Proper 25 (Pastor’s Conference)

Sermon

Theme: True peace with God liberates us from anxiety and fear of eternal death, enabling us to embrace our identity as beloved children of God, empowered to live out grace-filled lives that reflect His love to the world.

Goal: That the hearer will recognize Christ’s role as the redeemer, who restores humanity’s relationship with the Father, giving us peace with God.

The Gift of Peace: Rest in God’s Grace

During this season of the Reformation we remember and give thanks for Dr. Martin Luther who introduced to the people of his era that we are saved, that is “justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.” He wasn’t doing it to be different for difference sake, he read and studied the Scriptures and became concerned that the Church was drifting away from Christ Jesus and the assurance of salvation for those who have by faith in him. Our efforts and our works are not the point, nor do not matter. The only effort that matters is the completed work of Christ Jesus upon the cross. This gave the Mission of the Christian Church direction that would result in a worldwide Reformation.

This evening our meditation will focus upon the peace with God that liberates us from anxiety and fear of eternal death, enabling us to embrace our identity as beloved children of God, empowered to live out grace-filled lives that reflect His unbelievable love to the world.

How can God love us? More specifically, how can God love me, when I find myself a sinner, rebelling against the will of God in my life? The love of God in Christ breaks through it all! The penetrating power of the gospel is the ground of our unshakable confidence in God’s undying love for us. The love of God in Christ breaks through every obstacle.

The great Houdini was a master of breaking out of anything that held him captive, but this evening our focus on the greatest master at “breaking in.”

And God puts his love on display through Christ Jesus resulting in Peace between God and man. In fact, His love broke into our lives when we were still weak and helpless. His love broke into our lives while we were His enemies. And the love of Christ reconciles us making peace with God.

I. The Love of God in Christ Broke into our Lives when we were Still Weak and Helpless.

Christ died for us. God’s great love is seen in this unbelievable act. Romans 5:6 “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

We were helpless (ἀσθενής): weak, worthless, useless, hopeless, destitute, powerless, without strength. We were spiritually worthless, useless, and unable to help ourselves.

Weak and helpless, Christ died for us. We were completely different from God: profane, having a different lifestyle than God. God is godly, that is, perfect; man is ungodly, that is, he is not like God; he is imperfect.

And Christ Died at the right time. It was in God’s appointed time: His destined time, appropriate time. Humanity had to be prepared for Christ before God could send Christ into the world. Men had to learn that they were helpless and ungodly, and needed a Savior. This was the purpose of the Old Testament and the Law, to show humanity that they were sinful. If the Law could have done the work to save us then faith would be of no use.

So Christ died for us:

He died as our sacrifice.

He died as our ransom

He died as our propitiation

Few will die for a righteous

Some may for a good man

Christ did not die for the righteous or godly man, nor for the good and pure man. He went well beyond what men do.

Christ …

died for the ungodly, for those who were the very opposite of righteous and good.

died for those “without strength”: the useless, destitute, worthless, and those without value to society and men.

Christ died for those for whom no man would die, for those who were of no value and of no good. He died for those who were diametrically opposed to God, the very opposite from all that He is. Such is the unbelievable love of God; such is the depth of justification.

Christ Jesus did this for you, liberating you from doubt, despair, and fear. And…

2. The Love of God in Christ Broke into our Lives “While We Were Enemies of God.”

Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

Three things.

The thing that broke the relationship between God and man was sin. As a result, humanity is now an enemy of God, and now ungodly. But God reconciles us to Himself by Christ’s death. The way humanity is reconciled to God is by the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Simply stated, when a person believes that Jesus Christ died for him:

God accepts the death of Jesus Christ as for the death of the man.

God accepts the sins borne by Christ on the cross as the sins committed by the man.

God accepts the condemnation borne by Christ as the condemnation due to the man.

God is the One who reconciles, not men. We cannot reconcile ourselves to God. Rather, it is 100% an act of God. God is the One who reaches out and God is the One who reconciles man to Himself. Man simply receives the reconciliation of God. And this is how…

God demonstrated His love. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Present tense: Meaning, God is always demonstrating, showing and proving His love to us.

Why? Because we sinners are constantly disobeying God:

by disobeying God’s Word and will:

Romans 1:29–31 ESV

29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

by living selfishly.

by ignoring God’s commandments.

by doing our own thing.

by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes.

by pursuing the pride of life and the things of the world.

The point is: it is God demonstrating His love “while we were yet sinners.” This is the unbelievable love of God that He would stoop down, break into our lives, in order to save us sinners while we are His enemies. We would expect Him to save righteous and good men, but it catches us completely off guard when it says, He saves us while we are His enemies. Such is the unbelievable love of God.

God demonstrated His love by giving up His only Son to die for you.

Families throughout history have been willing willing to give up their sons when their country ask them to send them to war. But how many would be willing to give up their sons for a person who committed treason, or for a rapist, or for one who murdered one of the greatest men who ever lived?

Think of the enormous price God paid in demonstrating His love: He gave up His Son to die for the unworthy and useless, the ungodly and sinful, the wicked and depraved—the worst sinners and outcasts imaginable. His enemies.

Just think what is involved in God giving up His Son:

⇒ God had to watch His Son walk through life being rejected, denied, cursed, abused, arrested, tortured, and murdered. God had to sit back and watch His Son suffer being murdered by the hands of men; He had to sit back when He knew He could reach out and deliver Him.

⇒ God had to destine His Son to die upon the cross for the sins of men.

⇒ God had to lay all the sins of the world upon His Son and let Him bear them all.

⇒ God had to judge His Son as the sinner and condemn Him to death for sin.

⇒ God had to turn His back upon Christ in death.

⇒ God had to cast His wrath against sin upon Christ.

It is beyond our comprehension.

Isaiah 53:5 EHV

5 but it was because of our rebellion that he was pierced. He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

To know Christ by faith causes us to rejoice in this relationship which God restored out of love for us, enabling us to approach life with confidence, knowing your bond with God is unbreakable.

It is unbreakable because

3. The Love of God in Jesus Christ Makes Peace with God.

Adam and Christ are two pivotal points in human history.

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 EHV

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came by a man, the resurrection of the dead also is going to come by a man. 22 For as in Adam they all die, so also in Christ they all will be made alive.

Note the difference between Adam and Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:45 EHV

45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living natural being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

The love of God took his enemies and changed them into something brand new. As a result, we have Peace with God. This is purely an act of God’s grace. And it all comes through One Man, Jesus Christ, God’s very own Son.

Adam’s sin brought condemnation; God’s grace brought justification.

Adam doomed the human race, but God’s grace justifies the human race.

For our seminary students, working to balance education and personal life can lead to burnout and strain on your mental health. If you find yourself overwhelmed, take a break and spend 30 minutes in quiet reflection or prayer, focusing on God’s love for you while reading and rereading Romans 5. You could also prayerfully work on creating a balanced schedule that includes time for rest, study, family and fellowship. And remember that Christ has brought about Peace with God. Rest in that grace.

You see, the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord broke into our lives when we were helpless, while we were yet sinners, and while we were enemies of God. Can there be any question, any doubt, that the love of God in Christ has broken through every obstacle you face? Be assured that nothing—nothing will keep the love of God in Christ out of your life. After all, he is the master of all time at “breaking in.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.