Sixth Sunday After Pentecost (C) 2019

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

Text: Colossians 1:22
Theme: Every Fiber Reconciled


Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

The gospel, the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ, can never be published too widely, understood too clearly, or cherished too highly. The gospel changes the eternal destination. It alters what matters most. It’s not an over-reach to say that the gospel is like an exit ramp from the broad road to hell onto the narrow way of salvation. Yet it’s not easy to convince people that they’re going the wrong way. Only the Holy Spirit can do it. But that doesn’t mean we’re relieved of all responsibility. It is critical; it is vital; it is essential that the gospel be available to every community, language, and nation of people. It’s no wonder the Spirit showed the apostle John what he did when he wrote, “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth- to every nation, tribe, language and people.”1

The proclamation of the gospel from human mouth to human ears is God’s chosen means of disseminating His truth. God typically uses ordinary means- words, water, bread and wine- to accomplish miraculous things. We don’t mean miraculous things such as the parting the Red Sed, giving sight to the blind, or healing the lame. The most critical miracle is conversion from unbelief to faith. The creation of faith is the most superlative of all phenomena. Without faith we are destined not only for the consolation-prize of transience, but, more urgently, the horror of eternal separation. The consolation-prize of transience simply means we settle for believing that our temporary life is an end in and of itself. There is no more. This is it. Live it up. Make the best of it. Make money so you can indulge. Obviously, a pleasure-seeking mindset is popular in our age and people find lots of ways to rationalize it.

But, the ‘consolation-prize of transience’ is truly a consolation prize. It’s actually a terrible deception. Eternity awaits every soul and it will either be spent with or without God. Christ makes the difference. Either we can have sin and remain masters of our own destinies, or Christ can have our sin and we can have the certainty of His forgiveness.

It’s no coincidence, therefore, that our Lutheran confessions, after explaining that we are saved by grace through faith, say, “In order that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and the sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given, and the Holy Spirit produces faith, where and when it pleases God, in those who hear the Gospel.”2 God uses people to help other people, but the power remains with God.

St. Paul explains this redeeming power of Christ with these words today, “[God] has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.”3 It’s not an exaggeration to say that Jesus’ surrendering of His own life for sinners is the most critical event that has ever taken place or will ever take place. Forgiveness depends on it. Reconciliation depends on it. Our bodily resurrection depends on it. Our entrance into heaven depends on it. Eternity with God in heaven depends on it. None of the things that really matter are possible without it. The sacrifice of Christ was an autonomous act that singularly made atonement for the sins of all and appeased the divine wrath.

Every fiber of your being is reconciled by Jesus’ giving up of His own life. Your soul is rescued from the evil of idolatry. Your body is rescued from the trauma and decay of being enslaved to unrighteousness. Nothing in your past is left unresolved by Christ’s redemptive work; not your blackest memories, your deepest scars, not the injustice committed against you or the injustice you’ve perpetrated against others. Nothing prevents your restoration from being complete. Jesus is risen from death and death no longer has any power over Him.
You can have the confidence of Job, who said, “In know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes- I, and not another.”4

People who believe they are reconciled to God are in the best position to model reconciliation towards others. The human practice of seeking and receiving forgiveness is never perfect, but it is essential for strong, enduring relationships. If you’ve been thinking about repenting, don’t put it off. If you’ve been considering apologizing, expressing remorse, or seeking to mend particular relationships, rest assured the Holy Spirit wants you to make haste and assists you with Godspeed. It doesn’t mean we should be rash, insincere, or reckless. Some wounds are so deep and sensitive it requires considerable patience and consultation to even be able to broach the matter. A badly damaged situation can be made even worse. But sincere expressions of remorse always have divine approval.

The humble attitude is much more pliable than the arrogant one. If you don’t believe you’re in the right frame of mind to apologize sincerely then pray that the Holy Spirit would convict your heart. An insincere apology is not only discerned by the receiver, it hardens one’s heart in self-righteousness. The hardened heart can only be softened by divine intervention. That’s why regular contact with God’s word is so essential. Faith is not magical. It’s not a keepsake or adornment, or an inert possession. Faith is a living dynamic; an interaction, a communication, between the Spirit, us, and the Holy Trinity.


Regular contact with God’s word happens most consistently while in His house. The devil will constantly supply you with reasons why it’s not important to be in God’s house on any particular Sunday. He never runs out of excuses. But his list doesn’t need to be too long because the main ones are usually effective. “I’m too busy.” “I’ve got better things to do with my time.” “I’ve heard it all before.” “People won’t miss me anyway.” “I can pray to God at home.” “The church is full of hypocrites.” In today’s gospel Jesus commended Mary for listening to His word. He didn’t condemn Martha for making the preparations. But He did tell her Mary had chosen what was better.

I’m aware, of course, that I’m preaching to the choir. But the choir too, needs to be encouraged. If you don’t have the strength to answer these temptations of Satan, think only of the Lord’s Supper. The Son of God says to you, His baptised, “Take and eat; this is My body which is given for you…Drink of it, all of you; this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”5 These, dear friends are the words of the gospel. They are words of life. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +

Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
21 July 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Revelation 14:6 2 AC V, 1-2
3 Colossians 1:22-23 4 Job 19:25-27
5 Lutheran Hymnal, pp.18-19