“More Sizzle Than Substance?”           2011

Romans 16:25-27

 

Romans 16:25-27

25Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

 

We are now 4 weeks into Advent, our preparations for Christmas.

                 For many, it is an exhausting and stressful journey

                        with so much to do that has to be accomplished on time.

 

A first-year pastor I know through an Internet discussion-forum

            was listing all the many church activities of the season,

                        all the necessary preparation, extra effort and work …

 

                        … and she asked our group of more-seasoned pastors,

                                             if it’s really worth it,

                                                 and does it actually make any difference?

 

            I think that’s a fair question to ask,

                        and in some areas of life it’s fairly easy to answer…

 

… for example,

            after watching a movie, too often I walk out of the theater

                        thinking, “That was so not worth my time and money”

                 or from an expensive meal at a mediocre restaurant

                        complaining, “That was definitely not worth the price.”

 

But how about Christmas?

 

We put a lot into our Christmas celebration, is it worth it?

                  Does it make any difference,

                             or is it     more about sizzle   than substance?

 

                        I  believe that the Apostle Paul

                                    has a uniquely clear and helpful perspective

                                                on those considerations about Christmas.

Saul, as he was known     before he became Paul, the Apostle,

            was a brilliant Bible scholar, a rising-star Pharisee,

                        from the right family-heritage and background,

                                    had received the best possible education,---

 

                 --- and  was sent by the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem

                                    with authority to arrest Christians in Damascus,

                             and stop the spread

                                    of the gospel message about Jesus in its tracks.

 

But he was stopped short on that assignment

            when, according to both Acts and Galatians,

                        Saul encountered Jesus Christ along the way,

                                                à   and would never be the same again.

 

Christmas celebrates

            that in Jesus Christ,    God became human flesh,

                                    or as Eugene Peterson describes it,

                                          “in Jesus, God came to live in our neighborhood …

…which completely changed Paul’s life and direction from then on.

 

            Paul, the Apostle spent the rest of his life

                        teaching and preaching the Gospel, starting churches,

                                    and spreading the Good News about Jesus Christ.

 

The book of Romans was probably the last of Paul’s writings,

            and is the most fully-developed theology in the Bible.

 

By the time he wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome,

            Paul was a well-seasoned missionary

                           having had enough time and experience

                                     to have thought through the Old Testament writings

                                         in the light of the accomplishments  of Jesus;

               and how the life, preaching, & ministry of Jesus connected

                   with the prophetic writings of the Hebrew Scriptures.

 

Paul wrote this letter

            hoping to convince the Christians living in Rome

                        to support him on a missionary journey to Spain ----à

 

            --- so he very carefully and clearly lays out

                                    the essential theology of the Christian faith

                                                that he believes, that he lives and teaches.

 

   To read this letter of Romans is to go on a journey with Paul

            as he explains how

                        the coming of Jesus changes our lives and our future.

 

Today we read the final verses which are   a closing benediction

                in joyful celebration of God’s saving à

                        grace and purpose   accomplished through Jesus Christ.

 

vs. 25  Now to God who is able to strengthen you

                                    according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ.

 

     The gospel message of Jesus, the Good News that Paul proclaims

               is the truth that God loves us

                        and choses to be our God through Jesus Christ.

 

Paul refers to it as, “my gospel”,

            because the Good News about Jesus  is the gospel he proclaims,

                    the truth that changed him and everything about his life,

                                       … and it is a very personal thing for Paul.

 

vs. 25~26                   Now to God who is able to strengthen you …

            … according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles.

 

The gospel message of the coming of Jesus opened-up understanding

     and explained hidden mysteries of the Old Testament.

 

Like adding letters to a Jeopardy puzzle on TV,

            once unfathomable writings of the Hebrew prophets,

                        with the coming of Jesus,     now they make sense ---

--- and made clear that the saving grace and purpose of God

                had always been intended to include and extend to Gentiles.

 

In these final words of Romans, Paul is celebrating: 

            * the Good News about Jesus Christ

                        that the apostle lives and proclaims

            * that the formerly hidden mysteries of the Old Testament

                        now make sense with the coming of Jesus

                                    as by faith we are strengthen and transformed ---

 

                   -- and that is the power of the Gospel

                              that makes Christmas so meaningful and worth it.

 

This is not just fluff or idealized theory, but rather,

            in our world with its violence, troubles and disappointments

                        often filled with strife, betrayal, doubt and cynicism;

    it is unmistakable and can be observed, that the gospel,

            that the Good News about God’s grace in Jesus Christ,

                strengthens and makes a real difference in people’s lives.

 

I see Christians regularly holdfast with trust, hope, and courage

            even amid terrible disasters, losses and disappointments,

                        as by faith and tenacity they endure,

                                    and strengthened by God,     somehow they flourish.

 

It still amazes me sometimes, how often people of faith,

            even when they are struggling with their own problems,  

                        yet will chose to share and give generously; to serveà   

                                    and make sacrifices, trying to help others in need.  

 

   In remarkable ways that can only be  a God and grace-thing,

        in countless ways and circumstances, it has been my privilege

                        to have seen   the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

                                    to transform human lives and situations

                                                in amazing ways that honor and glorify God, à

                   à who strengthens and sustains Christians to endure

                             even when the very foundations of life are shaking.

 

          I have seen with my own eyes, and by my own experience,

                   that’s it’s not just warm and fuzzy sentimental feelings

                             and it’s not    more about sizzle    than substance.

 

* By God’s grace, the past is defanged and declawed.

            Our losses, wounds & failures can be healed & transformed.

                        Our past mistakes lose their power to define us,

                               because hope, new life and change become possible.

 

* By God’s grace, whatever we are facing in the present,

            there is promise and hope   because we can trust God

                        to turn even our defeats and disappointments

                                    into strength, courage and growth-toward-good.

 

* By God’s grace, we can be confident in God’s promises,

            and know that our future is sure and secure   becauseà

                        God will bring us through this mortal life   and beyond …

    … which means that we don’t have anything to fear,

               and we’re not dependent   on what we   can do for ourselves.

 

   To those who know and walk in faith with the Lord,

          Christmas celebrates the victory of God’s gracious love,

                      which makes all the difference in the world,

                            and is the truth around which we can build our lives.

 

Today, the cantata will have some wonderful and beautiful music,

            but is it also,      so very much more.

 

The point is, don’t mistake the sizzle  for substance,

            it’s not just the pleasure of the music,

                        but listen for the message, the Gospel of God’s grace.

 

My hope is that as we hear this music presented,

            that we will consider the story and truth that inspired it,

                        about our God who loves us more than we can imagine …

 

            … for in Christ God has come to be with us and dwell within us,

                   to strength us along our journey and bring us to our home.

 

            Now to God who is able to strengthen you, to whom be the glory forever!  Amen.