december 10 2023
December 10th 2023
Old Testament: Isaiah 40:1-11 “The Word of our God will stand forever”
Psalm: Psalm 85 “Turn not back to folly”
Epistle: 2nd Peter 3:8-14 “Wishing … all to reach repentance”
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8 “A baptism of repentance”
Sermon Text: Isaiah 40:8 and 2nd Peter 3:8-14
Sermon Title: “The Word will Stand Forever”
Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
So, after just hearing the Scripture readings for this morning, what stands out in your hearing? Or, how would you state the theme of the readings? I believe it can be summed up in one word; repentance. In the Gospel reading John the Baptist proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”. (Mark 1:4b) As they came for baptism they were, “confessing their sins”; (Mark 1:5b) which is part of repentance. In the Epistle reading, the Apostle Peter taught that God is “patient … not wishing any to perish, but all to reach repentance”. (2nd Peter 3:9b)
The word repentance is not used in either of the Old Testament readings, but it is certainly clearly implied. Isaiah declared, “A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert, a highway for our God”. (Isaiah 40:3) Even the Psalmist in speaking of the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy warned “let them not turn back to folly”. (Psalm 85:8b)
In a moment, we will get into the Catechism and the Confessions to see what this repentance involves or how to define it; but first let us deal with, how is this message of repentance to be delivered to the people? According to the prophet Isaiah, it is delivered through preaching “the Word of our God (which) will stand forever”. (Isaiah 40:8b) In the Gospel, “John the Baptist appeared … proclaiming (meaning preaching) a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins … and he preached”. (Mark 1:4, 7a) In other words, God uses “means”, what we call the “Means of Grace”, to convert people. These means are Word/preaching and sacrament.
In the Epistle, the Apostle Peter said, “the Lord is not slow to fulfill His promises” (2nd Peter 3:9a) which are given in His Word, rather He sends men to proclaim that Word to all nations, (again) “not wishing that any would perish, but that all would reach repentance”. (2nd Peter 3:9b) The Psalmist too speaks of the Word of the Lord, which we are to gladly listen to; “let us hear what God the Lord will speak”. (Psalm 85:8a)
According to Holy Scripture and as taught in our Lutheran Confession, we know that God the Holy Spirit, “works faith when and where He wills/pleases, in those who hear the good news” (Augsburg Confession, Article V) and that we “cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called us by the Gospel” (preached and written Word) and “that in the Christian church, He daily forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers” (Third Article explanation, Apostles Creed). Therefore, Christians are obligated to hear the Word of God.
Why then do so many despise these gifts given in Word and Sacrament? Why do so many, as Luther puts it, “despise preaching and His Word”, (Third Commandment, explanation) either by not coming to hear it or by hearing it and then disregarding what it says or sitting in judgment over it. Anyone who holds these views needs to remember Jesus’ Word, “The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him on the last day”. (John 12:48)
Shouldn’t we rather, “gladly hear and learn it” (Third Commandment explanation), for Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep (observe) it”. (Luke 11:28) Isaiah describes it as a word of “comfort for My people”. (Isaiah 40:1a) Now “comfort” in the Bible is not the same as empathy or “feeling someone’s pain”, nor is it about trying to make someone feel better by not thinking of their troubles. Comfort in Scripture (most often) means to encourage someone in their faith in Christ, with strength thru the Word, by reminding them of the gracious promises of God in Holy Scripture in the midst of their trials This is what brings true comfort to us
Remember also the countless examples in Holy Scripture of those who set an example for us by their devotion to the Word of God. The Virgin Mary, when the shepherds told her how God had revealed Jesus’ birth to them; “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart”. (Luke 2:19) Also Mary, the sister of Martha, gladly “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching”. (Luke 10:39b) In the book of Acts the Bereans are praised for “receiving the Word (of God) with all eagerness; examining the Scriptures daily”. (Acts 17:11) These are just a few of the Scriptural examples of how God praises those who treasure His Word.
We regard the Holy Scriptures as the very Word of God, because it is here that the triune God reveals Himself to us most clearly. Jesus said, “the Scriptures bear witness about Me”. (John 5:39b) The Apostle John wrote, “these things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name”. (John 20:31) The Apostle Paul said, saving “faith comes by hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ”. (Romans 10:17) So, the repentance that our readings this morning talk about comes through the Word of God, the Bible, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now, repentance literally means to turn from something or to change ones mind. In the Bible, it usually includes both sorrow over sin (which is called contrition) and faith that trusts in the forgiveness of sins won by Christ’s atoning death on the cross. Proper sorrow/contrition over sins occurs as a reaction of our heart/mind to the voice of God’s Law which condemns our sins. By the Holy Spirit working in the Word, we realize that we deserve nothing but God’s wrath and eternal punishment. Saving faith then is the response of our heart/mind to the voice of the proclamation of the Gospel.
