Category: Easter 5

The Holy Spirit Sanctifies Us

5/3/2021

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Cantate
John 16:5-15
Pastor James Preus
Trinity Lutheran Church
May 2, 2021

“I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.”
These words are the explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed in Luther’s Small Catechism, where we confess our faith in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, just as the Father is God and the Son is God. The special work of the Holy Spirit is that he sanctifies. The Father creates. The Father created us through the Son and with the Holy Spirit and he still takes care of us. The Son redeems. The Son redeemed us with his precious blood and innocent suffering and death. The Father and the Holy Spirit did not suffer and die for us, but rather it was Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of the Father who was made man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, suffered and died for our sins, and was raised from the dead. The Father created us. The Son redeemed us. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us.
To sanctify means to set apart for God’s special purpose, to be made God’s precious possession. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us by means of the Word of God. The Holy Spirit does not work apart from God’s Word. Yet, through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us by separating us from the sinful world and placing us into the Christian Church. Jesus’ disciples are sad, because he tells them that he is going away to the Father, but Jesus tells them that it is to their advantage that he go away, because if he does not go away, the Helper will not come to them. But if he goes away, he will send him to them. The Helper is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can only come to do his work of sanctifying us if Jesus first departs to the Father. This is because Jesus goes to the Father by way of the cross, where he redeems us from all sin, death, and hell. If Jesus does not redeem us, then the Holy Spirit cannot sanctify us.
The title Helper given to the Holy Spirit comes from the Greek word, Paraclete. Paraclete can also be translated as Comforter. The Holy Spirit comforts us by means of words, specifically, the Gospel that Jesus has redeemed us from sin and hell and has won for us salvation. The Holy Spirit works in the world, because it is those in the world, whom he seeks to sanctify. The ruler of this world is Satan. The world is full of sin and death. The world hates Christ and is in constant rebellion against God. So, the Holy Spirit comforts us by taking us out of the world and placing us into the Christian Church. By doing this, we are not of the world even while we are in the world. This gives us comfort even in the midst of sorrow.
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us by preaching. By means of preaching the Word, the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, because they do not believe in Jesus. All inhabitants of the world are born in sin, inheriting the desire to sin from their first father, Adam. Yet, because Jesus has borne the sins of the whole world, unbelief has become the only unforgivable sin. Only through rejecting Christ Jesus are your sins still bound to you.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of righteousness, because Christ Jesus goes to the Father. Again, Jesus goes to the Father by means of the cross. The whole world is convicted of righteousness, because Jesus has borne the sins of the whole world and removed them from us. This means that the whole world is justified, that is, declared righteous and innocent of sin on account of Christ.
Yet, this is confusing. How can the Holy Spirit convict the whole world of sin and of righteousness? Sin is the opposite of righteousness? The whole world is convicted of sin, because by nature all mankind is born under sin and in unbelief. The whole world is convicted of righteousness, because Christ Jesus has paid the debt of the whole world and has won righteousness for us. Those of the world who do not believe in Jesus do not have his righteousness counted in their favor, because this righteousness can only be received through faith. While those who do believe in Jesus do not have their sins counted against them, because Christ’s righteousness puts away their sin. It is as the Holy Spirit speaks through St. Paul in Romans chapter 5, “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (vss. 18-19).
