Sermon 2016 May 29 Youth Sunday
Today was Youth Sunday, and I delivered the sermon!
Galatians, chapter 3, verses 21 to 29:
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Children of God
23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
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Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 9 to 14:
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
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Welcome to this morning's Youth Service. Our theme is 'Children of God'. Let us pray. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts be acceptable to you, O Christ, our Strength and our Redeemer, amen. Tomorrow is Indian Arrival Day. It commemorates the first arrivals from the Indian subcontinent to Trinidad, on May 30th, 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack. The Indian community in our country has changed a great deal over the past 171 years. One of the big changes I would like to discuss is the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago. As Presbyterians, but more importantly, as Christians, we must adopt our new identity as children of God.
What makes us God's children? The reading from Galatians makes a clear distinction between the Law and faith. In summary, the Law does not give eternal life to people. If the Law could give life, then we wouldn't need faith. In reality, only faith in Jesus - only trust and hope in Jesus - gives us free access to life.
The reading from Galatians goes on to clarify two things: first, it states that God alone gives faith to people; "in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith". We receive faith from Jesus personally. He is a personal Spirit who chooses to dwell within us. You must not think of 'faith' as an abstract concept, like inner peace; or forbidden knowledge; or some kind of spiritual transaction that takes place. Faith is not an abstract concept, it is a relationship. Our personal relationship with Jesus is the source of our faith. He is the source of our faith, and he chooses to live in us.
Secondly, the reading from Galatians states that anyone can receive faith, and thus eternal life is free to all people. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." What a beautiful idea! As humans, we naturally create divisions between rich and poor, men and women, and especially religions. We even create divisions inside the same religion, which is why we have so many denominations of Christianity! We create these myriad divisions because we obey the Law while we live in this world. However, the kingdom of God is not of this world, and as such, the Law will have no power there. In the kingdom of God, there will be perfect freedom. There will be no social constructs, no walls, no barriers separating us from each other or God. In the kingdom to come, we will all be one people, no matter who we think we are now.
All this talk of the future is very nice, but what does it mean for us in the present? How is any of this relevant to the modern world? The reading from Hebrews addresses this question directly.
First of all, it rejects the tedious traditions that religion has built around itself the past few millennia. The reading states quite clearly that it is God's grace, and not traditions, that will save us and give us life. Once again, it is our personal relationship with God that is given the highest importance across both readings. The reading says, "It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods". These words are especially troubling for us Presbyterians who spend a lot of time and effort preparing refreshments. While it is good to have fellowship, this fellowship should lead us onto the paths of grace and mercy. Knowledge will fail us, strength and power will not keep us safe, and death will claim us, but nothing in this world or the next can break the bond we have with God. Once that link is established, it cannot be broken. Once that bridge is built, it cannot be torn down. Once that door is opened, there is none who can shut it. Eternal life is freely given and we should freely receive it, right now, in this modern world.
Secondly, the reading from Hebrews gives us the image of Christ as the sacrificial lamb. In Old Testament times, an animal was sacrificed to cleanse the sins of Israel. Today, we have the precious blood shed on Calvary's Cross to cleanse our sins. It is not to say that our sins might be forgiven, or they will be forgiven sometime later. No, our sins are forgiven now. Today. In this very hour. The grace of Jesus is sufficient for you.
With our sins forgiven, we express our gratitude by carrying out the Lord's work in our daily lives. The reading said that Jesus was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem. If that is where our Master carried out his work, then it must be the same for us. We, too, must leave our homes and our comfort zones in order to meet Jesus in the places where we are most needed. We must meet him outside the city, outside our safety zones, because we cannot do the Lord's work without the Lord! We can do nothing without him, so we have to go meet him where we are most needed. We will bear the same shame our Master suffered, but we will not bear it alone. He will be with us, and doing his work will give us true joy, true peace, and true life, for he truly embodies all of these things and so much more.
With regards to Indian Arrival Day, I believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the Canadian missionaries to live and work in this country, spreading the faith. There may have been other factors at work, such as politics, but the fact remains that those missionaries went outside their 'camp', went outside their 'city' as the reading from Hebrews says. They knew that whatever physical comforts they had at home should not hinder the Lord's work. So they left Canada and came here, spreading the Good News of the kingdom to come.
They met with staunch resistance from other denominations, other religions, and other ways of thinking. They got into trouble because they were too insistent on replacing local traditions with Canadian traditions. They wanted all the locals to be Canadian! They should have compromised, but God works in mysterious ways. I believe that the Spirit does not desire isolation, but togetherness; unity, and accomplishes God's purpose despite human error. Let us carry on the Lord's work, wherever it may lead us, because we will all arrive at the kingdom to come. Amen. Let us pray. Lord Jesus, people and realms of every tongue, dwell on your love with sweetest song, and infant voices shall proclaim, their early blessings on your name. Amen.
