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JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) “GOD’S NEW COVENANT IS FULL AND FREE FORGIVENESS” Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost [Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36] “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, ... . And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (ESV) INTRODUCTION: As you drive along a road you see in the distance a mountain that appears to be blocking it. As you approach the mountain you see that the road indeed leads right up to it and you wonder how you will get to the other side of it so you can arrive at your destination. Coming still closer to the mountain you realize that there are various options. You can go over it, under it, through it, around it, and up one side and down the other of it. Those various options include the use of prepositions—over, under, through, around, up, and down, ... and there are many others. Prepositions play a very important role in our English language as well as the original languages of the Bible—Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. This is also true in the simple and yet profound Refor- JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Page 2 of 17 mation revelation that we are saved by God‘s grace through Spirit-given faith in Jesus Christ, about Whom Holy Scripture was written. The common church of Martin Luther’s day was the Roman Catholic Church. Although it taught then as it still does today that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, it added then as it still does today a very sad condition, namely, that a person must be worthy of such grace. In reality, however, grace to which any condition of worthiness is attached is no longer grace because grace by definition is unconditional love. So it was on October 31, 1517 (489 years ago this coming Tuesday!), that Dr. Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” (statements for debate) to the cathedral door in Wittenberg, Germany. Tying in to the first two statements above about prepositions, the “95 Theses” was his effort to define and clarify true Biblical teaching by identifying the three fundamental foundation-stones of such, namely, grace alone from Christ, faith alone in Christ, and Scripture alone about Christ. Hear now what Martin Luther wrote about the fact that … A. We are saved by God-given grace alone. Martin Luther: (Ewald M. Plass, WHAT LUTHER SAYS: AN ANTHOLOGY, VOL. III, p. 1327) “One should not permit sin. Yet one should exercise mercy, for we are all JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Page 3 of 17 made of the dough of which prostitutes and fornicators are made. If we stand, we stand by grace alone; otherwise our piety stands on a wisp of straw and soon collapses.” Hear also what he wrote about the fact that … B. We are saved through God-given faith alone. Martin Luther: (Ewald M. Plass, WHAT LUTHER SAYS: AN ANTHOLOGY, VOL. II, p. 707) “God does everything to justify us. Christ has merited our justification, and the Holy Spirit implements the merit of Christ, so that we are justified. ... actual justifying is left to faith alone, since without faith neither God nor Christ nor anything else is profitable for righteousness.” Finally, hear what he wrote about the fact that … C. Our salvation is revealed in God-given Scripture alone. Martin Luther: (Ewald M. Plass, WHAT LUTHER SAYS: AN ANTHOLOGY, VOL. I, p. 265) “Accursed into the abyss of hell be all obedience that is rendered to government, father, and mother, yea, and the church, too, at the cost of being disobedient to God! The Christian Church is God’s maid and servant. It listens to and does nothing but what it knows to be His Word and command [that is, Scripture alone].” Transition: It all comes together in the fact that GOD’S NEW COVENANT IS FULL AND FREE JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Page 4 of 17 FORGIVENESS as the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah (who, by the way, is often referred to as the weeping prophet who performed his prophecy some 100 years after Isaiah, proclaiming God’s message of doom and despair to the unrepentant sinfully rebellious people and kings of Judah in Jerusalem in contrast to the message of peace and prosperity that the false prophets were telling them), this is God’s servant who informs us that the nature of the old covenant is the Law and the nature of the new covenant is the Gospel. I. THE NATURE OF THE OLD COVENANT IS THE LAW. [32: “... not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.”] (LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM WITH EXPLANATION, © 1991 CPH, p. 54) : “There are three kinds of laws in the Old Testament: the moral law, which tells all people their duty toward God and other people; the ceremonial law, which regulated the religious practices in the Old Testament; and the political law, which was the state law of the Israelites. Only the moral law was written into the human heart.” (Ibid., p. 98) : “The [moral] Law teaches what we are to do and not to do; ... shows us our sin and the wrath of JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Page 5 of 17 God; ... [and] must be proclaimed to all people, but especially to impenitent sinners ... .” (Josh 22:5, 23:6) “Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left ... .” “Law” is defined as (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003 by “direction, instruction, law.” God’s Law is bitter and distasteful, heavy and hard, difficult and discouraging. It includes commandments and requirements. It leaves us frustrated, broken, and destitute because ... A. It demands perfect obedience. We learn from God’s Holy Word that He demands us to be holy in all that we think, desire, say and do. He will not accept anything less than absolute perfection. (Lev 19:2) “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” (James 2:10) “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” Also, … Biblesoft, Inc.) JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Page 6 of 17 B. It was written on tablets of stone. God gave His Law through the Ten Commandments