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Pentecost
12, Proper 13
3 August AD 2008
Romans 9:1-5, Psalm 136
In the BOOK OF ACTS St. Luke details the movement of the Gospel
into world. After Pentecost it didn't take long for the Holy Spirit
to push the story of Jesus from Jerusalem into the world. It was
if the apostles had lost control; and they had. The Spirit coaxed,
moved, pushed and pulled the Good News all the way to Rome, and
ahead of the apostle Paul. Before him, Philip witnessed to an
Ethiopian official visiting Jerusalem, and later he brings the
Word to Samaria. Peter receives a vision in which God convinces
him that all things are now clean; it is time to bring the gospel
to the uncircumcised. God prepared Cornelius and his family for
this event. And, as if to make this man's conversion more dramatic,
Cornelius is a Centurion in the Roman army. By the time Paul pushes
at the boundaries of Judaism taking the Word of Jesus into gentile
Europe, a precedent has been set. The Gospel is for all people,
everywhere.
Goyim, that's
what Jews called the gentiles, outsiders, the uncircumcised. The
first goyim who came into the church were exceptions. It took
a council of the apostles (Acts 15) to deal with the thorny issue.
With the aid of the Spirit they discerned what to require of these
proselytes, converts. The key issue: "must they convert to
Judaism before they receive the Gospel of Christ and Christian
baptism?" Peace-fully, they settled the matter. Since God
did not hinder in any manner the conver-sion of several gentiles,
but rather gave signs of approving them as they were, the Gentiles
would be admitted into Christ's church-apart from Jewish law.
But it didn't
end there. In fact that was only the beginning. It seems that
the mo-ment was right for the Gospel, gentiles seemed eager to
receive the message of salvation. They were glad for the Word
which says, "there is no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) They rejoiced over their new
life in the Spirit, the Word assured them of the forgiveness of
sins and the hope of resur-recttion to new life. Paul's spoke
to them as brothers of God's acceptance and love. But was Paul's
ministry to the Gentiles too was successful?
The rapid growth of a large Gentile wing of the Church rankled
some of the con-servative, Jewish-Christians. They were not all
excited about God's success, and some hardened their hearts to
the Gospel of Jesus Christ-refusing to even give Paul a hearing.
In this context we hear the Apostle's sorrowful thoughts. "I
have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could
wish that I myself
were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,
my kinsmen
according to the flesh..." (Romans 9:1-5) Paul's anguish
concerns those with whom he is connected by family, race, culture
and religion-the Jews, the people of Moses and the Exodus, the
sons and daughters of Abraham. Paul is lamenting the fact his
own people have not embraced the messiah sent by God-Jesus, our
Lord.
It seemed
as if they had every advantage. Paul writes further, "…to
them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving
of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the
patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the
Christ…" So, why is it, he wonders-why is that they
don't believe? Why is it that they don't have ears to hear and
eyes to see? Where is their faith?
Paul is unwilling
to concede that the Word of God can fail-it cannot. After this
morning's Psalm you know full well that, "the steadfast love
of the Lord endures forever." (Psalm 136) The unwavering
love of God was guaranteed by a covenant to David: the term "steadfast
love," is covenant language. God's steadfast love is yours
too: by faith you have been united to Christ Jesus, crucified
and risen-united with him in the waters of baptism.
God does
not go back on his promises. Paul concludes, what we already know,
be-ing a child of God has little to do with race and blood lines,
but everything to do with faith. Both Jew and Gentile are one
in God's kingdom; they are born not of flesh, nor the will of
man, nor a husband's will (John 1:13), but born again (from above)
by "the will of God."
This morning
Paul wrestles with God's will. "What of the Jews who do not
re-ceive the Messiah? Are they lost? Are they cut off from God's
"steadfast love?" Some have suggested that there are
two (or more?) paths to God: one by faith in Christ, one by righteousness
the law. To suggest that sets aside the words of Jesus, "no
one comes to the Father but by me." (John 6:65 & 14:6)
The Apostles teach, "there is salvation in no one else, for
there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we
must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
Paul's
wrestling with this issue is for us. He does not immediately find
the answers he wants, but Paul remains faithful to God. He trusts
"the steadfast love of the Lord [that] endures forever."
He will leave his brothers to the mercy of God, and continue to
bear witness to Jesus Christ.
Paul is an
example for us. We too have people in our lives over whom we anguish
and worry, and for whom we pray. Each one of us has relatives,
children, friends and acquaintances who have had every opportunity
to experience the grace of Jesus Christ, but who do not respond.
Arguing with
them about faith, church and God will get you nowhere. You can't
argue faith into people. Pushing your religion on them is not
going to work. You should love them. You should pray for them.
Without being overbearing you may speak to them in love-ask God
to provide those opportunities.
If you look
at Jesus, he taught the truth by means of stories and signs. In
the end the Holy Spirit did the convincing: the Spirit works to
bring change to heart. The new birth of faith must come from above.
What else can you do? Be a witness by your signs of love; the
feeding of thou-sands in this morning's gospel might serve as
an example for you. You don't have to feed thousands, but you
can feed one or two through your support of the food pantry. There
's no reason you can's ask your family to help them support that
endeavor. Or, diapers for Today's Choice. Opportunities for faith
are all around us. Let's use them to our advantage and God's.
And by grace, perhaps we may save someone.
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Hamburg, NJ 07419
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