Proper 12 A
This is What We’ll Say!
Romans 8:28-39
27 July 2014 – Redeemer
What shall we say to these things? What things? Well, whatever things you suffered this week. What shall we say to them? Paul was writing to the Romans and he outlines for them the martyrdom they will face for Christ – tribulation (that is pressure from a pagan society), distress (which is is what happens when that same society has no room for you – get out of here), persecution (that’s when you run, but they chase you down and pursue you), next you are pressed hard by your enemy, perhaps imprisoned where you are deprived of food, then clothing, then comes the threats and finally the sword of execution. Where are we in the United States? Probably somewhere between distress and persecution. Our brothers and sisters in Iraq are at the end of the sword.
The things that war against our faith could also be the things of creation – storms from on high, floods from below. Even the good gift of life can weigh upon us – as we care for others, suffer under the burden of love for children and love for parents. The last great enemy death is always glaring at us. What shall we say to all these things? We can look back at our past with regret or anger. These present days are filled with war and terror. And who knows what the future shall bring? What shall we say to all these things?
This is what we will say. “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Really? We Christians can say that? But what about airplanes shot out of the sky and civilians being used as human shields in Gaza, what about a 30 year old having a brain aneurism? What about a still born child? You can ponder those evils all life long and never see any good. How do you dare say, “We know, we’re certain, convinced that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
We dare because we have been called according to God’s purpose. The history of the world since Adam and Eve’s sin, is filled with sin and evil and wicked choices, including our own sin and evil, and wicked choices. But from before the foundation of the world God worked his plan and purpose. He ruled over all things for one purpose – to save and redeem the world, you from your sins.
Yes, there were wars and accidents and untimely deaths. There were crooked politicians and corrupt churchmen, but God governed all of history for one event – His only begotten Son becoming flesh, living, dying, and rising again. He used the Old Testament Empires of Bablyon and Assyria. He used the Holy Roman Empire and Herod and Caesar and the Pax Romana. Politics and intrigue and corruption and power plays – it was all fit into His purpose that a little guy named Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, grow up in Galilee, and be killed in Jerusalem. Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, took all these things – your sin, your punishment, your sickness, your death, your hell, your evil and He died with them and for them. One simple testimony to His eternal purpose remains to this day – the years before Jesus was born are noted as B.C. – before Christ. The years after His birth are noted as A.D. – anno Domini – the year of our Lord. All of history governed according to the Lord’s purpose to save you.
The Lord worked His purpose and plan from before the creation of the world. He used the evil man intended to work His good. He uses their schemes to accomplish your salvation. He used murder to make peace. That is what His Holy Word reveals to us about His plan and purpose to save us. Because we know that for sure, we believe it about “all these things” of which we are unsure and uncertain. I cannot tell you how, but because God has called me and you according to His purpose I can say, “God works all things for the good of those who love him.”
What shall we say to these things? Saint Paul gives the Romans and us a trinity of questions that sound like they come from the courtroom, “If God is for us who can be against us?” “Who will bring any charge against God’s elect?” “Who is to condemn?”
What shall we say to these things? In the midst of persecution, suffering, life, and death Saint Paul would have us say, “I am justified.” To be justified is a legal declaration – it is courtroom language. It may be Saint Paul’s favorite Word to tell us what God has done for us in Christ, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30, ESV)
Everyone of you wants to be justified. You live every day of your life seeking to justify your place in life. You look for acceptance at work, respect in your family, recognition among your friends, reward from your boss or teacher.You want to know that you have worth, that you contribute, that you’ve done some good and are recognized for it, but not one of you can justify yourself before God according to Scripture. Because of your sin you know the truth – even though you love your family you‘re selfish. Even though you do a good job at work you daydream, facebook, text, and steal from your boss. Because of sin you also live in this fallen world and that leads to all these things Paul talks about – tribulation, danger, persecution. And Satan uses every trouble and evil and distress as an enemy to your worth and standing and place before God.
You cannot justify yourself, but God has justified you in the person and work of Jesus Christ. You are guilty but Jesus was sentenced. Your sin earned death but He died. God’s anger demanded life and blood for sin and Jesus gave it and shed it. God worked justice according to His plan at the cross. His justice resulted in His mercy toward you. When Jesus declared “It is finished” you were justified. The Father in Christ Jesus declares you “Not guilty” of your sin, “free” from sin and death, “favored” as His child, “accepted” into His household, “rewarded” with life and the resurrection. What you could never do – justify your life, yourself, your place before God, God has done for you in Jesus Christ.
What shall we say to these things? Well let’s say, “If God is for us who can be against us?” God didn’t spare His own Son but offered Him for us. If God gives His only begotten Son for a bunch of selfish sinners, if He loves us that much, gives us that much, justifies that much, won’t He certainly take care of the rest of all these things? Absolutely.
What shall we say to these things? Let’s say, “Who will bring any charge against God’s elect?” This is Satan’s favorite ploy – in the courtroom of our conscience he lays charge upon charge against us. God doesn’t love you. Look at your sins, consider what you’ve done, I’ve got a whole list of felonies against the commandments I’m going to enter into evidence against you.” But God the Father declares the Devil “Overruled.” His charges cannot stand for Christ has stood in our place, hung on our cross, and laid in our tomb. No one can bring a charge against you for God has justified you (declared you “not guilty) in Christ.
What shall we say to these things? Let’s say, “Who is to condemn?” Christ Jesus is the only judge fo the world. He will come to judge the living and the dead. And what do you know about this judge? Well He’s my brother. He’s my Savior. He’s my Substitute, my atonement, my justification. Devil you may try to badger me and lead me into despair and doubt, but you’re wasting your breath. The judge is my brother – we’re as thick as the blood and water that poured from His side and washed me in baptism and feeds me in the supper. I know the judge and He knows me, so shut your mouth and take a hike. That’s what we should say.
God has called you according to His purpose and justified you in Christ Jesus, therefore when you ask, “Who shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus?” you can be confident of the answer – nothing in all creation. What shall we say to all these things? We’ll say Jesus. In His name. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
26 July 2014 anno Domini