So, it is clear that all are sinners and all are righteous. All are sinners by physical birth. All are righteous on account of Christ reconciling the world to the Father by his suffering, death, and resurrection. Yet, sin is not counted to those who believe, but only the righteousness of Christ. And the righteousness of Christ is not counted to those who disbelieve, but only their sins. So, the big difference is faith. This is why the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctifying is accomplished only through the Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17). The Holy Spirit convicts us by convincing us by means of the Word, that God is at peace with us on account of Christ. Our first birth of the flesh makes us sinners. But the Holy Spirit gives us a second birth by means of the implanted word, which enables us to hold fast to Christ’s righteousness through faith. This second birth is accomplished by the Holy Spirit ordinarily in Baptism. And the Holy Spirit continues to daily and richly sanctify reborn Christians by means of the preaching of the Gospel and the Sacrament, which again is empowered by the Word of God.
This is not self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is righteousness that you think you have by your own good works, as if you earned it yourself. This righteousness that the Holy Spirit convinces you of is the righteousness of Christ, which is given as a gift and received through faith alone. Again, it is as the Holy Spirit caused St. Paul to write, “For Christ’s sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” (Philippians 3:8-9).
This is why we call the Holy Spirit the Comforter. He does not come to lay upon us another Law, by which we attempt to become righteous before God, but fail; a law that only shows us our sin and guilt. No, the Holy Spirit is sent by Christ after he has won eternal redemption for us. The Holy Spirit comforts us by telling us that it has all already been done for us. We are redeemed. We are forgiven. We are righteous before God for Christ’s sake. When we believe this, we are also sanctified and separated from the sinful world and placed in Christ’s kingdom, the Holy Christian Church.
Finally, the Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. The ruler of this world is Satan, who falsely judges and condemns us beyond his authority. He is the enemy of God and of the Christian Church. Satan has ruled this world ever since man’s fall into sin. The whole world is born under the influence of Satan until they are rescued by the Holy Spirit. The world of sin is judged along with its ruler. But those whom the Holy Spirit has sanctified, whom he has rescued from the world of sin and convicted of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ the Redeemer, are not condemned with the world. Rather, they pass from judgment into eternal life (John 5:24).
It is the exclusive right of the Holy Spirit to judge, because the Holy Spirit is God. Every judgment the Holy Spirit makes he receives from God the Father through Jesus Christ his Son. Yet, Jesus teaches his Christians not to judge. Christians are not to judge where they have no right to judge, but are rather to leave judgment up to God and to those whom God has delegated judgment, such as parents, the Church, and government. Christians are not to judge the motives of others, but are to put the best construction on everything. Rather than condemn others, Christians are called to forgive as God in Christ forgave them. Yet, this does not mean that Christians are to make no judgments whatsoever. Christians are called to judge between right and wrong, to confess the truth and refute error.
One of the most absurd errors that the Satan has convinced so many people of believing is that when Jesus says that Christians are not to judge that Christians are not allowed to state what is right or wrong, to confess the truth, or to call sin, sin. I was once told that I was wrong to say that Jesus is the only way to heaven, because Jesus said not to judge. Well, how absurd would it be for Jesus to tell us it is wrong to confess what he teaches us about himself? No, Christians are called to confess what the Holy Spirit says about sin, about righteousness, and yes, about judgment. Christians should call sin, sin, and unbelief, unbelief. Christians should confess Jesus as the Redeemer of the world and the one who gives his righteousness to whomever believes in him. And Christians should confess that God will judge the living and the dead and that this judgment will be determined on the basis of whether people cling to sin and Satan or to Jesus and righteousness.
The Holy Spirit convicting the world of sin and judgment is terrifying for the unbelieving world, because it sets it at enmity with God. Yet, the Holy Spirit remains our Comforter, because he sanctifies us by the Gospel, that is, he separates us from the sinful world and places us safely into the Church of Christ, where we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ through faith alone. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but passes from death to life.” (John 5:24) We are not judged along with Satan. We are not found sinful along with the world, rather, having believed in the redemption of Christ preached to us by the Holy Spirit, we are declared righteous by God. The Holy Spirit tells us how it shall be for the righteous in Psalm 37, “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.” May this message from the Holy Spirit comfort us always. Amen.

