18TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY-1
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Source from Back to Luther with German archive reference. Back to Walther's Epistle Sermons.
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. Amen.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus.
Christ came into this world to found one holy Christian Church on earth, which inwardly is one in faith, love, and hope, and outwardly one in worship, doctrine, and confession. Christ does not speak of several but only of one congregation which he would build on the rock of his Word against which the gates of hell would not prevail. And he says to the Jews: "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd." Jn 10:16.
We find such unity in the Christian Church in the first centuries of the Christian era. During this time practically the whole Church was one big family scattered all over the world. Wherever a Christian traveled, he found people who called themselves Christian; he found people who confessed the same faith with him, who received him as their brother, and whom he could greet as his brethren.
But what happened? Later on the prediction of the Apostle Paul made to the Christians at Ephesus was fulfilled: "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts 20: 30. Until this very hour there have been men in the Christian Church who wanted to be something special. They did not want to travel the Christian way, departed from the teaching of the universal Christian Church, introduced new doctrines, and procured a following among the easily misled, ignorant, and curious crowd. Thus it finally has come to pass that Christendom is split into many sects and parties. Each has a special doctrine and organization, their own special ceremonies and customs, and all want to be the only true church.
In all the countries of the world there is no land in which so many different sects have arisen than in North America, the land of freedom. Whoever emigrates here has repeated opportunities to join any church he wishes. There are as many different choices of congregations to join as there are degrees of knowledge and temperament among men. Here is one who wishes to be a member of a congregation where he has the freedom to believe and confess what he wishes. Another wants to join only a congregation in which he can at least live as he wants to and where no one dares to reprimand him because of his sins. On the other hand, a third person considers only that as the true Christian Church in which everything proceeds in unity, peacefulness, and friendship, where there never is any quarreling, or if quarrels do break out are calmed down with the expression: "Love one another," and so all members greet one another at least outwardly with friendliness. A fourth judges e ach congregation according to the degree of holiness which is demanded of all members; he associates only with a congregation where all outwardly walk piously and no tares are found among the wheat.
It is most important to know how one can recognize the true Christian congregation. Let us consider the picture which the apostle sketches of a true congregation of Christ in our today's Epistle.
The te x t. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9.
The apostle has words of praise for the congregation at Corinth. May
420 18th Sunday after Trinity-1
these words of praise incite us to emulate this congregation! In order that this may take place, permit me to present to you
PAUL'S PICTURE OF THE CONGREGATION AT CORINTH
1. Let Me Present To You The Picture Of A True Christian Congregation For The Instruction And Encouragement Of Us All, and
2. Let Me Show You How Important It Is That Paul Has Sketched Such A Wonderful Picture Of The Congregation At Corinth.
O Lord God, today we want to cast a glance in the mirror which you hold before this whole congregation in your holy Word. Help us not to conceal our defects, frailties, and corruption, which we as a congregation see in this mirror. Give us your Holy Spirit, that we all may sincerely humble ourselves before you, and seek grace and help for our common sins.
But, O Lord, you have been gracious to us in the past; do not reject us in wrath; do not extinguish the light of your Word, which you have lit, but preserve unto us your pure holy Word and unadulterated Sacraments. Hove all hearts that we henceforth bring forth better fruits of repentance, that we let our light shine more clearly before people, that we adorn your Church more beautifully, that men may see that God is still in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Purge the vine among us but do not chop it off; clear away ever more the rubbish of all our own works, but build up the walls of your New Testament Jerusalem among us. Do not destroy it completely in your wrath. Oh Lord, help us and our children, help this city, and this whole country, help and bless your entire Church in all places. Let it possess the gates of its enemies; lead it soon to eternal rest and triumph for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom. Amen! Amen!
I.
" I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Christ Jesus; that in everything ye are enriched by him. " Vv.4. 5a. With these words Paul praises the Corinthian congregation. We see from this introduction: When the apostle praises conditions in the Corinthian Church, he did not want to flatter and honor them. He intended to praise God's grace which showed its mercy for Christ's sake on this congregation composed of former heathen, and made them without their merit or worthiness so rich in everything. And so it always is. If a congregation flourishes, it dare not ascribe that to itself but alone to divine grace. Each congregation is like a field on which nothing grows by itself but the tares of error and sin, If it is to become a productive field, God must send and equip preachers, who faithfully sow the good seed; then God must graciously bless the work of the preacher. What is written of one person: It is not due to somebody's wishing or chasing, but alone to God's grace, applies also to entire congregations.
Now let us consider the wonderful picture Itself which Paul sketches of the congregation at Corinth. The apostle mentions four things which describe its blessed condition.
First of all the apostle mentions that the congregation was rich " in all utterance." We dare not be surprised at this because the congregation had had first-rate preachers. First of all, Paul himself founded the congregation and taught there a year and a half. He speaks of that in the second chapter:
" And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." 1 Cor 2:4.5. When Paul left Corinth, it appears as we read in Acts 18, that the congregation was without a preacher for a while. God soon cared for this important post in the great city most wonderfully. A man, bom in Alexandria, named Apollos, came to Ephesus whither Paul had gone. We read that he was "an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord;...he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord." Acts 18:24.25. When the congregation at Ephesus had come to know the great gifts and pious zeal of Apollos, it sent him with a letter of introduction to Corinth. Corinth received him joyfully. We right away hear that "when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace; for he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ." Acts 18:27b.28. Therefore, St. Paul says; "I have planted, Apollos watered." 1 Cor 3:6.
Because the Corinthians congregation had had such outstanding preachers, Paul could praise them, that they became rich " in all utterance." The apostle mentions this first to show that the first sign of a true Christian congregation is that the pure doctrine is in operation amongst it. That not only one or several doctrines were taught to the neglect of the rest, but " all utterance." the whole counsel of God for salvation. The usual characteristic of the sects is that they always teach almost exclusively one or a few doctrines, perhaps the doctrine of conversion and regeneration, or the doctrine of the bloody reconciliation of Christ, in short, the one almost nothing but Law, the other almost entirely the Gospel. In contrast, in a true Christian congregation everything is faithfully taught and confessed which God had revealed in his holy Word for our salvation.
We continue. As the second thing which showed the wonderful state of affair s in the Corinthian congregation, Paul mentions that they were also rich " in all knowledge." The members of this congregation must have been attentive hearers of the preaching of Paul and Apollos. They must not have slept during the sermon as many of us do, or have wanted to hear something new,or an ingeniously constructed speech. Rather, every explanation of God's Word which they received in the sermon was most important and precious. However, if they were only attentive hearers at the divine services, they scarcely would have gained great knowledge; at home they must have also spoken of that which they heard; and searched daily in the Scriptures as the Bereans did. How important they must have considered growth in the true knowledge we see from this that they had written to Paul and posed several questions dealing with the marriage covenant, divorce, remarriage of widowers and widows, and the like. From the example of the Corinthian congregation we learn that the second mark of a true Christian congregation is the zeal to grow in the knowledge of true doctrine, the diligent and attentive hearing and reading of God's Word, and the desire to speak of it and search in it.
The apostle continues: " Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you." V.6. This gives us the third point in which the apostle describes the excellent state of affairs in the Corinthian congregation. We see from this that this congregation had not only comprehended the pure doctrine with their mind. No, they also had let it go to work in them; they had let it enter their hearts, move them to repentance, in short, bring them to a living, active faith through love. Paul expressly mentions this in the 6th chapter. After he had testified to the Corinthians that neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor thieves, nor greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers would inherit the kingdom of God, he adds: "And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the lord Jesus, and by the
422 18th Sunday after Trinity-1
Spirit of our God." 1 Cor 6:11. Not only were the Corinthians better outwardly, but through the Holy Spirit they had become born again and sanctified people. To the amazement of the heathen they walked in a new life full of love and good works. So you see, my friends, this also is part of a true Christian congregation; not only does it have the pure doctrine but also a Christian life; it confesses Christ and his Word not only with the mouth but also by good works. Yes, the purer and richer the doctrine is which is preached to a congregation, and the greater the knowledge which a congregation receives, the more holy it should be and the more strict accounting they will some day have to give God, if it does not allow the rich preaching of Christ to bear fruit among it. For to whom much is given, much shall be required !
