TITLE: “The Reality of Forgiveness”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Our text for this morning is taken from the Gospel lesson just read from John chapter 20. 

There is an old saying which goes, “The only constant in this world is change.”  Everywhere we look around us there is change: Jobs change, people change, friends change, the world changes, sometimes it seems like all we know is change.  For us, though, the trouble with change is that sometimes it brings uncertainty: about the future, about relationships and our place in life, and many other areas.  Uncertainty is a way of life for many, and the depth of our uncertainty can sometimes reveal a fear within, even within the Christian.

Now even though we are uncertain about some things, there is one overarching question that we all face: How can I be certain that God forgives me?  It’s right after Easter, and we’ve heard the glorious message of the resurrection, but what does that have to do with my forgiveness, what does that have to do with my life?  That is what we are here to learn from God’s Word this morning.  First of all, we are going to look at why we often feel uncertain about forgiveness and salvation; second, we’ll look at how Christ’s resurrection is the ground of our forgiveness; and finally, we will look at how God brings that forgiveness to us today.

Although we are Christians, the sad fact of the matter is that we all doubt God’s love and forgiveness.  We can come to church on Easter morning, love the beauty of the service and all of the pretty flowers, and go home without a trace of real comfort in our hearts.  It’s almost like turning church into a spectator sport.  We sit in the pews and watch, and hope that things don’t get too close to home.   But when a tragedy hits, or worse still, when apathy hits, we will feel uncertain about forgiveness.  How can God forgive me?  Why does He even care?

The first way we feel uncertain about forgiveness is that we use the world as a judge.  Forgiveness for the world is for weaklings.  The world doesn’t think of forgiveness, it thinks of revenge.  Think of the case with the American that got caned in Singapore a few years back.  Most Americans thought that the punishment was a little harsh, but that he still got what he deserved.  Or who thought that O.J. deserved to go free?  Or even the case of this Outlaws motercycle gang up in Milwaukee.  In the world you are judged by your actions, and there is no mercy in the court.  We use that worldview and apply it to our relationship to God.  I am guilty, therefore I deserve death.  End of story.  How’s that for uncertainty?

Connected to this uncertainty is our understanding of death.  Death is the great unknown for the world.  There are programs on television every week about “The other side,” and “Sightings from beyond.”  All of this comes from or plays upon our fear of death.  No matter how much we try to convince ourselves, there is always one part of us that says “you don’t deserve heaven,  you deserve death.”  Of course, that is true, but that’s not the end of the story.

The second reason we feel uncertain about forgiveness is that we want the visible proof like Thomas thought he needed.  We try to turn faith into sight.  If I can’t prove it, measure it, and see it, then it must not be true.  That is what our scientific world would have us do to Christianity.  In the same way we want our faith to have all of the perfect answers to life’s problems.  If Christianity can’t answer everything the way I want it answered, then it must not be true.  That is the theology of glory, not the theology of the cross.  But that is how you are trained to think and believe.

The third way we doubt forgiveness is that we look inside ourselves, rather than looking to Christ and His resurrection.  Our world thrives on self-empowerment.  Walk into any bookstore and you will see books and magazines on the seven easy steps to a successful life.  Even Christianity is infected with this plague.  We often try to judge of state of faith on our own feelings and emotions.  If I don’t feel good then there must be something wrong with my faith.  That is what we say to ourselves.  Somehow we have gotten the idea that we have to somehow prepare ourselves for God, and that He won’t forgive us until we are in the right frame of mind.  We want to “kick start” forgiveness by putting in our own two bits to salvation.  That might be American, but it is hardly Christian.

Now compare that shifting sand of faith to the solid rock of Christ’s resurrection as the ground of our forgiveness.  When Christ died, he took on all of our sin for us.  He paid for everyone’s sin completely.  That is the heart of the Reformation cry for Christ alone.  There is nothing that we can do or say or feel to add to our salvation.  Now that doesn’t make any sense by the world’s standards.  Why should Christ pay the price for sin that I deserve to pay?  He did it simply because he loved us to the point of death.  It’s all he could do, because that is who He is.

When Christ arose from the dead, He brought new life to all of us.  The payment for sin was made, and we are free in God’s sight.  The reality of the resurrection is the certainty of the Christian faith.  Without that reality, nothing else makes sense.  As Jesus said in the book of Revelation, I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!  This reality gives shape and contour to the Christian faith.

The resurrection is the ground of faith and the source of our forgiveness, but how does that forgiveness come to us?  By asking that question we really betray our view of God.  Forgiveness isn’t something we get, like a new car or a new pair of jeans.  Forgiveness means reconciliation with God.  It means communion with Christ.  It means becoming the Body of Christ. 

The way that we receive forgiveness is by becoming one with Christ.  The first way this happens is through Baptism.  In our Baptism we put on Christ, but there is no work on our part.  It is an objective fact.  Peter says in his first epistle that baptism saves us.  Think of your Baptism.  When you were Baptized, everything Christ did on the cross and in the tomb became yours.  It doesn’t matter if you feel good or bad, if your depressed or out of work.  In fact, the only thing that matters at all is that you believe the Word He spoke over you at your Baptism.  That is reality.  That is certain.

The second way that God comes to us with forgiveness is through Holy Absolution.  As Luther said in the Large Catechism:

Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here.   (Large Catechism, The Creed, Art. III, Triglotta p. 693)

The primary people that God uses to accomplish that is through pastors.  Think back to the words of our text.  Jesus said to the apostles:  “Whosoever sins you forgive, they are forgiven...”  Jesus gave that to the Church so that we as His Church could see and know that He is always with us, forgiving our sins.

The pastor says the words,

“I by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” (TLH pg. 16)

I don’t say those words to you because I’m such a nice guy, or because God has given me some sort of special ability.  I say those words to give you the comfort and hope of knowing that God is here, God has heard your confession, and that all of your sins are forgiven.  This is true both publicly, during the Divine Service, but also during Private Confession and Absolution.  As Luther said in the Small Catechism:

I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our Lord dealt with us Himself.  (Small Catechism, pg. 220)

It may seem like just words that are said every week in church, but those words have heavenly implications.  When the pastor forgives your sins in Christ’s name, they are gone.  God no longer remembers them, and they are gone forever.  That is reality.

Finally, the highest point in the Divine Service, the Lord’s Supper, is where Christ comes to us in all His fullness to bring us Himself.  In this Sacrament Christ gives you Himself, as a pledge that He will do what He says He will do.  We don’t have to search for God and God’s will in our lives, because He has given it to us.  Even though we may not know every little detail, He has given us everything we need to know for our salvation and peace.  In fact, that is why the pastor says “The peace of the Lord be with you always” in the communion liturgy right before the distribution.  Jesus is our peace, and He is all of the peace and certainty we need.

Christ through these means gives you a rock solid faith.  In spite of our own uncertainty, there is certainty in our forgiveness and salvation through Christ’s resurrection.  Thanks be to God, that He has given us so many gifts to bring us to everlasting life.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn

Messiah Lutheran Church

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Easter II-B (April 30, 2000)

John 20:19-31

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Last Revised: May 9, 2000