Do good to one another in humble spirit.

 

Sermon for Trinity 15, September 20, 202

Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Galatians 5:25–6:10  ²⁵If we live by the spirit, let us also walk in step with it.  ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another and envying one another.  ^6:1Brothers, if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual should restore such a person in a spirit of humility, carefully watching yourself so that you are not also tempted.  ²Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.  ³For if someone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  ⁴Let each person test his own work, and then he will take pride in regard to himself and not his neighbor.  ⁵For each man will bear his own burden.  ⁶Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with his teacher.  ⁷Do not be deceived. God is not mocked.  To be sure, whatever a man sows, he will also reap.  ⁸Indeed, the one who sows for his own sinful flesh will reap destruction from the sinful flesh.  But the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.  ⁹Let us not become weary of doing good, because at the appointed time we will reap, if we do not give up.  ¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the household of faith. (EHV)

Do good to one another in humble spirit.

Dear brothers in spirit,

            I realize I am risking a charge of political incorrectness by addressing you all as “brothers,” but I need to emphasize with St. Paul that regardless of gender, we are all fellow members in the inheritance of life and peace through faith in Christ Jesus.

Paul was writing to a congregation under attack.  Much of what he wrote might not be received well by those who were attempting to lead the congregation astray.  Likely, there was potential that his rebuke could divide the congregation.  However, the words of our text remind us of the great gift of God’s grace we are given through faith, and the great love we can show to each other by helping one another remain in that saving grace as we Do good to one another in humble spirit.

Paul wrote, “If we live by the spirit, let us also walk in step with it.”  Paul isn’t doubting that his friends live by the Spirit, because we cannot be truly alive apart from the Holy Spirit, for it is the Spirit who has worked life in us through the faith given by Word and Sacrament.  Rather, Paul is reminding his readers that to walk apart from the Spirit is to walk away from forgiveness and salvation. 

Again he says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another and envying one another.”  Paul reminds his listener that dealing with others with a spirit of haughtiness and self-glorification is the opposite of living in the Spirit, which would indicate a lack of faith in Christ.  Thus, if we judge ourselves better than anyone else, we aren’t seeing ourselves as we are.  Our Gospel lesson taught us to be content in our lives because God is taking care of us.  Here, the Epistle teaches us likewise to trust Jesus alone for righteousness and peace.

What we are to learn here is the need for humility and kindness.  All of us come from the same stricken background.  All of us were born in sin.  We all needed rescue, as it says in Scriptures, “There is no one who is righteous, not even one.  There is no one who understands.  There is no one who searches for God.  They all turned away; together they became useless.  There is no one who does what is good; there is not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)

At the same time, it is just as true that Jesus lived and died for all of us unworthy sinners.  Jesus came to be the atoning sacrifice for the whole world.  Furthermore, Jesus wanted the news of His sacrifice and the righteousness He won to be distributed far and wide.  Today, almost two thousand years later, we are among the beneficiaries of His gracious love, for we have been called, gathered, and justified by the power of His Spirit. (Romans 8:30)  Furthermore, like the Galatian Christians, we did nothing to merit this saving grace.  “Indeed, it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Before He returned to His Father’s side, our Savior told His disciples, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another.  Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another.” (John 13:34)  Jesus didn’t ask whether we deserved His rescue.  Rather, He loved us when there was nothing about us to love.  Therefore, assuming we recognize our own deep need for a Savior, and assuming we do want to love our neighbor as our Savior loved us, Paul instructs us, “Brothers, if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual should restore such a person in a spirit of humility, carefully watching yourself so that you are not also tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.” 

Paul is pointing out that it is a great kindness to show a person his sins and lead him back to Jesus.  We hear so often that we shouldn’t judge those who sin because we are sinners too, but the downside to that fallacy is to abandon those who fall into sin to the gaping jaws of Satan’s cruelty.  Indeed, we shouldn’t judge as though we are sinless, but rather, we approach a fellow believer who has stumbled into sin as we would a beloved brother or sister who is in grave physical danger.  The goal is to rescue from certain harm.  This is bearing one another’s burdens.  Each of us could fall into the devil’s schemes.  We need each other to be continually defending, protecting, and rescuing one another against the temptations and taunts of the wicked.

Paul also reminds us that we will each be judged on our own merit.  The foolish person assumes that we can stand before God’s judgment on our own merit.  That is why it is so tempting to compare ourselves to others and foolishly imagine we are more worthy of God’s grace.  Paul says, “Do not be deceived.  God is not mocked.”  Apart from the grace of Christ, our works are nothing.  Yet, in Christ, God remembers our sins no more and we are counted as righteous for Jesus’ sake. 

This is the great treasure we have as Christians: Jesus has done everything needed for us to be counted as holy before God.  Jesus paid the penalty for all sin.  Jesus lived according to His Father’s will for you and me.  This treasure is brought to us by faith as we are brought into God’s kingdom in Baptism.  Now, being in the kingdom and family of God, we are encouraged to help each other remain in that marvelous freedom and light.

We have this warning and promise from the Holy Spirit: “Indeed, the one who sows for his own sinful flesh will reap destruction from the sinful flesh.  But the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.”  When the focus of our lives and efforts is on material, earthly things, what we reap is a tragic end apart from the love of God.  If our hopes and dreams are in earthly things, what hope does one have of heaven?  The answer is no hope.

But the promise; “the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.”  When the focus of our lives is on heavenly things, the end is joyful glory with our Savior in heaven.  That doesn’t mean we avoid working the fields or going to work in everyday things.  What it does mean is that we keep working on earth for the Lord who won heaven for us.  Then, whether we are at work or play, we will seek to do our Father’s will just as Jesus did.  Sowing for the spirit means remembering that this is not our home, but our home is in heaven and there is where our treasure is found.

This is why Paul wants us to be focused on our brothers’ and sisters’ spiritual welfare as well as our own.  The price to set us free from slavery, sin, and death has been paid.  The rescue mission came our way, for the Good News of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus has been preached in our hearing, and we have received the gift of life by the power of the Spirit working faith in us.  Why would anyone want to lose that?  By the same token, why would anyone not want that for his neighbors and dearest ones?

That’s why Paul concludes, “Let us not become weary of doing good, because at the appointed time we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the household of faith.”  We have this precious forgiveness and salvation given to us freely.  The promise of heaven for us is sure.  Alive in this gift of God’s grace, we are encouraged to be the support and care team for all the believers who surround us, and the reaching hand extending God’s grace to those still in need of the message.  That is true love, not to serve just ourselves, but to lift each other’s burdens of sin and shame and lead them to the gracious arms of a Savior who turns no repentant sinner away.

I suppose the politically correct would want to turn this into a condition of our salvation, assuming that the reward for good works is a place in heaven, but the reward is ours because of Jesus—Him alone.  We serve Him, not to seek payment, but because doing anything less serves only the enemy.

Dear friends, out of thanks for God’s grace to you, and out of love for the ones you love and the ones you would have experience Jesus’ love, Do good to one another in humble spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.