Righteousness
Commentary
Speak the word "righteousness" in almost any congregation and immediately the hearers will translate the word into perfection or moral purity. Of course the Christian church has no quarrel with moral rightness, but it does need to be concerned with this confusion. Under the influence of moralistic revivalism which put great emphasis on personal rightness, the church has been led into a box canyon from which there is no escape. Many think that they must be good enough and perfect enough to merit God's attention. Then they discover, as did Paul, that such is impossible and they cannot escape their dilemma.
Paul speaks of the righteousness of God. That means that God imputes righteousness to us, or that he views us as righteous even though we are imperfect. Like Abraham, our faith is counted as righteousness. God makes us his own and chooses to overlook our flaws.
Now, of course that does not mean that we are to take our flaws and imperfections lightly. Paul further reminds us that once we are his we are free then to pursue the upward call. That upward call has no calling and no limit. Our new life becomes our gift back to God in gratitude for what he has done for us by grace. Never confuse the righteousness of God with the rightness of man. They are not in the same ballpark.
OUTLINE I
The Lord of New Beginnings
Isaiah 43:16-21
Introduction: Remember at the outset that today's lesson is a part of 2 Isaiah, that part of the book of Isaiah which is related to the promise of return from Exile in Babylon. It is always good for you to keep this in mind and to recall it for your hearers. When we relate our sermons to real life situations, they take on a deeper sense of reality and applicability. Here we find an interesting summary of the message of this prophet of the Exile.
A. God speaks. It is important for the hearers in Babylon that what they hear is more than the opinion or best guess of someone who thinks of himself a prophet. True prophets do not speak for themselves but for God.
B. Forget the past. With the same message that opens 2 Isaiah at chapter 40, we hear that the Exile is past and can be forgotten. Judgment is fulfilled. God's purposes in the Exile have been met. The hearers are invited to turn from the past and look for God in the future.
C. New Beginnings. Among the many things Israel was to learn from the Exile was that their God was not one who lived in the past but in the future. Moreover he was always going before them and offering them new beginnings.
D. And why? Verse 21b is the answer. The glory is to be given to God. Remember how Jesus said it? Let your light so shine that others may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Conclusion: The message about God who came to the exiles of 2,400 years ago is a message that still carries relevance to those who are exiles in their own land. For many in your congregation there has been no actual exile, but nevertheless their world has changed and they live in a foreign land among a strange people. They are not at home. They are estranged. So they live in the past and try to find meanings there. Offer them this invitation from a God who offers new beginnings.
OUTLINE II
Pursuing perfection
Philippians 3:8-14
Introduction: The first verses of today's selection are a witness from Paul about his own hopes and dreams regarding his faith. Note that he speaks of righteousness as a gift of God, not some form of perfection on his own, and that he speaks of resurrection, not as something that is to come someday after life on earth, but a gift that has its beginning in the here and now. Paul is clearly certain that there is more to the Christian life than some imagine.
A. Not yet perfect. Surely Paul addresses those who think that they have arrived and now are so conducting their lives that God accepts them and makes them his own. He wants them to know that there is more to it than that.
B. Forgetting the past. Some of us hang on to the past, dwell on our sins and unworthiness, and will not forgive ourselves or let God forgive us. Those who are to be forgiven must turn away from (repent of) their pasts and accept the new futures God offers.
C. The Goal. Note what the goal is. It is not perfection but the upward call. The Christian life is comprised of discipleship, following, growth, maturing, and becoming. The Christian knows that forgiveness wipes out the past and that his future is one of continued growth and comprehension of the call that God offers.
Conclusion: Offer this passage as good news to those hearers who are caught up in their pasts and feel there is no remedy. The remedy is forgiveness and grace, the receiving of righteousness as a gift from God, not from our moral striving. Turn their hearts and minds toward the future and let them hear of the dynamic of Christian discipleship as continuing life.
OUTLINE III
Appreciating the foolish
John 12:1-8
Introduction: Tell the story. Tell about Mary. Let the people enjoy the simplicity of the story. But there is more.
A. Remember that the gospel of John is written somewhere around A.D. 110, some eighty or more years after these events. John writes to a Greek audience and for them this event can take on three meanings.
1. The story. Just tell it as it is.
2. Aesthetic. Let the beauty of what is done show. Judas is the supreme realist. He wants to get a nickel's worth out of every nickel. Many of us are like that. We do not want to waste a penny on foolish things. We want to be practical. Jesus reminds them and us that the spirit often feeds on things of beauty and humanness and that we are not always called to worship at the shrine of practicality.
3. Prophecy. In these lines reference is made to the coming death of Jesus. Surely these lines had special meaning for his Greek hearers.
B. You can just take this passage as it is, see in it no hidden meanings, and let it speak for itself as a part of the whole Gospel story.
