Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: 1. Corinthians 4,1-5. Gaudete

Saturday, December 18, 2021

1. Corinthians 4,1-5. Gaudete

1. Corinthians 4,1-5 0322

Gaudete 3. Advent 03

Epimachus and Alexander, Martyrs 250

12. Dezember 2021

1. ℣ Rejoice, in Yahweh always:

℟ And again I say, Rejoice (Philippians 4,4).

O Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Refuge; send to us the Holy Spirit, so that in meditating upon the Holy Scriptures our faith is strengthened in You our great Reward. Amen. (lsb 344,3 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry).

2. » This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord arrives, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.«

3. The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed: »The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.« The Apostle Paul wrote: »The Lord will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.« Advent is a season of preparation: we are transitioning from darkness to light. During Advent we remember the nearly 400 years of prophetic silence among God’s people. Yahweh spoke through the Prophet Malachi proclaiming: »Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the great an awesome day of Yahweh arrives« (Malachi 4,5). Four centuries of silence followed until John burst on to the scene baptizing people and proclaiming: »Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!« (Matthew 3,2). John’s baptism was one of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3,3). John’s message was: Rejoice, for Yahweh is at hand! (Philippians 4,5). Hence Gaudete – the 3. Sunday in Advent.

4. John’s preaching was one of pruning and purging. »You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves: ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire« (Matthew 3,7b-12). His cry of repentance is one we must also hear during Advent. We examine ourselves and confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed by our fault, our own fault, by our own reverse fault (Compline lsb 254).

5. Christ has shone a light upon those in the darkness of sin and its curse. The blind received their sight, the lame walked, lepers were cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised up and the poor had the gospel preached to them (Matthew 11,5). We no longer need remain lost in, and afraid of, the darkness of our sins nor the darkness of the world, for Christ is our Light. John reminds us in the beginning of his Gospel: »To all who did receive the true Light, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God who were born of the will of God« (John 1,12-13).

6. We rejoice in the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ, for in Him we receive our commendation from God. Christ forgives our iniquity and covers our sin (Psalm 85,2). His salvation is near to those who trust in Him (Psalm 85,9). Blessed is the one who is not offended by Christ (Isaiah 35,5; 61,1; Matthew 11,6), for Christ is gracious, righteous and merciful (Psalm 116,5). There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because we are justified by His shed blood (Romans 5,9).

7. Behold, the Lamb, so long expected,

Arrives with pardon down from heaven.

Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,

One and all, to be forgiven (lsb 345,3 Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding). This is most certainly true.

8. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

9. Let us pray. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, we thank You with our whole heart that You ordained and sent Your Son Christ as a Messiah to comfort us poor sinners, to be a Righteous King and Savior who would redeem His people from sin and the Devil’s tyranny, and save us from eternal death. We humbly pray that You would also enlighten, rule and lead us by Your Holy Spirit that we may rightly know our Righteous King and Savior, trust Him alone instead of our own meager strength, obey His word and not complain about His rule, but in true faithfulness remain forever blessed. Amen. (The Pomeranian Church Order and Agenda, 1854 p. 282.2; Stratman 26).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Saturday, December 18, 2021

1. Corinthians 4,1-5. Gaudete

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