Be not ashamed of the power of God.

 

Sermon for Confirmation, June 6, 2021

To all those loved by God who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Romans 1:16-17  ¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes—to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed by faith, for faith, just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.” (EHV)

Be not ashamed of the power of God.

Dear loved ones of the living God,

            Isn’t this an interesting way to begin a discourse on the love of God for sinners?  Paul, Christ’s chosen apostle to the gentiles, had long desired to preach to the Christian congregation in Rome, so why do you suppose he felt the need to say that he is “not ashamed of the gospel.”?

In answering that question, we could speculate about a variety of reasons.  For one thing, Paul had been long delayed in going to Rome and it would be several years yet after he wrote this letter before he would get there.  Perhaps, he feared that, because of his delay, that little flock might assume he wasn’t so confident in the message he was preaching.  Or perhaps, with all the persecution he had faced for preaching the gospel, Paul may have already expected to go to Rome as a prisoner in chains because of the gospel, but he would go boldly knowing the power of the Lord.

On the other hand, Paul likewise recognized that the message of Christianity was a stumbling block to the Jews and considered foolishness by Gentiles. (1 Corinthians 1:23)  Proclaiming a Savior who had been put to death by Romans at the demand of rebellious Jews would hardly be considered glorious or crowd-pleasing in Rome.

In the same way, we must face the reality that many people of our time, including even many Christians, seem to be ashamed of the gospel.  You can see that in a variety of ways.  There are any number of churches that in their preaching ignore what Jesus has done for you in order to tell you how they think you should live or what they think you should do to make this world a nicer, kinder place.  Others are so intent on pleasing the itching ears of sinners that they proclaim a message that is antithetical to the words of Scripture, praising lifestyles the Bible calls abominations and promoting murders, adulteries, rebellion, and all forms of depravity.  Furthermore, just as it was in Paul’s day, the message of the Bible is considered total foolishness by many of the elite and powerful members of society and is boldly rejected by many in the fields of science, education, and politics.

But, we don’t have to look at all those people out there.  There are plenty of examples of being ashamed of the gospel right here at home.  Maybe it is neglecting to study the Word of our God, or neglecting to come receive the body and blood Jesus gave to make us righteous in His Father’s eyes.  Maybe it is staying silent when we have the opportunity to tell friends how Jesus gave all to bring them forgiveness and salvation.  Maybe it’s refusing to forgive others for the hurts they cause us.

So, why did this old pastor choose this text for his message to two young people who are confirming their faith in Jesus today?  Simply, because what the world has always thought is foolish is the only thing that brings to you forgiveness and life everlasting.  Therefore, I urge everyone here, and especially our confirmands—Be not ashamed of the power of God.

Cale and Cadence, in many ways we are sending you out today as Jesus sent out His disciples, as sheep among wolves and serpents. (Matthew 10:16)  There will be no end to the dangers you face in this world that is ever boldly rejecting the God who created it and gave His Son to save all people from their sins.  Our society is continually more focused on selfish desires than on what God wants for us.  You will have many teachers and friends who will consider you a fool to believe in Jesus.  Many will try to convince you to stay away from the source of God’s grace which is His Word and Sacraments.  I am here to plead with you Be not ashamed of the power of God.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, St. Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes—to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”  The gospel is the good news of all that God has done through His Son Jesus to rescue you from sin and death.  The gospel tells us how Jesus lived a perfect life to satisfy every demand of the law and His Father’s will.  Jesus did that for us because we could never live up to that perfection. 

The gospel tells us how God has declared us innocent of all sin because Jesus also died in cruel and horrible circumstances as payment for the sins of us all.  The gospel tells us that Jesus didn’t stay dead but rose triumphant from the grave as the First-born of all those children of God who will rise in the end to live with our Lord forever.  The gospel tells us that because of Jesus, God has forgiven all your sins and made you His own dear child by faith, so Be not ashamed of the power of God.

The power of God for salvation is the gospel.  The gospel is the powerful tool God used at your baptisms to make you a believer in Jesus.  This does not refer to God’s omnipotence.  God does not simply declare sinners saved while ignoring their sins.  Instead, God sent His Son, Jesus, to live in our place.  Holy from all eternity, the Son took human flesh into the Godhead so that He could live the holiness that we could not.  Then as true Man and true God, Jesus accepted the penalty of death for the whole human race.  This message is the power that works faith in sinners, so that they believe the promise that “God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Prior to hearing this good news, no one could imagine a God who would graciously forgive.  Prior to hearing the good news, the only reaction people have to the authority and might of God is sheer terror.  Those who someday meet God without faith in Jesus will “say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’” (Luke 23:30)  In the face of Christ’s divine majesty and glory, terror will consume them because it will be too late to believe when their final judgment is upon them.  Then, like the demons, they will recognize Jesus as Lord, but they will do so from the pit of eternal torment in hell.

However, the good news of what Jesus has done for us is what the Holy Spirit uses to change hearts.  By this message of grace through faith in Jesus, the Spirit transforms our understanding and our faith.  No longer is the love and kindness of God hidden from our eyes, “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed by faith, for faith, just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.”  The righteous are all those who have been declared innocent as God worked faith in them by the power of His gospel.  This transformation doesn’t come from within us.  It isn’t something we can do or decide.  “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) 

My friends, the message of the gospel is what God serves to us in church every Sunday, and hearing the gospel is the whole point of the catechism classes you have attended the last two years.  We don’t hold church services or confirmation merely to tell you to be a better person in Lyon County.  Instead, we teach the law primarily to show that we all need a Savior but then, “we preach Christ crucified,” because “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  We preach Christ crucified, because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:23-25) 

Faithful Christians are never ashamed to call Jesus their Savior, even when the world mocks that poor, beaten, crucified Teacher for dying on a cross.  We are not ashamed of Him, because He wasn’t ashamed to die for us.  Our sins put Jesus on the cross.  Our disobedience put the whip marks on His body and the nails through His feet and hands.  Yet, Jesus died willingly for you because of the great love He has for you and for all.  Jesus told His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)  This is the gospel, the power of God for your salvation—Jesus gave His life for you.  He gave His body and blood for your guilt, and He gives His perfectly righteous life to cover you in holiness before His Father.

Cale, Cadence, and everyone else, faith is seldom lost by one sudden thrust of the devil’s temptation.  Rather, faith tends to die by starvation of the soul, or by death from a thousand cuts.  Either way, the loss of faith happens when we don’t seek the help of the greatest Physician who ever lived, our Lord Jesus.  As He walked this earth, Jesus drove out demons and healed every sickness and injury that was laid before Him.  Through the gospel, Jesus invites us, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) 

Jesus doesn’t promise that we will never have trouble or never get sick.  He doesn’t even claim that we won’t die physically.  However, He does promise to be with us through all these things, that He will defend us in every trouble, that He has forgiven all our sins and opened the gates of heaven to all who believe in Him, and that because He lives, we too will be raised from the grave to live with Him forever in heaven. 

Furthermore, Jesus offers us His very body and blood in His Supper to strengthen our faith in Him and to heal sin-sick hearts with the good news that all our sins are forgiven by His sacrifice.  That’s what the gospel is all about.  This is the power of God that will keep you trusting in Jesus to the end.  The gospel is why the writer to the Hebrews implores us, “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing.  Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Dear friends, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Blessed is everyone who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)  Be not ashamed of the power of God.  Amen.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21 NKJ)