Sermon in Minneapolis 08.12.2013

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us begin our services this morning with opening prayer and thanksgiving.

Holy and righteous God, our pure Heavenly Father, again this morning we thank you for this opportunity to be able to assemble before your Holy Word. During this Advent season we wish to remember the gift of all gifts amidst all of the other temporal blessings that we have been able to enjoy and experience. The greatest of all is your Son, Jesus Christ, that gift of Christmas that was born for the salvation of all the world.

On Christmas morning, this gift of righteousness which was prepared through your Son, Jesus Christ, we can own by faith here as a treasure hidden in the field in your kingdom. So we ask that you would again this morning comfort us and encourage us and lead us on the narrow way of life, but above all, feed us and nourish us with your gospel message. So we ask for your service blessings in the name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Amen. Today, the second Sunday in Advent, has an epistle text from Hebrews chapter 10, verses 35 through 39. And we will hear these words as, It follows in Jesus' name. Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Amen.

Amen. This epistle that is written by an unknown author, unknown to us, has been written to the so-called Hebrew congregation. And the so-called Hebrew congregation, for the most part, were those who received the grace of repentance. We remember that the numbers multiplied greatly on that First Pentecost. But prior to that, there was a small group of believers there in Jerusalem. In the book of Acts, chapter 1, it mentions that there were one hundred and twenty believers.

As we recall, on the first Pentecost, there was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a visible form. But then the question often comes to mind that, well, if the outpouring of the Holy Spirit happened then, what about prior to this moment? Was there the Holy Spirit existing and did the believers possess the Holy Spirit? Here in this letter to the Hebrews, in the following chapter, in the first verse following the last verse that we read, it begins to tell about faith and faith. The definition of faith and giving many illustrations of what faith is and some examples of those former saints who died in faith. But it also goes on to say that without faith, it is impossible to please God.

So two things are necessary to be acceptable unto God, the Heavenly Father. First is living faith. For without living faith, it is impossible to be acceptable or pleasing unto God. But also is necessary the Holy Spirit. And Paul writes to the Romans that those that are not led or guided by the Holy Spirit, they are not his own. Already in the Old Testament, King David says in one of his psalms and pleads unto God that take not your spirit from me. So David, a believer, had and possessed the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament time. And King Saul, we remember when he fell. And it said that the Spirit departed from Saul. So before that, he had the Holy Spirit of God.

So here, at the first Pentecost was born, we could say, the New Testament congregation. And at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the visible form, they received strength and encouragement. Up to that point, they had been as if huddled there in fear, there in the city of Jerusalem. But now, the mission command of Christ was going to be fulfilled. And Jesus had said, in his mission command that, go forth from Jerusalem, into all of the world, beginning from Samaria, to all parts of the world, and preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins.

Some of the disciples, in their earlier occupation, had been fishermen. And Peter, for example, was a fisherman. But when God called Peter, he said, I will now make you a fisher of men. No longer catching fish from the sea, but fishing for men. We remember literally when he caught that great catch of fish, after fishing that entire night, and nets were empty. Then the next day, when Jesus came to visit with them, and Jesus wasn't a professional fisherman. He didn't know that trade at all. At least not as Peter and some of the others who were professionals in that trade.

It was perhaps midday, when perhaps the fish are not in schools. And Jesus tells them to cast your nets into the water, in midday, into this certain place and location, which probably seemed strange to a professional like Peter. Now isn't the time, that isn't the place, to cast our nets. But they listened to what Jesus said, and they obeyed. And lo and behold, their nets were so filled with fish, that they had to call other people to help draw those nets full of fish to shore.

But as a result of this great catch of fish, Peter felt himself to be small. He was humbled, and he felt himself to be a great sinner. And he fell down at the feet of Jesus. But Jesus said, Peter was a fisherman. Now, on that first Pentecost, he was a fisherman in another sense. And when he delivered that sermon on the first Pentecost, the results were immediately seen, when 3,000 people received the grace of repentance on one day.

And those who were not believing began to mock and ridicule the believers, saying that they are drunk, drunk with alcoholic beverages. But people don't drink alcohol at that time of the day. And so it was said that they are not drunk with wine or alcohol, but they are drunken of the spirit of the new wine. And they were so warmed and encouraged by these great times of awakening, that the believers gathered together in homes, around the word of God, breaking bread daily. And the numbers of believers continued to increase.

Hear this letter of the Hebrews is now written to those people known as the Hebrews, who were for the most part, had received the grace of repentance from Judaism, who lived and practiced the ways of the Old Testament, the old covenant time. And as time continued, and they were able to experience these warm feelings after receiving the grace of repentance, living the time of betrothal, as it is said.

Anyone who has received the grace of repentance, I'm sure, vividly remembers. For the most part, they have experienced these warm feelings, the time of betrothal. And it seems like their footsteps hardly touch the ground. And they are literally halfway to heaven. But we know that our salvation is not based on our feelings. And these warm feelings of betrothal don't last forever for one who has received the grace of repentance.

And so it was for these Hebrew believers. As time went on, the so-called grace feelings began to vanish. And now came the time, we could say, to live and journey of faith. Our salvation, and the foundation of our salvation, is and always will be based upon and founded upon Jesus Christ, that chief cornerstone.

Now these so-called Hebrews were also experiencing outwardly very difficult times. It was also the time of persecution. And many died a martyr's death. We can even read at the end of chapter 11, and it says, and others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings. Yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, or cut into two. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented. Of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens, and caves of the earth.

So many of these so-called Hebrews and other Christians as well were living times of persecution. Outwardly, very difficult times. And as a result, many of those who had received the grace of repentance on that first Pentecost, as time went on, they slowly, many one by one, gave up their faith, and went back to their former way of life and former belief system, Judaism.

And so here, the writer of this letter to the Hebrews wants to encourage them during these difficult times, during these times of trial, during these moments of heavy doubts, and he says in this way, cast not away therefore your confidence, or your trust, or your faith, for this faith has a great recompense of reward.

So wishing to draw before them that goal and that destination that awaits the wayfarer in faith. That we now live and travel the way of the cross, but one day that cross can be laid down in exchange for a crown.

So here in this letter to the Hebrews, we can read that many of those recipients of that letter began to debate certain issues. For example, they began to debate that who is greater? Who is more superior? Who is more important? Christ or angels?

And so the writer of this letter addresses this issue. And he says in one of the earlier chapters that to no angel was ever said these words. These words were only said about Christ, God's only Son. That you are my Son. And today, I have begotten you.

Another issue that was discussed was who is greater or who is more important before God, in the eyes of God, angels or human beings. Well, when Christ was born, he was born to be a little bit lower than the angels as a human being on the human side. But then, when God prepared this gift of salvation, the salvation did not touch angels. There was no redemption for angels.

And therefore, it says in this way that God didn't take upon himself angels, but he only took upon himself the seed of Abraham. Meaning human beings. Meaning this, that he prepared the gift of salvation and he performed the work of redemption for human beings and not angels.

And therefore, also, it wishes to encourage us that we who are in faith today, it is not only important that we are believing today, but that we would be believing every day and believing yet at that moment when our turn comes to leave this world or at that moment when the world comes to an end.

And therefore, in some of the earlier chapters here in Hebrews, in chapter three and chapter four, it gives many illustrations of those who began on the journey. Especially on the wilderness journey. Were there a million or more people that left from Egypt? But of that first generation, was it only Joshua and Caleb who reached the promised land?

Today, the first chapter of the book is the first chapter of the book of the August Orthodoxy to be truly authenticated. And in that, rationalized, without the prophet Christ Cassid or just before him, it is the son of this whole philosophy of the crossing of all the change to the world.

Of the way it anyone can... Typing the boil assy as long as the hahaha was awaiting for all of those believers who believe unto the end of their life and at that moment can be translated from this life to that eternal goal in heaven.

But then, especially thinking of those during those times, those times of persecution and trial and during times of heavy doubt, this letter was addressed to them. And also it applies to us as well.

Outwardly, we have a much easier time when the laws of the land protect us and we have freedom of religion. We can freely gather together around God's word without fear of persecution. But yet, in another sense, in another sense, we are in a battle. We have the battle against the threefold enemy, the devil, the world, and especially our own sinful portion, our own flesh.

And therefore, the writer of this letter to the Hebrews says, you have need for patience. We need to have patience. That after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. No one is crowned on the journey, but only after the journey is complete. And we have made it to the goal line, to the cross, the finish line, having kept the faith. And our names are still in the Lamb's book of life, written there in heaven.

But then, as mentioned already, we are living the Advent season. The word Advent means coming or appearance or emergence. And here, this author of this letter to the Hebrews refers to this theme, and I'm sure for this reason, this text was chosen for one of the Advent Sundays.

And it says, for yet a little while. So wait just a little while. And he that shall come, Jesus Christ who will come, he shall come, and he will not linger or tarry.

So during the Old Testament era, after the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, they were in paradise. God himself gave that first promise of the coming Messiah. And the Old Testament believers were waiting and expecting and longing for the fulfillment of the arrival of the Messiah, Christ Jesus.

One prophet even cries out and he says and sighs, oh, if the heavens would already open and the Messiah would step down from heaven to earth. So the Old Testament believers were Advent people waiting for the coming of the first arrival of the Messiah.

But Jesus was born on that first Christmas day there in Bethlehem. And last Sunday was first Advent Sunday. And we recalled how Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, in the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, which is also a first Advent Sunday theme, arriving on a donkey into Jerusalem the last time. He appeared, he came, that was his emergence into that city of Jerusalem.

