Love begotten of the Father – 18 April 2024, Anno Domini

 

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 NEW Commandment I give unto you (John 13:34)

 

            The Commandments of God, written on Tables of Stone, proved impossible for the Children of Israel to obey in the strict legal sense with which they were viewed by the people. God had intended it so to be in order to cause the people to realize their inability to merit the Kingdom of God as sinless followers.

 

            The coming of Christ did not annul the Commandments of God and were never intended to do so. Instead, He added only one additional Commandment to the other Ten – 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35) In a certain sense, this was not s new Commandment. But an ancient Commandment repeated as a seal of the believers and followers of Christ.

 

We are told to love one another in at least at least sixteen times by the Apostle John which seems most appropriate since John is considered the Apostle of Love (the disciple, as he says,’whom  the Lord loved’). John was of a tender age and heart – able to perceive the depth of love demonstrated by our Lord, and he makes more reference to love than any other of the New Testament witnesses. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 1 John 3:23; as John said to the elect lady: And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. (2 John 5)

 

Now it may seem less important to love one another than to love God, but actually, we must do BOTH or none at all. It seems easier to love God, the Giver of all Good Gifts, than a fellow believer; but whatsoever thing god loves, we must love as well since we are His adopted children by grace. As John has said in John 13:35, love for one another is the evidence of discipleship.

 

We owe the Father of Lights a great gift – Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)  Since our Lord Jesus Christ hung both tables of the Law on LOVE, obedience thereby is the only means of being accounted righteous before God the Father.  . . . love covereth all sins. (Proverbs 10:12), and above all things have fervent charity (love) among yourselves: for charity (love) shall cover the multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)  Love is a debt to be paid to both God and man.

 

Love is a demonstration of the abounding grace with which we are endowed as believers: And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

 

Love for one another is proof-positive of our being taught by God to do so. The love we spread abroad is the mark of our identity as children of God:  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (1 Thessalonians 4:9) It is our mark of salvation: Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1 Peter 22)

 

If we are to be sons and daughters of the Living God, we must quit ourselves with the character and disposition of the family Head. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 John 3:11)

 

Just as coinage of the realm is marked with the seal and stamp of the issuing authority, so must the Christian bear the stamp of Divine approbation Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1 John 7)

 

Love is not only a sentiment and a proclivity of behavior, but an obligation: Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 John 4:11) God did, indeed, so love us as to send His only Begotten Son as Redeemer for us.

 

Since our Lord loved us first – the only means of our response of love – the manner in which we love abundantly is evidence of His indwelling Presence in our hearts. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:12)

 

Perhaps you grow weary of the repetitious mention of the importance of love made by the Apostle John? When God repeats His counsel over and over again as a good Father, it is intended to aid retention of the beauty of His truth to us. Love is the Cornerstone of our Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ!

To God be the Glory – 16 April 2024, Anno Domini

 

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HETHER therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.³² Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:³³ Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)

 

This hymn stands in sharp contrast to all of the thousands of other hymns Fanny Crosby wrote. Most of her hymns extol the wonder and beauty of the saint’s experience in the surety of God’s salvation. This hymn, however, extols the glory of God alone to the exclusion of any human experiences. I add the following quote: 

 

In contrast to many gospel hymns (including the majority of Crosby's texts), To God Be the Glory directs our attention away from personal experience to the glory of God. God so loved the world that he gave us his Son to make atonement for sin (st. 1); all who believe in Christ will receive pardon (st. 2) and will rejoice now and through all eternity because of the great things he has done (st. 3). The refrain borrows its praise in part from the Old Testament psalms. The phrase when Jesus we see (st. 3) must have meant something special to Crosby, who was blinded when she was seven weeks old. Hymnary.org.

 

Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), blind from infancy, wrote this hymn in 1870 to the tune by the same name composed by William Howard Doane.

 

To God be the Glory

 

To God be the glory, great things he has done!

So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,

who yielded his life an atonement for sin,

and opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Refrain:

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, 

Let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! 

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father through Jesus the Son

and give him the glory, great things he has done!

 

Great things he has taught us, great things he has done,

and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son,

but purer and higher and greater will be

our joy and our wonder, when Jesus we see. 

Refrain

 

1 To God be the glory, great things he has done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in. There is no glory apart of that belonging to our God who is our Maker, Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and Friend. The only Begotten Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, was obedient to His Father unto death in the redemption of the elect of God. Just as the Door of the Ark of Noah was the only gateway to salvation for the pre-deluvian masses of whom only eight souls gained entry. That Door was closed by God since man does not have the volition to close the door of salvation on mankind. ¹⁶ And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in. (Genesis 7:16)  Christ is not only the door of the Sheepfold, but the Door to Heaven and Salvation itself. Only He can open that Door

 

2 Great things he has taught us, great things he has done, and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son, but purer and higher and greater will be our joy and our wonder, when Jesus we see. The Immutable Word of God is the greatest gift we can possess for it is the very image of the only Begotten Son of God in written form: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)  Our Lord’s coming was the crux of all time and society. It divided eternity past from eternity future. But for Him, there is no past or future, for He is the Eternal Presence – the Great I AM! It is remarkable that most of the hymns of the blind Fanny Crosby convey a sense of seeing the Lord. Perhaps in her physical blindness her spiritual vision was far keener than our physical vision.

