Second Sunday in Lent

1 Thessalonians 4:1-7

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we speak at great length about what is known as Justification that we are saved by Grace through Faith and this is not of ourselves lest any man should boast. We staunchly believe that this is the doctrine by which the Church stands and falls. For as we heard on Wednesday night there is no other gospel that saves. S

Some believe that this means we Lutherans are not interested in Good Works or Sanctification at all, but this could not be further from the truth. But we make sure that Justification and Sanctification remain distinct because the Scriptures teach that they are different, and we dare not mix these two teachings together and create a poison for souls. So that you might understand this distinction we look at our Epistle lesson today and learn a bit about Sanctification. For as the Scriptures say that this is the Will of God, your sanctification.

Justification First

Think in terms of being unclean.

This was a common way to talk about sin in the Old Testament, that which was unclean vs that which was clean. There were many things that made you unclean, and being cleansed involved washing with the water, making sacrifices, and sometimes being looked at by a priest. All of this pointed to something greater for...

Nothing is filthier than sin.

But all the blood of goats could not take away this imperfection, the same sacrifices had to be offered again and again for no matter how hard they tried, sin was ever present. As Jeremiah says Jer 17.9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Jesus first cleanses our hearts by forgiving them.

This is astonishing and a great blessing that Jesus does for you. He does not just wash the outside, he washes us from the inside out. He cleanses us from the powers of sin, by the blood that he shed on the Cross, and the waters that ha made to be holy. He takes away our guilt, our shame, and our sins so that we might be righteous in God’s sight.

Without it we cannot do good works.

This is hard for the world to understand because they only consider good works according to the outer appearance, but they fail to consider that God does not just judge our hands, but our feelings, and intentions of our heart.

Sanctification Follows Justification

This is why they are encouraged in Jesus.

They cannot be encouraged to do good works without first being cleansed by Jesus, and Jesus is the one who has rescued them from the darkness of sin.

Like a tree produces fruit, or a spring makes a stream.

A good apple does not have a tree grow out of its stem, you must have a tree to produce an apple, or like a stream, it does not make a spring. So too it is with sanctification, if justification is not there, then there won’t be any good works.

That’s why whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Rom 14:23)

This is a hard thing to hear, but important to remember. For without faith, without Jesus’ saving action, we can do nothing good in God’s sight, for we remain tainted by sin, and so all of our works are tainted as well.

Works to be Cultivated

The 6th commandment still applies.

Paul points them to the issue of the 6th commandment that you shall not commit adultery, and what does this mean, that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do and husband and wife love and honor each.

We need to know what is moral.

What is moral is one man and one woman being united only in marriage. People say well this was easier back then, or they don’t understand the challenges we face today. Divorce was rampant in the time of Jesus and when he says that they are to remain united this shocked the disciples. When Paul says this to the gentiles, fornication was not only legal, but even at times religious.

Rather we learn to control the body.

For you cannot control what your neighbor will do, but what is in your power is to learn and manage yourself. This is one of those things that is easier said then done, for this affects all of mankind. It means that everything that is contrary to one man, one woman is marriage is not to be done.

This means we are not free to do what we want.

This flies in the face of our present age. Which holds up freedom as a sacred right that everyone should be afforded. This is how satan tempts us, he offers us many freedoms that lead to death, whereas God limits us that we might be on the road to eternal life.

Called to Be Holy

This means to be set apart.

It means we will not be like the world, or look like the world. We are called to uphold that which is different. We are to encourage others to seek what is good right and honorable as well.

We know that God created man and woman for each other.

For from that union brings new people, and for all of the knowledge of our present age, they seem to have forgotten the basics of who we are as people, and how we continue to exist.

The Lord brings nations who forsake this to ruin.

This is a recurrent theme in the Old Testament, that God does bring judgment upon those nations, and places that forsake this foundation, this is why he was removing the inhabitants of the promised land and giving it to Israel, and when they became corrupt, he handed the israelites into slavery.

When we fail, we transgress and wrong our brother.

For God intended it to be a union between one man, and woman. That is why the consequence for joining together outside of marriage, was marriage. Studies are coming out that show that the more people you join with, the lower your chance of a happy marriage. For the sake of your lust, do you want to harm your neighbors marriage, and your own?

Why is this so important?

Good works do not create faith, but sin can kill it.

The tree has been planted, the spring has been opened, but by sin we can clip the blossoms before they bear fruit, or drop stones into that spring to stop it up. This is something that was given you by God so do not hinder it.

The following verse says, Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

These aren’t just the words of Paul, or the desires of your pastor, or the church. This is the Will of God who gave to you His Holy Spirit. That you might be his child. Do not sin against the Holy Spirit in this matter, but flee from sexual immorality by his power and aid.

God doesn’t want you to perish, so don’t embrace death.

If this hurts to hear, do not give up because of past sins. Rather look at the one who has cleansed you from sin, and how he has forgiven you. He didn’t do that because He wanted you to die. He wants you to live, so set aside these things, and find your help in Him.

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, these sins have plagued the Church for centuries, and they should not be treated lightly, for this temptation caused even King David to fall, but remember, that as God restored him, he can restore you too and take away your sinfulness. Since you have been forgiven, since you have been justified, bear fruits in keeping with repentance, for God has given you a great gift, and does not desire your death, but that you be Holy in His sight. In Jesus name. Amen.