A sermon for the first Sunday of Epiphany, January 9, 2011, given at the United Church of Acworth, Acworth, NH
Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm 29
Acts 10:34-43
Matthew 3:13-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
God loves gentiles.
We can see this as early on in Scripture as the promise given to Abraham that through his children all nations would be blessed.
15And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16and said,"By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." (Genesis 22:15-18)
God loves gentiles
The story of Jonah’s call from God to warn Nineveh concerning its violence and injustice is another early example of this.
Jonah cannot figure out why God cares so much about Nineveh, a city with a reputation for all sorts of injustice and violence. Answering Jonah’s confusion, God says “should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left?”
God loves gentiles
Epiphany is a day in the church year that celebrates the appearance of God to us in Jesus Christ. It is the twelfth day of Christmas, January 6 and specifically celebrates the appearance of God to the three magi who “traveled afar” to see and worship Jesus. We really need to make a bigger deal about this holiday, I think. It is an especially important holiday for the West. It is the day that we celebrate Christ appearing to and being worshipped by Gentiles for the first time. If God did not love gentiles, we would not be participants as we are now in the reality of Christ’s forgiveness, justice and, peace: the kingdom of God.
Praise God, he loves gentiles
In celebrating this particular fact, it’s appropriate that today’s lectionary reading in Acts 10 is the first sermon which Peter gave to a gentile audience.
To really understand this sermon, we need to remind ourselves the story that leads up to it.
SKIT that tells story of the book of Acts chapter 10
God loves gentiles
The scripture for today records Peter’s words to Cornelius and his household. His opening words are worth dwelling on: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
He goes on to recite the witness which he and others have been given, how Jesus received the Holy Spirit at his baptism and began to go about doing good and healing those who were oppressed by evil, that he was put to death like a criminal, but resurrected in power to be proclaimed in all the world as the one who will bring eternal life and justice to ALL of humanity.
And he concludes “To him (Jesus) all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The evil that so oppresses humanity is the evil of sin, within ourselves and outside of us, sins of individuals and sins of societies.
Christ came that these sins might be dealt with - and through faith all will find forgiveness and a changed nature in His name.
We are called to be witnesses of the truth that Christ will forgive ALL who ask of him,
God loves gentiles.
We can see this as early on in Scripture as the promise given to Abraham that through his children all nations would be blessed.
15And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16and said,"By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." (Genesis 22:15-18)
God loves gentiles
The story of Jonah’s call from God to warn Nineveh concerning its violence and injustice is another early example of this.
Jonah cannot figure out why God cares so much about Nineveh, a city with a reputation for all sorts of injustice and violence. Answering Jonah’s confusion, God says “should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left?”
God loves gentiles
Epiphany is a day in the church year that celebrates the appearance of God to us in Jesus Christ. It is the twelfth day of Christmas, January 6 and specifically celebrates the appearance of God to the three magi who “traveled afar” to see and worship Jesus. We really need to make a bigger deal about this holiday, I think. It is an especially important holiday for the West. It is the day that we celebrate Christ appearing to and being worshipped by Gentiles for the first time. If God did not love gentiles, we would not be participants as we are now in the reality of Christ’s forgiveness, justice and, peace: the kingdom of God.
Praise God, he loves gentiles
In celebrating this particular fact, it’s appropriate that today’s lectionary reading in Acts 10 is the first sermon which Peter gave to a gentile audience.
To really understand this sermon, we need to remind ourselves the story that leads up to it.
SKIT that tells story of the book of Acts chapter 10
God loves gentiles
The scripture for today records Peter’s words to Cornelius and his household. His opening words are worth dwelling on: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
He goes on to recite the witness which he and others have been given, how Jesus received the Holy Spirit at his baptism and began to go about doing good and healing those who were oppressed by evil, that he was put to death like a criminal, but resurrected in power to be proclaimed in all the world as the one who will bring eternal life and justice to ALL of humanity.
And he concludes “To him (Jesus) all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The evil that so oppresses humanity is the evil of sin, within ourselves and outside of us, sins of individuals and sins of societies.
Christ came that these sins might be dealt with - and through faith all will find forgiveness and a changed nature in His name.
We are called to be witnesses of the truth that Christ will forgive ALL who ask of him,
that peace may be found by ALL who are oppressed by evil, whether from individuals or institutions, personal or societal
that through the power of the Holy Spirit that he gives to ALL who seek Him, we may experience the grace and peace of God through a changed existence
This is a reality for ALL people, everywhere.
Thanks be to God, for he loves gentiles.
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