Sermon in Minneapolis 04.12.2005

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, let us begin our services with opening prayer and thanksgiving.

Holy and righteous God, our dear Heavenly Father, again on this Sunday morning, we thank you that we have been able to again gather and assemble around your holy, unperishing Word. We ask for service blessings, that again you would reveal unto us the mystery and the reason for our salvation, which is alone through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who through his perfect and sinless walk on this life, and through the shedding of his innocent blood, and the giving of his life, and the cause of Calvary, he has prepared for us the gift of salvation. And he has sealed this work of atonement and redemption with his victorious resurrection from the grave on Easter Sunday morning.

So we again ask for service blessings. Through your Holy Spirit, you would comfort us, reveal unto us, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Feed us with your everlasting gospel, which has come from heaven, and guide us and keep us in this begun faith for the rest of our lives. All of this we ask in the name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

I will read a gospel text from Mark chapter 1, verses 14 and 15. Now after that, John was put in prison. Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel. Amen.

This was at the end of a ministry of John the Baptist which also marked the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. Jesus, for the first 30 years of his life, we could say, lived a quiet and an unnoticed life. But John the Baptist, his cousin who was six months older than him, was doing his work. He was the one, as the Old Testament prophets relate, sent to prepare the way for the Lord. He had come to make the crooked roads straight; he was to lower the high hills and mountains. He was also the one to fill in the valleys and the low places. He was the forerunner to Christ; he was the one who would prepare the hearts to make that highway that could enter into the hearts of the people of Christ, human beings.

But he often preached a very, we could say, coarse sermon, very similar to the way he dressed, living out in the wilderness, dressed in camel skins, eating only the honey from the forest and the grasshoppers from the field. He preached a very coarse and, we could say, harsh sermon of the law. To the religious leaders of that time, to the Pharisees, he would say the axe is already there and the tree is already put to the base of the tree. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be hewn down and cast into the fire.

Jesus Christ, that even his shoelaces, I am not worthy to tie or untie. He, Christ Jesus, is to increase, but I am to decrease. Even though the Bible says, of all people born, that have been born in this world, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. However, the evangelist continues that even a child in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist.

John the Baptist, we remember, even had the courage to rebuke King Herod, or was it the wife of King Herod, for which reason he was cast into prison and later was even beheaded at the request of the wife of King Herod.

But John the Baptist didn't only preach the one God’s unsighted message, we could say. He did not only preach the law of Moses. We can find how his message also contained the sweet message of the gospel. For when he was one day baptizing people on the river Jordan, a man approached, unknown to all of the people that assembled on the banks of the River Jordan. The time of prophecy had now become fulfilled. No longer did Christ need to be explained with prophetical messages, metaphors, and pictures. But John the Baptist pointed with his forefinger to the approaching man and said, Behold the Lamb of God who has come to take away the sin of the world.

This was the sweet message of the gospel for those who were able to hear it, witness it, and experience it.

Still, even though many people at that time were able to see Jesus with their own eyes and be in his company in the outward sense, Jesus had to lament and say, or the evangelist says of Jesus, that he came unto his own, but his own received him not.

So the time of the office of John the Baptist is now concluding. Jesus is baptized in the River Jordan, after which he is carried by the Spirit out into the wilderness, where he is for forty days and forty nights.

John the Baptist is cast into prison and is beset with heavy doubts. Even though he had prophesied and preached of the coming Messiah, he had even pointed him out with his finger, Behold, he is the Lamb of God, the promised Messiah. But while in prison, he has doubts and asks his disciples to go and ask Jesus, Are you the promised Messiah? Or do we await for another?

The disciples went to Jesus. Jesus didn't say yes or no, but he just told them, watch and listen. The disciples of John returned and brought the greetings: The lepers are cleansed, the palsy are healed, the deaf are able to hear again, the dead are raised up, the blind receive their sight, but unto the poor is preached the gospel.

I'm sure John the Baptist's doubts evaporated and he was comforted by these words of the gospel, of the assurance of the gospel.

So John the Baptist's mission and public ministry has now concluded, and he is now in prison. He is in prison. And now begins the public ministry of Jesus.

Jesus' first sermon or his opening message is this that we read for our text this morning: After this, when John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom. And he said, The time is now fulfilled. My public ministry is now beginning, which will last some three, three and a half years. The time is now fulfilled.

And this was his message. Very short, very succinct, containing, we could say, the entire gospel. And this was his message. Very short, very succinct, containing, we could say, the entire message of the Bible contained in this one sentence.

Mark is typically one who writes in a very condensed form. You can find many of the similar passages written in the other synoptic gospels, Matthew and Luke, but they are expanded very much. But in Mark they are very short and succinct.

So the time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is now at hand. It has approached. So he is preaching of the kingdom of God.

