A conscience does not prevent sin. It only prevents you from enjoying it.
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Atlantis: the domain of the Stingray
25Dec
2019
Wed
14:19
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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The Nativity of Our Lord

John 1:1-18

Name Year Wordle
In the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Hebrews 1:1-2) So the author of the letter to Hebrews reminds you of the means of God’s presence in the Old Testament. God is always present in His Word, and long ago His Word was most often proclaimed by the prophets. But, at many times and in many ways, God also spoke to the fathers. Abraham had dinner with God. (cf. Genesis 18:1-15) Jacob wrestled with God. (Genesis 32:22-32) Moses spoke with God in a burning bush. (Exodus 3) Isaiah was granted a vision of the heavenly throne room. (Isaiah 6) Daniel had night visions.

But now, in these latter days, God’s presence among men is through His Son. There are still prophets, so to speak, who relate to men the Word of God. However, unlike the prophets of long ago, the prophets today speak the Word already revealed in the Scripture, nothing that was told them in a vision or dream, because that’s how God interacted long ago. So, to you it is given to hear the Word of God as it has been handed down from the Apostles and Prophets, recounted for you again and again, because you need to hear it again and again, hear the message of the Gospel again and again, that the Son of God was incarnate of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, buried, and rose again, all for your forgiveness, life, and salvation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The beginning—long ago—the Word existed as was given to man by way of dinners and wrestling matches and visions and dreams. Now, the Word still exists and is given to man in flesh and blood.

First, the flesh and blood of the Word of God is the same flesh and blood as yours. Assumed in the womb of the virgin Mary, the Word became flesh and dwelt among man. God gave Himself as His own creation to mankind in order to walk with them, talk to them and teach them, eat with them—kind of like what He did long ago, at many times and in various ways. But Jesus also healed them and forgave them. And He charged His church to continue giving Him to His people in Word and Sacrament.

So, the people continue to hear and receive the Word of God as He is proclaimed to them—without the visions and the wrestling matches and the burning bushes and dinners. None of those other things happen with any regularity or as a matter of new revelation—so, if they happen, they cannot be discounted out of hand, but must always be measured against the Scripture. Well, maybe the dinners still count with some regularity, in a manner of speaking.

You see, in the second place, the Word of God is still become flesh for you. In the simple means of bread and wine, the Word of God comes to you in flesh and blood, giving Himself for you for your forgiveness, life, and salvation. Up there on the altar, the Word of God makes these means what they are for you, because He still dwells among you in order to walk with you, talk to you and teach you, and, yes, even eat with you. He gives Himself to you to make you His own. That is His glory, which He reveals to you.

It was revealed on the cross, a most inglorious death, but by His death on the cross, He shed His blood and gave His body over to death in order that you would be forgiven for all of your sins, won back from death to life, and saved from this body of sin. In that, the Father and Son glory, for it is their victory over sin, death, and the devil—their enemies, and yours.

So, that you may continue in this, the Word of God, He continues to come to you in Word and Sacrament. There is no need to look for the visions, burning bushes, wrestling matches, dinners, or any other such thing for God to interact with you. He doesn’t promise to come to you that way. But He does promise to come to you in His Word proclaimed to you—flesh and blood comes to you in order to teach and heal and forgive and renew and restore. He does promise to come to you in Sacrament, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper—flesh and blood comes to you in order to teach and heal and forgive and renew and restore.

He gives to you all that you need for your forgiveness, life, and salvation. The Word became flesh and dwells among you. God lived and died for you. God rose again and ascended for you. God continues to give Himself to you and be with you, flesh-and-blood, so that when He returns, He will take you to be where He is for eternity. The Word became flesh, and you have seen His glory, full of grace and truth, and the truth is that you are forgiven for all of your sins.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Download media: 20191225.christmas.mp3 (3.27 MiB)
audio recorded on my digital recorder
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