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Series C – First Sunday of Advent – Sunday, December 6, 2015 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough

Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough:

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:27	Holy Gospel
0:29	According to Saint Luke chapter 3 verses
0:31	1 through 14.
0:33	in the 15th year of the reign of
0:35	Tiberius Caesar when Pontius Pilate was
0:37	governor Judea Herod tetrarch of Galilee
0:40	and his brother Philip tetrek of ichiria
0:42	and trachonitis and lycinius the
0:45	tetrarch of Abilene during the high
0:47	priesthood of Anis and Caiaphas the word
0:49	of God came to John the son of Zechariah
0:52	in the desert and he went out into all
0:54	the country around the Jordan preaching
0:57	a baptism of repentance for the
0:59	Forgiveness of sins as it is written in
1:02	the book of the words of Isaiah the
1:03	prophet a voice of one calling in the
1:06	desert prepare the way for the Lord make
1:08	straight paths for him every Valley
1:10	shall be filled in every mountain and
1:12	Hill made low the Crooked Road shall
1:15	become straight the rough the rough ways
1:18	smooth and all mankind will see God’s
1:21	salvation John said to the crowds coming
1:24	out to be baptized by him you brood of
1:27	vipers who warned you to flee from the
1:29	coming wrath produce fruit in keeping
1:31	with repentance and do not begin to say
1:34	to yourselves we have Abraham as our
1:36	Father for I tell you that out of these
1:38	Stones God can raise up children for
1:40	Abraham the ax is already at the root of
1:42	the trees in every tree that does not
1:44	produce good fruit will be cut down and
1:47	thrown into the fire
1:48	what should we do then the crowd asked
1:51	John answered the man with two tunics
1:52	should share with him who has none and
1:55	the one who has food should do the same
1:57	Tax Collectors also came to be baptized
1:59	teacher they asked what should we do
2:02	don’t collect any more than you are
2:04	required to he told them then some of
2:07	the soldiers asked him and what should
2:09	we do and he replied don’t extort money
2:11	and don’t accuse people falsely be
2:14	content with your pay
2:16	in the name of Jesus
2:18	and when the Apostle Paul arrived at
2:20	Antioch and presidia on his first
2:22	missionary journey he went to the
2:24	synagogue as part of his proclamation of
2:26	the gospel and he reminded the people of
2:28	the history and the story of the people
2:30	of Israel so this morning to start off
2:32	with I’m going to borrow a little bit of
2:34	Paul’s retelling of that story I’ll add
2:36	to it at the end here so that we can
2:39	understand the historical context for
2:41	Our Gospel text this morning I’ll be
2:43	reading from Acts chapter 13 I’ll start
2:46	at verse 16 and go to 22. here’s what
2:49	the Apostle Paul said to the people in
2:51	the synagogue at Antioch of basidia men
2:53	of Israel you who fear God listen the
2:58	God of this People Israel chose our
3:00	fathers and made the people great during
3:02	their stay in the land of Egypt and with
3:04	uplifted arm he led them out of it and
3:07	for about 40 years he put up with them
3:09	in the wilderness and after destroying
3:11	Seven Nations in the land of Canaan he
3:13	gave them their land as an inheritance
3:15	and all of this took about 450 years and
3:19	after that he gave them judges until
3:21	Samuel the prophet then they asked for a
3:24	king God gave them Saul the son of Kish
3:26	a man of the tribe of Benjamin for 40
3:28	years and when he had removed him he
3:31	raised up David to be their king of whom
3:33	he testified and said I have found in
3:36	David the son of Jesse a man after my
3:38	heart who will do my will now the rest
3:42	of the Old Testament reveals that
3:45	the people of Israel then went on to
3:47	forsake the God who had delivered them
3:49	from slavery and in the time of the
3:51	Kings they end up worshiping the false
3:53	gods of Baal Molech ashereth and others
3:57	so God sent them prophets to call them
4:00	to repent of their idolatry and to be
4:02	forgiven but they refused to listen and
4:04	they refused to repent so God in
4:08	judgment raised up Nebuchadnezzar and he
4:10	destroyed Jerusalem 90 percent of the
4:13	inhabitants of Israel
4:14	he’d also destroyed Solomon’s Temple and
4:17	drugged the remnant of Israel the
4:19	survivors into Exile in captivity in
4:21	Babylon after 70 years had passed the
4:24	children of Israel returned to the land
4:26	and shortly after the return God spoke
4:29	through the final Old Testament prophet
4:32	and his name is Malachi
4:34	Malachi prophesied the appearance of
