Not a human message
Gal. 1:11-24
June 10th
† In Jesus Name †
This purpose of this message, like all sermons, like the letters and books of the Bible – exists for one purpose – to assure you that the grace, mercy and peace of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, is given to all in faith! AMEN!
The simple hymn we just sang, is over 140 years old. For 140 years, these lyrics, originally penned into a novel, have been sung by children with huge smiles on their faces. By elder statesman, often nostalgically wishing for days of yore. By grandparents with their grandkids. Even by college and seminary professors sing it.
Jesus Loves Me, this I know… for the Bible tells me so…
Perhaps it is because it is so simple of a message, it has become so beloved. Perhaps despite its simplicity, for the truth this message tells, is majestic and glorious. It is a message we can rejoice in, for it is personal, and full of the gospel.
It is the gospel message that is the central focus of our reading in Galatians the morning. There is no message more life-changing, yet many humans who would change, or assist others in “changing” their lives, or their behaviors, overlook it as well. The changes it causes, does not make people stronger in their own right, but realize their own weakness. There is no message more powerful, yet overlooked by humans seeking power.
It is the message of life, the message of salvation, the message of healing, the message of Hope. It tells us that the grace and mercy of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, is ours. It is the message, the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, for you and I.
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…
The Human Message
As we begin to look at Paul’s message today, we see Paul making a point – that this message, this gospel he proclaimed, was not the message of men. It is the message from God, which revealed to Paul, Jesus Christ.
In this entire letter, including the section we hear today, Paul is dealing with the difference between the divine message of the gospel, and human “gospels”. He would deal with this issue most of his ministry, as people would try and impose man-made laws, rules and standards upon people, and then judge them by them.
Paul was well acquainted with such, for he himself was as close to being a master practitioner of this, as anyone in history. He discusses that a little, in this passage,
13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers
In other passages, we find Paul indicating that he was trained up by a rabbinical master, and not just anyone, but Gamaliel, whose works today are still the standard for training rabbi’s. He was given a great task, one well suited for a zealous, brilliant mind. Defend the rabbinical law, persecute those who would set it aside, to follow that pesky prophet from Galilee, who was crucified, but who disciples claim returned from the dead.
You see, the religion, this other gospel Paul was trained in, was not about a relationship with God. For over 700 years, since the destruction of the temple, God had not lived among His people, though he sent them prophets a plenty. The religion of Israel moved from one of walking in God’s presence, to trying to prove to God, that the Jewish nation was good enough that He could return. They turned the law of God, into a god itself. For this god of theirs, they invented their own law, one which tried to modify behavior – to make people holy, through fear of being judged by the very Law they interpreted.
Does not the world do the same today? Do they not judge the church based on their expectations of us? That person isn’t a “good” Christian because they don’t do this, or, oh my gosh, they do “that”. That one over there… they aren’t good because it is evident if they were…God would have blessed them, rather than allow them to suffer! We could go on and on about such hypocrisy, but wait, then we would be as bad as them!
The Message Reveals
Something happens to Paul, that allows him to shed the false message of his ancestors traditions. He encounters Jesus, fully revealed to him. I wish that each of us could have the encounter, our own visions on the road to Damascus. In a way we have.
Christ revealed himself to Paul, he called him to faith, to trust in Jesus and his work on the cross, where Jesus body was sacrificed, and His precious blood shed, for Paul. That which Paul had persecuted, the people called together by God, Paul was made part of now.
Not because Paul did all the right things, for he would be the first to recognize that he didn’t. He called himself the chief of sinners. But because of a simple message of the gospel. A gospel message, that is not of man’s creation, but is directly from God, delivered in the love that drove Jesus to the cross.
Jesus love Paul. As Paul will spend time in Arabia, and then in working alongside Peter, then in a church in Antioch, then finally as a missionary, Paul will realize, the Old Testament always promised this, even if he didn’t see it!
Luther once wrote, that the promise of Jesus is found on every page of the Bible. I once thought that was a bit of an exaggeration. The more I read, and meditate, and study scripture, the more I see Christ revealed to us. His love, His grace, His sacrifice.
No longer is the reason to read scripture a command and a burden. As Christ is revealed to us, the hunger to see that even more clearly in scripture grows. To see others encounter Him in their baptism, and to encounter Him and His love in the Lord’s Supper, grows as well!
Nothing seems so, right, so satisfyingly right, as to see God’s word take hold of someone, as Christ is revealed, and to see faith grow in them. That is our call, as well.
The Message blossoms..gloriously…
Listen to how the church at large reacts,
22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God because of me.
Paul went from persecuting those who trusted in Christ, to proclaiming that trust, that faith in Christ for salvation, and sanctification. He was sent to us, the gentiles, to share that incredible message.
What a glorious change, what a blessing for us!
To know the true gospel, to understand that really basic fact, that Jesus loves us.
Again, look at the last verse of the sermon hymn,
Jesus LOVES ME. He who died, heaven’s gates to open wide!
He washed away my sin, and let’s us, His little children come in!
Yes Jesus loves me!
And you,
And the apostle Paul
And those people, we are sent to, even as Paul was sent to the gentiles.
To proclaim God’s grace, mercy and peace. The grace, mercy and peace which passes all understanding, but guards our hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.
