Dear friends in Christ Jesus – members and guests at Immanuel Lutheran:

 

            Grace, mercy, and peace to all of you from God our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ who is our risen and ascended Lord and Savior.  Amen.

 

Our text for today’s message is the epistle reading from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians.  Paul was unable to physically be with the congregation in Corinth and communicated to them by letter.  So, today, I will follow the same practice although the circumstances surrounding my absence from you are nothing like those of Paul and the Corinthians in the first years of the Christian church.  But the message to you is the same.   It always has been the same and always will be the same.  It is the message of God’s great love.  You are God’s dear children in faith, adopted as such in your baptism, forgiven all your sins in the blood of Jesus, and given the gift of eternal life in Jesus’ name as this earthly life will certainly end. 

 

A few minutes ago we confessed what we believe in the Apostles’ Creed.  Each week we confess what we believe in one of the three creeds.  It is a practice we continue each time we meet in worship.  Each phrase is derived from God’s word to us and describes a truth of God’s plan of salvation.  In these creeds is our Christian faith and our certain hope in God’s promise to raise us from the grave just as he raised Jesus.  2 Corinthians 4:13-14  “It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.”

 

Every person in the world knows that life is temporary.  It is going to end.  As much as we use the word “forever” we know that nothing on this earth is going to last forever, especially the things we build with our hands and the names we build for ourselves.  Yet we put so much faith in these things that we see today that will not be here tomorrow.  It is so easy to sell something that has “lasting value” written on it.  Why don’t we put so much importance on the one thing that says “everlasting value” on it, faith in Jesus Christ for eternal life?

 

As confidently as we state our faith in the words of the creeds in our services, how confidently do we live and profess that faith in our homes, with our relatives and neighbors, in our daily routines of work, school, and social functions?  As the good news that Jesus brings is shared with others, Paul reminds us that, “the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”  [v. 15]  That is the purpose of creed, stating what we believe.  That is the purpose of each Christian, to state this true belief to others.  That is the purpose of God’s word, to work faith in the hearts of those who hear it.  Paul writes in Romans 10:14,  “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” 

 

It is important to know the love of God in Jesus Christ.  It is just as important to tell about him to others.  It is just as important that all believers come together to grow in faith through hearing his word together, praying together, praising him together, and rejoicing in receiving his blessings together.  That is the importance of our congregational structure with the boards, the officers, and the voters’ assemblies.  It is the structure and means we use to determine the mission and ministry of Immanuel Lutheran in our community and our role in worldwide mission. 

 

That is the purpose of the district convention.  All congregations are gathered together to determine how best to achieve mission and ministry in this geographic section of our synod.  That is the purpose of our synod and its structure.  Through the organization, its institutions of training for pastors and other church workers, and its leadership in addressing faith issues on a broad spectrum, many “walk together” in the same true faith as God has revealed to us in his word alone. 

 

This earth is discouraging as “outwardly we are wasting away.”  In faith and in our baptism “we are being renewed day by day.”  [v. 16]  Both of these happen simultaneously as we daily repent of our sins, leaving them at Jesus feet, and take up the cross to follow him.  Both happen in our services as we confess our sins, ask and receive God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and are strengthened in the Lord’s Supper.  Both happen as we study God’s word, growing in understanding and faith in his commands for daily living and his promises of deliverance from all sins, death, and the power of the devil. 

 

The disappointments and futilities that we see in this life are so far overwhelmed by what we do not and cannot see, the invisible riches and glory that far outweighs anything we can envision on our own.  “So we fix our eyes on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  [v. 16]  The writer to the Hebrews defines faith as, “…being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  [Hebrews 11:1]  Jesus commands us to confess our faith to others and not confine it to ourselves. “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”  [Matthew 5:15]  "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.  [Luke 12:8]  As the servants entrusted with their master’s talents, we are to invest ourselves in witnessing to others so they too will be joined in God’s kingdom of grace and glory.

 

As a congregation and as individuals in faith, let us boldly step forward each time we confess saving faith in the triune God together.  Let us not shy away from openly professing it to others day-by-day.  Amen.

 

 

In Jesus’ undying love,

 

Pastor Richard Mau

 

 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   [Philippians 4:7]