But also we could say that even now, today and at this moment, Jesus promises that he is there. He arrives and has arrived and is in our midst in presence right now, through his word and through his sacraments, where two or three are gathered together in his name.

We are now, during the Advent season, during these four Christmas holidays, we are now in the midst of the Advent season, Advent Sundays awaiting for that Christmas celebration. Waiting for December 25th, when we will celebrate the birth of Jesus.

But we are also Advent people. This is the theme or the topic for this Sunday. Waiting for that moment when the king will come in his glory.

We are simply calling them all brighter than söyleyebinist. We have so many other ways of coming. On Ascension Thursday, he ascended into heaven and is now sitting at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. But he will one day come. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

So we are Advent people waiting for that moment. During the time of the early church, they lived under that expectation that one generation will not even pass before this is fulfilled, when Christ will return again.

Here it says, just a little while, and that's been over 2,000 years, but this word is still true. It is still sure, and it says that he will not linger. He will not tarry.

And yet, it hasn't occurred or happened. Those people in the city of Thessalonica, for example, were living under that expectation that, well, if he's coming soon, why even work? Let's just sit down in the field and cast our gaze toward the eastern horizon from which direction he's supposed to appear.

But Paul had to say that if you don't work, you shouldn't eat either. That we can't just sit on our laurels and do nothing and just wait with our arms crossed. That's the way it is. And that's why we're here today. We're here today to pray for the second coming of Christ.

And therefore, Luther says that even if he knew, would happen to know, that Christ is going to arrive tomorrow, he wouldn't stop working. Today he would yet plant an apple tree. Of course, we know that it takes many years before an apple tree starts bearing apples.

We moved into our house eight years ago, and one of the first apple trees that we planted, the first apple tree was the first apple tree that we planted. And the first year bore its first apples. But yet, Luther says, even if he knew the world would end tomorrow, he would plant an apple tree today.

And so, people are very intrigued by this topic of the end of the world. When will it be? What are the signs of its arrival? In fact, many people have started businesses generating much money around this topic, with horoscopes and reading of palms and so on and so forth, trying to predict this and that regarding the end of the world or things of the future.

There are two types of people. There are some who are very interested in the future. There are some people who are completely unconcerned or ignorant regarding the future or the end of the world. But there are other people who are very intrigued, and they go to the extent of trying to predict when, at what moment, and how it will occur.

Jesus said, Jesus, or the writer of this letter to the Hebrews says, have patience, for he, Christ, who is to come, will come, and he's not going to linger. He's not going to tarry. And these words were written, as I mentioned already, two thousand years ago. These words will be fulfilled.

And so, the Bible says, Jesus says himself, that no human being knows when this moment will be. No, not even the angels in heaven, not even the Son of God, Christ Jesus himself, knows when this moment will occur. Only God himself.

One old preacher brother used to say that only God knows. And God, as if, has a hidden button in a closet or a drawer. And at that moment, when he decides to push that button, unbeknown to anyone else, Christ will come, will return to this earth with all of his angels, to gather all of his own.

And so, for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

So then, what is the message, the important message for us, in this scripture portion, set aside for us today? Now the just shall live by faith. This is a portion which is drawn from an Old Testament prophetical book, the book of Habakkuk, chapter 2, which is one of the texts nowadays for Advent season.

Now the just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, or if any man gives up, if one gives up their faith, then my soul, the soul of God, will have no pleasure in that person. Or that person will not be acceptable unto God, the Heavenly Father.

So, the just shall live by faith. As it says in the first verse of chapter 11, defining what faith is. Now faith is something that we hope for. And it is proof and evidence of things that are not seen.

If we remember, Abraham, for example, was told to go sacrifice his son there on the Mount of Moriah. I'm sure this was a very difficult and a challenging moment for him. His promised child, that he received when he was an elderly man, now God tells him to go and sacrifice his awaited son.

But by faith, through faith, he was obedient. I'm sure the footsteps were heavy when he was climbing to the summit of that mount, preparing the altar, tying the arms and legs of his son, raising that knife, ready to sacrifice his only son. Until he heard, Abraham, Abraham, don't do that.

Or how about when Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights. That was a trying moment. Difficult. A difficult situation. But Jonah had to live by faith.

Or how about Daniel, when he was cast into the den of lions, and the door was shut there amidst the pack of the angry lions. I'm sure it was a very scary moment. But Daniel had to live by faith.

We remember Martin Luther, when in 1510, he made that famous trip of his to Rome, to the so-called Holy City, where the Pope lived, hoping to give some spiritual inspiration and uplifting. And he was mortified by what he saw, how the priests were living, and all the worshiping of relics, and this outward spiritual life, this outward spirituality.

