Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text for this morning is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Deut. 32. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Because of the existence of a multiplicity of religions, many people come to think of God as merely a “theological construct.” It is true, that once a person has “accepted” a certain description of God, they imbue their “god” with reality – hoping, trusting, obeying, and honoring that “god.” However, just because a person “thinks” a thing, that doesn’t make it real.
- Virtually since the dawn of human history people have thought of “gods,” and worshipped and trusted in their “gods.” Moses wrote of this in our text, composed around 1400 B.C.. Other ancient literature reveals the same darkness and confusion in humanity. It exists to this day – people clinging to “man-made” gods, inventing their own “spirituality.” But again, simply because someone is convinced of a thing, doesn’t make it real.
- In our text Moses clearly distinguishes God, the LORD, the only True and Living God, from all other “so-called gods,” and warns of the dangers and futility of renouncing God and embracing false “gods.” He relates God’s Word to the children of Israel, and to all of mankind, assuring us that there is only one God, the LORD, and most importantly, that this one God, the LORD, saves His people. The long Gospel lesson that we just read reveals the details of God’s salvation in His only-begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – Who is “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.”
- Moses encourages us to put all of our faith, trust, and confidence in the “ONE GOD WHO SAVES,” and to give our worship, honor, and obedience to Him alone. For it is certain that:
I. Our Own Power Will Run Out And Be Gone
Text: “when He sees that their power is gone, and there is none remaining, bond or free.”
Statement: It is rather ridiculous, when you think about it, that human beings would come to the conclusion that they can decide for themselves who God is and what He is like, and how they are going to honor Him. After all, our powers – whether physical, mental, spiritual, or moral – are pathetically weak and anemic. The challenge of Scripture stands clear: “There is not a just man upon the earth that does good and never sins.” Think of the billions of people who have lived upon this earth. Some don’t even try to “do only good and never sin,” but of the millions who have tried none have succeeded. In fact, the dismal description of Scripture assures us that it is impossible to overcome sin and guilt on our own, for “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” [Jer. 17:9] All honest people ultimately come to the same conclusion about themselves and others.
Application: So it is obvious that we need a Savior – the Savior that God has given to us, the Lord Jesus Christ – Whose blood cleanses us from all sin. In that “it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment [Heb. 9:27], every one of us needs God’s gracious forgiveness and mercy. We will grow older, weaker, virtually completely inept – we cannot save ourselves. But the LORD, the only True and Living God is the “ONE GOD WHO SAVES” – and He has saved us in Christ Jesus.
Transition: Further, Moses makes quite clear that:
II. All Other “gods” – What We Take Refuge In And Pay Honor To – Are Useless To Truly Help Us
Text: “Then He will say, ‘Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge in, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you; let them be your protection.”
Statement: The delusion is that once we have “identified” and “chosen” our “god,” and have “honored” him, that we will be safe and protected. The reality is that “there is no god beside” the LORD – no false god, no invention in the minds of men, will ever protect, deliver, and save anyone! The same is true for the things that we are tempted to “trust in” and “sacrifice” to – wealth, education, our intellect, our worldly wisdom, our earthly treasures and pleasures – these all dry up and fade away, and can’t deliver anyone from “the wages of sin,” which is death and hell.
Application: This is the grave danger of false religion, all self-determined religion – they are rejection of the LORD, the “ONE GOD WHO SAVES,” and in the end all such idolatry leaves a person on the outside looking in, with nothing to save them. So whatever consolation people find in their religious delusions is mere “opiate,” and of no real value at all.
Transition: Not so with the salvation that the Lord, the only True and Living God has supplied for us in Christ Jesus. And we must remember that:
III. God Alone Is God
Text: “See now that I, even I am He, and there is no god beside Me.”
A. He Alone Has The Power To Kill And Make Alive, To Wound and To Heal
Text: “I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal.”
B. No One, Nothing, Is Able To Thwart His Will And Actions
Text: “There is none that can deliver out of My hand.”
C. So There Is The Great And Abiding Comfort Of Knowing That He Has Vindicated Us In Christ Jesus, In His Compassion – That With His Gracious Forgiveness And Mercy He Has Saved Us
Text: “The LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants.”
2 Cor. 5:21 “God made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Eph. 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
1 John 2:1,2 “If anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and He is the blood atonement for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Romans 8:38,39 “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Statement: Paul had the same faith as Moses, and taught the same thing: there is only “ONE GOD WHO SAVES,” and all things are in His power and His control – all who trust in Him will be vindicated, saved for eternal life in heaven, and safe and secure in His love. This is the promise of God Himself – in the gift of His Son, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Application: So we have the warning from God about idolatry and false religion, and also the comfort of God, His Words and Promises to us – for “God is love.” This we celebrate somberly this coming week, in repentance for our sins, and in faith and joy in God’s compassion and salvation.
Conclusion: It is a pitiful aspect of our fallen sinfulness that we have to be convinced of these things – won over to God by the power of His Word. So let us beware of the intrinsic evil of our “common sense” – and cling to His Word alone!
Let us forever give thanks and praise to the LORD, the only True and Living God, and that He is the “ONE GOD WHO SAVES.” 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.