1 Timothy 1:12-17. God's unlimited grace/patience 12/9/10
Luke 15:1-10; Exodus 32:7-14.
(1 Tim 1:15-17) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. {16} But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. {17} Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(Exo 32:12-14) Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. {13} Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'" {14} Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
(Luke 15:1-2) Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. {2} But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Each of the three readings this morning are helping us to focus on God's unlimited grace and patience toward us as human being. His utmost concern is for saving sinners and for furthering his kingdom. In each of these readings, people are in real trouble – in fact extreme trouble when it comes to their relationship with God: They deserve and are facing destruction and Hell. Yet God extends his love and patience toward them: and likewise to us. There is great rejoicing as a result of those who accept this grace from God and do not turn their back on it, or take it for granted; but instead who live in light of it.
But let us look a little closer. In the first reading, God's chosen people have ‘gone off the rails.’ They mumbled and grumbled against God, because he was not doing what they wanted him to do; they made a golden calf and worshipped it. They made no attempt to live and act as God would have them live; and certainly were not living as God's chosen people. After all that God had done for them in bringing them out from slavery: and the great miracles that they had seen, now they where very quickly ignoring him: Thumbing their noses at him and all that he had done for them.
As a result of this arrogance and selfishness, God's thoughts are of wiping them off the face of the earth. They simply do not deserve to be God's chosen people. He was so angry that his own people should treat him this way that he now decides that he is going to give them their ‘just deserts.’ But Moses reminds him of the promises that he had made. Moses stood by his people - even if he was not happy with what they were doing. He interceded for them and showed his concern for God's ongoing kingdom. He did not bury his head in the sand and show no interest in what was going on around him. As a result, the Lord changed his mind and did not bring the disaster that he had threatened on the people. He extended his love toward them, giving them every chance possible to again be his people in the promised land.
In the Gospel reading, we are reminded again of Jesus’ concern for those who are lost and in trouble. Unlike the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who felt secure in their own goodness, and who had no concern for those who were on the outer and who society considered as a lost cause; Jesus had love and compassion for them. He came to reach out and save those who were lost and lonely and in trouble. He included them all in his gatherings and discussions; knowing that many of them were in trouble and knew it, and were longing for a way out.
There Jesus uses the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin to show the sort of concern that he has for all. Here we see very clearly the thinking that God has toward those who are lost; and the rejoicing that he has in mind when they are brought home. Jesus is desperate that all survive and be a part of his flock. Because one has gone astray, he doesn't say, ‘foolish sheep, they deserve to perish for their actions. She’ll be right, as long as we have got a few faithful and healthy sheep, the rest can go and get lost if they don't want to tow the line. No, he wants all to be saved – and he has made it possible for all to be with him in heaven; no matter who they are or what they have done.
In the second reading, we are reminded of just who and what sorts of people he has in mind and how far he was prepared to go in grace. God patiently waits and searches out Paul; who was not just a non-Christian, but violently anti-Christian. Who openly sought out and persecuted the early Christians. He spoke evil of Christ - insulting him. But God reaches out through Jesus to Paul and every sinner - even the very worst of them. He saves them and even considers them worthy to serve him in a big way. Here, we are told of the appointing of Paul to let others know of God's unlimited grace and patience.
Paul sees this as absolutely amazing: Something that he is extremely happy about and thankful for. This is the best - simply fantastic - beyond human understanding – and there was no way that he was going to take it for granted; thinking of it as no great consequence. He knew that there was no point in looking to himself - thinking he was somehow good enough and acceptable, which he knew he wasn’t. But more importantly, what was the point – after all? God loves him, despite who he was; forgives him and has set the work that he wants him to do. God has done everything necessary for him and his salvation. He sought him out and challenged him; revealed himself and what he has done for us all. He even gave him the faith and the love that he needed; helping him to believe and gave him the strength to do the work the he wanted him to do. For Paul there was no doubt as to the extent of God's patience and grace. He owed everything to Jesus Christ: all honour and glory was to go to him who has done so much for him and for us all. God is just so great; so wonderful and so loving; everyone needs to know this Good News.
