Tomorrow Sunday April 20th, 2014 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine: Easter Sunday “You Have Been Raised With Christ” (Colossians 3:1-4)
We worship in the gym at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine. The high school is located at 12500 Sand Canyon Ave, Irvine. Worship is at 9:30 am.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In the meantime we have to learn to recognize that this indestructible life with all hope and all blessing through ANY struggle or hardship is something that we see not with our physical eyes but through faith. Verses 2-3: “3Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 4For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
First be clear that to set your mind on things above is very specific: set your mind on Christ. Some people get all weird with this passage so that they start talking about “heavenly things” to the extent that before you know it, they become other-worldly and detached from living here are on earth. That’s wrong. God loves His creation and He wants you here for a reason and everything created by God is good (1st Tim. 4:4). But as you live here, serving your family, doing your work, encouraging others, sharing your faith, living in love, do these in such a way that you live in Christ…knowing that in Him who conquered death, everything you do has eternal weight and glory. Oh I know, so often we feel as though we are wasting our time; we are constantly tempted to cry out: “what’s the use,” but don’t give in Christian, because the greater reality is Christ who has conquered everything that could possibly mess up your real life. Your real life is secure!
So keep your heart, mind, and soul – all of you – on Christ who is risen! But as you do, just remember that your real life is hidden and this is where we typically struggle.
“Luther describes the contrast between the high dignity of Christians and the lowly form of their life on earth in these words: ‘We are even now the children of God, and through faith and Baptism have been put into possession of eternal salvation….But who among men recognizes the children of God? Who will call those men children of God that are thrown into prison and are so tortured and tormented in every conceivable way that they appear to be the children of the devil, condemned and accursed souls? For that reason St. Paul says that the glory of the children of God is now hidden, but shall be manifested in them later (Col. 3:3-4). So long as God’s children are here upon earth, they are not clothed with [the clothing of God], but wear the devil’s [clothing]….The right order is reversed: those who are God’s children are called children of the devil, and those who are the children of the devil are called God’s children.” (Pieper, Francis, Christain Dogmatics, Volume III, 68-69, quoting Luther, St. L. XII:729f.)
You know Luther he was quite vivid and powerful in his writing, but he was just saying that sometimes even though we have the resurrection life of Jesus Christ, it doesn’t always seem that way. There are times when it feels like we wear the clothes of the weak one, the suffering one, not the victorious one, but the defeated one. Sometimes as Luther said, “the right order is reversed.”
But whenever you feel this way, simply go back to this one habit of faith: “seek the things that are above…set your [mind] on things that are above.” Return to Christ who went through His humility, His passion, and His crucifixion to save you, but then remember the rest of the story…He rose! In imitation of Jesus, you are now a little Christ, you too go through your versions of weakness, of humiliation, of struggle, of suffering…but remember your life dear Christian, your real life: Jesus who has conquered even death has shared His resurrection life with you!
Tonight Friday, April 18th, 2014 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine: Good Friday! Worshipping at the Good Shepherd Chapel at Concordia University Irvine
Tonight we worship in Good Shepherd Chapel at Concordia University Irvine located at 1530 Concordia, Ivine...the service begins at 7:00 pm
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Good Friday is also known as God's Friday and it is NOT a funeral service for Jesus! Its darkness commemorates the extreme passion of our Savior who gave Himself on the cross to save us from sin and death (and it provokes the appropriate reverence and humility we ought to show for it), but underneath the quietness and darkness is a celebration of our salvation through the power of the cross of Christ.
The world doesn't see this. All it sees represented in the crucifix is death (and perhaps a symbol of "love," that in the end, came up short). The truth, however, is that this cross of Christ was the medium through which the Lord shed His blood to atone for the sins of the world; that cross facilitated God's life and light to enter into the realm of death and darkness. It was as if a divine virus (this one good and holy) spread through death and in the end death was destroyed...Jesus' death killed death. What we celebrate on Sunday will confess the fulfillment of this truth.
This is why today is GOOD Friday...God's goodness prevailed; God's goodness known in the conquering blood of Christ won for us the good gift of the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. This is why St. Paul emphasized the message of the cross of Christ. "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1st Corinthians 2:2)
Please join us for Good Friday service this evening at 7:00 pm in the Good Shepherd Chapel at Concordia University, Irvine. Invite a friend. This is the second to last day of Lent and the single most important day of Lent...it is God's Friday...it is your Good Friday!