And Luther himself went to these certain staircases and began to climb one by one, saying the Lord's Prayer as he went up step by step. I'm sure dressed in his monk robe, robe of a monk, his hair shaved, and giving a prayer.

And history relates that he even thought that he's going to pray on behalf of his grandparents, and perhaps release them from purgatory. It wasn't until he arrived at the top step, and he began to think. He had been studying the book of Psalms, and many other books, and lecturing on these topics as well.

And then he began to think and doubt, that I have lived as a good monk. I have beaten myself. I have fasted, and I have done so much. But have I done enough? Is it enough to please God? To be acceptable unto God?

And then he remembered the words from the Bible. The just shall live by faith. Not of works. Not of any human effort. It is all through the merits of Christ Jesus. What he has done on our behalf. And we can own this gift of righteousness that Christ has prepared, alone by faith, alone by grace, all through the merits of Christ Jesus.

Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall not have any pleasure in him.

But now when thinking of the Advent season, and especially today's theme, that the King will come or arrive again in all of his glory, and how many people think about the end of the world, and the signs leading up to the end of the world, and many of the illustrations and pictures that used to describe the end of the world are often pictures of horror and terror causing fear.

Sure it is true that justice will prevail. All that is incorrect will be corrected. And Christ will come to judge the living and the dead. But today's Gospel text gives a very comforting, a very encouraging, and a very uplifting picture.

And it says when you see that the fig trees have leaves, then you know that summer is nigh and at hand. No human being can predict exactly the exact moment of the arrival of summer. When is summer here? There are signs that summer is approaching. The migratory birds have returned from the south back to their nesting areas, and the grass begins to turn green, and leaves begin to appear on the trees again.

Clear signs that summer is arriving, and soon will be here. But no human being can exactly define what is that moment. It is now summer, and spring has passed.

But another illustration that the Bible speaks about the end of the world is a wedding festival. That there in the book of Revelations, it says in the seventh chapter, and it tells of a wedding throng, who are dressed in long white robes, so great in number no human being can count.

And they have come, yes, from many trials and tribulations, but their robes are made white and pure in the blood of the Lamb. And so this is a beautiful picture of the end of the world, and what it is for a child of God.

It isn't a fearful moment. A wedding is always a happy moment, a moment of joy, a moment of thanksgiving, and a moment of fulfilled prayers.

And so we are betrothed people. Jesus Christ is the groom, and the congregation of Christ is the bride. And every child of God is a bride of Christ.

When we are in the midst of this, and we are in the midst of this, when we ever attend a wedding, isn't the central person in the wedding the bride? And if someone doesn't make it to the wedding, and someone returns home from that wedding occasion, one of their first questions is always, what did the bride look like? What was her wedding dress like? I'm sure it was beautiful. Can you describe it to me?

And so we are, as believers, the brides of Christ. And so in the book of Revelations, it says that the groom has prepared a bride for himself. And it is dressed in a white robe, which is the righteousness of Christ.

So during the Biblical times, when a young man and a young woman, or a man and a woman became engaged, they didn't see each other for the rest of that time of engagement until the wedding day.

And then the friends of the groom and the friends of the bride would send messages back and forth between the groom and the bride during that moment of, in the time of betrothal, often lasting up to a year.

And so we are the brides of Christ. We are waiting for that wedding moment to happen. We are waiting like in the parable of the ten virgins for that call that comes in the middle of the night, perhaps midnight. No one knows exactly what moment it will be heard. When the shout will sound out, the groom has arrived.

But we are brides of Christ, waiting for that shout, waiting for that call, waiting for that moment, having our robes, our wedding garments upon ourselves that are made white and purified in the blood of the Lamb through the blood of Christ and the Gospel message.

And we have lamps in our hands with oil in the lamps that are trimmed and burning. Our loins are girded. We have a belt around our waist which is what it means. And we have shoes upon our feet and are ready to depart, just like the people left from Egypt.

At that moment when they were told to go, we are departure ready. Righteousness in the Swedish language means being ready to depart. Departure ready.

And so, we are not fearful of that moment or the end of the world or that moment when we will die, even though the last enemy is death. Our corrupt carnal portion, the old Adam may fear, but it is a moment when the soul will be released from this body of captivity.

And we can go out to meet our groom, Christ Jesus. And that eternal wedding celebration in the glory of heaven will begin and have no end.

So, this is the Advent theme of today. So be encouraged. Lift up your hands. Lift up your hearts. Just as you are, just as you find yourself. Believe. Sins forgiven. In Jesus' name, in precious blood.

For just a little while more, and he that has promised to come, Christ Jesus, will come. He is not going to tarry. But remember, amidst trials, difficulties, doubts and temptations, the righteous will live by faith.

With the hand of faith, we can cling to the grace promises of God and be of good cheer, now and during the rest of our journey here on this earth. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us your peace. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.