That is why Paul then goes to great pains to help others know how great this patience, love and help really is: how great the Lord truly is. He now wanted everyone to know this Good News of Jesus Christ, and that he is absolutely true and trustworthy; and this is something that we all are to accept and believe. To reject Jesus Christ and his grace and turn our back on him; or take him for granted, is to loose out on all that God has done for us and not receive eternal life in heaven. Because after all, to think that God will let us into heaven because we are OK is to reject this great grace of God.
But why would we want to look to ourselves anyway; why would we want to keep our distance from this one who wants to and has given us so much. Why would we want to reject this one who loves us so much? Instead, surely we would want to follow him and give him all honour and glory. After all, he is unlimited in his grace and patience toward us; he is ever out to seek and save the lost.
That being the case we do not need to pretend that we are better than we really are. We can acknowledge that we are far from the people that God would have us be and that we deserve nothing from God except rejection and punishment. But at the same time, look to Jesus Christ and know that he has died in our place and ensured that we have been saved. He sought us out and drew us to the waters of baptism so that we could be washed clean from our sinfulness and included into God’s family. Then week by week he continues to draw us back into his presence so that we can be reassured over and over again that he loves us and forgives us despite our sinfulness of the past week. As we kneel at the altar rail, Jesus gives us his very body and blood so that we can be sure that he is always with us as we live out our lives every day.
This is absolutely amazing that he should extend such amazing grace and patience to us here today. Despite, who are and what we have done in the past week, he continues to extend his Good News to us. He continues to look to us and encourage us forward to live and be his people; seeking to have us share this wonderful Good News with those around about us: wanting us to share his saving grace with the lost and lonely around about us. And here remember, all of heaven rejoices when one believes in what he done for us: who repents of their selfish ways, and trusts that God has saved them through Jesus’ death and resurrection. No matter who they are and how bad they may be in our societies eyes and in God’s eyes, He want his grace to be there for them all; for us all.
So to conclude let us forever remember that, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
Luke 15:1-10; Exodus 32:7-14.
(1 Tim 1:15-17) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. {16} But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. {17} Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(Exo 32:12-14) Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. {13} Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'" {14} Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
(Luke 15:1-2) Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. {2} But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Each of the three readings this morning are helping us to focus on God's unlimited grace and patience toward us as human being. His utmost concern is for saving sinners and for furthering his kingdom. In each of these readings, people are in real trouble – in fact extreme trouble when it comes to their relationship with God: They deserve and are facing destruction and Hell. Yet God extends his love and patience toward them: and likewise to us. There is great rejoicing as a result of those who accept this grace from God and do not turn their back on it, or take it for granted; but instead who live in light of it.
But let us look a little closer. In the first reading, God's chosen people have ‘gone off the rails.’ They mumbled and grumbled against God, because he was not doing what they wanted him to do; they made a golden calf and worshipped it. They made no attempt to live and act as God would have them live; and certainly were not living as God's chosen people. After all that God had done for them in bringing them out from slavery: and the great miracles that they had seen, now they where very quickly ignoring him: Thumbing their noses at him and all that he had done for them.
As a result of this arrogance and selfishness, God's thoughts are of wiping them off the face of the earth. They simply do not deserve to be God's chosen people. He was so angry that his own people should treat him this way that he now decides that he is going to give them their ‘just deserts.’ But Moses reminds him of the promises that he had made. Moses stood by his people - even if he was not happy with what they were doing. He interceded for them and showed his concern for God's ongoing kingdom. He did not bury his head in the sand and show no interest in what was going on around him. As a result, the Lord changed his mind and did not bring the disaster that he had threatened on the people. He extended his love toward them, giving them every chance possible to again be his people in the promised land.
In the Gospel reading, we are reminded again of Jesus’ concern for those who are lost and in trouble. Unlike the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who felt secure in their own goodness, and who had no concern for those who were on the outer and who society considered as a lost cause; Jesus had love and compassion for them. He came to reach out and save those who were lost and lonely and in trouble. He included them all in his gatherings and discussions; knowing that many of them were in trouble and knew it, and were longing for a way out.
