June 22, 2014      Romans 1:16-17, 3:22-31                Sermon     

“The Foundation”

Over the next weeks we will be studying the Book of Romans.  It is a letter written to the Church of Rome in AD 56 or 57.  It is Paul’s fundamental essay on Christian faith.  It has been called the greatest letter ever written.  This morning’s lesson is the foundation of the theology of this epistle. 

We don’t think much about foundations. 

You see, by the time a building is completed you don’t really see much of the foundation.  You probably don’t even notice it. 

Just because you don’t see it  doesn't mean it is not important.

Having a good foundation is essential to the success of any building. 

It is important that the foundation be strong enough to support the weight of the building that will rest on it. 

The foundation needs to be set into a solid base so that it will not sink or crack.  Equally important, the foundation must be built “square,” with its lines

and corners made exactly to the plans, without unintended tilts or twists. 

A slightly skewed foundation may not seem like a big deal until it is time to place the roof that is when the effect of the misalignment becomes obvious. 

Things don’t fit together. 

If the floors aren’t level, or if the walls lean inward at an odd angle or if the roof line sags a little at one end, the problem is not a problem with the wall or the roof or the floor it is with the very foundation. 

Because of its importance of the foundation special care must be given to the laying of the foundation.  The measurements are precise, every angle is measured, every line is plumbed every cross piece is leveled. 

It is painstaking and important work. 

In order for us to understand the depth of God’s love for us we must understand the foundation material of our faith.

In his letter to the Church at Rome, he describes the meaning of the cross, explaining how Christ’s death and resurrection reconciles us to God. 

They are the fundamentals of our faith. 

Paul begins this morning with exacting theological terminology, which like the foundation of a well-built house, is carefully constructed.  He speaks to us of righteousness and faith, justification and grace, salvation and law. 

These terms are the levels and plumb lines and measuring rod of the foundation

of the lofty building of salvation secured by the promise of the gospel. 

Paul’s theological argument rests on one word; grace. 

Paul proclaims God reaches out with love for all people. 

Christ’s death on the cross overcomes our sin that separates us from God. 

Paul declares that we are saved by grace; that is the promise of the gospel. 

Jesus does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. 

The foundation of Paul’s argument is the good news that God’s grace is available for everyone. 

It doesn't matter who you are, what you have done, or where you have come from.  Paul rejoices that the gospel; “is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” 

God doesn't draw lines. 

God doesn't proclaim that some groups of people are in and some groups are out.  We humans may do that, but God doesn't. 

In God’s eyes, in the eyes of our creator, everyone is equal. 

There is no distinction we are all measured by the same measuring rod. 

Not only are we measured by the same rod but we are all equally unworthy.  Everyone is subject to divine law, which judges with righteousness. 

Isaiah in the Old Testament understood this, he gave us these words,

“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” 

Because of God’s holiness our sin cannot escape his vision. 

Like the house built on a skewed foundation, the effects of sin are painfully visible throughout our lives. 

We are misshapen by the power of sin at work in us. 

Sin distorts our view of ourselves, the world, and God. 

Sin makes it difficult for us to see the truth. 

Sin prevents us from being in right relationship with God. 

We have this gap between our desire for wholeness

and the reality of our brokenness. 

We like the apostle Paul, find ourselves unable to control our own will. 

We struggle to do what is right and are drawn toward that which we know is wrong.  We turn inward.

Selfishly focusing on our own need and ignoring the needs of our neighbors.

As a result of sin, when we are measured according to God’s law;

the measuring rod of divine righteousness we all come up short.

Beloved, that is true for each and every one of us. 

It doesn't matter how you measure up according to human standards. 

Whether you are a cradle Christian or are new to the faith,

the measuring rod is the same.  It doesn't matter whether you are wracked by guilt and shame about your shortcomings

or filled with pride about your accomplishments and self-worth;

the result is the same.  No matter how good we are we can never be good enough.  Whether our faults are carefully hidden or painfully visible for all to see, the result is the same. 

Paul asserts that sin is the great equalizing force in every human life. 

None of us are immune, and none of us are privileged to escape being held accountable.  “There is no difference,” Paul says, “for all have sinned

 and fall short of the glory of God and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  There is no escaping the measurement.  The exacting nature of God’s holiness demands it.  

But the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that the reference point for measuring our righteousness has been shifted; it has been shifted from us to Christ. 

When it is time for us to be measured up, Christ stands in our place. 

For the redeemed sinner saved by grace, God looks at Christ’s righteousness,

not our sins and failures. 

Our status in the eyes of God is measured according his grace, not our works. 

In faith, we trust Christ’s promise not only to be there with us,

but to stand there for us.  It is the cross of Christ not our own works,

which forms the foundation of our reconciled relationship with God. 

We are accepted by God and built up through Christ’s righteousness. 

This foundation is both solid and true.  Built on this foundation,

our very lives take on the character of Christ. 

The grace of God shapes us into the Christ-like life. 

A life where we live as forgiven sinners, reconciled with God

and with one another.  Living in the grace of God,

our lives are formed in God’s unwavering love for us in Christ Jesus. 

Over the next weeks we will be looking lofty building of salvation and joyful message of God’s grace in our lives. 