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The Holy Spirit Guides Us in the Truth

5/11/2020

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Cantate 2020
John 16:5-15
May 10, 2020

Sorrow has filled the disciples’ hearts. They are sorrowful, because Jesus is going to depart from them. In fact, by this time of the night in which Jesus would be betrayed, the disciples have caught on that Jesus is going to go and die. That is what Jesus means when he says that he is going to the Father; he will go to the Father by way of the cross. Yet, Jesus says that it is to their advantage that he go away, because if he does not go away, the Helper will not come to them. The Helper is the Holy Spirit. Why will the Holy Spirit not come to them unless Jesus go away? Because if Jesus does not go away, the Helper will have nothing to bring the disciples in order to comfort them.
Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will take what belongs to Christ and give it to his disciples. But unless Jesus depart and go away, the Holy Spirit cannot do this. Jesus goes to bear the sins of the whole world, to suffer punishment we deserve, to die our death, and to rise from the dead. Unless Jesus does this, our sins are still on us. Unless Jesus go to the cross our debt is not paid. Unless Jesus suffer and die, then God’s wrath is still on us. There is no victory for the Holy Spirit to give to us from Christ unless Christ go and win that victory!
It has become popular among many so-called Christian theologians to downplay the importance of Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross. It seems too barbaric and primitive for our modern age. How can we believe in a God who demands sacrifice? How can Jesus’ suffering satisfy our God’s wrath? But such voices refuse to be taught by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit proclaims to us the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit teaches us that this suffering, dying, and rising is what makes peace between God and us sinners. This is why the Holy Spirit caused St. Paul to write, “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to Greeks, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:22-24)
The Holy Spirit takes what belongs to Christ and gives it to his Church. We see this happen in John chapter 20, when Jesus returns from the grave alive and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you withhold the sins of any, they are withheld.” This authority to forgive sins is rooted in Jesus’ work of redemption, when he paid the price for our sins on the cross. The Holy Spirit gives the Church this authority, because Jesus Christ has earned it himself. The Holy Spirit takes what is Christ’s and declares it to us. Yet, if Jesus does not die for our sins, they cannot be forgiven and the Holy Spirit cannot forgive our sins.
This is why the Church must always preach Christ crucified as an historical event. This isn’t a myth or a legend. It really happened on this earth. Jesus’ blood poured into the ground. His soul departed from his body. And God’s wrath against all sin was satisfied. On the third day Jesus rose from the dead as Scripture declares with many witnesses. On the basis of these facts the Holy Spirit gives to us what belongs to Jesus: forgiveness of sins, adoption by God, the Kingdom of God as our inheritance, and eternal life.
Jesus tells his disciples that the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin by convincing the world with words. In fact, the Holy Spirit will speak through these very disciples in order to convince the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Jesus spoke earlier on this same night, “But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26) After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit brings to remembrance all that Jesus taught his disciples. And he gives them boldness to preach what Jesus taught them. We see this when we contrast how St. Peter denied Jesus three times on the night when Jesus was betrayed, yet boldly preached Christ’s resurrection to a large crowd on Pentecost having been filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit convinces the world of sin, because they do not believe in Jesus. Unbelief is the greatest and indeed the only damnable sin. This is exactly what Jesus says in John chapter 3, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (vss. 16-18)
Unbelief is the only damnable sin, because Jesus has paid for the sins of the whole world. He purchased salvation, so that it might be given to all who believe in him. But if you do not believe, you reject the gift. When you look at the passion of Christ, you see God’s wrath against sin. You see the true weight of our trespasses; the depravity of our sinful hearts. When the Holy Spirit proclaims the cross of Christ, he convinces the world of the seriousness of its sin and the necessity to believe in Christ’s passion for it. Christ’s passion on the cross brings to light the sin of the world.
Unbelief is the root of all sin. Idolatry, disobedience, murder, adultery, theft, slander, covetousness: all these sins are committed, because people do not believe in a God who provides, who loves, and who judges. Yet on Christ’s cross, this God is revealed with all his providence, love, and judgment.
The Holy Spirit convinces the same world of righteousness. This is quite remarkable, because righteousness and sin are polar opposites. How can this be possible? Because Jesus went to the Father by way of the cross. Jesus made atonement for all sins. If you believe this, then you are righteous. If you reject this, you are still in your sin.
