Sermon 1026 Ephesians 4:30-5:2 Sealed By The Holy Spirit 1) To forgive as God forgives in Christ 2) To imitate God as dearly loved children Pentecost 12 B 230 (1-3), 388, 483 (2), 314, 230 (4) August 16, 2015 St. John Lutheran Church - Frankenmuth, Michigan 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5:1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Introduction: (Hold out a half empty/half full glass of water with arm straight). As I am holding this glass of water, what do you think is my point? Perhaps most think, Oh that s the object lesson about how we look at challenges in life, whether we consider the glass half empty or half full. But that s not my point. Rather, as I hold this glass with my arm straight out, my point is that it s easy to hold this light weight glass of water for a couple of minutes. But what if I had to for the length of this sermon you would probably get a short sermon or for a 1
half hour an hour a half day or a full day? For most, that would be impossible. In this section of St. Paul s letter to the Christians in Ephesus, he cautioned Christians against weighing themselves down with anger or grudges against others. Quoting Psalm 4, Paul writes, In your anger do not sin (4:26). Then he goes on to say: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold (4:26-27). Even if others mistreated them, Paul directed them not to verbally retaliate writing: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29). That s tough, isn t it, especially when others sin against us? So, how are we able to do what our Lord commands through Paul? Paul tells us our motivation by reminding of who we are because of what God has done for us, comforting us with this truth: we are Sealed By The Holy Spirit 1) To forgive as God forgives us in Christ. A. Paul writes, Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. In fact, Paul opened this entire section: I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more (Ephesians 4:17 & 19). 1. Instead, Paul writes on: You, however, did not come to know Christ that way (Ephesians 4:20). Specifically, Paul 2
says here: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (v.30). The Holy Spirit sealed us when He brought us to faith: baptism or word. Either way, God bringing us to faith is pure grace (like being physically born over which we have no control, so the Holy Spirit spiritually birthed us in God s family. Paul put it this way: No one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). 2. Jesus emphasized that truth to those questioning His divinity. He responded, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him (John 6:44). So, when others sin against us, Paul says, Remember God s gracious love that brought you to faith and how He forgave you. So, when someone sins against you, instead of seeking revenge, let God s love motivate you to love as God loves. B. That s why Paul says: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice (v.31). 1. Now Paul doesn t say not to admonish those who sin against us. Back in verse 15 we hear Paul reminding us about speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). 2. But when so doing, Paul says: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as [equal sign] in Christ God forgave you (v.32). Appropriation: Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus: The apostle James stated in his epistle letter in the section we could entitle, Taming the Tongue : Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My bothers, this should not 3
be (James 3:10). It s so tempting to humanely justify sinful behavior: God doesn t want me sad in this marriage where my spouse doesn t always treat me kindly at least from the viewpoint of that spouse so I ll cheat and find someone who appreciates me or I ll file for divorce. Or, God says, Eye for an eye, so I ll get even to teach that person a lesson after all, it will be for that person s good! God does expect us to hold people personally accountable for sinning against This is what the LORD says. But what s the goal? It s not retaliation but love. Love forgives as God forgives us in Christ. Remember what Jesus said from the cross about His persecutors, torturers (and in the end us)? Father, forgive them (Luke 23:43). God demonstrated that grace in action: Jesus perfect life (never said an unkind, untrue word to another ( as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth Isaiah 53:7) ; Jesus perfect sacrifice (shed His blood for ALL sins of thought, words and deeds); Jesus victory resurrection (God s stamp of approval that sin is paid; the seal of the tomb couldn t hold our Savior in death, so the grave cannot hold us in death). Transition: In fact, Paul said the Holy Spirit sealed [us] for the day of redemption (v.30). Jesus goal isn t merely to take our souls to heaven. Rather, Jesus goal remains to take us to heaven both soul and glorified body that s the final redemption when we are totally free from our sinful natures and won t speak evilly of others. Until that time, Paul urges us 4
2) To imitate God as dearly loved children: [Keep being] imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children (5:1). A. Imitate and mimic God. 1. Christ s love compels us that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). 2. Dearly loved children want to mimic a parent (grandson has a little, plastic lawnmower and mimics his father cutting the lawn wait till he s a teenager!) B. Live a life of love 1. St. John reminds us: We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). 2. Jesus gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (5:2). Appropriation: Dear beloved by Jesus: Paul, addressing us as dearly loved children, says to Get rid of ALL bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with EVERY form of malice he doesn t say to get rid of some sometimes, but ALL at ALL times. We all struggle with sin, and must confess with Paul as sinners, For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do (Romans 7:15). But with St. Paul as saints we also joyfully profess: What a wretched may I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25). St. John comforts us when struggling with sin, while fighting to put away sin and not give the devil a foothold: This is love: not that we loved 5
God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:10). Conclusion: Dear fellow redeemed: When feeling down or persecuted like an Elijah, when feeling tempted to retaliate against others in sinful anger, when feeling weighted down by bitterness, Jesus invites us, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). By His grace God gives spiritual rest, the forgiveness of sin, through Jesus. The Holy Spirit personally sealed us as God s own by bringing us to faith, and through the word keeps us filled with hope, joy and love until the final redemption when Jesus takes us to heaven. Amen. 6