Cantate (Easter 4)

Cantate (Easter 4) – April 28, 2024

Psalm 98; Isaiah 12:1-6; James 1:16-21

St. John 16:5-15

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This morning’s portion of the farewell discourse of our Lord reveals a significant stumbling block to the faith of the Apostles. We tend to look at the life of the Apostles and envy them since they had the privilege of walking with Jesus during the time of His local presence, that is, when He was present with them in such a way that you could distinguish His knee from His elbow.

But today we see that while the Apostles did experience Christ’s local presence, they also had to experience life in the Church after Christ ascends to the Father. They knew both types of Christ’s presence and they had to endure the transition from one to the other. They had grown accustomed to Christ’s local presence and it is now time for Jesus to prepare them for the time when He would no longer be present in that way.

Thus, Jesus says, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”[1] Enduring the transition from Christ’s local presence to His Ascension, as we know the Apostles did, was not on the basis of their reason, knowledge, understanding, or strength. It was by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. Based on these Words of Jesus, what is this work of the Holy Spirit and how does He accomplish it?

From the Small Catechism, we know that the work of the Holy Spirit is to “call, gather, enlighten, and sanctify the whole Christian Church on earth and keep it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”[2] The statement of Jesus that the Holy Spirit will “convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment,” is another way to say the same thing.

The first thing to know is this word “convict” might be a bit confusing. It sounds like a strictly negative thing. When a person is convicted in court, it usually means that he is guilty. When a person is found innocent, we say he is “acquitted.” That is not how Jesus is using the word “convict.” He is using it in the same way we might speak of someone’s conviction, that is to say, they are absolutely convinced of something. The Holy Spirit will convince – persuade beyond any doubt – the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.

The Holy Spirit convinces the world regarding sin because the world does not believe in Jesus. The first work of the Holy Spirit in any heart is to convince you that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. If you are not a sinner, you have no need of Jesus. If you have no need for Jesus, then you do not believe in Him and have no part in Him.

This work of the Holy Spirit does not stop once you are a Christian. Reach your hand up to your chest and feel if you are still alive. If you are, you are still a sinner and thus still need forgiveness. You are still in this world, even if you have received the second birth of Holy Baptism. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to confront you with your sin so that you would have reason to trust the words and promises of Christ.

This is, in fact, the primary use of God’s Law – to show you your sin. The Holy Spirit brings the Word of God’s Law into your ears so that you would be terrified of your sins and flee to the Risen Savior. To ignore this work of God is to refuse to be convinced by the Holy Spirit. But refusal to be convinced by the Holy Spirit will only last so long. There are no atheists in hell. Refusing to see your sin for what it is will only last until you depart this life or Christ reveals Himself on the last day. Then, all will be made plain, and you can no longer hide from your own sinfulness.

The second work of the Holy Spirit described in the text is to convict—or convince—the world of righteousness. This is a reference to what I said about the Apostles that is also true of all people. “I cannot, by my own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but [it is] the Holy Ghost [who] has called me by the Gospel.”[3] You can provide all the logical, historical, and archaeological proofs of the resurrection and yet no one is converted by them. Conversion is strictly the working of the Holy Spirit. And not only conversion, but retaining the faith, that is, staying a Christian, is only the work of the Holy Spirit. Only by the grace of God, delivered by the Holy Spirit, does anyone remain a Christian unto salvation.

The Holy Spirit works through means to bring you the faith and to keep you in it. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The Holy Spirit brings you pastors to preach and teach the Word of God. He gives you mothers to read the Word of God to you. He gives you fathers to teach you the catechism that you would understand what the Word of God says. He works in the Word of God combined with water that your sins would be buried with Christ and then you would rise as a new creation.

The sustaining of your faith is chiefly worked out by continuing to hear the Word of God and by receiving that Word of God combined with bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Sacrament is for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of body and soul to life everlasting. It is the food to sustain you on your way. It will sustain your faith.

These means of grace are the ways in which the Holy Spirit convicts the world of righteousness.

