"Who Is Your Mother?" Galatians 4:21-31

Laetare, The Fourth Sunday In Lent                 3/10/24

Sermon Text: Galatians 4:21-31

Sermon Theme: Who Is Your Mother? I. The Freewoman Or The Bondwoman? (Vs.21-26) II. The Barren Or The Prosperous?(vs.27) III. The Despised Or The Popular?(vs. 28-31)  By Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. "Rejoice" in the midst of our Lent, journeying to the cross, we are told "Rejoice!" Isn't Lent a somber season of repentance. The penitent purple on the altar, the lack of the Gloria in Excelsis, the dropping of the Alleluias. Are we really to rejoice under the shadow of the cross? The Prophet Isaiah sings forth in our introit Isa 66:10-11 "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; (11) that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance."  

         Joy is the fruit the Holy Spirit brings forth in believers through the Gospel. Joy isn't a fleeting feeling. It is blest reality of receiving forgiveness through Our Crucified and Risen Savior. Christian joy bursts forth in grief and sadness. Imprisoned St. Paul penned, " Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." The Apostles' were arrested thrown in prison for preaching the Name of Jesus, beaten though they were guilty of nothing, except telling all of Jesus - did not sulk complaining life isn't fair, instead history records,, Act 5:41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. Study the New Testament - you will be surprised how often the words "joy" and "rejoice" appear referring to our Christian life in trials, temptations, despair - in short “under the cross!”.

          Christian joy knits us together in the Body of Christ. Rejoicing "with" Jerusalem to be glad with her. The Lord speaks the words of our introit/entrance Psalm through the prophet Isaiah. Words of joy to the true children of Abraham, for when Jerusalem lay in ruins and they were led captive in Babylon for seventy years. The true Jerusalem cannot be destroyed, the gates of hell cannot prevail against her - for she is the Church. She is our mother. St. Augustine wrote, "He who has not the Church for his mother, has not God for his Father." The Church birthed you in the waters of Baptism. She washed you alive by the Gospel as the Holy Spirit renews , brings, and keeps you in the one True Faith in Jesus within His Church. Christ’s Church nurses us at her bosom with the pure spiritual milk of God's Word preached. She feeds us the Bread of Heaven - Jesus Christ. She prepares a feast of forgiveness, life, and salvation at the Lord’s Table. Just as we rejoiced to eat Sunday dinner that Mom prepared for us when we were growing up - so we are glad when they say , "let us go into the house of the Lord."

        Learn as you journey under the cross to "Rejoice" in our true Mother - the Church - as God the Holy Spirit uses St. Paul’s pen asking you: Who Is Your Mother? I. The Freewoman Or The Bondwoman? (Vs.21-26) II. The Barren Or The Prosperous?(vs.27) III. The Despised Or The Popular?(vs. 28-31)

I.  St. Paul's congregation had a problem. Where Christ builds a church, the devil builds a chapel. Struggles within congregations aren't signs that Christ isn’t among them or that they aren't Christians. Our Savior calls us to follow Him to the cross - the world will treat us as it treated Him. Jesus' disciples contended on the way, arguing who was going to be the greatest, arguing how to use the money in their treasury. One of Jesus' beloved disciples sold Him out for 30 pieces of silver, another bold confessor cursed and swore that he did not even know the Man, all left Jesus to suffer alone. What causes division in congregations? St. James admonishes  Jas 4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?" Dr. C.F.W. Walther wrote, ‘The devil will never allow the Christian Church to possess the Gospel in peace." The world stokes the fire blaming the Christian Church for all its problems.

       God the Holy Spirit through St. Paul's preaching of the Gospel called, gathered, and enlightened a congregation at Galatia in Asia Minor. Born again in Holy Baptism, eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and Him crucified alone. Echoing the congregation at Jerusalem Act 2:42 they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Then came the devil preaching a higher spirituality than that of the cross of Jesus. "The white devil is to be feared more than the black devil.", Dr. Martin Luther warned. When Satan masquerading as an "angel of light" offering us a more spiritual way than that of the boring liturgy of the Church, a droning sermon, water, a dry wafer and stale wine - our sinful flesh is lead into misbelief, while the world praises such deception as ‘true religion." Satan, his demons, and his false preachers peddle a “doable religion” one our fallen flesh can boast all it has done to “earn God’s favor.” St. Paul preached the Gospel in its truth and purity, then other men came from Jerusalem to Galatia preaching "another Gospel." These men had not been called or sent by the Church - they came on their own boasting of an internal call of their hearts. Theirs wasn’t the gospel, but a perverse flesh appealing doctrine of the law. In essence they preached, "faith in Jesus is a beginning, but to be a true child of God you have to follow all the ceremonies and regulations of the Old Testament." Gospel perverters preaching to the Galatians doubt. Turning them to trust their works earning God's favor following sabbath regulations, not eating pork and other unclean animals, being circumcised, following the Old Testament feasts and festivals. To this day the white devil still sends out his preachers masquerading as preachers of righteousness to lead people back into bondage under the law - they masquerade as Christians peddling “ another Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

      God the Holy Spirit teaches God’s written Word - the history of God's people, (vs.21). The Galatians wanted to be under the law - the Torah of the Old Testament - did they read and understand the Word of God? (Vs.22) Abraham had two sons. One was by the will of the flesh, born of Hagar. The other was by the power of God born of 90 year old barren Sarah whose womb had withered. (Vs.23-26) The child of Hagar was born of a slave woman to be a slave. The child born of Sarah was born of a freewoman to freedom in Christ Jesus.

