Tenth Sunday After Pentecost (B) 2018

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Ephesians 3:20
Theme: Immeasurably More!



Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

Humans abhor the inability to measure things. We like to know what quantities we are working with. We especially love to tabulate the sins of others. We like to think we are on the right side of the ledger, always being owed more than we owe. Dear friends, Christian truth overturns that whole equation and the incalculable nature of God’s redeeming work is at the very heart of the matter. Because human nature never fundamentally changes, it’s really no surprise that today the apostle crescendos in a flourish of words describing the immeasurability of God’s capacity to cope with sinners. He prays that we are able “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,”1, and that we would praise “Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”2

The challenge for our faith is before us. Do we really believe there are no limits to what the Almighty can do? And do we believe that the clearest revelation of God’s power is in His showing of mercy? Do we see that the cross is the apex of God’s accomplishment for us? Do we understand that as sinners, it was absolutely necessary for God to do immeasurably more lest we be lost for eternity? Today we have the example of King David to help us reflect on these realities.

David was the highest authority in the land. As such, he was in the best position to support the greatest number of people. With great power comes great responsibility and the need for great humility. Instead, we find him selfishly indulging his own lustful desires. God quickly sends Nathan, the prophet, to rebuke him. Now, before we go to too much effort denouncing David we should hold up the mirror. Would we receive Nathan graciously? When God sends someone to rebuke you properly (and I say when, and not if) remember not to shoot the messenger. (The concept of shooting the messenger is referenced as far back as Sophocles in the 5th Century B.C. Envoys to warring armies were often at risk if they were bearing bad news).

David had the authority to exile or execute Nathan. Fortunately, forbearance was the better part of his wisdom. When we are rebuked for our sin it serves our spiritual well-being. If we react by denouncing the messenger, it shows that we haven’t been convicted and self-righteousness prevails. It puts us in very notorious company too! Recall the stinging critique of Stephen against the arrogant Jews, “You stiff-necked people…you always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One.”3

Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for that very reason. He died for actual sinners with real transgressions. The depth of Christ’s love that St. Paul refers to involves full immersion into the filth of our sin. His is a redeeming and purifying love. It’s not an especially popular love in today’s culture though. People want the type of ‘love’ that gives license to sin, not power to resist temptation.

Love that is defined as unlimited tolerance is not biblical love. It is not Christian love. It is not true love at all because it holds to an impossible principle. It holds to the belief that all ideas and behaviors are equally valued, equally harmless, equally beneficial. If the inherent contradiction in this ideology is not immediately apparent to the intellect it soon becomes obvious evidentially. Love cannot equally value my desire to abuse with someone else’s desire to be protected from abuse. Love does not equally value a husband’s desire to indulge in sexual promiscuity with a wife’s desire to live chastely within marriage. Truth is not falsehood. Dark is not light. Hot is not cold. Death is not life.

Dear friends, we need not be held captive by such false definitions of love. God is able to do immeasurably more. Those who touched the fringe of Jesus’ robes were healed. The Saviour is not restricted in ability or desire. He always desires to draw us to the centre of His truth. Increasingly, in the West, this will require a more regular and intimate connection with a biblically grounded church. In relation to society, younger generations of believers should probably get used to the concept of being on the fringe. A ‘spiritual, geographical, trans-location’ is taking place as we speak. Past generations of Christians enjoyed the topographical centre of society; acceptance and even favour. And though perhaps the saving truth of the gospel of salvation was never widely cherished, the church’s foundation of moral stability was. The church has shown enough hypocrisy in that regard to earn a much-deserved rebuke. Christians have been called on to take the log out of their own eyes. Repentance is never just for other people.

A new era of the moral failing of humanity is dawning. Instead of a gentler, safer humanity, new signs of brutality are emerging that might yet match the mercilessness of past eras. Early Christians stood out from the rest of society because they dared to be merciful. They dared to make sacrifices without hope of praise or reward. That is the only way forward. The solution is not to jettison the moral framework of Christianity and replace it with secular ideology. Our call is to live and teach with integrity. Nor is the answer to scale back the specificity of the gospel. Increasingly, the gospel will be a scandal of particularity. The confession that this one Man was the Son of God and that through His sacrificial work alone mortals can be reconciled to the Almighty is not especially palatable to a society looking to value everyone’s version of truth. The gospel has met that challenge before. Ancient pagans were generally accepting of a multitude of gods and demi-gods, but monotheism was vigorously resisted.

God is not threatened. He is able to do immeasurably more. The immortal Son of God was fastened to a cross. Remember, from the standpoint of human wisdom, the cross is the abyss, the absolute low point of God’s work. In divine perspective the cross is the pinnacle. It is the peak of His achievement. The crucified and risen Lord Jesus deals the fatal blow to Satan’s schemes, sin’s power, and death’s dominance. The fallen creation is lifted with the promise of restoration. Our God is a bloodied, beaten, sacrificial servant. He triumphs not by taking, but by giving. He reconciles not by coercing, but by surrendering. He opens heaven by closing hell, frees truth by binding falsehood, secures life by enduring death.

God can do immeasurably more! Is God able to turn around a depressing draught damaged season? He can do much more! Will a broken relationship be reconciled? Will a health concern be resolved? Will the menace of depression and darkness be averted? Will shattered dreams be reclaimed? Will dying hopes be revived? Will long-forgotten blessings be enjoyed once more? The Lord doesn’t call us to be foolish dreamers. But He does invite us to trust that when our imaginations are stretched to their widest points we’ve only reached the fringes of the possibilities of His power. God’s capacity is limitless!

You are baptized. The inheritance that comes with your baptism is immeasurably more that all the riches of this world. You are fed with the holy food of the Saviour’s body and blood. No earthly sustenance carries blessings equal to such holy riches. People may generally hate the inability to measure things, but what a privilege we have to experience the infinite love of God in the very distinct presence of His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit! Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
29 July 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Ephesians 3:18
2 Ephesians 3:20
3 Acts 7:51-52