Sermon 11th October 2009
Today, our Vicar, Rev’d Cameron Barker preaches based on the reading from Romans 5:1-11
It only happened a few times – but that was partly what made it so special. It was definitely a spur-of-the-moment thing. Back in my teenage student days, as pub-closing time approached, a few of us would realise that we hadn't put the world to rights quite yet. Someone would then make the suggestion, and the hardy ones would pile into cars. We'd head into the night, through those hilly passes leading out of Grahamstown, down toward the east coast.
Some 60 miles away lay the sleeping hamlet of Kenton-on-Sea. On the deserted beach we'd claim a patch of sand, gather driftwood for a fire, and pass the wine around it. Discussion continued through the night, but had usually faded before that moment. We'd stand then, in awed silence, as the sun rose with African suddenness over the Indian Ocean. This http://www.tankedup-imaging.com/images/sunrise.jpg doesn't do it justice, of course: no picture ever could. But in a matter of minutes it went from pitch black to shining bright. What we could then see was the glory and splendour, stretching for miles and miles. Sea, sky and mountains illuminated in a most majestic sight.
As I say, those were very special times, just to witness that scene. I would say, “if you've never done anything like it yourself, then be sure that you do one day”. But, in one way at least, you won't need to after today. You see, what we've just heard from Paul is the equivalent of my African sunrise. The light's shining bright now, illuminating the glory and splendour of the landscape of just what God has done in Christ. We can see the full extent of it at last, not least because Paul has spelled it out here. And the only right phrase for it as we finally see its scope is “awesome!”
I can hardly believe you're still in your seat after hearing this passage! I know we're Anglicans not Pentecostals – and mostly British too, of course! But this is so exciting, so amazing, so transforming, so wonderful, so awesome, so ... there aren't even words for it ... that it calls for precisely what Paul wrote here: rejoicing! And, by the time I'm done, I'd hope that's exactly what we will do! We may even rattle the roof – or we should!
I can probably guess what the fly in the ointment is, though – and so I won't duck that issue. But I do want, and need, to set that in the context that Paul did: just what it is that God has done, and so accomplished, through Jesus. Paul spent the first 4 chapters of his letter spelling it out in detail: what we call the doctrine of justification by faith. Our readings in this series have been deeply challenging, I've found; but also hugely reassuring. Yes, we've seen what the problem with humanity is – and what that looks like in ourselves. We've heard just what a perilous position that leave us each in before God. But we have also seen God's just solution to remedy it: the gift of his own death in our place, in the person of his Son, Jesus.
Here Paul now paused, to contemplate the implications of it all. Of course his assumption was that his readers had not just heard, but responded to this truth that he believed in, lived by, and preached. If that's not true of you, there's a vital conversation to be had afterwards, or later. That can arise from the summary of the issues Paul included, in verses 6-9. If it is true of you, though, sit back and enjoy what it means that you have been justified through faith. Because there's rather a lot to take in!
The first thing to note is how Paul switched to the present tense. Now that we have been (in the past)... we are / do / now have. He did include the future here too; but we need to focus on the present, to realise what difference the death and resurrection of Jesus makes now. And the first difference it makes now is this: “we have peace with God”.
Peace is always topical, because most people would love to be at peace: in themselves; at work; at home; and in their country. Well, the route to that kind of peace is by being personally at peace with God. And we can be; by believing that Jesus died for us. I do wonder whether the 1960’s and the flower-power movement, with its slogan of ‘peace’ ruined the word for everyday use. The words we’d use as alternatives for 'peace' would involve warm feeling - like “calm” or “gentle”. And that’s right – as far as it goes. But the meaning of “peace” in the Bible is the same as in the dictionary. That, maybe surprisingly, is “freedom from war”.
So, if peace is freedom from war, who were we at war with? Paul wrote that we were at war with God. Before Jesus died for us, we were God’s enemies: we were at war with him. Through his death, Jesus made it possible for our war with God to end – and for those who believe in him to be God’s friends instead. As Paul pointed out in verses 6-8, it's not that we deserve it, or are worth it. In Jesus God did it for us, precisely because we were helpless. So that's the next benefit of being right with God through Jesus: we stop being his enemies, and become his friends.
