WEBVTT STYLE ::cue { color: #ffffff; } 00:00:00.650 --> 00:00:01.978 Christ is risen. 00:00:02.154 --> 00:00:03.870 He has risen indeed. 00:00:05.570 --> 00:00:06.714 Grace, mercy, 00:00:06.762 --> 00:00:08.654 and peace be unto you from God, 00:00:08.692 --> 00:00:10.334 our Father and the Lord and 00:00:10.372 --> 00:00:11.840 Savior Jesus Christ. 00:00:12.370 --> 00:00:13.230 Amen. 00:00:14.930 --> 00:00:17.210 Today we begin a new chapel 00:00:17.290 --> 00:00:20.154 sermon series on the sacrament 00:00:20.202 --> 00:00:21.310 of the altar. 00:00:21.890 --> 00:00:24.666 The 6th chief part of Luther's 00:00:24.698 --> 00:00:25.910 small catechism. 00:00:26.650 --> 00:00:28.294 Which places before us so 00:00:28.332 --> 00:00:31.250 plainly what the church teaches 00:00:31.410 --> 00:00:33.926 concerning our Lord's words on 00:00:33.948 --> 00:00:35.670 the night that he was betrayed. 00:00:36.890 --> 00:00:40.506 Here we learn to trust Christ 00:00:40.688 --> 00:00:44.714 fully with unwavering faith and 00:00:44.752 --> 00:00:47.354 to trust His Word to do 00:00:47.392 --> 00:00:49.420 exactly what it says. 00:00:51.810 --> 00:00:53.482 It was during my junior 00:00:53.546 --> 00:00:55.040 year in college. 00:00:56.210 --> 00:00:58.394 I was attending Southwest 00:00:58.442 --> 00:01:00.030 Baptist University, 00:01:00.770 --> 00:01:02.446 and I found myself at a bit 00:01:02.468 --> 00:01:04.480 of a crossroads in life, 00:01:06.470 --> 00:01:08.322 one of those moments where 00:01:08.376 --> 00:01:10.514 you're not quite sure where 00:01:10.552 --> 00:01:11.940 you're going next 00:01:13.270 --> 00:01:15.140 or what you're going to do, 00:01:16.090 --> 00:01:17.830 and it's hard to focus 00:01:17.980 --> 00:01:19.480 on anything else. 00:01:21.450 --> 00:01:23.202 I have a strong suspicion 00:01:23.346 --> 00:01:24.950 many of you can relate. 00:01:25.930 --> 00:01:26.406 You see, 00:01:26.428 --> 00:01:27.942 my parents would tell you their 00:01:27.996 --> 00:01:29.706 first inclination that I would 00:01:29.728 --> 00:01:32.314 be a pastor was when I was 00:01:32.352 --> 00:01:33.740 just three years old, 00:01:34.190 --> 00:01:35.066 when at the end of 00:01:35.088 --> 00:01:36.026 a church service, 00:01:36.128 --> 00:01:38.458 a pastor was just about to 00:01:38.464 --> 00:01:39.770 give the benediction. 00:01:40.370 --> 00:01:43.230 I stood up and faced the people 00:01:43.380 --> 00:01:45.246 and threw my arms out with all 00:01:45.268 --> 00:01:47.806 but a three foot spread and I 00:01:47.828 --> 00:01:49.950 attempted my own benediction. 00:01:51.970 --> 00:01:53.298 My father quickly put an 00:01:53.304 --> 00:01:54.610 end to that stunt. 00:01:57.510 --> 00:01:59.570 Or when I was in the fifth grade 00:01:59.990 --> 00:02:01.474 and I would come home from 00:02:01.512 --> 00:02:02.962 church and I would make my own 00:02:03.016 --> 00:02:05.506 communion set because Hot Wheels 00:02:05.538 --> 00:02:07.554 racing cars were boring compared 00:02:07.602 --> 00:02:08.710 to the Eucharist. 00:02:09.770 --> 00:02:11.334 Or in high school. 00:02:11.532 --> 00:02:13.686 At various times I remember 00:02:13.788 --> 00:02:17.190 being struck with these moments 00:02:17.610 --> 00:02:18.522 that I was supposed 00:02:18.576 --> 00:02:19.770 to be a pastor. 00:02:20.830 --> 00:02:22.534 How my heart would nearly leap 00:02:22.582 --> 00:02:24.874 out of my chest when I would see 00:02:24.912 --> 00:02:27.066 my pastors process into the 00:02:27.088 --> 00:02:29.786 sanctuary when they read the 00:02:29.808 --> 00:02:31.230 words of institution, 00:02:32.290 --> 00:02:33.486 when I opened up my 00:02:33.508 --> 00:02:34.720 Bible at night. 00:02:36.050 --> 00:02:37.754 The thought of being a church 00:02:37.802 --> 00:02:40.878 worker seemingly would come out 00:02:40.884 --> 00:02:42.426 of nowhere to me. But indeed, 00:02:42.458 --> 00:02:44.750 it came by God's grace alone. 00:02:45.650 --> 00:02:47.470 And I know you can relate. 00:02:49.330 --> 00:02:50.206 Well, for me, 00:02:50.228 --> 00:02:51.786 the crossroads I approached 00:02:51.818 --> 00:02:53.146 while attending Southwest 00:02:53.178 --> 00:02:55.430 Baptist University was what 00:02:55.500 --> 00:02:58.020 kind of pastor I would be. 00:03:00.090 --> 00:03:01.790 A Baptist pastor, 00:03:03.410 --> 00:03:05.630 a Lutheran pastor, 00:03:06.690 --> 00:03:09.310 a nondenominational pastor. 00:03:11.010 --> 00:03:12.320 I didn't know. 00:03:13.250 --> 00:03:15.342 But I thought if I could answer 00:03:15.476 --> 00:03:17.200 this one question, 00:03:18.050 --> 00:03:19.360 then I would know. 00:03:19.970 --> 00:03:20.718 You see, 00:03:20.804 --> 00:03:23.114 years of Lutheran catechesis 00:03:23.162 --> 00:03:25.106 from the hands of faithful 00:03:25.178 --> 00:03:27.990 Lutheran pastors met years of 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:29.622 academic learning from 00:03:29.676 --> 00:03:31.570 Baptist theologians. 00:03:31.730 --> 00:03:33.526 And the question I needed to 00:03:33.548 --> 00:03:35.126 answer became more 00:03:35.148 --> 00:03:36.200 and more clear. 00:03:37.050 --> 00:03:38.460 And it was this. 00:03:40.510 --> 00:03:42.853 What is the sacrament 00:03:42.902 --> 00:03:43.930 of the altar? 00:03:46.110 --> 00:03:48.074 Is it Christ's true 00:03:48.192 --> 00:03:49.850 Body and blood 00:03:51.329 --> 00:03:52.640 or is it not? 00:03:54.130 --> 00:03:55.962 In my classes at SBU, 00:03:56.026 --> 00:03:57.822 I was directed to Article Seven 00:03:57.876 --> 00:03:59.002 of the Southern Baptist 00:03:59.066 --> 00:04:01.120 Convention of 1963, 00:04:01.730 --> 00:04:04.202 which says it is a symbolic act 00:04:04.356 --> 00:04:06.050 of obedience whereby members 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:06.974 of the Church, 00:04:07.102 --> 00:04:08.366 through partaking of the bread 00:04:08.398 --> 00:04:09.293 and the fruit of the vine, 00:04:09.341 --> 00:04:10.866 memorialize the death of the 00:04:10.888 --> 00:04:12.814 Redeemer and anticipate 00:04:12.862 --> 00:04:14.019 His Second Coming. 00:04:15.590 --> 00:04:17.257 But when I read the Lutheran 00:04:17.293 --> 00:04:19.000 Confessions article Ten, 00:04:19.529 --> 00:04:21.286 I read it is taught that the 00:04:21.308 --> 00:04:23.286 true Body and blood of Christ 00:04:23.468 --> 00:04:25.254 are truly present under the form 00:04:25.292 --> 00:04:26.706 of bread and wine in the Lord's 00:04:26.738 --> 00:04:29.034 Supper and are distributed and 00:04:29.072 --> 00:04:31.526 received there. Rejected 00:04:31.558 --> 00:04:32.986 therefore also is the 00:04:33.008 --> 00:04:34.409 contrary teaching. 00:04:36.510 --> 00:04:37.980 So which is it? 00:04:39.070 --> 00:04:41.694 Is it the true Body and blood of 00:04:41.732 --> 00:04:44.960 Jesus? Or is it a symbolic act? 00:04:46.210 --> 00:04:47.674 What is the sacrament 00:04:47.722 --> 00:04:48.666 of the altar? 00:04:48.778 --> 00:04:50.414 And though the Word of God was 00:04:50.452 --> 00:04:52.282 in my hands and I could parse 00:04:52.346 --> 00:04:54.180 the Greek verbs in the text, 00:04:55.350 --> 00:04:57.650 I wasn't sure how to answer 00:04:57.720 --> 00:04:58.500 that question. 00:05:00.470 --> 00:05:02.290 So I went to my pastor 00:05:03.110 --> 00:05:04.659 and I asked him, 00:05:05.930 --> 00:05:07.058 what is the sacrament 00:05:07.074 --> 00:05:08.070 of the altar? 00:05:10.169 --> 00:05:13.286 He opened up his Bible and he 00:05:13.308 --> 00:05:14.550 read to me the words 00:05:14.620 --> 00:05:15.750 of institution. 00:05:17.950 --> 00:05:19.580 But that didn't help. 00:05:21.470 --> 00:05:23.642 When he saw I wasn't getting it, 00:05:23.696 --> 00:05:27.500 he read them again and he said, 00:05:28.190 --> 00:05:29.659 that's what we believe. 00:05:31.730 --> 00:05:33.520 But I still didn't get it. 00:05:34.289 --> 00:05:35.280 I thought, 00:05:35.970 --> 00:05:37.600 but how can that be? 00:05:38.930 --> 00:05:41.200 How can it be his body? 00:05:42.289 --> 00:05:43.486 And so he gave me 00:05:43.508 --> 00:05:44.560 a book to read. 00:05:45.169 --> 00:05:47.550 The Genius of Luther's theology 00:05:48.210 --> 00:05:49.502 by our very own Dr. 00:05:49.556 --> 00:05:51.150 Kolb and Dr. Arand. 00:05:52.610 --> 00:05:54.014 I took that book back 00:05:54.052 --> 00:05:55.830 to my college dorm, 00:05:56.409 --> 00:05:57.846 and I read for the very 00:05:57.868 --> 00:05:59.860 first time how 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.238 Martin Luther saw the word of 00:06:02.244 --> 00:06:04.062 God as a mighty and 00:06:04.116 --> 00:06:05.280 lively power. 00:06:06.370 --> 00:06:09.470 That God's language is different 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:11.070 than our language. 00:06:12.050 --> 00:06:14.926 When the sun rises and when the 00:06:14.948 --> 00:06:17.360 sun sets, God is speaking. 00:06:18.370 --> 00:06:19.914 When the fruit on the tree 00:06:19.962 --> 00:06:22.266 grows, and when a child is born, 00:06:22.457 --> 00:06:24.480 God is speaking. 00:06:25.370 --> 00:06:26.758 When the Creator said, 00:06:26.844 --> 00:06:30.520 Let there be things happened. 00:06:31.610 --> 00:06:35.186 God's word causes action. 00:06:35.378 --> 00:06:37.390 And the very essence of God's 00:06:37.490 --> 00:06:39.514 action lies beyond human 00:06:39.632 --> 00:06:40.730 comprehension. 00:06:41.790 --> 00:06:43.210 And then I still remember 00:06:43.280 --> 00:06:44.522 reading these words that 00:06:44.576 --> 00:06:46.490 followed shortly thereafter, 00:06:47.070 --> 00:06:48.998 the Wittenberg reformer believed 00:06:49.014 --> 00:06:50.746 that God placed his recreating 00:06:50.778 --> 00:06:53.614 Word in various forms which 00:06:53.652 --> 00:06:55.978 we can classify as oral, 00:06:56.154 --> 00:06:59.230 written and sacramental. 00:07:01.330 --> 00:07:04.850 Dr. Kolb pointed me to Luther. 00:07:05.750 --> 00:07:08.194 Luther pointed me to the 00:07:08.232 --> 00:07:09.810 power of God's Word. 00:07:09.880 --> 00:07:12.686 And God's word pointed 00:07:12.718 --> 00:07:13.890 me to Jesus. 00:07:15.210 --> 00:07:17.058 From Kolb to Luther. 00:07:17.154 --> 00:07:19.062 Luther to the word. 00:07:19.196 --> 00:07:21.590 The word to Jesus. 00:07:22.810 --> 00:07:24.038 And now, finally, 00:07:24.124 --> 00:07:25.426 with eyes of faith, 00:07:25.538 --> 00:07:27.502 I was able to ask humbly, 00:07:27.586 --> 00:07:30.060 without relying on human reason, 00:07:31.310 --> 00:07:33.162 what does Jesus say 00:07:33.296 --> 00:07:34.460 that it is? 00:07:35.470 --> 00:07:37.020 For what he says 00:07:38.030 --> 00:07:39.820 then it must be so. 00:07:40.770 --> 00:07:44.078 For His Word is active and 00:07:44.164 --> 00:07:46.154 powerful and it accomplishes 00:07:46.202 --> 00:07:48.142 that which he purposes and 00:07:48.196 --> 00:07:50.222 succeeds in the things for which 00:07:50.276 --> 00:07:53.166 it is sent. Yes. Yes, Lord 00:07:53.278 --> 00:07:54.866 only say the Word and 00:07:54.888 --> 00:07:56.659 it shall be so. 00:07:57.590 --> 00:07:58.446 Dear saints, 00:07:58.478 --> 00:08:00.926 see how plainly he speaks 00:08:00.957 --> 00:08:02.020 of what it is. 00:08:02.950 --> 00:08:03.700 Take 00:08:04.390 --> 00:08:05.140 eat. 00:08:06.330 --> 00:08:08.039 This is my body 00:08:09.130 --> 00:08:10.440 given for you. 00:08:11.530 --> 00:08:12.280 Take, 00:08:12.970 --> 00:08:13.990 drink. 00:08:15.050 --> 00:08:16.754 This is the New Testament 00:08:16.802 --> 00:08:17.774 in my blood, 00:08:17.922 --> 00:08:19.782 shed for you for the forgiveness 00:08:19.846 --> 00:08:20.810 of sins. 00:08:22.909 --> 00:08:24.860 These are not words of man. 00:08:26.190 --> 00:08:28.060 These are the words of God. 00:08:29.070 --> 00:08:30.960 Words that create. 00:08:31.970 --> 00:08:33.626 Words that are lively 00:08:33.738 --> 00:08:34.990 and powerful. 00:08:36.049 --> 00:08:37.645 For when Jesus spoke to 00:08:37.668 --> 00:08:39.306 the storm on the sea, 00:08:39.418 --> 00:08:41.760 peace be still. 00:08:42.289 --> 00:08:43.440 It was so. 00:08:44.130 --> 00:08:45.950 And there was a great calm. 00:08:47.410 --> 00:08:48.846 When Jesus spoke to the 00:08:48.867 --> 00:08:50.798 paralytic man on the mat, 00:08:50.964 --> 00:08:52.958 pick up your mat and go home. 00:08:53.124 --> 00:08:55.906 It was so and and he picked 00:08:55.938 --> 00:08:57.640 up his mat and went home. 00:08:59.130 --> 00:08:59.730 When Jesus 00:09:00.250 --> 00:09:01.678 spoke to the dead man 00:09:01.764 --> 00:09:05.280 Lazarus. Lazarus, come out. 00:09:06.130 --> 00:09:07.280 It was so. 00:09:07.810 --> 00:09:10.560 And the dead man came out. 00:09:11.810 --> 00:09:14.394 So if the Lord speaks to bread 00:09:14.442 --> 00:09:15.838 and wine and says, 00:09:15.924 --> 00:09:17.454 this is my body, 00:09:17.572 --> 00:09:21.040 this is my blood, then it is so. 00:09:21.410 --> 00:09:23.786 For God's word is active, 00:09:23.978 --> 00:09:25.922 creating that which lies beyond 00:09:25.986 --> 00:09:28.338 our human comprehension. Indeed, 00:09:28.434 --> 00:09:31.030 the sacrament of the altar is 00:09:31.180 --> 00:09:33.686 the true body and blood of our 00:09:33.708 --> 00:09:35.878 Lord Jesus Christ under the 00:09:35.884 --> 00:09:37.494 bread and wine instituted by 00:09:37.532 --> 00:09:40.165 Christ himself for us Christians 00:09:40.198 --> 00:09:41.770 to eat and to drink. 00:09:42.990 --> 00:09:45.034 Luther writes we do not wish to 00:09:45.072 --> 00:09:46.426 fight with the defamers and 00:09:46.448 --> 00:09:48.278 blasphemers of this sacrament, 00:09:48.374 --> 00:09:49.898 but to learn first what is of 00:09:49.904 --> 00:09:51.310 the greatest importance. 00:09:51.890 --> 00:09:54.960 The chief point is God's word. 00:09:56.370 --> 00:09:58.142 All the circumstances and 00:09:58.196 --> 00:10:00.010 institution of this supper 00:10:00.170 --> 00:10:01.918 testify that these words of 00:10:01.924 --> 00:10:03.634 our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:10:03.832 --> 00:10:05.970 which are in themselves so 00:10:06.040 --> 00:10:09.010 simple, clear, plain, 00:10:09.350 --> 00:10:12.050 firm and beyond doubting, 00:10:12.470 --> 00:10:14.514 can and should be understood in 00:10:14.552 --> 00:10:17.202 no other way than their usual, 00:10:17.346 --> 00:10:18.040 proper, 00:10:18.410 --> 00:10:20.310 commonly accepted meaning. 00:10:22.010 --> 00:10:25.734 Human reason sees this meal as 00:10:25.772 --> 00:10:28.954 merely symbolic because it 00:10:28.992 --> 00:10:31.242 cannot comprehend the 00:10:31.296 --> 00:10:33.340 power of God's word. 00:10:34.350 --> 00:10:36.710 But by God's word alone, 00:10:36.790 --> 00:10:38.714 the body of the crucified and 00:10:38.752 --> 00:10:41.502 resurrected Jesus Christ is 00:10:41.556 --> 00:10:44.286 placed before your very eyes in 00:10:44.308 --> 00:10:46.030 the sacrament of the altar. 00:10:47.170 --> 00:10:50.302 He who is our life and 00:10:50.356 --> 00:10:51.520 length of days. 00:10:52.710 --> 00:10:53.700 In Him 00:10:54.230 --> 00:10:55.806 death is swallowed 00:10:55.838 --> 00:10:56.930 up in victory. 00:10:57.590 --> 00:10:59.762 In Him all the fullness of God 00:10:59.816 --> 00:11:02.242 was pleased to dwell. In Him, 00:11:02.376 --> 00:11:05.060 all things hold together. 00:11:05.690 --> 00:11:06.662 In Him 00:11:06.796 --> 00:11:09.122 we have received grace upon 00:11:09.186 --> 00:11:11.702 grace and peace with God. 00:11:11.836 --> 00:11:14.726 By the blood of His cross and in 00:11:14.748 --> 00:11:16.470 the sacrament of the altar. 00:11:17.390 --> 00:11:21.100 Our bridegroom draws near to us 00:11:21.870 --> 00:11:24.154 that we may behold God 00:11:24.352 --> 00:11:26.890 and eat and drink. 00:11:27.950 --> 00:11:29.014 O dear saints, 00:11:29.062 --> 00:11:30.286 taste and see that 00:11:30.308 --> 00:11:32.014 the Lord is good, 00:11:32.212 --> 00:11:33.818 that his mercy endures 00:11:33.914 --> 00:11:35.760 forever for you. 00:11:36.930 --> 00:11:38.922 If all Christians believed 00:11:38.986 --> 00:11:41.214 Christ's words on the night 00:11:41.252 --> 00:11:42.830 that he was betrayed, 00:11:43.810 --> 00:11:45.950 if Christ would open their eyes 00:11:46.020 --> 00:11:48.973 to see Him and to trust in His 00:11:49.012 --> 00:11:52.400 Word to do exactly what it says, 00:11:53.330 --> 00:11:55.473 just as He has opened yours 00:11:55.521 --> 00:11:57.510 by grace through faith. 00:11:58.410 --> 00:11:59.380 Then they too 00:12:00.810 --> 00:12:04.334 would eat and drink with Him and 00:12:04.372 --> 00:12:06.800 behold Him just as you do. 00:12:08.290 --> 00:12:09.840 But how will they 00:12:11.010 --> 00:12:12.400 unless they hear? 00:12:13.490 --> 00:12:16.602 And how will they hear unless 00:12:16.666 --> 00:12:18.400 someone preaches to them? 00:12:19.250 --> 00:12:20.990 And how will they preach 00:12:22.210 --> 00:12:23.760 unless they are sent? 00:12:24.530 --> 00:12:25.574 O 00:12:25.612 --> 00:12:27.638 how beautiful are the feet of 00:12:27.644 --> 00:12:29.320 those who bring the good news. 00:12:30.170 --> 00:12:31.906 Christ is risen. 00:12:32.098 --> 00:12:35.154 He is risen indeed. Hallelujah. 00:12:35.282 --> 00:12:36.502 And may the peace of God, 00:12:36.556 --> 00:12:37.734 which surpasses all 00:12:37.772 --> 00:12:38.802 understanding, 00:12:38.946 --> 00:12:40.626 guard your hearts and your minds 00:12:40.658 --> 00:12:42.690 in Christ Jesus. Amen.