Todd R Jerabek
Guest
|
 Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 2:55 am Post subject: Last Sunday's Sermon |
 |
|
We have heard the talk of ecumenism and the fact that we are to be united
with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Well, this addresses some of those
issues.
Unity In The Faith
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.
I don’t know how many of you have been watching the news and know of the
decisions made by the Episcopal Church in her General Convention, but it was
interesting that it took place in Minneapolis, while we were on vacation in
Minnesota. If you are not aware of the events which have rocked the
Christian world, Gene Robinson was elected as a bishop in the Episcopal
Church. Of itself, this is no big news. However, this pastor is openly
gay - he is a practicing homosexual.
Today’s text from the pen of Paul, to the church in Ephesus, and to us
today, speaks about unity. It speaks about living a life “worthy of the
calling you have received”. It tells us that we should “no longer be
infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by
every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their
deceitful scheming.” God, speaking through Paul, tells us to “Make every
effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Why?
Because, “There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one
hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and
Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
This text speaks to the church at large, and the situation which has made
the front page of the newspapers, has gotten headline news on all the
networks, and which I even heard it discussed pool side by complete
strangers - one who was reading the paper and another who saw the headline
and asked the question. No, it wasn’t me, I was on vacation.
This text also talks to you, the very members of the body of Christ who
gather around Christ’s presence in Word and Sacrament at Zion and St. Peter
Lutheran Church.
Paul, writing to the Ephesian Christians, instructs them to live a life
worthy of the calling you have received. You and I are to live a life
worthy of the calling you have received. Sin is to have no part in our
lives
What exactly does that mean? Paul further explains. Be completely humble
and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort
to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
You see, there is to be unity among God’s children. We are to bear with one
another patiently and with great humility. In today’s society, some people
would say that is exactly what the Episcopalian church has done by
confirming an openly gay man as a bishop in their church. Peace was
maintained at all costs. They didn’t want to offend those who have a
homosexual lifestyle. They claim they don’t want to chase them out of the
church, they claim that to welcome them, is to keep unity of the spirit
through the bond of peace.
Yet, are they maintaining unity? Are they maintaining unity with all
believers? Jesus, answering the skeptical question of the Sadducees points
out that God is God of the living, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - men
who had been buried long ago. (Matt. 22:32) Unity in God’s church has to do
not only with the present and not only with those who walk the earth today.
Unity in the church is a oneness in faith with all those who have and who
will confess Christ as Savior and Lord - there is an eternalness - a unity
of the present with both the past and future. It is a unity with all those
who bear the name of Christ in every age.
What is that unity about? There is one body and one Spirit— just as you
were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in
all. There are not many Christian faiths, only one! There is only one
Christian truth!
The body of Christ is built up, only in the one true faith. However, truth
is not the only thing being taught in many churches today. Paul warns that
this would happen, that there would be many who follow falsehood. Paul
warns that many people will find ways to believe what they want to believe.
In fact, they will get rid of some pastors for teaching the truth - just as
they did in the Old Testament by persecuting and even killing some of God’s
prophets.
Paul writes to the young pastor, Timothy. For the time will come when men
will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires,
they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their
itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth
and turn aside to myths. (2 Tim. 4:3-4) Preaching that openly unrepentant
homosexuality is acceptable to God, is a myth.
What is the purpose of the church? Why does Christ call those who teach His
Word to be ministers in His church? Our text explain the reason. That the
body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in
the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and
blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth
in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is,
Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every
supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does
its work. (vv. 12-16)
There is to be a unity in the faith, in the knowledge of the Son of God,
that we might all reach the fullness of Christ. The same faith - yesterday,
today, tomorrow - a changeless Christ in a changing world.
Katherine Kersten, wrote a piece that was published in the Wall Street
Journal. She rightly states that the Episcopalian church “has tossed aside
2,000 years of bedrock Christian teaching about marriage, the family, and
sexuality.” Dear friends, what is more, is they have tossed aside a clear
teaching of God’s Word.
There are many in Christianity who are teaching out against this vote. They
will not remain silent as God’s Word is raped and pillaged by this decision.
However, they are shouted down by many, as those who are being divisive.
Some people claim that those who tolerate blatant homosexuality are those
who are trying to be one in faith.
Dear friends in Christ, there is no unity when God’s Word is cast aside and
sin is made acceptable. There is no unity when falsehood is accepted as
truth. God’s inerrant and inspired Word must dictate to us what is truth
and what is not. When teachers, preachers, and others depart from that
Word - they are the ones who break unity in the church. They break unity
with those of the past who have preceded us to heaven, and they break unity
with those in the present and future who will abide no other truth than that
which God has revealed in sacred Scripture.
But dear friends, there is one unity in the true faith. It is a unity
wrought by God the Holy Spirit as Christ is proclaimed and dispensed in Word
and Sacrament.
Unity can be broken in the church by massive sweeping decisions like the one
made in the Episcopal General Convention. Unity can be broken in the church
by simple arguments between congregational members over some of the most
petty things. Dear friends, these things ought not to be so.
The leaders in the Episcopal Church who have taught that homosexuality is
not a sin, need to repent of their sin of false teaching. They need to
repent that they have broken the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace
that God would have exist in His Church.
So also, you and I need to repent that we too have broken the unity of the
Spirit and the bond of peace that God would have exist in His Church when we
have let petty squabbles make us angry with the fellow redeemed who are
members with us in this congregation. We need to repent that we have
broken the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace that God would have
exist in His Church when we let anger and unforgiveness continue in our
hearts against our brothers and sisters in the faith.
Unity comes again when the truth is spoken in love. Paul speaks of how
unity is built. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things
grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds
itself up in love, as each part does its work. (vv. 15-16)
When the truth is spoken in love, then there is growth in Christ. What is
the truth spoken in love? Your sins are forgiven! When there is division
between people caused by petty squabbles and anger, forgiveness is the only
thing that can grow unity and build up the body of believers in love. Your
sins against the unity of the body of Christ is forgiven.
Christ’s perfect life and His innocent suffering death purchased
forgiveness. His perfect holiness is imparted to believers when by faith,
they cling the forgiveness He purchased.
As Brock William and Allison Marie were baptized, the truth was spoken in
love. The name of God marked them - forgiveness of sins was given as Christ
was bestowed upon them. They were baptized into Him, into His death and
perfect life. In the miracle of baptism, they began to grow up into him who
is the Head, that is, Christ.
It is Christ into whom you were all baptized. It is Christ who is bestowed
upon you when you are immersed in the Word - as it is preached and
proclaimed. For there, in the spoken Word, those called to minister to His
people are speaking the truth in love - as they have been commanded by God.
In that spoken Word sins are forgiven. As the Truth is spoken in love,
Christ’s body and blood are sacramentally joined to bread and wine and
forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation are eaten and drunk
By these miraculous Means of Grace, we will in all things grow up into him
who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and
held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in
love, as each part does its work.
Dear beloved of God, there is a unity in the faith, a unity built only by
Christ. You my dear friends are one in Christ. You have one Lord, one
faith, one baptism. You share the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace - peace that comes only from Christ - now and forever more. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep you hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus. Amen.
--
Todd R. Jerabek
Pastor, Husband, Daddy, Theologian, Police Chaplain, Teacher & Student
I read daily: 2 Timothy 3:10-4:5 |
|