St. Paul writes, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” By the proclamation of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Holy Spirit persuades the world that God declares her righteous, because Jesus has removed the punishment which she rightly deserved for her sin. The same people the Holy Spirit convinces of sin, He then convinces of righteousness by the merits of Christ to be received as a gift through faith.
The Holy Spirit convinces the world of judgment because the ruler of this world is judged. The ruler of this world is Satan. He leads all people into sin and unbelief. He lures us to follow our basest and most depraved passions. And then he accuses us in order to convince us that we can expect nothing of God but judgment and damnation. The Holy Spirit convinces the world by the proclamation of Jesus’ suffering and death that Satan has lost, he’s judged and condemned. Satan bruised Jesus’ heal, but Christ crushed Satan’s head.
All who join Satan in sin and unbelief will join him in judgment and condemnation. The world is judged for following its leader. But all who believe in Christ do not come into judgment, but pass from death to life (John 5:24). There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
The Holy Spirit uses true words that tell of historical events and eternal truths in order to convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He opens our eyes and gives us ears to hear; he enlightens our minds, which were darkened by sin, so that we might recognize truth for truth and believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection for us. This is how the Holy Spirit our God works among us.
“Pastor, I think God is speaking to us.” I’ve heard this many times in the past couple of months in regard to this current virus and how it has practically made the world stop on its axis. And I agree! God is indeed speaking to us! There is a message from God in relation to this virus. But how do we know what that message is? There are many different things you could conclude by just looking at the world around you. But to find the answer, you must look to Scripture. St. Peter writes, “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21) And St. Paul likewise wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
It is popular for people to claim that the Holy Spirit is speaking through them or leading them. But, unless they are listening to what the Holy Spirit says in Holy Scripture, they’re lying. It is common for Christians in an effort to have the Holy Spirit lead them, to fold their hands and pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Yet, they leave it at that without actually turning to where the Holy Spirit speaks to them! If you are going to pray that the Holy Spirit guide you, then you better listen to the Holy Spirit when he speaks to you. He speaks to you through his Word! And the Holy Spirit’s Word is recorded in Holy Scripture. This is why preachers must be able to back up everything they preach with Scripture.
God is indeed sending us a message with this virus. But you will not know what that message is unless you listen to what God says in Scripture. No, I don’t mean for you to comb through the book of Revelation or pull passages of the Prophets out of context to find some fulfilled prophecy. I’m saying that whenever disaster strikes we should listen to what the Holy Spirit says. The Holy Spirit says that death is the result of sin. The Holy Spirit convinces the whole world of its sin. Yet, the Holy Spirit also convinces the whole world of righteousness, because Christ Jesus has gone to the Father by way of the cross. This is what you need to hear more than anything; more than the evening news. This is what you need more than a vaccine, more than a job, more than life! The righteousness that the Holy Spirit convinces you of by the preaching of Christ’s cross.
Is this virus God’s judgment against sin? Yes. All death is judgment against sin. Repent. Judgment will come upon the whole world. In fact, the ruler of this world will be judged! But those who believe in Jesus will not enter into judgment. God is speaking to us through this virus, you bet. And what he is telling you is to listen to him.
It’s Mother’s Day. It is good to honor mothers. When you were in your mother’s womb God formed your eyes, ears, and brain along with all of your organs. God did this by means of your mother’s body through the food she ate. God gave you life by means of your mother. Mothers even have the ability to nourish their children after they are born entirely with their own bodies throughout infancy! And throughout life God uses mothers to feed, nurture, and protect children. This is one of the greatest works of man. God honors women by giving them this task.
Yet, the eyes God forms in your mother’s womb are blind to God’s truth; the ears are stopped from the truth; the mind is darkened by sin. The body that is born is corrupted with sin and will die. And no matter how much a mother nurses, snuggles and kisser her child, she cannot give him eternal life. But Christian mothers know this. That is why they bring their children to Church. The Church is our heavenly mother. In the Church the Holy Spirit works through God’s Word to open our ears and eyes, to enlighten our minds, to give us a new spiritual birth, and grant us nourishment that lasts into eternal life.
As we thank God today for the help and comfort our mothers have given us throughout our lives, let us also give thanks to God for the help and comfort he sends us through his Holy Spirit in the Church. By the convincing power of the Holy Spirit we will believe the truth of Jesus Christ and be members of his Church forever. Amen.

