Septuagesima Sunday, 2020

Septuagesima Sunday, 2020

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 10 AM Central Time 

The Hymn #413        I Walk in Danger                                 

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       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #479         Zion Rise                     

Run the Race!

The Hymn # 652          I Lay My Sins on Jesus                              

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 # 199            Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

Prayers and Announcements

• In treatment, Christina Jackson (radiation), Rush Limbaugh, Kermit Way (diagnosis, surgery).
• Glen Kotten is recovering and expects to be home this week.
• Bethany Lutheran Mission in the Philippines has its materials and is building a permanent roof, now that the harvest is finishing. Pastor and Mrs. Palangyos are from that region.
• Pilgrim's Progress, Wednesday 7 PM Central, will begin Part II this week, Christiana's story.

Hans Brorson - "I Walk in Danger." He was a Danish Pietist known for this hymn and often associated with Thomas Kingo and Nicholai Grundtvig. He wrote the ethereal "Behold a Host Arrayed in White" and "Thy Little Ones, Dear Lord, Are We." Over 100 of his hymns are in the Danish hymnal.

1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

KJV Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Septuagesima Sunday

Lord God, heavenly Father, who through Thy holy word hast called us into Thy vineyard: Send, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may labor faithfully in Thy vineyard, shun sin and all offense, obediently keep Thy word and do Thy will, and put our whole and only trust in Thy grace, which Thou hast bestowed upon us so plenteously through Thy Son Jesus Christ, that we may obtain eternal salvation through Him, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Background for the Epistle Lesson - 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 10:5

The ancients Greeks were so enamored of athletic contests that they stopped wars in order to have competitions. The same who fought on the battlefield were competitors in the Olympic, Delphic, and other games. Alexander the Great expanded Greek culture, creating the Hellenistic Empire, which brought drama, literature, trade, engineering, the Greek language, and athletics to every corner - three hundred years before Christ. For that reason, Greece was the standard in all human endeavors, and the growing Roman Empire emulated Greece in its expansion. 

The Roman Emperor Nero, about 40 years after Christ, wanted to win every contest and wear the laurel crown. We still use that term - laurels - for honors in athletics and academics. Julius Caesar  (40 years before Christ) obtained permission to wear his laurels all the time, because he was balding, the first celebrity to wear a "rug."

Paul's example of athletic competition used universal images of his time, and they fit ours as well. Not long ago, America stopped to watch athletes compete for the trophy awarded at the Superbowl. Professional and amateur athletes are remembered for the laurels they won in years past.

Run the Race!

1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race [stadium length -  εν σταδιω] run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Instructing the Christians under his care, the Apostle used an image familiar to all. The important races had one winner, just one who received the prize.

This is a fitting analogy for believers, because we move toward the goal as individuals. We cannot make others believe, though we can teach them. We cannot give them our faith, but we can share the Gospel Word. This is a message for each and every one of us. 

Just as in running a race, the individual has to be disciplined just to compete and maintain that purpose throughout the race. The marathon race is named for the place - Marathon - where a battle was being fought and a runner sent to report the results. 

Whether the race is 100 meters or 26 miles, the training and diet for that contest has to be consistent, self-disciplined, and designed for that effort. Paul says, "Run in order to receive that prize."

Like music, athletics have been used to learn a discipline - practice, being on time, avoiding training pitfalls. One athlete bragged that he could run laps and smoke at the same time, the same with other lapses. Years later he was addicted to those substances that he could overcome with his natural ability.

Those who look at spiritual discipline the same way can easily find that the short-cuts often become second nature and a permanent pattern. Our impulsive culture promotes that as meritorious, so outrageous actions are praised for the moment. 

Spiritual discipline is easily described as remaining on the True Vine, Jesus the Savior, and being fruitful through the cleansing of repentance and forgiveness of sin. 

Athletes study what diets they should maintain before and on the day of the contest. The human body cannot deliver on a diet of fast food, and our souls cannot thrive and endure without soul food - the Word and Sacraments, the Means of Grace. 

