Built On The Rock

Trinity I - May 29, 2005

Matthew 7:15-29

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

When reading Scripture, we must always remember to consider the context in which a particular text is found. Today’s text is the conclusion of what has been called the Sermon on the Mount, in fact, this is how Jesus concludes that which began way back in Chapter 5.

There is some hard-hitting law here, law that many find ticklish, especially when viewed in light of today’s pluralistic approach to religious matters. There are many who claim that all Christians are basically the same with only a few minor differences. This has spawned the belief expressed when people say, “It doesn’t matter what church someone goes to, as long as they go.”

Jesus disagrees with today’s pluralistic approach to Christianity. He speaks plainly that while there are those on the last day who will say to Him that they prophesied, drove out demons, and performed miracles in His Name - the name of Jesus Christ - He will declare to them, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

In other words, there are those in the past who have worn the title and those today who claim the title of Christian, who will not wear it for eternity. Indeed, according to the word of Jesus in our text, they will find themselves where Christ isn’t for eternity. Yes, that means they will be with Satan in his kingdom for eternity.

Dearly beloved of God, what does this mean? We can use the larger context of this being Memorial Day weekend to help us understand. Many are those who use this weekend for “spring cleaning” of their homes. It is an extended weekend, and many make use of it to “get in” the garden or do other repairs or building projects on their homes. On Monday, we celebrate the sacrifice of men and women to secure the freedoms we enjoy to live in this, the greatest nation on earth.

In the church year we are celebrating the 1st Sunday after Trinity and our text is a beautiful connection to this weekend’s activities. While our homes in this land may be the place where we live out our earthly lives, both this nation and our dwellings will not last for eternity. And yet, how well we care for them and how much we would sacrifice for them, we toil and struggle to make them the best that they can be.

Dear friends in Christ, do you put the same energy and effort into the preparation of your eternal home in God’s heavenly kingdom? Today we step into the Trinity season in the church year, it is the season of discipleship. During Trinity, we acknowledge God’s work to build us up as His holy temple, into His church, for all eternity. This season, we rejoice and bask in what God in Christ Jesus accomplishes in and through us.

As we live out our earthly lives in the Christian faith, we need to have eyes wide open, just as Jesus says, watching out for false prophets and avoiding thorn bushes, thistles and bad fruit. This winter we watched the wind and the rains of storms wash some homes in California from their foundations and destroyed. Some people wondered why the government needed to take our money and go in and help people who foolishly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to build their homes where they knew there was the possibility this could happen.

Even as we recognize the foolishness of these people in regard to the foundations of their temporary earthly homes, we need to recognize our need for a firm foundation for our eternal home. And then, we need to do what is necessary so that our foundation is built upon none other than Jesus Christ.

To build on that firm foundation, you must watch out for false prophets who would lead you astray. To do this, you need be in and know the truth. You need to be where Christ builds you up in the true faith, by the working of His Holy Spirit. You need to know the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation. Know this, Satan and all false prophets can twist and use the Bible like pros. If Biblical knowledge on your part is lacking, you will be easily lead astray.

It is amazing how many people process anything they hear which has the name of Jesus Christ attached to it, and without considering it, believe it. They claim, “Well they talk about Jesus, it must be true.” This is foolishly naive. In Acts, (chapter 17) we learn about the Berean Christians who listened to Paul and then examined the Scriptures to see whether what was said is true.

Today, Christians often look to other “Christian” books even before they look to the Bible, “Pastor, can you tell me a good Christian book to read about this or that topic?” I simply ask, “Have you read your Bible yet?” Usually they have not.

While you and I want a heavenly home, we often don’t want to be challenged in our own beliefs, the things we have put together to make our own personal religion. How often have people said or thought such things as, “Yeah, I know, I heard the sermon or I heard what the pastor said or even, I know what the Scripture says, but I know what I believe.”

Where have they gotten such beliefs? From the Word of God? In most instances, those who make such claims couldn’t tell you whether Ezekiel is in the Old or New Testament - much less what the book is about. And they want to claim that their belief is Christian? Too many Christians have taken what the culture says is truth and mixed it in with a little Jesus talk and they have their religion. It is not the Christianity of the Scriptures, nor is it according to God’s will.

It is amazing how many falsehoods, things that are not true about God and Scripture are believed by those who claim to be Christian. Contrary to popular belief, TV shows, popular music, and movies, when people die, they do not become angels. Nor, is reincarnation true. As much as many people deny it, God isn’t taking everybody to heaven, and there is a place called hell, a place of eternal torment and suffering.