The Augsburg Confession simply describes repentance this way in Article XII. “Strictly speaking, repentance consists of two parts. One part is contrition, that is terrors striking the conscience through the knowledge of sin, the other part is faith (in Christ) which is born of the Gospel and believes that for Christ’s sake, sins are forgiven”.
This faith alone is how we receive the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life; and yet Scripture and our Confessions teach that “good works are bound to follow, which are the fruit of repentance”. (Augsburg Confession, XII, par. 6) Of course, John the Baptist’s word on the subject is clear; “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8) As Jesus also said to the woman caught in adultery, “go and from now on, sin no more”. (John 8:11)
This repentance is also what the Apostle Peter wrote of in the Epistle this morning. But first he said, “Do not overlook this one fact beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promises as some count slowness, but is patient towards you”. (2nd Peter 3:8-9a) Peter calls these people “scoffers” earlier in this chapter, and he is warning his hearers not to listen to those who mock the Lord’s coming.
Even though the Lord is patient, we are still told to be ready for; “The Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed”. (2nd Peter 3:10) Just as there is certainty as to the Lord being patient towards us, there is also certainty that His patience will one day come to an end on the Day of the Lord.
The details here are interesting, “the Day of the Lord will bring pyrotechnics, the likes of which no one has ever imagined”; but they are given for the purpose of preparation and repentance. “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved; what sort of people ought you to be, in lives of holiness and godliness; waiting for and hastening the day of God” (2nd Peter 3:11-12a) “As He who called you is holy, you also (should) be holy in all your conduct”. (1st Peter 1:15) Paul also declares that we who were baptized into the death of Christ are to “walk in newness of life”. (Romans 6:4b)
In other words, daily repentance as Luther urges us in the Small Catechism. “What does baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam (sinful nature) in us should by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sin and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before Christ in righteousness and purity forever”. (Small Catechism, Baptism part IV and explanation)
Repentance is also spoken of at length in the section on Confession and Absolution in the Small Catechism; specifically under the Office of the Keys, which Luther describes as “that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent”. (Explanation of Office of the Keys, Small Catechism)
This is found in two Gospels, Matthew and John; where Jesus told His disciples, “if you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven. If you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld”. (John 20:22-23) Jesus also declared, “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”. (Matthew 18:18)
This repentance; fighting against sin in our lives, is possible because when we were baptized and came to saving faith, we became a new creation; “the old has passed away … the new has come”. (2nd Corinthians 5:17) As Paul wrote to the Ephesians churches, “put off the old self … put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:22, 24) and “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. (Galatians 5:24)
Or as Jesus put it, “Repent and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15b) and “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me”. (Luke 9:23) This is what Peter is also urging upon us who are “according to His promise, waiting for a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, (new heavens and new earth) be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace”. (2nd Peter 3:13-14)
In closing then; let us review what the Small Catechism teaches (from Holy Scripture) about repentance through a series of questions and answers. Who is to be forgiven? Those who repent and ask for forgiveness. Who receives forgiveness given in absolution? Only repentant believers receive forgiveness. Who are repentant believers? Those who are sorry for their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, for secretly unrepentant sinners reject the forgiveness offered in absolution.
Who is not to be forgiven? Unrepentant sinners, that is those who are not sorry for their sins and do not believe in Jesus are not to be forgiven. What is the necessary result of repentance? Good works are bound to follow, which are the fruit of repentance. What is the congregation to do with openly unrepentant sinners? Restore them in a spirit of gentleness and if that fails, the Christian congregation is to openly exclude them. (Church discipline) What is the purpose of this discipline? To lead the person to repentance and faith and to prevent him or her from leading others into sin. (Small Catechism, Questions 272-283)
I have been asked quite frequently in the last couple of years; Pastor, why do you have to talk so much about repentance, church discipline and other such things? Why don’t’ you just preach John 3:16; the Gospel. To that I would respond with the words of the founder of our church, CFW Walther in his book on the proper distinction between Law and Gospel; which was a book of instruction for future pastors … (Read p. 124 from Law and Gospel)
In this season of Advent, we speak of repentance, because that is what God desires; “that none should perish, but that all would reach repentance”. (2nd Peter 3:9b) We preach the law of God and warn against sin and unbelief so that all would be convicted by the Holy Spirit and brought to true repentance. Then that they would hear and believe the Word of “comfort, that their warfare is ended and their iniquity is pardoned” (Isaiah 40:2a) through Christ who atoned for their sins on the cross and was raised bodily from the dead on the third day.
We remember that this repentance and saving faith and the forgiveness of our sins is a gift of God; received by faith and comes “from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17), Therefore, all God’s people gladly hear “the word of our God which will stand forever”. (Isaiah 40:8b) Amen.
The peace of God …