August 5 2012: Ephesians 4:1-16

August 5, 2012; 10^th Sunday in Trinity; Texts: Psalm 145:10-21; Exodus 16:2-15; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:22-35; Title: Called to the Caller; Rev. Tim Beck

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

          A portion of our text: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beseech you to walk in the calling to which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace in one body and one Spirit; as you were also called in one hope of your calling:

          Unity! What a goal for the church in every age. Bound in peace! What joyous fetters these? A calling! What a privilege to live in Christ’s order for the church. Listen to this man, whom Christ called for our sake. The Apostle Paul says “You were called, so walk in your calling.” You were called into one hope: One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, the one over all and through all and in all. It’s simple, and if it is difficult, that’s not God’s fault. You just heard who calls you, what joys you are called into, and do you remember what are you called for?  Let’s review the last two week’s readings: Eph 1:4 says: According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him… In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace…  Eph. 3:19 says …to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. This is the destination of your calling.

          How do we walk in this calling? We walk by faith in the grace that named you holy and blameless. We walk by faith, trusting our sins are forgiven by Jesus Christ. We walk by faith in The Faith, in what Scripture reveals. We walk by faith, praying for strength to follow our Lord. Every step in Christ is a step of faith; and faith, that gift from God, your faith, is alive and active. The Holy Spirit stirred up faith to believe in grace, in Christ’s imputed righteous. The same Spirit dwells in you so that you walk as one called. For example, He teaches you humility and meekness when you are wronged, teaching you to commit yourself not to vengeance, but to God.  Likewise, you learn patience through affliction as you wait for your heavenly Father to supply your needs. Because of need we listen more closely to Paul’s encouragement that Christ redeemed us, and also to his teaching of how to walk. Yes, we get discouraged because we still sin, so we heed the calling to daily repentance. There we are encouraged by forgiveness (that’s the doctrine of justification). That encouragement returns us to living in Christ (the doctrine of sanctification).  And sanctification returns us to Christ crucified for us, that is to justification. The Ephesian Christians, justified, redeemed, called to be children of God and walk in the holiness of Christ, they needed correction and encouragement too. We all do. We need reminding to repent daily that the Father forgives our sins, and the Holy Spirit indwells us for hope in our calling.

          This doctrine matters for unity because it means we are joined to one another. Whoever has a living faith is in Christ, is His bride, the church. That’s reason to be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace in one body and one Spirit; as you were also called in one hope of your calling: Into what are you called, into One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, the one over all and through all and in all. As one theologian put it, the true church is not “congeries of religious miscellanea.” (F.F. Bruce)  The true church is united in the one faith, in Christ’s teaching. This too is the           church’s calling, to receive the one faith in order to walk with one Lord. We were brought into the unity of one faith through one baptism, so we are taught the content of that unity in the one holy and apostolic church.

          So why do disagreements occur in doctrine and over the practices that teach doctrine? The Word of God is not muddy or unclear. The problem is in us, in our dullness, our readiness to jump ship, to discard what we don’t like or to add what we do. There is perpetual struggle in this life to keep the one doctrine; that’s why the Apostle said approach this with humility, meekness, patience and longsuffering. Watch yourself and others, since the church on earth must fight to preserve pure doctrine. The church militant marches on her knees, wielding but the sword of the Word. How did it happen that the early church evolved into the corruptions of the Middle-Ages, of peasants to lords flagellating themselves for forgiveness? How did it happen that a once sound Lutheran church in San Francisco became the Lutheran church of the goddesses? (Look it up on the web if you want a colorful example of apostasy.) Both examples didn’t happen overnight, but little by little, little compromise by bigger until it was no longer one faith, but false faiths and poly-faiths.  It happens if a church embraces a feel-good-about-myself pop culture and denies sin’s deep darkness. It happens if a congregation chooses to “keep up with the times by getting rid of what doesn’t work” and hides the ugly, bloody cross in a closet. You can think of many examples how boats get unmoored and drift downstream, the only direction boats drift.         If up-streamers say “give me a paddle!” They are called loveless and non-accepting, accused of schism, of de-uniting the church. But that’s a lie. Our calling is not to embrace many doctrines or even convenient ones, but the one doctrine that the true church has always taught.