False prophets try and lead us astray. They come out with their thorns and thistles, they have their signs and wonders - trying to thrill the masses by tickling their itching ears. These things give no nourishing food and will indeed lead some to eternal destruction. The Jews in Jesus day wanted those signs and wonders, even demanding them of Jesus to prove who He was. When asked to do so, Jesus proclaimed He’d give none - except the sign of Jonah. Jonah pointed to Him - and Christ was the fulfillment of Jonah’s sign when He came forth from the belly of the grave on the third day - just as Jonah had come forth from on the third day from the belly of the fish

Today, there are many theologians of signs and wonders. They want people to look at them in their fancy clothes. They brag about what they can do, how they have built their big congregations and churches. Some point to their own works. Others preach a Christianity which makes the world happy and secure, letting people believe their own made-up, hodgepodge Christianity. Jesus says what will happen to those false prophets and the foolish people who build their faith on that sandy foundation.

How often are you the foolish people? You like to hear those thing that lull you into false comfort, those words that entice you and lure by claiming you don’t need to give up your security in the world. How foolish we all are, we willingly spend lots of time in the pursuit worldly comforts. At the same time, when it comes to building a lasting eternal foundation, we sometimes squander what God would graciously give us in Christ Jesus. Many are those who neglect the gathering together where Christ builds us into His church.

Christ is the rock on which God builds His church. In fact, we are told by both Paul and Peter that we aren’t the ones doing the building, there is a professional doing it. Paul explains it this way. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Eph. 2:19_22 ESV)

You are being built into a spiritual house through Jesus Christ, that is why the Spirit moved Peter to tell us: As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4_5 ESV)

You are being built by God into a spiritual house. You come together to have the Word of Christ build you up in Himself. He is the living Word that works in you to put your faith into practice.

Christ builds you up in His Word:

“Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”;

“whosoever sins you forgive, they are forgiven them”;

“take eat, this is my body”;

“take drink, this is my blood of the new covenant, shed for you for the remission of sins”;

“My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you.”

Your firm foundation is Christ alone. You firm foundation is built by Christ alone. When we neglect to gather together in His name and His presence, when we neglect to study His Word, we are foolishly asking for the winds and rain, the storms and trials of this life to wash our homes into the sea of unbelief.

While the works of faith will be evident in our lives, Paul declares to us that the foundation of our eternal dwelling must be perfect righteousness. That perfect righteousness comes from God, apart from the law, through faith in Christ Jesus, to all who believe.

This righteousness was purchased by Christ, by His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. We have all sinned, for we all love to be comfortable in the world and sinfully like to listen to false prophets. Thankfully, through Christ we are justified freely - our sins removed by the grace of God as Christ’s atoning sacrifice is applied to us in Word and Sacrament - building us up on the Rock, Christ Jesus.

Today’s sermon hymn says it so well, “Built on the rock the church does stand.” Built on the rock! It was and is being built, not by human hands, but by Christ. Christ is building you up as His temples. Christ comes and removes sin, making you holy. Christ gave up His heavenly home to come to you, to redeem you from the empty pursuits of this life. In His blood, you are forgiven your worldly preoccupation with making sure that you have the best earthly dwellings while often forgetting to prepare your eternal home.

Yes, even in our sinfulness, by God’s grace, He builds us on the Rock. Christ’s building plan to construct His church is gracious, for He Himself comes to build His church in Water, word, and meal. In these wonderful Means of Grace, Christ Himself builds His church upon Himself - the rock.

This is what is echoed in the 6th verse of our sermon hymn? Listen to it again: Here stands the font before our eyes telling how God did receive us; The altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice and what His table doth give us; Here sounds the Word that doth proclaim Christ yesterday, today, the same, yea, and for aye our Redeemer.

United to Christ’s death and resurrection in the water of baptism, our foundation was laid on the Rock. We are being built into a holy house on the Rock as Christ gives us His own flesh to eat and His own blood to drink, sealing forgiveness and granting us an eternal place in His kingdom. Christ gives to us the reality of our new condition, He is the Word building us up in the forgiveness He proclaims to us, which He Himself purchased.

Grant, then, O God, where’er men roam, that, when the church bells are ringing. Many in saving faith may come where Christ His message is bringing; “I know Mine own, Mine own know Me; Ye, not the world, My face shall see. My peace I leave with you.” Amen. And so, you are built upon the Rock and live in His peace. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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