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Cantate (Easter 5): The Holy Spirit Teaches Us to Sing

4/30/2018

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John 16:5-15
April 29, 2018

Children don't know what's best for them. It's true. They will often even argue with their parents to avoid doing things that are good for them. But parents generally know better than their kids about what's good for them. And this, in a far more superlative way, is the relationship between God and us. God knows what is good for us much better than we do.

Jesus' disciples are sorrowful, because Jesus is going to leave them. But he informs them that this is actually good for them, because if he does not leave them, the Helper will not come to them. The Helper, also known as the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, and Holy Spirit comes to us for our own benefit. If you are to be a Christian, you want the Holy Spirit to come to you.

When Jesus says that he is going to the Father, he's not saying he's going to take a long road trip. No, Jesus' path to the Father is through suffering and death on the cross. He will return to his Father risen from the dead with nail printed hands and feet and a pierced side, proof of his labor on our behalf.

So, why is to our advantage to receive the Holy Spirit, if the cost to receive him is Jesus' gruesome death upon the cross? Because, the Holy Spirit is sent by Christ to deliver to you all that Jesus has earned for you through his suffering and death: forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life. If Jesus does not suffer for your sins, the Holy Spirit has nothing to deliver to you. And if the Holy Spirit does not give to you what is Christ's, then you will die in your sins.

The Holy Spirit preaches. And in his preaching, he convicts, that is, he exposes the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Jesus. Unbelief is the root of all sin. The reason people disobey their parents, murder, cheat, steal, and lie, is because of a lack of faith in God. Unbelief causes one to disregard God's command, judgment, and providence. And in light of Jesus' crucifixion on the cross, which paid the punishment for all sin, unbelief becomes the only sin, as Jesus says in John 3:18, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." Therefore, the Holy Spirit exposes the world of their sin by exposing them of their unbelief and rejection of Christ.

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of righteousness, because Jesus goes to the Father. That is, the Holy Spirit declares the world righteous, because Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the world. Now, wait a minute. I thought the Holy Spirit convicted the world of sin. How can the Holy Spirit then declare the world righteous? Because the Holy Spirit must first convict the world of sin, before he can declare them righteous by God. This is what St. Paul says in Galatians chapter 3, "But the Scripture imprisoned everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." (vs 22) and again in Romans 11, "For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all." The Holy Spirit convicts everyone of sin, so that he might have mercy on them all by declaring forgiveness won by Christ.

The Holy Spirit convicts all people of sin. There is no person, who is not under the condemnation of sin, because all people are sinners. Yet, Jesus died for the sins of all people. Therefore, there is not a single person, whose sins have not been forgiven by the merits of Jesus' death and resurrection. This is why the Holy Spirit convicts all people of sin, so that they can see their need for forgiveness. This is called preaching the law. This is also why the Holy Spirit convicts everyone of righteousness, by proclaiming that Jesus has taken your sins away. This is called preaching the Gospel. When people believe that their sins are forgiven, they are believing in an objective fact. Christ has earned forgiveness for everyone. Only lack of faith stands between a sinner and justification before God.

Finally, the Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. The ruler of this world is Satan. His sole endeavor is to destroy Jesus' sheep and cause them to go to hell. He attempts to lead them into sin by enticing us sinners with our own sinful desires. And he accuses us of our transgressions before God himself. But now that Christ has gone to the Father by the path of his suffering and death, our adversary has been silenced, cast down, and condemned. He's judged once and for all. God's judgment is final. We are justified by the blood of Jesus. Satan's schemes have failed. This final judgment and imprisonment of the devil will take place on the Last Day, yet the Holy Spirit comforts us with this fact even now.

All this is to our benefit! It is good for us that Jesus went away and that he sends the Holy Spirit to us. Had Christ not paid our ransom, we would be trapped in sin. And had he not sent the Holy Spirit to us, we would be without faith and would not receive the victory from him.

Yet, an important question remains. How does the Holy Spirit do this? Where do we find the Holy Spirit's work? And this is a very frustrating thing. Because, although Jesus tells us that it is to our benefit that he send us the Holy Spirit, many, like stubborn children, refuse to believe Jesus that it is to their benefit to receive the Holy Spirit. Yet, there are many others, who, recognize that they need the Holy Spirit, yet seek him in all the wrong places. They seek the Holy Spirit by trying to speak in tongues or prophecy or through miraculous healings. Yet, it is not only Pentecostals and other charismatic groups that seek the Holy Spirit in these ways. Even Lutherans try to get a personal relationship with Jesus and contact with the Holy Spirit in completely unbiblical ways. They think they can get in touch with the Holy Spirit while in the deer stand or by meditating on their own thoughts.

So, how do you receive the Holy Spirit? How does he come to you? Through his word! St. Peter says, "Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:20-21) The Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture. This also means that the Holy Spirit speaks through the preaching of the Gospel. On the night of his resurrection, Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit," before he charged them with forgiving the sins of repentant sinners. And after Jesus sent his Holy Spirit upon his disciples on Pentecost, they began to preach the Gospel.

