Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read from Isaiah 61. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- There are a lot of different ways of looking at the church. Of course, the same is true of many other things in life. One could look at a cloud and see shade. Or one could look at a cloud and see rain. One could look at a cloud and see a storm rising. One could look at a cloud and imagine some form or image. One could look at a cloud and see it drifting across the sky and imagine floating along with it. One could look at a cloud moving and see the rotation of the earth.
- In our Gospel reading we also saw how people looked at John the Baptist in a number of different ways – as one of the prophets, or the Messiah. The religious leaders sent people to ask John who he was – but John was not all that helpful to them. He quoted Scripture, which should have enabled them to know who he was and what his mission was. Then they would also have been able to identify Jesus rather than rejecting Him. It is interesting how especially within the church there is often a determined unwillingness to change – to persist in viewing things a certain way even when in error, and even when wrong views are dangerous.
- And the church also has been viewed in a number of different ways, both positively and negatively, both by people within the church and by those outside of the church, unbelievers. For most of us, I think we view the church as a positive thing – we recognize the value of the grace of God, the salvation that is ours in Christ Jesus, and the good influence this has on true and genuine believers.
- However, we can also see the ongoing effects of sin within the church – and we can become judgmental and hypocritical toward others. And we can also suffer from the continuing effects of sin within the church, when the sin of others bites and stings us. And we can also be stung by the hypocrisy of others when we have sinned – and they assault us and condemn us and refuse to forgive us. Of course, we might also want to be aware of the effect our sin has on others within the church!
- God has His own view of the church – and while He certainly sees our weaknesses and sins, it might surprise us to know just how positive a view He has of the church! It is precious to Him; He has made it precious and good. It is His creation, and for His glory; He will defend it to the end. And through His Word He invites us to see what He has done for us and how He views us – all of us, so that we share His view of the church.
- All of this is in keeping with what Christ came down to do for us, for “HE CAME DOWN TO SAVE AND SANCTIFY US.” First, Isaiah assures us that:
I. Jesus Came Down To Heal Us
A. He Came Down to Comfort Us With The Good News Of His Love And Salvation
Text: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted.”
B. He Came Down To Give Us Liberty – From Our Sin, Guilt, And Condemnation, So That We Might Be Free To Serve Him
Text: “to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
C. He Came Down To Give Vindication To All Who Are Children Of God From Our Enemies – Those Who Accuse Us And Assail Us
Text: “To proclaim the year of the Lords’ favor, and the day of vengeance of our God.”
D. He Came Down That We Might Have Gladness And Courage, And Praise Him
Text: “to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.”
E. For He Loves Us And Has Blessed Us So That We Are To The Praise Of His Glory, His Planting And His Growing
Text: “That they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Statement: Now, we might like to think of the church as something we belong to and something that we are responsible for – and perhaps even something that we have the right to tinker with and make what we want of it, for our own pride and glory. It is hard to accurately express just how perverse and damnable such thinking truly is! In reality the church belongs to God, and is His creation from beginning to end. Yes, He has made us part of it – if we submit to His blessings and receive them. But if there is any good within the church, anything praiseworthy, pure, holy, and delightful, it is certain that this all comes from God alone!
Application: These are His terms – that He comfort us with His gracious forgiveness and mercy; that He free us from our sin and guilt; that He defend us from our enemies and grant us His vindication when He pours out His vengeance upon them; that He lift us up out of our mourning and give us a courageous spirit that praises Him; that we be His planting, and allow Him to grow us up!
This is all good news to the brokenhearted and mourning, to those who are truly repentant because they are honest and know the true nature of their sin and brokenness! But it is not in accord with what the arrogant, the impenitent, and the unbelieving want to hear or to have from God. So each of us will have to decide how we are going to look at the church – and what our relationship with God and His church is going to be. I would strongly advise receiving what God seeks to give us, and not turning against Him and His dearly loved children! And:
II. God Wants Us To Know That His Blessings Upon Us In Christ Are Forever
A. They Are Eternal To His People, Those Who Are Blessed By Him
Text: “I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.”
B. For We Wear His Garments Of Salvation, God’s Own Righteousness, And We Are Beautiful
Text: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
C. And So God Makes His Church A Garden Of Righteousness And Praise
Text: “that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Statement: This is one way of looking at the church, and again, I would strongly recommend that you view it this way – so that you may fully absorb the blessings God desires to pour out upon you! He has made an everlasting covenant with us, one of salvation and the covering of His gift of righteousness – the very righteousness of Christ bestowed upon those who believe in Him. God Himself has so adorned us, that we are perfect, holy, without sin or blemish as He views us. He does this to bless us, out of love for us – and all of this is to His glory and praise. And it lasts forever – beyond this world and life, on into heaven, and finally to a new heaven and earth, the glorious home of righteousness. And all of this is to the praise of His glorious grace.
Application: So consider carefully that you receive this. And if you do, it will be evident in your life and your being; you will praise God and not yourself; you will marvel at how He creates His church, and not seek to make it what you want it; you will look at humble believers in Jesus as glorious, and will not be criticizing, belittling, or attacking God’s dear people, His planting, His oaks!
But if you do not want this and will not receive it, then consider – you are on the outside no matter how prominent or prestigious you may think you are, and you might want to remember that God is coming for you with His vengeance, to protect and comfort His dear children of faith!
Conclusion: Again, the church can be looked at in a variety of ways. We must look at it as God sees it, rejoicing in how He sees us and looking at others as He sees them – as glorious, righteous, the creation of God, for His praise and glory. To do so is to give Him the praise, honor, and glory that is due Him, for “HE CAME DOWN TO SAVE US AND SANCTIFY US!” To Him be all praise, honor, and glory, 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.