"The Feast of Victory In Christ!" 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Series: Easter Epistles 2024
March 31, 2024
Rev. Nathan J. Ruseert
Easter Festival Service 31-March-2024 Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 Sermon Theme: “The Feast of Victory In Christ!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Easter Festival Service 31-March-2024
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Sermon Theme: “The Feast of Victory In Christ!”
I.N.R.I. The Passover changed everything in the history of Israel. The night before the Passover the children of Israel were slaves. All the mighty acts of God had not freed them from Pharaoh’s tyrannical rule. Nine plagues had come and gone still they were slaves. Now the blood of the Passover Lamb sacrificed for them would free them. His flesh roasted in fire would nourish and strengthen them for their journey. That night they went to bed slaves, the next morning they would wake up freed through the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb. On the night before the Passover, they doubted if they were the people of God. On the morning after they knew that they were His children, delivered by His mighty outstretched arm. Passover meant a new beginning, the new beginning of months for the freed children of Israel.
Easter changes everything in the history of mankind. On the night when Jesus was betrayed darkness ruled. Satan rejoiced to see Jesus betrayed by His own disciple, denied, beaten, mocked, scourged, crucified, died and buried. Darkness seemed to swallow up the Light of the World. The Light that brought life to all men, was given over into death and buried. All hope was lost. Despair and fear ruled.
This morning we again hear the good news preached by the angels that first Easter morning. Appearing as young men clothed in long white robes they preach, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. “ The historical fact of Jesus physical resurrection from the dead changes everything.
It is as Jesus preached in the Temple, six months before His passion, “Joh 8:34-36 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. (35) The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. (36) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Today, the One who was delivered for our offenses on Good Friday. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world whose blood was poured out for you upon the cross. Today, He was raised from the dead for the justification of sinners - to declare us “not guilty” “forgiven” “freed”. Today He has made everything new by His death and resurrection.
Today rejoice in : “The Feast of Victory In Christ!”
I. Rejoice! Feast for sinners only! Rejoice today sinners, for Christ Jesus came only into this world to save you! He came calling sinners, not good people to repent. He seeks the sick- crushed by guilt, shame, death, sins. If you imagine you have no sin - you have no need for a Savior. Imagining you are living a good enough life - you have no need to assemble together with two or three others around God’s Word so the Risen Jesus may serve you through His wounds and the Holy Spirit might daily and richly forgive all your sins. If you are here this morning thinking there was some good in you from the moment of conception, you have no need for the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. If you think that God chose you and baptized you because He saw good in you, you have no need for a crucified and risen Jesus. In essence if you deny you are a poor miserable sinner with nothing to bring Jesus, but your sin, shame, guilt, and death - you lie to self - the truth is not in you.
The congregation at Corinth established by God the Holy Spirit, through the Gospel preached by the Apostle Paul, was tearing itself apart with false doctrine. They allowed the tasty teaching that man isn’t conceived dead in trespasses and sins. They followed paganism that the body is disposable. False teaching soon perverted their practice. (Vs.6) Denying the truth of original sin - they denied Jesus. Scripture is clear, “Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned– Jesus, Himself had taught hard reality, Mar 7:20-23 And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. (21) For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, (22) coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. (23) All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." St. Paul taught them, Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.” Still the tasty teaching that man by nature is good, or at least morally neutral soon crept into their thinking. Pagan belief that the body was disposable and only the soul mattered - corrupted them.
The disciples were warned by Jesus, Mat 16:6 , "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." When the disciples thought that Jesus was reprimanding them for not bringing enough bread, He rebukes them and reminds them of the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000. Then our Lord says, Mat 16:11-12 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (12) Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees was tasting to human reason. It made sense that man could reconcile himself to God by his sacrifices or by his strictly following God’s rules. It didn’t make any sense that God would be the One and only One who would reconcile sinners to Himself through the suffering, death, and resurrection of His only-begotten Son. The Sadducees denied the body’s physical resurrection - it was only the spiritual that mattered- death ended all.
