You Can't Buy Jesus

Reformation!

Catholic Church selling indulgences - could buy way into heaven w/works, money, prayers

Indulgences still around today! As Lutherans, we don’t believe in indulgences/purgatory because not in Bible

Still a good question: Are you trying to buy Jesus?

You can’t buy Jesus with your works, money, or prayers.

But people sure do try! Don’t get me wrong,

Christians are people of good works, generosity, prayer

But you can’t buy your way into heaven with them!

Problem is that we don’t believe Jesus’s death and resurrection actually does enough.

Like we have to feel like we’re living good enough for Jesus

Legalism, tithing, reciting prayers over and over, modesty, small groups, serving, etc.

Penance vs Repentance - are we Catholic again?

Think salvation is something we have to do, DESPAIR: don’t trust Jesus on cross when He says, “it is finished.”

Are you trying to buy Jesus?

We like to think we can buy our own style of Jesus; custom Jesus/salvation

Jesus’ cross isn’t that attractive, not very fun, not enough

Want to FEEL different/better, want to get more blessings, want to be a better person

Want church to be more entertaining, more emotional, more patriotic, more young people, fewer kids, better looking pastors

Want Jesus to affirm my patriotism, politics, wealth, opinions, and get me out in time for the game

We don’t believe Jesus’s death & resurrection goes far enough

It’s boring; JESUS AND...

Want to buy a bigger, better, customized Jesus. Are you trying to buy Jesus?

1st Commandment

You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

A ‘god’: “that to which we are to look for all good and in which we are to find refuge in all need. Therefore, to have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe in that one with your whole heart.”

If you’re buying Jesus, whether you’re hoping to buy heaven w/your sincerity, works, and prayers;

or if you’re buying Jesus by customizing the kind of religion you want,

what are you really fearing, loving, and trusting in? NOT JESUS!

You can’t buy Jesus. It’s Law. & Gospel

The Gospel is a gift. You can’t buy it.

Gospel: Jesus’s incarnation, life, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, return

FOR YOU!

Jesus’s cross is our propitiation; He exhausts all of God’s wrath against sin for you; your sins lay on Jesus

Jesus takes your sins and gives you His righteousness, right relationship w/God - Great Exchange!

You can’t buy what Jesus gifts you; Faith is taking Jesus’s at His Word, that you have forgiveness, righteousness, eternal life

Church: not where you buy Jesus, but where Jesus serves you

Church isn’t meant to be entertaining, inspiring, emotional.

But church is life-changing; Jesus comes to serve you

Declares you, a sinner, forgiven

Gives you His Body & Blood

Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, 2017 Edition The Second Article

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord,

who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death,

that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,

just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

This is most certainly true.

You can’t buy Jesus, because Jesus is gift