God Comes to a Sinner - Sermon for the 5th Sunday after Epiphany

God Comes to a Sinner                         
Luke 5:1-11, Isaiah 6:1 - 13
5^th Sunday after Epiphany
February 9^th, A+D 2025
Our Savior’s and Our Redeemer 
Lutheran Churches
Hill City and Custer, SD

Audio of the Sermon available HERE

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. 

     We gather in the Holy, Holy, Holy Name of God.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit gathers us together as He also comes to us.  We are gathered by Almighty God, in His Holy Name, gathered to be blessed by Him. 

     There are a number of necessary steps in the process, but in His essence, this is the Mission of God: to come and to dwell with His beloved, to be present with His people, and to bless them.  Luke provides us with many individual examples of this Mission of God, both in his Gospel and in the Book of Acts.  Today in our readings from Luke and Isaiah we have two foundational examples of God’s Mission, Peter’s call, and Isaiah’s call. 

   We are not all the same, and certainly we are not Peter or Isaiah.  Helpfully, Luke and the rest of Scripture give examples of God’s Mission to many different kinds of people.  We can all find ourselves in these stories.  So, as we gather, as God comes to us, as God continues His mission to our fallen world, it is good for us to ask:  “Who am I in God’s Mission, today?” 

     When Isaiah is taken into the presence of God, the prophet confesses that he is lost, a man undone.  A man of unclean lips, from a people of unclean lips.  A man unworthy to see the LORD.                   

     Peter realizes through the miraculous catch of fish that the man standing in his boat, this Jesus from Nazareth, is God.  Finding himself standing before the Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, now present in human flesh, Peter falls down before Jesus, and confesses that he is a sinner.  He begs Jesus to go away from him, because Peter also knows that he is unworthy to be with God. 

     The pattern is the same in each:  God and a sinner come face to face.  The sinner is confronted with God’s holiness, His absolute perfection, glory and purity.  The sinner realizes that he, because of his sin, cannot safely be in the presence of God. The sinner is desperate, confessing his sinfulness and the justice of God’s condemnation. “Woe is me,” cries Isaiah.  “Depart from me, Lord!” pleads Peter.  

    Then comes the wonderful surprise.  God speaks and enacts His mercy.  Mercy for the sinner, instead of judgment and destruction.  God sends an angel to take a burning coal with tongs, (this part always gets me, the flaming angel needs tongs to take the coal from the heavenly altar), and then he touches it to Isaiah’s unclean lips.  The Seraphim speaks words from the heart of God: Your guilt is taken away, your sins are atoned for.        

     Jesus likewise enacts the gracious love of God: Do not be afraid  Peter, from now on, you will catch men.  Then the Lord sends these forgiven sinners, Isaiah and Peter, each to his place, into a new calling, a new life of service, according to God’s gracious will.

     Newly forgiven, absolved of their sins, Isaiah and Peter were both called to preach, both called into the vocation of public ministry, of being an official spokesman for the Almighty.  Not every sinner confronted by the presence of God is called into this particular vocation.  But every time God comes to a sinner, every time the Lord reveals His Holiness and enacts His mercy, the call is, in its essence, the same. 

     God comes to a sinner.  Consider another example from Luke, chapter 8, one of my favorites.  Do you remember the story of the man from Gerasene who was possessed by demons, so many demons that their name was Legion?  This call is different, but still the same.  The man from Gerasene is possessed.  He is beyond rational conversation.  Sin and evil have completely taken over this man’s life.  But still God comes to a sinner.  Sin is confronted, in this case the demons called Legion are confronted.  Mercy is enacted for the man through Jesus’ word to the demons, His command to go out of the man. 

   Then Jesus sends the forgiven one, the healed man, to his place.  The Gerasene begs to follow Jesus, to perhaps enter into the public ministry.  But Jesus has other plans.  He does not call the man from Gerasene to be a public preacher like Peter.  No, rather Jesus sends him home to tell everyone he knows all that God has done for him. 