Galatians, chapter 3, verses 21 to 29:
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Children of God
23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 9 to 14:
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to this morning's Youth Service. Our theme is 'Children of God'. Let us pray. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts be acceptable to you, O Christ, our Strength and our Redeemer, amen. Tomorrow is Indian Arrival Day. It commemorates the first arrivals from the Indian subcontinent to Trinidad, on May 30th, 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack. The Indian community in our country has changed a great deal over the past 171 years. One of the big changes I would like to discuss is the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago. As Presbyterians, but more importantly, as Christians, we must adopt our new identity as children of God.
What makes us God's children? The reading from Galatians makes a clear distinction between the Law and faith. In summary, the Law does not give eternal life to people. If the Law could give life, then we wouldn't need faith. In reality, only faith in Jesus - only trust and hope in Jesus - gives us free access to life.
The reading from Galatians goes on to clarify two things: first, it states that God alone gives faith to people; "in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith". We receive faith from Jesus personally. He is a personal Spirit who chooses to dwell within us. You must not think of 'faith' as an abstract concept, like inner peace; or forbidden knowledge; or some kind of spiritual transaction that takes place. Faith is not an abstract concept, it is a relationship. Our personal relationship with Jesus is the source of our faith. He is the source of our faith, and he chooses to live in us.
Secondly, the reading from Galatians states that anyone can receive faith, and thus eternal life is free to all people. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." What a beautiful idea! As humans, we naturally create divisions between rich and poor, men and women, and especially religions. We even create divisions inside the same religion, which is why we have so many denominations of Christianity! We create these myriad divisions because we obey the Law while we live in this world. However, the kingdom of God is not of this world, and as such, the Law will have no power there. In the kingdom of God, there will be perfect freedom. There will be no social constructs, no walls, no barriers separating us from each other or God. In the kingdom to come, we will all be one people, no matter who we think we are now.
All this talk of the future is very nice, but what does it mean for us in the present? How is any of this relevant to the modern world? The reading from Hebrews addresses this question directly.
First of all, it rejects the tedious traditions that religion has built around itself the past few millennia. The reading states quite clearly that it is God's grace, and not traditions, that will save us and give us life. Once again, it is our personal relationship with God that is given the highest importance across both readings. The reading says, "It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods". These words are especially troubling for us Presbyterians who spend a lot of time and effort preparing refreshments. While it is good to have fellowship, this fellowship should lead us onto the paths of grace and mercy. Knowledge will fail us, strength and power will not keep us safe, and death will claim us, but nothing in this world or the next can break the bond we have with God. Once that link is established, it cannot be broken. Once that bridge is built, it cannot be torn down. Once that door is opened, there is none who can shut it. Eternal life is freely given and we should freely receive it, right now, in this modern world.
Secondly, the reading from Hebrews gives us the image of Christ as the sacrificial lamb. In Old Testament times, an animal was sacrificed to cleanse the sins of Israel. Today, we have the precious blood shed on Calvary's Cross to cleanse our sins. It is not to say that our sins might be forgiven, or they will be forgiven sometime later. No, our sins are forgiven now. Today. In this very hour. The grace of Jesus is sufficient for you.
With our sins forgiven, we express our gratitude by carrying out the Lord's work in our daily lives. The reading said that Jesus was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem. If that is where our Master carried out his work, then it must be the same for us. We, too, must leave our homes and our comfort zones in order to meet Jesus in the places where we are most needed. We must meet him outside the city, outside our safety zones, because we cannot do the Lord's work without the Lord! We can do nothing without him, so we have to go meet him where we are most needed. We will bear the same shame our Master suffered, but we will not bear it alone. He will be with us, and doing his work will give us true joy, true peace, and true life, for he truly embodies all of these things and so much more.
With regards to Indian Arrival Day, I believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the Canadian missionaries to live and work in this country, spreading the faith. There may have been other factors at work, such as politics, but the fact remains that those missionaries went outside their 'camp', went outside their 'city' as the reading from Hebrews says. They knew that whatever physical comforts they had at home should not hinder the Lord's work. So they left Canada and came here, spreading the Good News of the kingdom to come.
They met with staunch resistance from other denominations, other religions, and other ways of thinking. They got into trouble because they were too insistent on replacing local traditions with Canadian traditions. They wanted all the locals to be Canadian! They should have compromised, but God works in mysterious ways. I believe that the Spirit does not desire isolation, but togetherness; unity, and accomplishes God's purpose despite human error. Let us carry on the Lord's work, wherever it may lead us, because we will all arrive at the kingdom to come. Amen. Let us pray. Lord Jesus, people and realms of every tongue, dwell on your love with sweetest song, and infant voices shall proclaim, their early blessings on your name. Amen.