“Perfect Credit” Romans 4.1-8, 13-17, Lent2A, March ‘26

 

1.           Please pray with me: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. Everyone wants to have a perfect credit score so that they can buy what they want, when they want it.  But, in God’s Word the Apostle Paul reminds us that we can’t earn God’s favor or get ourselves out of our spiritual debt of sin.  Instead, we need someone to get us out of our spiritual debt and punishment. The message from God’s Word, this 2^nd Sunday in Lent, is taken from Romans 4:1-8, 13-17 is entitled, “Perfect Credit,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.           We Americans live in a nation obsessed with credit. We hear it everywhere: “Buy now. Pay later.” We are told that a perfect credit score opens doors, grants privileges, and makes life easier. So, we borrow for cars, homes, education, vacations, and even daily purchases. And for many, the bills pile up, the interest grows, and the debt becomes overwhelming. It’s no wonder someone once joked, “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.”

3.           But Scripture tells us that there is a far more serious debt than any mortgage or student loan—our debt of sin before God. And today, in Romans 4, the Apostle Paul brings us the astonishing Gospel: God gives us perfect credit—free of charge—through Jesus Christ.

4.           Our Spiritual Credit Report: Bankrupt Before God Paul’s words strike us right between the eyes. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Every one of us is born with a spiritual debt. Original sin puts us in the red from the very beginning, and our daily sins add to the balance. Think of it this way: God has run a credit check on each of us. And the results are grim. Our accounts are filled with selfishness, pride, impatience, envy, unkind words, and loveless thoughts. We are, spiritually speaking, bankrupt.

5.           And like anyone buried in debt, we desperately try to fix the problem ourselves. We try payment plans: good works, religious activity, generosity, moral living, and church involvement. We try to convince ourselves—and sometimes God—that we deserve a little grace. But Paul makes it clear: You cannot pay this debt.

6.           Abraham’s Secret: Faith, Not Works. Many in Paul’s day thought Abraham must have had a spotless credit history with God. After all, he obeyed, sacrificed, trusted, and walked faithfully. Surely Abraham earned heaven! That notion began to grow in their minds, and they applied that flawed thinking to themselves. “If Abraham could earn heaven by his good deeds, then I must be able to as well; after all, I’m a descendant of Abraham”, so the Jews thought. Now, Abraham was the father of the Israelites. He was the head of the Jewish nation and life. The Jewish people thought that since they were descendants of Abraham they had an automatic connection to God’s grace and a clean credit history in His eyes. But Paul quotes Genesis: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Gen 15:6, Rom. 4:3) Abraham did not earn righteousness. He received it. He did not pay off his debt. God credited righteousness to his account as a gift. That is the heart of the Gospel. Salvation is not wages earned; it is a gift given. Faith itself is not a human achievement; it is God’s gracious work in us by the Holy Spirit.

7.           God’s Ultimate Credit Advance: Jesus Christ. Now here is the miracle of grace: God does not merely forgive the debt—He pays it Himself. He takes all our guilt, shame, rebellion, and failure and transfers it to His Son. On the cross, Jesus becomes spiritually bankrupt in our place. He bears the full weight of the debt. He suffers the judgment. He pays the price in full. And then, God credits Christ’s righteousness to us.

8.           It’s the greatest financial reversal in history: Our debt → His account. His righteousness → Our account. That’s what Paul means when he says God “justifies the ungodly.” We receive perfect credit before the heavenly court.

9.           Priceless Grace. I’m reminded of a certain credit card commercial, it’s the one that depicts a father and son at the ball game: “A baseball hat: $8.00. One ball glove: $15.00. Season tickets: $200. Spending time with your son: Priceless.” The point of the commercial is quite simple. MasterCard makes it possible for you to enjoy the better, priceless things in life. Well, we’re able to enjoy blessings beyond anything this world has to offer! No plastic card can purchase the greater blessings of salvation. We have the Master’s Card. We have the blood and righteousness of Jesus credited to our account – that’s priceless! 