In Jesus' Love,
Pastor Espinosa
Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday or Commandment Thursday), April 17th, 2014: “To Communicants”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Sermon
“To Communicants”
Rev. Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. We have been journeying through a series on section 3 of Luther’s Small Catechism called “Table of Duties.” We had guest pastors during this 2014 Lenten pulpit exchange and I’ve come home from the congregations I visited -- over the last several Wednesday nights -- eager to ask my wife Traci, “So how did it go?” I’ve enjoyed my wife’s summaries to me. Her reports are pretty interesting. They have included giving me a sense of attendance, perceptions about the music, special comments made by the guest pastor, etc., but the most important aspect has been her evaluation of the sermons and one thing my wife looks for is a balance between Law and Gospel.
Often times there are assumptions made that if one is going to preach on the “Table of Duties,” then obviously there must be – as even sheer logic would seem to dictate – preponderance on law. After all the table of duties are about your vocations; how you live in this world whether you are a parent, a child, a worker, a student, an athlete, a musician, a citizen, etc. These are the roles and functions the Lord has given to each of us and we all have several vocations. In all of them, we must live out our faith. This implies action and action implies -- to the Christian anyway -- living in accord with God’s law. How does one live as a husband? How does one live as a wife? How does one live as a child? A student? A friend? The inherent task here invites a description of what you do…and what you do – esp. if you do it in faith – will seek to honor God’s law in relation to whatever it is you’re doing.
But I’d like to back up to challenge (somewhat) this assumption…which is not to say that it is all wrong, because indeed you must live out and act out your vocations, but…there is an unfortunate tendency in all of us to think in terms of the “God stuff” (that I’ll put in a box over here) and then the “me stuff” or the “my stuff” that I’ll put in another box over there. The “God stuff” box will include my Bible, my worship attendance, and all of the things about faith…and when I’m feeling esp. inspired, I will take more time to pray; or think “God thoughts”…but for the rest of the time, we are going to live in the other box. The “me stuff” or “my stuff” box and for this box we don’t really need the God stuff. The my stuff is everything else in this world and in my life…these are the things that are up to me; these are the things that require my energy, my attention, my time, my effort, my ingenuity. Just like when I carry out my vocations: these things depend on me and who can blame even the well meaning pastor when what ensues about such things is an emphasis on Law (well maybe you should blame the pastor since he’s called to preach the Word of God accurately)!
But the God stuff and my stuff box division is all wrong. Know this clearly Christian: there is nothing you have and nothing you do that is not from God. And while this seems fairly simple to grasp intellectually, we have a way of forgetting it in the middle of our vocations. God enables you to breathe, God enables you to have faith; God has created your physical body; God has created your living spirit. The Word of God says, “In [God] we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28). That is our whole lives are permeated with grace (The Father giving good gifts motivated by love and mercy through His Son).
By grace you are saved through faith in Christ. By grace you have clothes on your back. By grace you have food. By grace you are enabled to put the food in your mouth, chew the food, and digest the food. But what is even more profound and amazing when it comes to vocation -- whatever you do in whatever role you have in life -- is that it is God Himself living and acting in and through you. When mom changes a diaper for her baby, God changes the diaper; when dad gets lunch for his kids, God gets lunch for His kids; when a teacher teaches, God is equipping the students; when a plumber fixes your water leak, God fixes your water leak.
Ezekiel once recorded God’s message to His people which brings out this grace-orientation of our whole lives (when you hear “I” it is God speaking and describing what He will do): “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you…And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27)
God does it all. Christ is both our justification – the One upon whom God’s declaration of “righteous!” upon you is based – and Christ is our sanctification – the source of our lives set apart to God to live in His service and to His glory. Christ is the life of those truly living; Christ is your life!
Tomorrow Sunday April 13th, 2014: Psalm Sunday, Passion Sunday: “My God, My God, Why?” (Matthew 27:46)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Sermon
My God, My God, Why? (Matthew 27:46)
Pastor Espinosa
Sunday of the Passion, April 13th, 2014
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. As a good Christian there are some things that you should never say; some things that you should never ask. One of those questions is “Why?” “Why?” implies a lack of faith. “Why?” implies the need to understand. But the Lord says in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” The Word says, “trust,” not “ask why.”
