"Gathering with Christians around His body and blood is your society" Cantate 2025

18. May 2025

Cantate

John 16:5-15

“I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged” (Jn 16:7–11).

This is the Word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His + Name. AMEN.

Jesus sends His Holy Spirit to convict the world, that is, to judge it. The Spirit convicts the world as sinful, without righteousness, and under Satanic rule. The Spirit declares the world to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of Christ the judge in a court of the Father. It is governed by a different word than the Word of Christ. It refuses to confess Christ Jesus as Lord of Lords and King of Kings, setting itself against the Father’s anointed one. The world submits to satanic forces that seek to undermine and overthrow Jesus.

This means that no Christian or Christian congregation can have a neutral or favorable relationship with the world. To do so requires us to accommodate, capitulate, or forfeit the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The world worships the creation, not the Creator. The world calls good what God calls not good. The world openly flaunts its idolatry, erecting statues, towers, and monuments to human achievements and triumph over God and nature. The world offers false hope of salvation in so-called heroes who can give no redemption. The world loves its own works, words, and thoughts, calling righteous what God calls rebellion. The world submits to benevolent, tyrannical, and even democratic rule that promises a false future of a new Jerusalem.

This is nothing new. It was true during the era of the Patriarchs. It was true during the time of the Prophets. It was true for the Jews and Romans of Jesus’ day. It was true for the Apostles, the Fathers, the Reformers, the immigrants fleeing Europe, and for us today. The Spirit convicts the world as sinful, without righteousness, and under Satanic rule. And Spirit does so for your benefit. By the Word of Jesus, the Spirit reveals the sin that lurks in the flesh, the unrighteousness that tempts the heart, and the false word of the Deceiver that bays at the door. By revealing, you are warned. You see what is really real.

It is as the Apostle taught the church in Corinth: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.  […] O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. […] Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Co 6:2–7:1).

The Spirit directs you away from the lies, deceit, and lusts of unbelievers, lawlessness, darkness, and idols. The Christian church, her royal priests, her called ministers, and her ministries must not bind themselves to the world with its sin, unrighteousness, and unbelief. But that alone is not enough for repentance. First, we confess that we have blundered into worldliness, our old Adam falling victim again. But second, the Spirit directs us to Christ for forgiveness, rescue, and escape. That’s the good news!

Where we have erected idols that we fear, love, and trust, the Spirit brings that devastating conviction, a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces, even grinding our golden gods into powder. Where we have gone astray, the Spirit guides us home. Where we are lost in the dark, the Spirit shines the light of Christ’s Word to enlighten our hearts. As painful as it is to have our every act of rebellion and unbelief exposed, how much better is it to have every sin absolved, washed away, forgiven in the blood of Jesus! And in His forgiveness, you have a way out, a way forward, and a way through life in this tortured world.

As the Apostle writes, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever […] But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth” (1 Jn 2:15–21).

The Spirit invades your fear-filled life and shines the light of Christ on the darkness. He returns your eyes to Jesus, who, under the Father’s authority, has already defeated everything that you still fear. Jesus is the Author of your life and the Creator of your body, soul, and mind. His baptismal promises are your true and only wealth. Gathering with Christians around His body and blood is your society, the congregation of sinners redeemed by the blood of Christ. By His resurrection from the dead, the Father has given Jesus authority over all of your life and death and life eternal. Therefore, you declare with the apostle Paul that, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

He will never leave you. He will never abandon you. He has drawn you out through Baptismal waters into His holy Church, safe and secure. Jesus, your God and Savior, is on your side. He gives your life meaning and joy. He strengthens and sustains you with His body and blood, which strengthens your faith and sustains your love for each other. This is your permanent confidence, that the Lord is your helper, an ever-present help in your troubles, so that you never have to fear what men will do to you. Jesus is your shield and your great reward—your life, and life eternal—today and always.

This is the Word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His + Name. AMEN.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
St. John Ev. Lutheran Church & School - Sherman Center
Random Lake, Wisconsin