1. Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The message from God’s Word this Last Sunday of the Church year, also called Christ the King Sunday, is taken from Colossians 1:13-20. Here in this Epistle to the Colossians the Apostle Paul tells us that 1).Christ the King of Creation came to rescue us from all evil (vv. 13, 14, 19, 20), and that 2). Christ the King will come to rescue us for eternal life with him (vv. 15–18). The message is entitled, “The King of Creation is Our Rescuer,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. Being good Americans, we find talk of royalty and kings difficult to bear.
We believe in democracy, not royalty. But more important than our being
good Americans, is our being good Christians. And the truth is, the
Church is no democracy. As Christians we do have a King. Not a
president, not a prime minister, but a King. His name is Jesus. His
is the Christ, the Anointed One of God, the Messiah promised of old, and he is
our King.
3. Colossians
1:13-20 fits well into the Last Sunday of the Christian year known as Christ
the King Sunday or Sunday of the Fulfillment. On this Sunday, we’re reminded as
Christians, that we’re subjects of Christ and Christ alone. Christ’s power
transcends all other powers and that salvation in Christ has been achieved for
all through His death on the cross for our sins. This Last Sunday of the Church Year is like a
New Year’s Eve, a time when people look back and reflect on the past year and
look ahead with hope to the future. Christ the King Sunday shares themes with
Palm Sunday. The reality of Jesus’ death hovers over Palm Sunday. On Christ the
King Sunday, it’s the advent or coming of Jesus’ nativity that in one week’s
time will be on our minds as Christians. Both days celebrate the multiple
meanings of Christ’s identity: the same Christ who is hailed as king also
suffers a cruel death at the hands of the state, and the same Christ who rules
over all creation also enters the world as a vulnerable baby. But, you may ask
how can the same God be so many things? Why are different meanings of divinity
presented in such rapid succession here in Colossians 1? The paradox is
important. Christ’s rule takes on special meaning when understood within the
context of the whole narrative of his birth, life, suffering, death, and
resurrection. Christ is no ordinary king. Returning to Colossians 1, the text gives
us several clues as to what kind of king he is.
4. Through St. Paul, the Holy Spirit reveals to us what the Kingdom of
Christ is like. In his holy
kingdom, Jesus reveals the image of God. Colossians 1.15 says, “15 He is the image of the invisible God.” We live in this holy kingdom, because Jesus created us,
and all things for his good pleasure.
Colossians 1.16 says, “16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” In his kingdom, Jesus reigns as Lord and our God, sustaining us in body and soul, leading us from death to life, and ruling over all. Colossians 1.17-19 says, “17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” As our King, Jesus has reconciled us with himself, with each other, and with all things in heaven and on earth by the shedding of his holy, innocent, precious blood on the cross. Colossians 1.19b-20 says, “God was pleased . . . through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” So, St. Paul writes at the beginning of our epistle reading for today, Colossians 1.13-14, “13 [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
5. The question for us today is: How do we become part of this kingdom? You already know the answer, you've learned it from your youth. But just in case you've forgotten, or maybe haven't yet begun your study of the Catechism, here it is: [Small Catechism; Our Father; Second Petition; Explanation] “How does God's kingdom come? God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and [in his heavenly kingdom] in eternity.” To live under the rule of Christ the King means we live as those who receive. Our heavenly Father gives—we receive. We receive the Holy Spirit. We receive faith that believes the Word we receive from the Scriptures. We receive Christ's redemption, the forgiveness of sins. We receive holy guidance necessary to lead godly lives, both now and in eternity. As those who live under Christ our King, we receive all the blessings of God, by his grace, through faith. Subjects of a king receive gifts from him, and we, as subjects of Christ, are no different. Christ's kingdom comes when God gives it to us, and we receive it in faith.