4:37	both John the Baptist as well as the
4:40	Messiah so let me return again and read
4:42	a portion of our Old Testament text this
4:44	morning Malachi chapter 3 behold I send
4:47	my messenger he will prepare the way
4:50	before me and the Lord whom you seek
4:52	will suddenly come into His Temple and
4:55	the messenger of the Covenant in whom
4:57	you Delight behold he is coming says the
4:59	Lord of hosts but who can endure the day
5:01	of his coming and who can stand when he
5:03	appears and then the very final words of
5:06	the Prophet Malachi are these behold I
5:09	will send you Elijah the prophet before
5:11	the great and awesome day of the Lord
5:13	comes and he will turn the hearts of the
5:16	fathers to their children the hearts of
5:17	the children to the fathers lest I come
5:20	and strike the land with the decree of
5:22	utter destruction
5:24	and then after the prophet Malachi
5:27	records these words given to him by God
5:29	himself then the Lord says
5:32	nothing
5:34	nothing
5:36	was heard from God for 400 years
5:40	complete silence from the Throne of
5:42	Heaven as Israel was conquered by the
5:44	Persians complete silence from God as
5:47	they were then conquered by the Greeks
5:49	complete silence from God as they were
5:53	then subjugated to the Roman Empire
5:56	but despite God’s silence and despite
6:00	the fact that Israel lost its freedom
6:02	and was subjugated to occupation by a
6:04	pagan Empire during the interim God’s
6:07	written word still spoke and God
6:10	preserved the people of Israel and he
6:12	remembered his promises to Israel and to
6:15	the world and to the Old Testament
6:16	Patriarchs of the seed of the woman who
6:19	would come to crush the head of the
6:20	serpent and so in this today’s Gospel
6:23	text God breaks his silence and he
6:26	signals that he’s about to do something
6:28	incredible
6:29	it is like the story of the inhabitants
6:32	of Narnia now I apologize I have to use
6:36	a little bit of a metaphor here and
6:38	hopefully you have all read The
6:40	Chronicles of Narnia the first book is
6:41	absolutely brilliant it’s entitled The
6:43	Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and we
6:45	find in the story that the land of
6:47	Narnia has been subjugated to an evil
6:49	wicked witch named Jadis and she has
6:53	made it always winter in Narnia but
6:55	never Christmas that’s got to really be
6:58	awful right could you imagine winter
7:00	here without Christmas and so but there
7:02	was a prophecy there was a prophecy that
7:06	there would be four children four
7:09	descendants of Adam and Eve sons of Adam
7:12	and daughter of saviv who would be put
7:14	on the throne at karaparavel and the
7:16	Witch’s spell would be broken so we pick
7:18	up in the story here in The Chronicles
7:20	of Narnia where the children have come
7:23	into Narnia but they have not yet been
7:25	well enthroned as kings and queens in
7:29	fact they’ve got a harrowing battle to
7:31	fight and deathly things could happen to
7:34	them and so they’re at the home of
7:36	beaver Mr and Mrs Beaver having dinner
7:40	with them I’m not sure what beavers eat
7:42	but I’m sure it’s not as well it might
7:44	be better than lutefisk but anyway
7:48	let me pick up some of the dialogue here
7:51	Peter says not meaning to be rude Mr
7:53	Beaver but you see we’re strangers
7:57	quite right quite right the bits of the
7:59	Beaver here’s my token and with these
8:02	words he held up to them a little white
8:04	object they all took it looked at it in
8:07	Surprise until suddenly Lucy said oh of
8:09	course it’s my handkerchief the one that
8:11	I gave to poor Mr tumnus that’s right
8:13	said the beaver poor fellow he got wind
8:15	of the arrest before it actually
8:17	happened and handed this over to me he
8:20	said that if anything happened to him I
8:22	must meet you here and take you on to
8:25	and hear the beaver’s voice sank into
8:28	silence and it gave one or two
8:30	mysterious nods and then signaling to
8:33	the children to stand as close around as
8:35	they possibly could so that their faces
8:37	were actually tickled by its whiskers it
8:40	added in a low whisper
8:42	they say Aslan is on the Move perhaps
8:46	he’s already landed
8:48	and now a very curious thing happened
8:51	none of the children knew who Aslan was
8:54	any more than you do but the moment the
8:55	beaver had spoken these words everyone
8:57	felt quite different perhaps it has some
9:00	times happened to you in a dream that
9:03	someone says something which you don’t
9:05	understand but in the dream feels as if
9:08	it had some enormous meaning
9:10	either a terrifying one which turns the
9:12	whole dream into a nightmare or else a