The Corinthians allowing the leaven of this false teaching to permeate their congregation began to treat baptism as man’s work - making one of Paul, another of Apollos, another of Cephas - depending who baptized them. They looked at God’s grace and forgiveness as a license to sin, so they tolerated a man living in open sexual sin that not even the pagans tolerated. What they did with their bodies didn’t matter - even laying with temple prostitutes - wrongly they thought they’d throw off their fleshly bodies. They abused the Sacrament of the Altar, instead having a potluck “love feast” where the rich the ate and got drunk, while the poor starved. Boasting in themselves - their great spirituality - neglecting their marriages. Some even denied the historic fact that Jesus physically rose from the dead in His body. All this began with the cancer that man is basically spiritually good from conception - his body doesn’t matter.
Easter calls, “Repent!” Turn away from Satan’s lies and worldly myths - such tasty teaching - rejoice as poor miserable in-fleshed sinners . Christians confess: Also they teach that since the fall of Adam all men begotten in the natural way are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God, and with 2] concupiscence; and that this disease, or vice of origin, is truly sin, even now condemning and bringing eternal death upon those not born again through Baptism and the Holy Ghost. 3] They condemn the Pelagians and others who deny that original depravity is sin, and who, to obscure the glory of Christ's merit and benefits, argue that man can be justified before God by his own strength and reason. “
II. Rejoice today being honest with yourself - you are a poor miserable sinner, redeemed by the blood of the Passover Lamb - Jesus Christ! Today our physically risen Lord preached to the depressed disciples on the road to Emmaus the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice through suffer, death, the grave FOR YOU! He redeems our bodies to live forever by His rising on the third day. Opening the written Old Testament Scriptures , showing from Genesis to Malachi how He has fulfilled all for us in His flesh. His passion forever freeing us from slavery to sin and its wages death. His physical resurrection and descent into Hell to proclaim victory over Satan and hell itself.
Passover was a time to sweep the house clean of yeast - leaven. Leaven was a sign of sin in the Old Testament. It corrupts as it puffs up the dough. Passover meant spring cleaning of the entire household. Jesus speaks of the reality of the Eternal Easter that shall break upon us on the Last Day in Rev 21:5-6 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (6) And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished!” He done - all completed - reconciled sinners completely to our God and Father. In the fountain of blood and water that pours from His wounded side we are made new! (Vs.7) A lump of dough cannot purge out the yeast that begins to grow in it - it must be made new. St. Paul here is speaks of crucifixion and Easter sealed to you in the waters of Holy Baptism... Dead in rebellion, you were by God’s grace alone made new by God the Holy Spirit working in water and the Word. You are saved not by your purging, but because Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. Here is the historical event in around 30 A.D.. God’s only begotten Son Jesus, declared innocent by two rulers after four trials. The religious rulers of Jerusalem could find Him guilty of nothing, except for being who He said He was - the Son of God - the Messiah. He became the sinner for you. All your sins, all my sins, all the world’s sins were laid on the innocent head of Jesus. He becomes our Passover Lamb, our Scapegoat and swallows our sins, our hell, our death to its bitter dregs. He is delivered to the cross for our transgressions.
Rejoice this day for He lives! He has been raised for our justification. In His resurrection we are made new. Declared, “not guilty” “forgiven” the very beloved children of our Heavenly Father - born again under the cross in the waters of Holy Baptism.
III. If you don’t believe that this resurrection is for you the sinner. He invites you to feast with Him. For Christ Jesus eats and drinks with sinners that we might be forgiven. Share His Easter Life! (Vs.8) The depressed disciples fleeing to Emmaus didn’t recognize Jesus as He opened the Scriptures to them preaching God’s Word that His cross was the only way to redeem us from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. It was only when He sat down at table with them and broke bread saying, “Take eat, this is My Body...”
Keep the Feast - if you are of this household of Faith - come to the Lord’s Table. Not on your own merits. Examine yourselves in the mirror of God’s Holy Law - honestly confess your sins. Rejoice in the Faith given you in Holy Baptism - that Jesus died for you- that He is present here in bread and wine and places this living victory into the mouth of your bodies. Now Easter life is yours as you cry out “Our Father” the Holy Spirit is given you to fill you with Easter life - you have died to sin and now live as God’s freed child in this world. Your life - it looks a whole lot like the Ten Commandments joyfully lived in your various vocations.
Easter changes everything. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. We have passed over from death to life. Today we rejoice to be sinners, who have been freed only by the blood of our Passover Lamb poured over us in Holy Baptism, made alive in Him we feast with Him at table and here are united with all our loved ones this morning who celebrate the eternal Easter feast of Heaven. Amen.