The Holy Spirit also works through the Sacraments, because the Sacraments depend on God's Word. St. Peter says, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) And St. Paul calls Baptism a washing of rebirth and renewal in the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)

So, you know from Jesus words that it is to your benefit that he send the Holy Spirit. And you should also know that the Holy Spirit comes to you through the ministry of preaching the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. Wherever God's Word is preached and read, there the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. And there the he takes what belongs to Christ, his righteousness, sonship, and kingdom, and he declares it to you through faith.

This Sunday is named Cantate Sunday. Cantate is Latin for sing! which from our Introit from Psalm 98 we sang, "Sing to the LORD a new song!" And, so it is important to note the work of the Holy Spirit in the music of the Church. The Church has always sung in its worship. Both our Psalm and Old Testament Lesson speak of singing to the Lord. The Psalms were composed to be sung, and many of them make reference to musical instruments and singing. Jesus sang a hymn as he went out to the Garden of Gethsemane to begin his passion. And St. Paul instructs us to "address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." (Ephesians 5:19) Singing in Church is biblical and the Holy Spirit works through it.

There are two main reasons the Church sings, besides the fact that we have always sung: To glorify God and to teach the faith. The reason why the congregation chants portions of the liturgy is the same reason the pastor sings portions of the liturgy. It isn't to entertain. It is to offer our first-fruits to God and give him glory. This is also why we sing hymns. They give glory to God. We could save a lot of time and have a much shorter service if we just spoke everything. But we take the time to sing, because we want to offer God something beautiful and show that our worship of him is important to us.

Singing also helps teach. When you put words to a tune, the words are easier to impress upon the heart. This can be used for both good and evil. The heretic Arius, who denied that Jesus is God and whose false teachings lead to the Church constructing the Nicene Creed, popularized his false teaching through catchy songs. And I'm sure parents in this congregation are very concerned with the music popular today, which glorifies fornication, disobedience, and drug use. Just think of the Lady Gaga song, "Born this Way," which taught children that homosexuality is something you are born with and therefore is good. Even if the first claim were true, we know that just because you are born a certain way doesn't mean it is good. We confess every week that we are born poor miserable sinners. Nevertheless, that song and many others have taught millions of youth to accept sinful behavior as good. And if you think the music your children listen to won't have an effect on their opinions, you are mistaken.

Yet, music can also be used for great good. Singing is an excellent teaching tool. One of my greatest joys as a father is listening to my children sing portions of the liturgy and hymns that they've learned in Church, which confess their faith in their Savior Jesus. The hymns we sing in Church teach the faith. Pay attention to them as you sing them! They will instruct you in the way of truth and strengthen your faith in Christ. In these hymns, the Holy Spirit takes what is Christ's and gives it to you!

This is also why it is important to sing hymns at home, especially with your children! Listening to "Christian Music" on the radio isn't good enough. Much of the music, as we know, is mostly fluff, which appeals to emotion more than biblical truth. And much of it is even false doctrine, which teaches you contrary to what you were taught in your Small Catechism! The difference between the hymns we sing in Church, many of which were passed on to us from our fathers in the faith from generations past and much of the popular Christian music today is the difference between a well-balanced meal and Halloween candy! Just compare our hymn of the day, "Dear Christians, One and All Rejoice," with what is at the top of the Christian Music charts today. That hymn has fed countless Christians for nearly 500 years a well-balanced meal of Christ and everything that the Holy Spirit delivers to us sinners to make us whole.

If music doesn't teach the faith, it doesn't give glory to God. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will glorify him by taking what is his and giving it to us. The Holy Spirit does this, when he teaches us what is Christ's, his death and resurrection, forgiveness and Sacraments. When hymns teach the faith, they glorify Christ. When they do not teach Christ, they do not glorify him.

I encourage you to learn hymns by heart and to teach them to your children at home. Not just any hymns, but good hymns, which teach the faith. Hymns, which teach Jesus are powerful enough to fend off Satan. When even a 35 pound child sings, "Satan, here this proclamation, I am baptized into Christ," the ruler of this world flees with his tail between his leg. I've been hearing my daughter sing by heart the first stanza of our hymn of the month, "Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands." Every time she sings this hymn, she confesses the saving faith. My prayer is that she will find comfort in this hymn and hymns like it even on her death bed.