Some decades ago, there were spiritual battles in Finland, the old country. And those who later departed from living Christianity began to accuse the believers of preaching only of the kingdom of God. Isn't Christ the only one who is preaching of the kingdom of God? Isn't Christ the centermost message? It is true. The Bible says there is no other foundation than that foundation which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus.

Paul clearly writes to the Corinthians, but Daniel, we must continue and acknowledge and say that where is Christ Jesus to be found? Jesus says where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst. For I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

The ancient church father, Augustine, often said, and then Luther often quoted in his writings, that outside of the kingdom of God, there is no Christ, and there is no salvation. But then if we look at the flip side of the coin, Luther says that where there is forgiveness of sins, there is life, and there is salvation.

So the Apostle Paul, when writing to the Ephesians, uses one of the many metaphors in the Bible of the kingdom of God, and says that it is the body of Christ. Christ is the head, and we, the believers, the Christians, the followers of Christ, are the members in this body of Christ. And when the head has already gone to glory, the body then soon, one day, will follow.

So here Jesus begins his ministry, and he says, The time is now fulfilled. My people, I am with you. My public ministry is now beginning. The kingdom of God is present. It is here in your midst. It is at hand.

Another gospel text for today tells of a discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees, the self-righteous religious leaders of that time. And they ask the question, that you are often speaking of the kingdom of God, and where is it?

Jesus says, You say it is low here, low it is there. You Pharisees often preach in this way. But Jesus says, Behold, the kingdom of God is now in your midst.

This is an interesting portion that is in the Bible. If we were to look at the Bible translations, perhaps even in the, no, I think it is correctly put here in the King James Version, but in some of the other translations, it says in this way, puts the words into Jesus' mouth as if saying, when speaking to the Pharisees, the unbelievers, some of the unbelievers at that time, that behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

How could Jesus be saying to the Pharisees, of whom John the Baptist had said, that the axe has already been pushed to the tree, and it will be hewn down if it does not begin to produce good fruits, that you are vipers of men? Could Jesus at the same time be saying, that the kingdom of God is inside, within you, you Pharisees?

But in some of the other translations, even though it says that, there is often a margin note, and if you read the margin note, it says, other manuscripts say, that the kingdom of God is in your midst. When Jesus was in their company, the kingdom of God was present. It was close by. It was near them. But it was not within the Pharisees.

So Jesus then continues in Luke chapter 17, saying that, behold, the kingdom of God does not come with observation. Or in other words, the kingdom of God is not such that we can see it and observe it with our own natural eyes. It is a spiritual kingdom.

The borders of the state of Minnesota can be drawn on a map, as the borders of the country of the United States or any other country. But the borders of God's kingdom cannot be marked on a map. It is a spiritual kingdom. The borders are spiritual borders. They go from heart to heart, by and through the Holy Spirit. Where two or three happen to be gathered, as Jesus says, in my name, I am present. I am there, in their midst.

So, Jesus, or Paul, when writing to the Thessalonians, said in this way, after they were converted, he says, you have now begun to follow us in the Lord Jesus.

One unbelieving person became interested in the matter of living faith, and became acquainted with the believers, and even attended their services. He even wanted to hear the gospel. But then, he said, or he was offered the gospel, and he said that, yes, I am interested in the gospel, but I do not wish to be part of your group, of your religion.

Christ cannot be separated from his kingdom, from his congregation. As Paul wrote of the Thessalonians, after they were converted, they began to follow us in the Lord Jesus. They are inseparable, one from another.

So Jesus says in this way, who despises you, my disciples, also despises me, and my Father, who has even sent me.

So here was the first point in Jesus' short opening message of his public ministry: The kingdom of God is present. It's in your midst. It is now at hand.

But then the second point of his message was, repent.

What is repentance? The Augsburg Confession, which is one of the confessions that are mentioned in the bylaws of our church and all Lutheran churches, and also of the LLC, the unadulterated Augsburg Confession, states about repentance, What is repentance? That after conversion, or after baptism, as it is said, if any person sins, they are able to receive again the forgiveness of sins. They are able to, if they lose their faith, through repentance again, able to receive faith.

Then he asks the question, What is repentance? First of all, he says it is distress and sorrow and remorse over one's sins. And then secondly, it is believing the gospel. Believing the gospel, hearing the whole proclamation from the mouth of those who are saved, the missionaries of Christ, the disciples and the members of God's kingdom, those who have the keys of the kingdom of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So that is point two in the Augsburg Confession of what is repentance.

And then third, after repentance becomes the new life, new obedience, or the amendment of life.

So sometimes it is said of repentance that it is a 180 degree turn around. A person's life through repentance gets turned into the opposite direction through the power of the Holy Spirit.