One day Job asked, “What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?” (Job 31:2) He cried out, “Let the Almighty answer me!” (Job 31:15) He wanted an answer. In effect Job was asking why he was suffering so much in light of the righteous life he was committed to living and had in fact been living. When the answer finally came, it wasn’t exactly what Job was looking for. Job 38:1-2: “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?’” Job reconsidered his position recorded at Job 42:1-2: “Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.’”
This is why dear Christians that St. Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit declares this about those who live in true faith: “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7) It’s true that the great Anselm of Canterbury confessed that he was engaged in faith seeking understanding, but even for Anselm understanding never preceded faith, but faith preceded understanding. So there you have your moral lesson for the day: “Don’t ask ‘why?’!” Cut it out! Knock it off! Stop doing it! Well, doesn’t it just feel great to get that out of your system?! Now you’ll probably never do it again! Right? If only it was that simple.
Thanks be to God that the Lord is always having mercy on us poor sinners. He never said that the Scriptures would answer all questions, but He answers many and it is only because we choose not to study the Word of Life that we are deprived of so much that would otherwise help us more than we know. The Holy Scriptures reveal much regarding the reasons we suffer. Two reasons are universal, true for both believers and unbelievers alike: (1) The fact that sin entered the world, so that now we endure the ramifications of this entry (e.g. bystanders who suffer the results of war or violent crime); (2) The fact that we suffer the consequences of our own active and actual sins (e.g. when we get a speeding ticket, or hurt our bodies due to our vanity).
The other reasons, however, are reasons for believers specifically, which is to say that there are many more reasons why believers are permitted to suffer. Aren’t you glad that you’re a Christian? Here are some:
Wednesday April 9th, 2014 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine: “To Parents and Children”
Service is tonight at 7:00 pm on the beautiful campus of Concordia University Irvine in the Good Shepherd Chapel! Invite a friend. Concordia University is located at 1530 Concordia, Irvine, CA
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Sunday April 6th, 2014 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran of Irvine: “First Appearances Can be Deceiving” (John 11:17-27, 38-53)
Worship is at 9:30 am at Crean Lutheran High School, 12500 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA
Bible Study and Sunday School is at 11:00 am!
Rev. Alfonso O. Espinosa, Ph.D., senior pastor
Rev. Steven P. Mueller, Ph.D., assistant pastor
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“First Appearances Can be Deceiving”
John 11:17-27, 38-53
Rev. Steven P. Mueller
Many things we encounter are not what they first appear to be.
Even divine things may not always be what they appear to be
Isaiah 45:16 “Truly you are a God who hides himself.”
Luther made this a major part of his theology. God is Deus Absconditus – the hidden God. Luther also called this the “theology of the cross.
Do not to look for God merely in external might and glory. Look where God promises that He will be.
But we are always tempted to look for God in places he has not promised to be.
Today’s readings show us several examples of times when outward appearances were deceiving – when God hid His work from human eyes, only to reveal it at just the right time.
A living Lazarus was hidden in death until Christ revealed him
John 11 tells us about Lazarus’ sickness and death – and Jesus’ strange reaction.
John 11:5–6 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
Martha meets Him, and says, “If you had been here my brother would not have died… but even now I know that God will do whatever you ask.” What a great statement of faith. But when they get to the tomb, she wavers.
Martha was caught up in external appearances. But Jesus was not. With a word, he called Lazarus out, and the dead man rose.
The appearance – the reality of death – was not the final story. God was doing something greater. God’s life was hidden there, and Lazarus lived.