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Sermon Theme: “The Feast of Victory In Christ!”
I.N.R.I. The Passover changed everything in the history of Israel. The night before the Passover the children of Israel were slaves. All the mighty acts of God had not freed them from Pharaoh’s tyrannical rule. Nine plagues had come and gone still they were slaves. Now the blood of the Passover Lamb sacrificed for them would free them. His flesh roasted in fire would nourish and strengthen them for their journey. That night they went to bed slaves, the next morning they would wake up freed through the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb. On the night before the Passover, they doubted if they were the people of God. On the morning after they knew that they were His children, delivered by His mighty outstretched arm. Passover meant a new beginning, the new beginning of months for the freed children of Israel.
Easter changes everything in the history of mankind. On the night when Jesus was betrayed darkness ruled. Satan rejoiced to see Jesus betrayed by His own disciple, denied, beaten, mocked, scourged, crucified, died and buried. Darkness seemed to swallow up the Light of the World. The Light that brought life to all men, was given over into death and buried. All hope was lost. Despair and fear ruled.
This morning we again hear the good news preached by the angels that first Easter morning. Appearing as young men clothed in long white robes they preach, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. “ The historical fact of Jesus physical resurrection from the dead changes everything.
It is as Jesus preached in the Temple, six months before His passion, “Joh 8:34-36 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. (35) The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. (36) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Today, the One who was delivered for our offenses on Good Friday. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world whose blood was poured out for you upon the cross. Today, He was raised from the dead for the justification of sinners - to declare us “not guilty” “forgiven” “freed”. Today He has made everything new by His death and resurrection.
Today rejoice in : “The Feast of Victory In Christ!”
I. Rejoice! Feast for sinners only! Rejoice today sinners, for Christ Jesus came only into this world to save you! He came calling sinners, not good people to repent. He seeks the sick- crushed by guilt, shame, death, sins. If you imagine you have no sin - you have no need for a Savior. Imagining you are living a good enough life - you have no need to assemble together with two or three others around God’s Word so the Risen Jesus may serve you through His wounds and the Holy Spirit might daily and richly forgive all your sins. If you are here this morning thinking there was some good in you from the moment of conception, you have no need for the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. If you think that God chose you and baptized you because He saw good in you, you have no need for a crucified and risen Jesus. In essence if you deny you are a poor miserable sinner with nothing to bring Jesus, but your sin, shame, guilt, and death - you lie to self - the truth is not in you.
The congregation at Corinth established by God the Holy Spirit, through the Gospel preached by the Apostle Paul, was tearing itself apart with false doctrine. They allowed the tasty teaching that man isn’t conceived dead in trespasses and sins. They followed paganism that the body is disposable. False teaching soon perverted their practice. (Vs.6) Denying the truth of original sin - they denied Jesus. Scripture is clear, “Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned– Jesus, Himself had taught hard reality, Mar 7:20-23 And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. (21) For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, (22) coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. (23) All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." St. Paul taught them, Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.” Still the tasty teaching that man by nature is good, or at least morally neutral soon crept into their thinking. Pagan belief that the body was disposable and only the soul mattered - corrupted them.
The disciples were warned by Jesus, Mat 16:6 , "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." When the disciples thought that Jesus was reprimanding them for not bringing enough bread, He rebukes them and reminds them of the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000. Then our Lord says, Mat 16:11-12 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (12) Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees was tasting to human reason. It made sense that man could reconcile himself to God by his sacrifices or by his strictly following God’s rules. It didn’t make any sense that God would be the One and only One who would reconcile sinners to Himself through the suffering, death, and resurrection of His only-begotten Son. The Sadducees denied the body’s physical resurrection - it was only the spiritual that mattered- death ended all.
The Corinthians allowing the leaven of this false teaching to permeate their congregation began to treat baptism as man’s work - making one of Paul, another of Apollos, another of Cephas - depending who baptized them. They looked at God’s grace and forgiveness as a license to sin, so they tolerated a man living in open sexual sin that not even the pagans tolerated. What they did with their bodies didn’t matter - even laying with temple prostitutes - wrongly they thought they’d throw off their fleshly bodies. They abused the Sacrament of the Altar, instead having a potluck “love feast” where the rich the ate and got drunk, while the poor starved. Boasting in themselves - their great spirituality - neglecting their marriages. Some even denied the historic fact that Jesus physically rose from the dead in His body. All this began with the cancer that man is basically spiritually good from conception - his body doesn’t matter.