One time, one person came to visit with a believing brother and asked, What must I do to become saved? What must I do to make repentance?

And the brother says, You are too late. Everything has already been done on your behalf. All you have to do is accept and believe the gospel. You do nothing on your part. Everything has been done already on your behalf.

So then he continued, he says, Well, why don't I first go to my parents and amend matters with them, and go to my neighbors, and amend matters with them as well, first of all. Then I'll make repentance.

The brother said that, No, don't do that. Even though it's a very good intention. What if when you're on this mission to amend these matters with your friends and relatives and neighbors, you would die? True repentance would not have been made. You would not be in a saved condition. All you simply have to do is hear the oral proclamation of the gospel. Believe it with your heart.

That person then accepted the gospel, believed it, and amazing things happened without prompting. He later then went to amend matters with his parents, his friends, and his neighbors.

So then, Jesus continues here with a third point in this short sermon: The kingdom of God is at hand. Then the second point is, repent. And the third point is, believe the gospel.

What is the gospel? In the Hebrew language, it simply means to proclaim the good news. In Greek, it also has a very similar meaning.

But if we look at this word gospel, or evangelium, in the original language, it was also used in a secular sense very often in society. The Caesar, we could say, often proclaimed the gospel when he would deliver people from prisons, when he would release people from their demands of taxation, and so on and so forth. He would then spread the good news of these deeds and acts that he had just performed in his kingdom.

So in the temporal sense, in the secular sense, he was proclaiming a message of good news, which was, in the Greek language, simply gospel.

But then of course, the Bible uses this in a spiritual sense. And of course, we know what the Bible means, or the gospel means, to us as believers.

We remember when David was battling against Goliath, and he won that great battle against Goliath. He won that great battle against the giant, slew the giant. And then the good news began to spread through the country: The enemy has been defeated. Goliath is now slain. And we can win the battle over the Philistines. This was good news. This was gospel to the ears of the people at that time.

When the people of Israel were able to return after 70 years in captivity in Babylon back to their homeland, to Israel, and to the city of Jerusalem, when the good news spread, this was gospel to the ears of the people at that time.

So, the word gospel has a broader meaning, a secular and a temporal meaning as well.

So what is the gospel then in the spiritual sense? It is mentioned several times in the Old Testament. But then the Apostle Paul writes, quoting the Old Testament prophets in this way: When the people of Israel were slain, because Paul went out to his people in Zealot. He went out and went to God's wisdom.

So one of the... to the word gospel to anyone in the world who is having this... images, Lucas-Room... became... But the Apostle Paul doesn't leave this matter here, but he then continues, expounds on it, and explains.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Then how shall one preach except a person is sent?

So then he says, quoting the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things.

So the gospel, the living gospel, the salvation-bringing gospel, the gospel, life-giving gospel, is an oral proclamation, as Paul here concludes. So faith comes by hearing, that is, hearing the word of God.

So this is the core message of Jesus Christ in this opening proclamation at the beginning of his public ministry.

We are accustomed, during this time of visitation, of preaching and proclaiming the gospel using the words, in Jesus' name and blood. You won't find that statement as is, in Jesus' name and blood, in the Bible. You can search all you want, but you won't find it. It's not there.

Actually, the first time it was actually used in these words, in this way, was in a sermon written by Lars Levi of Mestadius in the year 1849. And if someone's interested, I can show that sermon. It is still preserved for today.

But even now, we can say that these words and that phrase is not found as is in the Bible. It is based on the scriptures. For Peter preaches in one sermon, which is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, the fourth chapter, For in no other name under heaven shall one become saved than in his name, which is Christ Jesus.

And then Paul writes to the Colossians about redemption of Jesus Christ, which is in his blood. And the writer to the Hebrews says, Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.

So when Jesus, during his time of public ministry, many times we can read from the Bible that he came to one who was lamenting and penitent over their sins, he would say, Son or daughter, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven unto you.

Many people often use the same words, the same phrase, in Jesus' name and blood.

When I was in my first position as an ordained pastor and minister in northern Finland in Kolari, my superior was a person who had nothing to do with Lestadianism at all. Often in his sermons he would say, You can believe your sins forgiven. Your sins forgiven in Jesus' name and blood.

One young man who grew up in the town of Kolari, where I was for six weeks as a minister in Finland, as a young teenage boy was very tormented in his heart and conscience. He lived for Helsinki to begin studying theology to become eventually an ordained minister. But studying there as an unbelieving young man with a tormented heart and conscience.

He even one time said that it seemed like the flames of hell were licking his heart and conscience. He was so tormented by the weight of sin.

So he went from church to church. Went to speak with one pastor and then another. Trying to find help, assurance and peace for his undying soul. And he found no peace.