The third work of the Holy Spirit our Lord describes today is to convict the world of judgment because the ruler of this world is judged. On the one hand, this means that the Holy Spirit convinces the hearts of man that sin is wicked, and that this world is passing away. Without the Holy Spirit, man can conclude that there is something wrong with this world and it needs correction. By the illumination of the Holy Spirit, man can see that what is wrong with this world is his sin and that this sin has been judged by God. By this illumination, man can see that all who belong to this world, who cling to the kingdom of the ruler of this world, have already been judged in the death of Jesus and will receive the inheritance of their father, the devil.

But this conviction regarding judgment has a second side. On the other hand, it is the Holy Spirit who enlightens the hearts of Christians to see that they too have already been judged. Those who are in Christ have nothing more to fear from the judgement of God. The verdict was passed and the sentence carried out on Calvary. All that is left is to receive the inheritance promised to you in Holy Baptism. This judgment is the acquittal of the righteous, who have received and continue to receive the Holy Spirit and all His blessings.

And although such a judgment is done and over, yours by faith, it does not remove the very real possibility of refusing the judgment. It sounds insane but it is entirely within the power of the Christian to turn to God the Father and say, “I do not need your declaration of innocence because I am innocent according to my own conscience.” While it would be helpful if such a verbal declaration was necessary for one to lose his faith, it is not. Declaring you know better than the Word of God, as in transgenderism, is such a declaration. Rejecting the Words and means of the Holy Spirit, as in women’s ordination, Unitarianism, and Anabaptistry, is such a declaration. Living contrary to the Word of God, as in fornication, is such a declaration.

Our Lord’s description of how the Holy Spirit will accomplish these things is quite interesting. “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”[4]

The simplest understanding of the majority of these words is something I’ve already said—the Holy Spirit works through means. He works through the means of the Word and Sacraments. What’s more is that we learn that the Holy Spirit does not add anything to the Word of God that Jesus Christ has already brought within Himself (for He is the Word of God). The Holy Spirit does not testify to Himself nor reveal new messages for man. He speaks only that which He has heard from the Son and the Father. He proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is the herald of the great King of Kings, not authorized to add-to or subtract-from the Word of the King.

But we know that the Word of the Spirit is truth because He is the Spirit of Truth. This describes the inspiration of Holy Scripture. It describes that God has ordained that human men would be the means through which He worked to put His Word into writing that it may be proclaimed to man throughout time. We can be certain of the truth of the Holy Scriptures because it was communicated by God Himself, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, and He is the Spirit of Truth.

But why utilize human authors? When a human means? First, it is entirely consistent with every way that God works in man. He works through the means of this world. Even the concept of communicating in language such that man can understand it is a means of this world. Second, it is in keeping with the Incarnation. Christ took on the flesh of man to redeem the flesh of man. Therefore, it is fitting that He would “enflesh” His Word in the words of man. And, just as Jesus Christ is True God and True Man, so too are the Words of Scripture the pure Word of God and written by Inspired human hands.

The four Gospels do not compete or contradict but there are occasions where they describe something differently. This is the mark of the human authors who are describing events from different perspectives. Even these perspectives have been used by the Holy Spirit to communicate the different facets of the faith.

Third, the Holy Spirit works through present means to deliver this faith to you. This is the Office of the Holy Ministry. God did not leave the Church alone after the Ascension nor the death of the Apostles. He established the Office of the Holy Ministry that men might stand in the stead and by the command of Christ to bring you His Word and Sacraments – the means of grace. He has placed men into the Office for the sake of loving and caring for the present needs of the Church – to preach and teach the faith but also to forgive and retain sins. These are activities of the Holy Spirit as He guides the whole Christian Church into all truth.

How is it then, that we know when we are hearing the Holy Spirit and when we are hearing the doctrine of demons or the teaching of men? The Spirit of Truth will glorify Jesus. If the Scriptures are glorifying Jesus, they are the Word of God. If the pastor is glorifying Jesus, he is speaking on the authority of the Holy Spirit and standing in the stead of Christ. If, however, he is telling tales, building himself a following, or submitting to the human authority of the pope, he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is a hireling. He is not speaking by the Holy Spirit because the Spirit of Truth glorifies Jesus.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] St. John 16:7-8, 13.

[2] Small Catechism II 3.

[3] Small Catechism II 3.

[4] St. John 16:13-14.

Jubilate

Jubilate – April 21, 2024

Psalm 66; Isaiah 40:25-31; 1 Peter 2:11-20

St. John 16:16-22

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

From the very beginning, sin has been a rejection of God’s order; a questioning of His authority, and an assertion that we know better than He does. Satan’s temptation of Eve centered on the question, “Did God really say?” Sometimes we use that phrase as shorthand for the tendency of the sinful mind to subvert God’s wisdom, authority, and knowledge. God set all of creation in order and since that first bite of the forbidden fruit, man has gone about setting the world into disorder.

The twentieth century and on to today has fully embraced this type of thinking. Whether you agree with the statement or not, the idea that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” has dominated all western thought for over a hundred years now. It suggests that my taste is more important than something objective, something that exists outside of myself. This applies to the visual arts – paintings, sculptures, architecture – as well as music, dance, hymnody, and the worship of the Triune God. If something is pleasing to the eye, then it is valid. If you like it, then it must be beneficial, if not true.

This is the foolishness of the world, and it is sin. It is sinful to think that you know better than God. If God has said that the Body and Blood of Christ are bodily present in the Lord’s Supper, who are you to deny Him? As the Bride of Christ, we are often the object of such ridicule. The world laughs at our worship, our faith, and our suffering because it is not pleasing to the eye. At the same time, the world rejoices in sinfulness. The world rejoices because there is nothing else. There is nothing to look forward to. The world says, “Eat, drink, and make merry, for tonight we die!”

It is always amazing when we insist on something because it is the only thing we know. According to God, the only thing we know is sin. Faith is a radical departure from what we know of our own experience and the desires born in our hearts. The entire Christian life must be one of seeking the wisdom, authority, and knowledge of God while putting our own inbred thoughts to death.

The desire to seek God is born within you in Holy Baptism. It is born in you by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. But this desire does not spontaneously give you holy thoughts and liver shivers, provable only because it is something you like. Holy thoughts are born by the indoctrination of the Word of God, being steeped in the eternal truths given to Abraham, Moses, Peter, and Paul, then carried forth by Augustine, Luther, Chemnitz, Walther and more.

Such wisdom of the saints is recorded in our text as weeping and lament. How is that wisdom? It is wisdom in weeping and lamenting our sins. We cannot escape sinful desires. The Old Adam was drowned in Holy Baptism but he is a strong swimmer. We must continually put him to death by lamenting our sins. 

What does that look like? It looks like confessing. It looks like confessing before God Almighty, “I, a poor miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities…” And then trusting in the Word of the Almighty God that the absolution spoken by your Pastor is the very same as though God were speaking it directly from heaven.

It also looks like taking the things of God seriously. When was the last time that you obeyed the words of Saint Paul, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup,”[1] by coming to confession before receiving the Lord’s Supper, reviewing the Christian Questions and their Answers in your catechism, or simply reciting the Ten Commandments and determining where you have fallen short and where you need the shed Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of those sins?

These are not laws in the sense that you must dot your Is and cross your Ts before you may commune. They are an admonition of God to take His gifts seriously. This is wisdom. This is the lamentation of the Christian in this time.

And this lamentation leads to joy. It leads to joy here in time and there in eternity. It leads to joy here as your sins are forgiven and you are unburdened. If you take the forgiveness of sins lightly, then your burden will only be lightly relieved. Given great weight, the forgiveness of sins will move the mountain of sins that weigh you down.

This joy, this true joy, will then lead to the enjoyment of the right ordering of God’s creation. Weighed down by sexual sin, you cannot enjoy the bliss of the marital union. Weighed down by the sin of wrath, you cannot enjoy the bliss of company, activity, or competition. Weighed down by the sin of anxiety, you cannot enjoy the bliss of determination, purpose, and direction.

That doesn’t mean that coming to hear private absolution will make everything joyful for you. It will relieve the burden of sin, but it may not “fix” your life. That is the sorrow of a world bent out of order by sin. The whole world fell in Adam’s fall and you still live in the world. You are still effected by this disordered world.

So long as you live on this side of glory, in one way or another, you are still the woman in labor. You will have moments of joy, when you see beyond the sorrow of this world and glimpse the glory of heaven, but the labor persists. Still, the promise of Christ stands, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”[2]

The labor will come to completion and then you will have such joy that the danger, pain, and sorrow of labor will be forgotten. It will be forgotten in the joy that you now behold the Son of Man in your arms. You will see the face of Christ and rejoice. You will forget the sorrow and weeping that marks this life. Your lamentation of sin will come to an end. You will no longer seek the absolution because your absolution will be made complete, made whole, in the direct presence of Christ, now enjoyed by all the faithful.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] 1 Corinthians 11:28.