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Striving is the word we use for agony today, the battle between one force and another. The body of the runner is aching, not just on race day but on every day of training. The athlete's struggle to master the body and emotions is tremendous and often consuming. One man said he could not re-enter his sport because the winning numbers were much higher and he was not geared emotionally to exceed those numbers.

The foot is an engineering marvel, a living cathedral designed for speed, strength and endurance. "The human foot is a strong and complex mechanical structure containing 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments." A single problem in one foot can be crippling for the runner. Our podiatrist pulled glass out of mine, several times, and that was to remove pain in walking.

Part-time believers are like sporadic athletes. Time off becomes a permanent vacation, and the benefits fail to accrue. That is important because the Christian Faith offers is the One Truth so many have sought over the centuries, the wise men, kings, and priests.

Those with a slight knowledge of Creation will say to me, "How can we leave 20 sacks of leaves on your garden? They will blow all over the block. You will have to rake them back." I tell them, "No, the leaves interlock and quickly become a thick, blanket, softened by rain and frost, slowly absorbed into the soil. That protects plants and provides food for them through the devouring action of slugs, earthworms, springtails, and mites. They become nutrition as they disappear as the former leaf blanket." All things were created by the Son of God, the Logos, and nothing was created apart from Him." John 1:3. Concordia, St. Louis has no clue.

The corruptible crown (στεφανον - crown, Stephan) is that prize of laurel leaves, a symbol of all that work that went before and continued during that race. As great an honor as that is, the more important prize is finishing the race as a believer.

In Understanding Pilgrim's Progress, I keep mentioning that the work emphasizes the endurance and discipline of the Christian's life, the many opportunities to go astray and lose the prize.

Christiana's Story, Part II, Is Found in the Lutheran Librarian's edition of Pilgrim's Progress. Click the link to
spread the Word.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 

As Lenski notes, Paul uses double-negatives (litotes) to say he runs not uncertainly - but with a purpose. And he fights - not shadow boxes - but to win.

The Apostles lived in a pagan era much like ours, and we are just as bad, even in the worst ways possible. Lewd behavior was normal, and religion was often united with fertility rites, as we see being celebrated today in ELCA and almost universally hailed a freedom to be. In the midst of all temptations, Paul said he made his body subordinate to his faith, his body a temple of God, so that he would not fail as an apostle by being associated with pagan extremes.

Where Christianity fails, pagan worship takes over. Paul's inspired advice is laughed at, and the world looks upon buzzed celebrities with awe, respect, and wonder.

Lenski: Corinthians p. 386
"When we read all that Paul says about the body we should not catch the real point of his entire dis cussion if we failed to see just why he so prominently brings in this reference to his body. In many other connections he deals with the body and with its mem bers plus the lusts that use these organs for their pur pose. Thus in 6:12, etc.; Rom. 12:1. Here he refers to his body as an organism that requires food, drink, clothing, lodging, etc., in a word, support in order to live, support from the churches he served. This body of his would like to have abundant and rich support in order to live in a style that is befitting the body of an apostle, to say nothing about the greatest apostle of all. See the grand style in which prominent clerics live to day! Now Paul says: "I knock this out of my body completely; lead my body around as a slave (this is the first meaning of δουλαγωγω) ; I never let it rob me of my glory, that I make the gospel completely without charge' to all those to-whom I preach." Our versions are too refined also when they translate this degrading verb. It means complete slavery and not mere subjection or bondage, which may be much less."

It is tempting to attach profit to media productions, which is why our little group operates non-profit and often giving away books, recordings, and art. If a book can make $1,000 a year in profits for the author in the Lutheran market, why not drop the Sacraments, Luther, the Creeds, and make many times more? Many have forgotten what Luther said about temptation - "We cannot keep birds from flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building nests in our hair."