And there are more benefits to being right with God. Through Jesus we have gained access into this experience of God’s grace in which we now stand. We might not realise it, but those who believe in Jesus stand in God’s presence. This is a present reality: we’re always in God’s presence. And we are there by right. God looks at us, sees Jesus, and delights that we’re in his presence.
And Paul hadn’t finished yet! Not only have we been put right with God in the past; not only do we have peace with God now; not only are we now his friends rather than his enemies; not only do we live in his presence in the present: we also have hope for the future. I’ve said before that “hope” in the Bible is far stronger than what we usually mean. To hope for something in the Bible is to be sure it will happen. So what can we be sure will happen? So sure that we can rejoice in (a Greek phrase which can also be translated “boast of”) it? The promise that we will share God’s glory. Christians can be sure that we'll be permanently admitted into the glorious presence of God in ways that we can’t even begin to fathom now.
But how can we be sure all this is true? Paul offered both a subjective and an objective test that we can apply. In verse 5 he wrote that subjectively our hearts will confirm it’s true. If we're Christians God has poured his love into our hearts by his Holy Spirit. That's part of the deal: one way we know that is that if we stop and think about what God has done, our hearts leap for joy. Deep down we simply know it’s all true. And, if that is not enough, there’s still the objective test. In verses 9-10 Paul reminded us of what God has already done. He has done the hard part by dying for us; he has broken down the wall that separates us; he has admitted us into his presence; he has brought us into this experience of his grace. The rest is child’s play in comparison. What awaits is comparatively easy. If God has already done all that, how can he not be able to complete it and admit us to heaven?
There's so much more that could be said, about all of this, not least about being saved from God's anger (or “wrath”). But I'm very aware of the elephant that's been in the room all along: the notion of us also rejoicing in (or “boasting of”) suffering. I'm assuming that's all that's holding us back from dancing in the aisles after hearing what the good news means for us in all its glory! Like peace, suffering is always topical, because so many people experience it, in so many ways. I should say, though, that here Paul meant suffering for the faith. That was the rule rather than the exception in his time – as Paul well knew, from much personal experience.
For most of us in the West now it's the other way round – but that doesn't make what we do have to face any easier. The good news is that I'm sure the same principle applies to all suffering. And, just to be clear, it's not masochism! We are to rejoice not because of suffering – but in it. Paul gave the reason for that here too: it's because there is - or can be – an almost chemical process around suffering. If we stand firm, in the biblical-style hope of what God has already done, and what he will do through Jesus, we really can face anything. It may not feel that way, always or even often – but that's why we have these facts to rely on. The facts don't change, no matter what. And they are what count the most. The facts can be trusted, relied on, built on, and used by God to help us persevere, build our character, and hope.
That may sound glib; but those of you who know me know that I don't say such things lightly. I know it's about Jesus, not about me – but it may help to say a little about me here. Like that being deported from South Africa aged 21 was hard beyond imagining. How then being told, just weeks before ordination, that your wife will most likely die before your children become 6 and 4 takes quite some hearing. Living with all those uncertainties year after year; the treatments that became ever more difficult and painful; going on the transplant waiting list; then, over three years later, through the operation itself; and its aftermath – all while being a Vicar – has been faith-challenging to put it mildly. So is knowing the transplant survival statistics now. But, through all the ups and downs, the tears and fears (of which there have been many), I, we have persevered, and become the people of hope we are – because of the facts. We have done it with the help of Holy Spirit pouring God's love into our hearts. And this hope does not disappoint us.
Paul shone his light on these glorious facts: of what Jesus has done; of what that means for us; now; and in the future. He urged us to rejoice – because we have been put right with God through faith; because we do have peace with God; because we have gained access into this experience of God’s grace; because we do have this sure hope of sharing God’s glory; to rejoice even in suffering, because we know that it can produce more hope; to rejoice because Christ died for us while we were still helpless sinners; because of the love that he has poured into our hearts by his Holy Spirit; because we can be sure that he will keep all his promises. As Paul said, so let us rejoice – because of what God has done in Jesus. And so let’s pray ...
