August 21 2022
August 21st 2022
Old Testament: Isaiah 66:18-23 “All flesh shall come to worship before Me”
Psalm: Psalm 50:1-15 “God Himself is judge”
Epistle: Hebrews 12:4-24 “The Lord disciplines the one He loves”
Gospel: Luke 13:22-30 “Strive to enter through the narrow door”
Sermon Text: Hebrews 12:4-15
Sermon Title: “The Lord’s Discipline”
Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Someone said to Jesus, will those who are saved be few? And He said to them, strive to enter by the narrow door, for many I tell you will seek to enter and will not be able”. (Luke 13:23-24) “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there, whom his father does not discipline”? (Hebrews 12:7) These are our (main) texts this morning.
The Epistle reading from last Sunday ended with these words, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely (to us), and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us; looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who endured the cross … and is seated at the right and of the throne of God … Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted”. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
The author speaks some very strong words for the saints who are suffering and struggling to stand in their faith and resist the temptation to turn away from Christ and His saving work. (As I said last week), These same temptations are among us today. For example, in our public elementary schools and even a few “Christian” ones, our children are being indoctrinated in anti-Christian teachings/philosophy and behaviors at a very young age; which more often than not, are hidden from parents. Parents who do become aware of and speak out against such things are labeled trouble makers and even “terrorists”. (by our current president)
Anyone who tries to contradict the official “narrative” on transgenderism and any number of other issues, is labeled a bigot and censored from even participating in the discussion. I have lost count of the number of people I have talked to in the past few years, a few of them pastors, whose children have walked away from the Christian faith after leaving home and going to the so-called “woke”, so called “anti-racist” universities. There have even been such issues in a couple of our own Concordia colleges, and a few LCMS pastors have been arguing publicly that we should embrace such (woke) things in our church body.
So, the church is not immune from such temptations to abandon the Word of God and to go along with the philosophies and opinions of our day; or at least to be silent (be nice) about them in order to get along with the world. The so-called “battle for the Bible” that occurred in our Synod in the 1960’s and early 1970’s is still with us, it has just taken a different form. In all forms of media, we are constantly being bombarded with these false teachings about God and His Word.
Just to give one example, I recently read on a church music blog, someone (actually many people) arguing for the changing of male pronouns in our hymns by saying things like, “the Bible was written by first century men (for men); racist and sexist men … lacking any inspiration … why believe any of them”? In other words, they were saying, “god” is whatever you want him/her/it to be. Many “mainline” churches, including the ELCA, routinely offer prayers to other “gods” in their services. These are supposed Christians arguing such things; contrary to God’s Word.
Now, you may be thinking, what difference does it make if we change a few pronouns to make people happy? First, we believe that the Bible is God’s Word and is without error. Holy Scripture testifies that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father” and of course Jesus was born a man, circumcised on the eighth day; crucified and raised bodily from the dead; and we believe, teach and confess that He is still, true God and true man to all eternity; coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead. So, it is vitally important that we “stand” and confess the truth about God’s Word, the Gospel of Christ, before the world and the erring church, calling them to repentance. (Also, calling one another to daily repentance)
“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood”. (Hebrews 12:4) Of course that has come to many Christians throughout history (as we heard in Hebrews 11) and in our own day; but not to us, at least not yet; though it may at some point come to that. But we have all been tempted to compromise our witness/faith, when dealing with family, friends, and co-workers, who have embraced such false teachings, afraid to say anything lest we be fired, cancelled, censored or lose a relationship with those we love. As we heard in last week’s Gospel, Jesus’ coming brought division, even in families; because God’s Word never changes and always remains true.
A professor at the Ft. Wayne seminary preached last week about this division in families saying; though we must always leave a door open for the return of our prodigal family/friends, those who have abandoned the Christian faith for atheism or the world’s lies about gender, marriage and the like; we must not remain so close to them that we forfeit our own faith. For if we abandon our own faith to maintain a relationship with them, they will have no (heavenly) home to return to. As our Lord said, “No one can serve two masters”. (Matthew 6:24a)
Next, the writer of Hebrews speaks on the (unpopular) topic of discipline, the Lord’s discipline of us His people. But pastor, why do we have to talk about discipline? It’s such an unpleasant topic; why can’t you just talk about God’s love? Because love and discipline do not contradict one another. The Scripture says, “Have you forgotten the exhortation that addressed you as sons? (Brothers and sisters in Christ), do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, do not be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves and chastises every son whom He receives”. (Hebrews 12:5-6) These words are from the book of Proverbs. (3:11-12) Did you hear that? “The Lord disciplines those He loves … everyone whom He receives”. (Hebrews 12:6)
So, the question is, whose child are you and what does that mean for your everyday life? If you are a child of God through Holy Baptism, through hearing and believing the Gospel, then you/I/we should expect (and welcome) this loving discipline from the Lord, for the Apostle Paul declares, “you are not your own, you were bought with a price, (the precious blood of Christ) so glorify God in your body”. (1st Corinthians 6:19b-20) The Lord also declares through the prophet Jeremiah, “like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand”. (Jeremiah 18:6b) We have a God who is actively involved in our lives.
