Galatians 3:23-29.       All accepted by faith alone!!              23/6/13

 (23)  Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. {24} So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. {25} Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. {26} You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, {27} for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. {28} There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. {29} If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 Now we know, don’t we, that only Lutherans will be in heaven because we alone have it all together!! Also that there is no hope for Arabs, homosexuals, and dole bludgers!! God surely cannot accept those who are disabled in some way or who are not healthy, wealthy and happy!!

 Now before you start jumping up and down, or nodding your head in agreement; that sort of thinking is absolutely ridiculous. Those statements are definitely not in keeping with God’s Word. Even though we have many thoughts along these lines being promoted in different quarters, they are not in keeping with the simple basic truths of Scripture. Especially when it comes to what it is that makes us acceptable to God and entry into his kingdom we must be very careful that we do not add to what God has done for us in and through Jesus Christ. Yet we hear these things again and again. On the other hand, we also need to have nothing to do with those views that hold that we will all be going to heaven, and that all religions are leading to the same God, and the like.

 Here in this reading Paul is having a real go at those who have and promote this kind of thinking. He says salvation is open to all. No one is exempted. In God’s sight all are equally acceptable. When we are connected to Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. So faith in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins is the only thing that is essential: trust the Jesus has done all that is necessary.

Paul saw quite clearly that there was no need for the Greeks and non-Jews to go through circumcision and other rituals to become like Jews before they would be acceptable to God. There was no need for the slave to have to become a free person before they could enter the Church and be acceptable by all. Nor was a woman or a child barred from being able to stand in God’s presence once they were baptized into his family.  Faith in the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection alone is all that is needed for us to be enabled entry into God’s family.

 However, sadly some of the Jewish Christians in Galatia had lapsed back into the old Jewish way of thinking, and were placing people’s acceptance of the Old Testament rituals Laws with regard to how people were to be able to come into God’s holy people, as of vital importance. In fact they were insisting that all go through circumcision, and that they adhere to all those laws which determined how the outsider might be accepted by God. They were adding things above and beyond what the Lord Jesus had said was necessary.

 As Paul says here this locked people up and barred them from coming into God’s presence. They were prisoners with little hope of release, and had a real burden laid on them if they were to be acceptable. Many in fact had no hope at all. These extras were perverting the Gospel and making the keeping of external laws as necessary for salvation. This according to Paul is clearly wrong.

 Now in our society there are many human institutions that have all kinds of rules and regulations for membership; entry however into God’s kingdom is entirely different. We must not add human criteria to that which God has set down for us. When it comes to forgiveness of sins, acceptance into God’s family and eternal life, there is only one avenue: one way; one Church.

 It is here that Paul says that all these rules and regulations that were in the past set for entry into God’s people are not on any more. Jesus’ death and resurrection changes it all. Yes he does say that those old rules and regulations were good in that it does lead people to Christ. How? Because these old ways always put the pressure on: always made it impossible for all to be able to achieve what was needed. Because the obligation rested on us being able to measure up; and this was beyond us, it turned people to look beyond themselves and what they do in order to get into God’s kingdom. This inability to measure up then has forced us to look beyond ourselves. It led people to seek for the help that only God can give.

 Since we cannot fulfil the demands that God originally set, that is why he sends his Son into our world to provide a way out for us. Jesus lived under the law and lived up to its demands, not so that he could then be an example for us: to show us that it can be done; but so that he then could be the sacrifice which takes our sin away. His death on the cross ensures our forgiveness, and opens a clear way into God’s family: acceptance as his very own.

 Now, all that is necessary for our salvation is simple trust on our part. We are simply justified by faith: that is, accepted as having fully met all the demands of the Law; declared right in God’s eyes, simply by our trusting that Jesus has done it all for us. It doesn’t matter who we are; what our status in society is; nor what we have or have not done: simply, he who believes and is baptized will be saved. Nothing more. Nothing less.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

 Yes, there are still Jews and Greeks, male and female. Lutherans and Anglicans, workers and the unemployed, rich and poor, and many other social divisions; but those divisions do not affect our standing before God. No one is any better or any worse than anyone else in God’s sight. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. That is when it comes to being acceptable to God.