10.        Living on Christ’s Account. Because of this, we are card-carrying Christians—living on Christ’s account. When we confess our sins, we charge them to His forgiveness. When guilt troubles us, we charge peace to His grace. When loneliness or fear strikes, we charge comfort to His presence. And this account never runs out. God’s grace cannot be overdrawn. The balance never hits zero. His mercy is new every morning.

11.        Abraham’s Faith and Our Hope. Paul reminds us that Abraham believed in “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17 & Genesis 17) Abraham trusted God’s impossible promise of a child—and God fulfilled it. The same God who gave Abraham a son has given us His Son Jesus. And the same God who brought life from barrenness and death brings eternal life to sinners.

12.        Dear friends, we come before God with perfect credit, not because of who we are, but because of who Christ is. Our debt is paid. Our record is clean. Our future is secure. Trust in God’s promises. Believe in Christ. Rejoice in the perfect credit credited to you by grace. The same God who gave form and life to the universe is the same God who still gives life to us. We can now place all the debt of our sins at Jesus’ feet and trust in His grace to cancel all our debt. Trust in God’s promises.  The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Abraham is the father of all the faithful, because he believed in God’s unlimited credit advance of grace.”  He was given perfect credit and righteousness before the Lord and so have we. God’s grace was credited to Abraham just as it’s credited to us. Now, that’s priceless! Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.

 

 

“The Good News of a God Who Reveals Himself to Us” Ex. 3.1–15 Lenten Mid 2 March ‘26

 

1.      Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The message from God’s Word for our 2^nd Lenten Midweek service is taken from Exodus 3:1-15, we continue our Lenten Service Theme: Set Free-The Gospel in Exodus and tonight we focus on, “The Good News of a God Who Reveals Himself to Us,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.      How do we come to know God? Nature testifies that behind this creation is a powerful, divine Creator. And our conscience tells us that we are accountable to him. But knowing that there is a God is not the same as knowing God. How can we come to know who this God is and what he’s like? How can we know whether this God is for us? For us to know that—for us to know him—we need God himself to tell us and show us. We need him to come to us and make himself known to us just as he did for Moses.

3.      One day, Moses was out tending his father-in-law Jethro’s flock. Moses had been raised to privilege in Pharaoh’s court, not to tend sheep. He was an Israelite, and, with his fellow Israelites at the time, born a slave in Egypt. But he was rescued from the Egyptian king’s edict to kill all male Israelite babies—rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in the palace. But, he had to flee, when he killed an Egyptian taskmaster. So here he was, a shepherd in the land of Midian, just as he’d been for the last forty years. But, this day, would prove to be unlike any other.

4.      As Moses shepherded the flock by Mount Horeb, he saw something beyond his understanding: a bush that was burning but was not being consumed by the flames. As he approached to see what this could be, God called to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” Moses responded, “Here I am,” and the Lord told him not to come near but to take his sandals off his feet—because the place he was standing on was holy ground. What was it that made that place holy? The presence of the all-holy Lord. God had come to Moses, to reveal himself to Moses.

5.      God had come in a most remarkable way! The fire of the burning bush indicated the Lord’s divine holiness and power. But the fire was found in the humble plant of a desert bush. The Lord was revealing himself as a holy God who comes to his people in humble form. God then gave a further revelation of himself in his name. From the burning bush, God told Moses that he was sending him to Pharaoh to bring his people out of Egypt. Moses responded by asking who he should say had sent him. God answered, “I am Who I am. . . . Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you’ ” (Ex 3:14).

6.      So who is this God? He is I am. He is the one who alone is eternally, independently, unchangingly present. He’s all of that—and more! He is not merely present; he is actively present. He is with his people for a purpose. He is with them to be their God, caring for them as his people. The Lord continued to identify himself even more fully, saying to Moses: “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’ ” (Ex 3:15).