          Into what and whom where you called? You are called to walk in your calling in one Lord, one faith, one baptism. That’s where we received redemption, forgiveness, the riches of grace, the love of Christ unto the fullness of God! We are called to walk in all humility and patience for a goal given by our Lord. What is the goal? The peace and unity of the church in the one faith Unity is possible because it is God’s will for us, and what we were baptized into… for grace was given to each of us according to the measure of the gift of Christ.  Christ has supplied His Church with all necessary to have unity; including this: And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors-and-teachers, for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. This does not necessarily mean if you have a pastor everything is OK. We recently read a Scripture about bad shepherds who misled sheep. Yet Christ gave the office of pastor/teacher for building up His body.  And the pastor/teacher is given tasks. By God’s help, he is: 2) to do the work of the ministry;  1) to equip the saints; 3) to build up the body of Christ.

          That’s why a pastor’s work is about declaring the word and administering the Sacraments. (Col. 4:7, 17; I Tim 1:12, II Tim 4:5, 11). That’s why a pastor teaches law and gospel, so that the body of Christ together grows in unity. That’s why Mt. Zion has Divine Service, Bible classes, catechism, to equip the saints. That’s why you come to receive from Christ, so that strengthened with His gifts you live as Christians in the world, serving Him in your vocations by serving your neighbor. Permit me some detail: Perhaps you noticed the Bible version we use says And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ… That’s different than And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

          The first translation appeared in the 1930’s, and by popular demand is now the version in some Bibles. But the second translation is what the text says. The first translation seems like a small alteration, a convenient change for the mindset of the day, for democracy and all that. Does it matter? Here’s the issue: Is everyone a “minister” who does the ministry; and the pastor’s job is to equip you to do the work of the ministry? Is the pastor a CEO rather than a shepherd, and your job is to publicly declare the word and administer the sacraments? The phrase “everyone a minister” distorts the relation of the priesthood of believers to the pastoral office. It also shifts the focus from Christ for you to what you do for Christ. Church quickly becomes law, what you must do. Scripture gives the church a divinely appointed office, setting stewards over the mysteries (sacramentum) of God, calling pastors through the church to preach and teach (see I Cor. 3:5; Ac 20:24; 21:19; Rm. 11:13; II Cor. 4:1; 6:3; Eph. 6:21). As Christ’s representatives, pastors feed Christ’s flock, even those who can do nothing, like infants or the infirm or the dying, and it’s OK they can’t do ministry. As the public office preaches and administers the Sacraments, you are equipped; so that as Christ’s body, called by grace, you are strengthened to live by faith, faith that Christ has done it all. Then in liberty, all Christians, the Royal Priesthood, the justified, are enabled to serve in your vocations sharing the hope that is within you. 

          You minister in the broad sense of the word, meaning a servant, a servant of Christ. In that general sense we all minister, or serve, everywhere our vocations take us in the world, for Christ’s sake. Christ has a goal for the church: that… we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a complete (mature) manhood and to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This is ours since the word of God is clear and living, and dwells in all who have faith. For this end the Lord created the offices of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers to provide what we need to receive such gifts. Pastors provide the Word and Sacrament in order that we no longer may be infants, being blown and carried around by every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. You have enemies intending to deceive you with false doctrine, presented through slight of men with craftiness demonically driven. But your Saviour rescues you through His truth, building your faith through those appointed to offices created for your benefit. Through these, He calls you to faithfulness, strengthening you by the Word         that ministers to you, equipping and building you in maturity: (that you) may grow into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ; 16 From whom the whole body joined and knit together with which it is supplied, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

          Such is the calling of the whole church, hearing Christ speak the truth in love so that you grow stronger in love. That is what truth does, truth spoken, heard, believed and lived. That is why you pray for your pastor, for those who influence the church, and for all in Christ’s body. That is why you give heed in your station in life as to your calling in the one faith, as to your life of faith. You are called, given Christ’s holiness through the redemption of His blood. We look forward to being filled with the fullness of God. And Christ, the head of the church, supplies grace according to the rich measure of His gifts. He works effectively in and through His church for the sake of unity and peace. He called you, calling you into one sure hope: One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.  He is the source of unity and peace in the church, having united you to Him through one baptism in the one faith, in one Spirit, One Lord, one God and Father of all.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Amen)           

July 29, 2012: Ephesians 3:14-21

July 29, 2012; 9^th Sunday in Trinity; Texts: Psalm 136:1-9; Genesis 9:8-17; Ephesians 3:14-21; Mark 6:45-56; Title: Thy Kingdom Come; Rev Tim Beck 