9:15	lovely meaning too lovely to put into
9:17	words which makes the dream so beautiful
9:19	that you remember it all of your life
9:22	and are always wishing that you could
9:23	get into that dream again
9:25	it was like that now
9:27	at the name of Aslan each one of the
9:30	children felt something jump
9:32	in its inside Edmond felt a sensation of
9:36	mysterious horror Peter felt suddenly
9:38	Brave and adventurous Susan felt as if
9:41	some delicious smell had some delightful
9:43	and or some delightful strain of Music
9:45	had just floated by her and Lucy got the
9:48	feeling you have when you wake up in the
9:50	morning and realize that it’s the
9:52	beginning of the holidays or the
9:54	beginning of Summer
9:55	and so in Our Gospel texts this morning
9:58	it’s like the inhabitants of Narnia the
10:01	people of Israel with the arrival of the
10:04	promised Elijah began to stir
10:06	their hearts began to Hope
10:09	maybe just maybe the lion of the tribe
10:14	of Judah was on the move and perhaps had
10:16	already landed on their Shores
10:19	finally our Redemption has drawn nigh
10:23	and indeed it has
10:25	he has
10:27	and just as he had promised the Lord
10:29	sent his messenger ahead of him a
10:31	messenger who would signal his eminent
10:34	appearing but who would also prepare
10:36	them for his arrival
10:38	which then begs the question how are
10:41	people prepared for the arrival of their
10:44	merciful forgiving and pardoning savior
10:48	answer
10:50	they’re prepared through the preaching
10:51	of God’s law and they’re called to
10:54	repent
10:55	you see
10:56	you’re not ready to be forgiven until
10:58	you know that you’re a sinner you’re not
11:02	Jesus has come to save the ungodly and
11:04	unless you understand that you’re one of
11:06	them
11:07	he’s got nothing to offer you
11:10	so they’re prepared the same way that we
11:12	are prepared for Jesus’s arrival they’re
11:15	prepared through the preaching of
11:16	repentance and this is why Advent has
11:19	always historically been a penitential
11:21	season because this is how you prepare
11:24	for the arrival of your savior and so we
11:26	return now to our text and I’ll be
11:28	reading from my translation
11:30	now in the 15th year of the government
11:32	of Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate being
11:35	governor of Judea Herod being tetrarch
11:38	of Galilee Philip his brother being
11:40	tetrarch of the region of ichiria and
11:42	trachonitis and lysenius being tetrarch
11:44	of Abilene in the time of the high
11:46	priest Anis and Caiaphas
11:48	the word of God came to John the son of
11:51	Zechariah in the wilderness two notes
11:53	Here one you’ll notice that this didn’t
11:56	take place a long time ago in a galaxy
11:58	far far away in the foggy Misty
12:01	time of Mythology this happened in human
12:04	history but you’ll also notice here that
12:06	much like the prophets of the Old
12:08	Testament over and again it would say
12:10	the word of the Lord came to the prophet
12:12	Malachi the word of the Lord came to the
12:14	prophet Isaiah the word of the Lord came
12:15	to the prophet Hosea the word of the
12:17	Lord came to John the son of Zechariah
12:19	this is a man who has one foot in the
12:22	Old Testament and one foot in the new
12:24	he’s part prophet and part preacher of
12:27	the Gospel it’s kind of a transition
12:29	figure of your wood and so he went into
12:32	all the surrounding region of the Jordan
12:34	proclaiming a baptism of listen
12:36	carefully
12:37	repentance for the Forgiveness of sins
12:42	this is odd
12:45	this is really odd
12:46	the reason why is because how did people
12:48	get their sins dealt with
12:52	in this time
12:53	they take an animal to the temple and
12:56	sacrifice it but John’s not pointing
12:59	them to the temple he’s pointing them to
13:00	the Waters of baptism something
13:02	completely new
13:04	and so it continues as it is written in
13:08	the book of the words of Isaiah the
13:09	prophet a voice of one shouting in the
13:12	wilderness prepare the way of the Lord
13:14	be making his path straight every Valley
13:17	will be filled in every mountain and
13:19	Hill will be made low the Crooked paths
13:22	will become straight and the rough will
13:24	become smooth past paths and All Flesh
13:28	will see the salvation of God
13:31	and so our sin here is likened to
13:34	Crooked paths it’s likened to mountains
13:38	it’s lightened to all things that aren’t
13:40	straight and flat and perfect
13:43	and so this
13:46	Prophet preacher Baptist is going to
13:49	prepare the way of the Lord and fill in
13:51	all the mountains and valleys make all
13:53	the paths rather than rambling and