7.      So who is I am? He’s the one who had promised the patriarchs of Israel that he would make of them a great nation, give them a home, and through them bring blessing to all nations. And he is the one who was now setting into motion the fulfillment of those great promises.

8.      At Mount Horeb, the Lord showed himself to be a God who graciously comes to his people and makes himself known to them. In the burning bush, he revealed himself as a God who comes in lowly means without diminishing his divinity. In his words to Moses, he identified himself as a God who can be trusted to keep his promises. And in his fulfillment of the greatest of those promises—the promise of an Offspring of Abraham through whom all nations would be blessed—God gave an even more astonishing revelation of who he is and what he is like.

9.      As the Lord came to Moses in the wilderness by Horeb, he came to us in the wilderness of this fallen world. He came to us personally, and in the most remarkable way! He came in his perfect divinity—but he came in the lowliness of humanity. Much as the flames Moses saw were in the lowliness of a desert bush, the true divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ was present in, with, and under his true humanity. As Paul put it in Colossians, “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col 2:9). Because of his divine nature, wherever Jesus walked—or knelt or fell or hung—was holy ground.

10.   As at Mt. Horeb, this holy God further revealed himself in his name. His personal name, Jesus, means “the Lord saves,” which is an expression of both who he is and why he came; he is the Lord, who came to save us from our sins (Mt 1:20–23). And in his teaching, Jesus revealed more about his identity and mission through additional names or titles. One significant way He did that was through what have come to be known as Jesus’ “I am” statements from John’s Gospel: “I am the bread of life” (Jn 6:35, 48). “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12). “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11, 14). “I am the door of the sheep” (Jn 10:7). “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25). “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6). “I am the true vine” (Jn 15:1, 5). And most remarkably, simply “I am” (Jn 8:58).

11.   Jesus said that those who are truly children of Abraham do as Abraham did (Jn 8:39). And what specifically did Abraham do? Jesus said, “Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad” (Jn 8:56). By faith, Abraham saw the good news of the Savior to come, Jesus Christ—and he rejoiced! So do the true children of Abraham—those who share the faith of Abraham (Gal 3:7). Jesus’ opponents responded by scoffing, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus replied with some of the most remarkable words ever spoken, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (Jn 8:57–58). With those words, Jesus was applying the holy, divine name I am to himself. He was identifying himself as the eternal Lord in the flesh.

12.   Jesus’ opponents understood what he was saying. They understood so clearly that “they picked up stones to throw at him” (Jn 8:59). It was not his time, though. Jesus hid himself and left that place—and proceeded on the path that would culminate in his greatest self-revelation. That journey led him through passages of rejection, betrayal, and abandonment. Ultimately, it brought Jesus to a cross, where our God has most fully revealed—made himself known—to us. There, we see him as the mighty Creator who died for his own creatures’ sin; the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep; the God who came to us and became man, so that he could die for mankind and bring us to God. On Mount Calvary, we see an even greater revelation of God than was given to Moses at Mount Horeb. There we see more clearly than anywhere else just how wondrous his love for us is. Yes, In Christ Crucified, Our God Most Fully Reveals Himself to Us.

13.   There, on the cross, we see God as he wishes to be known: a God who came as a servant to bear our sin and be our Savior; a God who loved us more than his own life; a God who came in lowliness to lift us up in his grace. And that is the God who comes to us so that we know him and his grace today. He comes as the God of our fathers, the Lord God Almighty. But, once again, he comes in quiet, gentle ways. The one who once spoke to Moses from a lowly bush and who, in his incarnation, came to us in the form of a humble servant, now comes to us in the gently splashing water of Holy Baptism; in the still, small voice of Holy Scripture; in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Because of Jesus’ presence, wherever he comes to us in these holy means of grace, we are on holy ground.

14.   There Jesus makes himself known to us as the Lord who has fulfilled his promise to redeem us. He comes to us that we may know him as the one who is and will always be with us and for us. All glory, honor, and praise be to him who was and is and is to come: Christ Jesus the Lord, our great I am. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting. Amen.