10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

St. Paul binds the individual's relationship to the larger view of the People of God, using "all" five times. The four verses build up to the presence of Christ in the Exodus. They were separated as the People of God and set free by God, escaping the Egyptians and slavery. The Rock is Christ, but the Greek term is rock-ledge or bedrock, not a rock. δε πετρα ην ο χριστος

At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus said, "You are Rocky πετρος," his nickname for Simon, and upon this Bedrock πετρα  (Jesus Himself) I will build My Church.

Matthew 16:18 - συ ει πετρος και επι ταυτη τη πετρα οικοδομησω μου την εκκλησιαν 

Jesus did not appoint Peter to be the first Pope, and he did not promise to build His Church on Peter's confession. After all, Peter rebuked Jesus a few seconds later. Man's confession is not permanent and stable, but Jesus is the foundation, the bedrock of the Christian Church.

Verse 5 concludes by saying that in spite of all that God did for His people to start and continue the Exodus, many fell away. This is a warning for all believers today.

In the same way, Christ died for the sins of all. However, even though many begin in the faith, through the Gospel Word, including Holy Baptism, many take this gift lightly. Others willfully teach another doctrine. Still others rejoice in their freedom but not in the Gospel itself.

The Greek word used for athletic competition is "struggle," and all of life is a struggle in the same way. Fortunately, we have world-wide team to help, encourage, support, and pray for us. I have as many (or as few) Christian friends in this Bible Belt city here as a member does in New York City. But we have a circle of Christian friends around the world. 

An old gruff member years ago was never appreciated by his church members, even though he supported that congregation far more than those members did. He spoke his mind at all times instead of playing games. He knew and felt this disapproval from the very people who expected him to bear their burdens. He would talk about those painful experiences and conclude, "Well, Jesus loves me."

His family chased him away from Bethany, but he got this congregation going anyway.

Luther's Epistle Sermon for Septuagesima, Third Sunday Before Lent. 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5

Luther's Sermon for the THIRD SUNDAY BEFORE LENT. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27; 10:1-5. 24



 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things.

Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. 1 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and did all eat the same spiritual food; 4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. 5 Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

THE CHRISTIAN RACE FOR THE PRIZE.

1. This lesson is a part of the long four-chapter instruction Paul gives the Corinthians. Therein he teaches them how to deal with those weak in the faith, and warns rash, presumptuous Christians to take heed lest they fall, however they may stand at the present. He presents a forcible simile in the running of the race, or the strife for the prize. Many run without obtaining the object of their pursuit. But we should not vainly run. To faithfully follow Christ does not mean simply to run. That will not suffice. We must run to the purpose. To believe, to be running in Christ’s course, is not sufficient; we must lay hold on eternal life. Christ says ( Matthew 24:13), “But he that endureth to the end, the same shall he saved.” And Paul ( 1 Corinthians 10:12), “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

2. Now, running is hindered in two ways; for one, by indolence. When faith is not strenuously exercised, when we are indolent in good works, our progress is hindered, so that the prize is not attained. But to such hindrance I do not think Paul here refers. He is not alluding to those who indolently run, but to them who run in vain because missing their object; individuals, for instance, who pursue their aim at full speed, but, deluded by a phantom, miss their aim and rush to ruin or run up against fearful obstacles. Hence Paul enjoins men to run successfully while in the race, that they may seize the prize and not lose it by default. In consequence the race is hindered when a false goal is set up or the true one removed. The apostle says ( Colossians 2:18), “Let no man rob you of your prize.” It is true, however, that an indolent, negligent life will eventually bring about loss of the prize. While men sleep, the enemy very soon sows tares among the wheat.

3. The goal is removed when the Word of God is falsified and creations of the human mind are preached under the name of God’s Word. And these things readily come about when we are not careful to keep the unity of the Spirit, when each follows his own ideas and yields to no other, because he prefers his own conceit.

Such must be the course of events where love is lacking. The strong and the learned desire to be looked upon as peculiarly commendable, while the weak in the faith are despised. Thus the devil has abundant opportunity to sow tares. Paul calls love the unity of the Spirit, and admonishes ( Ephesians 4:3) that we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. In 2 Thessalonians 2:10 he proclaims the coming of Antichrist “because they received not the love of the truth”; that is, true love. “And every man that striveth in the games [that striveth for the mastery].”