Easter calls, “Repent!” Turn away from Satan’s lies and worldly myths - such tasty teaching - rejoice as poor miserable in-fleshed sinners . Christians confess: Also they teach that since the fall of Adam all men begotten in the natural way are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God, and with 2] concupiscence; and that this disease, or vice of origin, is truly sin, even now condemning and bringing eternal death upon those not born again through Baptism and the Holy Ghost. 3] They condemn the Pelagians and others who deny that original depravity is sin, and who, to obscure the glory of Christ's merit and benefits, argue that man can be justified before God by his own strength and reason. “
II. Rejoice today being honest with yourself - you are a poor miserable sinner, redeemed by the blood of the Passover Lamb - Jesus Christ! Today our physically risen Lord preached to the depressed disciples on the road to Emmaus the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice through suffer, death, the grave FOR YOU! He redeems our bodies to live forever by His rising on the third day. Opening the written Old Testament Scriptures , showing from Genesis to Malachi how He has fulfilled all for us in His flesh. His passion forever freeing us from slavery to sin and its wages death. His physical resurrection and descent into Hell to proclaim victory over Satan and hell itself.
Passover was a time to sweep the house clean of yeast - leaven. Leaven was a sign of sin in the Old Testament. It corrupts as it puffs up the dough. Passover meant spring cleaning of the entire household. Jesus speaks of the reality of the Eternal Easter that shall break upon us on the Last Day in Rev 21:5-6 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (6) And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished!” He done - all completed - reconciled sinners completely to our God and Father. In the fountain of blood and water that pours from His wounded side we are made new! (Vs.7) A lump of dough cannot purge out the yeast that begins to grow in it - it must be made new. St. Paul here is speaks of crucifixion and Easter sealed to you in the waters of Holy Baptism... Dead in rebellion, you were by God’s grace alone made new by God the Holy Spirit working in water and the Word. You are saved not by your purging, but because Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. Here is the historical event in around 30 A.D.. God’s only begotten Son Jesus, declared innocent by two rulers after four trials. The religious rulers of Jerusalem could find Him guilty of nothing, except for being who He said He was - the Son of God - the Messiah. He became the sinner for you. All your sins, all my sins, all the world’s sins were laid on the innocent head of Jesus. He becomes our Passover Lamb, our Scapegoat and swallows our sins, our hell, our death to its bitter dregs. He is delivered to the cross for our transgressions.
Rejoice this day for He lives! He has been raised for our justification. In His resurrection we are made new. Declared, “not guilty” “forgiven” the very beloved children of our Heavenly Father - born again under the cross in the waters of Holy Baptism.
III. If you don’t believe that this resurrection is for you the sinner. He invites you to feast with Him. For Christ Jesus eats and drinks with sinners that we might be forgiven. Share His Easter Life! (Vs.8) The depressed disciples fleeing to Emmaus didn’t recognize Jesus as He opened the Scriptures to them preaching God’s Word that His cross was the only way to redeem us from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. It was only when He sat down at table with them and broke bread saying, “Take eat, this is My Body...”
Keep the Feast - if you are of this household of Faith - come to the Lord’s Table. Not on your own merits. Examine yourselves in the mirror of God’s Holy Law - honestly confess your sins. Rejoice in the Faith given you in Holy Baptism - that Jesus died for you- that He is present here in bread and wine and places this living victory into the mouth of your bodies. Now Easter life is yours as you cry out “Our Father” the Holy Spirit is given you to fill you with Easter life - you have died to sin and now live as God’s freed child in this world. Your life - it looks a whole lot like the Ten Commandments joyfully lived in your various vocations.
Easter changes everything. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. We have passed over from death to life. Today we rejoice to be sinners, who have been freed only by the blood of our Passover Lamb poured over us in Holy Baptism, made alive in Him we feast with Him at table and here are united with all our loved ones this morning who celebrate the eternal Easter feast of Heaven. Amen.
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