That you may know that "to live is CHRIST."(Phil. 1)
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE GOSPEL
For the 1st Sunday in Lent, March 1, 2009
Dick Smith, Bismarck, ND
PREACHING TO THE CAPTIVE WILL
Mark 1:9-15: Jesus is baptized by John, driven into the desert by the Spirit, 40 days tempted by Satan, and ministered to by angels. After John is arrested Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, “preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand (Greek: has drawn near); repent, and believe in the gospel’” (RSV).
In all three series of the Gospels (Series A, based on Matthew; Series B, based on Mark, and Series C, based on Luke) the Gospel for the first Sunday in Lent is the narrative concerning Jesus’ 40 day stay in the wilderness and temptation by the Devil. The 40 day period is echoed in the structure of the Season of Lent, namely 40 days, Ash Wednesday to Easter (not counting the Sundays, which technically are not a part of the Lenten Season, thus are called Sundays “in” Lent.)
It is an appropriate Narrative because it sets the stage for the redemptive event of the cross. Jesus is confronted by Satan. The old story of the Garden, Adam, Eve, and the serpent (Satan), the Fall into Sin, that event that has enslaved every person since then in the prison house of sin and death, is replayed here but with an astounding variation. Instead of Satan winning the day, Christ defeats the Evil One.
This establishes the basic underpinnings of all the Scripture, namely, that humans have no free will but rather are bound in sin and are unable to do ANYTHING to free themselves. CHRIST ALONE confronts Satan and defeats him. And it is in this context then that He begins his ministry in Galilee declaring that NOW, because of his presence the kingdom of God has drawn near.
But not only has the kingdom drawn near but, Jesus declares, the kingdom now incorporates us into it, so that sin, death, and the power of the devil is overcome for us. “Repent, and believe in the gospel” are the words Jesus speaks. It is immediately here that we confront the reality of our enslavement to sin or we delude ourselves. If we are enslaved then we are not free to do. Rather we are bound by Satan. Therefore the words are expressive of what is to be NOT expressive of a command that we can fulfill.
Herein we confront the great chasm between Christianity and Religion. Religion is built upon the principle that humans are free agents who can choose between good and evil. Christianity declares that humans are enslaved to sin and CANNOT choose between good and evil. This means, “repentance” is not an option nor is “believing” an option. Rather they are a work of the Holy Spirit who works “where and when he wills, in those who hear the gospel” (Augsburg Confession, Article V).
This is a crushing truth to the Old Adam in every person. It is crushing because no matter how much we talk about being enslaved to sin, helpless within ourselves, we still want to hold to the delusion that we aren’t really that enslaved after all.
In reference to the two words: “repent” and “believe,” it should be noted what these words mean. In the Scriptures, “repent” means “to die”(Regin Prenter, Spiritus Creator,” page 193.) The best description of repentance is found in Romans 7:7-24. Here Paul describes his and our condition, namely, that we CANNOT DO THE GOOD BUT ONLY THE EVIL. That is a terrifying truth that hits American Folk Religion right between the eyes. We can only do the evil? WELL, OF COURSE! We are enslaved and as such we do what the prison master commands. This kills us, St. Paul writes. The 10 Commandments are NOT A MORAL COMPASS but a condemning judgment on every person. It kills. We die.
The second word of Jesus in the beginning of his ministry in Galilee after “repent” is “believe.” After we die then out of nothing God creates NEW LIFE and that life is CHRIST HIMSELF living in us as a redeeming reality (Regin Prenter, “Spiritus Creator”, page 50). “Belief” or “faith” is CHRIST HIMSELF. Or to put it another way the believing that is in us is CHRIST’S FAITH. It is NOT your faith or my faith. It cannot be because we are DEAD.
St. Paul’s writings are infused throughout with this remarkable reality. He continually uses phrases like, “in Christ,” “Christ in us,” “through Christ,” “the faith of Christ,” “Christ for us,” “for Christ.” (It is not unusual for these references to be blurred in translation into English because of failure on the part of the translators. I would refer you to the Greek and recommend the original King James Version as the most faithful in translation.)
You catch a flavor of this in Romans 7:25. Right on the heels of his description of “repentance” he cries out in verse 24: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of DEATH?” Then in verse 25, we have a “through Christ” reference. “Thanks be to God THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord!”
A fine passage that speaks directly to Jesus’ declaration of the kingdom being near: repent and believe in the gospel, is St. Paul’s declaration to the Galatians: “I through the Law DIED (Jesus:“Repent”) to the Law that I might live for God. I have been crucified with CHRIST. I DON’T LIVE ANY LONGER! IT IS CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME! And the life I now live in the flesh I live BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD (Jesus: “believe in the gospel”)who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:19-20). (The Greek reads “by the faith of the son of God” as does the correct translation by the original King James Version. Most English translations read “by faith” which can imply that it is of our doing, as if we were still alive!)
All this is by the work of the Holy Spirit. No person dies to the Law, that is “repents,” and no person has Christ has their life, that is “believes,” unless the Holy Spirit has worked it in them. He is the one who uses the Law to kill and mediates Christ as our new life.
“…the ungodly does not ‘come’, even when he hears the word, unless the Father draws and teaches him inwardly; which He does by shedding abroad His Spirit. When that happens, there follows a ‘drawing’ other than that which is outward; Christ is then displayed by the enlightening of the Spirit, and by it man is rapt to Christ with the sweetest rapture, he being passive while God speaks, teaches and draws, rather than seeking or running himself” (Luther, “The Bondage of the Will,” page 311).
Through Christ’s death and resurrection we have been redeemed. In our baptism we were united with him in his death and as he was raised we have been given a new life, CHRIST HIMSELF (Romans 6:3-4). “For you are DEAD and your life is now hid with Christ in God. When CHIRST, WHO IS OUR LIFE, appears you will also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4).
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