Romans 8:1-2                                                         

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1–2, ESV)

1. Therefore

I like to point out the word therefore when it is found in a text. It is a word that is easily passed by because it seems so insignificant. However, it is well worth paying attention to therefore because that one word holds a great deal of information, for refers to something just as written. In this case, therefore refers to all of chapter 7 in which the Apostle describes his struggles against his flesh and his own sinful actions.

Listen to these words from St. Paul in verses in Romans 7:15-23

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?

Paul exposed his guilt in these gut-wrenching words. He expresses his shame for sinful actions with great sorrow. It is very possible that he is reflecting on his persecution of Christians prior to his conversion, actions so horrific that he is unable to rid himself of the guilt.

Wretched man that I am describes Paul’s attitude towards himself. The American Dictionary describes wretchedness as being very miserable; sunk into deep affliction or distress, either from want, anxiety or grief.

As a man living in the flesh, he knew he stood condemned. The heavenly court handed down his just sentenced. “For all have sinned.” “The wages of sin is death.” Hopeless and helpless, Paul called to God for mercy; wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?”

2. No condemnation

How does a man miserable because of his sin find relief from his guilt and shame? Some self-medicate with drugs, and/or alcohol to dull their senses and pain, others seek out other addictions to escape from their shame. Others look to self-help books and literature, hoping that with these resources they will conquer their demons and find relief. In the end, dulled senses, escape and self -help resources only intensify the guilt and shame. There is no relief when one tries to forgive himself or herself or manage their own guilt.

Paul offers a third solution to sin. After his heartfelt confession in chapter 7, “wretched man that I am,” he continues in chapter 8, “thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The help Jesus offers is available for anyone entangled in any sin. We find expression of forgiveness in the sixth chief part of the Small Catechism, “the Office of the Keys and Confession.”

The Office of the Keys is “the special authority given by Christ to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of penitent sinners and retain the sins of the impenitent.”

In public, for instance during the Divine Service, only a rightly called and ordained pastor is permitted to speak the words of absolution, “in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins.” Hear those words as if Jesus were speaking to you.

Private confession with a pastor is also allowed and encouraged in the Lutheran Confessions. The Augsburg Confession includes the instruction “Concerning confession it is taught that private absolution should be retained and not abolished.”

Kolb, R., Wengert, T. J., & Arand, C. P. (2000). The Book of Concord: the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (p. 44). Fortress Press.

 When an individual goes to private confession, the pastor listens to a parishioner confess his or her sin so they can hear the precious words of absolution. “Upon this your confession, I by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce to you the forgiveness of all your sin. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” No matter what is confessed to him, is told with the expectation that it will not be revealed to anyone else.

But sharing the promise of forgiveness is the responsibility of every Christian. Every Christian can hear the confession of another person and in hearing, announce the grace of God through the power of the gospel. In fact, if anyone confesses a wrong, it is your Christian duty to announce the forgiveness of sins.

Ted Kober founded The Ambassadors of Reconciliation to help individuals, organizations, and congregations become Ambassadors of the reconciliation found in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In one of his online posts, Kober argues that we are to live lives of reconciliation.

Confession and forgiveness are not meant solely for Sunday worship but also for daily life. Every day we sin against God and others, and daily we need the gift.

In one of his online posts, Kober argues for everyday reconciliation.

When we forgive the sin we are expressing great news! “Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This is the best news anyone can hear. But the promise of forgiveness does not originate in us, rather God made it possible when his son was nailed to the tree, died, buried, and rose from the grave.

St. Paul expresses this thought writing,

“By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4).

To forgive as God forgives is a divine gift, a privilege reserved for those forgiven through Christ (Ted Kober).

3. For those in Christ Jesus

There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Note the last seven words: “for those who are in Christ Jesus.” As Christians, we can live confidently in the promise of unconditional forgiveness.

4. Set free by the Spirit

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of Sin and Death.

The Third Article of the Apostles Creed:

I believe that I cannot, by my own reason or strength believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and kept in the one true faith.

We can do nothing to earn, merit, or complete God’s gift of the forgiveness of sins. It is the purest gift ever given. And no one can ever take that gift from us.

The gift is complete. God’s Spirit does not hover aloof, waiting for your you to clean up your act, to “get right before you get left,” by running through the paces of works and what you do. The Spirit dwells, the Spirit abides, the Spirit takes residence. The Spirit makes alive (1517).

In the concluding verses of Romans 8, Paul raises a series of questions

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:35) … then he continued, “No, for I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”  (Romans 8:38) (Excerpt from The Lutheran Study Bible © 2009 Concordia Publishing House).

Hang onto these words: “Nothing in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus.” Nothing. Amen.

John 9:1-3, 40-41

 

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

 

It happened again. Gail asked me to get the ketchup bottle from the cupboard. I looked, and looked, but could not find it. So, as a last resort, I admitted I was at a loss in my mission of discovery. So, Gail took over. And wouldn’t you know it? “Dale, are you blind? It is right here, in the very front of the cupboard. In plain sight.”  Has that ever happened to you? If you are male, the answer is an unqualified yes. Females on the other hand are the ultimate finders for adult males.

However, for the approximately 1million who are physically blind, and the 7-8 million whose vision is severely impaired this is no laughing matter. It is a serious handicap that has broad implications for the individual’s life.

            When blindness occurs, we want to know why. For a newborn, we ask, Is it a genetic problem? Is it something the mother did or did not do while pregnant? Could it have been prevented? For an older person who slowly or suddenly becomes blind, the questions persist. Could something have been done to prevent the blindness?

            Such is the case this morning. The text gives a report of a man born blind. The people surrounding Jesus asked, “Who sinned? The man born blind or his parents.” That’s a reasonable question. Even today people ask the same question when an affliction, natural disaster, or a tragedy occurs.

A comparable situation is recorded in Luke, and the same question was raised.

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish’” (Luke 13:1-5 NIV)

            Jesus could have gone into a long explanation that all illnesses and disabilities are caused by sin. After all, sin is at the root of all maladies in creation. But our Lord was not distracted by such a theological discussion, as interesting and helpful as it might be. In stead, he gave a different response: “it was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

            As John wrote the gospel, one of his goals was to show how the miracles of Jesus displayed the works of God. Look at the first miracle in Cana when Jesus turned water into wine. John wrote, “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory” (John 2:11).

Next week’s gospel has the same theme but for a different reason. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead to give God the glory for bringing a dead man to life. Jesus used the miracle to solicit a confession of faith.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; “and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

The miracle in the text was performed to demonstrate the work of God.

The story about the tower of Siloam has still another reason for disasters. That is, to call people to repentance.

But there is another side to today’s reading. That is, blindness is not only a physical malady. It is also a spiritual illness. The Pharisees clearly proved that truth.

From Jesus’ explanation of why he cured the blind man, we can see that all along Jesus wanted to demonstrate a spiritual truth: people can see but still be blind. Blind, that is, to the work of God. When one is cured of an illness, the normal response is to thank the care giver who facilitated the healing. From a human perspective, that is the correct response. But from a spiritual perspective, all glory belongs to God, for he gave the medical professional the ability to “cure” diseases. When one avoids a car accident, it is correct to say, my driving skills (or just plain dumb luck) saved me from bodily injury. But from a spiritual perspective, one could say it was God at work to bring him glory.

            In fact, the Old Testament reading points out that one of the signs of the promised Messiah’s arrival was his ability to bring sight to the blind:

 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16).

            The Pharisees, and no doubt other bystanders, could not believe God would heal someone who was blind. As John points out, no one had ever been cured of blindness before Jesus’ miracle. Therefore, the Pharisees remarked, Jesus must be from the Devil. For not only did he perform the miracle, but he did also healed the man on the Sabbath, a day in which no work could be done, not even an action to improve a blind man’s blindness.

            The blind man did not have any problem giving credit to God for the gift of sight. “Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ 36 He answered, ‘And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?’ 37 Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.’ 38 He said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him” (John 9:35-38).

            Jesus performed miracles that they would bring glory to God; faith might be brought to unbelievers and to show how God works. Miracles were performed so that Jesus’ that “all people would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). That is true for you and me, as well. Give glory to God, for he has done marvelous things!

            That the Pharisees excommunicated the blind man is clear evidence that they did not believe Jesus healed blind man; that they did not appreciate the blind man giving glory to Jesus for the supposed healing, and third, that the Pharisees themselves did not believe Jesus to be the son of God. “Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, ‘Are we also blind?’ 41 Jesus said to them, ‘if you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, We see, your guilt remains’” (John 9:40-41)

Romans 5:1-5 Rejoice in Suffering?

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  (Romans 5:1–5, ESV)

I have a story about this text. This Sunday in the church year calendar is permanently etched in my mind. Here it is. The date was the week of 3/19/1978. The setting was Trinity Lutheran Church in Taylorville Illinois. The situation occurred during my vicarage. I was on the schedule to preach on 3/26. As I wrote and studied the text, I was miserable. Early in the week I went to my doctor. He diagnosed my condition . . . mono . . . with German measles. I call that suffering for the sake of the gospel!

While nobody wants to suffer, suffering is necessary for personal and spiritual growth.
In the 1980s, a research facility called Biosphere 2 built in an artificial environment created by scientists to test what it would take to eventually colonize space. Everything was carefully curated and provided for and trees planted inside sprung up and appeared to thrive. Then they began to fall.
The botanists must have looked on in dismay, finding no evidence of disease, mite, or weevil. There was nothing to cause the trees to topple; the conditions were perfect. And then they realized what was missing—something so simple, yet absent within the confines of the structure: wind.

Sometimes stormy weather is used as a metaphor to describe human suffering. When we suffer, we experience stormy weather, and surviving the storms of life becomes a goal. Buffeted by the winds of sorrow, the loss of someone close to you, pain from illness, loneliness with the death of a spouse or distress of any kind, suffering brings one to a stormy season of life. As a result, many give up in despair. However, according to the Word of God, suffering should not lead to despair, but rather suffering should lead us to hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are five themes in the text. They form steppingstones from the hopeless of suffering to the hopefulness found in the love of our Savior showered on us in the forgiveness of sin and the certainty of eternal life.

