"Faith's Fearlessly Faces The Future!" Romans 8:31-39
Series: Christmas Sermons - Historic One Year Lectionary Epistles - Lutheran
December 31, 2023
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
New Year’s Eve 31-December-2023 Sermon Text: Romans 8:31-39 Sermon Theme: Faith Fearlessly Faces The Future! I. Faith’s Foundation! (Vs.31-32) II. Faith’s Power! (Vs.33-34) III. Faith Victory! (Vs. 35-37) IV. Faith’s Comfort! (Vs.38-39) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
New Year’s Eve 31-December-2023
Sermon Text: Romans 8:31-39
Sermon Theme: Faith Fearlessly Faces The Future! I. Faith’s Foundation! (Vs.31-32) II. Faith’s Power! (Vs.33-34) III. Faith Victory! (Vs. 35-37) IV. Faith’s Comfort! (Vs.38-39) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “Psa 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” Words that echo in the liturgy of Christ’s Church. Words of David filling us with joy as one year ends and a new year begins.
The Lord God sends the prophet Isaiah to preach to a people that didn’t want to listen. They shushed their preachers who dared to speak the truth. They wanted smooth talkers promoting their own self chosen illusions. Despising God’s Word preached, their ears itched for oppression and perversion. Our crumbling American culture mirrors ancient Judah’s before its collapse and exile to Babylon. Sin always corrupts individuals, families, communities, and nations. Sin always destroys. Sin always metes out death as its wages. The people in Isaiah’s day wouldn’t listen to God preaching, “Repent and return to Me!” The Lord would give them what they wanted - He removed His protecting presence - their collapse came suddenly like a breech in a high wall.
The Lord sent the Apostle Paul to preach to the Gentiles. The message was the same, “Repent and believe the Gospel!” Roman culture didn’t want to hear the truth of their Creator. They rejected the reality that is clearly written upon all living things and the physical universe itself that there is a Creator. Pretending to be wise they became foolish. No longer able to understand the difference between male and female. How did the bulging wall of their nation look? Rom 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (29) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, (30) backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; (32) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Their man made religion sold them into the slavery of sin. They hated Christians for living the truth in their homes and communities. They persecuted Christians for trusting alone in the Creator who made heaven and earth.
What will 2024 bring? Our hope isn’t in political candidates, though as citizens we should take an active role in knowing, praying, and voting to elected moral principled people to govern. Our help is in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth! His Name is Jesus!
As we close 2023 and enter 2024 - learn well: Faith Fearlessly Faces The Future! I. Faith’s Foundation! (Vs.31-32) II. Faith’s Power! (Vs.33-34) III. Faith Victory! (Vs. 35-37) IV. Faith’s Comfort! (Vs.38-39)
I. “Teach us to number our days”, in the 90th Moses teaches us to sing, “that we may gain a heart of wisdom” Four decades leading the rebellious children of Israel taught him to look only to Christ Jesus. Their march was a trail of tears, from one grave yard to the next, since the older generation had rejected God’s promise to bring them safely into the Promised Land. Another numbering of your days passes tonight - gain a heart of wisdom.
Learn to confess with St. Paul. (Rom. 8:31,32) What things is Paul talking about? If we trace our steps back through the first eight chapters of the book of Romans it isn’t only about collapsing culture. It is about false moralism in place of the Faith. It is about hypocrisy masquerading as the Faith. It is about going through the motions of worship in place of the Faith. It is about denying the reality that no one is righteous, all have sinned, all fall short of God’s glory and all deserve only God’s wrath and punishment.
What shall we say to these things? Justification - God pronouncing the guilty - not guilty through His gift in His Son! Faith doesn’t cling to itself - faith looks only to the second Adam - Christ Jesus. Faith isn’t born out of our love, but in Christ’s love for us that while we were sinner He died for us! Faith isn’t our doing, our choice - it is gifted to us in Holy Baptism - knitting us together in Christ’s suffering, death, resurrection, and victory over sin. Faith’s foundation is never found in your doing - the Law cannot save you - the good you would - you don’t do, the evil you try to avoid - that you do! What will you say when you are honest enough to cry out, Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Confess by the power of the Holy Spirit: “Rom 7:25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! “ Hear His comfort, Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Faith’s firm foundation is found outside of yourself in God the Father’s love for you written in scarlet letters with the blood of His only begotten Son delivered up for you. The One Innocent Man - the Second Adam - became our Scapegoat - we are healed by His stripes washed forgiven by His blood.
