Choral Evensong Sermon 15th June 2008
Our Associate Vicar, John Itumu, preached:
United in Christ
Romans 5:1-8
Therefore…
We have been justified through faith…
We have peace with God…
We have gained access into this grace in which we now stand…
We boast/rejoice in hope of the glory of God…
We rejoice in our sufferings…
Christ died for us…
These are magnificent statements of faith which the apostle Paul wrote to express solidarity with the church in Rome; the new community of faith who had begun to identify themselves with the Messiah Jesus. A thriving church had started up in Rome – possibly from the Jewish Christians that returned from Jerusalem after Pentecost. Acts 2:10
It is thought that Paul most likely wrote this letter while at Corinth Acts 2:20 during the three months he spent there before sailing east. He longed to visit Spain; and Rome seemed a suitable stop over en route. In fact he asks if they will assist him in his onward journey. This letter however, which has often been described as the fullest and grandest statement of the gospel in the New Testament has another agenda. There was a problem with the church in Rome.
The church consisted of both Gentiles and Jews – a typical urban mixed community church, a bit like what we have in London churches. This had brought considerable conflict between the two groups. Jewish Christians who lived in Rome regarded Christianity as a part of Judaism – and all the cultural stuff that went with it – the food laws etc and notably circumcision. They required all who wished to convert to Christianity to be circumcised and observe the Jewish law in full. Acts 15:1
Gentile Christians on the other hand believed they didn’t need Jewish ritual and culture to become Christians; and they were proud to be champions of a law free gospel. They had no time for Jews. Jewish Christians on the other hand were proud of their Jewish status and heritage. After all Christ had been a Jew…
So here are two opposing sides, and Paul is saying to them oh no guys… stop! Please stop! You have got it all wrong!
In Paul’s view both camps needed to be humbled. Both were drifting away from the heart of the gospel. Paul was fully qualified to rise to this occasion being himself a Jew who had already declared that his privileged Jewish status; being circumcised, being of the tribe of Benjamin, being an educated Pharisee – all this was nothing compared to his new relationship with Jesus. And what was more, God had specially commissioned as the apostle to the Gentiles.
And Paul helps them to remember what it really means to be called a Christian. You could call it going back to basics. It is very easy to clothe the gospel – the good news of Jesus with lots of ornaments and rituals and style which are not unhelpful in themselves but which can easily become the objects of our worship. We often do so with very noble intentions. I think it is the single most important cause of denominational splits. That is why it is often necessary to go back to these basics and be reminded what it is all about. And Paul uses the word “we” repeatedly; he is saying to them we are in this together. If you consider yourself followers of Christ then there is something beyond your Jewishness and Gentileness.
And he begins…
We have been justified through faith. Did you know that Christianity is very unique. There is no other system, or ideology, or even religion that proclaims free forgiveness and a new life to those who have done nothing to deserve it; instead deserving judgement. All other religions teach some form of self-salvation through good works of religion, righteousness or philanthropy.
Christianity is furthest from all these in that it is the good news that God’s amazing grace has turned away his wrath, his anger, that God’s Son has died our death and borne our judgement, that God has shown mercy to the undeserving. The result of all this is that, there is nothing left for us to do, or even contribute. The deal has been sealed. God has done it for us. What remains is our part of the deal which is this - to receive what God has offered.
And this is where faith comes in; only through faith can we begin to accept this unique offer from God. It is called God’s grace; the free, unmerited favour from God, his undeserved, unsolicited and unconditional love. That is what God has offered. In a famous scholar’s words, the only function of faith is to receive what grace offers.
You know, there are two alternative responses to the promises of God; unbelief or faith. The former (unbelief) is often easier to exercise. It is the way we are wired up. The latter, faith, is more difficult because it involves letting God be God; letting him be supreme in all ways and in all things. It is counter-cultural, often radical and even popular. But it is the foundation of the Christian faith. It is no wonder Christianity has never been a popular movement – I mean the raw, plain, uncomplicated following of the teaching of Jesus Christ. It has never been, never will be popular. Many of Paul’s contemporaries died very horrific deaths because of their faith. Many brothers and sisters in our world continue to die for this simple gospel faith. That is why faith is the less preferred response option for the promises of God.