 

 

“Death through Adam, Life through Jesus” Romans 5.12-19, Feb. ’26 Lent 1

 

“Death through Adam, Life through Jesus” Romans 5.12-19, Feb. ’26 Lent 1

1.      Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The message from God’s Word this 1st Sunday in Lent comes from Romans 5:12-19 and is entitled: “Death through Adam, Life through Christ.” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.      When you turn on the news—or scroll through social media—you’ll quickly notice a common theme: problems. Here in Wisconsin, we hear reports of rising healthcare costs, debates over public safety, and concerns about winter storms causing accidents on icy roads. Across the nation, Americans face inflation, housing challenges, political division, and natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes. Around the world, wars, humanitarian crises, famine, economic uncertainty, and climate disasters affect millions. Even in our own lives, we experience problems—family or relationship struggles, financial stress, health concerns, or times of spiritual doubt.

3.      All of these are reminders that we live in a broken world. Problems are everywhere, but there is one problem that towers above all others—a problem that no one likes to talk about: death. Death is universal. It doesn’t care who you are, how much money you have, what job you hold, or how many people depend on you. It is inevitable. And most people avoid talking about it because there seems to be no solution. We wonder: what happens next? Is there a heaven? A hell? Or do we simply cease to exist?

4.      We live in a culture of denial, pretending death doesn’t exist. But Scripture calls us to face this reality head-on. And when we do, we see there is a solution. Romans 5 teaches us that sin is the cause of death. And it all began with one man—Adam. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world. That sin is not just something we do; it is something we inherit. By nature, we are sinners.

5.      Paul reminds us that sin brings death—not just bodily death, but spiritual death. Spiritual death is life separated from God, a life cut off from the love, joy, and purpose for which we were created. All the wealth, success, or power in the world cannot change this reality. Every person, no matter their circumstances, falls under the weight of sin and the certainty of death.

6.      But thanks be to God, all has changed through Jesus Christ, the New Adam. Just as sin and death came to all through Adam, grace and life come to all who are in Christ. Jesus is the remedy for what Adam broke. Through Him, we are reconciled to God. Our sins are forgiven. The evil in our nature no longer keeps us from God’s love. Death still exists, but it no longer has the final word.

7.      St. Paul writes here in Romans 5: “Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification for all men.” Think about that for a moment. Adam’s disobedience brought sin, guilt, and death into the world, affecting billions. But Jesus’ obedience—His suffering, death, and resurrection—brings righteousness, forgiveness, and life to all who believe.

8.      To illustrate, there was once a movie called The Last Emperor. The boy emperor said, “When I do wrong, someone else is punished,” showing the world’s way of justice. Christianity reverses this pattern. When we sin, Jesus is punished in our place. On the cross, He takes the condemnation we deserve. His death brings life to all who believe. This is the heart of the Gospel: Adam’s sin was the worst mistake in human history. But what Jesus did—His death on the cross—is the greatest event in human history. Because of Him, we are no longer condemned. We are justified. God looks at us and says, “Not guilty!” And this is not just for a few people, but for all who believe. Jesus’ victory over sin and death is universal, but it becomes ours personally through faith.

9.      Because of this, we can face life and death with hope and peace. We no longer need to carry the weight of sin or despair about the future. When challenges come—whether illness strikes, relationships are strained, or death approaches—we have confidence. We have peace. We have hope. Why? Because our Savior has already walked this path, conquered sin, and opened the way to eternal life with God.

10.   Even as we hear about problems in the news every day—rising costs, natural disasters, conflicts, and global crises—we can see them in light of Christ. The world will always have challenges, but the greatest problem has already been solved. Jesus Christ, the New Adam, has defeated death for us. And because of Him, we can live with hope, courage, and peace today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.

11.   Death came through Adam, but life has come through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting. Amen.