“The Distinction between the righteous and the wicked”
If you’ve forgotten that we are living in the Last Days – then the earthquake this past week near Schuyler hopefully shook some sense into you.The signs are all around – wars and rumors of war, earthquakes and famines and pestilence (like cholera).Yes, the day of our Lord’s return draws near – but in these Last Days – we see the same pattern repeat itself over and over again.
What we hear from the prophet Malachi fits hand in glove with our lives today.As it was then, so it is now – that the arrogant are called blessed and the evildoers prosper.So what’s the point of following the Lord?It appears that the smart thing to do is to reject this notion of Christianity and live in whatever manner seems profitable to us.
Into the midst of this spiritual depression and deception comes the Word of the Lord.There IS a distinction between the righteous and the wicked.You don’t see it now – but on the Last Day it will be seen – when Jesus Christ comes again to “judge the living and the dead.”
What you will see is not what you do see right now.And so it was in Malachi’s day.The Lord says:“You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God.What is the profit of our keeping His charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?’”
In other words, “what’s in it for me?”Look around – see how it is in the world – the arrogant are “blessed” – the evildoers “prosper” – and those who test God “escape.”
That’s how it looks in our eyes – that there is no difference between the righteous and the wicked – between those who serve God and those who do not.You can’t look around and tell the difference between the believer and the unbeliever.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ – you are those who “fear the Lord” – and yet, you do not fear, love and trust in God above all things.Just because you believe in Christ, doesn’t mean that there is no wickedness to be found in you – that you are without evil – that you are never arrogant or challenge God.Though you are a saint in Christ Jesus – in these last days – you are, simultaneously, a sinner.
You are like everyone else.You are by nature spiritually dead, blind and an enemy of God.You are not inherently righteous.You have gone astray.And so, if we are going to try to distinguish between people on the basis of who they are by nature – and what they do, or do not do – then we can make no distinction.For all people are the same – all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
And yet, in our text the Lord says that there is a distinction between the righteous and the wicked.So what is this distinction?
What distinguishes you from the wicked is the source of righteousness.Your righteousness does not come from you – it is external to you – outside of you.It is a righteousness that is given to you – from the One who alone is Righteous, Jesus Christ.
So that you may be righteous in God’s eyes, the Son of God came from heaven to earth – He took on your human flesh and blood – and in so doing, He has taken your place under God’s Law.Jesus came to live for you – to do all that the Father commanded you to do – and to refrain from doing all the things that the Father forbids.
This He has done.“It is finished” – for you.Jesus IS righteous in God’s eyes.He is innocent, pure, holy, without sin.
Those who “fear the Lord” do not flaunt their own pseudo-righteousness – but rather, they confess their unworthiness, their unrighteousness – and they trust in Jesus alone for their standing with God.They trust that Jesus stands in for them before the heavenly Father – and that it is because of Jesus that the Father is merciful to them – that all their unrighteous acts are indeed forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.
That is the distinction between the righteous and the wicked – a distinction of faith.It is a distinction between those who live in Christ by faith, and are adorned with the robe of His pure righteousness – and those who live apart from Christ, clothed in their own filthy rags.
And since faith cannot be seen – we cannot see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked.So in these last days, we listen to their confession.Do they look to Christ alone, or do they trust in something else, for their standing with God?
What you cannot see today – will be seen on the Last Day.On that day, you will see who the righteous are, and who the wicked are, in God’s eyes.
For today, and all of the remaining Last Days, we listen to what God says.“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.”
To you, the baptized, living in the turmoil of these days, He gives the Body and Blood of His Son for the forgiveness of all sin – thereby draping you in His righteousness – declaring, “you are mine.”
And on the Last Day, He will raise up all the dead, and give to you and all believers in Christ eternal life – gathering you to Himself, that you may live with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – in glory which knows no end.Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding, guards your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.Amen.
The temple – destroyed?God’s house – His most beautiful house – torn down?Not one stone left upon another?Whoa!Really Lord?When Lord?When will this horrific disaster happen?Can you give us any hints so that we calculate the date?
And then Jesus goes into prophecy mode.Like the prophets of old.He predicts what will soon happen.What will come later.And then finally what will happen on the Last Day.In other words, He speaks of what’s near, what’s further along, and then finally the farthest future, the end, the Last Day.