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

If you want to succeed in life what does it take? Hard work, skill, and a little bit of luck… so it goes in the world. Even then, if you make a little measuring mistake the cake falls. If you go a hair too fast on a curve you slide off the road. You get the contract, unless someone doesn’t like your looks. And when it comes to spiritual matters, we don’t even get close to success. If we bake our own cake, it comes out devil’s-food.  If it is a rat race, we can’t find the track. If it is a contract, good looks don’t count, and thank God since salvation is not by works but by grace alone. Christ declared us righteous. There is nothing you need to bake, no race to the starting line, and no contract you must fulfill to be loved by God. He baked the cake; He ran the race; and He gives you His contract, His New Testament, where the terms are all in your favor. There you were made heirs of the Son, by grace.

          It is because of grace the Apostle Paul says “for grace, I bow in devotion before the Father (literally) the Pater, out of whom every patria in heaven and on earth is named.” Every patria comes out of the Pater, the Father. Because of that grace Paul worships; because the Father chose to be our Father, naming us with His name. That’s why we too worship as His patria, His family. That means something very real. The Apostle points out we will succeed spiritually, enabled and en-willed in a very real way, in every real way because we, the justified, the forgiven, the redeemed, are chosen by the Father to be His. The Apostle points out that our heavenly Father is willing and able to do good for us. He who named us as His strengthens us in the one Holy Christian Church. His willingness and ability to save and to impart his sanctifying life in us is clearly revealed in Scripture: “For you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Rev 4:11); And, He “desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim 2:4);  And, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him” (Heb 7:25); and “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Lk 1:37).

          Scripture is emphatic. Our Lord is willing and able to help. Consider our reading from Ephesians. Given salvation (the imputation of Christ’s righteousness as ours) Paul worships, and unfolds some implications of that salvation, of the Father having chosen us in Christ. He points out what riches of glory are given us, received by faith.  He points out that faith is a gift, rooted and grounded in the Triune God’s love. He points out this love is given that we know the fullness of God.  God’s love “surpasses knowledge,” surpassing even our ability to understand. His compassion literally “super-abounds” to strengthen us unto salvation. He “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,” so that we share in the riches of his glory. Remember that when troubles arise; remember who holds all things in His hand. Be encouraged when our loving Lord lets hell break loose, for a time.  Be assured that when the church is troubled, tested, tempted and seemingly forsaken, He will not leave us or forsake us.  The Triune God loves us beyond our comprehension and is doing super-abundantly for our good, right now.

          And it isn’t just in crisis we need to know that, and receive that. We need His strength in ordinary times, everyday. For an ordinary example, what do you say if a neighbor says “I’m a good person. Don’t talk to me about that Jesus stuff.” Will you shrivel up or confess the faith? What do you do when the world calls “good” what Scripture calls “evil”? At a company party, do you parrot the party line to hell or confess the faith?  What will we do when the government says “Church, you must violate your conscience?” Will we agree or pay the price of a clean conscience?  And the trouble isn’t just “out there.” Are you ever dry, spiritually?  Does going to church seem like one more thing to do when the alarm clock rings? Is the Bible too heavy to lift off the table, the words too difficult to ponder? We won’t mention sins that make us feel miserable or ought to; the failures, the attitudes and the faults we confess before God. We won’t mention all these because they are under the blood of Christ, forgiven. We confessed our sin, we are absolved, and now we ask “how is that superabundant love, that vibrant life, manifest as mine?”

          The Apostle answers that question with God’s words to you, for you. He gives words that inform you, for example, in your prayer life. We can ask of our Father, “You tell us of your superabundant love and promise to effectively empower us. So Lord, come!” (Maranatha!) Work in and through me. That’s a legitimate way to pray the Scriptures, exemplified by the prophets and apostles. Read some of their prayers, when Abraham, Moses or David ask the Lord to fulfill His world. And let us pray the Psalms. Let us pray, reciting our Lord’s promises, promises given for our benefit, relief, rest and rejuvenation. Remind God of his promises, for your sake. That’s also how we pray the Lord’s prayer, the one He taught us to pray, the one in which are hidden all the promises of God for us.     We pray asking, “Lord, you’ve promised me these things. I wait on you.”