He finally found a pastor who at one time had been a believer, but had gone astray into a heresy. And this pastor proclaimed, You can believe your sins forgiven in Jesus' name and blood.

He received no peace for his heart and soul. The flames of hell continued to lick his conscience.

He said it wasn't until the kingdom of God was able to approach him, until he was able to find a believer who proclaimed the living gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit, You can believe your sins forgiven in Jesus' name and blood.

Heavenly peace descended upon his heart and soul. The weight of sin was removed and cast away as far as the east is from the west.

So it is not in the words. It is not in some magic phraseology. But as Paul writes to the Corinthians, it is in demonstration. It is in the power and the authority of the Holy Spirit.

One brother whom you all know, who has visited this country many times, related of his repentance. He was going to some convention with another colleague on a train, an army convention.

And on the return trip on the train, that other colleague related that he had just been able to have his sins forgiven. He was converted and became a believer.

And so the other young man listened for some time and then asked the newly converted, the young believer, Could you do the same to me that you received an experience?

This new young converted believer didn't even really remember exactly how it was done. He just put his hands upon the asking friend like they were put upon him. And he said, In the merits of Christ, you can believe your sins forgiven.

This colleague of his witnessed and experienced great joy in his heart. He says it seemed like a flash of light was seen there in that train where he was. He went into the bathroom of the train and he began to cry because of joy.

To him was preached, In the merits of Christ, you can believe your sins forgiven.

So it's not in the exact words, but it's in the power and demonstration of the Spirit.

Unto us has all been given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Luther writes of these keys and he says there are many people in this world who have keys to a church. But if they do not have the Holy Spirit, the only keys they have are the keys to be able to lock and unlock the church door.

But we, unto the believers, have been given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever sins you forgive, forgive here on earth, they are also forgiven in heaven. Whosoever sins you bind on earth, they are also bound in heaven.

We have such power and authority. And this gospel is an unconditional gospel. This gospel is a gospel that has no limits.

Just over a hundred years ago, in the old country, there was much discussion about this gospel. Just before a heresy broke away, they began to ration this gospel. They began to put a limit to the amount of forgiveness that would be preached or could be preached.

And before they would preach the gospel, they would begin to examine the penitent person's heart. Are you penitent enough? Are you remorseful enough? Have you found the root of all issues and matters? No, you need to go deeper. You need to become more penitent before the gospel can be proclaimed.

No. It's an unconditional gospel. It has no conditions whatsoever. When one beseeches and asks for the gospel, the gospel is preached. And the gospel has no limits. It's without bounds. Not seventy times seven in one day, but as many times as your brother or sister would come and ask for the gospel, the gospel is preached.

And also, the gospel is not one that is mixed with the law and good works, which was another issue over one hundred years ago. As we are not, if there were more than one article at that time.

This is such a message which is pleasing and acceptable to our carnal understanding, our reason, in our mind. A gospel that would be mixed together with the law and good works.

He continues to say, For the law would give no one the strength to rise from any falls. But the only power and strength that gives us the strength to rise from falls and onto life of obedience of faith is the power of the love and grace of God.

This is the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. The gospel, the complete gospel, does contain words of instruction, admonishment, and even rebuke when in need. But these are also given in love and proclaimed through love.

But the core, the central message, the essence of the gospel, is the love and the strength to rise from any falls. And the only way that can be the essence of the gospel is the glad tidings of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins.

So when Peter was being installed again into the office of ministry on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias after Easter Sunday, Jesus asked him three questions: Peter, do you love me? Peter, do you love me? Peter, do you love me?

Peter replied in the affirmative three times, I love you, I love you. And then, with a sigh, he said, Lord, you know all, you know, I love you.

Jesus says, Feed my sheep, guide my sheep, and I will guide you, and feed my lambs. One time he instructed to guide, and two times he instructed to feed.

So, brothers and sisters, this morning, we can again be comforted in our hearts, and we can hear the glad tidings of Jesus Christ, the good message of our Savior, who has done all on our behalf to the good and all on our behalf.

He has prepared the gift of salvation through the shedding of his blood, through the giving of his life on the middle cross of Golgotha. He has completed this work of salvation with his victorious resurrection from the grave.

So, even now, in his name and through his blood, which he has shed on the middle cross of Golgotha, which did not get left on the hill and the rocks of that mount, but it is a living blood, it is a speaking blood even yet today. It is a life-giving blood, a cleansing blood, a blood that gives strength.

The voice of the blood of Jesus sounds forth from Zion's hill to you, a weary pilgrim, who longs to hear it still.

The Holy Spirit, who is the Lord and the Savior, is with you in this, in this, in this, to hear it still.

You can believe sins forgiven in Jesus' name, in blood. 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 peace.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen.