2ND SUNDAY IN LENT (1)

2ND SUNDAY IN LENT (1)

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7

Source from Back to Luther with German archive reference. Back to Walther's Epistle Sermons.

I wish you, in all love and sincerity, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father's Son. Amen.

Dear friends in Christ Jesus.

Our age is happy to hear itself lauded as the age of progress. And it is undeniable that the world especially in the last 400 years has progressed more in certain areas than it had in the thousands of years preceding. Amazing is the progress of our age in the area of the natural sciences. Man has delved deeper and deeper into the secret workshops of nature, has searched out and put to use her secret, wonderful powers and properties. Through the application of certain principles one can now send a message in a few seconds thousands of miles. By the application of the power of steam huge machinery is set into motion which often does the work of a thousand human hands. Though the application of the same power we now traverse the most distant corners of land and sea

as though we were flying. Just as wonderful is the progress made in our time in the area of linguistics, history, and archaeology. With the help of these sciences scholars often know more exactly what took place thousands of years ago than those who lived only a few centuries after the events happened. Practically every year brings to light new discoveries of the greatest influence upon the shape of human life. Add to all this that the nations are zealously striving not to be subject to the will of one ruler but to have a voice in their government.

All these are facts; it would therefore be folly to wish to contest the cry that our age is a progressive one. But this is quite another question: Is our age for that reason really to boast of being the happiest age?

Of course, there are many who could not cease praising our progressive times. Proudly they speak of the times of our pious ancestors as a time of darkness and superstition, or an age of childhood and minority, whereas they extol our age as the age of light, enlightenment, ripe adulthood, and the majority of man. With the high-flown words of ardent enthusiasm they speak of the golden age for which man vainly strove in the past, which is supposed to have dawned at last.

But let me ask you: Has our age actually become happier because of the many discoveries and the progress made in the many arts and sciences? Has progress actually removed the burdens of care by which mankind is oppressed? Finally, are mankind's tears dried, its sobs stilled, its wounds healed? Has peace come among the nations so that they can beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into sickles? Have happiness, blessings, and contentment come to spouses and families, so that it is now possible for every one to live without fear under his vine and fig tree?

Alas, no! If we consider the present generation we will find, that in spite of all its progress and in spite of the boasts of its age it hunts and pursues even more restlessly that happiness and peace which it can not find. The moment it hears the news of another distant land where more gold and silver is to be found, thousands pack their bags, gamble health and life, and in that distant country seek that happiness which escaped them at home. Things have progressed this far, that practically everyone presumes upon his alleged birthright of being free and happy, and the hunger and thirst for improving his earthly lot has indeed become more urgent, but that much desired happiness where is it?

Folly! It is a piece of folly to expect improvement in the conditions of the world, happiness, and peace from the progress made in the several arts and sciences. This progress is merely a necessary result in part of selfishness, in part of the needs which have constantly grown. If you ask which progress alone can make mankind happy, God 1 s Word replies: The strides made in sanctification. Our today's Epistle gives us this answer.

Quote the text here: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7.

There we hear what man's most important progress is, namely, that he is to " abound more and more " in sanctification. Therefore on the basis of this text permit me to show you in detail that

MA N 'S MOST IMPORTANT PROGRESS IS PROGRESS IN SANCTIFICATION

and this for two important reasons:

1. Because This is the Most Necessary, and

2. Because This is the Most Beneficial Progress.

Lord Jesus Christ, you have earnestly admonished us: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Mt 7,21. Oh therefore help us that none of us carries his faith and love merely on his lips. Rather create new hearts within us by a living faith so that we follow after sanctification without which no one will see you, the Lord. We beseech you, to this end bless your holy Word and let it show itself in us as a heavenly seed which grows up in our hearts and bears the fruit of a new life. Hear us for your own sake. Amen.

I.

All who are capable of any reasonable judgment will agree that a man's most necessary progress is to go forward to his destiny. But the great difference of opinion is over the question: What is man's destiny? Of course the majority almost never reflect why they really are in the world and as the irrational beast of burden either drudge through their daily calling or else like the butterfly flit without a care from one earthly joy to another.

But among those who do reflect upon the question of why man really is upon earth, there are those who contend that man's destiny is to seek as many and as lasting pleasures and joys as possible and then return to oblivion. Others hold that man has a higher destiny; his task is to develop the powers and talents of his body and mind to the highest possible degree and expand the fields of the arts and sciences so that after his death he can pass on to a realm of high activity. Still others suppose that man's destiny here is to be virtuous and generally useful and then enjoy the reward of his good works in another world.

Now what does God's Word say about this? What does the apostle say of this in our text? He writes: " Furthermore, then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification." Vv. l-3a. That sanctification in which man is to abound more and more is therefore God's will in regard to man; that is the destiny which God has given man here on earth and perfect holiness is his ultimate goal.

Many who consider Holy Writ as God's Word and revelation do not honestly believe that. They think: Does not the Bible teach that man is right eous before God through faith alone without works and is he not saved alone by grace irrespective of his own merits, his worthiness, and holiness? How can sanctification be man's destiny and perfect holiness his ultimate goal?

They do not consider that God is and remains unchangeably a righteous and holy God, a zealous God who hates sin and into whose fellowship only holy and pure being can be received. Therefore they misunderstand the doctrine of the righteousness of faith and salvation by grace. When God decreed to save mankind by grace through the redemption of his Son, he in no way relaxed a little of his holiness and righteousness; he did not in the least give up his counsel according to which he had destined us to a perfect holiness and communion with him. On the contrary, God for that very reason decreed to forgive the sins of men for the sake of his Son and pardon them, so that he could make them fit again in this way to be renewed to the lost divine image and thus sanctified in body and soul.

“ This is the will of God, even your sanctification"; thus at the beginning of our text St. Paul cries to the Thessalians who already are pardoned through faith and are righteous before God, and thus to all Christians, yes, to all men, and at the close: " For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." V.7. "Ye shall be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy"; this command therefore still stand today even after God's Son redeemed the world from its sins and reconciled it with God. Perfect holiness therefore is and remains the goal and destiny of all men, and progress in sanctification is the task of all Christians.

So in vain do they boast when progress is made in the earthly arts and sciences and in the knowledge of creatures but have retrogressed in the living knowledge of God himself, his Word and will; when one is at home in the mysterious workings of nature but is becoming more and more of a stranger in the realm of the invisible world -- in vain, I say, they boast that such an age is an age of light, enlightenment, and progress; such an age is the rather the darkest age of retrogression into heathenism which deifies nature. In vain do men brag when they have developed their reason but not improved their will, when they have freed themselves from the authority of man but retain their shackles by being slaves of wrath, pride, and vaulting ambition or other sins; in vain, I say, do such who are ruled by their sins brag of being men of freedom and progress; really, they have merely become farther removed from the goal of their true destiny and are men of the most disgraceful and deplorable retrogression.

In vain do even those who are Christians in name suppose to have progressed in their Christianity; they have increased their store of knowledge of the Christian truths, yet in their hearts sin is not crucified more and more, nor has it lost more and more of its power; they have not grown in love toward God and their brethren, in the denial of themselves and the world, in humility and in the heavenly mind, in gentleness and in patience, and in all the other points of sanctification.

That being the case, if you want to know whether you have made progress in your Christianity and have abounded more and more, ask yourself: Which are the sins which formerly showed their power within you and which by God 1 s grace you have conquered more and more? and which are the Christian characteristics and virtues which you lacked in the past and which you by God's grace have acquired?

If you have no answer, then you not only have not made progress in your Christianity, you have not only remained standing, but you have gone backwards; you have then become not stronger but weaker, not better but worse; then indeed it is to be feared that you have completely ceased being a Christian and have lost God 1 s grace. For in God's kingdom there is no standing still but either progress or retrogression, growth or decay, climbing or falling. It is and remains eternally true what St. Paul cries out to us in our text: " This is the will of God, even your sanctification;" and as we read in Hebrews: "Follow holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." Heb 12,14.

II.

This brings us to the second part of our meditation in which I will show you that man's most important strides forward are his strides in sanctification, because not only is this the most necessary, but also the most beneficial kind of progress.

The apostle shows that in our text when to the warning against an unholy life in uncleanness and deceit he adds: "Because that the Lord is the

avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified." V. 6b.