It is this faith that Abraham exercised. As he pondered over his old age and his wife’s barrenness, the promises of a son from God must have baffled him. Barrenness and old age are the perfect conditions for childlessness. Abraham did not however lose sight of the one who had promised – he considered him faithful. Why? Abraham knew that God could keep that promise because of his power and he would do so because of his faithfulness. That is the faithfulness that confronts all who seek God through Christ. Indeed, faith’s only function is to receive what grace offers.
So Paul reminds them and us tonight we have been justified through faith, but have you really? Have you made this choice? You see the value of faith is not found in itself. Faith in this sense is only found entirely and exclusively in the person of Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified and rose again from death. There is no middle negotiating ground, and this calls for a hard choice to be made. We are obliged to choose.
It is for this reason Paul reminds this bunch of Christians in a conflict to shed off all their cultural and religious preferences – the ammunition they have increasingly accumulated to fight each other. he reminds them; if they have indeed been justified by faith in Jesus Christ – the Jesus that Paul knows – if this is the person they claim to believe in – and if this means anything to them – then they have no choice but to unite. How powerful!
What is more, peace with God, the reconciled relationship with God is the first product, the blessing of justification. We are made one with the Prince of Peace. We also enter into a sphere of God’s grace – the free, unmerited, unsolicited, unconditional favour and love of God. We are also ushered in to a joyful, confident and expectant hope that lies on the promises of God – not like the ordinary and uncertain hope about the weather and our health.
The glory of God is our hope – the hope that has been made manifest in Jesus Christ. It is this same hope that gives us an insightful understanding in our sufferings. You see our sufferings should not fuel our doubt of God’s love, as they often do. In Paul’s words later (8:17) we are co-heirs in Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
If our hope rests in the love of God, who gave himself for us through his Son, suffered and died on a cross for us, then suffering is the best context in which to become assured of God’s love. This is a perspective we continually need to rediscover. His love will never betray us, ever. And so friends, our Christian hope rests on an unshakeable foundation of the unending love of God. My prayer is that we would be willing to receive more and more of it. Amen.
United in Christ
Romans 5:1-8
Therefore…
We have been justified through faith…
We have peace with God…
We have gained access into this grace in which we now stand…
We boast/rejoice in hope of the glory of God…
We rejoice in our sufferings…
Christ died for us…
These are magnificent statements of faith which the apostle Paul wrote to express solidarity with the church in Rome; the new community of faith who had begun to identify themselves with the Messiah Jesus. A thriving church had started up in Rome – possibly from the Jewish Christians that returned from Jerusalem after Pentecost. Acts 2:10
It is thought that Paul most likely wrote this letter while at Corinth Acts 2:20 during the three months he spent there before sailing east. He longed to visit Spain; and Rome seemed a suitable stop over en route. In fact he asks if they will assist him in his onward journey. This letter however, which has often been described as the fullest and grandest statement of the gospel in the New Testament has another agenda. There was a problem with the church in Rome.
The church consisted of both Gentiles and Jews – a typical urban mixed community church, a bit like what we have in London churches. This had brought considerable conflict between the two groups. Jewish Christians who lived in Rome regarded Christianity as a part of Judaism – and all the cultural stuff that went with it – the food laws etc and notably circumcision. They required all who wished to convert to Christianity to be circumcised and observe the Jewish law in full. Acts 15:1
Gentile Christians on the other hand believed they didn’t need Jewish ritual and culture to become Christians; and they were proud to be champions of a law free gospel. They had no time for Jews. Jewish Christians on the other hand were proud of their Jewish status and heritage. After all Christ had been a Jew…
So here are two opposing sides, and Paul is saying to them oh no guys… stop! Please stop! You have got it all wrong!
In Paul’s view both camps needed to be humbled. Both were drifting away from the heart of the gospel. Paul was fully qualified to rise to this occasion being himself a Jew who had already declared that his privileged Jewish status; being circumcised, being of the tribe of Benjamin, being an educated Pharisee – all this was nothing compared to his new relationship with Jesus. And what was more, God had specially commissioned as the apostle to the Gentiles.