The author of Hebrews continues, “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons”. (Hebrews 12:7-8) So this discipline (suffering, persecution, etc.) for the sake of Christ and His Word, is the norm for the Christian life.
In many places, Jesus speaks of this as something that all of His people will have to endure, “If the world hates you, know that it hated Me, before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own … if they persecuted Me, they will persecute you. If they keep My Word, they will also keep yours”. (John 15:18-20)
In Hebrews 11, we heard many of these things that the saints of old endured for their faith in Christ and His promises, “some were tortured … others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated … wandering about in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth”; (Hebrews 11:35b-38) but God was with them throughout, strengthening their faith in difficult circumstances.
Again, the Apostle exhorts and warns us; “Therefore, let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall. For no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it”. (1st Corinthians 10:12-13) The Apostle Peter also said “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials”. (2nd Peter 2:9) “Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you declares the Lord”. (Psalm 50:15)
“Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of Spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time, as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness”. (Hebrews 12:9-10) Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to submit to God’s discipline because He does it out of love and for our own good; that we may not be harmed physically or spiritually. To reject this discipline from the Lord is to reject His purpose for our lives; treating it/Him as being worthless or of no value to us.
Of course, “for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant” (Hebrews 12:11a) and in our self-indulgent, self-love obsessed culture, we want nothing to do with anything that is painful or unpleasant; we want nothing to do with anything that confronts us with our sin and the need for repentance, and reconciliation to God or our neighbor. But hear the Word of the Lord; the painful discipline of God, “later yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it”. (Hebrews 12:11b) Therefore, we can say with the Psalmist, “Blessed is the man whom You discipline O Lord”. (Psalm 94:12a)
Notice the word “later”; meaning after some time has passed. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard in the last several years that we shouldn’t do something in the church, even something that God has commanded in Holy Scripture, because “it doesn’t work” the way we think it should; or it doesn’t work quickly enough for our satisfaction. But, this passage and the recent readings from Hebrews 11 exposes that way of thinking as untrue. For we know that God is always at work in us and in the world, even in discipline, even when we cannot see it with our own eyes, but only “by faith”.
“Therefore, lift up your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed”. (Hebrews 12:12-13) What is this straight path? It is found is trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ; and finding strength in His gifts given in Word and sacrament.
As the psalmist declares “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, for His name’s sake”. (Psalm 23:3b) “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness”. (Psalm 25:10a) Solomon also wrote “in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths”. (Proverbs 3:6) Apart from Christ and His Word, we are not on the right path and we will not find any strength or healing for our souls.
As we heard in the Gospel reading, Jesus Himself is the “narrow door”, and there is no forgiveness or salvation in anyone else; therefore, “strive to enter though the narrow door”. (Luke 13:24a) Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”. (John 14:6) Therefore, “Strive for peace, with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord”. (Hebrews 12:14)
But, why should we strive for anything related to our faith? After all, we are saved by the grace of God through faith. Nothing we do has anything to do with our salvation; right? This is most certainly true; as Scripture declares in many places, and yet we who have received the righteousness of God and the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus, have all of these exhortations to Christian living, to abide in Christ and His Word, to forgive one another and to do good works for our neighbor.
Therefore, “see to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and cause trouble, and by it, many become defiled”. (Hebrews 12:15) We fail to obtain the grace of God and bitterness takes root, when we turn away from God’s Word and refuse to repent of our sins. Christ’s work of salvation is intended for everyone; all sins have been atoned for by Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, but it does not benefit those who remain in unbelief, refusing to believe the Gospel.
Therefore, the Lord warns through Moses “beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan, whose heart today is turning away from the Lord our God, to serve other gods”. (Deuteronomy 29:18a) If they continue in their unbelief, Jesus will say to them on the last day, “I do not know where you come from, depart from Me, you workers of evil”. (Luke 13:27)
But again, for the believer in Jesus Christ, God’s loving discipline is meant for our good, therefore we should not be discouraged by it, but rather receive it gladly, that “by faith” we may endure under trials with hope and not despair; knowing that whatever the Lord is doing is ultimately “for our good”. (Hebrews 12:10b) “For, I am sure that He who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”. (Philippians 1:6)
“God does not send us trials with the purpose of casting us away from Him, but in order that we would learn more of Him and cling more firmly to His Word” (CFW Walther, Law and Gospel, page 207) “and so recline at His table in the Kingdom of God”. (Luke 13:29b) “For we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose”. (Romans 8:28) Amen.
“The peace of God …