WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.500 --> 00:00:02.400 Let us pray. 2 00:00:03.900 --> 00:00:07.800 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be 3 00:00:07.800 --> 00:00:08.500 acceptable in thy sight 4 00:00:08.500 --> 00:00:11.100 Oh Lord our strength and our Redeemer. 5 00:00:11.100 --> 00:00:12.600 Amen. 6 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:15.700 So, how are you doing? 7 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:20.800 Seriously, how are things going in your life on this Monday morning? 8 00:00:22.200 --> 00:00:23.300 Are your classes going 9 00:00:23.300 --> 00:00:28.700 well? Your relationship with your professors and staff your friends 10 00:00:28.700 --> 00:00:29.400 your peers? 11 00:00:29.400 --> 00:00:30.900 How about at home? 12 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:37.100 How's your relationship with your family, your spouse, your kids do you 13 00:00:37.100 --> 00:00:37.900 have peace? 14 00:00:37.900 --> 00:00:40.200 Are you reconciled with them? 15 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:42.600 How about with your Lord? 16 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:44.100 How are you doing there? 17 00:00:44.100 --> 00:00:49.500 What is your prayer life really like, your devotional life? And how 18 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:54.500 about that personal private life stuff that happens that nobody knows 19 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:59.600 about? Are you anxious and guilty as you struggle with your pet sins? 20 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:03.800 Have you already failed in your pious attempt to give up something for 21 00:01:03.800 --> 00:01:04.099 Lent? 22 00:01:04.099 --> 00:01:10.100 Do you feel stricken smitten and afflicted as you face the realities 23 00:01:10.100 --> 00:01:11.900 of your sin in our sinful world? 24 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:18.800 Do you have peace with God or are you consumed in guilt and sin 25 00:01:18.800 --> 00:01:23.800 because you know that you are a poor miserable sinner and truly 26 00:01:23.800 --> 00:01:25.200 deserve the wrath of God. 27 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:29.600 And it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. 28 00:01:29.600 --> 00:01:31.900 You're not asking for much. 29 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:36.800 You just want peace with your neighbor your family and God. 30 00:01:37.800 --> 00:01:41.800 Well you my friends have come to the right place this Monday morning. 31 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.100 Here we are blessed to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Saint Paul 32 00:01:48.100 --> 00:01:51.900 and our text for this morning is just oozing with the gospel. 33 00:01:51.900 --> 00:01:56.700 It destroys fear, hopelessness and separation. 34 00:01:58.300 --> 00:02:03.000 Hear again these words. Therefore since we have been justified by 35 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:03.200 faith. 36 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:08.699 We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him 37 00:02:08.699 --> 00:02:13.600 we also have obtained access by faith into this grace and which we 38 00:02:13.600 --> 00:02:17.200 stand and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 39 00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:23.700 You have been justified take it off to a better start than that in 40 00:02:23.700 --> 00:02:28.900 your week. For Jesus says if God has declared you not guilty of your 41 00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:29.400 sin. 42 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:36.100 The results of God's righteous declaration is peace, access and hope. 43 00:02:36.100 --> 00:02:41.300 You're innocence in the eyes of God because Jesus bore your sin on the 44 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:41.300 cross. 45 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:47.200 The price has been paid the death sentence has been carried out your 46 00:02:47.200 --> 00:02:48.700 justified by faith. 47 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:53.700 Therefore you have peace with God forgiven by Jesus 48 00:02:53.700 --> 00:02:59.300 there's no sin left to leave you at odds with God therefore he is at 49 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:05.100 peace with you for Jesus sake. The result of God's righteous 50 00:03:05.100 --> 00:03:11.200 declaration is a peace that the world cannot give a peace that passes 51 00:03:11.200 --> 00:03:16.800 all understanding. Judgment Day and the wrath of God hold no fear for 52 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:17.100 you. 53 00:03:17.100 --> 00:03:23.500 You already know his judgment his verdict of you not guilty. Not guilty 54 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:28.700 for Jesus sake there for you you rejoice in the hope of the glory of 55 00:03:28.700 --> 00:03:28.800 God. 56 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.900 You are the Lord's nothing can separate you from him. 57 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:38.800 Yes sin did before but he's taking all of that sin away. 58 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:44.400 So you have the certain hope that you will see God in his glory live 59 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:45.700 with him forever in heaven. 