What Kind of Love?

All Saints 2007

Rev. Steven D. Spencer – Pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church

1 John 3:1-3

(1) See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  (2)  Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.  (3)  And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Grace, peace and mercy from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, Amen!

In the year 258 a great Christian persecution occurred under the hand of Valerian. Many priests and bishops were put to death, yet Christians belonging to the nobility or the Roman Senate were only deprived of their goods and placed into exile. Pope Sixtus II was one of the first victims of this persecution, and was beheaded on August 6. A legend cited by St Ambrose of Milan says that St. Lawrence (The Pope’s Deacon) met the Pope on his way to his execution, where he is reported to have said, "Where are you going, my dear father, without your son? Where are you hurrying off to, holy priest, without your deacon? Before you never mounted the altar of sacrifice without your servant, and now you wish to do it without me?" The Pope is reported to have prophesied that "after three days this you will follow me". And he did.

St. Lawrence was the deacon charged with the stewardship of the poor and a special duty assigned to Deacon Lawrence was to guard the chalice of the Lord. It was the chalice believed to be our Lord’s Last Supper Chalice. Whatever wealth was gained by the church, St. Lawrence would decide what was to be saved and become a church heirloom and what was to be distributed to the poor.

After the death of Sixtus, the prefect of Rome demanded that St. Lawrence turn over the riches of the Church. St. Lawrence asked for three days to gather together the wealth. Lawrence worked swiftly to distribute as much Church property to the poor as possible, so as to prevent its being seized by the prefect. On the third day, at the head of a small delegation, he presented himself to the prefect, and when ordered to give up the treasures of the Church, he presented the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering, and said that these were the true treasures of the Church. One account records him declaring to the prefect, "The Church is truly rich, far richer than your emperor." This act of defiance led directly to his martyrdom.

St. Lawrence got it right. The riches of the church are not in its furnishings, its hand crafted woodwork or even its gold and silver. No the riches of the church are the members. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16. When God is talking about the world He’s not talking about the land, the sky, the sea, or the air. No He’s talking about you. You are the treasures of the church.

Let me read the first part of our text again. This time I want to read it in the New King James version. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” Did you hear it? God deals with us in love and calls us His children. Last week on Reformation Sunday I shared with you how Martin Luther beat himself up over his sin. He saw God as a vengeful God, a just God, a wrathful God who deals with us according to our deeds. But here we see the loving God who doesn’t deal with us according to His wrath but out of His love, for He treasures us.

He deals with you in love. He doesn’t deal with you in anger, saying, “You’ve got one more chance to shape up before I nail you. He doesn’t deal with you fairly, saying, “I’ll help you as much as you help Me.” He doesn’t deal with you on a contractual basis: “I’ll give you one year of life for each year of faithfulness.” No, He deals with you in love. He declares, “Love equals hard work, service to others. I love you so much that I’ve worked hard for your salvation: I’ve given My Son to die on the cross in order to save you from your sin.” Furthermore, His love is ongoing—He hasn’t stopped loving you. He gives you all that you need for life today and tomorrow. He gives you all that you need to live. He does this out of His love and mercy for you.

Furthermore, He calls you His children. He doesn’t call you His enemy, even though you were born as an enemy of God (Romans 5:10), doing by nature the exact opposite of what He commanded you to do. Rather than defeat you as an enemy, God gave His Son to make you His child. Rather than destroy you, for Jesus’ sake He gives you life forever. God doesn’t call you a stranger: He doesn’t say, “I’m neither for you nor against you, so go ahead and take care of yourself.” God doesn’t call you His servant: He doesn’t say come earn your keep, and then reward you by how hard you worked.

He calls you His child. He’s made you His child for Jesus’ sake. He’s borne you into His family, not by your works, by your wonderful acts of religiosity, but by His work in the waters of Holy Baptism. As a Father, He’s declared His Word to you, teaching you about matters of life and death. He’s given you His commands, so that you know the rules of the house. He’s told you about His love for you in Jesus. As a Father, He’s promised to keep speaking to you in His Word, and He promises to keep you fed.

And what does He do to you if you disobey Him? He keeps providing for you—He keeps telling you to repent and keeps giving you forgiveness. He keeps providing forgiveness to keep you as His child. That’s what a loving Father does for His kids. What does He do if you run away? He pursues you, inviting you back at every opportunity. That’s what a loving Father does.

You’re God’s child, right now. It’s not a future thing, but right now you’re sons and daughters of the king. In Christ, you’ve already conquered the world. For His sake, the kingdom of heaven is already yours. What manner of love is this, that we should be called the children of God? It’s a gift of God which came at a great price. The price was the blood of Christ, the perfect sacrifice. The blood that was poured out for you, because of His love for you! A Love that forgives all your sins, a love that makes you more than a conqueror over sin, death and the devil. A love paid for in full by Jesus, In Jesus name and for Jesus sake, Amen and amen!

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, now and forevermore, amen.