There Jesus uses the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin to show the sort of concern that he has for all. Here we see very clearly the thinking that God has toward those who are lost; and the rejoicing that he has in mind when they are brought home. Jesus is desperate that all survive and be a part of his flock. Because one has gone astray, he doesn't say, ‘foolish sheep, they deserve to perish for their actions. She’ll be right, as long as we have got a few faithful and healthy sheep, the rest can go and get lost if they don't want to tow the line. No, he wants all to be saved – and he has made it possible for all to be with him in heaven; no matter who they are or what they have done.
In the second reading, we are reminded of just who and what sorts of people he has in mind and how far he was prepared to go in grace. God patiently waits and searches out Paul; who was not just a non-Christian, but violently anti-Christian. Who openly sought out and persecuted the early Christians. He spoke evil of Christ - insulting him. But God reaches out through Jesus to Paul and every sinner - even the very worst of them. He saves them and even considers them worthy to serve him in a big way. Here, we are told of the appointing of Paul to let others know of God's unlimited grace and patience.
Paul sees this as absolutely amazing: Something that he is extremely happy about and thankful for. This is the best - simply fantastic - beyond human understanding – and there was no way that he was going to take it for granted; thinking of it as no great consequence. He knew that there was no point in looking to himself - thinking he was somehow good enough and acceptable, which he knew he wasn’t. But more importantly, what was the point – after all? God loves him, despite who he was; forgives him and has set the work that he wants him to do. God has done everything necessary for him and his salvation. He sought him out and challenged him; revealed himself and what he has done for us all. He even gave him the faith and the love that he needed; helping him to believe and gave him the strength to do the work the he wanted him to do. For Paul there was no doubt as to the extent of God's patience and grace. He owed everything to Jesus Christ: all honour and glory was to go to him who has done so much for him and for us all. God is just so great; so wonderful and so loving; everyone needs to know this Good News.
That is why Paul then goes to great pains to help others know how great this patience, love and help really is: how great the Lord truly is. He now wanted everyone to know this Good News of Jesus Christ, and that he is absolutely true and trustworthy; and this is something that we all are to accept and believe. To reject Jesus Christ and his grace and turn our back on him; or take him for granted, is to loose out on all that God has done for us and not receive eternal life in heaven. Because after all, to think that God will let us into heaven because we are OK is to reject this great grace of God.
But why would we want to look to ourselves anyway; why would we want to keep our distance from this one who wants to and has given us so much. Why would we want to reject this one who loves us so much? Instead, surely we would want to follow him and give him all honour and glory. After all, he is unlimited in his grace and patience toward us; he is ever out to seek and save the lost.
That being the case we do not need to pretend that we are better than we really are. We can acknowledge that we are far from the people that God would have us be and that we deserve nothing from God except rejection and punishment. But at the same time, look to Jesus Christ and know that he has died in our place and ensured that we have been saved. He sought us out and drew us to the waters of baptism so that we could be washed clean from our sinfulness and included into God’s family. Then week by week he continues to draw us back into his presence so that we can be reassured over and over again that he loves us and forgives us despite our sinfulness of the past week. As we kneel at the altar rail, Jesus gives us his very body and blood so that we can be sure that he is always with us as we live out our lives every day.
This is absolutely amazing that he should extend such amazing grace and patience to us here today. Despite, who are and what we have done in the past week, he continues to extend his Good News to us. He continues to look to us and encourage us forward to live and be his people; seeking to have us share this wonderful Good News with those around about us: wanting us to share his saving grace with the lost and lonely around about us. And here remember, all of heaven rejoices when one believes in what he done for us: who repents of their selfish ways, and trusts that God has saved them through Jesus’ death and resurrection. No matter who they are and how bad they may be in our societies eyes and in God’s eyes, He want his grace to be there for them all; for us all.
So to conclude let us forever remember that, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
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