2-16-2019

Good Morning All,

     Romans 7:21; “ So I’ve discovered this truth: Evil is present with me even when I want to do what God’s standards say is good.”

    We spend a lot of effort and time in the Church speaking about sin and how we are all sinners.  We spend a lot of time making sure we know that we need a Savior and this is true and necessary.  But sometimes along the way we need to remember something else that we are; we are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.

    This is a concept that we don’t develop very well because we always need to focus on the need for a Savior.  But we also need to emphasize the fact that WE HAVE THAT SAVIOR!!!  Jesus came and died so that you and I can be God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.  That single fact drives the devil nuts.  He hates it when we realize and live as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.  The devil tries and tries to make that one single statement seem far away but it isn’t; it is right here beside us.

    Martin Luther used this phrase saying we are “Simul justus et peccator”.  It means “Righteous and at the same time a Sinner.”  This is a rather long theological discussion that is easiest to understand if you remember that anytime we speak of our righteousness we are really talking about Jesus’ righteousness anytime we speak of being a sinner, well that’s the part that we add.  We are declared righteous because of Jesus.  We are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.  The devil will try and turn that and twist that and no matter how we try and explain it, whether in flowery message or high toned theological verbiage; it boils down to this; we are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.

    We have all had times when we didn’t particularly feel holy or beloved.  We don’t feel holy because we still carry around the Law as this stick to keep us on the right path.  We look the Commandments up and down and try to gauge how “good” or “bad” we have been.  But as God’s chosen ones the Law serves not as a stick but as a flashlight.  If we were to ask,” What would Jesus want us to do?” The answer is found in the Law.  What are some God pleasing actions: Have no other Gods before Him.  Do not steal.  Do not tell stories about your neighbors.  If you remember your catechism, this is the Third use of the Law.  It functions as a guide for us.  As God’s chosen ones, we are free from the devil, from the bondage of sin and the oppression of the Law.  We have been declared holy.  This frees us to do what God intended for us to do; to love God fully and to love each other fully.  So instead of wearing the chains of a prisoner, we wear what the chosen ones of God would wear: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.  We wear what Jesus wore.  We share in his blessings because we receive his righteousness. 

    So, while we need to remember that we are sinners; remember that we are righteous before God because of Jesus.  So, as we remember the “peccator” (I am a sinner) don’t forget the “simul justus” (I am righteous because of Jesus); that is the part that gives us the joy and the hope we are given by God.

Heavenly Father, we are sinners but you love us anyway.  We fail and fail but you never give up on us.  We thank you for declaring us righteous so that we may live in your kingdom as your adopted sons.  Lead us to live the life that Christ lived so that others will see our compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  Let your glory shine through us.  In Jesus name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret