Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Cor. 3. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Our texts for this Sunday all discuss our inner life, the spiritual condition of our hearts as we go through life in this world. Now I suppose that some people might consider this a trivial interference to their enjoyment of life – why plague ourselves with such reflections. However, there is the matter of death and eternity – and it is a trivialization of human life and human being not to consider what goes on within us, and the matter of our sinful hearts.
- All three of our texts are directed toward people who are “churched,” people who have identified themselves as part of the “people of God.” The texts include serious and somber warnings. Perhaps it strikes us as odd that people within the church, people who are already sensitized to the importance of paying deference to God should need such warnings.
- Maybe we think that we are beyond the need for such warning, that others outside of the church should be confronted. To the contrary, our texts indicate that even the church is a dangerous place spiritually – and that matters of “LIFE AND DEATH” are not resolved by merely “belonging” to the “institution” of the church, the external church.
- Those of us who have spent a good deal of time within the church are well aware of the evil and stubborn dynamics that often prevail in the church – in the hearts of others, and in our own sinful hearts as well. It was no different in the past – Moses warned the people of Israel, Jesus warned Scribes, Pharisees, disciples, and hearers, and Paul warned the congregation at Corinth. We also need to be warned – in regard to impenitence, unbelief, and hypocrisy: acting piously while still living according to the dictates of our sinful flesh. We must understand that:
I. Unspiritual People – Whether Members Of The Church Or Not – Are Living In Death
A. Living In Impenitence Is Living In Spiritual Death
Gospel: “angry with his brother . . . not reconciling when a brother has something against you . . . lustful intent . . . members of the body that cause you to sin . . . divorce, unfulfilled marital vows . . . swearing falsely, deceptions.”
Text: “jealousy and strife among you.”
OT Lesson: “But if your heart turns away and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish.”
1 John 1:8,10 “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us . . . if we say we have not sinned we are calling God a liar, and His Word is not in us.”
B. For Such Impenitence Is A Denial Of Our Need For Christ, For God’s Grace, Mercy, And Forgiveness – And His Gift Of New Life Through Faith
C. And Those Who Live In Ignorance Of God’s Gracious Forgiveness And Love Are Incapable Of Love
Luke 7:47 “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.”
D. Living In Impenitence, Jealousy, Animosity, And Strife Is Living In The Death Of Our Sinful Flesh
Text: “Even now you are not yet ready, for you are still in the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”
Statement: Now it is certain that we still have these common and universal sinful dynamics at work in our hearts and minds – lack of complete love and devotion to God, lack of respect for His Word, anger, jealousy, malice, strife, lack of reconciliation, lusts and greed, refusal to forgive others, lack of complete love and loyalty to our spouse, and falsehoods. The church is supposed to be a place where we honestly and truthfully confess this – but the church can become the habitat of the biggest liars, people who refuse to repent and confess, and who cover over their impenitence and wickedness with a veneer of “goodness” and “piety.” Lord, have mercy!
Application: So the Word is set before you even today – “life and good, death and evil.” And this is still the “milk,” and “not solid food” – this is the rudimentary, the simple. Life is not entered into by hypocrisy and superficiality, but rather by heartfelt and sincere repentance and utter humility – whereby we are able to grasp the grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love of God in Christ Jesus our Savior, and actually be renewed in heart by His salvation, so that having been forgiven much we might love much. We are urged – each and every one of us – to walk in His ways, to repent, confess, and enter into the joy of His salvation, and into life!
Transition: And this is the blessedness and life that is offered to all people in Christ Jesus, for:
II. Only Those Who Are Repentant And Believing Are Renewed In God’s Love So That They Keep God’s Word
A. Always Repentant And Humble
1 John 1:6,7 “If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
B. In This Way We Are Rejoicing In Christ And In God’s Grace Alone
Psalm 5:11 “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.”
Psalm 16;11 “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy.”
Psalm 20:5 “May we shout for joy over Your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners!”
Hab. 3:18 “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”
2 Cor. 10:18 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
C. And Those Who Dwell Upon God’s Love And Salvation Are Growing In Love And Obedience To God’s Word – As He Feeds Us And Gives Us Growth
Text: “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. . . . You are God’s field, God’s building.”
Statement: The first obedience to God’s Word is utter repentance and humility, and joy in believing God’s Word of forgiveness, life, and salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no “side-stepping” of this foundation, this doorway, and apart from such humble repentance and faith there is no “keeping” of God’s Word at all – only hypocrisy and death. But for those who are humble and contrite, and who tremble at God’s Word, there is forgiveness – and the joy of God’s salvation. And with this faith there is also love for God, growing love for God and devotion to Him – and this is life!
Application: Of all places, it is the church where this life should be found – and in abundance! But we are warned – the “living death” of impenitence and hypocrisy also lurks in the corners of the church, and seeks to spread and take over congregations, as it threatened Israel of old, and the church of Corinth. It is exists in our own sinful hearts, and we must beware and not fall prey to it, regressing back into “fleshly” and “human” ways of being.
But within the church God seeks to have mercy on us all, and to “give us growth,” to give us life and give it to us abundantly, through repentance and faith in Jesus. May we all choose this life, as God’s Word urges and invites: “that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days.” Amen!
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.