WEBVTT 00:01.500 --> 00:05.306 The text for today's sermon was read earlier from Galatians, chapter 00:05.338 --> 00:05.920 Two. 00:08.500 --> 00:13.214 As we focus today on this Word of God, we also gather here, as was 00:13.252 --> 00:18.960 announced, to recognize the calls that have been issued to these men, 00:19.490 --> 00:25.714 along with another one in absentia, two in absentia, as well as an EIIT 00:25.842 --> 00:31.800 student, and for the completion of the program from other men. 00:32.330 --> 00:43.990 So we gather here at CSL of the LCMS to recognize this for SMP, EIIT 00:44.430 --> 00:51.338 students, something we also do for ODS, CHS, RAR, MDiv, and others 00:51.424 --> 00:52.810 when it's appropriate. 00:54.110 --> 00:57.982 Imagine what it would be like if, in the Word of God, they used 00:58.360 --> 01:01.470 acronyms as freely as we do in the LCMS. 01:02.950 --> 01:06.738 Well, I can think of one that really kind of applies to this text. 01:06.824 --> 01:10.100 And here's an imaginary dialogue to depict that. 01:10.950 --> 01:17.320 Hey, Peter, who is this SMG apostle we keep hearing about him? 01:17.770 --> 01:24.550 Oh, you mean the Specific Minister to the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. 01:24.970 --> 01:29.146 Then, in the spirit of this passage, the conversation might continue 01:29.248 --> 01:30.140 this way. 01:31.664 --> 01:35.770 Yeah the Apostle Paul, we heard, let's say, came from a different 01:35.920 --> 01:37.930 background than the rest of us. 01:38.800 --> 01:40.380 We're not quite sure about his training. 01:40.930 --> 01:43.950 Where does he get his apostolic authority? 01:45.410 --> 01:50.638 And on that topic, they would argue very piously, of course, about the 01:50.644 --> 01:56.466 grounds of his certification to be an SMG, a Specific Minister to the 01:56.488 --> 01:57.422 Gentiles. 01:57.566 --> 02:00.158 Okay, enough about acronyms. 02:00.334 --> 02:01.314 All right. 02:01.512 --> 02:07.298 Today's text, however, does raise the question of pastoral authority 02:07.394 --> 02:12.870 of this apostle called to preach the Gospel to the uncircumcised. 02:13.610 --> 02:18.106 We know that Paul often found himself in a position of having to 02:18.128 --> 02:20.758 defend his apostolic authority. 02:20.934 --> 02:24.954 We heard part of that in this text from Galatians two. 02:25.152 --> 02:28.438 It was Paul's second visit to Jerusalem. 02:28.534 --> 02:30.230 Titus was with him. 02:30.400 --> 02:34.910 It was the perfect human endorsement for certification for his 02:34.980 --> 02:38.618 ministry to the Gentiles, the uncircumcised. 02:38.794 --> 02:43.534 We read that those repeated to be pillars of the Church gave their 02:43.572 --> 02:44.430 approval. 02:44.770 --> 02:45.182 St. 02:45.236 --> 02:51.294 Paul writes, James and Peter and John perceived the grace given to me 02:51.412 --> 02:55.526 and offered the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we 02:55.548 --> 02:59.170 should go to the Gentiles and they to the Circumcised. 03:01.450 --> 03:04.350 But human endorsements can falter. 03:05.100 --> 03:09.914 Right after this verse in our text, Paul records another encounter 03:09.962 --> 03:15.914 with Peter, where the pressure of church politics led Peter the Pillar 03:16.420 --> 03:22.574 to wobble in his witness, we might say. A lesson for all of us even the 03:22.612 --> 03:25.910 strongest pillars can wobble with another pressure. 03:26.410 --> 03:31.942 And that is why Paul points to his Divine Call as the basis of his 03:31.996 --> 03:33.670 Apostolic Authority. 03:34.170 --> 03:38.518 It wasn't Peter's endorsement or James's handshake. 03:38.694 --> 03:40.620 It was God's call. 03:41.150 --> 03:46.490 God reversed the course of Paul's life on the Damascus road and 03:46.560 --> 03:51.994 continued to turn him around as he led him into the wilderness to 03:52.320 --> 03:56.793 reread the word of God while the Spirit retaught him how it centers 03:56.841 --> 03:59.790 salvation in Jesus Christ alone. 04:00.530 --> 04:06.781 In fact, the entire book of Galatians is about God's saving gospel 04:06.846 --> 04:10.579 versus man's vain attempts to keep the law. 04:10.950 --> 04:14.386 That is why his divine call was so important. 04:14.567 --> 04:19.542 It did not depend upon Paul or any sort of human arrangement for 04:19.596 --> 04:20.470 certainty. 04:21.209 --> 04:25.126 In fact, he writes, "For I would have you know, brothers, that the 04:25.148 --> 04:29.834 Gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel, for I did not 04:29.872 --> 04:33.546 receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it 04:33.568 --> 04:35.740 through a revelation of Jesus Christ." 04:37.470 --> 04:42.270 Paul made the point of his divine call for the sake of the Gospel. 04:42.770 --> 04:47.230 Our doctrine of the call is also for the sake of the Gospel. 04:47.810 --> 04:53.346 Early in classes here, we help pastoral ministry students see that the 04:53.368 --> 04:58.674 office for which they are being formed is not man's idea, because the 04:58.712 --> 05:00.820 Gospel is not man's idea. 05:01.430 --> 05:08.210 Yes, God uses human agency, but operating in faith, we seek to humbly 05:08.289 --> 05:11.720 observe God as ultimately guiding the process. 05:12.650 --> 05:17.586 And that is what is behind our doctrine of the call, our approach to 05:17.628 --> 05:20.900 certification for pastoral ministry. 05:20.430 --> 05:26.265 And that is why RAR and MDiv graduates believe that God sends them to 05:26.288 --> 05:31.145 preach the Gospel in communities typically unfamiliar to them at 05:31.168 --> 05:31.690 first. 05:31.840 --> 05:37.486 That is why those in the EIIT and CHS programs receive certificates for 05:37.508 --> 05:38.238 the same. 05:38.404 --> 05:44.286 That is also why God calls a man with an SMP certification to serve as 05:44.308 --> 05:47.120 a pastor in a specific ministry where he lives. 05:48.500 --> 05:51.600 No matter which identifying acronym is used. 05:52.130 --> 05:57.361 These pastors are comforted given courage and directed by a Divine 05:57.426 --> 05:59.650 call in the office of the public ministry. 06:01.290 --> 06:06.622 To you men that are being recognized today for your calls, and to you 06:06.676 --> 06:12.766 who are rejoicing in completing your course of studies this week, draw 06:12.868 --> 06:15.360 courage from God's call. 06:15.970 --> 06:19.200 He uses human agency, but it's his call. 06:20.610 --> 06:25.222 And dear brothers, and all of you who are gathered here, know 06:25.276 --> 06:30.502 that he equips you through the gospel of Jesus Christ for whatever he 06:30.556 --> 06:32.400 calls you to do. 06:32.570 --> 06:37.730 The God who sent His Son into the world to save sinners promises you 06:37.820 --> 06:44.250 his grace in your baptism into his death and resurrection, and his 06:44.320 --> 06:49.200 promise to return with final deliverance on the last day. 06:50.130 --> 06:55.274 That is what gave Paul comfort, gave him courage and provided 06:55.322 --> 06:56.190 direction. 06:56.770 --> 06:58.960 We can follow his example. 06:59.650 --> 07:04.834 So let the witness of this self proclaimed chief of sinners give all 07:04.872 --> 07:06.780 of you courage. 07:06.254 --> 07:10.754 Even when a pillar of the church might wobble true of any of us. 07:10.872 --> 07:15.654 It is God's promise in Christ that will give you comfort, courage and 07:15.692 --> 07:19.858 direction in the face of challenges and obstacles. 07:20.340 --> 07:24.600 It is God's promise in Christ that will enable you to stand strong. 07:25.130 --> 07:28.680 After all, it's his work, and he will see to it. 07:29.530 --> 07:33.940 Now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your 07:33.132 --> 07:37.909 hearts and minds in Christ Jesus standing strong unto life 07:37.980 --> 07:39.138 everlasting. 07:39.313 --> 07:39.730 Amen.