   By God’s grace, you are like the man from Gerasene. 

     What, you don’t want to be compared to an exorcised demoniac, a formerly demon possessed person?  As strange as it sounds, it is good to be compared to the man from Gerasene, once possessed by demons, but now set free by Jesus.  Rejoice in this comparison, for Luke offers other examples, examples which you do not want to imitate. 

     Consider Luke, chapter 18, and the story of the rich ruler.  The pattern begins the same:  God comes to a sinner.  But this sinner doesn’t recognize God.  This rich ruler calls Jesus “good,” without realizing Jesus is God.  Jesus points this out when He responds: “Why do you call Me good?  No one is good except God alone.”  This sinner thinks Jesus has wisdom, but he doesn’t recognize that God has come to him, and even worse, he doesn’t recognize his own sin.  For the rich ruler asks, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"   This man thinks in terms of what he must do to earn heaven.

     Jesus does not speak or enact His mercy for this man, a man so sure of his ability to earn eternal life.  Instead, Jesus gives him an even more specific law, impossible for the man to keep.  “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and then come, follow Me. But when (the ruler)  had heard these things, he became very sad; for he was extremely rich.”

     Who are you today, as we gather, and God comes to us?  Now, you made it through Confession and Absolution, so you probably aren’t like the rich ruler?  Or maybe you did come here today to learn what you must do to inherit eternal life?  

    Or perhaps, like a Pharisee, you come here to thank God that you are not like others, not a tax collector, not an adulterer, not a thief?  Perhaps you come here today to remind God that you come to church, and lead a decent life, and are a good citizen.  

     Have you forgotten that the Almighty, the Holy, Holy, Holy LORD, is present to meet you here today?  If you miss or ignore the presence of God, if you deny your sin and your need for mercy, Jesus will not be your Savior.  If you think you have done what it takes to meet God’s standard, then you don’t need a savior.  If you do think this way, then there is nothing for you here, except the chance to sing your own praises.  If you come here today because you want to do what is necessary to inherit eternal life, then go, be perfect.  Go, and never sin again.  Not at all.  If you really think you can do what it takes, then go.  Go, and sin no more. 

     When you realize that you can’t, come back.  For God will come to you with mercy when you realize that you will never be able to accomplish what God requires.  Jesus will speak and enact His mercy for you when you confess that God alone is good.   

     Well, since no one has gotten up and left, I will assume that you know you are a sinner, and that you cannot free yourself from your sinful condition.  You confess your need for a savior.  Good. 

     Who are you today, as God comes to you, a sinner?  Are you like Peter, a fisherman who smelled bad because of his work?  Do you or did you make a living in a tough business, one which tempts you to cut corners, cheat your customers, or your boss?  Are you making a living in a world shot full of sin, and you know that the you are not untouched by the foul smell of the world in which you work?  Or maybe you make an honest living, more or less, but your family, your other responsibilities, perhaps they suffer because the alluring smell of money takes you away from them, more and more?   

     Are you like Isaiah, living among a people who claim to believe in the true God, but who continually worship other gods as well?  Sounds a lot like America, no?  Do you give in to the temptation to serve other gods, gods of pleasure, and comfort, gods of money and popularity?  Does daily idolatry make your lips unclean?   

     Or maybe you are like the man from Gerasene, if not possessed, at least oppressed by demons.  What, you don’t see any demons in the world?  What about alcohol and drug abuse, which kill young and old, and destroy families, and make grown men and women, and also children, into slaves, slaves to chemicals?  What about gambling addiction, when people neglect the needs of their family, community and church, and instead give up their hard earned money for the thrill of winning big, if not this time, then the next.  What are all the evils which enslave people in this world, if not demonic projects?  Demons may not reveal themselves very often today, but who do we think is ultimately behind the evil of our world?   

