Sermon for June 2

The reading

Romans 6:1-14

What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?

 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 

Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.  For whoever has died is freed from sin.  But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

The message

We continue to go through Paul’s Letter to the Church in Rome. This is Paul’s last, longest and most theologically in depth communication with a church. Unlike Corinth, Phillipi, Ephesus and others, Paul did not found this church and did not know its members. Romans is a summary of faith, why Jesus death and resurrection matters, what the gospel of salvation through Christ means for us, an appeal for prayer and support and an exhortation for holy, Gospel living. Paul also dedicates several chapters to divisions over leadership and welcome between Jews and Gentiles in the church there. The letter is organized based on formal Greek debate, including introduction, points, arguments, supporting evidence and addressing possible counter arguments.

As Paul had a limited number of times he could write to a particular church and information between a community and an outside teacher was slow moving, Paul would try to address questions that might come up, anticipating reactions from hearers, outside teachers who might come in with other, not so good news and trying to address them in advance. The first 5 chapters speak to being saved by faith, not works, saved through gift not accomplishment, saved by Jesus death and resurrection not our good actions. That brings up the question “So what now”.  Paul anticipates that people will ask if being saved by Grace is true, if we are free from the consequences of sin, “why be good”, “why follow the law” why not just sin a lot so more is forgiven, publicly flaunting victory over sin by sinning and not caring. (this way of thinking was very influential in the life and activities of Russian figure Rasputin in the 19th Century, one of history’s creepiest twisters of religious teachings).       

Paul wants to stop, cut off these ideas before they catch on, start to influence the church and pull people away from God’s joy and peace.  To believe that we should continue to sin so that grace may abound only makes sense if we make 2 assumptions: 1- God’s grace is just to relieve us from the punishment of sin and 2: we think sin is definitely more fun. These are the ideas that Paul goes after.  Paul describes a challenging and complete reorientation, what we value, enjoy, even where true happiness comes from have all changed.  We are made new, we are free from sin, we have new life, why live the old life. Jesus death and resurrection matter for today and forever.  This good news shapes us, pulls us away from sin and towards the peace and joy of God’s love. God’s gifts are more than something we think about, accept, teach, or keep to ourselves. we live them. I think of the old hymn This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Hide it under a bushel - NO! I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel - NO! I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it in the church, no. im going to let it shine Hide it on the top of a hill, no im going to the city Hide it from the rest of the week on Sunday morning, no im going to live it

We are now a little more than 40 days after Easter. We just passed the Acennsion, when after appearing, eating, teaching and assuring his followers of God’s promises, Jesus is taken up into heaven. The first Christians, and all who follow, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, work out what to do now that Christ is Risen, now that we have been to the empty tomb. How do we live now that Christ is Ascended, what does being saved by grace look like for me and in our organized life together.  On Wednesday, I had the chance to preach and celebrate communion at Leif Erikson Day School in Brooklyn.   This Lutheran ministry is closing its doors after over 50 years of service and faith based education to the community (education that includes my Pre K year). The things learned there will go out into the world with all the teachers, staff, empowerd kids.  We gathered to mark the Ascension, the time, 40 days after Easter, when Jesus is taken up into heaven.  In this, we hear people going out to use the gifts of God

 So when Jesus and his disciples had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”  Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.  They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

 Jesus knows that the disciples are wondering, what now. The Ascension is about what comes after it, what Jesus first followers, the future church, go and do in the days, weeks, months and years after Jesus blessing.  Do not just stand around here go live in faith, be faithful knowing your sins are forgiven, go and tell the others Christ is Risen, go and follow Jesus instructions to teach and baptize, to welcome, to love, to fight for peace and justice,    Each week, we say don’t let these gifts stay here, after communion, we clear the altar each week as a visible sign that the gifts of God go out into the world with us.  That can be scary, what we talk about is so different.

I imagine that the Ascension was a frightening moment for Jesus disciples, the group still with him, who watched him heal the sick, restore the lame, raise the dead, walk on water, cast out demons and evil forces, calm the storms, teach with authority, feed the crowds, die and rise again. All of this was done with Jesus there, when something was misunderstood, he was there to explain it, when a demon could not be overpowered, Jesus could, when a challenge from a religious authority could not be answered or shut down, Jesus was there to answer, when a crowd could not be fed, Jesus was there to serve them.  Now, at the Ascension, it seems like Jesus is gone, the disciples will be the church, they might not have that place to come back to. 

Of course, Jesus has equipped and prepared them in advance. . In each report of the Ascension, there are some different deta ils, blessing, commission but each one includes the promise of the Holy Spirit.  They are to wait.  Jesus also equips his followers with example, what to do when someone outside needs help (help them), what to do when you are anxious (pray),  what to do when someone is teaching something wrong or self interested or against God’s vison, (you say something), what to do when you struggle (go to a community)

There is an overlap in what we do now that we are saved by Grace and now that Jesus is Ascended, each one calls us to a living, vibrant life where God is at the center.