Sixth Sunday After Trinity, July 7, 2024

Sixth Sunday After Trinity, July 7, 2024

Jesus is not much into debt forgiveness. All debt… ALL of it… must be paid.  And so, sinners pay.  They pay the debt incurred in the Garden. They pay because God’s Word… God’s prophecy… as well as God’s promises… are true… “In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Ge. 2:17). Sinners owe the debt of sin, the sin of not taking God at his Word… the sin of not trusting God for his prophecy and for his promises.  Every penny of that debt must be paid.  Sinners die.  In death, sinners fulfill God’s ancient prophecy.  In death, sinners pay the wages of sin (Ro. 6:23).  Death strips away all works.  It eliminates any evidence… any prop for your confidence… any sign of righteousness… all of it gone… except for one thing, the Word of God. The Word of God in the promise of Jesus Christ.  Just as the prophecy comes true in the death of the sinner, so too does the promise come true in the resurrection of that same sinner into eternal life. So that everything can depend upon faith and not works, the finality of death empties the sinner’s hands and leaves only the promise ringing in the sinner’s ears. And… And, at the resurrection to eternal life, the once-dead sinner puts on immortality and the promise proves true. God does not lie.

Prayers from those who would tow a U-Haul behind their hearse…

Heavenly Father, you told the truth in the Garden of Eden and in every generation since, grant that I have ears to hear the truth about you and about myself. Lord, give me ears to hear.

Heavenly Father, you told the truth in the Garden of Eden and in every generation since, as I hear the truth about you, give me such faith that I would take you at your Word when you say your name is mercy and steadfast love. Lord, give me ears to hear.

Heavenly Father, you told the truth in the Garden of Eden and in every generation since, as I hear the truth about myself, give me such faith that I would take you at your Word and know that I am a miserable sinner and will only receive the wages of sin. Lord, give me ears to hear.

Heavenly Father, you told the truth in the Garden of Eden and in every generation since, grant that, as I come to know the truth of your Word Jesus Christ, I find in his death and resurrection the certainty of both your prophecy and your promise. Lord, give me ears to hear.

Heavenly Father, you told the truth in the Garden of Eden and in every generation since, as I am freed of obtaining my own righteousness and trust solely in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, grant that my labors world serve my neighbors rather than myself. Lord, give me ears to hear.

Heavenly Father, you told the truth in the Garden of Eden and in every generation since, continue to put your truth in the mouths of those from the Institute of Lutheran Theology and its schools so that those who have come to listen may have their ears filled with Jesus Christ. Lord, give me ears to hear.

Heavenly Father, you told the truth in the Garden of Eden and in every generation since, grant me a faith that is renewed day-by-day so that it is fresh in my ears every morning. Lord, give me ears to hear.