     Who are you?  Don’t try to hide, God sees all things.  The Lord is here, your sin cannot stand.  Repent, for your sin is an abomination in God’s presence.  Turn from your sin, and hear again this good news: 

     Jesus has taken your sin to His cross, to His personal altar of self-sacrifice, where He atoned for the sins of the whole world, once for all.  You cannot do what it takes to inherit eternal life, but Jesus has won this inheritance, for you.  By His blood, it is yours.  Isaiah’s unclean lips, and yours, were made clean as Jesus said from the cross: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  Peter’s constant striving to have things his way, his unwillingness to sacrifice for others, the stink of his pride and selfishness, and yours, is covered in the blood of Jesus.  For He gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, a fragrant aroma of mercy and peace.  The demons of the Gerasene man, and the demons of your life, are powerless over you in Christ, for on His cross Jesus crushed Satan’s head, destroying his power forever. 

     Know the sin in your life for what it is.  Sin is an abomination which threatens your life with God.  Flee from it, run away, do not sit in your sins.  Through whatever sins plague you, Satan with his legion of demons is trying to steal you from God.  Satan is trying to make you love your sins, and so forget about Christ.  Or, when that fails, Satan will try to make you believe your sins are too big for God to forgive. 

      Flee from your sin, and from these lies of Satan.  Flee to the only place of refuge.  And here we find the best surprise for believing sinners, a joyful surprise for you, and for me.  We sinners who have been joined to Christ by Baptismal faith can always flee into the presence of God.  We always have access to the Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, through the blood of Christ.  Flee to Jesus, and hear him declare again:  “Your sins are forgiven.”  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed your transgressions from you.  

     Your sins are forgiven, and now the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will use you, as He continues His mission.  The words Jesus spoke to the man from Gerasene apply to all of us:  Return to your home and declare how much God has done for you.   We all have a place where we can speak, a home, a church, a job, a community, places where we are privileged through word and deed to proclaim what Jesus has done for us.  This too, is the Mission of God. 

     God calls some people to serve directly and primarily in the church, as a pastor, or as a musician, a missionary, or a teacher.  Every Christian is also called to contribute in various ways, large and small, to the life and ministry of their congregation.  The Lord also calls all His children to be a Christian in the world, an aroma of mercy and peace in your daily life. 

   What is God calling you to do?  Do not be afraid, what God calls you to do He will also equip you to do.  And you know how He equips you: through His Word.  In your Bible, you have the Source of peace and confidence for Christian living, the living Word of God, which will keep you in hard times, and make your joys ever sweeter.  However much of God’s Word you and I receive in our daily lives, we can all almost certainly use more. 

     How do we know where and how we are to serve?  Well, service starts in vocation, in the callings, the relationships into which God has placed you: spouse, family, congregation, neighborhood, and beyond.  It also takes time to discern, time spent growing in God’s Word and looking around with the eyes of Christ.  The question of whether God may be calling you to serve in a particular way may receive a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, or a ‘not yet’ answer.  It is God’s mission, after all, and He will conduct it as He wills. 

   But the starting place, and the ending place, of God’s Mission to our fallen world is not in doubt.  God, who baptized you into His Name, will continue to come to you, to confront you and forgive you in His presence.  Through His Word, read, sung, and preached, and remembered when you are at home all alone, God is with you.  Through His Body and Blood, these holiest of holy things, which you take into your own body, God is with you.  You receive Christ by mouth, and through your ears, and so you are always in His presence, for He is always with you. 

     Entering into the presence of God will continue to be difficult for us, as long as we are sinners, living in this fallen world.  Each and every time our sin must be dealt with, and that hurts.  But do not be afraid, because your sin is dealt with.  Your sin, and my sin, all sin, has been dealt with, already, at Calvary.  In Christ we can with complete confidence enter the presence of the Holy, Holy, Holy LORD, to receive all His blessings. 

     Who are you?  In Jesus the answer is sure.  In Christ you are a forgiven sinner, a beloved child, an inheritor of all the blessings of heaven,

     in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.