And the list of prophetic items is quite stunning.He just mentioned the devastation of the temple. “Watch out!” Jesus preaches.“I’m warning you ahead of time.Don’t want you to be caught off guard.There will be false prophets and false Christs.False teachers of God’s Word.All kinds of people pretending and promising to be the little saviors, little redeemers.”
“Watch out!You’ll hear of wars and revolutions.You might think that’s the end.But not quite yet.There’s more to come.More war between the nations and kingdoms.And worldwide disasters.Earthquakes, famines, and epidemic, deadly diseases.Stars will fall from the sky.The heavenly bodies will be shaken!”
“And then get a load of this,” Jesus proclaims.“Before you see all these things look what will happen to you who follow me, the Lamb.The church will suffer!You’ll be hated!Hauled in before the courts.Before kings and presidents.Before the theological experts and big wigs of the day.And will they thank and praise you?Not hardly!They will persecute you!You’ll even be betrayed by the people closest to you – parents, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.And if they get the chance, they’ll kill you – graveyard dead!All because you, my disciples, follow me.Wait!There’s more!Jerusalem will fall to the Roman armies.And toward the very end the world, before I return in glory on the Last Day, the world will be filled with fainting, frenetic anxiety as it moves from one crisis to another.”
Again, Jesus preaches this sermon to warn His disciples and all of us of what will happen.So that you don’t get sucked in to all kinds of false and feverish utopian hopes by all kinds of false prophets and false Christs.“Watch out that you are not deceived,” Jesus says.So that you don’t despair when you see all the panic and terror that is to come upon the earth in all those various forms.So that you cling to the Lord Jesus Christ in the agony of a collapsing world.
In other words, when Haiti-like earthquakes devastate, when economic after economic Great Depression-like crisis hits, when disease after deadly disease ravages, and even when the authorities come after you because you follow the Lamb who was slain, don’t panic.Don’t put your trust in false prophets or pretend Christs of whatever realm:political, economic or religious – that promise a heaven on earth, a classless society, or some other utopian dream if you’ll only given them total obedience.Instead, trust the Lamb – the Lord Jesus Christ.He is the true King.He is the true Savior.
He uses these things for good.Did you notice that? Really!For good!Check it out.When the church suffers oppression, persecution or when her pastors or other faithful members undergo martyrdom, what happens?Jesus will get proclaimed all the more!Jesus says:“All this will result in you being witnesses to those who hate you because of me.”The more the church suffers, the more opportunity for the witness to the Good Friday and Easter Sunday Savior Jesus!
And no need to worry about what to say or how to defend yourself when the church suffers for Jesus’ name.Jesus promises:“Don’t sweat it.I’ll give you the words and the wisdom.I’ll use you as my mouth to speak my Holy Spirit-filled words.And your witness to those that hate you because of My name won’t be able to resist or contradict what you say.After all, what you say will be My words.My wisdom!”
And then another amazing promise from the Lord Jesus.“As all men hate you because of me,” he says, “not one tiny little hair of your head will perish.”
Brothers and sisters, in the midst of a world always on the brink of one disaster after another, a world full of false prophets and wanna be Messiahs, Jesus exhorts you and me “to stand firm” by trusting only in Him.By following only Him.So that in, with, and under Jesus we “gain life.”Life eternal with Him.That’s the greatest good of all that He works and gives in your life.
This life is one that must be endured.With all its troubles in the midst of all its joys.And if we are still alive when Son of Man Jesus comes “in a cloud with power and great glory” on the Last Day, it will be time “to stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
And your redemption is Jesus.Jesus, who died and rose for you.So until that Last Day go ahead, stand up, and lift up your heads.For Jesus, your redeemer, who won you from the sin, death and hell comes with salvation in His hands.His Body.His Blood.With the bread.With the wine.His judgment?All your sin is forgiven.Redemption is yours!Even as the world around you comes crashing down.
Let us pray.Come Lord Jesus.Come in your Word!Come in the Sacrament!Come on the Last Day.And as always come with redemption in your Good Friday hands for all of us gathered here around your throne for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.
The red dragon and his two beasties (one from the earth and the other from the sea) are frauds.They act like little messiahs.Little saviors.Little gods.In John’s day the emperor claimed to be god.And one’s entire existence depended on him.If you would not offer sacrifices and promise total loyalty to the deified emperor, you could lose your job, your family – and maybe even your life.
