Trinity 23
KJV Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
KJV Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
The Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity
The Hymn #413
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 Phil 3:17-22
The Gospel Matthew 22:15-22
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #277
The Sermon
Our Citizenship Is in Heaven
The Offertory p. 22
The Hymn #305
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 #283
Our Citizenship Is in Heaven
Phil 3:20 For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
This letter is called the Epistle of Joy because of the exuberant spirit throughout the text. Paul did not engage in the happy-talk we find so often on news shows and church services. The first part of this passage denounces the enemies of the cross.
Mark—or carefully observe—certain of the leaders and follow their example. Paul does not refer only to himself, but to others as well. The first leaders of the Christian Church must have been courageous and strong, trusting in Christ alone for their salvation. They had to resist all the excesses of the Roman Empire, the sins of the flesh, while maintaining the pure doctrine of Christ in a pagan world. Paganism will always be popular because of its veneration of the self. Many would say, “the celebration of self” today.
Paul Tillich, the famous and now largely forgotten philosopher-theologian, always emphasized “autonomy.” That meant he was a law unto himself. Posing as a Christian theologian, he was one of the enemies of the cross, denounced by Paul in this chapter. To be brief, he was the Bill Clinton of the theologians.
People may think at first that the enemies of the cross are those pagans persecuting the Christian Church. Not so. The enemies are those righteous individuals who strike everyone as wise, saintly, and pure but inwardly despise the Word of God. They are within the visible church but not within the Kingdom of God. There are obvious enemies whose conduct is so bad that no one can deny the fact. But Luther pointed out the greater danger of those who are righteous through their own works.
In general, righteousness through the Law is promoted two ways. The first is rather obvious to an outsider, but not to the practitioners. Certain rules are set up so that violation of those rules equals damnation. Observing the rules means salvation. All world religions are based on this, although the rules may vary.
Many denominations emphasize a heavy-handed legalism where the same effects can be seen. They make Moses their Savior by teaching salvation through the Law. They make Jesus the Law-giver by equating the Christian faith with a list of laws rather than the Gospel message of forgiveness.
Since people and organizations based on the law must be perfect, they have no tolerance for someone who says, “We are not observing our own rules.” One former Mormon worked at a Mormon college. They taught against Coca-cola in class, but the teachers’ lounge had a vending machine for Coke. When the teacher, as a faithful Mormon, pointed out the gap between teaching and practice, he received death threats. Eventually he became a Christian and wrote about it. His wife left him because he was a Mormon apostate, but she converted later and returned to him. The pull on him to go back to an outward observance of Mormonism to keep her happy was strong.
Christians become law-salesmen by turning Gospel motivation into Law threats. Soon they have a large body of canon law in their publications, to observe and become scholars of that law, which may be several decades old or—best of all for them—unwritten but understood.
Those are more obvious manifestations of religion as law. The other perversion is much more subtle. Those people are the holiest, best, and wisest of all. Nothing can be said against them outwardly. They are enemies of the cross because they trust in their own righteousness for salvation. These people are the ones who hate the Gospel because righteousness is alien, from Christ, rather than from their efforts, virtue, and observances.
Citizenship in Heaven
NKJ Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Luther and the Confessions teach us that we should long for this manifestation rather than cling to the glories of this life. If we treasure the Gospel, then our hearts will be with that treasure. Only one thing can be first. If the Gospel is in second or third place, it can be bartered down to a much lower place easily enough, and then forgotten. In the Parable of the Sower, some of the seed is choked by the cares and concerns of this world.
There are two ways of looking at this matter. The first way is the majority view, the unbeliever’s perspective. In that situation, worldly wealth and honors are all-important. All we have to do is look at all the awards and citations offered. Both cable/TV companies in Phoenix brag about their J. D. Powers awards for service. All of the Phoenix customers scratch our heads about both awards.
Lutherans give each other awards all the time. When Dorothy Sonntag left her editorial position in WELS to join the ELCA, the WELS magazine blessed her apostasy and noted her recent journalism awards. Many people feel validated by awards and honors. Many avoid the cross by clinging to the awards and honors. Nothing will stop the awards faster than clinging to the Word alone. Friendships dry up as well.
Citizenship in heaven means our primary loyalty and love is fixed on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.
KJV Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Law by itself can only lead to death. Our bodies show that we have inherited mortality, by the way in which time emphasizes the inevitable weakness of the flesh. The appeal of the Law alone is to create a system that pays for these sins, by abstaining from them or atoning for them. That can only lead to spiritual pride (I did it) or despair (This is impossible to do). In end we can fool ourselves and everyone else, but not God.
The way of salvation is clear throughout the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation. People get confused about it because they are fed misconceptions.
For instance, I am teaching a bunch of eager Evangelicals at a private university. Every so often one will say, “The Old Testament is Law. The New Testament is Gospel.” I get to say, “No, the Old Testament is full of Gospel promises. Every comforting passage, every promise of the Messiah is Gospel.” Abraham was justified by faith in Christ.