4. Were he who competes in a race to attempt other things or to make a success of other matters at the same time, he would not gain much; rather he would soon be defeated, lose the race and everything. If he would truly strive, he must attend to no other thing. All else must be neglected and attention centered upon the contest alone. Even then the winner must have fortune’s favor; for they who neglect all to run do not all gain the prize.

Likewise in the Christian contest it is necessary, and in an even higher degree, to renounce everything and to devote oneself only to the contest.

He who would in addition seek his own glory and profit, who would find in the Word and Spirit of God occasion for his own praise and advantage after the manner of the dissenters and schismatics — what can such a one expect to win? He is wholly entangled in temporal glory and gain; bound hand and foot, a complete captive. The race he runs is the mere dream race of one lying upon his couch an indolent captive. “I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air.”

5. Paul here points to himself as exemplar and hints at the cause of failure, viz., lapse from love and the use of the divine word in a wilful, ambitious and covetous spirit, whereas the faith which worketh by love is lacking.

Under such conditions, false and indolent Christians run indeed a merry race; yet God’s Word and ways in which they are so alert and speedy are merely a show, because they make them subserve their own interests and glory. They fail, however, to see that they race uncertainly and beat the air.

They never make a serious attempt, nor do they ever hit the mark. While it is theirs to mortify ambition, to restrain their self-will and to enlist in the service of their neighbors, they do none of these things. On the contrary, they even do many things to strengthen their ambition and self-will, and then they swear by a thousand oaths that they are seeking not their own honor but the honor of God, their neighbor’s welfare and not their own.

Peter says ( 2 Peter 1:9-10) this class are blind and cannot see afar and have forgotten they were purged from their old sins, because they fail to make their calling sure by good works. Therefore, it comes about that, as Paul says, they run uncertainly, beating the air. Their hearts are unstable and wavering before God, and they are changeable and fickle in all their ways, James 1:8. Since they are aimless and inconstant at heart, this will appear likewise as inconstancy in regard to works and doctrines. They undertake now this and now that; they cannot be quiet nor refrain from factional strife. Thus they miss their aim or else remove the goal, and cannot but deviate from the true and common path. “But I buffet [keep under] my body, and bring it into bondage [subjection].”

6. The apostle’s thought is the same as in his statement above, “Every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things.” By “keeping under the body” Paul means, not only subduing the carnal lusts, but every temporal object as well, in so far as it appeals to bodily desire — love of honor, fame, wealth and the like. He who gives license to these things instead of subduing them will preach to his own condemnation, however correct his preaching be. Such do not permit the truth to be presented; this is true particularly of temporal honor. These words of the apostle, then, are a fine thrust at ambitious and self-centered preachers and Christians. Not only do they run in vain and fight to no purpose; they become actual castaways with only the semblance — the color — of Christianity.

EXAMPLES FROM SCRIPTURE.

“For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud.”

7. Paul cites a terrible example from Scripture to prove that not all obtain the prize who run. There were about six hundred thousand of them, all of whom walked in the way of God and enjoyed his word and his confidence so completely as to be protected under the cloud and miraculously to pass through the sea; yet among the vast number who ran at that time only two, Joshua and Caleb, obtained the prize. They alone of all that multitude reached the promised land.

Later on in the chapter (verses 11-12) Paul explains this fact, saying: “Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition... wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” The design of these dealings of God with Israel is to terrify the pride, false wisdom and self-will; to deter men from despising their fellows and from seeking to make the Word of God minister to their own honor or profit in preference to the honor and profit of others. The intent is to have each individual put himself on an equality with others, each to bear with his fellow, the weak enduring the strong, and so on, as enjoined in the four chapters.

