Sermon 10-6-24
The first verse from the epistle reading in Hebrews for today is critically important: Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
And what we have heard is the Word of God.
For if we do not, if the Word of God is not in our hearts and minds, if the Word of God isn’t our anchor holding us fast . . . then we will drift away from it. Little by little, slowly but surely.
But that’s what happens, isn’t it? We’re not believers one day and unbelievers the next. We usually don’t go from right to wrong in one great leap, but usually an inch at a time.
When we listen to what we have heard from the world, and not God, we give in to our desires…which may even seem harmless at first; but before you know it hearts have grown hard—sin takes control and unbelief creeps in. God’s word is no longer the authority—church is out of the picture.
So when the Pharisees approach Jesus, as we heard in the Holy Gospel today, their question is not about what is good or right, it’s about what is lawful. Or in other words, what can we get away with? They’re really not interested in marriage, but in trapping Jesus, to give them the victory over Him. Marriage just happened to be the topic of the day. So, is it lawful, Jesus? What do you say?
But Jesus isn’t about the law; Jesus is about what He made good. He is the God of all creation standing before them. The God who created them. The God who gives good gifts, like life and marriage. Gifts that are to be received with thanksgiving. But how far the Pharisees had drifted away from God.
Our culture today has done the very same thing. We’ve taken what is not right, good or moral and legalized it—creating more problems for society, law enforcement and our legal system, not to mention the very risk of losing our souls.
To the Pharisees the issue was all about control. So, how about us? What’s the greatest stumbling block for Christians to day?
Does our culture think that marriage is good, or unnecessary?
Marriage is no longer the way God designed it. People can marry whoever they want. No one needs a piece of paper to have sex or children. There are even life-like robots, so there are no messy emotions or strings attached. When God created woman and walked her down the aisle in the garden of Eden and gave her to Adam and Adam to her it was good. How far we’ve drifted from the good God created. When God created someone who had never been before – a woman – and gave her to Adam they rejoiced in one another. Were one with each other and from their oneness came – children. Though many in our world today consider children to be an inconvenience or an accident that can be remediated with surgery, or a pill. and U know what? It’s lawful.
So what’s a God to do with people like us having such hardened hearts? Marriage and sexuality are just one issue where we’ve drifted away from God’s good. Not asking whether what we’re doing is good or not, but is it lawful? Can I get away with it?
Creation is fallen—marriage, families, communities, cities and nations. The world’s a mess. We are a mess.
And just because we call something good doesn’t mean it is. The only good is that which God calls good. So, what’s God to do?
Maybe He should have written us a certificate of divorce and sent us away. Maybe he should have let us destroy ourselves. But He didn’t.
Instead, He sent His Son that we might have life–a good life. That we might be born again from above. That we might be children of God. That we might be new creations from the water and blood that flowed from His side. That we might be good, washed clean from our sin, and be one flesh with Him.
In this life as we know it, death usually separates the husband and wife. But Jesus’ death, unites us to Him. Unites us to His resurrection…that our hardened hearts lying in the cold, dark grave, will be raised up to new life. God has given us what is really good, new life – not because of a loophole in the Law, but because our sin is forgiven in Jesus’ name. Our sin has been washed away, by water and the Word. The water of Holy Baptism, the Word of Absolution…
…for every sin and failure in marriage.
…for every sin in thought, word, and deed.
…for every doubt and failure to listen to God’s Word.
… for sins of our bodies and sins of our souls.
…for sins done knowingly and unknowingly. Jesus died for all of them,–no matter how ugly they are.
But in Jesus’ death on the cross, He also took everything infected and corrupted by our sin and made it perfect through His rising to life again. That is the good gift He offers to every one of us now.
What sin has caused you to drift from God? Is it something you’ve actually done, or something you’ve thought or said? Is it something you’ve put off doing? Is it an unforgiving heart? Jealousy? Anger? Selfishness? Self-indulgence?
There are so many tributaries of sin that cause us to drift away from God and His Word. Jesus was made like us in every way but without sin. He suffered when tempted – by the very same temptations that overwhelm us – He knows how hard it is. He comes to anchor us to God the Father and His Word, that we might remain firm in Him and live the good life He has chosen to give us. A life of love; of laying down our lives for others. Please pray with me.
O Guardian of our souls, we thank You for Your spirit’s voice that calls us to repentance when we have strayed from Your will. We pray that You will continue to speak to us through Your spirit, leading us away from sin and into righteous living. Please help us to be attentive to Your guidance and respond with gratitude as You show us the way to eternal life. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
