When I worked on a thoroughbred ranch in northern Japan, I knew which horses I needed to take extra care of simply by looking at the placards that hung above each of the horse’s stalls. These placards recorded equine bloodlines. Mr. Wimpy might not sound like a promising racer but if he was descended from a champion like Sea Biscuit, he had great potential, and therefore was worth much money.
Although people don’t walk around with placards hanging around their necks advertising their bloodlines, we are proud of our heritage, aren’t we? I’ve heard those from Holland say, “If you’re not Dutch, you’re not much.” Those of German heritage often boast of their forefathers’ ingenuity and reputation for hard work. While those of Italian descent will argue loudly, often with exaggerated hand gestures that Nonna’s homemade tomato sauce is the best in the world. One people with a particular reputation for is the Jewish race. The Apostle Paul in our sermon text today agrees that the Jews have much to be proud of as God’s chosen people. However, he reminds us that one’s bloodline does not determine one’s standing with God. Just because you were born a Jew doesn’t mean that you’ll automatically go to heaven. In the same way just because your parents and grandparents are Christians doesn’t mean that you or your children automatically qualify for heaven either. You know this truth but the Holy Spirit thinks it’s important enough for us to ponder again as he urges us to cherish our spiritual heritage by remembering that it’s only ours through faith, and that it’s only ours by grace.
Paul begins our text in great distress. He said: “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel” (Romans 9:2-4a). Parents of sick children would willingly trade places with their kids if they could. It’s easier to be sick than to watch a loved one suffer. Paul thought the same thing in regard to his fellow Jews. Only they were suffering from something much worse than the flu. Many of them had rejected Jesus as their Savior and so were bound for hell. Paul couldn’t stand the thought of this and would have gladly traded places with them if he could. Of course that was impossible because, like a drowning swimmer, Paul himself needed rescuing from his own sins and was in no position to offer assistance to anyone else.
So did the other Jews not know what Paul did about their rescuer Jesus? How could they not know about the Messiah? Paul said of the Jews: “Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all” (Romans 9:4b, 5a). To the Israelites had been given the Old Testament laws that served as a faint outline of what Jesus would come to do to save the world from sin. Imagine watching Star Wars previews for fifteen hundred years and not knowing, or rather, not believing that Luke Skywalker is the good guy.
The reason many Jews rejected Jesus as their savior is because they didn’t think they needed a savior. After all, weren’t they already God’s chosen people? A high school student who receives a university scholarship shouldn’t think that he has already become a doctor or a lawyer. The scholarship only entitles him to study to become one of those things. In the same way, when God chose the Jews as his special people it didn’t mean that they were automatically bound for heaven. It simply meant that they would be given all the information they needed for salvation.
Similarly do we think that because we regularly set foot in St. Peter Lutheran Church that we already have one foot in heaven’s door? If so, Paul warns: “For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring” (Romans 9:6b-8). Salvation is ours only through faith in Jesus’ promise of forgiveness, not by virtue of birth or church membership.
But what exactly does it mean to have faith in Jesus? It means putting your trust in him for salvation and for every aspect of your life even though that doesn’t seem wise. Perhaps I could compare it to a ship that was on the St. Lawrence River when a heavy fog enveloped it on all sides, completely concealing the shores and all objects from the view of the passengers. Much to their amazement, the ship continued at full speed. They became frightened considering such speed as extremely reckless on the part of the captain. Finally, one of the passengers expressed concerns to one of the crew demanding that the ship be slowed down. The mate listened and then replied with a smile: “Oh don’t be afraid. The fog extends only a short way above the water. The captain is at the masthead and is above the fog safely directing the vessel.”
Did the concerned passengers believe the crew member and sit back to enjoy the ride? Or did some of them jump ship thinking they had a better chance of making it to their destination by swimming? Don’t we do something similar when we disregard God’s promises and take matters into our own hands? Instead of trusting that God will provide for us we cut corners at work and cheat our employer, or we cheat God out of his firstfruits and keep this for ourselves. We excuse these sins by saying, “Well, at least I still go to church. That counts for something doesn’t it?” Not really. Not if you think that by coming here you are earning favor with God. Friends, we are not saved by church membership or even by church attendance. We are saved through faith in Jesus who died to take away our sins and who now lives to rule the world for our benefit.
It’s easy to listen to a sermon like this and say, “I know all this about faith and Jesus. Why is it so hard for others to believe the obvious?” Could it be that we have begun to think that our faith is the fruit of our intelligence? No, we have faith in Jesus, not because we are smarter than others, but because in his undeserved love, God gave us this faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). In that way we’re no different than the Israelites. What had they done to deserve God choosing them as his special people? Nothing! In fact they had done everything to prove to God why he should pick someone else. Think of how quickly they grumbled and complained after God rescued them from Egypt. And consider how eager they had been to worship an image of a golden calf after promising to obey God alone. It was only because of grace that God chose the Israelites and not the mighty Egyptians or relatives of the Israelites like the Moabites or Ammonites to be his chosen people. And it’s only by grace that he chose to give you and me faith. Don’t squander this gift of grace but share it with those who weren’t born into families like yours that cherish Jesus. Share it even with those who don’t share your ethnic heritage.
No, it’s not bad to be proud of your ethnic heritage. Go ahead, make those perogies. Dress in lederhosen every now and then. But don’t forget the wonderful spiritual heritage you have. Thank the Lord for giving you parents and friends who cared enough to tell you about Jesus. Thank the Lord for being part of a synod that continues to value his Word. But don’t take these blessings for granted. These blessings are only ours by grace, for we deserve the opposite: abandonment by God. And these blessings are only enjoyed through continual faith in Jesus – not by virtue of your church membership. Cherish this spiritual heritage for it will define your eternal future. Amen.