The Holy Spirit works through the Law to create contrition
The Law of God brings about contrition, true sorrow for sin. We harden our hearts so easily that this work is very important, but often misunderstood. Godly contrition is not a work of man, but the result of the Holy Spirit working through the Law. If we rely on common sense as a motivation, it is not God’s Law at work. So, someone might say, “Living together before marriage increases the risk of divorce.” That is a statistic and not God’s Law. Using the Law means saying, “Living together before marriage is despising God’s Word. God created marriage.” When I said that to a man who said he loved God’s Word, he decided to marry the mother of his three children. He also began lessons in the Christian faith.
The Holy Spirit Convicts Us – Lack of Faith
KJV John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
KJV John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The primary sin is lack of faith in Christ. Unfortunately, it is much easier to preach about the carnal sins of the Prodigal: wasting money on fast women, slow horses, and booze.
It is too easy to prescribe a law solution for a law problem: “This is what you must do.” The famous mega-churches are doing so well because they advocate man-made law solutions for felt-need problems. No conversion to the Christian faith is necessary.
Luther saw that the Law had been preached with infinite harshness for a thousand years, with little emphasis on the true Gospel. He did not give up being a monk when the Reformation started in 1517. He did not marry for 8 years. He was saturated with the idea of works-righteousness, earning his own salvation. Luther knew from his own experience that complete trust in Christ was the real Gospel, despising any idea of earning or deserving salvation.
A desert father said this in the earliest days of the Church, “What a heavy burden we cast off when we stop justifying ourselves. What a light burden we take up when we are justified by Christ.”
KJV Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
The Gospel Alone Saves
The Law cannot save and cannot bear fruit. However, we need the Law to show us our need for the Savior.
The Gospel alone saves and bears fruit in the believer’s life. The Gospel declares the work of Christ in atoning for our sins. Someone is justified by faith when he says, “Christ died for my sins and rose from the dead.”
KJV Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
The famous Romans passage should be committed to memory, because justification by faith is so clearly and beautifully expressed. The universal nature of the Atonement is combined with individual justification by faith. The Atonement is universal because Christ died for the sins of the world, for all time. Justification is individual because a group does not believe. Even in the most hide-bound, legalistic Lutheran sect, some of the people in church do not believe the Gospel. Unbelievers are not justified: they are not declared righteous by the Word of God.
The seed of faith is planted in newly baptized babies. If this seed is nurtured, the child will grow in the Christian faith. The Parable of the Sower teaches us the ways in which this seed is taken away, scorched, or choked by cares. This same parable also assures us that the careless sowing of the seed of the Word will still produce an astonishing yield.
Who is talking when a pastor (or congregation) says: “Nothing is happening. This is useless, worthless. If only we were big, glorious, successful, featured in the Saturday religion page, or better, in Time magazine…”? That is Satan speaking to someone’s emotions. That is where we are weak, so that is where he attacks. Despair and discouragement are the chief weapons of the Evil Foe. One Church and Change guru even made fun of those who think “faithfulness is enough.” That is right out of the Devil’s Handbook. He went on to mock faithful Lutherans, saying, “We four. No more. Shut the door.” Yes, make people ashamed of the Gospel by painting the faithful as villains.
Opponents of the Gospel—“false sons within the pale”— are part of the territory and help us appreciate the Word of God and the Confessions. Weapons against falsehood must be constantly sharpened by use, so we should be thankful for opposition, not resentful.
The Gospel Promises
The Gospel is all comfort and places no demands upon us. Any law requirement corrupts the Gospel. So, “You are forgiven if you give up alcohol” is not Gospel, but the worst perversion, Gospel mixed with Law. It is very important to distinguish these two matters, Law and Gospel. If that demand is made and accepted, it leads to despair. “I am no good. I cannot give it up. I am lost.”
It is quite another message to say, “Christ has paid for your sins and will give you the strength to resist this temptation. You may fall again, many times over, but He will always be your source of strength and the cause of your forgiveness.” Only the Gospel can strengthen us against the temptations of life. “You can tie a hog ever so tightly to a tree, but you cannot keep him from squealing.” (Luther) Thus the Old Adam can be constrained and limited but never eliminated while we are alive.
Some will say, “What about faith? Doesn’t the Gospel demand faith? Isn’t that a Law demand?” As Walther said, the command to believe is a gracious invitation, not a demand. If someone comes to our home and we say, “Please stay for dinner, we have plenty to eat,” is this not a gracious invitation? It is not a demand. When we offer a gift, the gift is received.
So the Gospel is proclaimed and taught, administered in the visible form of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. The Promises of God are never without the Holy Spirit, who stirs up faith the first time and awakens and deepens faith repeatedly.
What God provides in the Means of Grace is renewed by the Means of Grace, Word and Sacrament. This is how God works such great abundance in the lives of believers.
