1 Christ has risen! He has risen, indeed. Alleluia! The sermon text is from Revelation 7:9-17 previously read. These are they who have come out of the Great Tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Today, we ve been blessed to celebrate with Olivia Renee God s gift of new life in Christ. Her pretty white gown, plus the little baptismal garment placed over her this morning, is a reminder of what Galatians 3 says, As many of you who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. That white is a reminder that every stain of sin is washed away through the cleansing blood of Jesus for all who believe. Even better that white robe of righteousness will follow every believing child of God till the day we stand before His throne. All Saints Day we observe today is the Church Festival we remember God s Church Triumphant, saved by grace alone, those who passed through death s dark valley and will one day step alive from their graves to gather before God s throne. Christian funerals begin with these words from Romans 6, We were buried with Him through baptism into death that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father we too might walk in newness of life. Funerals begin with what s sure. The behavior and inward disposition of our beloved dead is not certain, except only to Him who knows and sees the heart. What is certain is God s Word and promise poured over us. About the one who died with Christ and is raised with Him in Holy Baptism, St. Paul wrote, It is certain that if we have been joined with Him in a death like His, we will certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. Death isn t the end for God s baptized children.
2 All Saints Day makes us mindful of life and death and thankful for those whom God has given into our lives. It also reminders that we are travelers in this life, journeying to God s New Jerusalem with gates of pearl and streets of gold. Our citizenship is in heaven and, compass fixed on Jesus, heaven will be our home. There are only two eternal destinies that await each person. There is no purgatory, no middle place or holding ground to be purged of the final remaining punishments before being granted entry into heaven. There is appointed unto each man a day of death, Hebrews says, and then comes the judgment. To die without Christ is the end of all hope; to die with Christ is blessed life. A great chasm separates heaven and hell; and none who are damned to hell can be prayed across that chasm. No matter how noble and good you believe yourself to be, your good works will never deliver you from the flames of eternal hell. Rather, heed Scripture s call: Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved. It may seem broad-minded and compassionate, but it does no one any good to pretend there is any hope of heaven for those who have no time for Jesus on earth. If you have no use for Him now, don t imagine you ll share eternity with Him later. God doesn t force into His blessed Paradise presence those who despise Him. Jesus said, Make every effort to enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Jesus said, I am the Gate for the sheep. We enter eternal life through faith in Jesus the gate for God s sheep. If you don t have much time in your life for Jesus that too is a choice you must live with and die with.
3 As an aside, in our day and age when school and work spread families like seeds to the wind and sometimes children don t hold to the faith of their families, you should consider planning your funeral. Not just the cemetery plot and coffin, but the hymns that you love and exalt Christ and His love, and the Bible verses that were meaningful for you are a way you can preach a powerful witness to Christ to those loved ones you hope to meet again in heaven. For those who no longer remember the church s songs or the voice of Holy Scripture, you spare them pleading with the pastor for their favorite country tune or the organist straining over the opening notes of a Led Zeppelin classic. And best of all, the words will celebrate Christ and His victory that we share through faith. 1 Thessalonians 4 says, Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who have fallen asleep or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. Even on this All Saints Day, some of you may still carry a deep burden of sadness over the death of a dear one. To mourn our dead doesn t mean you ve lost your faith. Death is bad It s the wages of sin. 1 Corinthians 15 calls death the last enemy to be destroyed. Death grieves us. Even our Savior wept at the tomb of Lazarus, but ours is not grief without hope. How do those grieve who have no hope? Grief without hope refuses to let the dead rest in the arms of Jesus. Hopeless grief imagines our dead as our angels now monitoring our lives, frozen over our shoulders, unable to help, but forced to watch. But that s not Scriptural and not a comforting thing to tell people. Worse, it makes a false god out of the deceased, as though they are better guardians than God our Creator.
4 Hopeless grief can only recite whatever evidence of good can be sifted from the life of the departed, rather than living from Jesus strong promises. How often we have seen and heard victims of fire, combing through the rubble of their burnt homes. They search for valuables and memories, whatever one might hold onto from the charred ruin. Outside of Christ, death leaves little more than the ashes of one s life to sift for whatever small comfort. But there s a better way a way to rest in what s sure. Believers also grieve death. We remember and rejoice in God s gift of life and the blessings our dead were permitted to give and receive. We can surely rejoice in the good works God has done through a mom or dad or spouse, but only one work can save us. And thanks be to God, it s Jesus work, not mine or yours. I say, Thanks be to God, because only what Jesus finished can be 100% reliably sure. A Christian s comfort in life and in death isn t that I was a good pastor or farmer or mom or dad or son, daughter or friend. Rather, we find comfort in the words of Paul, The good I wanted to do; I didn t do The bad things I didn t want to do; I kept on doing What a wretched man I am! That s honest! What a wretched man I am! You don t hear that too often at funerals, but it s the truth But praise God Paul went on to say Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. In life and in death, we have a boast not in us, but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus saves completely. Death itself could not conquer Christ. As you rest in Jesus through faith, you can bank these words from the Psalmist: Your Rock and Refuge will never let you be put to shame! Grief with hope is grief that rests in a God who never lies, who isn t weak and helpless, a God whose love made His mission preparing a home for you in His heavenly
5 mansion A believer faces life and death in the assurance of the God who washes all sins away in His Divine blood. Grief with hope isn t finding the silver lining or thinking positively. It s to know that your Savior is bigger than your sins; that His mercy triumphs over judgment; that even as the battle rages, the devil is a defeated, damned foe. The golden evening brightens in the west Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest; Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest. This is your Good Shepherd s word, Have no fear, little flock, for the Father has chosen to give you the Kingdom No one can pluck you from His hand. Unless Jesus returns soon we will each draw our last breath in this world. Yet, this is certain so certain it echoes round the walls of heaven: Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! Resting in Him through faith your failures are not sloughed off, they are crucified crucified and covered in the blood of God. These bodies of ours will sleep in death, but Jesus is coming, dearly beloved. But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day: The saints triumphant rise in bright array; The King of Glory passes on His way. Alleluia! On that day, God s blood-bought children will stand up these bodies will rise incorruptible, strong and whole and be reunited to our souls and in our flesh we will see God with our own eyes. Until that day, we live as strangers passing through this world, like Godly Abraham looking forward to a better country a heavenly one Whose architect and builder is God. Amen. And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.