Babel Healed! Acts 2:1-21

May 23, 2021
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

Satan, an evil spirit, who tries to set humanity in war against one another. As we sing: 4 The ancient dragon is their foe; His envy and his wrath they know. It always is his aim and pride Thy Christian people to divide., always Christ Jesus sends His Holy Spirit to reunite humanity within His Body - the Holy Christian Church. Sermon for Pentecost, 23-May-2021, preached at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.

Episode Notes

The Feast of Pentecost                                                 23-May-2021
Sermon Text: Acts 2:1-21
Sermon Theme: Babel Healed! by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. It seems like we’ve heard of it before in the history of mankind. God’s judgment from on high. The preacher crying out to the crowds to “call on the Name of the Lord” for salvation. The heavens pouring down a history changing flood. New wine, then a religious leader mocked for being drunk. Men gathered together as one hearing strange things with their ears that they cannot understand. If you study Genesis 6 - 11: Noah, the Ark, the Flood, Ham mocking his drunken father, the Tower of Babel. This storyline fits perfectly.
      Except that the history we rejoice in today doesn’t result in mankind being further divided and scattered. It gathers people together from all nations. Men who had brought their families from across the Roman empire to celebrate the festival of weeks, the feast of the first fruits of the harvest presented to God in His Temple at Jerusalem. Pentecost, fifty days after Passover, celebrated the harvest God showered upon His children. By Jesus’ day the Jews also celebrated it as the Lord God’s giving of His Holy Ten Words upon Mount Sinai - the Lord’s marriage covenant with His people - the Holy Ten Commandments. They begin with God’s pledge of faithfulness, Exo 20:2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” The Hebrews were a people set apart and entrusted with the very Word of the only True and Living God and Lord.   Today we rejoice that the Heavenly Bridegroom - Christ Jesus fulfilled His promise to His Bride - the Christian Church pouring out the Lord and Giver of Life - the Holy Spirit. Rejoice to see: “Babel Healed.”
      The prophet Joel had preached of the last days of world history. (Vs. 14-21) Peter after receiving the Holy Spirit preaches the written Word of God. Unlike the men on the plains of Shinar, modern Iraq, who wanted to make a name for themselves - Peter gives all glory to Christ Jesus. God the Holy Spirit isn’t the Author of confusion. He doesn’t lead us outside of the written Word of God that we might make a “name for ourselves” with new teachings or claims that we can predict the future. The Holy Spirit is poured out that Christ’s Word and doctrine might be proclaimed in our homes, workplaces, schools, in short in our world by all of God’s children. The prophets of the Old Testament spoke forth of Christ Jesus. Remember what Jesus preaches in the Temple? Joh 5:39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” The prophets from Adam to John the Baptist preached and pointed to Jesus saying, “Joh 1:29 "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Where did Peter get this knowledge of the prophets since he was a fisherman not a rabbi who had studied the scrolls? St. Luke records our Resurrected Lord Jesus conversation with His disciples that first Easter evening, Luk 24:44-49 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." (45) And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (46) Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things. (49) Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Furthermore Luke informs us that Jesus taught them of His Kingdom for the forty days after He defeated death for us, before He was exalted to rule and fill heaven and earth as True God and True Man.
    The message of the prophets has been the same from the day of Adam’s rebellion and repentance. “Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” What is the only Name by which all men will be saved? Listen to Peter’s preaching, (vs.22-24) Jesus is the only saving name. People may claim to be led by a spirit and proclaim that you can be saved by calling on any god - they are not being led by the Holy Spirit - but by an evil spirit. St. John warns, 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” How can we test them? 1Jn 4:2-3 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, (3) and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” Anyone who shows up knocking at your door offering a “new testament of Jesus Christ” is not from God, they are deceived by the evil one. St. Paul preached, “Gal 1:8-9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (9) As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” The Apostolic doctrine is summarized in the Creeds of the Church - The Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian- pray, study, and meditate upon them as the anti virus program against false lying evil spirits. Anyone who knocks at your door denying that Jesus is Yahweh - Jehovah in the flesh is of the evil one. In John 14 Jesus promises that the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit draw near to us through His Word to make His Home with us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus our God and Lord that we may have peace through His flesh and blood - given and shed to take away our sins.
    ‘Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved!” How can dead people call for help? Conceived and born in Adam’s rebellion -we were born dead in our trespasses and sins. We were the walking dead, running away from our Creator, running in the darkness and deadness of what our world calls life. We could not by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ our Lord or come to Him. God the Holy Spirit called us by the Gospel. For many of us our dead infant ears sprang to life as Jesus’ Word was breathed upon us, “Mar 10:14-15 "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. (15) Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." Then stooping down to us over the font He breathed us alive from above with His life giving Spirit saying, ‘I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” That was the day Pentecost happened in your life.   It echoed what happened as Peter preached - men were cut to the heart - convicted of their sin of crucifying the Lord of Life - their Messiah - they cried out, “Men and brethren what shall we do?”Act 2:38-39 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."   They were to do nothing - instead they were to receive all from Christ Jesus through His Holy Spirit applying the fruit of the cross - Forgiveness of all their sins; and the victory of the empty tomb - Life; and the reality of Christ’s ascension, rule, and coming again - Eternal Salvation. Freely given by the Holy Spirit for Christ’s sake within His Church.
      How does the Holy Spirit come upon Christ’s Church? (Vs.1-4) The Church had gathered together - physically in one place. Jesus promises to be present as True God and True Man where two or three gather in His Name to hear His Word and doctrine. The congregation was sitting - the posture of listening and learning. The apostles were speaking Jesus’ Word and promise to them. As the writer of Hebrews confesses, Heb 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” As the speak of Jesus’ resurrection and promise to send His Holy Spirit - the Word is fulfilled. The Lord God judges from on high. He judges us reconciled by the blood of His only begotten Son. Jesus is the First Fruit raised from the dead - our sin is paid for - now because He lives we live also. The Harvest has come! The Lord God breathes humanity alive again by His life giving Spirit from on High. His judgment is to pour down upon us His grace from on high. Tongues of fire appear - for their mouths are sanctified to breath forth the life giving Good News that Jesus died for us sinners and was raised again to life to declare us God’s beloved sons and daughters.
      This doctrine of Christ - unifies mankind as one. (Vs.5-12) Satan loves to tear humanity apart. To set one brown skin color against another brown skin color - descended from Adam through Noah we are all only different shades of brown.   When at Babel language divided the human race, different language groups settled in different areas - depending on the sunlight their God given genetics protected them with different shades of brown skin through the generations. Now all peoples, tribes, and languages are healed in Christ. A miracle takes place in their ears as the Apostles preach Christ Jesus. They all hear in their heart language - the language they first learned to speak. They hear the wonderful works of God - the Gospel of Jesus Christ - which frees humanity to love one another for God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son to redeem all humanity through His Word by His Holy Spirit - that He and the Father might gather us together in His Home forever as one family.
      Babel is undone and mankind’s divisions are only healed here within Christ’s Church by His Holy Spirit through His Word and gifts. (Vs.13) New wine some mocked. Peter would oppose such lies it was only 9 in the morning - the time of the morning sacrifice in the Temple. Now new wine flows within Christ’s Church by His Holy Spirit - It is Jesus living blood in wine, and living body in bread - now God the Holy Spirit calls you to be one in Jesus with all your fellow Christians throughout the world and with those in the Church triumphant in heaven. Come to the Feast of the First Fruit, the Feast of the last days to be made alive by God the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus - that His peace might fill you! 1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. Amen.



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