13:55	running this way and that straighten
13:57	them all out referring to our sin and
14:00	then it says this All Flesh will see the
14:03	salvation of God
14:06	hold on to that sentence we’ll come back
14:08	to it therefore he was saying to the
14:10	crowds coming out to be baptized by him
14:13	this is not a feel-good message you
14:16	ready here’s his message you brood of
14:19	vipers who showed you to flee from the
14:22	Wrath to come
14:25	I don’t think any church Council would
14:27	call this guy as their pastor
14:30	right yeah
14:33	who warned you to flee from the Wrath to
14:35	come produce fruits worthy of repentance
14:38	and don’t begin to say within yourselves
14:40	we have Abraham as our father notice
14:42	he’s countering their religious claims
14:45	we’re children of Israel we’re
14:46	descendants of Abraham we are we have an
14:49	inside track with God not so not so for
14:53	I say to you that God is able to raise
14:54	up children for Abraham from these
14:56	stones and indeed the ax is already
14:59	lying at the root of the trees therefore
15:01	every tree not producing good fruit is
15:03	cut down and thrown into the what
15:06	fire
15:08	referring to the fires of hell
15:12	let me pull a little John the Baptist
15:14	here
15:15	so do you think that because you’ve
15:16	shown up to church
15:18	that makes you a Christian
15:20	you think that maybe because you put a
15:22	few coins in the plate when it’s passed
15:24	around Sunday after Sunday that makes
15:26	you a Christian
15:27	if that’s what you think makes you a
15:29	Christian you need to repent
15:32	you need to repent God owns the cattle
15:34	on a thousand hills he doesn’t need your
15:36	measly coins
15:37	if you think the things you do are the
15:40	things that save you you are wicked and
15:42	still in your sins
15:45	don’t think for a second that you can be
15:47	saved by what you’re doing
15:49	the text continues so the crowds were
15:51	questioning him saying What then shall
15:53	we do and this is important that the
15:56	next couple verses make it clear that
15:58	they’re asking this question after
16:00	they’re baptized if you don’t understand
16:03	that you’re going to confuse and think
16:05	well the thing I got to do in order to
16:06	be saved is to do right things that’s
16:08	not what he’s saying he was baptizing
16:10	them for the Forgiveness of their sins
16:12	they’re coming up out of the water going
16:13	now what
16:15	right whereas in the book of Acts
16:17	chapter 2 remember that great preaching
16:19	of the Apostle Peter on the day of
16:21	Pentecost he preaches law and gospel
16:23	everyone’s cut to the quick and then
16:25	they said Brothers what shall we do and
16:27	what does Peter say repent and be
16:28	baptized every one of you for the
16:30	Forgiveness of your sins so the people
16:32	on the day of Pentecost are asking prior
16:35	to baptism these people are asking after
16:38	they’ve been baptized after they’ve been
16:40	forgiven this is what’s going on so the
16:42	crowds were questioning him saying what
16:43	should we do
16:44	and having responded he was saying to
16:46	them all right let the one having two
16:49	tunics give to the one not having and
16:52	the one having food be doing likewise
16:55	and tax collectors also came to be
16:57	baptized and they said to him teacher
16:59	what should we do and the one said to
17:01	them be collecting nothing more than the
17:03	amount having been commanded in other
17:06	words you’ve now been forgiven of your
17:09	sins set free from bondage to sin death
17:11	and the devil you want to know what
17:13	Freedom looks like stop living for
17:15	yourself
17:17	start thinking about others
17:19	love them serve them
17:23	so the one serving as soldiers they were
17:25	also questioning him and and us what
17:28	should we do he said to them don’t
17:30	violate violently extort anyone or
17:33	extort with false charges and be content
17:35	with your wages
17:39	so like these soldiers tax collectors
17:43	and people coming to be baptized
17:46	we need to remember that we ought not
17:48	think for a second that doing good works
17:50	out of fear or punishment or an
17:52	expectation of a reward from God is a
17:55	good work
17:56	the reason why you’re doing your good
17:57	works is because you fear his punishment
17:59	and because you’re expecting a reward
18:00	then those works are selfish works and
18:03	they are done only for yourself and
18:05	they’re not for the good of your
18:07	neighbor
18:08	if you’re keeping a tally sheet saying
18:10	you know the way I figure it God is that
18:12	you know based on all of these great
18:13	things I’ve done for other people I’m