It only happened a few times – but that was partly what made it so special. It was definitely a spur-of-the-moment thing. Back in my teenage student days, as pub-closing time approached, a few of us would realise that we hadn't put the world to rights quite yet. Someone would then make the suggestion, and the hardy ones would pile into cars. We'd head into the night, through those hilly passes leading out of Grahamstown, down toward the east coast.
Some 60 miles away lay the sleeping hamlet of Kenton-on-Sea. On the deserted beach we'd claim a patch of sand, gather driftwood for a fire, and pass the wine around it. Discussion continued through the night, but had usually faded before that moment. We'd stand then, in awed silence, as the sun rose with African suddenness over the Indian Ocean. This http://www.tankedup-imaging.com/images/sunrise.jpg doesn't do it justice, of course: no picture ever could. But in a matter of minutes it went from pitch black to shining bright. What we could then see was the glory and splendour, stretching for miles and miles. Sea, sky and mountains illuminated in a most majestic sight.
As I say, those were very special times, just to witness that scene. I would say, “if you've never done anything like it yourself, then be sure that you do one day”. But, in one way at least, you won't need to after today. You see, what we've just heard from Paul is the equivalent of my African sunrise. The light's shining bright now, illuminating the glory and splendour of the landscape of just what God has done in Christ. We can see the full extent of it at last, not least because Paul has spelled it out here. And the only right phrase for it as we finally see its scope is “awesome!”
I can hardly believe you're still in your seat after hearing this passage! I know we're Anglicans not Pentecostals – and mostly British too, of course! But this is so exciting, so amazing, so transforming, so wonderful, so awesome, so ... there aren't even words for it ... that it calls for precisely what Paul wrote here: rejoicing! And, by the time I'm done, I'd hope that's exactly what we will do! We may even rattle the roof – or we should!
I can probably guess what the fly in the ointment is, though – and so I won't duck that issue. But I do want, and need, to set that in the context that Paul did: just what it is that God has done, and so accomplished, through Jesus. Paul spent the first 4 chapters of his letter spelling it out in detail: what we call the doctrine of justification by faith. Our readings in this series have been deeply challenging, I've found; but also hugely reassuring. Yes, we've seen what the problem with humanity is – and what that looks like in ourselves. We've heard just what a perilous position that leave us each in before God. But we have also seen God's just solution to remedy it: the gift of his own death in our place, in the person of his Son, Jesus.
Here Paul now paused, to contemplate the implications of it all. Of course his assumption was that his readers had not just heard, but responded to this truth that he believed in, lived by, and preached. If that's not true of you, there's a vital conversation to be had afterwards, or later. That can arise from the summary of the issues Paul included, in verses 6-9. If it is true of you, though, sit back and enjoy what it means that you have been justified through faith. Because there's rather a lot to take in!
The first thing to note is how Paul switched to the present tense. Now that we have been (in the past)... we are / do / now have. He did include the future here too; but we need to focus on the present, to realise what difference the death and resurrection of Jesus makes now. And the first difference it makes now is this: “we have peace with God”.
Peace is always topical, because most people would love to be at peace: in themselves; at work; at home; and in their country. Well, the route to that kind of peace is by being personally at peace with God. And we can be; by believing that Jesus died for us. I do wonder whether the 1960’s and the flower-power movement, with its slogan of ‘peace’ ruined the word for everyday use. The words we’d use as alternatives for 'peace' would involve warm feeling - like “calm” or “gentle”. And that’s right – as far as it goes. But the meaning of “peace” in the Bible is the same as in the dictionary. That, maybe surprisingly, is “freedom from war”.
So, if peace is freedom from war, who were we at war with? Paul wrote that we were at war with God. Before Jesus died for us, we were God’s enemies: we were at war with him. Through his death, Jesus made it possible for our war with God to end – and for those who believe in him to be God’s friends instead. As Paul pointed out in verses 6-8, it's not that we deserve it, or are worth it. In Jesus God did it for us, precisely because we were helpless. So that's the next benefit of being right with God through Jesus: we stop being his enemies, and become his friends.