8. How many great and noble men may have been among the six hundred thousand, men to whom we would have been unworthy to hand a cup of water! They included the twelve princes of the twelve tribes, one of whom, Nahshon, Matthew ( Matthew 1:4) numbers in the holy lineage of Christ. There were also the seventy elders who shared in the spirit of Moses, Eldad and Medad in particular ( Numbers 11:27), and all the other great men aside from the faction of Korah. All these, mark you, strove in the race. They did and suffered much. They witnessed many miracles of God. They aided in erecting a grand tabernacle and in instituting divine worship. They were full of good works. Yet they failed, and died in the wilderness. Who is so daring and haughty he will not be restrained and humbled by so remarkable an example of divine judgment?

Well may it be said, “Let him that... standeth take heed lest he fall.”

9. Well, the example of Israel is one readily understood. God grant we may heed it! Let us examine the apostle’s text yet further — his mention of baptism and spiritual food, using Christian terms and placing the fathers upon the same plane with us Christians, as if they also had had Baptism and the Holy Supper.

He would have us know, first, the oft-repeated fact that God from the beginning led, redeemed and saved his saints by two instrumentalities — by his own word and external signs. Adam was saved by the word of promise ( Genesis 3:15): The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head; that is, Christ shall come to conquer sin, death and Satan for us. To this promise God added the sign of sacrifice, sacrifice kindled with fire from heaven, as in Abel’s case ( Genesis 4:4), and in other cases mentioned in the Scriptures. The word of promise was Adam’s Gospel until the time of Noah and of Abraham. In this promise all the saints down to Abraham believed, and were redeemed; as we are redeemed by the word of the Gospel which we believe. The fire from heaven served them as a sign, as baptism does us, which is added to the word of God.

10. Such signs were repeated again and again at various times, the last sign being given by Christ in his own person — the Gospel with baptism, granted to all nations. For instance, God gave Noah the promise that he should survive the flood, and granted him a sign in the ship, or ark, he built. And by faith in the promise and sign Noah was justified and saved, with his family. Afterward God gave him another promise, and for a sign the rainbow. Again, he gave Abraham a promise, with the sign of circumcision. Circumcision was Abraham’s baptism, just as the ark and the flood were that of Noah. So also our baptism is to us circumcision, ark and flood, according to Peter’s explanation. 1 Peter 3:21. Everywhere we meet the Word and the Sign of God, in which we must believe in order to be saved through faith from sin and death.

11. Thus the children of Israel had God’s word that they should inherit the promised land. In addition to that word they were given many signs, in particular those Paul here names — the sea, the cloud, the bread from heaven, the water from the rock. These he calls their baptism; just as our baptism might be called our sea and cloud. Faith and the Spirit are the same everywhere, though the signs and the words vary. Signs and words indeed change from time to time, but faith in the one and same God continues. Through various signs and revelations, God at different times bestows the same faith and the same Spirit, effecting through these in all saints remission of sins, redemption from death, and salvation, whether they lived in the beginning or at the end of time, or while time progressed.

12. Such is Paul’s meaning when he says the fathers did eat the same meat, and drink the same drink as we. He, however, qualifies with the word “spiritual.” Externally and individually Israel had signs and revelations different from ours; but the Spirit and their faith in Christ was identical with our own. Spiritual eating and drinking is simply believing in God’s Word and sign. Christ says ( John 6:56), “He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him.” And in the preceding verse, “My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” That is, He that believeth in me shall live. “For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them.”

13. In other words, they believed in the same Christ in whom we believe, though he was yet to come in the flesh; and the sign of their faith was the material rock, from which they physically drank water, just as we in partaking of the material bread and wine at the altar spiritually eat and drink the true Christ. With the outward act of eating and drinking we exercise inward faith. Had the Israelites not possessed the word of God and faith as they drank from the rock, the act of drinking would not have benefited their souls. Neither would it profit us to receive bread and wine at the altar if we were without faith. Indeed, had not the Word of God come first, the rock would not have yielded water and command faith.

Likewise, if God’s Word did not accompany bread and wine, they would not be spiritual food nor exercise faith.