18:16	thinking maybe eight or ten Lanes on my
18:18	olympic size swimming pool in my
18:19	heavenly mansion
18:22	you haven’t done a single good work then
18:24	for anyone else you’ve done every single
18:25	one of them for you
18:28	those are not good works
18:32	in fact keep this in mind
18:35	you don’t have to have faith to obey
18:37	God’s law
18:39	anybody can do it if they try it hard
18:42	enough
18:42	not perfectly but make some progress at
18:45	it
18:46	pagans do things written in God’s law
18:49	and they have no faith in God
18:52	do you think God’s going to sit there
18:53	and say well I understand that you
18:54	didn’t believe in Jesus and that your
18:55	sins were never forgiven but man you
18:58	were like in the 80th percentile of
19:00	moral people you know at the end of the
19:02	day I’m going to go ahead and let you in
19:05	that’s not how that works there’s no
19:07	other name given under Heaven by which
19:09	men must be saved
19:11	so good works apart from faith are
19:14	wicked
19:16	good work’s done because you are
19:18	forgiven and have faith are truly good
19:20	works
19:21	you see the difference
19:23	you don’t do your good works in order to
19:24	receive God’s forgiveness you do them
19:27	because you have God’s forgiveness
19:30	so those works if you’re doing them out
19:32	of fear from God
19:34	or an expectation of reward they’re
19:37	selfish and they’re not done for your
19:38	neighbor even worse
19:40	those kinds of Works do not require
19:41	faith in God those types of works are
19:43	worthless before God because they are
19:45	thinly veiled attempts to save and
19:48	justify yourself rather than receive
19:51	salvation as a gift so repent God is Not
19:55	So cheaply bought off the price of your
19:58	salvation is not some measly groveling
20:00	Works done by you so that you can save
20:02	your own skin or bargain with God for
20:05	better rewards in heaven
20:07	if you think that’s what’s your good
20:09	works are for you need to repent the
20:11	price of your salvation are not the
20:13	plastic cheap Chinese trinkets
20:16	of your good works the price of your
20:19	salvation is the very blood of a perfect
20:21	and spotless sacrifice and that
20:23	sacrifice is Christ
20:26	so we need to repent
20:28	the people baptized by John asked What
20:31	then shall we do
20:32	they were not asking this in order to be
20:34	forgiven
20:35	verse 3 says that John was proclaiming a
20:38	baptism of the Forgiveness of sins so
20:40	the reason they asked what shall we do
20:42	was because they were forgiven
20:45	so I asked the question
20:47	I knew this was going to be rough are
20:50	you prepared for the arrival of the Lion
20:51	of the tribe of Judah are you prepared
20:54	for his Advent he’s on the move he will
20:57	arrive very shortly and his winnowing
20:59	Fork is in his hand and when he arrives
21:01	he will Thresh the wheat separate the
21:03	wheat from the chaff the wheat he will
21:05	gather into his barn with the chaff will
21:07	be burned up with unquenchable fire
21:09	repent therefore stop trying to bargain
21:13	with God he cannot be bargained with
21:15	he’s not coming to negotiate with you
21:17	he’s not coming to negotiate the terms
21:19	of Your Surrender he’s coming to judge
21:21	you
21:23	see the difference so remember read what
21:26	we read in verse 3 All Flesh will see
21:28	the salvation of God
21:30	and you have heard the Salvation
21:32	Proclaim to you
21:34	let me read it from the Gospel of John
21:36	chapter 6.
21:38	that came to Jesus and said what must we
21:40	be doing to do the works of God chapter
21:42	6 verse 28 Jesus answered them this is
21:46	the work of God
21:48	that you believe in him who he has sent
21:52	so stop believing that you’re good
21:54	and that you can do enough good things
21:56	to placate God
21:58	you’re not good
22:00	and if that is the reason that you’re
22:01	doing your good works your good works
22:03	will be the very thing that damn you not
22:05	your sins so repent change your mind and
22:07	instead believe in the one whom the
22:09	father has sent to save you to die for
22:11	your sins the one who washes away your
22:13	sins in the waters of your baptism and
22:15	the one who feeds you with this very
22:17	body and blood for the Forgiveness of
22:19	your sins all of this he does as a gift
22:22	out of his great love and mercy and
22:24	compassion for you repent believe be
22:27	forgiven and then do your good works for
22:30	your neighbor not for you you don’t need
22:34	them to bargain with God you have Jesus
22:36	and he’s paid your debt in for in full
22:39	for you already
22:41	in the name of Jesus
22:43	amen

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