January 7th We are set apart
Isaiah 43: 1-7
Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22
Scholars locate this scripture of Isaiah from the time of the Exile. You see, Jerusalem had been destroyed. All the Jews were scattered around the world. The Temple building which was central to their life was gone. They felt there was no life to be had. But God says they would be gathered again, because they belonged to God.
I love this scripture from Isaiah. Here is what God is saying to those believers in the crowd who can hear his message. “I made you…from the beginning, you are mine. When you are in over your head and the waters are really rough like they were for Noah on the ark, I’ll be there.
When those who consider you an enemy fight against you and everything you seek to do in my name…… I will be there. When you are between a rock and a hard place and the fire is all around you, you will walk thru the fire and not be burned. For I am your savior.
So don’t be afraid. I’m with you. I want back every last person who bears my name because I created them for my glory.”
What a magnificent statement from Almighty God. “I created you and I set you apart”. You’re not like those other nations. In fact, I would trade every one of them just for you.
I had a dream one night that I was dead. When I opened my eyes, I was sitting on a bench in what looked like a court house. My name was called and I was brought in and seated at the defense table. As I looked around, I saw the prosecutor – a villainous looking man who snarled at me.
I sat down, and seated next to me was my lawyer, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar. The judge appeared and commanded an awesome presence as he moved across the room. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. As he took his seat behind the bench he said “let us begin”.
The prosecutor rose and began “My name is Satan and I am going to show why this man belongs in Hell.” He began by describing the lies I had told; things I had stole; and how I had cheated others in the past. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in the chair I sank.
I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own lawyer, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten. As upset as I was at Satan for revealing all those things about me, I was equally upset at my representative, who sat there silently - not offering any form of defense at all.
I knew I was guilty of all those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least cancel out part of the bad things I had done? Satan finished with a fury and closed by saying, "This man belongs to me in hell, since he is guilty of all these charges, and there is no person who can prove otherwise."
When it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the bench. Satan yelled, "I object!," but the judge remarked, "Overruled," and beckoned my attorney to come forward. As he got up and started walking, I was able to see him in his full splendor and majesty. I realized why he seemed so familiar.
My attorney was Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said to the judge, "Hi Dad," and then he turned to address the court. "Satan was correct in saying that this man has sinned. I won't deny any of these allegations. And yes, the wages of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished."
Jesus took a deep breath and turned to his Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that every person might have eternal life. Since this man has accepted me as his Savior, he is mine."
My Lord continued, "His name is written in the book of life, and no one can snatch him from me.
Satan still does not understand that this man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy." As Jesus sat down, he quietly paused, looked at his Father and replied, "There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all."
The judge lifted his mighty hand, slammed the gavel down, and bellowed from his lips, "This man is free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full. Case dismissed!"
As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I'll win the next one." I asked Jesus as he gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?" Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to me and asked me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, Paid in Full."
Allow that to sink in for a moment. We were intricately formed by God, created for God’s glory, and belong to God. What does that mean? I’ve already talked about how we belong to God. Now, we were “formed by God”…In Genesis we were made in the image of God.
That doesn’t mean we can play God, no matter how egocentric we are. It means we have some attributes of God…Patience, kindness, gentleness, peace, the ability to love. We have the “free will” to lie, be greedy, and hate others, but those are not from God.
We were also “created for God’s glory”. What is God’s glory? According to Webster, glory is “very great praise, honor, and distinction bestowed on someone; a source of admiration.”
So we were created that when we are looked upon by others, praises will go up to God. Do you understand what that means? You are called to be perfect because EVERY unbeliever is looking at you and waiting for you to cause some sort of ruckus or slip up in some way so they can say “see…that ‘Christian’ messed up. He’s no good, so neither is God.” We are going to get back to being perfect in a little while.
Our marquee sign out front says “there is always a second chance.” Those who are against God and God’s will don’t believe that. What does “always” mean? It’s like the word “all”….all means all and that’s all all means. Even if it’s the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 29th, 92nd, 246th time, there is always a second chance. That’s all summed up in the word “grace”. We don’t like that word “grace” sometimes, because it means forgiveness.
A couple years ago, a very close friend wounded me. He was in my accountability group and something I shared with him, he used against me. It really hurt, because I thought he was someone I could trust.
He is in the position even today where he could still hurt me, but I’ve moved on. I did forgive him and gave him grace or mercy. The consequence though was a loss of friendship for both of us.
Grace and mercy is where our baptism comes in. PULLING OUT THE LARGE WATERGUN. Now I was not at any of your baptisms, and I figure if there is more than one person here today who wants to be baptized, I’ll do it the efficient way.
Trust me, it does not matter whether you are dunked or dry cleaned, the baptism is the same. You are only baptized once in your life. If you do it more than once, you are telling Christ he did not die for all of your sins and it was not finished, and you will be in effect nailing him to the cross over and over again. If you have not been baptized and want to be, come up at communion and stay up. We will do it then.
When we are baptized, we remember Jesus’ baptism. John says it best. I baptize you with water, but when Jesus comes, he will baptize you with the fire. But John looks back to these words from Isaiah “you will go thru the fire, but you will not be scorched”. Your baptism is a sign to the entire world to show you are set apart from all other creation.
It’s a sign saying to the world “I am different now. I’m not that hate filled scum anymore. I am a new creation.” And in God’s eyes, you are. 20 years after your baptism when you’re not acting like a Christian, and you finally realize it, you can go to God.
You say “God, I thought I…I…I was a new creation, but I’m acting like that hate filled scum I was before.” And God looks upon you with loving eyes and says “to me, you look perfect, and that’s what matters. You can see your acting like pond scum because you don’t have your eyes fixed on my son Jesus.
If you will seek my will for your life every day and stop following the path traveled by your cousin or your friends, you will see my plans laid out before you.” “But Lord, what about such and such that I just did?” “Your sins are as far away as the East is from the West. I’ve thrown them in the deepest part of the ocean.”
When we are baptized, Jesus is the only one who meets us in the water. All the people in our past desert us, and we have yet to meet all the real Christians. And we realize that when Jesus is in that water with us, it is overflowing with forgiveness, repentance, God calling us by name, God claiming us as his own. After meeting us in the water, Jesus meets us in every circumstance in our life, and even in death.
When Jesus was baptized, he came out of the water and the heavens opened up. God calls out “This is my son, whom I love.” When you are baptized, when you come out of that water, the heavens break open, 10,000 angels break out into cheers, a spot light shines down upon you, and God says “This is my son, this is my daughter, whom I love.”
Even those times when you don’t believe that because you are feeling like that pond scum or those times when you believe you are on top of the world and better than anyone else, it’s still true. God loves you and I love you.
A wise man once told me “it’s easier to die for your faith than it is to live for your faith.” That is so true. It’s easier to fall on the sword than it is to put on the armor God has set out before you and fight for the truth. But fight we must, because that is why we were baptized.
God never changes, but our delivery method might. And the enemy we fight together is NOT one of flesh and blood. It is evil rulers, mighty powers and authorities in this dark world.
So it’s time to stand and take communion. I’ll leave the scripture and this sermon in your hands now with one thing to remember…when you walk out the door today, there is no falling on the sword death in the message. Like Christ, I am calling you to be set apart and a new creation; just as your baptism requires. Because everyone who has gone to the foot of the cross and asked God to represent them had received the same verdict… “paid in full.”
Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. 4Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; 6I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth— 7everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22
15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
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