Even at the time of the apostles there were nominal Christians who understood the doctrine of grace and faith to mean that if a person has a sham faith he can live on in all manner of sins, need not fear God's judgment and hell, but could still be saved by his sham faith. Oyer, against them the apostle declares that no one should entertain such a hope, for the Lord is the avenger of all sins which a person allows to rule him. If he does not want to follow after sanctification, his supposed faith will not help him; on the contrary, he will most certainly have to suffer what his deeds deserve.

Hence, let no one think: What does it profit and is it really necessary for a Christian to be especially concerned about a pious life? what does it profit a Christian to watch and pray earnestly? what does it profit a Christian to crucify his flesh with the affections and lusts? what does it profit a Christian to be so concerned about every sin? what does it profit a Christian to be rich in many good works? our strivings will avail us nothing; God is not concerned about our works but only about our faith; before God only Christ's merit and his grace will avail!

Ah, may no one think that way. It is indeed true what Luther writes: Help us, Lord Jesus Christ, for we A Mediator have in Thee;

Our works cannot salvation gain;

They merit but endless pain.

Have mercy, Lord! (287.12)

Even though we can merit nothing in God's sight by our works and sanctification, even though we cannot unlock heaven by them, we can by our evil works merit hell and lock heaven, if we do not follow after sanctification. Yes, woe to him who in a false, fleshly trust upon grace remains in his sins; some day he will see with terror that very much indeed depends upon whether Christians were lazy and unfruitful in their faith, or whether they revealed their faith by earnestly striving to become more and more holy, and, of course not by good works, but in good works have sought eternal life! The former will hear the verdict: You have been weighed upon the scales with your faith, and have been found wanting; depart from me, I never knew you, ye evildoers; and the latter will hear the voice: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Mt 25,21.

Then in spite of their imagined faith the godless will go into eternal torment, but the righteous into eternal life. Then will be seen, as the Prophet Malachi writes, the difference "between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." Mal. 3,18. Then the hypocrites, the sham Christians, and the godless will no longer consider that Christian a fool who was particular about his Christianity; then they will cry cry out as it is written in the Wisdom of Solomon 5,4-7.

But progress in sanctification is the most beneficial kind of progress not only when compared with the manifest godless and non-Christian but also when compared with those Christians who followed after sanctification but were not as zealous and earnest as they should have been.

Holy Scripture teaches that all who die in the faith will be saved by grace, but it also teaches that there are degrees of glory, greater and less, and that these degrees will be determined according to the faithfulness and zeal which Christians showed in the battle of sanctification. For example, St. Paul writes: "Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor."

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1 Cor 3,8b. Again: "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." 2 Cor 9,6. And finally: "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. So is also the resurrection of the dead." 1 Cor 15,41.42

And so the Lord testifies not only to his disciples: "Verily I say unto you, That ye which followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel," Mt 19,28; he also adds: "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Mt 19,29. And in another passage he says: "In my Father's house are many mansions," by which he wants to say, that one will be more glorious than than the other.

So do not think that nothing depends upon the degree of zeal a Christian shows in sanctification just as long as he is a Christian! Oh no; even between Christians there will some day be an immense difference. Each added work of faith, each added work of love, each added trial in patience, each added faithful struggle, each added courageous confession of Christ, every added disgrace and persecution borne for the sake of Christ, in short, every added step in the sanctification of life will also result in a higher degree of blessedness. What God out of grace and mercy has promised as a reward, that he will also fulfil, and will fulfil more gloriously than we suspect. "For God," as we read in Hebrews, "is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name." Heb 6,10.

Oh therefore, how zealous we should all be in the work and struggle of sanctification! How earnestly we should therefore battle against the world, flesh, and Satan; how diligently and unflaggingly we should seek all that which is true, which is honest, which is just, which is pure, which is lovely, which is of good report, and if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise to follow after these things! For everything, everything is a seed which in heaven will bring an eternal harvest. Therefore:

Zion, rise, Zion, rise,

Zion, wake, arise, and shine!

Let thy lamp be brightly burning,

Never let thy love decline,

Forward still with hopeful yearning.

Zion, yonder waits the heavenly prize;

Zion, rise! Zion, rise!

Run thy race, run thy race,

Zion, swiftly run thy race!

Let no languor ever find thee Idle in the marketplace.

Look not to the things behind thee.

Zion, daily strengthened by His grace,

Run thy race, run thy race! (479,1.4) Amen.