And Paul helps them to remember what it really means to be called a Christian. You could call it going back to basics. It is very easy to clothe the gospel – the good news of Jesus with lots of ornaments and rituals and style which are not unhelpful in themselves but which can easily become the objects of our worship. We often do so with very noble intentions. I think it is the single most important cause of denominational splits. That is why it is often necessary to go back to these basics and be reminded what it is all about. And Paul uses the word “we” repeatedly; he is saying to them we are in this together. If you consider yourself followers of Christ then there is something beyond your Jewishness and Gentileness.
And he begins…
We have been justified through faith. Did you know that Christianity is very unique. There is no other system, or ideology, or even religion that proclaims free forgiveness and a new life to those who have done nothing to deserve it; instead deserving judgement. All other religions teach some form of self-salvation through good works of religion, righteousness or philanthropy.
Christianity is furthest from all these in that it is the good news that God’s amazing grace has turned away his wrath, his anger, that God’s Son has died our death and borne our judgement, that God has shown mercy to the undeserving. The result of all this is that, there is nothing left for us to do, or even contribute. The deal has been sealed. God has done it for us. What remains is our part of the deal which is this - to receive what God has offered.
And this is where faith comes in; only through faith can we begin to accept this unique offer from God. It is called God’s grace; the free, unmerited favour from God, his undeserved, unsolicited and unconditional love. That is what God has offered. In a famous scholar’s words, the only function of faith is to receive what grace offers.
You know, there are two alternative responses to the promises of God; unbelief or faith. The former (unbelief) is often easier to exercise. It is the way we are wired up. The latter, faith, is more difficult because it involves letting God be God; letting him be supreme in all ways and in all things. It is counter-cultural, often radical and even popular. But it is the foundation of the Christian faith. It is no wonder Christianity has never been a popular movement – I mean the raw, plain, uncomplicated following of the teaching of Jesus Christ. It has never been, never will be popular. Many of Paul’s contemporaries died very horrific deaths because of their faith. Many brothers and sisters in our world continue to die for this simple gospel faith. That is why faith is the less preferred response option for the promises of God.
It is this faith that Abraham exercised. As he pondered over his old age and his wife’s barrenness, the promises of a son from God must have baffled him. Barrenness and old age are the perfect conditions for childlessness. Abraham did not however lose sight of the one who had promised – he considered him faithful. Why? Abraham knew that God could keep that promise because of his power and he would do so because of his faithfulness. That is the faithfulness that confronts all who seek God through Christ. Indeed, faith’s only function is to receive what grace offers.
So Paul reminds them and us tonight we have been justified through faith, but have you really? Have you made this choice? You see the value of faith is not found in itself. Faith in this sense is only found entirely and exclusively in the person of Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified and rose again from death. There is no middle negotiating ground, and this calls for a hard choice to be made. We are obliged to choose.
It is for this reason Paul reminds this bunch of Christians in a conflict to shed off all their cultural and religious preferences – the ammunition they have increasingly accumulated to fight each other. he reminds them; if they have indeed been justified by faith in Jesus Christ – the Jesus that Paul knows – if this is the person they claim to believe in – and if this means anything to them – then they have no choice but to unite. How powerful!
What is more, peace with God, the reconciled relationship with God is the first product, the blessing of justification. We are made one with the Prince of Peace. We also enter into a sphere of God’s grace – the free, unmerited, unsolicited, unconditional favour and love of God. We are also ushered in to a joyful, confident and expectant hope that lies on the promises of God – not like the ordinary and uncertain hope about the weather and our health.
The glory of God is our hope – the hope that has been made manifest in Jesus Christ. It is this same hope that gives us an insightful understanding in our sufferings. You see our sufferings should not fuel our doubt of God’s love, as they often do. In Paul’s words later (8:17) we are co-heirs in Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
If our hope rests in the love of God, who gave himself for us through his Son, suffered and died on a cross for us, then suffering is the best context in which to become assured of God’s love. This is a perspective we continually need to rediscover. His love will never betray us, ever. And so friends, our Christian hope rests on an unshakeable foundation of the unending love of God. My prayer is that we would be willing to receive more and more of it. Amen.
posted by Parish Administrator at 10:06 pm
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