A fifth and final sermon in a series on discussion about sacrifice in scripture preached in the summer of 2023.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power, to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Psalm 145:10-12

Today we wrap up this series on the sacrifices the Lord demands, how God knows we do not have what he demands, how he himself provides the sacrifice that is his just due. In the first sermon we hear how God demands steadfast love even though he knows we have no steadfast love to offer. We heard also how Abraham was counted righteous by his faith in the promises of God, a faith God himself provided in Abraham. In the second sermon we heard how God pursues and longs to gather for himself a holy and a righteous people such that while we were still dead in our sins Jesus was offered by God to fall under our wrath, under God’s wrath and judgment to purchase some as such a people of faith. This came from the full perfect and sufficient oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world which is the substitutionary atonement. In the third sermon we heard how being made righteous by an alien righteousness we are made free to offer a life in pursuit of holiness and service, being refined trial by trial by the Holy Spirit. Last Sunday we contended with the terrible command by God of Abraham to offer his son, his only son, whom he loved as a sacrifice upon Mount Moriah, how this is a story to contend with in awe and in trembling, how this reveals both God’s justice and God’s mercy, all things come of thee, of thine own have we given thee. This week we finish considering the call to offer our lives following after Christ in his work even as we struggle to flee from sin.

Some verses from our Romans lesson in which we follow Paul contending with a them we should be growing familiar with: I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate-Romans 7:15. Paul is working out how it is that those made right by Christ’s death our redeemed even though they still seem to sin. What he is not saying is that its ok to do whatever we want to our pleasure because we are united to Christ. We will not be united to Christ if we do not run after him and by his grace continue to seek a life following after Jesus’s holiness. What he is saying is that his salvation and his offering of his life to God through pursuit of righteousness proceed holy and entirely upon the salvation of God in our lives through God’s sovereign grace. Again from St. Paul: Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! For now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 7:24-8:1

You may recognize the Zechariah passage we heard today, we read it on Palm Sunday and explored the links between it and the events of Palm Sunday. To quote one verse: As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. -Zechariah 9:11. We are pointed here to the crucifixion, to the pouring forth of blood that assures and fulfills the covenant promises of God. Jesus death is sufficient and achieves the ancient longings of our everlasting God.

Again Jesus offers to save us that we may be a holy people beloved pursued by God and joining him in the work that proclaims his glory. And we see how this pursuit and these promises are fulfilled in the invitation of our Lord. So hear again these comfortable word:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus longs for us to join him in his work, that being pulled along by him he may accomplish his purposes in us. In that work he will give us sabbath, in his Lordship he will care for us with gentleness and humbleness, follow me in this mission and you will find rest for your soul. Lay down your heavy worldly burdens. Take up my burden and you will enter into your rest you will find this burden light and easy.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power, to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Psalm 145:10-12