And there are more benefits to being right with God. Through Jesus we have gained access into this experience of God’s grace in which we now stand. We might not realise it, but those who believe in Jesus stand in God’s presence. This is a present reality: we’re always in God’s presence. And we are there by right. God looks at us, sees Jesus, and delights that we’re in his presence.
And Paul hadn’t finished yet! Not only have we been put right with God in the past; not only do we have peace with God now; not only are we now his friends rather than his enemies; not only do we live in his presence in the present: we also have hope for the future. I’ve said before that “hope” in the Bible is far stronger than what we usually mean. To hope for something in the Bible is to be sure it will happen. So what can we be sure will happen? So sure that we can rejoice in (a Greek phrase which can also be translated “boast of”) it? The promise that we will share God’s glory. Christians can be sure that we'll be permanently admitted into the glorious presence of God in ways that we can’t even begin to fathom now.
But how can we be sure all this is true? Paul offered both a subjective and an objective test that we can apply. In verse 5 he wrote that subjectively our hearts will confirm it’s true. If we're Christians God has poured his love into our hearts by his Holy Spirit. That's part of the deal: one way we know that is that if we stop and think about what God has done, our hearts leap for joy. Deep down we simply know it’s all true. And, if that is not enough, there’s still the objective test. In verses 9-10 Paul reminded us of what God has already done. He has done the hard part by dying for us; he has broken down the wall that separates us; he has admitted us into his presence; he has brought us into this experience of his grace. The rest is child’s play in comparison. What awaits is comparatively easy. If God has already done all that, how can he not be able to complete it and admit us to heaven?
There's so much more that could be said, about all of this, not least about being saved from God's anger (or “wrath”). But I'm very aware of the elephant that's been in the room all along: the notion of us also rejoicing in (or “boasting of”) suffering. I'm assuming that's all that's holding us back from dancing in the aisles after hearing what the good news means for us in all its glory! Like peace, suffering is always topical, because so many people experience it, in so many ways. I should say, though, that here Paul meant suffering for the faith. That was the rule rather than the exception in his time – as Paul well knew, from much personal experience.
For most of us in the West now it's the other way round – but that doesn't make what we do have to face any easier. The good news is that I'm sure the same principle applies to all suffering. And, just to be clear, it's not masochism! We are to rejoice not because of suffering – but in it. Paul gave the reason for that here too: it's because there is - or can be – an almost chemical process around suffering. If we stand firm, in the biblical-style hope of what God has already done, and what he will do through Jesus, we really can face anything. It may not feel that way, always or even often – but that's why we have these facts to rely on. The facts don't change, no matter what. And they are what count the most. The facts can be trusted, relied on, built on, and used by God to help us persevere, build our character, and hope.
That may sound glib; but those of you who know me know that I don't say such things lightly. I know it's about Jesus, not about me – but it may help to say a little about me here. Like that being deported from South Africa aged 21 was hard beyond imagining. How then being told, just weeks before ordination, that your wife will most likely die before your children become 6 and 4 takes quite some hearing. Living with all those uncertainties year after year; the treatments that became ever more difficult and painful; going on the transplant waiting list; then, over three years later, through the operation itself; and its aftermath – all while being a Vicar – has been faith-challenging to put it mildly. So is knowing the transplant survival statistics now. But, through all the ups and downs, the tears and fears (of which there have been many), I, we have persevered, and become the people of hope we are – because of the facts. We have done it with the help of Holy Spirit pouring God's love into our hearts. And this hope does not disappoint us.
Paul shone his light on these glorious facts: of what Jesus has done; of what that means for us; now; and in the future. He urged us to rejoice – because we have been put right with God through faith; because we do have peace with God; because we have gained access into this experience of God’s grace; because we do have this sure hope of sharing God’s glory; to rejoice even in suffering, because we know that it can produce more hope; to rejoice because Christ died for us while we were still helpless sinners; because of the love that he has poured into our hearts by his Holy Spirit; because we can be sure that he will keep all his promises. As Paul said, so let us rejoice – because of what God has done in Jesus. And so let’s pray ...
posted by Parish Administrator at 12:55 pm
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