St. John Lutheran Church

Ephesians 1:3-14

“The Gospel shows the Father’s grace”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

This life is a life of death that often gets us down. This life of death gets us down emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The problems of this world and this life make us question why things happen the way they do. We question what it all means. We question our faith and God.

There are many days I wish I didn’t read the newspaper online. Some Chicago Tribune headlines from yesterday; just yesterday: “Chaotic scene erupts with angry crowd after fatal police shooting in South Shore.” “1 dead, 1 wounded in Waukegan shooting; 15-year-old boy charged.” “3 vehicles shot on I-57 north in Calumet Park area.” “10 people shot, 1 fatally, in 6 hours in Chicago.”

But the tragedy doesn’t end with those articles. We read about murders on a regular basis. Home invasions. Rapes. Drownings. Accidents. Violence. Genocide. There is violence all around us. And there are other tragic headlines as well: Malaria kills a child every minute in Africa; and from Lutherans for Life: every minute 3 babies are murdered from abortion.

This life is a life of death and tragedy that get us down. We get down when a loved one dies. We get down when our husband or wife gets news that they have cancer. We question God’s love when we lose our home, job, car…or worse lost friendships and shattered families. In the end…no matter the tragedy that we incur…we wonder if God really loves us.

While the papers, internet, radio, and other news outlets constantly remind us of the problems of this world; the problems brought on by sin…there is something far better to read! The Bible. For in Scripture we read and hear the Gospel…and the Gospel shows us the Father’s grace and love. Listen. Don’t just hear the words…but listen:

  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)

There is only one question that comes to mind after reading this text. Are you a Christian? Are you a Christian that worries about how strong your faith is? Are you a Christian that suffers from tragedies? Are you a Christian that is also a sinner? Are you a Christian that doubts? Are you a Christian that is constantly in need of forgiveness? If you are any of these…and surely you are all of these…than this text is for you!

Are you a Christian? Yes? Than praise God for He chose you! Before the creation of the world God chose you! Before Adam and Eve ever fell into sin God chose each and every one of you. He didn’t choose you because of how talented you are. He didn’t choose you because of your great deeds. He didn’t choose you because of your good looks or style. In fact God chose you despite the fact that you, as a sinner, hated him. God chose you. What a wonderful little sentence. God chose you to be His child. God did all of this through His Son…through Christ Jesus…who died on the cross for you.

God chose you. But what does that mean…because you and I we still sin…we still suffer tragedy and loss…we still have broken relationships…we still suffer from sin in this world. And because of that…we still question God. What does God choosing you really mean?

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:7-14)

God chose you… to receive the forgiveness of sins and the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus. You were chosen to put your hope in Christ and praise God for His glory. You were chosen to receive a seal marking you as God’s beloved child; the gift of the Holy Spirit through baptism. That same Holy Spirit, that same seal, that same gift given through baptism is a deposit that guarantees our inheritance of heaven.

What all of that means is that God chose you before creation to be His child and an heir of life everlasting in heaven. What that means is that God chose you…to give you peace and hope in a world that is falling apart. God chose you even when friendships are broken and families are shattered. It means that God chose you regardless of your status in this world. God chose you…to save you…from this sinful world…from your own sin…from death…and from Satan and hell. He chose you because He loves you.

God chose to love you before you were born. God chose to love you when others don’t. God chose to love you even when you can’t even love yourself. God chose you…as He sent His Son to die that you would have life.

My brothers and sisters in Christ…don’t let this life get you down. Don’t let sin get you down. Yes, you and I both suffer from tragedies…we suffer because we are sinful people living in a sinful and corrupt world. Bad things happen…because of sin. But God chose you…to love you and save you! He gives you every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places as He chose to save you before the foundation of the world. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.