September 25, 2011: Proverbs 4:10-27, Psalm 199:9-16, Galatians 5:16-25, Luke 17:11-19
“Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.” Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
It was faith, Jesus tells us, that made this one man, an ex-leprous Samaritan no less, to return to the One who gave him his new life. It was faith that made him lose sight of everything else around him-to lose the sight of heading to the priests to be properly and fully restored to society-so to fall at the feet of this One who had just given him back his life. It was faith that drove this man to forget all of what he needed to do next-what he needed to do to get his life back in order, to be reunited to his family, to get back to his hometown-so to seek nothing other than the only One whom had created him anew. And it is faith that made this man to find salvation and deliverance (as the Greek text tells us) in the only place and Person he knew it to be possible.
It was faith that the Psalmist sought to express in his grand and glorious song to the life found in God’s Word. It was faith that gives the one, he states time and time again, the insight to see the enjoyment of living according to what God has willed and desired for His people. It was faith that made him realize that only when one stored in their heart God’s holy Word, will one find a shield capable to resist sin. And it is faith that drove him to confess that one finds delight and happiness in this life, only when God and His will and ways are before your eyes.
It was faith that the Apostle Paul set forth in his call to seek, walk and live by the Holy Spirit rather than the desires of the flesh. It was faith that made Paul see the dangers of the works of the flesh because if one so lives according to it, so one ends up living only and for themselves. It was faith that made Paul understand that the power of Christ in one’s baptism is that it brings a complete end to one’s old life according to this world, so to now live in the power of His resurrection over sin, death and the power of the devil. And it is faith, Paul confessed, by which one now lives in the Kingdom of God, where the Holy Spirit will grow many glorious fruits in and through you.
It was faith that made Solomon correctly see that the word of instruction from the Lord to be the wisdom of all the ages. It was faith that he understood to be the difference between the light which enlightens the righteous and the darkness that causes the wicked to stumble. It was faith in which he advised to be mindful of what one hears, read and do, because there is a stark difference between what is good and what is not for you. And it is faith, he sung, that will direct your feet onto the paths that are sure and right and good.
And so it is faith that you, today, can and must live your entire life upon still. For it is faith alone that gives you the certainty that the leprosy of your own soul-a soul wilting and rotting under the disease of an original sin which holds you captive-is cleansed and redeemed by Christ Jesus who was given unto this world to save and deliver you with the simply word of “You are forgiven.” It is faith alone that bestows upon you the assurance that you are saved, forgiven and redeemed from your sin, death and hell-because you have been given the very Son of God, who suffered death, descended into hell and was buried, so to usher in a new life in His resurrection to all who believe and are baptized. It is faith alone that sustains you whenever the works and ways of the flesh seek to gain your attention, ideals and desires-because you are given and fed upon the Body and Blood of your Lord and Savior who was crucified and raised for you. And it is faith alone in which you can know, believe and trust God’s Word to be worthy unto the very end-for it, alone, gives you the right instruction and path of life, because it is the thing, the only thing, that comes from Your God who is, who was, and who is to come. Amen.
It was faith, Jesus tells us, that made this one man, an ex-leprous Samaritan no less, to return to the One who gave him his new life. It was faith that made him lose sight of everything else around him-to lose the sight of heading to the priests to be properly and fully restored to society-so to fall at the feet of this One who had just given him back his life. It was faith that drove this man to forget all of what he needed to do next-what he needed to do to get his life back in order, to be reunited to his family, to get back to his hometown-so to seek nothing other than the only One whom had created him anew. And it is faith that made this man to find salvation and deliverance (as the Greek text tells us) in the only place and Person he knew it to be possible.
It was faith that the Psalmist sought to express in his grand and glorious song to the life found in God’s Word. It was faith that gives the one, he states time and time again, the insight to see the enjoyment of living according to what God has willed and desired for His people. It was faith that made him realize that only when one stored in their heart God’s holy Word, will one find a shield capable to resist sin. And it is faith that drove him to confess that one finds delight and happiness in this life, only when God and His will and ways are before your eyes.
It was faith that the Apostle Paul set forth in his call to seek, walk and live by the Holy Spirit rather than the desires of the flesh. It was faith that made Paul see the dangers of the works of the flesh because if one so lives according to it, so one ends up living only and for themselves. It was faith that made Paul understand that the power of Christ in one’s baptism is that it brings a complete end to one’s old life according to this world, so to now live in the power of His resurrection over sin, death and the power of the devil. And it is faith, Paul confessed, by which one now lives in the Kingdom of God, where the Holy Spirit will grow many glorious fruits in and through you.
It was faith that made Solomon correctly see that the word of instruction from the Lord to be the wisdom of all the ages. It was faith that he understood to be the difference between the light which enlightens the righteous and the darkness that causes the wicked to stumble. It was faith in which he advised to be mindful of what one hears, read and do, because there is a stark difference between what is good and what is not for you. And it is faith, he sung, that will direct your feet onto the paths that are sure and right and good.
And so it is faith that you, today, can and must live your entire life upon still. For it is faith alone that gives you the certainty that the leprosy of your own soul-a soul wilting and rotting under the disease of an original sin which holds you captive-is cleansed and redeemed by Christ Jesus who was given unto this world to save and deliver you with the simply word of “You are forgiven.” It is faith alone that bestows upon you the assurance that you are saved, forgiven and redeemed from your sin, death and hell-because you have been given the very Son of God, who suffered death, descended into hell and was buried, so to usher in a new life in His resurrection to all who believe and are baptized. It is faith alone that sustains you whenever the works and ways of the flesh seek to gain your attention, ideals and desires-because you are given and fed upon the Body and Blood of your Lord and Savior who was crucified and raised for you. And it is faith alone in which you can know, believe and trust God’s Word to be worthy unto the very end-for it, alone, gives you the right instruction and path of life, because it is the thing, the only thing, that comes from Your God who is, who was, and who is to come. Amen.
posted by Weekly sermons at 8:44 AM
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