Have you ever heard of Polycarp?He was a disciple of St. John the Evangelist.He was the bishop of Smyrna.Arrested.The Governor offered to set him free if he would just curse Christ.Bishop Polycarp wouldn’t.“Eighty and six years have I served Christ and He has done nothing but good.How then could I curse Him, my Lord and Savior?”And so he was burned alive.
Ever heard of Ignatius?Another disciple of St. John the Evangelist.He was bishop of Antioch.He too was arrested.The emperor Trajan sentenced Ignatius to death – to be thrown to the wild beasts at Rome.
Economic, political and religious utopians are totalitarians that brook no opposition.Especially from the church.Especially from Christians who bear the mark of God’s holy name on their foreheads.
Want to succeed in the world?Want to enjoy life?Then deny Christ.Curse Christ.Live as if Christ is a nothing.Live outside your Baptism.And the utopian totalitarians won’t harass you or kill you.The red dragon and his two beasties (the political and religious totalitarian powers in every age) form an unholy and evil trinity to deceive and defraud.They promise everything – world transformations – hope and change -- and yet they deliver nothing.They promise life – a life without end -- but they only give death.They promise heaven but their ways of idolatry and immorality lead the inhabitants of the earth (unbelievers) to a hellish end.
Do not compromise.Do not give in.Follow the Lamb – the Lord Jesus Christ.He alone is the Savior.Polycarp and Ignatius followed Good Shepherd Lamb Jesus even when death stared them in the face --even when the temptations of Satan and his little beasties were so enticing and alluring.
And Polycarp and Ignatius are not alone.Millions more have not compromised the faith.Those who follow the Lamb who died for them are an immense crowd.A mega church of enormous proportions.Here the Book of Revelation reveals what is genuine.What matters.What is real.What is permanent.
And here is what is true, genuine and real.“A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” is white robed because they are covered with the Blood of the Lamb.Palm branches in their hands.They’ve come out of the great tribulation of this life in which the red dragon Satan and his two little beasts rage against Christ and His church on the earth.These believers have followed the Lamb to the end.Even if their confession of Jesus cost them their life.And now they rest.
In heaven.“Standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.”Eternally safe.The victory has been won!Good Friday’s Lamb is the Savior.“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”All the angels in heaven join in the praise.A sevenfold praise of:“Amen!” [True!]To our God be the praise and the glory and the wisdom and the thanks and the honor and the power and the strength for ever and ever.Amen!”In other words, if there is any glory it belongs to God.If there is any wisdom is comes from God, ect.Even salvation comes from God and the Lamb Jesus who gave His life into death as the only atoning sacrifice for the salvation of sinners!This is true.This is genuine.The sevenfold doxology of praise means completeness!I.E.All there is belongs to God and to the Lamb.The economic, political and religious utopians are frauds.Fakes.Antichrists!
Satan and his beasties will oppress and persecute the church and those who follow the Lamb.Such tribulation comes through oppression and injustice of all kinds: political, social, economic and religious.All to tempt you to forsake Jesus.To compromise.To call it quits.To stop following the Lamb.
But Lamb Jesus has won the victory!Salvation belongs to Him.He won it!That’s Calvary.And it’s all for you.And for all those loved ones and friends who believed in the Lamb and followed Him too.Faithful until the end.
And now they rest.They too are part of this worship that is described here in the Book of Revelation with all the angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven.All the sin and all the consequences of sin in this world are no more in heaven.No more hunger.No more thirst.No more cancer causing ultra violet rays from the sun.No more tears.No more death.Only life. “For the Lamb at the center of the throne is their shepherd.”He is the living water that grants eternal life to those that believe in Him.
Jesus is the real deal.He wins and delivers salvation.He uses the troubles and heartaches of this world to strengthen our faith in Him.Do not despair.Heaven is yours.Death is changed.Death is now the doorway to heaven.
And today in the Lord’s Supper the Lamb gives you a foretaste of that heavenly feast to come.He spreads His tent over you right now.You too, at the Sacrament, are before His throne.And He reigns right here and now – for you.With His Body.With His Blood.And the Lamb promises that all your sin is forgiven and that eternal life is yours.What is there left to say?How about this?