Our willing Lord rejuvenates us with promises like “a bruised reed he will not break and a faintly burning wick he will not quench” (Isa 42:3). Into a desert He came, the water of life poured out in the love of Jesus Christ, poured out through His word with water, and poured into us in His blood to drink. So in Word and Sacraments Paul says “here is His willingness and ability to strengthen you,” the gifts of the Triune God are for you. The one God is willing and able to strengthen us. He sent His Son as the sacrificial Lamb, to name Himself “our Father,” applying that holy death to us in water in the name: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father chose us in Him before the foundation of the world as his family, calling us from among all tribes and tongues, by grace. As our loving Father, He gives us “riches of his glory.”

          You might think it an odd glory, but that includes as the Father was glorified by Christ lifted up, so the church glorifies Christ in like manner… and for the purpose intended by God.  From the beginning of the church, the tiny few who professed “the name” suffered for that name; yet grew in 300 years to fill the Roman Empire. So too in our day, Christians suffer for their faith, yet receive strength to endure with joy, because we belong to “the name.” And at the end of days, as Christ ascended we too will be raised to the presence of the Father. We shall in glory shine. Not only God the Father, also God the Son willingly and ably strengthens us. The chief evidence is His death for sinners and His resurrection for life. He is the source of absolution, who now dwells in us through faith. As His Holy Nation, He settles and governs you who receive far more than our reason can comprehend. (17) Likewise God the Holy Spirit is willing and able to strengthen us. He empowers our inner being (16). He gives you divine life that you are willing and able to resist sin and to live for God. The Spirit strengthens you through hearing, including when you received the word with water and when you receive the word with bread and wine.

          The Triune God’s willingness and ability has a purpose for your renewal and strengthening. You were born from above by water and the Word and are sustained in Christ’s life day by day for this reason: to live eternally with the Heavenly Father. You were named by the Name, made children of the Father, to inherit the riches of His glory. According to the Father’s will, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ dwell in you, filling the church with the fullness of God.  What mystery this, that while we are still sinners we are being restored to the image of God? We shall be righteous. We shall enjoy unhindered fellowship in the Triune God. That is the definition of paradise. The church shall be fulfilled, united in Christ, one body, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all. For this eternal purpose, for a heavenly end we are being renewed by Christ today. Christ plants us in His abiding love, and enables us, telling us to grasp, lay hold of, to seize that love, by faith in His promises. And the Christ whose blood cleanses us from all sin strengthens us to believe what is ours in His love, so that today we are enabled to live in what He daily gives.  Jesus Christ renews our confidence, and although we don’t know what we shall know, we are growing in what we shall become; for the Triune God is willing and able to strengthen us, and in fact He is doing that very thing, “according to the power at work within us” (20).

          Although we struggle as sinners, our Lord works His power in us for good. Although we slip and slide in living the faith, our Lord teaches us the faith, by letting us share in Christ’s sufferings. Although we are weak and often trip, His power works in us, in the church of faith; and we who are called out of the world share His mercy in the world. Because the Triune God is willing and able He does far more than we know and ask. He is our justification and our sanctification, our imputed righteousness and our daily strength, our confident hope and the power in us to give glory to God. He will preserve us to the end, to His end purpose, to be filled with His fullness, to rejoice in Him and in the fellowship of the saints in glory. Therefore today, let us repent our sin and rely on His grace; let us call upon Him who hears and strengthens us through His Spirit in Christ. If you want to succeed in life it takes hard work, skill and a bit of luck… says the world. If you want to succeed in death, through death and into eternal life, it takes the Father’s pardon, Christ’s grace, and the Spirit’s presence. And you have received that success. Your sins are forgiven; and you are given the life of God in the love of Christ Jesus our Lord. You are named the patria of the pater.

         

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord (Amen)

8th Sunday in Trinity: Ephesians 2:11-22

July 22, 2012; 8^th Sunday in Trinity; Texts: Psalm 23; Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-44: The Best Broken Wall; Rev. Tim Beck

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What does the Apostle Paul say matters? Peace matters. In the midst of war, soldier or civilian is glad for peace. When personal relationships are in turmoil through anger, bitterness and suspicion – we are glad for peace. And you were at war with God and each other, but through Christ received peace. There’s been an amazing change in and through Christ: you received peace. Some folks deny human history is a war against God; but who can explain the bizarre fight against the good law or the gift called grace? What explains those who say kill Christians, or burn Bibles or God doesn’t exist, or who bow to a pantheon of gods all-together like us? The evidence of the war against God is everywhere… from indoctrination masquerading as science to destructive ideologies pretending to be moral.