Sing hymns that teach the Gospel of Jesus. Sing the liturgy, which pleases the ears of God. Don't make the excuse that you can't sing or carry a tune. God doesn't listen to your pitch, but to your faith. Notice how the Holy Spirit is at work in the hymns, which confess Jesus' work of salvation for you. God knows such hymns are good for you. O, sing to the Lord a new song! Amen.

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Cantate: Easter 5: The Spirit of Truth Guides You in the Way of Truth

5/17/2017

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John 16:5-15

"Now to My Father I depart,
From earth to heav'n ascending,
And, heavn'ly wisdom to impart,
The Holy Spirit sending;
In trouble He will comfort you
And teach you always to be true
And into truth shall guide you."

So did Martin Luther paraphrase our dear Lord, Jesus Christ from our Gospel lesson. It's the night he will be betrayed. But Jesus does not leave his disciples alone. He gives them the promise of the Paraclete, translated as the Helper our lesson or in some Bibles, the Comforter. The Paraclete is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. When Jesus returns to his Father after his crucifixion and resurrection, he will send the Holy Spirit to guide his disciples, indeed, his entire Church in the way of truth. They will not be left alone. Jesus' earthly ministry is drawing to a close, but his work of drawing his sheep unto him is not complete. The Holy Spirit will continue this work.

Now, since we don't talk about him as often as we do about the Father and the Son, we need to remember who the Holy Spirit is. He is not an it. He's not some mindless force. He is the Third Person in the Trinity, God Himself! He proceeds from the Father and the Son from eternity. And Jesus sends him to you, to be your helper, to comfort you, to guide you.

The tool the Holy Spirit uses to guide you is his Word, the Holy Scriptures. St. Paul writes, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..." (2 Timothy 3:16) and St. Peter agrees, "No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:20-21) The Holy Spirit works through this Word, as it is read, preached, taught, sung, prayed, and spoken in the Sacraments to guide Christ's sheep into the way of truth.

And yet there is hardly anything more despised in all the world than the Word of God, either by omission or commission. Most completely disregard God's Word as if it's some dusty old piece of literature like Moby Dick or Great Expectations (certainly not something that applies to your day to day life!). Others actively attack it, denying it's truth, calling good evil and evil good. Yes, the Holy Spirit is certainly despised by this generation. And even among the Christians, many have become pessimistic concerning the Holy Spirit's powers and have rendered him impotent.

But the Holy Spirit is not impotent neither is his Word powerless. This isn't the first stiff-necked generation the Holy Spirit has worked on. He's been doing this a long time. It was the work of the Holy Spirit that spread Christianity around the globe from a little speck in the Middle East. Our ancestors were tree worshipers when he met them. Yet with the power of the Word he turned their hearts to Christ!

Jesus says the Holy Spirit works by convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Christ. The root of all sin is unbelief. Adam and Eve bit of the forbidden fruit, because they didn't believe God. And without faith it is impossible to do anything but sin. The author to the Hebrews writes, "without faith it is impossible to please [God]." (Hebrews 11:6) and St. Paul writes, "whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23)

Indeed, unbelief is the damnable sin! Jesus says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:17-18)

And so the Holy Spirit confronted pagan Greeks and barbarian tree worshiping Germans and Norwegians and whatever your ancestors were. He confronted them through the Apostles and men, who never even met an Apostle, yet they were armed with the same unfailing word. And the pagans left their idols of silver and gold and our ancestors abandoned their dumb gods made of wood and silly myths and they followed Christ. The Holy Spirit convicted them of their sin of unbelief and they repented and believed in Jesus. And the same Holy Spirit comes to convict you and me and all the poor souls of our communities, who do not know Christ.

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of righteousness, because Jesus ascended to his Father. Now wait a minute! How does the Holy Spirit convict the world of righteousness? I thought the Holy Spirit convicted the world of sin! Because Jesus fulfilled all righteousness, for everyone. Jesus bore our sins on the cross and not our sins only, but the sins of the whole world. There is no transgression for which Jesus did not pay its price in full with his precious blood. That is why the only damnable sin that remains is unbelief. That Jesus goes to his Father by way of the cross and grave wins for us righteousness and salvation; real, not phony righteousness and salvation for the whole world. There is no human being for whom Jesus did not win righteousness and salvation. So the Holy Spirit convicts the world of righteousness. Yet, as long as the world does not believe in Christ, the world remains in its sin. The only way for anyone to escape sin, and death through sin, is through faith in Jesus Christ.