We cannot however use this to say that all these differences are now gone altogether. This has nothing to say to the issue of women’s ordination, for instance, as much as some would say that it does. It is simply saying that none of those divisions makes one more or less acceptable than the other.  Faith is the only thing that matters.

 Neither can we use this as an excuse now for not seeking to live as God would have us live. We have Jesus come to us and give us salvation so he is, and will be, all important for our life every day. We now will also long for him to help us live in a way that is good and helpful for us. We now will want to live in accord with his word. Not in order to be saved, but because we have been saved.

 At the same time we must always remember that, there is no ‘something extra’ that we have to do in order for this salvation to be ours. There is no requirement for us to make our ‘decision for Christ’ so that we are acceptable. Nor must we be ‘baptized in the Spirit, and be able to speak in tongues’ to be sure of our being true Christians. The same goes for having the right feelings or experiences. None of these things must be added to belief and baptism. It is faith in Christ alone that is essential.  The deeds are only a faithful response.

 What a relief, and what joy this is for us all. Now we can go forward with confidence and hope. Now we don’t have to look to ourselves and wonder whether we are in the right circles or have done enough to make us acceptable. Jesus Christ has done all that is needed in order for us to have entry into God’s family. Let us then simply trust this message, and at the same time not allow this Good News to be perverted by those who want to add all the extras.

 Let us look alone to Jesus Christ, trust him and what he has done, and let us all together continue to give glory to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Luke 7:36-50.   Forgiven much!!                                                               16/6/13

 ³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said. ⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

 Hey, have you people heard about this new bank here in town? It's really tremendous – I would suggest that you all think seriously about changing over. You see, I heard of this businessman that owed the bank over $1million and had no way of paying it back. When he was called in by the manager he thought he would be sold up, for sure. But before his very eyes he just wrote off the whole debt. Amazing! But that is not just an isolated case. There was another guy who only owed $50,000 and the same thing. And there were many others. Naturally that first man is that wrapped that he is out telling everyone about this bank. He is over the moon.

 Could you ever imagine a bank like that - doing this to your debt? I can just imagine your reactions if there was such a one.

 Unfortunately however when it comes to our spiritual lives things appear to change a bit - don't they? There we act more like the Pharisee here in our reading, than the woman or businessman. Forgiveness from God is not always appreciated as it should be. In fact there is often a lack of an appropriate response to what he has done for us. I wonder if that then is failure to understand the depth and magnitude of our sin. Perhaps we think we are not bad. Or does it indicate something else?

 Let us relate this possible attitude to God and his forgiveness to our image of the businessman and his debt. When the manager calls him in to see him and talk over his situation, the man replies; Well, I have got this game of golf today. Then tomorrow I am off shopping for a new car. The following day I am off to Melbourne for a few days at the casino. Then after that, I have to get a bit done around the business. Look, I know I should come in straight away, but I will get around to it when suites me; Maybe in a few weeks time.

 Six weeks later he finally comes in and just plonks himself down and puts his feet up on the manager’s desk; no greetings, handshake, nothing. Then proceeds to says; I see you had Frank in here. I would have thought you wouldn't touch him with a forty foot pole. You’re the bank manager, so you should know his situation; I would watch him; crawling after you; trying to impress you. The other day I saw Bob come in with his budget. He is the meanest and most miserable old sod there is. Surely he couldn't be making a go his business. After all he is half dead.

 Anyway, that is enough of that; what's your problem mate? What my problem! I haven't got a problem! Oh, come off it - I am alright mate – so what's $1 million. I know I am not even meeting my interest payments and I am not getting much work done lately. But look there is golf and all these other things that I have to do. But look I do come in here to see you a couple of times a year; and so what if don't have a budget: they never work out anyway.

 Anyway, look, the debt is not really my fault - I mean – the costs are always on the rise and the competition is getting tough; and the governments not looking after us; and then there are the unions. Then on top that my wife is spending up all time. Then of course your interest rates are way too high: it is day-light robbery. Anyway you lent me the money in the first place; so you take care of things. Just give me what I want, when I want it.

 Is that our attitude toward God and our spiritual lives? But let us continue with our story.

 Hang on; can you run that past me again. The boss in head office has written off the whole debt and all I have to do is sign the papers! No - no - no - your just pulling my leg - aren't you? No – I can't accept the offer - I have got to do right thing - I must have to do something - perhaps just wipe the interest bill. Look I have to be seen to be doing the right thing.

 Look, I know I can't pay back the debt and that it is getting worse: just wipe the debt out when I pass on will you, so that I can get to the next life with a clear conscience. In the meantime, I would like you to just let me go on living as I have been – alright. The he walks out of the office and goes on with life.

 It is all a bit ridiculous don’t you think? Nobody would act that way with regard to their debt.  Except when it comes to their debt toward God.

 Surely this is an over-exaggeration of our situation. Is it? How often don't we treat God and the forgiveness that he offers in a similar way? Let's be honest with ourselves. We may not always be as open and brazen as this man, but how often isn't a very similar attitude there in our lives.

 Now we may or may not have committed a sin or sins like the prostitute here in our reading, or openly flaunted the 10 commandments in their literal sense. But the fact that our relationship with God is not what it should be is an indication of the sin and disobedience that is still there in all of our lives: The things that we do wrong, whether big or small, are all symptoms of our sinful nature and our broken relationship with our Lord. The resultant debt is unrepayable on our part. We too deserve to be sold up and discarded as trash - sent to Hell.

 But here today again, Jesus stands before us and says; ‘Because of my death on the cross your sins are forgiven you - your debt has been wiped clean. Nothing need keep you from experiencing that perfect family relationship with me and my Father ever again. Not one of you has done anything that I cannot forgive. I died for every single one of you. All who believe and are baptised will be saved. My death on the cross and resurrection is the absolute assurance that this is for real. So go from here assured that your unrepayable debt of sin has been forgiven and nothing now stands between you and God, and from holding your head up high. So go in peace - knowing that everything is taken care of.’

 
Now surely with that Good News we would want come into his presence to listen to him and hear what else he has to say to us. We will go from here relieved and ready to live as members of God's family: excited and overjoyed – wanting to tell others how God is ready to show that same love that we have just experienced in all our various relationships that we have in our day to day life. Knowing that we have been forgiven much now we surely will go and be prepared to do the same to all those who have let us down. We will want to show our gratitude for the great thing our Lord has done for us.
         
Remember back to what our reaction would be to having a $1million debt cancelled. Well, now in even greater way, we can go from here overjoyed and thankful to God for what he has done for us: Wanting to do all that we can for this one who has done such a great thing for us. Making every opportunity to listen, hear, read and learn of everything else that he has to say to us - recognising that that too will be important for us. So there will be an all-out effort to love the Lord your God with all heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

 All this and more becomes part of our lives as we take to heart the fact that in our Lord Jesus Christ we have been forgiven much. And having been forgiven much we are then able to love much.

                                  
But in conclusion the question still is: do we believe that we have been forgiven much, or little? Does the extent of our love indicate something of our thinking? Perhaps, do we even care if we have sinned and even want forgiveness? Is it important?

I pray that God increases our understanding of the magnitude or our sin and thereby of the forgiveness he extends toward us. Then through that may he draw us to love him above everything else and our neighbour as our self. We all have been forgiven much. May we take it to heart and live in light of it.  For to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Luke 7:11-17. God has come to help his people!!                              9/6/13

 ¹¹ Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. ¹² As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

¹⁴ Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
¹⁶ They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” ¹⁷ This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

 Here in this reading a most profound thought comes through to us in the fact that God’s heart has gone out to a sinful, lost and dying humanity. He had and has every right to wipe his hands of us all; because again and again we have turned our backs on him and what he has to say to us. There is nothing in us or about us that make us in any way acceptable to him. Yet his heart has gone out to us.

 He knows all the little and big faults and failings of every one of us. He knows our every hurt and tragedy that lies in the deep dark recesses of our lives. He knows the deaths that we have faced and will ourselves face. All because of a sinful humanity that has failed to take God seriously. He knows that a sinful humanity cannot stand in God’s presence without being destroyed. He knows that because of our disobedience and selfishness we have only one destiny and that is hell. Yet his heart goes out to each one of us.

 However he doesn’t just feel for us and the tragedy that surrounds us as a result and then move on and ignore us, going back to his great life in heaven. No he leaves behind his Father and all his glory and comes down to be one of us. He comes to us to do what is needed in order for there to be a way out for us. God has come to help his people.

 However even here, he does far more than simply provide a miracle here and there, like raising this young man from the dead. He does far more than simply show his great power over sickness, death and much more, so that we can know for sure that here in Jesus, God is at work. He does far more than coming and providing a great example for us to follow and telling us how we should live and act as his people; then telling us to lift our game. He does far more than simply espouse for us a new and better way to live our lives. He does far more than simply tell us that God loves us and so get on with life. He does far more than expose our self-righteousness and our thinking that we are doing ok by ourselves. He points out quite clearly that not one single one of us is anywhere near good enough to be acceptable to get to heaven. God has come to help his people in an even greater way than that.

 He knows that none of this solves the terrible predicament that we have got ourselves into by going against God and his holiness. None of this helps us out of the mess that we are in. No, he comes and dies in our place. He came to this earth, to us, primarily to take the punishment that we deserve for our disobedience and rebellion against God. He came so that God would sacrifice his own Son so that we might be saved from eternal death and separation from God. Not only did his heart go out to us, but he did what was necessary for our forgiveness and salvation. God has come to the cross to help his people.

 So now, no matter who we are or what we have done or what has been done to us, there is salvation and hope for us all. Now there is eternal life in heaven for us all. Now we are able to stand once more in God’s presence without being destroyed. All we are called on to do it to believe it and then go on and live in light of it. He who believes and is baptized will be saved.

 Now there is no need for us to cry. There is no need for us to be ‘down in the dumps’ and despondent about life: no matter how tragic our situation might be. On the one hand life is tough in our world today. We all are continually confronted with death. Physical death, and also of the death of a society that has lost its way and is floundering around trying to cling on its ‘great way of life’ that is fast slipping from our grasp. Having driven God from our lives our society is trying desperately to breathe new life, but only finding the stench of futility and meaninglessness. However for those of us who are prepared to acknowledge it, here in Jesus and his death on the cross we find that God has come to help his people.

 That is the wonderful Good News that lies at the heart of our Christian faith and life. God’s heart has gone out to us; and his death on the cross for us has taken place, so that we can now live and be his people, wherever we are from and whatever we do. God has come to help his people in the midst of the rough and tough of life.

 As a result of this, surely our reaction would be even greater than that of those people from our reading who were in the funeral crowd and saw Jesus raise that young man from the dead. They were all filled with awe and praised God. They recognized that God had come to help them with this death of the young man.

 However we here have received something of infinitely greater worth than of the extension of life for a few more years. We have been assured of eternal life in heaven with God himself where everything will be truly great; so we have even more reason to be truly filled with awe and to praise God. This is surely the greatest thing that could ever, by far, happen to us.

 Despite being totally unworthy of anything like this happening, God in his grace has done way beyond what would ever be deemed possible. This is the greatest news that could ever be extended to us. As a result will surely now hold our Lord up as the most significant and important thing in our life. We will want to be in his presence whenever we can be. We will hang on to his every word. We will want to do what he wants us to do. He will be front and centre for each one of us.

 Now we can get on with life with confidence and certainty, for our God loves us and forgives us. Now we will love God and neighbour above and beyond ourselves. Now we will not wander aimlessly through life, but get on with living as God’s people wherever we are and whatever our task in our daily lives. But we will always seek to do it in response to all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ.

 Forgiveness, life and salvation has been extended to us and we are, with his help and guidance, now enabled to live with confidence and certainty. As a result of his love to us we are now able to look up and out beyond ourselves. Our hearts are enabled to go out to those around us who are lost and hurting and dying. We can have compassion for them and their situation. We can point them to the only hope that there is for any and every one of us.

 We can do so because now we know where real help is found and can be had for them also: not just food, clothing and other temporary helps; but deep and lasting help that extends to eternal life with God. We can help them to know why they are in trouble; that sinful, selfish humanity is the cause of it all, but also the wonderful Good News of what Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection has done to rectify the situation and give us real and lasting benefits.

 So now in this way may his Spirit be with us and lead us so that our hearts may go out to those around about us who are lost, hurting and separated from God, and may our deeds follow so that they too may come to know this wonderful Good News that has be extended to us all.

May we be continually strengthened and encouraged to live with confidence so that many others are drawn to the Good News of Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection for us and our salvation.

God has come to help his people. Our reading reminds us that he has power over earthly death, which was a pointer to his also having power over eternal death.

 So this has to be something that is oh so important for us as we live out our lives every day. This surely turns life upside down for us; and is such that we now want to give him all glory and honour now and always. For after all this is the best news that we could ever know and be connected to. Amen.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

 

 

Galatians 1:1-12.                     There is no other Good News!!                        2/6/13

 1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— ² and all the brothers and sisters with me,To the churches in Galatia:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! ⁹ As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

 This morning’s reading strongly emphasises that there is only one Gospel; and apart from that Gospel of Jesus Christ there is no other Good News. It stresses that we need to be very wary of people who try confuse and pervert this Gospel; and this can and does happen so very easily; even by some who may be very well meaning. The point being that we need to be very careful in what we listen to when it comes to our Christian faith.

 I'd like to use a modern day parable to illustrate how we need be careful in this regard. It is a true story from a good few years back. Some of you may be aware that some farmers in our country were caught out through their use of a chemical called Dieldren in order to combat certain problems on their farms. They were encouraged by certain authorities to use this chemical. To these farmers it was made to look as if this was the answer to their problems; and most likely it was effective in its short term results. It all sounded like very good advice at the time, but little did they know that it would all end in disaster. That Dieldren ended up poisoning their land and making it useless for a number of years. The chemical build up was entering the food chain, making the produce that came from that land unacceptable for human use. The moral of the story being - listen to the wrong advice and you could be courting disaster.

 Now Paul here warns us of much same thing - but with regard to our spiritual life; which is of course a far more important area for us to be concerned about because of its eternal results. Paul here reminds us - there is no other Good News except that which is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet there are some who are trying to confuse you and who want to pervert this Gospel.

 Now sadly this is just as applicable today. This is coming out in two very dangerous forms in our society today. On the one hand we have those who are placing the importance of their lives on I, me and myself over and above what our Lord has done for us and what his Word tells us. On the other hand we hear much about ‘God loves us all’ and nothing about sin and the centrality of Jesus death on the cross for our forgiveness.

 In both cases there is a confusion of the Gospel: there is a deserting of the grace of Jesus Christ: that undeserved love that picks us up and accepts us even though we don't deserve it. There is also a downplaying of the depth and severity of our sin and therefore also of the importance of Jesus death on the cross for our salvation. This is a very real danger for ourselves and others if we follow these lines of thinking.

 I mean how can we in all honesty believe that Jesus died and rose again to save us; and then basically go out and live as if there is no God, ignoring everything of what he has done for us and to say about living life as his people. How can we say we have new life in Christ - say that we are Christians; and yet there is little attempt to live the Christian life: Our church attendance and offerings to God's work are seen as no big deal, far less even living out our faith each and every day. We all too often only seem prepared to live for and serve self, first, last and only, rather than to love God and our neighbour.

 Too often we seem to think that as long as we have some vague idea in the back of our mind about Jesus, that’s all that matters. As long as we have been baptized and come to church occasionally then all is well. In this way we pay lip service to the Gospel; and yet have not allowed that Good News to touch and change our hearts and lives.

 So we are like the guy who acknowledged that the park ranger and guide had all the answers and directions when it comes to walking along a dangerous cliff in the park, yet still insisted on going his own way. Despite the fact that the ranger had hold of him and was trying to pull him back on the right path: on the safe, yet scenic walk. Despite that he was determined to go his own way – and it took him right over the edge of the cliff to his death.

 Or else we are like the pauper who was handed a cheque for a million dollars, who then promptly puts the cheque in his pocket and thinks that he is a wealthy man; but then proceeds to live the rest of his life lonely and starving in the streets.

 Likewise Jesus has saved us and has all the answers to life, yet, so often, we insist on going our own way, living most of our life as if he and what he has done for us is of no great importance: turning our backs on the  Lord and his saving work: Thereby heading straight into spiritual poverty and disaster.

 In many ways the second pitfall is so similar. Here again people acknowledge that God loves us all, but then we don’t talk about or want to think about what he has to say about sin and its consequences. Since he loves us we can ignore what he has to say on all manner of issues. As long as we are loving [whatever that means if we don’t care about the consequences of doing what is wrong and evil].

 God Word is very clear about issues of sexual immorality, homo-sexuality and many, many other things. To be loving in the face of those things is to clearly state that they are wrong and destructive and to do what we can to point them to Jesus and the cross for forgiveness and help to live the life that God would have for us. We cannot change what God has to say to us in the Scriptures just so that we can be free to do our own thing. Yes, God loves the sinner, but he hates the sin and in no way condones sin.

 Here again we need to remember that sin is that desire within us that wants to do what we want irrespective of what God says: It is disobedience to what God has given to us as good and right: The consequences of this disobedience is death. God’s Word is very clear about that. We cannot think that God does not care if we go against his Word and try to change it to suite our own desires.

 In fact we only need to look at the cross to see how serious this issue is. That is what our sin deserves. Yet as we look at that cross we don’t see ourselves, but instead Jesus Christ. He willingly took the punishment that we deserve on himself so that we might be forgiven and have the assurance of a new and better life. Those who believe this have what he has won for us. However those who turn their backs on it lose what has been won for them and face eternity in hell.

 So it is Jesus Christ who is the life now for those of us who believe. He is our Saviour and Lord. And that means, he and what he has to say is what is all important for us as we now go forward each and every day of our lives. In fact we now look to allow him to do and work in us everything that he wants for our lives. That means we also allow him to be our guide as to what we do not do and be a part of.

 
This is the Gospel that is to be proclaimed and lived. There is no other Good News than that in Jesus Christ we have salvation and new life. He alone died so we can be forgiven and brought back from death to life. He alone sets us free from this present evil age and he is where we find the help that we really need.

 That is the only Gospel; the only Good News that we have and are given. There is the news that encourages us forward into the future: The news that releases us from the pressure to have to perform in order to be acceptable. But at the same time it is news that picks us up and helps us to live out our Christian life each and every day. This Gospel transforms our life from one of selfishness and self-centredness, to a life of love and joy, and which gives all the glory to its creator and redeemer.

 It is there in this Good News of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross  that I encourage each and every one of you to look and place your trust in. Then you will not become confused and perverted to something which is not Good News at all. Be wary of many of the influences coming our way in this day and age that seeks to put this focus on us and what we would like. Seek at all times to live in light of the truth that Jesus has already saved us and has given us a new and positive life: a life that is focussed on giving all the glory to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other Good News than this – so hold to it for dear life. AMEN

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish