Lent 5, 2011
Romans 8:11-19
“Abba, Father”
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
On a cold winter day a man was watching the rapids above Niagara Falls. He noticed the carcass of a sheep floating along in the swift current. Presently he saw an eagle swoop down on the carcass to feed. The eagle was aware of the falls but it had no fear, for when it got to the brink, it could lift its powerful wings and fly away in safety. But the eagle had not considered one thing, namely, the paralyzing power of frost. At the last moment it lifted its wings to fly, but its feet were frozen fast to the sheep’s fleece, and so this “king of birds,” in spite of its powerful wings, went over the falls and was dashed to pieces on the rocks below.
“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.” (Romans 8:12)
This is a danger that all Christians face. As children of the King that know of God’s forgiveness of all our sins we sometimes forget how dangerous sin really is and take God’s forgiveness for-granted. This leads to a criticism of Lutheranism that I recently read by a Roman Catholic professor. This professor attacks the Lutheran understanding of justification apart from works for this very reason. In this professor’s eyes justification is just a cover all for our sins…it is a false doctrine that allows us to do whatever we want because God will go and forgive us. For further reference he attacks this famous quote of Luther:
“If you are a preacher of grace, then preach a true and not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world. As long as we are here [in this world] we have to sin. This life is not the dwelling place of righteousness, but, as Peter says, we look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. It is enough that by the riches of God’s glory we have come to know the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. No sin will separate us from the Lamb, even though we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day. Do you think that the purchase price that was paid for the redemption of our sins by so great a Lamb is too small? Pray boldly—you too are a mighty sinner.” (LW 48:281)
This can be very confusing to many. As our Epistle lesson warns us we have an obligation but not to the sinful nature. We are to live according to our obligation to the Christians life. This is where many look to good works. But as we know good works do not save the sinner. Herein lies the danger of the Lutheran to ignore good works altogether and to go on and sin boldly.
Natural man feels that life owes him the pleasures of the flesh. Look around…isn't it so? As Christians we are severely tempted to agree with that. We are often tempted with the “better” things of this life. You and I are constantly tempted by “stuff.” There are many things that we want…but we don’t need. But as Christians we are called to something other than our sinful nature. The believer is one who is under obligation, but what kind of obligation? Paul says in Romans 13:8: "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for the one who loves another man has fulfilled the law." In what sense am I obligated? To follow the promptings of the Spirit to produce the fruits of the Spirit; "We are under no obligation toward the flesh, our sinful nature. It has not done anything good for us." The Triune God has done everything for us from eternity to eternity. We are under obligation to this God, not the flesh.
Now we can go back to the idea of “sinning boldly.” Those two little words seem to shout out to sin as much as we like. But this is not Luther’s point. Luther's point is not to go out and commit multiple amounts of gleeful sin everyday, but rather to believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly despite the sin in our lives. Christians have a real savior. No amount of sin is too much to be atoned for by a perfect savior whose righteousness is imputed to the sinner who reaches out in faith.
“If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:13-19)
As children of God we are called to live according to the Holy Spirit living in us. The natural result of faith is good works. Good works do not save but are proof that faith is alive and well in the Christian. This is why James tells us in his epistle “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26)
Yes, the devil tempts us often. The devil tempts us to believe that we should go on sinning because sin does not harm. Sin always does harm; sin is the cause of Jesus death. Jesus died on the cross to take our sins away…ALL of our sins. But this does not mean that we go on sinning purposely.
My brothers and sisters in Christ we strive to live free from sin because we are Christian. As the devil tempts you to believe that God doesn’t care or that you don’t need God I pray that you come here to church not because you have to…but because you want to; because you want forgiveness of sins and strength for the day. Thanks be to God that through the death of His only Son we are indeed forgiven. Thanks be to God that this very day we are offered forgiveness and strength in Jesus body and blood.
Through the faith first given to us in baptism we may cry out “Abba, Father” and receive all that we need in this world and the next. When the devil tempts you remember that you belong to Christ. When the devil accuses you of being a sinner and an heir of eternal damnation remember that you have been redeemed by Jesus. God remembers your sins no more. You are an heir of salvation as a child of God. Rejoice in Christ for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world…and so are you. Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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