          Even if your war ended, even if baptized as infants and growing up believing the marvelous Gospel, all of us know the war in our evil desires. Even after Christ brought peace, simultaneously saint and sinner as we are, the battle continues in our flesh. Does your eye linger on the scantily clad? Does your ear tune in a tasty rumor? Does your tongue let slip unkind comments? Who feels no temptation but the dead? Feeling temptation tells us there is much in us against God that can be aroused. So we understand hostility and how wonderful its end; how blessed peace with God, and peace in relationships, families, churches, and one day, that Great Day, in the world. Wouldn’t it be great if the war in Afghanistan ended because everybody suddenly made peace and called the United States “Papa?”  Of course, that’s ridiculous.

          That sounds ridiculous, until we consider the context of our Epistle reading: The Jews called the non-Jews “You dogs!”  That’s the name for wild dogs that     roamed the city, hated by women, feared by children. These animals ate refuse, they stank and carried disease. That’s what Jews thought of non-Jews for their lawlessness to the ceremonial precepts. In return, Gentiles shouted, “You atheists,” because Jews refused to worship the local gods, sneering at the values that held society and commerce together. Jews were hated for offending local customs, treating those who lived their first like dirt, not even speaking to them. That’s the way of enmity. You’ve tasted it, like the savor of bitterness, prejudice and contempt. But something changed when the true God, the jealous God, the God who is jealous for us sent His Son… and when the Son, the Christ, fulfilled the law. Jesus died under the law, cursed on a cross for Jew and for Gentile, for all. Christ answered every accusation against Jew and Gentile in His body and with His blood, to make peace with God.

          Christ reconciled us, announcing peace so that our enmity against the Living God might be healed. Christ reconciled us, announcing peace so that all who believe in Him are adopted as children of peace.  Christ reconciled us, announcing peace so that by faith the terrible divisions between Jew and Gentile, between all sinners, can be cured. And in the early church unto today, we rejoice because the enmity was ended between us and God, and so between each other. Forgiveness does that. The two parties Paul lists now party together in the same Supper, sharing Christ’s       very body and blood in one confession. All believers share in one body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism in the peace of Christ, in a peace that can only be found in the church, the church bearing the fruit of that peace.  From the beginning of the church non-Christians noted the peace between Jew and Gentile, slave and slave owner, male and female, rich and poor. Christians were known for peace, unless persons fell to sin or heresy and then fell under law, and sparks flew until repentance and forgiveness restored them. Every Sunday the early church shared the peace of the Lord, not to chat or say hello to friends, but to reconcile where needed. At that place in the liturgy those offended or offending confessed their sins before God, and to each other, and were absolved. With the pastor’s absolution “the peace of the Lord be with you,” Christ’s body expressed that reconciliation with a holy kiss of peace. Then they communed together in that marvelous fellowship in Christ’s very body and blood.

          Christians today of all colors, ages, clothing styles, body piercing, collar stiffness have peace with God and each other, in the same way. We don’t live tit for tat. Tit for tat becomes rat-a-tat-tat.  Tats don’t tear down the wall of bad done and good undone, wrong attitudes and acts, the hurts and wounds that we use as mortar and brick to wall out heaven.  Such construction, earthquake reinforced with resentment, shuts out neighbors and a compassionate God. Thank God the law continues to show the ugly buildings in our soul. Thank God He aims to kill hostility, but not by executing you or me. Thank God, He paid our war damages Himself, to join us to Him.  It’s as if President Obama emptied his bank account to recompense the victims of Osama bin Laden, then reached out his hand into Osama’s dark hole to say, “You’re pardoned. Let’s be friends.” But you know what really happened and needed to happen according to the realm of law. Civil government isn’t the kingdom of grace. It is rule of law and must be. But if we demand God accepts us through the law, if we reject grace, we’ll get the treatment any terrorist deserves.