Finally, Paul has this to say of the Corinthian congregation: " So that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." V.7. In these words lies the greatest praise which the apostle could give the congregation at Corinth. He declared that through God's grace they no longer sought temporal things, that they did not expect good !days, that they did not seek riches and honor, but that in all the persecution which they had to endure at the hands of the heathen at Corinth their only goal and their only hope was the return of Jesus Christ on Judgment Day. That continually remained in their minds, and they were prepared at any hour to receive Christ with joy. Oh happy congregation which progressed this far! Oh blessed congregation which as it were stands before the door of eternity and bravely continues the battle, and only waits for the door to open so that it can enter as a triumphant congregation into heaven !
Now if we examine our congregation according to the example given by the Corinthian congregation, we must to the honor of God's mercy say, that he has made us rich " in all utterance, and in all knowledge." Yes, for the sake of God's honor we dare not deny that whereas other congregations are covered with the night of unbelief and superstition, whereas in their pulpits they have rationalists or the priests of the antichrist, who extinguish the light of the divine Word and substitute the will-o'-the wisp of their reason and the doctrine of men; whereas other congregations sit in the twilight of false doctrine, always learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth, who with many a sigh bear an almost unbearable burden and always desire the true certainty of faith, on the other hand, the light of the divine Word burns brightly among us. Our congregation is not only built on the good firm foundation of the true irrefutable confessions of our Evangelical Lutheran Church, this confession stands not only on paper in our constitution, it is also publicly taught from our pulpits in great weakness it is true but it is taught faithfully. And not only this or that teaching, but every teaching revealed in Scripture for our salvation is taught among us, the Law as well as the Gospel, repentance toward God as well as faith in Christ Jesus, reprimands as well as comfort, Christ's redemptive death as well as his justifying resurrection, justification as well as sanctification. Christ's Sacraments are in full force in doctrine and practise among us according to Christ's institution. We can and dare not deny that the apostolic light which God has re-enkindled 300 years ago after the 1,000 years of darkness under the papacy through the Lutheran Reformation burns among us brightly and clearly, and the way to Christ and God's grace is so clearly shown without any detour that anyone of us who does not wantonly close his ears knows the true way to heaven.
Though through God's grace we are very much like the Corinthian congregation in doctrine and knowledge, what must we say, on the other hand, if we are asked whether the preaching of Christ is so active among us, that we expect only the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? Alas, when this question is asked, we
must lower our eyes in shame; yet happy are we if we are truly ashamed and sad as a result of this examination! There is still time to let the preaching of Christ become powerful in each of us; still time for each one to follow the call to repentance and grace; still time to prepare himself by sincere repentance in order to receive Christ with joy, be it at his death on on Judgment Day.
Come, therefore, all of you whose conscience says that you have often heard the preaching of repentance and rebirth but have never known what repentance and the rebirth is! Kneel in solitude before God and pray that his Holy Spirit work true repentance, true knowledge of your sins, true divine sorrow over them and a living faith in Christ Jesus in you; soon the preaching of Christ will become mighty in you. You will also joyfully look forward to the glorious revelation of Jesus Christ and become an ornament and an honor to our Christian congregation.
Yet, my friends, after I have held before you the wonderful picture of the Corinthian congregation for the instruction and encouragement of us all, permit me to show you in the second place, how important it is that Paul has sketched just such a wonderful picture of the congregation at Corinth.
II.
Since the apostle gives such a glowing description of this congregation, one would think that it certainly would have few or no failings in doctrine and life. But that is not the least true. Read the entire Letter to the Corinthians from which our today's Epistle is taken and you will discover that the Corinthian congregation, in spite of the praise which the apostle bestows upon it, suffered the most glaring failings in doctrine and life.
As far as doctrine is concerned, there even were in this congregation people who denied the resurrection of the body; for in the 15th chapter the apostle exclaims: "If Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?"
Even more offence was given by many in the matter of daily life. The entire letter is full of reprimands. In the very first chapter the apostle complains that the Corinthians quarrel and that one prefers Paul, another Apollos, a third Cephas or Peter, a fourth wanted to know nothing of any person but only of Christ; soon they named themselves after Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ in this congregation.