that He etched on two stone tablets and gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Horeb). (1 Kings 8:9) “There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.” He later added many more laws that regulated their worship and government in addition to their personal relationships with Himself and each other. In addition, … C. It embraces all the physical descendants of Israel. That is, God gave His Law specifically and even exclusively to the Israelites (Jews). (Theodore Laetsch in JEREMIAH, p. 256) “It comprised all Israelites, believers and unbelievers, that had been delivered out of Egypt.” (David M. Gosdeck in THE PEOPLE’S COMMENTARY BIBLE: “The old covenant ... also served to keep the Jewish people separate from the surrounding heathen ... . Their separation insured that they would remain a people until the promised Messiah would come.” We also find that it restricted the priesthood to one particular family (Aaron and his deJEREMIAH, p. 204) JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Page 7 of 17 scendants) from one particular tribe (Levi). They alone were allowed to minister at the Lord’s altar. Finally, … D. It proclaims forgiveness of sins by types to be fulfilled and hopes to be realized. Animal sacrifices with the shedding of blood offered by the priests and messages from God spoken by His prophets served to communicate to the people His just anger over their rebellious disobedience and His gracious compassion for them as His chosen people. It all pointed ahead to the then-future Messiah, Jesus Christ, Who shed His blood on the altar of Calvary’s cross as the completion of the bloody animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. He did so because ... Transition: GOD’S NEW COVENANT IS FULL AND FREE FORGIVENESS as the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah informs us that the nature of the old covenant is the Law and the nature of the new covenant is the Gospel. II. THE NATURE OF THE NEW COVENANT IS THE GOSPEL. [33-34: “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Page 8 of 17 longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”] (LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM WITH EXPLANATION, © 1991 CPH, p. 98) : “God offers the forgiveness of sins only in the Gospel, the good news that we are freed from the guilt, the punishment, and the power of sin, and are saved eternally because of Christ’s keeping the Law and His suffering and death for us. ... the Gospel teaches what God has done, and still does, for our salvation. ... the Gospel shows us our Savior and the grace of God. ... the Gospel must be proclaimed to sinners who are troubled in their minds because of their sins.” (Rom 1:16-17) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith ... .’” “Gospel” is defined as (Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc.) “the glad tidings of salvation through Christ; the proclamation of the grace of God manifested and pledged in Christ.” God’s Gospel is sweet and tasty, light and refreshing, invigorating and rejuvenating. It in- JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Page 9 of 17 cludes mercy and grace. It leaves us calm, repaired, and spiritually rich because ... A. It offers forgiveness of sins. Absolution is the spoken declaration that our sins are washed away. It is the great need we all have. It comes to us solely and completely from our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who while hanging, bleeding, suffering, and dying on Calvary’s cross passionately prayed, (Luke 23:34) “Father, forgive them ... .” We heard it earlier in our liturgy when in response to our confession of sins Pastor Marks joyfully, delightfully, and excitedly told us, “Almighty God in His mercy has given his Son to die for you and for his sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of the Word I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The Apostle John most emphatically stated that forgiveness is by, (1 John 1:7) “... the blood of Jesus his Son [that] cleanses us from all sin.” The Apostle Peter reassures us that (1 Peter 2:24) “[Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Page 10 of 17 Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost That same forgiveness of sins that Christ gained for us enables and motivates us to forgive one another. We thereby remove obstacles to relationships that Satan plants in his evil effort to separate us from one another and ultimately from God Himself so that families, friends, and former foes dwell together in peace and unity. In addition, God informs us that … B. It was written into the hearts of the members. (Gosdeck, p. 207) “The new covenant proclaims a salvation complete, finished, and, above all, free for the asking. It is a salvation won in and through Christ. There is no question how God saves. To see Christ is to know God’s salvation. The promise is that through the proclamation about Christ those who hear and believe will know for themselves the salvation of God.” The Holy Spirit placed that glorious Gospel reality of the new covenant in Christ into the hearts and lives of all who believe in Jesus. He did so in many of us upon whom at a young age the waters of Holy Baptism were applied accompanied with our Savior’s sacred words, (Matt 28:19) “... in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ... .” JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Page 11 of 17 Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost (about which that Trinitarian formula should remind us every time we hear or read it). He did so in others of us through the message of His gracious Gospel that we read or heard following which Holy Baptism was administered as a sign and seal of the new life in Christ God gave us. It is an internal spiritual reality that manifests itself with external attitudes, words, and actions that unify rather than separate, heal rather than harm, console rather than clash, and encourage rather than discourage. And that’s not all! C. It embraces all who know the Lord, both Jews and Gentiles, but only believers. It is at the same time both exclusive and inclusive. It is not exclusive in the sense