II. The foundation of the Faith is Christ crucified for sinners. The power of the Faith is Christ Jesus risen for you! (Rom. 8:33-34) Who will bring a charge against those whom God the Father elected in Christ Jesus from eternity to be His own beloved children? How do you know He elected to save you? Rom 8:29-30 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. He called you by your name in the waters of Holy Baptism. Look not inside of yourself, but to Jesus the Book of Life who has inscribed your name upon the palms of His hands with the nails of the cross.
Who will bring a charge against you? The world will accuse you of hate crimes? The devil will accuse you of sin? Your fleshly conscience will accuse you of all failure. Faith’s power points away from self and clings to its risen and ruling Savior.
Devil you are right that I am a sinner, but hear the truth - Christ died for my sin! He is raised as the sign and seal that God the Father accepts His one sacrifice in my place! I am declared His beloved child by grace. Jesus lives! He rules over all governments - all creation. Jesus prays for me! Interceding always to Our Father to send His Holy Spirit keeping me in His Word and Faith until I die. Interceding to give me day by day all I need for body and life. Interceding to forgive me through His shed blood that I may be free to forgive. Praying to shield me in temptation with His final victory. Praying for my deliverance from all evil, even the day of my death.
The power of the Faith is Jesus crucified, risen, ruling, praying for you always!
III. “Stay dressed for action! Keep your lamps burning! The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect Him!” Jesus teaches us on Tuesday of Holy Week. He promises that He is coming soon! Even so, come Lord Jesus! Come quickly! Return and judge all mankind! Redeem our bodies! Fill us with Faith’s victory!
Baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection - He knits us into His living body - the Church! What God has joined together - man cannot tear apart! (Rom. 8:35) Tribulation, distress, persecution, nakedness, peril, sword - the reality of Jesus call us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. It is the marks of Jesus impressed upon our flesh to seal to us His victory.(Rom. 8:36) Hear the promise of the Holy Spirit! We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter - but we aren’t alone - the Lord Jesus is our Good Shepherd - He will not leave His sheep - we hear His voice - we follow Him through tribulations, distress, death, and the grave and He gives us life eternal! Faith’s victory! (Rom. 8:37) - In Jesus our victory is secure - even if it seems to our fallen reason to be defeat - we win!
IV. Breath easy in 2024! In every trial confess, “Psa 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”
Let God the Holy Spirit comfort you through God the Father’s love in Christ Jesus! (Rom. 8:38-39). Nothing present. Nothing past. Nothing to come! No created thing - not even Satan a created fallen angel - can tear you from the love of God that flows to you daily and richly through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Sermon Text: Romans 8:31-39
Sermon Theme: Faith Fearlessly Faces The Future! I. Faith’s Foundation! (Vs.31-32) II. Faith’s Power! (Vs.33-34) III. Faith Victory! (Vs. 35-37) IV. Faith’s Comfort! (Vs.38-39) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “Psa 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” Words that echo in the liturgy of Christ’s Church. Words of David filling us with joy as one year ends and a new year begins.
The Lord God sends the prophet Isaiah to preach to a people that didn’t want to listen. They shushed their preachers who dared to speak the truth. They wanted smooth talkers promoting their own self chosen illusions. Despising God’s Word preached, their ears itched for oppression and perversion. Our crumbling American culture mirrors ancient Judah’s before its collapse and exile to Babylon. Sin always corrupts individuals, families, communities, and nations. Sin always destroys. Sin always metes out death as its wages. The people in Isaiah’s day wouldn’t listen to God preaching, “Repent and return to Me!” The Lord would give them what they wanted - He removed His protecting presence - their collapse came suddenly like a breech in a high wall.
The Lord sent the Apostle Paul to preach to the Gentiles. The message was the same, “Repent and believe the Gospel!” Roman culture didn’t want to hear the truth of their Creator. They rejected the reality that is clearly written upon all living things and the physical universe itself that there is a Creator. Pretending to be wise they became foolish. No longer able to understand the difference between male and female. How did the bulging wall of their nation look? Rom 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (29) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, (30) backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; (32) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Their man made religion sold them into the slavery of sin. They hated Christians for living the truth in their homes and communities. They persecuted Christians for trusting alone in the Creator who made heaven and earth.
What will 2024 bring? Our hope isn’t in political candidates, though as citizens we should take an active role in knowing, praying, and voting to elected moral principled people to govern. Our help is in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth! His Name is Jesus!