14. So it is ever the same spiritual meat and drink which God embodies in his word and sign, whatever its material and external form may be. Were he to command me to lift up a mere straw, immediately the straw would hold for me spiritual food and drink. Not because of any virtue in the straw, but because it is a revelation and sign of the divine truth and presence. Again, if God’s Word and his sign be lacking or unrecognized, the very presence of God himself has no effect. Christ says of himself ( John 6:63), “The flesh profiteth nothing.” He makes that statement because his hearers pay no heed to the words in which he speaks of his flesh, though it is these which make his body the true meat, according to his declaration (verse 58), “This is the bread which came down out of heaven.” Therefore we are not to regard unduly, as blind reason does, the works, signs and miracles of God; rather we are to recognize his message therein. This is the act of faith.

15. The apostle refers to a single type — the rock, saying: “They drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.” By this statement he makes all the figures and signs granted to the people of Israel by the Word of God refer to Christ; for where the Word of God is, there Christ is. All the words and promises of God are concerning Christ. Christ himself refers the serpent of Moses to himself, giving it a typical significance, John 3:14. We may truly say the Israelites looked upon the same serpent we behold, for they saw the spiritual serpent that followed them, or Christ on the cross. Their beholding was believing in the Word of God, with the serpent for a sign; even as their spiritual drinking was believing in the Word of God with the rock for a sign. Without the Word of God, the serpent could have profited them nothing; nor could brazen serpents innumerable, had the Israelites gazed upon them forever. Likewise the rock would have profited them nothing without the word of God; they might have crushed to powder all the rocks of the world or drank from them to no purpose.

16. According to the general principle here laid down by Paul, by using the rock as illustration, we may say the Israelites partook of the same bread of heaven whereof we eat; and they ate of the spiritual bread of heaven which followed them — Christ. With them, eating was believing in the Word of God, while they had for their sign the bread from heaven whereof they physically partook. Had not this Word accompanied the bread, it would have been simply material food, incapable of profiting the soul or calling forth faith. Christ says ( John 6:32), “It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven.” And ( John 6:58), “Not as the fathers ate [manna], and died.”

Even Moses says ( Deuteronomy 8:3), “And fed thee with manna... that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of Jehovah.”

In other words, “In the material manna you must not merely see the work — the act of satisfying the appetite — but much rather the word of promise bringing you the bread of heaven; for by that word you live forever if you have faith.”

17. We may say the same concerning the sea and the cloud. The children of Israel walked under the same cloud that shadows us; that means, they walked under the spiritual cloud that followed them — Christ. Otherwise expressed, walking under the cloud was simply believing in the word of God, the word they had in their hearts, which told them to follow the cloud. Without that word they would have been unable to believe or to follow; indeed, with the word lacking, the cloud would never have appeared. Therefore, the cloud was called the glory of the Lord whose appearance had been promised.

So we see how we must in all things have regard to the word of God. To it faith must attach itself. Without it, either there are no signs and works of God, or else, existing, and regarded with the physical eyes only, without reference to the Word, they cause one to open his mouth in wonderment for a while like everything else which is new, but they do not profit the soul nor do they appeal to faith.

18. Some take the words “which followed them” to mean that the spiritual rock accompanied the children of Israel, companioning with them — “comitante petra,” not “petra consequente,” Christ being spiritually present in the word and by faith. This view they endeavor to base upon the Greek text. I have rendered it: “the rock following.” The point is not worth contention. Let each understand it as he may. Both interpretations given are correct. I hold to what I have offered because all the circumstances of the incident, and earlier words of God, pointed to a future Christ, a Christ who should follow, in whom they should all believe. Thus Abraham saw behind him the ram in the thicket and took and sacrificed him; that is, he believed in the Christ who afterward should come and be sacrificed.

19. Again, some say the common noun in the clause “and the rock was Christ” means the material rock; and since Christ cannot be material rock they explain the inconsistency by saying the rock signifies Christ. They here make the word “was” equivalent to “signifies.” The same reasoning they apply to certain words of Christ; for instance, they say where Christ, referring to the Holy Supper ( Matthew 26:26), commands, “Take, eat; this is my body” — they say the meaning is, “This bread signifies, but is not truly, my body.” They would thereby deny that the bread is the body of Christ. In the same manner do they deal with the text ( John 15:1) “I am the true vine,” in making it “I am signified by the vine.” Beware of such reasoners. Their own malice has led them to such perverting of Scripture.

Paul here expressly distinguishes between material and spiritual rocks, saying: “They drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.” He does not say the material rock was Christ, but the spiritual rock. The material rock was not spiritual, and did not follow or go with them.’ 20. The explanations and distortions of such false reasoners are not needed here. The words are true as they read; they are to be understood in substance and not figuratively. So in John 15:1, Christ’s reference is not to a material but a spiritual vine. How would this read, “I am signified by a spiritual vine”? Christ is speaking of that which exists, and must so be understood — “I am”; here is a true spiritual vine. Similar is John 6:55, “My flesh is meat indeed.” The thought is not, “My flesh signifies, or is signified by, true meat”; spiritual meat is spoken of and the meaning is, “My flesh is substantially a food; not for the stomach, physically, but for the soul, spiritually.” Neither must you permit the words “This is my body” to be perverted to mean that the body is but signified by the bread, as some pretend; you must accept the words precisely as they mean — “This bread is essentially, by a real presence, my body.” The forcing of Scripture to meet one’s own opinions cannot be tolerated. A clear text proving that the infinitive “to be” is equivalent to “signify” would be needed; and, even though this might be proven in a few instances, it would not suffice. It would still have to be indisputably shown true in the place in question. This can never be done. Now, the proposition being impossible, we must surrender to the Word of God and accept it as it stands.

21. Christ has been typified by various signs and objects in the Old Testament, and the rock is one of them. Note first, the material rock spoken of had place independently of man’s labor and far from man’s domain, in the wilderness, in desolate solitude. So Christ is a truly insignificant object in the world, disregarded, unnoticed; nor is he indebted to human labor.

22. Further, water flowing from the rock is contrary to nature; it is purely miraculous. The water typifies the quickening spirit of God, who proceeds from the condemned, crucified and dead Christ. Thus life is drawn from death, and this by the power of God. Christ’s death is our life, and if we would live we must die with him.

23. Moses strikes the rock at the command of God and points to it, thus prefiguring the ministerial office which by word of mouth strikes from the spiritual rock the Spirit. For God will give his Spirit to none without the instrumentality of the Word and the ministerial office instituted by him for this purpose, adding the command that nothing be preached but Christ.

Had not Moses obeyed the command of God to smite the rock with his rod, no water would ever have flowed therefrom. His rod represents rod of the mouth whereof Isaiah speaks ( Isaiah 11:4): “He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” “A scepter of equity is the scepter of thy kingdom.” Psalm 45:6.

Septuagesima Sunday, 2014. 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 10:5. Run the Entire Race

Septuagesima Sunday, 2014

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time

The Hymn #132                           O God of God                                    3:55

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       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 151            Christ the Life                       2:78

Running the Complete Race, Not Just One Heat

The Hymn # 227     Come Holy Ghost                             2:72

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 #409   Let Us Ever Walk                              2:91

1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

KJV Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thineis, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Septuagesima Sunday

Lord God, heavenly Father, who through Thy holy word hast called us into Thy vineyard: Send, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may labor faithfully in Thy vineyard, shun sin and all offense, obediently keep Thy word and do Thy will, and put our whole and only trust in Thy grace, which Thou hast bestowed upon us so plenteously through Thy Son Jesus Christ, that we may obtain eternal salvation through Him, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Run the Entire Race

1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Early on, I learned one thing about "conservative" Lutherans. They were good for one heat, but not for all the other qualifying races - and the final one. One heat was enough and they were done.