that God shows favoritism or partiality to one group of people over another on the basis of race, age, gender, ethnic background, social or economic standing, or even religious denomination. For indeed, (Acts 10:34) “... God shows no partiality ... .” In like manner God gives us additional instruction by the pen of the Apostle Paul, (1 Tim 5:21) “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.” JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Page 12 of 17 Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Rather, it is exclusive in the reality that God has provided only one way to a relationship with Himself, as Jesus declared, (John 14:6) “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In addition, it is not inclusive in the sense that everyone will gain entrance into heavenly glory even though it is true that (1 Tim 2:3-4) “... God our Savior, ... desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Rather, it is inclusive in the sense that all who (Acts 16:31) “... Believe in the Lord Jesus ... will be saved ... .” In order for that to happen God has given us, His children by faith in Jesus Christ, the joyful opportunity and responsibility to “Bring people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ” as our congregational mission statement so succinctly states. We do so for the sole purpose of rescuing souls from eternal damnation separated from God in the fire of hell to eternal salvation united with God in the glory of heaven. And, finally … D. It has the body and the reality. Everyone (Jews and Gentiles alike) who believes in Je- JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Page 13 of 17 Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost sus Christ as Lord and Savior compose His body, the holy Christian church. (Rom 12:4-5) “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” All who publicly profess the same principles and practice of faith that are taught at this altar and strive to live them out in their personal lives may gather together at this altar to receive the real body and blood of Jesus Christ that God gives us in, with, and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion. In our Savior’s real presence, God gives spiritual strength and growth of faith to His body of believers with the blessed gifts of forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life. Jesus gained those gifts for all people with His perfect life, innocent suffering and death, and real resurrection from the dead in victory over sin, Satan, and death itself. (1 Cor 10:16-17) “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Page 14 of 17 Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost Christians are truly God’s precious people with a powerful purpose! (1 Peter 2:9-10) “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” So it is that our Reformation heritage reminds us of the joyful fact that ... Transition: GOD’S NEW COVENANT IS FULL AND FREE FORGIVENESS as the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah informs us that the nature of the old covenant is the Law and the nature of the new covenant is the Gospel. CONCLUSION: The proper understanding about the relationship between Law and Gospel is critically important for our spiritual health and welfare both now and eternally. Pastor Marks read in today’s Gospel Lesson that Jesus declared, (John 8:31-32) “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” He then identified that truth when He said, JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Page 15 of 17 Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost (John 8:36) “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” Pastor Marks also read in today’s Epistle Lesson the Apostle Paul’s explanation that (Rom 3:20-24) “... by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in [God’s] sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus ... .” I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us as we strive to correctly know, believe, and apply to our lives both Law and Gospel in keeping with the fact that GOD’S NEW COVENANT IS FULL AND FREE FORGIVENESS. God grant it all for the sake of Jesus Christ, His humble Son, our holy Savior. Amen. The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES JEREMIAH 31:31-32 (31-34) “GOD’S NEW COVENANT IS FULL AND FREE FORGIVENESS” JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Page 16 of 17 Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost INTRODUCTION: The simple and yet profound Reformation revelation is that we are saved by God‘s _______ through Spirit-given _______ in Jesus Christ, about Whom Holy ____________ was written. True Biblical teaching’s three fundamental foundation-stones are grace alone from _______, faith alone in _______, and Scripture alone about _______. A. We are saved by God-given grace _______. B. We are saved through God-given faith _______. C. Our salvation is revealed in God-given Scripture _______. I. [32] THE NATURE OF THE OLD COVENANT IS LAW. (Josh 22:5, 23:6) A. It demanded __________ obedience. (Lev 19:2; James 2:10) B. It was written on tablets of _______. (1 Kings 8:9) C. It embraced all the physical descendants of __________. D. It proclaimed forgiveness of sins by _______ to be fulfilled and _______ to be realized. II. [33-34] THE NATURE OF THE NEW COVENANT IS GOSPEL. (Rom 1:16-17) A. It offers forgiveness of _______. (Luke 23:34; 1 John 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24) B. It was written into the _______ of the members. (Matt 28:19) JEREMIAH 31:31 & 34 (31-34) Page 17 of 17 Sunday, October 29, 2006 Reformation (Observed) 21st Sunday after Pentecost C. It embraced _____ who know the Lord, Jews and Gentiles, but only believers. (Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11; 1 Tim 5:21; John 14:6; 1 Tim 2:3-4; Acts 16:31) D. It has the _______ and the reality. (Rom 12:4-5; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor 10:16-17; 1 Peter 2:9) CONCLUSION: The proper understanding about the relationship between _____ and _______ is critically important for our spiritual health and welfare both now and eternally. (John 8:31-32; John 8:36; Rom 3:20-24) Amen.