60 00:03:45.700 --> 00:03:47.500 That's all good news. 61 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:49.400 It's all true. 62 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:51.000 And it's all for you. 63 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:57.900 That's the basis of your hope even in this sin sick world. Yet Satan 64 00:03:57.900 --> 00:04:02.100 loves to whisper for that theology of glory because then when suffering 65 00:04:02.100 --> 00:04:07.500 does come along it shocks, it has the potential to devastate it 66 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:12.300 creates anxiety and doubt designed to turn you from Christ. 67 00:04:12.300 --> 00:04:16.399 There will be suffering, setbacks and trouble. 68 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:21.200 The suffering does not mean that the Lord has abandoned you that is 69 00:04:21.200 --> 00:04:22.700 what the devil wants you to think. 70 00:04:23.900 --> 00:04:28.300 He would have you believe that God is punishing you for some deep 71 00:04:28.300 --> 00:04:32.700 dark unforgiven sin or has forsaken you because he plays favorites 72 00:04:32.700 --> 00:04:34.500 and you're not one of them. 73 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:38.200 The trouble is no proof that you are forsaken. 74 00:04:38.200 --> 00:04:42.300 You have the Lord's word sealed with his blood that he will not 75 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:43.400 forsake you. 76 00:04:44.300 --> 00:04:49.000 Yes suffering produces endurance. It is when we suffer that we learn the 77 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:50.900 faithfulness of God. Thus 78 00:04:50.900 --> 00:04:54.900 we learn to repent of trust in other things and to call on the Lord 79 00:04:54.900 --> 00:05:00.400 for help. Thus we learn that is by his grace and mercy that we truly 80 00:05:00.400 --> 00:05:06.500 endure and that endurance produces character. To stand the test is not 81 00:05:06.500 --> 00:05:11.300 to say you managed to grit your teeth and got it out until the Lord 82 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:15.900 says you've had enough. Rather to stand the test is to remain the 83 00:05:15.900 --> 00:05:20.900 penitent child of God, the one who confesses his sins and trust in the 84 00:05:20.900 --> 00:05:25.900 Lord for strength and deliverance. To stand the test is not to wrench 85 00:05:25.900 --> 00:05:30.700 matters out of God's hands and follow your own selfish temptations and 86 00:05:30.700 --> 00:05:35.900 desires but to continue to live a life of repentance for sin service 87 00:05:35.900 --> 00:05:41.500 to neighbor and trust in God. All of that is the work of the Holy 88 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:41.700 Spirit. 89 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:44.500 And that character produces 90 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:47.800 hope. This is a great blessing for it is certain 91 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:49.900 hope in the Lord's deliverance. 92 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:54.800 So you see suffering does teach us to abandon trust and things and people 93 00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:00.000 and throw ourselves only at the feet of God because things fall apart 94 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:06.000 in our lives. Security and peace in this world are hard to come by becasue 95 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:11.000 no matter how carefully you plan and how hard you work everything in 96 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.600 this world is subject to the ravages of sin. 97 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:16.500 You can't even trust yourself. 98 00:06:16.500 --> 00:06:21.700 Even sometimes as you tell yourself to remain calm and think things 99 00:06:21.700 --> 00:06:26.600 through you're ready to fly off the handle and spiraling into a dark 100 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:31.000 place. Trouble teaches you the limits of the things of the world tells 101 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:33.700 you that you shouldn't put your hope in them. 102 00:06:34.900 --> 00:06:38.100 Well God is not subject to the ravages of sin. 103 00:06:38.100 --> 00:06:39.700 He will not fail. 104 00:06:39.700 --> 00:06:44.000 Hope in him is certain hope because the Lord's faithfulness endures 105 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:44.600 forever. 106 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:50.700 He has poured his love into your heart through the Holy Spirit whom he has 107 00:06:50.700 --> 00:06:52.800 given to you in your baptism. 108 00:06:53.700 --> 00:06:57.700 The blessing of suffering is that it exposes the world for the sinful 109 00:06:57.700 --> 00:07:02.700 mess than it is and points you to the faithfulness of your savior. In 110 00:07:02.700 --> 00:07:07.000 him is forgiveness of sins strength for your faith and hope that will 111 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:07.900 not disappoint. 112 00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:13.800 You can be sure of that as you hear again these words from Paul. For 113 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:19.200 while we were still weak at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 114 00:07:19.200 --> 00:07:25.000 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a 115 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:27.200 good person one would dare even to die. 116 00:07:27.200 --> 00:07:32.500 But God shows his love for us in this that we will while we were still 117 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:41.500 sinners Christ died for us. While we were yet sinners Christ died for 118 00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:41.800 us. 119 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:48.700 That's why you can be sure. Your hope is sure solely because of Christ 120 00:07:48.700 --> 00:07:53.000 and not because of you. Christ died while you were still sinners 121 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:54.300 ungodly. 122 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:58.700 He didn't die because there was anything cute or attractive or 123 00:07:58.700 --> 00:08:00.000 redeeming about you. 124 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:04.500 In fact, the text goes on to say that we are reconciled to God by the 125 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:07.200 death of his son while we were his enemies. 126 00:08:08.400 --> 00:08:13.300 Salvation is yours solely by the mercy and grace of God not by 127 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:15.200 anything that we have done. 128 00:08:15.200 --> 00:08:19.600 We don't have to wonder if we're good enough to be one for whom Christ 129 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:25.300 died. Christ died for you cuz he died for all while we were yet 130 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:25.500 sinners. 131 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:29.600 That is the love that God demonstrated to you while you were still 132 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:30.800 lost in sin. 133 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:38.100 My friends you no longer are an enemy but his beloved child at peace 134 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:38.900 with God. 135 00:08:38.900 --> 00:08:44.800 You are no longer unholy and impure but cleansed and holy in his sight, 136 00:08:44.800 --> 00:08:50.800 reconciled. As the season of Lent leads us toward the joy of Easter it 137 00:08:50.800 --> 00:08:54.900 symbolizes our life in this dark world as we await the resurrection of 138 00:08:54.900 --> 00:08:59.800 the dead and the life of the world to come. There will be darkness and 139 00:08:59.800 --> 00:09:00.900 there will be suffering. 140 00:09:00.900 --> 00:09:06.500 But every time you hear the words of the absolution that announcement 141 00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:10.400 of forgiveness, it's a declaration that you are not forsaken by God, 142 00:09:10.400 --> 00:09:12.000 but you are forgiven 143 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:17.100 and you are reconciled. Every sign time you make the sign of the cross 144 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:21.700 you reminded that the Lord has made you his beloved child in your holy 145 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:22.000 baptism. 146 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:27.600 Every time you receive the Lord's body and blood poured out for you. 147 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:32.100 You have assurance you are forgiven and have life and 148 00:09:32.100 --> 00:09:34.900 salvation now and for eternity. 149 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:38.500 So take heart my brothers and sisters in Christ. 150 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:44.700 There is always hope and your hope in Christ is sure because you are 151 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:46.400 forgiven of all your sins. 152 00:09:46.400 --> 00:09:50.600 You are justified. You have access to our Lord. 153 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:54.700 You are reconciled to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 154 00:09:54.700 --> 00:10:00.200 So no matter what the devil whispers in your ear you cling to this 155 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:05.000 great text that God has redeemed you in Christ. 156 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:05.800 Amen. 157 00:10:07.300 --> 00:10:12.300 Now may that peace of God which passes all understanding keep our 158 00:10:12.300 --> 00:10:13.800 hearts and our minds in Christ 159 00:10:13.800 --> 00:10:15.000 Jesus our Lord. 160 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:16.000 Amen.