          That’s why Christ came to pull us out of a dark hole, and more. He bids us receive His death in our place, live in His forgiveness, and rejoice as His adopted heirs. How does that reconciliation come to us?  How is Christ’s forgiveness announced to those who dig deep holes, peeking out to shoot at God or man? Some messenger stands on the rim of that hole and shouts, “Hallo, you down there. I’ve got a message for you.”  Someone delivers good news that although the law condemns you God’s word of pardon forgave you, to raise you out of that pit. Whoever delivers good news risks getting shot; yet the news of God’s grace, mercy, and peace is welcome to many who are crushed by the law. So in their time prophets and priests proclaimed law and gospel. After Christ’s resurrection the apostles proclaimed, and now pastors are commissioned for the same.  In all times, all in the priesthood of believers share the same hope, as taught by the apostles and prophets. And the church need do nothing more than speak the words of The Word, to declare the message we received, to declare peace. Peace comes in the announcement of peace, while the church inevitably does more, in mercy and fellowship together, in living that peace.

          In contrast, Jeremiah describes shepherds who brought war. If you read the context of the Old Testament passage at home you might be surprised. It wasn’t failing to say peace. The bad shepherds said, “Peace, peace.” The problem was there was no peace.  Those shepherds didn’t point out the deep pits their people dug. They destroyed and scattered the sheep of God’s pasture when they said, “God won’t bother about the holes you dig; He loves you too much!”  They failed to say God is not pleased with your hostility to Him or to each other. Return to Him and be reconciled.  So the people of Israel became complacent in sin and patterned in hostility, except for a remnant that listened to Jeremiah. They cried out, “Lord have mercy!”  They confessed their sin before a righteous God and received not a slap, but forgiveness and reconciliation. Then they understood the promise that God would raise up a king called, “The Lord is our righteousness.”

          There cannot be peace without righteousness.  It won’t do for a government to overlook someone like Osama Bin Laden, someone who continues to blow innocent folks to bits.  Likewise before God, righteousness will be upheld. That’s why the Son of God became incarnate to bring a righteous peace. He didn’t ignore the law. He taught it, obeyed it, and suffered for it to fulfill it for you. He preached peace, a costly peace, a peace that cost Him, being buried in a deep hole, conquering hell’s pit for righteousness sake. But that war ended all wars, when the good shepherd became the sheep marked for sacrifice… when He abolished the ceremonial law that created a terrible barrier between Jew and Gentile; when He abolished the law’s demands against us, freeing us from the hostility of our sin and delivering us from a just condemnation. Like a ridiculous judge who wraps his arms around the convict and says “I paid the price; I can and will forgive you, you’re out of jail. Come home with me!”  Lawbreakers like us were reconciled to the Almighty, baptized into Jesus Christ’s death, and so joined to each other.  Lawbreakers like us are given a new identity, and given the Holy Spirit for a guarantee, for newness of life, to share in Christ’s resurrection.

          He makes us the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, a holy sanctuary of the Lord, Jesus Christ Himself the Temple, we sharing in His peace; we sharing intimately          in the Holy God.  Consider days of old, when Gentile believers could only enter their court, farthest from God’s presence. Then Jewish believers entered their outer court, while only purified males entered the inner court.  In the temple proper, only the priests entered. Into the Holy of Holies where God’s presence dwelled, only the high priest entered once a year to offer sacrifice for sins. Consider the separation from the Holy God. But when our Lord died the curtain that separated the holy of holies from the people was torn in two. And the peace of God was announced for all flesh, so that He might dwell in you;      that you become like the holy of holies, the very dwelling place of God. But you say, what about the quarrels I start with my Maker, my family, my friends, my enemies?  How could God love me… and so purify me?”  He, not you, tore down the dividing wall of hostility. He built something righteous in its place that fulfilled the law. He built you into the righteousness of grace, imputing it to you.   And you who confess your sin receive the very righteousness of God in absolution, our Lord’s kiss of peace.

          Because of that, you receive the Holy Spirit who gives you holy desires; and you, declared righteousness in Christ; He builds into His habitation, a temple of peace. The Lord is building you, the baptized, through daily repentance and absolution, through hearing His peace-giving Word. The Lord is building you by feeding you the Sacred Lamb.  He bids you to a fellowship meal unlike any other on earth. It is his testament for you, a testament testifying you are reconciled to God. This testament declares sins are forgiven and heaven entered. It testifies all who rightly eat and drink share the same body, built into one body. It not only proclaims peace, it strengthens you to seek and speak peace. And faith receives Christ’s righteousness so that faith becomes a fit dwelling place of God. As Jeremiah prophesied, The Lord is our righteousness.  Like the remnant in Jeremiah’s day who repented their sin and looked to grace, you too by faith receive this peace: “The Lord is our righteousness.”

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our righteousness.