PENTECOST
13-A (Proper 14)
10 August AD 2008
Romans 10
NO BRAINERS:
a "no brainer" is a decision which requires no thought.
The choice is virtually automatic; it is as obvious as the nose
on your face. When con-fronted with a decision to eat saltine
crackers or some nice freshly-made brownies with walnuts …that's
a "no brainer." Steve Vogt chooses the brownies every
time.
A young lady
confronted with the choice between a 16 carat diamond pendant
on a gold chain and or a pearl will pick the diamond pendant.
Diamonds, even smaller ones are a girl's best friend. The decision
is a no brainer, you can bet on it.
Nearing the
end of his days, and after forty years spent in the wilderness
waiting and wandering, Moses prepares the people for their entrance
into the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 30 Moses recites the story
of the covenants and of God's gracious rescue. Some of them now
in their twemties amd thirties were never in Egypt and have no
memory of slavery. They all need to hear the epic story again-how
they came to be free of Egyptian bondage, and how God's law will
keep them free.
After it
is all spoken one last time, Moses puts it plainly before the
people, a choice needs to be made between life and death, between
the way of blessing and the way of curses. Israel must choose
to go with the LORD God into a new life or go back to their old
ways, to their forced labor and the gods of Egypt.
The choice
is a "no brainer." The Israelites understand that their
new life in the Land of Promise (Canaan) means that they must
sever their connections to the past. When they cross over the
Jordan into the land they leave Egypt and its gods behind. But,
was there ever, really, a choice to be made? Yes! But it is a
no brainer, who chooses death? Who chooses to make God their enemy?
Who in their right mind would choose the way of curses? No one.
In mercy God has made it very simple for Israel hasn't he? A child
could choose rightly.
We find a
similar situation before us in the Romans reading. There is a
choice to be made, and both Jews and Gentiles must make it. You
are either going to live by the righteousness of the law, or by
the righteousness of faith. "For Moses writes about the righteousness
that is based on the law…" But Paul bears witness to
"a righteousness based on faith" in Christ (Romans 10:5-6).
This is not new. Paul has been speaking to us about this all along
and it is at the heart of his preaching.
"But now the righteousness of God has been [made known] apart
from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to
it- [this] righteousness [is from] God through faith in Jesus
Christ for all who believe (Jew and gentile). For there is no
distinction:" (Ro. 3:21-22).
The righteousness
of the law comes from perfect moral living according to God's
Commandments: the Decalog, the Ten Commandments. It is the first
part of our Catechism and the commandments are the first things
we instill in the minds of our young children. The law of God
is simple and straight forward. You shall and you shall not. You
do this, live this way and you shall live. The ten laws of God
are black and white; from these come all the other laws by which
we live and govern our society.
1. We teach
these laws to our children not to make them good, or to make them
behave. God's law may keep us in line and it might suggest how
we can do godly things, but chiefly the law of God shows us that
we have sinned, and that we are sinners. St. Paul says: "through
the law comes knowledge of sin" (Ro. 3:20). The law shows
clearly that all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God
(3:23).
2. We teach
these laws to our children, not to make them good or righteous-but
to show them how much they need a savior-how much they need God's
help. For by the law we are all (both Jew and Gentile) alike are
under sin (3:9). "There is no one righteous, not even one,"
(3:10).
Last Sunday
Paul identified pride as the reason some of his people refuse
to be-lieve in Christ. Today some still are content with being
the model citizen, they are proud to obey the law. They don't
want anyone being merciful to them. They don't need charity or
pity. Grace is for others, they are self sufficient. They judge
themselves righteous according to the law.
Maybe you
wish you were one of those perfect people. You can try but you'll
never succeed. Neither were the apostles. Paul asserts boldly,
"there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus," (8:1). But there is a righteous-ness for you. In
Christ we have the righteousness of grace-unearned mercy. This
righteousness is a gift of God. It comes with a face and a name.
It comes with the death and resurrection of God's Son-Jesus. "Anyone
who believes in him will not be put to shame." Anyone. There
is no distinction "between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord
is Lord of all," (10:12). Jesus is the way and the life (John
14). Choosing Christ is a no brainer. In him we receive righteousness
as a gift from God-a gift we could not give ourselves, a prize
we couldn't win by our best efforts.
I've thought
about, it doesn't sound very nice to call Jesus a "no brainer"
does it? But it is just speaking the truth. He is the obvious
choice for life. A choice that shouldn't be too difficult to make.
A choice a simple child can make. In him we find pardon, forgiveness
and peace-in Christ we are justified before God.
Is there
really any better choice than Jesus?
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Hamburg, NJ 07419
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