      Who is your mother? Do you imagine Christianity set of rules and regulations to follow? Do you think coming to church on Sunday is to do God a favor? Do you search the New Testament for principles of success and prosperous living? Have you tired of Gospel preaching, Christ focused liturgy sung, hymns confessing The Faith - not your feelings? Then your mother is Hagar - you are in bondage. The law never frees - it condemns you. Listen! Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT CONTINUE IN ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM." The law isn’t a measuring stick to beat others over the head pointing out their sins - it is a mirror that shows you your sins. Condemns you for not fearing, loving, and trusting in God above all things. Convicts you of despising preaching and God's Word. Sentences you to hell fire for calling your brother a "fool." The Law demands, "be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect - or die eternally in hell!"

      Repent ! Return to your true mother - not the Jerusalem that now is, but that one which is above - the True Jerusalem - The Holy Christian Church. She birthed you through the Promise of Jesus. No demand - free gift - salvation through God’s Word and Work sacrificing His only begotten Son for us sinners. Jesus becomes our curse - for "cursed is everyone who hangs on the tree." The Holy Spirit births us - true children of Abraham - clinging to the Promise. No works, no principles, no demands on God - but only His Gift - grace - faith. The Lord saves me, the chief of sinners, in the flesh and blood of His only begotten Son. Fixing my eyes on Jesus, rejoicing to be fed His living flesh and blood. Here within His house Emmanuel draws near to serve me, washing my feet clean of sins in absolution, teaching me His Word - for the Old Testament testifies only of Jesus , feasting me on the New Covenant - ‘given and shed for me, for the forgiveness of all my sins." Now I am free - for I am forgiven - not because I earned it - deserve it - feel it - I am forgiven for Jesus has spoken - “You are mine! I save you! I baptize you in the Name...I am with you always!”

II. Beware of judging your Mother by numbers. Americans are decieved by prosperity. Fleshly reasoning thinks if it attracts the largest majority of people it has to be right. Morality is ignored - polling data is enshrined to justify murdering the unborn and mutilating the mentally ill. Do numbers make right? Study John 6 - the day after Jesus preached to a crowd of over 10,000 to 15,000, all left Him. He asked the 12, "Do you also want to go away?"  Is your mother prosperous or barren in the world’s eye? Law works are flesh appealing. The world lauds them. After all, holy people should be doing something, accomplishing something, growing in numbers. Hagar was young prosperous despising old barren Sarah. False churches despise the True Church of Christ.

      Our Mother is barren in herself - life comes into her through God’s Promise. We are born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Born through the Gospel Word alone. "Do you also want to go away?" Peter answered, Joh 6:68-69  "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, (69) and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." Our beloved Mother is The Church - to the world a old barren desolate little flock, but she preaches Jesus Christ and Him crucified for us - she nurses us with the Word of eternal life - the Gospel - bringing and preserving us in the one true Faith in Jesus Christ.

III. Motherhood is despised by Satan and our world. Fleshly born despise those born of the Spirit through the Promise of Jesus. The worldly treats the Christian as it treated Jesus. Never judge truth by popularity. (Vs.28-30)

     Paul warned the congregation at Galatia not to whore after the world’s friendship. Christ’s Church is persecuted, mocked as ignorant. The one born of the flesh persecuted Isaac - the false church- popular preachers of false spirituality denounce local congregations where the Word is preached purely and the sacraments are administered truly. The devil seeks to rob the Church of Christ's Word - filling them with bodies making them popular - then stealing away The Holy Bible, the Sacraments, the Crucifix. Fixing their eyes on themselves capturing them for hell.

     Not you dear Christian! You are known by God - called by name. It isn't by accident that Paul records "Isaac's" name, but only calls "Ishmael" - "he who was born according to the flesh". For all the popularity with the world, all the numbers they garnered, for all their great self imagined works of casting out demons and doing great things in Jesus name, the Lord will have to say to them, "I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." Born of your true mother - you are Isaac!(vs.31) Isaac means "laughter" - Rejoice! He calls you by name in the Baptism. Laugh- in Jesus you are forgiven! His Life is yours! His Home is yours! Rejoice! - you are rescued from death and the devil. Do you doubt! Gladly come into the house of the Lord - let the Church nurse you at her life giving breast - placing upon your lips the crucified and risen Bread of Heaven and the drink of Immortality - given and shed of for you! Amen.