Results of the Gospel
Phil 3:20 For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
I remember Leroy, a retired scientist, who used to refer to his body as “an old jackass.” As he aged, he experienced the vileness of his weakening body. His heart did not work right. His neck required a brace at times.
Christ gives us His righteousness. He also promises us that He will give us a glorious new body for eternity.
KJV John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Paul elaborated on this teaching of Christ in the great resurrection passage of 1 Corinthians. The harmony and unity of the Scriptures should fill us with wonder:
KJV 1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
We are weak and frail creatures, prone to pride, sloth, greed, envy, lust, and covetousness. If we trust in our own merit, who can stand up against a cross-examination? But we have the glorious promises of the Gospel, the declaration of forgiveness, and the Promises of the resurrection before us.
Let us learn from our Good Shepherd, Who is meek and lowly, and take up the light burden and easy yoke of justification by faith.
Quotations
"Emphatically does Scripture state that the action of the Spirit covers the whole life from first to the last. He is the Spirit of Life for regeneration (John 3:5, 8): the Spirit of Sonship for adoption (Romans 8:15): the Spirit of holiness for sanctification (Romans 8:5): the Spirit of Glory for transfiguration (2 Corinthians 3:18); the Spirit of Promise for the resurrection (Ephesians 1:13). Only through the Holy Spirit are men drawn to the Author and Finisher of their salvation."
Arthur H. Drevlow, "God the Holy Spirit Acts to Build the Church," God The Holy Spirit Acts, ed., Eugene P. Kaulfield, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1972, p. 15. John 3: 5,8; Romans 8:5; Romans 8:15; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:13
"Now, Paul's thought here is that nothing should be taught and practiced in the Church but what is unquestionably God's Word. It will not do to introduce or perform anything whatever upon the strength of man's judgment. Man's achievements, man's reasoning and power, are of no avail save in so far as they come from God."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 229 Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 2 Corinthians 3:4-11;
"Note further, that it is his ministry to which Paul ascribes the preparation of their heart thereon and the inscription which constitutes them 'living epistles of Christ.' He contrasts this ministry with the blind fancies of those fanatics who seek to receive, and dream of having, the Holy Spirit without the oral word; who, perchance, creep into a corner and grasp the Spirit through dreams, directing the people away from the preached Word and visible ministry. But Paul says that the Spirit, through his preaching, has wrought in the hearts of his Corinthians, to the end that Christ lives and is mighty in them."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. p. 226. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 2 Corinthians 3:4-11; Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 11, 18
"The Spirit is the ink or the inscription, yes, even the writer himself; but the pencil or pen and the hand of the writer is the ministry of Paul. This figure of a written epistle is, however, in accord with Scripture usage. Moses commands (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 11, 18) that the Israelites write the Ten Commandments in all places where they walked or stood--upon the posts of their houses, and upon their gates, and ever have them before their eyes and in their hearts."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 225. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 2 Corinthians 3:4-11; Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 11, 18
"This epistle sounds altogether strange and wonderful to individuals unaccustomed to Scripture language, particularly to that of Paul. To the inexperienced ear and heart it is not intelligible."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 223. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 2 Corinthians 3:4-11
"It is a glory which every preacher may claim, to be able to say with full confidence of heart: 'This trust have I toward God in Christ, that what I teach and preach is truly the Word of God.' Likewise, when he performs other officials duties in the Church--baptizes a child, absolves and comforts a sinner--it must be done in the same firm conviction that such is the command of Christ. He who would teach and exercise authority in the Church without this glory, 'it is profitable for him,' as Christ says, (Matthew 18:6), 'that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.' For the devil's lies he preaches, and death is what he effects."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 227. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 2 Corinthians 3:4-11; Matthew 18:6
"The Law of God, which is also contained in Scripture, must be excluded from the concept 'means of grace,' because the Law does not assure those who have transgressed it—and all men have transgressed it—of the remission of their sins, or God's grace, but on the contrary proclaims God's wrath and condemnation. For this reason the Law is expressly called...'the ministry of condemnation,' whereas the Gospel is...'the ministry of righteousness' (2 Corinthians 3:9)."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953, III, p. 105. 2 Corinthians 3:9.
"And this call of God, which is made through the preaching of the Word, we should not regard as jugglery, but know that thereby God reveals His will, that in those whom He thus calls He will work through the Word, that they may be enlightened, converted, and saved. For the Word, whereby we are called, is a ministration of the Spirit, that gives the Spirit, or whereby the Spirit is given, 2 Corinthians 3:8, and a power of God unto salvation, Romans 1:16. And since the Holy Ghost wishes to be efficacious through the Word, and to strengthen and give power and ability, it is God's will that we should receive the Word, believe and obey it."
Formula of Concord, SD XI. #29. Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1073. Tappert, p. 621. Heiser, p. 289. 2 Corinthians 3:8; Romans 1:16.
