalism and trusting in themselves.

These devices are always Law oriented and must fail in time. The Law is like going to a hospital and having all kinds of diagnostic tests. Then the doctor comes in and says, “According to the tests, you have all these things wrong with you.” And you say, “How are you going to cure me or help me?” The doctor replies, “We are going to do even more tests.” That would be appalling, but the Law/Law people do it all the time. They say, “This is where you are sinful.” And then, “To overcome this sin, you must do this and this.” A Pentecostal minister’s wife walked into our house and began saying, “You must confess your sin…” Thus many live and die in the Law.

In contrast, the ministry of the Gospel is far more glorious. Paul uses the comparison with Moses after receiving the Ten Commandments. Moses’ face shone so brightly that people could not even look at him. But that was the ministry of the Law, of condemnation, which can bear no fruit.

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

I chose Easter hymns (the same ones as last week) today because the Gospel, forgiveness, and Easter are different aspects of the same power of God. Because the Son of God innocently died on the cross for our sins, He rose on the third day, changing the first day of the week to the Lord’s Day from that time on. The early Christians were known for gathering at dawn on Sunday to remember and celebrate the resurrection of Christ. In Moline we had Easter sunrise services attended by huge crowds. Wharton Field House, across the street, would fill with people, who were anxious to get there early to have a seat.

Wherever the Gospel is taught, death is defeated by the eternal life given through the forgiveness won by Christ. We should remember that the early Christians had little and could not measure their success by new buildings, parking lots, and balanced budgets. They were concerned about government attacks on their homes, being arrested, tortured, and killed. They were more like the Christians in Red China today.

The Word of the Gospel must never be slighted or forgotten in our zeal for the Law. I have mentioned before that an adult study group member got very angry when I quoted Walther saying the Law bears no fruit, (Law and Gospel lectures).

The Law necessarily makes people anxious and afraid because of their sin. If they never hear the Law, they have no feeling of need for the Gospel. When we have a sore throat and cough, we will pay any price for relief, for the right medicine. But when the infection goes away, we forget to take the pills.

The Gospel brings Jesus to people, to show them for the first time, or once again, that He died for them, that the entire price has been paid for their sins. The true Gospel must be free of all traces of the Law, as Paul taught so many times. Gospel tainted by Law is still Law. The pure Gospel is all forgiveness and without price.

KJV Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Objections to the Gospel show where the sects and Rome invade and take over.

What if I am not sorry enough?
Answer – Forgiveness is not based upon the degree of sorrow but Christ’s atonement.

What if I have not suffered enough?
Answer – Christ suffered in our stead. We cannot pay with suffering when the price has been paid.

What if I feel I am not worthy?
Answer – No one is worthy. Christ makes us worthy, giving us His righteousness with His complete and free forgiveness.

Forgiveness means eternal life. All people die because of sin, but Christ gives us eternal life through this Gospel message of forgiveness.