6. Redeemed children of God that we are, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we still struggle to live as those who receive. Here's what I mean. Ask yourself this question: Why did I come to church today? Did you come here today to receive Christ's forgiveness and redemption in his blood? Or did you come perhaps to give something to God? Oftentimes we come to Church to give God one hour of our week, or to give our offering. Some folks even come to church to give the impression of holiness to their lives. But our lives in the Kingdom of Christ are not about giving. They are about receiving the gifts of our King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
7. Certainly, giving has it's place. In the world, we are called to give to those in need. We are called to give of our time, our talents, and our treasures. We’re called to give our blood and even our lives for the sake of the faith. But when our giving becomes our goal, we've stepped outside the reign of Christ our King, and entered into the realm of sin; the realm of the Prince of this world, Satan himself. So today, Christ our King calls on us to confess our sin. He calls on us to bow before him at the foot of his cross and lay bare the sin in our souls. Especially the sin of trying to give our way into heaven, rather than receiving it in faith from Jesus Christ, our King. So we fall on our knees and join the repentant thief in prayer: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
8. In saying that prayer and making our confession, we are granted the opportunity once more to be receivers of the blessings of our King. In response to our confession, Christ our King forgives us our sin, and welcomes us once more into the Kingdom of Heaven. By his grace he delivers us from the domain of darkness and transfers us into his glorious kingdom of grace. In this kingdom, we see the One who gives: we see our King, Jesus Christ give all that can be given. We see him give up his life: Luke 23.33 says. . . “when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.” We see him give us forgiveness as he prays from the cross, Luke 23.34, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." We see him give us eternal life, even as we face certain death: [St. Luke 23.43] "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
10. This is life in the kingdom of our Lord. Life lived as receivers of the most precious gifts in heaven and on earth: the forgiveness of our sins, life that never ends, and the salvation of our souls. All these good and gracious gifts come to us from the one who was once crowned with thorns upon the cross and now reigns from the throne at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: Christ King of Creation is our rescuer. To him be glory and blessing and honor, for he rules and reigns over us as the giver of all good gifts. Amen.
Colossians 1.16 says, “16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” In his kingdom, Jesus reigns as Lord and our God, sustaining us in body and soul, leading us from death to life, and ruling over all. Colossians 1.17-19 says, “17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” As our King, Jesus has reconciled us with himself, with each other, and with all things in heaven and on earth by the shedding of his holy, innocent, precious blood on the cross. Colossians 1.19b-20 says, “God was pleased . . . through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” So, St. Paul writes at the beginning of our epistle reading for today, Colossians 1.13-14, “13 [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
5. The question for us today is: How do we become part of this kingdom? You already know the answer, you've learned it from your youth. But just in case you've forgotten, or maybe haven't yet begun your study of the Catechism, here it is: [Small Catechism; Our Father; Second Petition; Explanation] “How does God's kingdom come? God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and [in his heavenly kingdom] in eternity.” To live under the rule of Christ the King means we live as those who receive. Our heavenly Father gives—we receive. We receive the Holy Spirit. We receive faith that believes the Word we receive from the Scriptures. We receive Christ's redemption, the forgiveness of sins. We receive holy guidance necessary to lead godly lives, both now and in eternity. As those who live under Christ our King, we receive all the blessings of God, by his grace, through faith. Subjects of a king receive gifts from him, and we, as subjects of Christ, are no different. Christ's kingdom comes when God gives it to us, and we receive it in faith.
6. Redeemed children of God that we are, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we still struggle to live as those who receive. Here's what I mean. Ask yourself this question: Why did I come to church today? Did you come here today to receive Christ's forgiveness and redemption in his blood? Or did you come perhaps to give something to God? Oftentimes we come to Church to give God one hour of our week, or to give our offering. Some folks even come to church to give the impression of holiness to their lives. But our lives in the Kingdom of Christ are not about giving. They are about receiving the gifts of our King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
7. Certainly, giving has it's place. In the world, we are called to give to those in need. We are called to give of our time, our talents, and our treasures. We’re called to give our blood and even our lives for the sake of the faith. But when our giving becomes our goal, we've stepped outside the reign of Christ our King, and entered into the realm of sin; the realm of the Prince of this world, Satan himself. So today, Christ our King calls on us to confess our sin. He calls on us to bow before him at the foot of his cross and lay bare the sin in our souls. Especially the sin of trying to give our way into heaven, rather than receiving it in faith from Jesus Christ, our King. So we fall on our knees and join the repentant thief in prayer: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
8. In saying that prayer and making our confession, we are granted the opportunity once more to be receivers of the blessings of our King. In response to our confession, Christ our King forgives us our sin, and welcomes us once more into the Kingdom of Heaven. By his grace he delivers us from the domain of darkness and transfers us into his glorious kingdom of grace. In this kingdom, we see the One who gives: we see our King, Jesus Christ give all that can be given. We see him give up his life: Luke 23.33 says. . . “when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.” We see him give us forgiveness as he prays from the cross, Luke 23.34, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." We see him give us eternal life, even as we face certain death: [St. Luke 23.43] "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
10. This is life in the kingdom of our Lord. Life lived as receivers of the most precious gifts in heaven and on earth: the forgiveness of our sins, life that never ends, and the salvation of our souls. All these good and gracious gifts come to us from the one who was once crowned with thorns upon the cross and now reigns from the throne at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: Christ King of Creation is our rescuer. To him be glory and blessing and honor, for he rules and reigns over us as the giver of all good gifts. Amen.
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