Blessings and love,

Pastor Dottie

Acts 1:1-11          Sermon       Ascension

This morning Jesus tells the disciples, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” 

Jesus always refused to discuss timetables for the future events, but here in this short time he has left on earth he does something different he assures the disciples that they will receive “power” saying that they will be baptized by the Holy Spirit “within a few days.” 

“Baptized by the Holy Spirit.”  Think about it, he is telling them that they will have an experience that is completely foreign.  Would it feel like water baptism?  Would they know when it happened?

This is not just preparation for what is to come.  This is an assurance, something to hold on to.  They are about to see Jesus ascend into heaven, and when they experience his leaving, the feeling of loss could overshadow everything else.  The disciples are going to have to live in a world without Jesus being physically with them.  And without this assurance, without something to hold on to, the anguish of the crucifixion could again come as flood over them paralyzing them in hopelessness. 

And so, Jesus tells them, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

After hearing those words the disciples respond, as if they had no understanding.  “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  

In spite of all they know, the disciples are still thinking in terms of an earthly kingdom.  They are still merely looking forward to restoring Israel to her glory.

They still don’t get it.  God’s purpose in Jesus Christ expands far beyond the national border of Israel.  His reach expands far beyond race and gender.  His sphere expands far beyond culture and language. 

This is a God whose Lordship is to all creation.  It is God and only God who sets the agenda for this world, no matter what anyone may tell you.

You know the Ascension has a very interesting position in the biblical time-line. 

It nestled between Easter and Pentecost.  It always happens on Thursday, which means it sometimes is just overlooked. 

And yet it is the pivotal point in the story.  It turn the disciples focus to what is to what is to come next, toward the birth of the church; the event that changed the world forever. 

Ascension is important.  It has something important to say to the church. 

First and foremost, it clearly shows the church that Jesus is Lord. 

All of Jesus’ claims about being God’s Messiah are stamped on every action that he took and every word that came from his mouth from the moment of his resurrection.  Jesus is the resurrected Lord of Life and they knew it.  So everything about life; all the death and all the limitations they face and we face, have been turned upside down.  Now they know that Jesus lives and this is the future for every child of God.

This Jesus, who lived, died and rose, is now clearly alive and is ascending to God.  This One is returning to a place we can’t yet see, but Jesus goes with a purpose, it is part of God’s unfolding plan for the world.  Jesus is not absent because of a lack of care on God’s part.  Nothing about these events is random. 

God’s amazing, creating, saving grace has been at work at every step of the way.  From the birth in the manger, to the healing and the teaching, the miracles and confrontations to the flogging post and the crucifix to the tomb and the stone rolled away.  Jesus has completed his earthly journey and his work given to him by God.  Now it is time for Jesus to physically exit so that the Holy Spirit can come and be God’s presence in the world. 

And in his physical absence, Jesus shows us our purpose is in the world.  We are to be witnesses to Jesus.  The One no longer present in the world in a way the world can see becomes visible in the church.  When we live and speak the glory of God’s amazing love and grace, Jesus becomes visible to the world.  When we share the compassion and mercy of God, Jesus becomes visible to the world. 

When we relate in love to one another in here and to those out there,

Jesus becomes visible to the world.

We have heard it said over and over, “You are the only Jesus some folks will ever see.”  In the telling of the story of the Ascension we hear the truth of this. 

This too, is God’s plan. 

Beloved, the church does not exist for us.  It is not a social club. 

The church exists as God’s visibility to the world. 

From the time God called a special people, God has made it clear those God calls are blessed for one reason and one reason only, to be a blessing.  Those were God’s word to Abraham, “you will be a blessing…and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you.”  That is Jesus’ instruction to the church.  You will be blessed to be a blessing and through you all the peoples of world will be blessed; you the church. 

We are the way that God blesses this world.  If we, the church lose sight of that, if the church belongs to us and not to God, it is no different than any business or social club.  And we have lost sight of our purpose. 

We must always remember that we have the privilege of showing people the footsteps of God in their lives in times of sorrow and in times of joy. 

Our call is to grace others with God’s love and point to God’s presence in the world.  The reality is that as we move through life we have no way of knowing the impact we have on the world and the peoples in the world.  All we need do is to keep our focus on our purpose and remember the church belongs to God. 

And the good news is that none of what we do is under our own power.  We don’t live this life blindly and alone.  In the early church Ascension was likened to the healing of the blind man’s eyes.  When Jesus touched the sightless man’s eyes he could see- but only faintly.  People looked, he said, like trees.  And Jesus touched his eyes a second time and the man who had been blind began to see clearly.  He saw faces- beautiful faces- birds, colors, flowers, the blue sky.  Newly opened eyes seeing things they had never seen before, seeing things through new eyes. 

In the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, we are assured that God is closer than our own breath and the invisible becomes visible. 

Our task, our church’s task is to get on with the work of Jesus Christ.  It is why we exist.  God will provide what we need to get going.  That is more than enough reason to keep on going. 

The angels testified to Jesus’ Ascension and they testified of his return; “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do stand here looking into the sky?  This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go to heaven.”

In the meantime; don’t just stand there; roll up your sleeves, do something.  Get on with the work of the church, the work of the church is to make disciples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

Teach everyone you meet and one another what it means to belong to his wonderful beautiful Jesus the Christ, who is now Lord and King over all.