In the third chapter the apostle laments that many showed a fleshly zeal; in the fifth that there even was one guilty of incest whom they had not excommunicated, but over whom many were even puffed up and did not regret this great offence. In the sixth chapter the apostle laments that several Corinthian Christians even accused their brethren before the heathen authorities because of temporal things, instituted suit, and had not let the judgment between brother and brother to the congregation. In the eighth chapter the apostle complains that many misused their Christian freedom causing offence to the weak by taking part in the heathen sacrificial feasts. In the eleventh chapter the apostle complains that divisions and factions arose in the congregation, so that the love feasts which at that time preceded the Lord's Supper were often held in a very disorderly and loveless fashion, and that many had gone to the Lord's Supper unworthily and to their damnation. "For this cause," he adds, "many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." V.30. Yes, in the twelfth chapter of his Second Letter to the Corinthians he in warning says to them in great earnestness: "Lest when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness
424 18th Sunday after Trinity-1
and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed." V.21. "If I come again, I will not spare." 13:2.
Is it not amazing that the very fir s t thing the apostle says of this same Corinthian congregation, in whom he must reprimand so many errors and sins and offences: " In every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ "? Vv.5-7. Could the apostle say this of a congregation in which heresies, quarrels, divisions, factions, lawsuits, misuse of Christian freedom, fleshly zeal, unworthy partaking of the Holy Supper, yes, the horrible sin of incest occurred? Should not the apostle have rather given honest Christians the advice to separate from such a corrupt congregation?
To be sure, many think thus. The apostle, however, did not think so and proceeded in an entirely different way; this very procedure of the apostle gives us this important teaching: A congregation is not to be judged on the basis of individuals, yes, perhaps many, who are gripped by error and sins and cause great offence, but on the basis of how God's Word is preached in it, how the congregation united with it, and how the holy Sacraments are administered. Particularly as long as God's Word is preached in a church in its truth and purity and the unadulterated Sacraments are administered according to Christ's institution, there still are members present who receive the pure Word of God with its seals in good and honest hearts and bring forth fruit in patience; and these honest and upright people are then the real church.
On the other hand, even though the rest are in the church, they do not belong to the true Church; they are the ballast in the ship, the tares among the wheat. As a wheat field sown with good seed is not a wilderness because of the weeds but remains a wheat field, so also a congregation in which the good seed of the pure doctrine is sown is not a false church because of the heretics, factions, hypocrites, and known sinners who rage in its midst. On the other hand, if it were possible for a congregation through all its members to exist in the brilliance of the holiness of angels, so that it would appear as though this congregation no longer belonged upon this imperfect earth, as though it already dwelt and walked body and soul in heaven, but if at the same time it falsified God's Word and Sacraments and overturned the foundation of the Christian faith, in spite of all its holiness it would be a den of spiritual murderers; for it is plainly written, that at times Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, in order, if it were possible, to mislead even the elect into error.
But you, who perhaps have often taken offence at the fact that in many congregations where the pure doctrine is taught, more offences often arise than in those congregations where God's Word is falsified, think of the Apostle Paul. Even though much evil was in the Corinthian congregation, he still called it "God's congregation;" he praised it highly because of the pure Word which was preached in it by Apollos, and the few good Christians who were there. So today you also must not be offended at the offences which arise in an orthodox congregation and do not separate from it for that reason. Rather bear in mind: The more God carries on his work in a congregation, the more Satan assails it, tries to fasten all kinds of blemishes to it, cause it to be a spectacle and an object
of mockery and contempt and thus frighten the world away from it. The proverb is correct which says: "Where God builds his Church, there the devil erects his chapel." So it was at all times, even in the congregations of the apostles, and thus it will also be until the end.
You zealous Christians, do not leave the poor, disgrace Church, your abused spiritual mother because of its many wicked children, but cling all the more firmly to it, and adorn its pure doctrine with an even more pious life. Do
not forsake the apostles because of Judas, but join them in bearing disgrace, and you will also be glorified with it. But woe to those who disgrace the true Church by their wicked life' The judgment falling upon them will be the more frightful, if they do not repent. May the Lord grant this repentance to all the fallen for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.