Of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. Satan is an interesting creature. He's the author of sin and yet he poses as a judge. He accuses you of sin; sins for which you have long repented; sins, which were washed away in the blood of Christ in your Baptism; sins that were cleansed from your flesh when you partook of Christ's holy body and blood in the Sacrament. Satan completely disregards the Gospel and he pronounces judgment for sin on you and all Christians. And he does it to God's face! But the Holy Spirit confronts Satan and judges him.

St. John records, "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the world- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now salvation and the power of the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ has come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accused them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." (Revelation 12:9-11)

And so the Holy Spirit confronts Satan and judges him every time one of you dear Christians receives Jesus in faith. When you believe the Gospel you conquer Satan with the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.

And this is how the Holy Spirit guides you today. His words give you Christ's blood, that conquering balm. And it is through his Word that the Holy Spirit helps you, comforts you, and guides you.

The Holy Spirit, who hovered over the waters at the creation of the world, bringing order to chaos is the same Spirit who intercedes for your unintelligible prayers and gives them meaning. He puts Jesus' words on your tongue, "Our Father" and "Thy will be done." And so the Holy Spirit teaches you to pray with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, King David, and the Apostles.

The Holy Spirit gives you righteous anger. "For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:20) Being passionate is only a virtue if it is brought forth by the word of truth. The Holy Spirit gives you passion to defend the truth of God's Word, to reject what is evil, to cling to what is good, to confess Christ, and to do all this by listening diligently to God's Word, speaking slowly, and being slow to anger, even as our Father in heaven is patient with us.

The Holy Spirit prepares praise from your lips; praise that can only come from a faithful heart washed clean in Jesus' blood. And so you sing to the Lord a new song, because his Holy Spirit has revealed to you the righteousness Christ won for you.

Today is Mothers' Day. It's not a church holiday, but it's certainly a Christian thing to show honor to our mothers and our wives, who bore our children. Mothers are God's gift to children. Their bodies are the first sanctuary for their children and at the pain of death they bring forth new life. They nurture their children physically and emotionally in a way no other human being can. And yet, it is of the utmost importance for each mother to remember her children's spiritual nutrition. Just as a father must lead his children to know their Heavenly Father, so must each mother bring her children to their heavenly Mother. Your heavenly Mother is the holy Christian Church, as St. Paul writes, "But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother." (Galatians 4:26)

And so a Christian mother brings her children up in the church where the Holy Spirit is hard at work, giving new spiritual birth to her children, nursing them with spiritual milk that wells up into eternal life, disciplining, instructing, and protecting, just as a true mother does.

The greatest mother ever to live was the Virgin Mary, the mother of our dear Lord. Yet, when a pious woman declared to Jesus, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!" Jesus replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Luke 11:27-28) And every Christian mother knows this. And so that is how we should honor our Christian mothers today and everyday. Keep the word of God. Let the Holy Spirit work in you to comfort and help you. Demonstrate that the Holy Spirit worked through your Christian mother when she told you the Gospel, read you Bible stories, prayed with you, sang hymns with you, and brought you to church, and you will honor her before God.

And finally the Holy Spirit glorifies our Lord Jesus Christ by how he comforts you. He takes what belongs to Christ and he gives it to you. What belongs to Christ? The kingdom. Sonship. Eternal life. A right standing before God. All that belongs to Christ, which he has received from his Father the Holy Spirit gives to you through faith. You receive it by believing his Word. And this glorifies Christ and it glorifies the Father and it comforts you with the peace that surpasses all understanding. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us in the way of truth and may we continue to hear and believe him until we join Christ with the Father in his glory.
Amen.

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"For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." ~ Romans 10:17

The Holy Spirit Sanctifies Us

The Holy Spirit Guides Us in the Truth

Cantate (Easter 5): The Holy Spirit Teaches Us to Sing

Cantate: Easter 5: The Spirit of Truth Guides You in the Way of Truth

Rev. James Preus

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