Trinity 19 - 2024. The Dropsical Man

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The Hymn # 377:1-5       Speratus - Salvation Unto Us
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Say unto my soul, I am thy Salvation: The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth.

He delivereth them out of their troubles: He is their God forever and ever.

Psalm. Give ear, O My people, to My Law: 

incline your ears to the words of My mouth.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O almighty and most merciful God, of Thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech Thee, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready, both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that Thou wouldst have done; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Gradual

Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense: 

and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Oh, sing unto the Lord a new song: for He hath done marvelous things. Hallelujah!

The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #263        O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe                               

Forgiveness Through Faith in Jesus Christ

The Communion Hymn #267               Luther - If God Himself 
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #261       Luther - Lord Keep Us Steadfast  

Our Prayers and Announcements

• God's blessings - Brett and Amy Meyer - 35th Anniversary, tomorrow.
• Michael Oak and Amanda Meyer were married four years ago on October 16th. Blessed by baby June. Congratulations and God's continued blessings.
•  Lori Howell's mother died, October 8, 2021. 
• Ongoing medical - Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Doc Lito and his grandson...

Nineteenth Sunday After Trinity

O mighty and everlasting God, who by Thy Son Jesus Christ didst mercifully help the palsied man both in body and soul: We beseech Thee, for the sake of Thy great mercy: Be gracious also unto us; forgive us all our sins, and so govern us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not ourselves be the cause of sickness and other afflictions; keep us in Thy fear, and strengthen us by Thy grace that we may escape temporal and eternal wrath and punishment, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

KJV Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

KJV Matthew 9:1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Luther's complete sermon on Trinity 19- Second Sermon

"Behold, here you have all that belongs to this article of the righteousness of Christ. It consists in the forgiveness of sins, offered to us through Christ, and received by faith in and through the Word, purely and simply without any works on our part."

Forgiveness Through Faith in Jesus Christ

KJV Matthew 9:1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

It is good that we associate this healing with forgiveness of his sin. One part is Jesus declaring forgiveness of this man's sins and the other part - miraculous healing of the man. The central theme of Luther's second sermon for Trinity 19 is Jesus' healing and forgiveness.

We have hundreds if not thousands of Lutheran graduates of colleges, seminaries, and graduate schools. They must be very smart, because they know more than Luther and St. Paul combined! Yes, they solemnly declare (as false teachers will) that the entire world has already been forgiven. They do not know exactly when this universal absolution took place, but they are certain that it happened and will not confess anything else. That is just as true to ELCA Bishop Liz Eaton and it is to LCMS Matt Harrison and WELS Mark Schroeder. One pastor with multiple titles told 700 youth that "Evangelism is easy. Just say - you are forgiven." Strangely, Unitarian-Universalists (U-U's, as they say) offer the same wisdom.

That evangelism claim misses the truth by 100%, concerning the palsied man. This passage is so clear and convincing that only a child can understand it. Just remember the wisdom of children I have asked about this issue - "Jesus is God -- He can do anything."

When we stew about our situation, it is our burden to look things over, worry, fret, and become depressed to the point of being unmoved by anything or everything. That is when we realize that the cure is in front of us. "Jesus is God. He can do anything." 

This poor man's friends already believed. They brought their friend to the Savior. Notice how friendly and welcoming Jesus is - 

1. Son
2. Be of good cheer
3. Your sins are forgiven to thee.

"Son" - Jesus does not aim at the pain, pouring out the blame. Instead, Jesus declares the man to be part of His family of believers. 

"Be of good cheer" - I am in You, and You are in Me, linked by the Gospel.

"Sins are forgiven you." This is personal, from Jesus to the stricken man. Jesus' Gospel message is to drown sin in God's ocean of grace. See also the ending of Micah

Micah 7 - 18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. [literally - Jesus is opposing and slandering God]

The Gospel invokes anger, retaliation, and revenge - sometimes in silence, vigorously at other times. That is not all bad, because opposition about the Word of God awakens us so that we examine the Scriptures carefully - Jesus centrally - the Spirit's power in the Scriptures, hearing and remembering the Gospel.

Nicodemus in John 3 is one who was curious and disturbed by Jesus - who questioned the Jewish leader's grasp of the Word. Disturbing Nicodemus was good for the scholar. No one wrote a book about his conversion, but Nick at Night was there to help with the burial, risking everything.

4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

Jesus knew the evil thoughts of the scribes, who were offended (triggered, as we say today). They should have rejoiced instead of being angered, more than angry because they considered Jesus' mercy and absolution a crime against God. And that is what we have today, synod presidents and bishops, pastors, district presidents, college and seminary professors who deny and reject God's Word - and that is blasphemy.

6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

This is one of many passages where Jesus emphasized His divinity. From a believer's point of view, this is powerful 

1. in the forgiveness of sin and 
2. the many blessings that come to believers.

But this has to happen through the Gospel Word, the only way in which we have access to God's grace. Jesus uttered His divine Word, declaring love for this man and healing of his terrible condition. Just as Jesus spread the Word everywhere, so the disciples carried out His work by broadcasting the living Seed of the Word. The fundamental work of the Christian Church is to teach faith.

7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

The only way people experience forgiveness is through the Gospel message of Jesus. Faith in Him is primary and not to be neglected. The Word itself - whether heard or read or remembered - has the energy of the Spirit. Luther suggests praying for forgiveness of sin every day.