1. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The message from God’s Word as we observe LWML Sunday is taken from Romans 8:31-39. It’s entitled, “For us and With Us,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. There is something powerful and nearly sacred about holding someone else’s hand. Picture these scenarios in your mind: a new parent holding the tiny hand of their newborn son or daughter. A teacher holding the hand of a timid kindergarten student as they cross the parking lot. A brave teenager reaching out their hand to help someone who has fallen or been hurt in competition. A young but nervous couple holding hands for the first time on a date. An excited husband and wife standing before a pastor on their wedding day, hand in hand. An elderly but tired man holding the hand of his beloved wife of many decades. A family holding the hand of their loved one as he or she passes from this life to eternal life.
3. Today is LWML Sunday. As you may be aware, “LWML” stands for “Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.” It is an auxiliary organization of our Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and has members throughout North America. Truly, they are a missionary organization, sponsoring mission efforts reaching people around the world. They do that with their mites, small offerings that together help more people hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For decades, the LWML has given a strong witness to how God’s love holds each of us.
4. Our text for this LWML Sunday is the epistle lesson chosen for today. I’d like us to consider the two questions raised by the apostle Paul in Romans 8:31: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Notice the main person, the subject. It is God. You’ll see this clearly in our text from Romans 8. Sometimes it is tempting to think that our success depends on our grip, our hold, or our heroism. It may be subtle, but it’s a slippery slope in our lives. Thoughts of self-dependence or “thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought” can open the door to believing we are the main people in God’s narrative. But the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives a different perspective. He makes it quite clear that God’s everlasting love holds us. When we are insufficient, He is all-sufficient.
5. Our outline for today’s sermon on this LWML Sunday is simple but significant: Because Jesus is for us and with us, we have no fear of condemnation. Because Jesus is for us and with us, we have no fear of separation. Because Jesus is for us and with us, we have certainty of victory. Because Jesus is for us and with us, we have no fear of condemnation. Paul writes: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).
6. What things? Paul has just acknowledged that God has done everything for our salvation. Therefore, how should we respond? God IS for us. Since God is for us, how should we respond? Paul continues with these words: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Romans 8:33-34)
7. Why did Jesus die? To pay for our sins! Why was he raised? Because the Father accepted this payment; in other words, the check has cleared! It didn’t bounce and it was not found to have insufficient funds. He died so we might live. And now, Jesus is interceding for us, fully engaged in the battle for us. I love the way that Corrie ten Boom said it: “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” Think about this personally, in your own life. Who of us in the past week has been perfect? On the other hand, how many of us have said things we would later regret? Or, have you spoken to a loved one in a tone you wish you could take back? In these past couple of years, have you been divisive in any way? Yes, me too. Yes, to all of the above. The law is convicting because the law shows us exactly where we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The pit is pretty deep…but God’s love is deeper still. His arm is long and able to rescue us. Yes, Jesus’ stretched-out arms on the cross of Calvary DID rescue us. Those same arms were made alive again as Jesus was raised from the dead. Jesus is for us and with us. Even though Satan wants to accuse and condemn you, the action of Jesus is evident – and the result is clear: we have no fear of condemnation.
8. The important mission of LWML shares this life-saving and life-giving truth with the world. For many decades, through LWML, Gospel seeds have been sown. The Holy Spirit is at work! That leads us to the next major point in our text: Because Jesus is for us and with us, we have no fear of separation. In your mind picture again, hands joined together. God will not let go of your hand! Paul continues in chapter 8: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
9. Notice what Paul does not say in this text. He does not say that life will be free of challenges and difficult circumstances. He does not say that distress or danger will not happen. In fact, he writes in great detail elsewhere (including 2 Corinthians) about his own experience in facing these challenges. We know this from our own experiences as well. Each of us could make a list of our own struggles of daily living. What would your list look like? What would you include? Who would you include? In many ways, you might feel like so much is stacked against you right now. But God declares you righteous (Romans 8:33) and loved in Jesus (Romans 8:39). Our assurance comes from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our Lutheran Women in Mission have served many people for many years, whose lives seem out of control. But God is always in control, and by His Holy Spirit, has chosen to use them and all of us to serve others in love. God is love.
10. With no fear of condemnation or separation, we come to our third point: Because Jesus is for us and with us, we have certainty of victory. That victory is made yours personally through the gift of baptism. St. Paul says in Romans 6:4: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Baptism equals victory: victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil. We are more than conquerors; we are super-victorious! One of my favorite hymns – and maybe one of yours – says this well: “No strength of ours can match his might. We would be lost, rejected. But now a champion comes to fight, Whom God Himself elected. You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is He, Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God’s only Son, adored. He holds the field victorious.” (LSB 657, v. 2)
11. Our victory is not secure because of our hold on Christ, but by His hold on us. We are more than conquerors because He holds tightly to us. Therefore, we may live each day, including today, confidently trusting in Jesus. As a baptized child of God, remain in His Word. Be reminded of your identity as a victorious one in Christ. Rely on His grace. How have you been saved? By grace through faith. And respond to His call. Like Isaiah the prophet, may we enthusiastically say: “Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8b).
12. Lutheran Women in Mission, thank you for your hearts and hands that have shared the Gospel with many around the world. Thank you for responding to the call of Jesus. Thank you for your example and encouragement to each of us. May our God continue to hold us in His love, the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting. Amen.
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