Condemnation CRUSHED

Our condemnation is CRUSHED by God’s grace.  What does that look like?  The prophet Isaiah helps us get the bigger picture.  His 12th chapter is one of the most gospel filled in the whole Bible.

What’s this?  Pastor of the year award!?  You shouldn’t have.  (There is no such thing as the Fraternal Order of Lutheran Ministers…)  The year isn’t even three months old, but I guess who else would you give the award to?  I would like to thank everyone who made this award possible.  My computer for helping me word process my sermons.  My internet service provider who helped me send out emails.  That’s about it.  Everything else is all me!

If you are even just a little irked at the introduction to this sermon, that was the goal.  No one likes to hear someone talk about themselves like that!  Especially in something as intricate and complex as the church.  Jesus compares this to his body, with all the parts working together.  Our text this morning from the prophet Isaiah is one of the purest gospel text you will find.  In fact the historical church even used this as a Scripture lesson for Easter Sunday!  This morning boasting is the farthest thing from our minds.  We have been CRUSHING all sorts of things this Lenten season: temptation – Satan knows where your fence is the lowest, shortcuts – there is often no easy way through this life, and false security – the ups and downs of your life have no bearing on how your God feels about you.  God’s love for you is boundless.  Today is no different this morning we CRUSH condemnation.

Dear friends, We don’t get what we deserve.  Our God CRUSHES condemnation with his grace.  What does that look like?  It isn’t pretty!

Are you aware every time you sin?  Probably not.  Yet that doesn’t mean that your sin, say speeding when you didn’t see the speed limit sign, doesn’t excuse you.  God does indeed have every right to nail you to the wall!  …to get angry with you!  Is God really serious about sin?  The Bible says that the soul that sins is the one that will die.  How many people since Adam have died?  With the exception of two, all of them.  God’s Old Testament people saw this in the more than 1000 sacrifices that had to be offered during the year.  Something has to die because I sinned, but it’s not going to be me.  Vs 1 “I will praise you, O LORD.  Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.  ² Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”

Jesus took my sin, guilt, and condemnation when he died on the cross.  That’s leaves me NOT getting what I deserve.  I get God’s grace.  Want to hear more?  Watch this week’s message taken from Isaiah 12 – Condemnation CRUSHED.