As we close 2023 and enter 2024 - learn well: Faith Fearlessly Faces The Future! I. Faith’s Foundation! (Vs.31-32) II. Faith’s Power! (Vs.33-34) III. Faith Victory! (Vs. 35-37) IV. Faith’s Comfort! (Vs.38-39)
I. “Teach us to number our days”, in the 90th Moses teaches us to sing, “that we may gain a heart of wisdom” Four decades leading the rebellious children of Israel taught him to look only to Christ Jesus. Their march was a trail of tears, from one grave yard to the next, since the older generation had rejected God’s promise to bring them safely into the Promised Land. Another numbering of your days passes tonight - gain a heart of wisdom.
Learn to confess with St. Paul. (Rom. 8:31,32) What things is Paul talking about? If we trace our steps back through the first eight chapters of the book of Romans it isn’t only about collapsing culture. It is about false moralism in place of the Faith. It is about hypocrisy masquerading as the Faith. It is about going through the motions of worship in place of the Faith. It is about denying the reality that no one is righteous, all have sinned, all fall short of God’s glory and all deserve only God’s wrath and punishment.
What shall we say to these things? Justification - God pronouncing the guilty - not guilty through His gift in His Son! Faith doesn’t cling to itself - faith looks only to the second Adam - Christ Jesus. Faith isn’t born out of our love, but in Christ’s love for us that while we were sinner He died for us! Faith isn’t our doing, our choice - it is gifted to us in Holy Baptism - knitting us together in Christ’s suffering, death, resurrection, and victory over sin. Faith’s foundation is never found in your doing - the Law cannot save you - the good you would - you don’t do, the evil you try to avoid - that you do! What will you say when you are honest enough to cry out, Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Confess by the power of the Holy Spirit: “Rom 7:25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! “ Hear His comfort, Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Faith’s firm foundation is found outside of yourself in God the Father’s love for you written in scarlet letters with the blood of His only begotten Son delivered up for you. The One Innocent Man - the Second Adam - became our Scapegoat - we are healed by His stripes washed forgiven by His blood.
II. The foundation of the Faith is Christ crucified for sinners. The power of the Faith is Christ Jesus risen for you! (Rom. 8:33-34) Who will bring a charge against those whom God the Father elected in Christ Jesus from eternity to be His own beloved children? How do you know He elected to save you? Rom 8:29-30 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. He called you by your name in the waters of Holy Baptism. Look not inside of yourself, but to Jesus the Book of Life who has inscribed your name upon the palms of His hands with the nails of the cross.
Who will bring a charge against you? The world will accuse you of hate crimes? The devil will accuse you of sin? Your fleshly conscience will accuse you of all failure. Faith’s power points away from self and clings to its risen and ruling Savior.
Devil you are right that I am a sinner, but hear the truth - Christ died for my sin! He is raised as the sign and seal that God the Father accepts His one sacrifice in my place! I am declared His beloved child by grace. Jesus lives! He rules over all governments - all creation. Jesus prays for me! Interceding always to Our Father to send His Holy Spirit keeping me in His Word and Faith until I die. Interceding to give me day by day all I need for body and life. Interceding to forgive me through His shed blood that I may be free to forgive. Praying to shield me in temptation with His final victory. Praying for my deliverance from all evil, even the day of my death.
The power of the Faith is Jesus crucified, risen, ruling, praying for you always!
III. “Stay dressed for action! Keep your lamps burning! The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect Him!” Jesus teaches us on Tuesday of Holy Week. He promises that He is coming soon! Even so, come Lord Jesus! Come quickly! Return and judge all mankind! Redeem our bodies! Fill us with Faith’s victory!
Baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection - He knits us into His living body - the Church! What God has joined together - man cannot tear apart! (Rom. 8:35) Tribulation, distress, persecution, nakedness, peril, sword - the reality of Jesus call us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. It is the marks of Jesus impressed upon our flesh to seal to us His victory.(Rom. 8:36) Hear the promise of the Holy Spirit! We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter - but we aren’t alone - the Lord Jesus is our Good Shepherd - He will not leave His sheep - we hear His voice - we follow Him through tribulations, distress, death, and the grave and He gives us life eternal! Faith’s victory! (Rom. 8:37) - In Jesus our victory is secure - even if it seems to our fallen reason to be defeat - we win!
IV. Breath easy in 2024! In every trial confess, “Psa 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”
Let God the Holy Spirit comfort you through God the Father’s love in Christ Jesus! (Rom. 8:38-39). Nothing present. Nothing past. Nothing to come! No created thing - not even Satan a created fallen angel - can tear you from the love of God that flows to you daily and richly through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
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