Conclusion: Here what was meant as a kindness is given special meaning by Jesus. Isn't that the way it always is. We are looking for some miracle or some special event and all the time he is there transforming the ordinary into something special.
Paul speaks of the righteousness of God. That means that God imputes righteousness to us, or that he views us as righteous even though we are imperfect. Like Abraham, our faith is counted as righteousness. God makes us his own and chooses to overlook our flaws.
Now, of course that does not mean that we are to take our flaws and imperfections lightly. Paul further reminds us that once we are his we are free then to pursue the upward call. That upward call has no calling and no limit. Our new life becomes our gift back to God in gratitude for what he has done for us by grace. Never confuse the righteousness of God with the rightness of man. They are not in the same ballpark.
OUTLINE I
The Lord of New Beginnings
Isaiah 43:16-21
Introduction: Remember at the outset that today's lesson is a part of 2 Isaiah, that part of the book of Isaiah which is related to the promise of return from Exile in Babylon. It is always good for you to keep this in mind and to recall it for your hearers. When we relate our sermons to real life situations, they take on a deeper sense of reality and applicability. Here we find an interesting summary of the message of this prophet of the Exile.
A. God speaks. It is important for the hearers in Babylon that what they hear is more than the opinion or best guess of someone who thinks of himself a prophet. True prophets do not speak for themselves but for God.
B. Forget the past. With the same message that opens 2 Isaiah at chapter 40, we hear that the Exile is past and can be forgotten. Judgment is fulfilled. God's purposes in the Exile have been met. The hearers are invited to turn from the past and look for God in the future.
C. New Beginnings. Among the many things Israel was to learn from the Exile was that their God was not one who lived in the past but in the future. Moreover he was always going before them and offering them new beginnings.
D. And why? Verse 21b is the answer. The glory is to be given to God. Remember how Jesus said it? Let your light so shine that others may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Conclusion: The message about God who came to the exiles of 2,400 years ago is a message that still carries relevance to those who are exiles in their own land. For many in your congregation there has been no actual exile, but nevertheless their world has changed and they live in a foreign land among a strange people. They are not at home. They are estranged. So they live in the past and try to find meanings there. Offer them this invitation from a God who offers new beginnings.
OUTLINE II
Pursuing perfection
Philippians 3:8-14
Introduction: The first verses of today's selection are a witness from Paul about his own hopes and dreams regarding his faith. Note that he speaks of righteousness as a gift of God, not some form of perfection on his own, and that he speaks of resurrection, not as something that is to come someday after life on earth, but a gift that has its beginning in the here and now. Paul is clearly certain that there is more to the Christian life than some imagine.
A. Not yet perfect. Surely Paul addresses those who think that they have arrived and now are so conducting their lives that God accepts them and makes them his own. He wants them to know that there is more to it than that.
B. Forgetting the past. Some of us hang on to the past, dwell on our sins and unworthiness, and will not forgive ourselves or let God forgive us. Those who are to be forgiven must turn away from (repent of) their pasts and accept the new futures God offers.
C. The Goal. Note what the goal is. It is not perfection but the upward call. The Christian life is comprised of discipleship, following, growth, maturing, and becoming. The Christian knows that forgiveness wipes out the past and that his future is one of continued growth and comprehension of the call that God offers.
Conclusion: Offer this passage as good news to those hearers who are caught up in their pasts and feel there is no remedy. The remedy is forgiveness and grace, the receiving of righteousness as a gift from God, not from our moral striving. Turn their hearts and minds toward the future and let them hear of the dynamic of Christian discipleship as continuing life.
OUTLINE III
Appreciating the foolish
John 12:1-8
Introduction: Tell the story. Tell about Mary. Let the people enjoy the simplicity of the story. But there is more.
A. Remember that the gospel of John is written somewhere around A.D. 110, some eighty or more years after these events. John writes to a Greek audience and for them this event can take on three meanings.
1. The story. Just tell it as it is.
2. Aesthetic. Let the beauty of what is done show. Judas is the supreme realist. He wants to get a nickel's worth out of every nickel. Many of us are like that. We do not want to waste a penny on foolish things. We want to be practical. Jesus reminds them and us that the spirit often feeds on things of beauty and humanness and that we are not always called to worship at the shrine of practicality.
3. Prophecy. In these lines reference is made to the coming death of Jesus. Surely these lines had special meaning for his Greek hearers.
B. You can just take this passage as it is, see in it no hidden meanings, and let it speak for itself as a part of the whole Gospel story.
Conclusion: Here what was meant as a kindness is given special meaning by Jesus. Isn't that the way it always is. We are looking for some miracle or some special event and all the time he is there transforming the ordinary into something special.