Tonight Wednesday April 2nd, 2014 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine: “To Widows” (1st Tim 5:5-6 & 1 Cor. 12:12-26)
KFUO “His Time” Sermon for April 8th, 2014
“Christ For Us When Sin Comes From The Outside & The Inside”
Text: St. Mark 14:53-72
Rev. Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa, Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ on this 30th day of Lent [if this is broadcast on April 8th] and as we are now knocking on the door of Holy Week. Amen. It is time to reflect on our dear Savior’s passion: all that He was willing to do and endure in order to save us from sin, death, and the power of the Evil One. In our Gospel text from St. Mark, chapter 14, verses 53-72 we see our Lord facing for us sinful attacks from the “outside” (or from the world) and even more shamefully and alarming sinful attacks from the “inside” (or from within His own Church). His response to these, however, is the response of amazing grace poured out through His been undeterred from why He came taking on our flesh to begin with: He would go forth to die for us “while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)
The outside sinful attack against our Savior is depicted in the mockery and farce of a trial before the Sanhedrin as recorded in verses 53-65. “[Our Lord Jesus] had been arrested in an illegal and a most highhanded way, and as he faces his judges for trial, no crime has been charged against him. And so, unindicted, illegally arrested, he stands at this illegal hour before this illegally convened court.” (R.C.H. Lenski, Interpretation of St. Mark’s Gospel, 657) It is important to note that this trial ignored the legal restrictions which forbade trials at night. The darkness represents the work of Satan who persecuted the Lord and who to this day persecutes the Church and the members of the Lord’s Holy Bride like you and me. Caiaphas the high priest heard testimony that did not agree (v 59), and when He asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” (v 60), our Lord’s silence (v 61) must have been deafening, but it was appropriate: there was no need to defend oneself against lies and false accusations.
But then Caiaphas -- who was now desperate and feverish to stop Christ -- asked a question that our Lord had to answer: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (v 61) Oh Caiaphas knew exactly what he was asking (the Jews sought to avoid the holy name of God and so Caiaphas made an adjustment: instead of saying “Son of God,” he said “Son of the Blessed,” same difference). Again our Lord had to answer because this is why He came: to show us God, our merciful and saving God! So He answered: “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (v 62) The Lord was fully aware of the words of Daniel 7:13-14 and identified Himself with another divine title: “Son of Man”…the One with authority to judge all men, because He is God with the power and authority of God! So much for the claim that the New Testament does not clearly identify Jesus as God! And this is exactly what Caiaphas heard and understood and so he “tore his garments and said, ‘What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?’ And they all condemned him as deserving death.” (vv 63-64)
But our Lord’s persecution did not end there. Like a cancer, sin spreads and it would invade even St. Peter. In love St. Peter came to the courtyard to be as near to the Lord as possible, but in fear he betrayed the Lord. Three times St. Peter denied Christ and you know the rest of the account: “And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.” (v 72)
This is what our Savior faced for us: the persecution and rejection of the world; and the betrayal and denial from His own. And how often have we joined in this Satanic throng? How often have we in our own sin accused Christ like Caiaphas who essentially was unwilling to submit to the King of Kings…so we accuse our Savior in our hearts and join the world’s sin because we want to find a way to maintain our autonomy. And how we can relate to Peter who denied the Lord. How often have we in our sin denied the Lord; too afraid to be His witnesses, fearing men more than we reverence the Lord and we shut our mouths from sharing the Gospel or side step being too strongly identified as “one of those Christians.”
But Luther said: “The church of God has great need of these examples. For what would become of us? What hope would be left for us if Peter had not denied Christ and all the apostles had not taken offense at Him, and if Moses, Aaron, and David had not fallen? Therefore God wanted to console sinners with these examples and to say: ‘If you have fallen, return; for the door of mercy is open to you. You, who are conscious of no sin, do not be presumptuous; but both of you should trust in My grace and mercy.” (AE 7:11 as quoted in TLSB 1694) For St. Peter the denier our Lord went to the cross – and for that matter He went for Caiaphas as well and for the whole world – and on that cross covered the sins of the accusers and the deniers with His blood; the life in His blood (Lev. 17:11) covered the death of our sin (Rom. 6:23).
And for all who call on the Name of the Lord through the Holy Spirit calling, gathering, and enlightening through the Word and Sacrament of Christ shall be saved! So the Lord in grace also restored St. Peter even as the Lord leads you to live in your baptismal grace and to daily return to Christ! St. Peter who denied the Lord three times was three times restored as recorded in John 21:15-19. Therefore, be comforted dear Christian, because the Lord Jesus is likewise merciful to you so that in the forgiveness of sins you may also “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1st Peter 2:9)
And now the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus until He comes again in glory. Amen.