“Salvation belongs to our God … and to the Lamb … To our God be the praise and the glory and the wisdom and the thanks and the honor and the power and the strength for ever and ever.Amen!”
Someone comes along and presents you with a gift.Totally unexpected.Completely surprised.And what is the usual response?“You shouldn’t have!No, really, you really shouldn’t have!”
Strange isn’t it?How we try to protect ourselves from gifts.
And then even stranger still after receiving the gift we come up with all kinds of reasons that justifies why we should receive it.“I’ve really been doing my best.”Or, “I really am quite handsome.”Or, “I really am better than everyone else.”
And then it gets even stranger.You give me a gift and then I’ve got to pay you back.You give me a gift and then I’m under an obligation to give you an even better gift in return.
Many times the husband splashes around loads of cash, flowers, candy, dinner, and jewelry.But he’s really not gift minded.He expects something in return.
What I’ve just described really isn’t really that strange.It’s precisely how we operate on a day-to-day basis.With people.And … with God!Something for something.This for that.Keeping score.Doing measurements.That’s the way of justice.It is the way of the Law.
But the Epistle from Romans speaks of something else today:the Gospel.The good news that Jesus Christ is the-atoning-sacrifice-for-all-sin-gift from God.“God presented him [Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement.”
In John 8 Jesus has been preaching that Gospel.And the lodestar of the Gospel is this:Christ’s Good Fridaying the world by His lifted up on the cross death!As He’s been preaching this good news many have believed in Him.Good Friday Sheer Gift Jesus!For the salvation of the world!
And yet there are those then and those today who say:“Oh, you shouldn’t have.Really, you shouldn’t have!”Good Friday Gift of Salvation Jesus stands right before our very eyes – overwhelming Gift – and they/we just can’t take it!
We who believe in Jesus often times have our faith tested by Jesus.Sometimes by His gift giving!The test today is in receiving gifts … or refusing them … from Jesus.
Listen to what happens.Good Friday Gift of Salvation Jesus is refused. “We are descendants of Abraham.We’ve never been enslaved to anyone.And yet you Jesus tell us that you have come to set us free?”Today the justification of the self goes like this:“We are descendants of Lutherans.We’ve jumped through the hoops.Got our kids baptized and confirmed.Done our duty.Now leave us alone.We’re not slaves to anyone.I’m my own person.”
Diminishing Good Friday Gift of Salvation Jesus.Cut down to size the overwhelming and enormous gift standing before our very eyes.
Jesus cuts right to the heart of the matter:“Truly, truly I say to you.Whoever sins is a slave to sin.”Sin is John’s Gospel is unbelief – THE REFUSAL TO BE GIVEN TO!To deny God as the categorical Giver and turn Him into a payroll God.If you not a sinner, you’re not enslaved.And therefore you don’t need … to believe in Jesus or receive gifts from Him.This is how unbelief talks:“Jesus, You shouldn’t have.Really, I mean it, you shouldn’t have!”
But Jesus interrupts our lives and insists on given gifts.Turning us from the unbelief of slavery to sin to the freedom of faith and living in the house as a son.He gives Himself into death.For your salvation.He justifies the ungodly.While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.
And so we are given the hear Christ’s word.To abide and remain in Christ’s Word.For through His Word He provides gifts.Sheer gifts.His word diagnoses that we are sinners.Enslaved to it.Can’t get ourselves out from underneath it.Totally helpless.Unable to save ourselves.
But then Jesus comes along to speak another Word.And it’s good news.Gospel.You are died for!He shed His blood for you!For the forgiveness of your sins.“Continue in My Word,” Jesus says.
He promises that you are forgiven . . . saved … redeemed!“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”“My Body.My Blood.The new testament of forgiveness – for you.”
Such a Word of forgiveness sets you free.Free from the relentless task to trying to pay God back and put Him under an obligation.Free to receive all that Jesus did on the cross.And even more from Him in His Word preached and His Word hooked to water, bread and wine.How then does faith talk?“Thank you Jesus.”
Can you trust what Jesus says and gives through His Word?This is today’s test.And the answer is:“Of course!”All becauseJesus gives Himself completely to us.Totally.He withholds nothing from you as He dishes out all the benefits of His Good Friday dying for you in His Word.Faith never says:“Oh, your shouldn’t have.”Faith simply says:“Jesus I believe.Give me more.You are everything.I am nothing.I’m totally dependent on You.”