Paul's comparison here is directly from the world of sports. Athletics were very important to the Hellenistic world. The early Greeks would stop a war and hold an athletic contest with the same men. Later, they would take the field and go back to war again. Nothing kept them from sports - just like today.

Winning was very important. The Emperor Nero made sure he always won, because it was not enough just to be there.

This is a beautiful comparison to remaining faithful all our lives, not just for a time. I was reading on the Net about runners establishing a pace so they can win a long-distance run. Many sprint out ahead but fail before the race is finished.

One famous Evangelist bragged that he "owned Toronto." He was a big deal for a brief time, but he lost faith and dropped out. His sprint was not good to reach the finish line. And yet he published the fact that he once was number one.

W. F. Buckley said about Kissinger - he completed 3 out of 4 laps and then collected his prize to the cheers of the crowd, while the others finished the race. That was his commentary about the Nobel Prize and the Viet Nam war.

The battle is often recast as if one moment in time matters. Paul says - all are running this race. But only one wins the prize. Run to win the race, not just to be in the opening where the herd starts out at once.

Relatively few remain faithful. I can look at my peers who were confirmed in old-fashioned liturgical churches. They had thorough training. One now is a Hindu. Another one just lost a parent - but there will be no funeral. I read on the Internet about various former Lutherans who went this way and that - such as Steve Jobs, who was famous for being a celebrity Buddhist.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

The crown in those days was a circle of laurel leaves, not the gold crown we often imagine. More importantly, the word crown is the name Stephen. I believe this is a deliberate word-play to remind the believers of that first martyr - Stephen - who was faithful unto death. Even as they were killing him, Stephen witnessed to his faith.

So often mankind is misled into thinking in terms of doing rather than believing. But it is in believing that all our actions are shaped. If we start on the side of doing, we fall into justification by works thinking.

That is so common. When asked about departing from the faith, many clergy will answer, with some wrath, "Do you know what I have done?" 

In the race analogy, keeping one's eye on the finish line means subordinating everything to that. The runner will select the right shoes, adhere to the right diet, and keep up the training regimen. One famous boxer, Rocky Marciano, was famous for training far beyond anyone's expectations. He did that for one reason - to outlast the other boxer. And he did.

Navy SEALs train so that they have to jump into ice cold water when they are so exhausted they are falling asleep. They have to learn to ignore the natural need for sleep and make another effort, beyond anyone else's ability.

This crown is incorruptible. Eternal life means being with Christ forever and enjoying the consummation of all His promises. But that also means having a life where the Word is under attack and we tire of that battle.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The footrace is a good comparison, because anyone can visualize the troop of runners starting out and the weaker ones falling away. Talking does not win the race. 

Paul compared his work to running and to fighting. He wanted to complete the race (as in Pilgrim's Progress) and to fight the good fight. Just as pagan false teachers come to our doors for conversion, so do opportunities for the Gospel being taught.

Remaining faithful is the big challenge, because events can discourage us at times. We can waver in our desire to hear the Gospel. But trusting in the Savior, we have our particular roles and crosses laid out for us by God. Desiring only the best for us, He gives us challenges and times of apparent drought. The challenges revive our spirit and hunger for the righteousness of faith. The times of apparent drought help us appreciate His blessings even more.

I was getting tired of publishing, probably just tired of grading papers. And then a new way of finishing e-books came up . That made it fun. And the justification by faith debate started over again.

People talk about the Good Ol' Days. These are the Good Ol' Days. Justification by faith has not been taken seriously by the Synodical Conference in the longest time. I will let others determine when the last time was. At best, it was 30 years ago.

New generations are learning what faith in Christ means. They are opening up the Book of Concord and finding today's issues in front of them. They are reading Luther, learning and chuckling at his humor - but profoundly affected by his spiritual wisdom derived from the Word.

Others have said it for centuries, as Chemnitz did - "We are living in the last days of an insane, old world." Whenever that last day might be, we should still be running and slugging away, not fainting or shadow-boxing.