It is true that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Amen to that! Does that mean that we have nothing to heed? Does that mean that we have nothing to watch for and guard against? No. That same saving grace of God moves us to beware of our own sin and its main threat: that we in our sinful nature are capable of rejecting God; capable of rejecting God’s Word. This should cause us to tremble. This should make us humble. Rejection is our main threat, but it is not that God would reject us, but that we would reject God and the good gifts that He has graciously given to us. It seems amazing, but the very religious leaders who were to be examples of embracing God and following God were the very ones who rejected Christ. If they were capable of it, then we are capable of it. Jesus, however, is the only unifying cornerstone for our being incorporated into God’s house. If we are blessed, then we will fall on Him and have our sinful pride crushed and have our tendency to reject the things of God smashed. Then in His grace He will raise us up, forgive us and heal us that we may live as His people. Christ is our cornerstone and upon Him we are built into the people of God!

Here is an excerpt from tomorrow’s sermon:

“Christ our Cornerstone”

(Luke 20:17-18)

Rev. Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa

Introduction: Sometimes rejection can be a really painful thing.

1. And I’m not speaking of the pain of being rejected when you really want something. In basketball if a defender blocks a shot attempt, we call that a “rejection!” In that case, it’s the shooter who has to swallow his pride, but rejection is infinitely magnified when our dream job is given to someone else or — even worse — when someone we love rejects us. All of these things can be construed as bad, but I’m talking about the rejection going the other way.

2. Sometimes we are presented with a choice and with full awareness, volition, willingness, and perhaps even with gladness, we choose to reject something that comes our way.

a. In 1995, I returned a call to go to a very large congregation in Edina, Minnesota. I know that if I had accepted that call, my life would have taken a significantly different path. Just a year later, I received a call from this congregation. I don’t see how I would have connected to Saint Paul’s if I had gone to Minnesota.

b. Around the same time, I resigned my commission in the U.S. Army. If I had become a full-time chaplain in the Army, I would have made it just in time to serve during the Iraq War.

c. Back in college, Traci was confronted with a choice she had to make: whether or not to accept or reject me when I proposed to her. I’m sure that if you ask her, she will tell you how ecstatic she is — to this very day — that she didn’t let me get away.

d. The truth is that I thank God that she said, “yes!” How I thank God that she did not reject me! I honestly believe that she is the only woman who could possibly withstand living with this man who is preaching to you and yet still love him at the end of the day!

3. There are, however, instances that our volitional choice to reject can turn out to be a catastrophic decision.

4. Sometimes when we reject, it can spell our doom.

5. I know that this simple concept might mess with us Lutherans. We are clear about biblical doctrine:

a. God chooses us, we do not choose Him. This is clearly taught in John 15:16 where Christ is recorded as saying, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…”.

b. It is also true that our very faith is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). Indeed, it is the very work of God (John 6:29).

c. Now this Scriptural teaching often invites the assumption that since God is responsible for salvation, that He must also be responsible for reprobation or condemnation. But God did not elect Pharaoh or anyone else to be damned (thank God!), but reprobated them on account of their rejection of Him!

d. Remember that God desires all to be saved (1^st Tim. 2:4) and that Jesus died for the whole world (John 3:16 & 1^st John 2:2).

e. But rejection is not on God. Remember the words of Luke 13. Jesus cried out to Jerusalem: “…how I longed to gather you as a hen gathers her chicks, but you were not willing!” God is warning us in our Gospel about rejection…don’t reject Him!