1. Joy in Suffering
2. Suffering to Endurance
3. Endurance to Character
4. Character to Hope
5. Hope does not disappoint because God’s love is poured into our hearts.

Paul did not list virtues that his readers will achieve by their own will. These are effects of the Holy Spirit’s work in Christian lives. As God helps us through suffering, He teaches endurance, He develops character in us, and He gives us hope. Our relationship with God transforms suffering into a source of joy.

First, we rejoice in our suffering. When something is off, a friend of mine says, “why that ain’t right.” What the Apostle wrote in verse 3 seems off. Quoting Jim, “that ain’t right.” How can there be joy in suffering.

I imagine you would chaff if someone told you to rejoice when you suffer. It ain’t right to say rejoice in suffering. When we suffer, the last thing we want to hear is be glad in your suffering. No, I will not be glad. I want to experience suffering as much as possible.

The Concordia Self Study Commentary notes, “Suffering cannot steal the peace Christ brings. Christians do not rejoice in suffering per se, but they realize that God can produce good things through suffering.” (Excerpt from The Lutheran Study Bible © 2009 Concordia Publishing House Scripture text © ESV Available in the App Store).

A couple of Bible verses point to the source of your joy in suffering:
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” (Psalms‬ ‭28‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Second, suffering brings endurance. According to the dictionary.com,, endurance is the ability to withstand hardship and stay in the game.
Two weeks ago, the Winter Olympics concluded. The work the athletes put into their training is remarkable. The effort put into their competition is staggering. Each athlete has something in common: they faced suffering to win the gold medal.

That’s what is meant by enduring. It’s the stick-to-it-ness of reaching for the gold despite the pain suffering brings.

The example of Job

Though faithful to God, the Lord allowed Satan to torment Job.
Satan went to work and brought death to all his children. He then sent enemies to steal all of his livestock. Then he was stricken with boils and sores that made his life unbearable.

Despite the losses, he continued to praise the Lord: “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
The story ends with God restoring all his losses with more than he started with.
Jesus warns Christians that we “will be hated by all for his namesake’s. But he gives the encouragement that one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10.22).
Third, endurance brings character. Character is not developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
The example of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. Joseph was alone with Mrs Potiphar. She tried to seduce him. He refused. That’s character. It is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching.

Contrast that with David and Bathsheba. In this story, David seduces Bathsheba, sleeps with her, and impregnates her. Rather than acknowledge his sin, he brought Bathsheba’s husband back to Jerusalem, expecting him to be with his wife. David would be free and clear. Uriah refused more than once, and each time he refused. David then sent Uriah to the front lines of the battle and was killed. Problem solved.

Two heroes of the faith. One showing God-pleasing character. The other revealing a character displeasing to God.

Fourth, character brings hope which does not bring shame.

The Concordia Self study Bible explains that hope is not to be equated with unfounded optimism. On the contrary, it is the blessed assurance of our future destiny and is based on God’s love, which is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit and objectively demonstrated to us in the death of Christ. Paul has moved from faith to hope to love. (Hoeber, R. G.).
Joshua 1:9 NLT— “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

We find hope in the fruit of the resurrection and certainty of the world to come. The Christian life is lived in constant joyous expectation of Christ’s second and final Advent, Titus 2:13. As the believers in the Old Testament always waited for Christ’s gracious coming in the flesh, Luke 1:67–79; 2:29–32, so the believers in the New Testament await with true joy and patience His glorious coming to judge the quick and the dead, Luke 21:28” (Mueller, J. T. (1999). Christian dogmatics (electronic ed., p. 434). Concordia Publishing House.)
Hope is found in the fruit of the resurrection and certainty of the world to come

“When we experience everyday hardships, we have a chance to cherish Jesus above all else and base our hope not on circumstances but on the assurance that our names are written in the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5),” (Luke Geraty).

The First Petition What does this mean? God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. …

Meditations on the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer: The Sixth Petition

Lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?

God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

We are at war. It isn’t a physical war, rather it is a spiritual war. The opponents are an unholy trinity made up of the devil, the world and our sinful nature. The Bible describes the battlefield well. The devil is identified as a roaring “seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The world, Jesus tells us “If the world hates you, know that it hated you before it hated you” (John 15:18). Finally, we are warned in Roman 7:18, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate”.

What shall we do as we face this evil triumvirate? Paul answers the question for us when he tells us to “put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Just what is this armor? “Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer” (Ephesians 6:14-18).

Each of these pieces of armor is in easy reach for those who live by faith in the Son of Man. What we are to hold onto is the promise of Jesus that he has already overcome the devil, the world and our sinful nature. That occurred on the holy cross of Calvary when Jesus shed his blood and died for you. The resurrection of Jesus on the third day is the final evidence that the unholy trinity has been destroyed. The only problem is that the triumvirate refuses to acknowledge defeat. Thus, we have the battle against that which is not made up by flesh and blood, “but against the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). So, we stand firm in the gospel of peace which is found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Authority exercised with humility, and obedience accepted with delight are the very lines along which our spirits live.

C. S. Lewis            Illustrious Words of C. S. Lewis