Septuagesima 2022
1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5
February 13, 2022
Zion Lutheran Church + Nampa, ID
This morning we stand today in the time of transition. Still rejoicing in the Epiphany hope, over the next three weeks, we are reminded that God’s revelation of Jesus as the Christ leads us to Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and finally to Easter.
In this time of transition, we address ourselves to the overcoming of sin, the necessity of self-discipline, the preparations needed to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. By God’s grace, as we heard in the Gospel reading, we have received the invitation and call to enter God’s vineyard. This is a call for laborers, for workers in the Kingdom, not for those who would be lazy or idle. The Christian life is hard work in the heat of the day, a hard battle, and a race to the finish line. The work has its pay, the battle its final victory, the race its medal. It is the denarius of eternal life, the final defeat of sin, death, and the devil, the crown of victory.
This is no earthly trophy, no worldly prize, no perishable wreath, but an imperishable one, life with God through faith in Christ. And, like all things of eternal value, this is something for which we as Christian ought to hope for, strive for, work for, train for.
Right now, the Winter Olympics are going on. The Superbowl is later today. Whether you follow these things or not, it is impressive to see some of the best athletes in the world competing against one another. There’s always stories of how they got to where they are. No one gets to compete, no one gets to win a medal or trophy at such things without constant training and practice and self-discipline and coaching.
St. Paul compares the Christian life to a race and by the Word of God coaches us in what that means. This race of the Christian life requires continuous effort, stamina, and endurance are needed to work during the heat of the day. This takes regularly exercising one’s faith in Christ and holding tight to His promises found in His Word. It involves denying oneself and the indulgence that might lessen the chance of victory, of perseverance until the end. The spiritual runner must learn to run wisely, not wildly, heading in the right direction, toward the finishing line and entrance into eternal glory with Christ.
Paul says not only that this is a race, but also a fight. Pursuit of holiness, the fighting is the conquest of evil and sin. Not boxing the air. Our punches must land. This is not practice, and this life is no game. This is to live with purpose, to intentionally seek the good for others, not only in word, but in deed. Beating the air, training for no purpose, does not produce the desired result. St. Paul warns us of our fathers in the wilderness of the exodus. They too received a baptism in the cloud and in the sea, received the spiritual food and drink, yet with most God was not pleased. They went through the motions with no purpose, the practice with no faith, and they were overthrown, disqualified because of their unbelief. God forbid this happens to you. The last will be first, and the first last in this race and fight.
The danger is of pride, of thinking that you deserve more than what God has promised. This was the laborers issue in the Gospel reading. They wanted more, that the felt entitled, as if God owed them more than what He was already giving out of pure grace and delivered according to His promise. “The justified are due the crown because of the promise. Saints should know this promise, not that they may labor for their own profit, for they ought to labor for God’s glory. But saints should know it so they may not despair in trouble. They should know God’s will: He desires to aid, to deliver, and to protect them” (Ap V 242-243). The strength to endure comes not from our efforts, but from Jesus. Our victory is included in His victory upon the cross and by His resurrection. This is where the race if finished, and the fight for your eternal life is won, your sins forgiven, Satan is knocked out, and the power of death destroyed.
The point is this. These things that we do here and now; these things aren’t practice. This is real life. What you do here and now matters. It has eternal significance. The life of the Christian is filled with temptation and overcoming with suffering and effort. No pain, no gain, it is said. And it is true. Just as an athlete discipline one’s body, keep it under control, so you as a Christian must do the same. We train the soul by training the body. The postures we have in worship and life matter. Our soul is taught by our body when we stand to hear Jesus’ words in the Gospel readings. Our soul is trained by our body when we kneel at the altar rail, confessing humility and thanksgiving out of receiving the body and blood of Christ as a gift. Our soul is trained by our body when we say no to temptation, whether it tempts our gluttony, our lust, to the envy – the fleshly, sinful passions that should have no power over those who belong to Christ.
Make no mistake, this lifelong race and fight will be painful. For it bruises pride, offends the old sinful man, denies the bodily passions, and beats off the devil. This is the life of Christian training. This is no practice, but this is the real deal, and the results are life and death. Just like any professional athlete, to compete, to excel, to win the prize one must focus on the fundamentals.
This is the purpose of the Divine Service. To deliver the grace of God, according to His promise, to those who believe. This is wherein the fitness, skill, and reward are delivered by means of His Word, in Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Practice the basics of Christianity, both in belief and in life. Small Catechism, hymns, liturgy all teach this, reinforce this. They teach a life of repentance over sin, faith in Christ, and struggling against sinful desires and the pressures of the sinful world which try to lead us onto another path.
This is the purpose of our School. Parents, your church operates a school to assist you in training of your children in the fundamentals of the Christian life and in preparation for a life long race toward the eternal crown of victory. Youth Catechesis has the same goal in mind, as does Sunday School and Bible studies. To teach the things needed for faith and life to cross the finish line, to finish the race. In other words, to die well. And, by grace alone, to receive the crown of eternal life. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).