Greetings in the Name of Christ Jesus our
Lord! This morning let's consider yesterday's Epistle lesson, 2
Corinthians 6:1-13, and in particular 8b-10, which reads, "We are
treated as imposters, yet are true; as unknown, yet well known; as
dying; and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as
having nothing, yet possessing everything."
What do you see when you see a Christian? What do you see when you look at yourself, in fact? St. Paul here drives to the heart of what faith in Jesus "looks" like... and what it really is. As Christians, we go beyond merely what the world sees - we trust what God has said, knowing it to be true. And this contrast shows up all over the place in the Scriptures, this is Isaiah 53 and Good Friday - the world see in Jesus' crucifixion the death of a haggard fellow, but by God's Word and Spirit we know it is God's own sacrifice for us and our victory.
What do you see when you see a Christian? What do you see when you look at yourself, in fact? St. Paul here drives to the heart of what faith in Jesus "looks" like... and what it really is. As Christians, we go beyond merely what the world sees - we trust what God has said, knowing it to be true. And this contrast shows up all over the place in the Scriptures, this is Isaiah 53 and Good Friday - the world see in Jesus' crucifixion the death of a haggard fellow, but by God's Word and Spirit we know it is God's own sacrifice for us and our victory.
Just as the world out there didn't understand Jesus, they don't understand the Christian life, they don't understand you.
Are
you treated as an imposter - that is, someone who isn't really ________
- isn't really a part of this clique, or family, or group, or social
club? Do you not fit the (often wicked) standards of society? So be it
- you are of the family of God, the royal priesthood, heirs of the
Kingdom. Or, in other words, "true".
Are
you treated as an unknown, a nobody? Someone of less than importance,
not worth taking note of? So be it - before the world was created
Christ Jesus determined to come down from heaven and win you salvation
by Name, calling you in the waters of Holy Baptism. That's pretty well
known.
Are
you dying? Is your own body falling apart? So be it - behold, you
live in Christ, and even if you die, yet you will rise and live forever.
Are
you punished? Legally, socially, at work, at school? Are you sins
always tossed out at you again and again? So be it - you are not killed
for them, for Christ Jesus took up your death for these things. He has
borne your punishment - and for you who is in Christ Jesus there is no
more condemnation.
Are
you sorrowful? Often there's enough reason to be sorrowful in this
life. Yet the truth is this - you are redeemed by Christ, and He shall
wipe away every tear from your eyes. Sometimes we see this now,
sometimes we forget - but it is true.
Are
you poor? Are you not as successful as you would wish, do you lack?
So be it - but even if of silver and gold you have but little, you
possess the life giving Word of God, the Gospel of Christ Jesus, which
makes people heirs of eternal life -- not only are you rich, you have
eternal riches to share with others!
Are
you, finally, having nothing? Are you in fact, nothing? Do you amount
to nothing in the world's book? So be it. Christ Jesus has died for
you, He has risen for you. He has take away your sin, and in return He
has given to you all that He is, His love, His righteousness, His
holiness, His mercy -- I could go on and on. All of it, yours. In Him,
you possess everything.
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