[2] St. Luke 6:21.

Misericordias Domini

Misericordias Domini – April 14, 2024

Psalm 33; Ezekiel 34:11-16; 1 Peter 2:21b-25

St. John 10:7-18

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It is not an accident that so many of our fathers in the Old Testament were shepherds. Abel, Jacob, David, and Amos are just a few who shared this profession. Especially with the life of David, the image of the shepherd is also associated with kings. The primary job of the shepherd is to guide, provide for, and protect his sheep. A king’s duty is the same—to guide, provide for, and protect his people. God has thus established Himself as the Shepherd of His people as He has promised to guide, provide for, and protect them.

A shepherd guides his flock from the front, that is, he walks in front and the flock follows behind. He sets the example of where to walk, where it is safe to graze, and where to lie down for the evening. Our Lord, Jesus Christ does the same for you. He was in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites out of Egypt. He was with David when he went before the army of Israel and slew the giant, Goliath. He walked perfectly in the Law of the Lord to fulfill the Law on your behalf but also that you would see what it is to live according to the Word of God.

More directly, Christ has sent His Holy Spirit upon you that you would not be alone. If left alone, you would not follow Christ, your Shepherd. You couldn’t. It is the Holy Spirit that carries your limping body and aching soul along the way that you might look to Christ and be guided upon the narrow path of salvation.

And of course, Christ has given you His Word to guide you. “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s Word guides you in how to live and behave but it also guides you to your final destination. His Word even tells you that this narrow path of salvation will be full of danger and suffering. Christ has called all who would follow Him to take up the cross. Such suffering in this life is not aimless. It is for the strengthening of your soul and in fact, plays it’s own role in conforming you to your Lord. Such suffering is small compared to the suffering of our Lord, but it serves to gather you into the image of Christ.

How then, does the Good Shepherd provide for you? “He daily and richly provides you will all you need for this body and life.” All material things that you need to survive are provided by the hand of God. If for even one moment, God stopped providing for the world, it would cease to exist. Out of His divine, Fatherly, “Shepherdly” goodness, He provides for the needs of every living thing.

The Good Shepherd is even more abundant in His blessings than this. He provides not only for your material needs but also for your spiritual needs. Chiefly, He provides you with His Word. He has communicated to you through the hands of His prophets and Apostles so that you might hear the voice of your Shepherd and know Him.

He also combines this Word with physical elements in the Sacraments. Because He knows how easy it is for you to doubt His Word, Christ has bound His Word to water, bread, and wine so that you can feel, taste, and touch the promises He has given you. He provides for you in thought, word, deed, and sensory perception.

He provides for you the voice of an undershepherd, a pastor, who speaks to you the words of absolution. These words of forgiveness are just as true and certain as if God Himself spoke them from heaven. This is a gift to you directly from God.

He provides the Church, the gathering of the saints to hear God’s Word and receive His gifts. He provides brothers and sisters in Christ that, yes, are able to provide you with temporal blessings, but far more importantly are able to uplift your soul in the worship of the Triune God; are able to support your voice even as Aaron and Hur supported the arms of Moses; are able to orient your mind and body toward the things of God when you would rather turn away toward the passing things of this world.

How then does Jesus, the Good Shepherd, protect His flock? He protects you chiefly from sin, death, and the devil. He does this by dying and rising again. This is what makes Him the great, noble, beautiful Shepherd. He lays down His life of His own accord and takes it up again. No man took the life of Jesus. Jesus laid it down for you. By doing this, He destroyed the Goliath of death. He snatched you, His sheep, from the very mouth of hell and placed you in the sheepfold of His heavenly kingdom.

He continues to protect His flock using the very same things He has provided for the flock. What are you to do when you are assaulted by temptation, sin, or demons? Use the Word of God. Recite the Creed. Call your pastor. Pray the Psalms. Jesus continues to work through means, and these are sure and certain weapons against the agents of Satan. That which He provides He also uses to protect you.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.