And that’s why Jesus says:“Continue in My Word.That’s what my disciples are all about.And you’ll know the truth.The truth that your are a forgiven sinner because of Me.And that truth sets you free.Free from always trying to save yourselves.Free to relish and enjoy My Good Friday and all My Good Friday benefits.”
Two men are in church.And the differences between the two couldn’t be any more glaring.
One, a certain Mr. Philip Pharisee, let’s call him, is a winner! What an outstanding citizen!We’d roll out the red carpet for Mr. Philip Pharisee.We’d accept him as a member here at Trinity in a heartbeat.No questions asked.
Philip Pharisee is squeaky clean.He doesn’t sleep around, wouldn’t take candy from a baby, earned everything he has honestly, faithful to his wife, children and buddies.And to top it all off Philip Pharisee is very religious.He takes his religion seriously.Can’t call him a hypocrite.He goes without food twice a week.He puts his money where he mouth is:a ten percent tithe right off the top to God.And while at church he gives thanks to God for his life:“God, I thank you that I am not like others are, greedy, unjust, adulterers – and I especially give you thanks that I’m not like that deadbeat over there!”
And that deadbeat over there is, let’s call him, Tax Collector Harry.What a loser!A traitor!A crook!He works for the hated Roman occupiers.Harry bleeds his fellow Jews dry by overcharging them on their taxes.He skims the cream off their milk money and pockets it.He’s become quite a fat cat.A big time broker.And a morally corrupt one at that.Tax Collector Harry pulls off one Eliot Spitzer after another.Call girls galore at his beck and whim!Why, we’d show Harry the door wouldn’t we? Even as Harry was prays:“Lord be merciful to me a sinner.”“Ushers!”
But not Jesus.He’s come for all.Both Philip the Pharisee and Tax Collector Harry are losers.Both are sinners.And so are you and I.But only Harry goes home “justified” before God.
Why?Because Harry confesses the truth about himself and about the Lord.He’s a sinner.A dead, damned sinner.Who has nothing to offer in the salvation job.He’s nothing.But the Lord Jesus is everything for him.Mercifully everything!“Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.”Tax Collector Sinner Harry’s only hope is in the Lord Jesus who raises the dead!Who justifies the ungodly.Who dies while sinners are still in their sin.Even him – a horrible sinner.
Philip the Pharisee, however, pulls up his chair to God’s table, whips out a pack of cards, accordion shuffles, and says: “Want to cut?I’m in the middle of a winning streak!How about Acey-Ducy?”And then Philip the Pharisee deals God a two of fasting and a king of no adultery.See what I’ve done!And especially what I haven’t done!
But the Lord won’t play that game.He’s into giving gifts.Especially the gift of salvation won at the cross for sinners.Philip the Pharisee would be better off standing with Tax Collector Harry who lost his deck of cards a long time ago.In other words:“Die Philip!Die to everything that you would offer as a winning hand in a game of salvation!”But he won’t.Won’t confess that he’s a sinner.Insists on dealing himself a winning hand and therefore putting the Lord Jesus under an obligation.And so, Jesus is irrelevant for him.Jesus, crucified and risen is a nothing for him.
What about you?What about me?Well, it’s time for all of us to repent.Time to confess the truth about ourselves.And about Jesus.We are sinners.Totally.Total sinners that deserve a total damnation.The complete wrath of God.
But Jesus is the Savior.Totally!He is all Lord.He took every single one our sins.Shed His blood on the cross to atone for them all!He endured God’s wrath against our sin in His body.He took our damnation as He hung suspended on the tree.He did all this for you.For me.
Jesus is everything when it comes to salvation.We are nothing.And so we pray:“Lord Jesus, be merciful to me a sinner.”
And Jesus answers the prayer with His promises.“I’m delighted with you!I died for you!I’m the only ticket when it comes to salvation.I baptized you into My death and resurrection.My Good Friday death is yours.It counts for you.My resurrection proves that I don’t keep score with your sin.All is all forgiven.I’ve torn up all the sin score sheets.I don’t do that kind of bookkeeping.Gone out of that business.And if that isn’t enough, then here – here’s my very Body and Blood that I gave into death for your salvation.Eat it.Drink it.You truly are forgiven.So go on home.You’re justified before God.I promise!”