 

Refrain:

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord,  Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!  Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give him the glory, great things he has done! Even the inanimate world responds to the commands of God and His natural law. Mankind is not so responsive to the Commandments of God as these natural elements of the earth. But the day looms large when at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)

 

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 150:6)  

 

There is only one approach to the Father and that is through His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

AOC Sunday Report – Second Sunday after Easter

Happy Second Sunday after Easter!  The Day of the Resurrection!  Not bunnies, eggs, flowers and chocolates.

 

The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE.

 

We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Yves and me, as well as Rev Bryan and a First Sunday after Easter sermon from Rev Stephen Cooper.  Each of them is really good, interesting and different. They are all very easy reads, each is well worth your time.

 

Bishop Hap’s sermon can be viewed on video HERE -> https://youtu.be/jXfttChJRUo His sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we continue to celebrate Jesus’ delivery of the promise of life eternal with Him in our life to come.  This Day of the Resurrection is when the promise of eternal life was delivered. Remember, your eternal life does not start when your body dies, but when you accept it with your soul.  So, act in a manner consistent with the fact you will live forever and be responsible for your actions forever. Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.

 

As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because the need is always there.  Once again today we ask you start with the Richards family; Rachel Richards is still in very serious condition after a very bad car accident. They are the wife and daughter of Rev Joshua Richards.  Rachel’s injuries are severe.  More details in the report.

 

As we witness the miracle of our Lord’s return, are we following up with action on our part? We all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.

 

May you set your course on the constant North Star of our Lord.

 

Godspeed,

 

Hap Arnold

Bishop Coadjutor

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide 

Second Sunday after Easter - Propers with explanation – Bishop Hap’s Sermon – With Video

 

Bishop Hap’s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video HERE ->https://youtu.be/jXfttChJRUo

 

Bishop Hap’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we continue to celebrate Jesus’ delivery of the promise of life eternal with Him in our life to come.  This Day of the Resurrection is when the promise of eternal life was delivered. Remember, your eternal life does not start when your body dies, but when you accept it with your soul.  So, act in a manner consistent with the fact you will live forever and be responsible for your actions forever. Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.

The Propers for today are found on Page 171-172, with the Collect first:

 

The Second Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

 

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LMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

This morning’s Epistle came from the First General Epistle of St. Peter, beginning at the Nineteenth Verse of the Second Chapter. The Epistle reminds us that Christ, who was completely without sin or guile, not only died for our sins, but suffered humiliation and torture without complaint for us.  Thus, if we, because we believe in God and our Lord Jesus, are subjected to unfavorable comment, criticism or even persecution, we should bear this gladly, as our Lord gave us his example.  If we want to benefit from the Lord’s sacrifice, then we need to try to follow in his footsteps.  We need to look to His example to live our lives.

 

We are as sheep going astray who have been returned to the flock by our Lord, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.

 

We were asked the question, who is this man Jesus?  We answered, he is the Son of God; are we following him?  In this Epistle again, we are admonished to follow our Lord.

 

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HIS is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

 

Today’s Gospel came from the Tenth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. John beginning at the Eleventh Verse. Using the words that give this Sunday its name, Jesus said: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  He goes on to say He is not a hireling who cares not for the flock, but rather the shepherd himself.  He understands his job and puts it first, before his desires.  Jesus knows each of His sheep and they know Him, even as He knows His Father and His Father knows Him.  Because we are His sheep, He willingly laid down His life that we might live.  Jesus also points out He is not here to shepherd only the Jews, but all men, And there are other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.

 

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ESUS said, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and know my sheep, and am known of mine, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.

Hap Arnold

Bishop Coadjutor

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

Bp Hap brings the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday.   Bp Hap’s sermon can be viewed on video HERE ->https://youtu.be/jXfttChJRUo

Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. I know you were looking for a sermon from Bishop Jack, but he is on travel so you get one from me.  We are in the Easter Season which consists of Easter and the following four Sundays, through Rogation Sunday.  This is a time we should work on centering our lives on the central figure in our religion, Jesus Christ.  

 

In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we continue to celebrate Jesus’ delivery of the promise of life eternal with Him in our life to come.  This Day of the Resurrection is when the promise of eternal life was delivered. Remember, your eternal life does not start when your body dies, but when you accept it with your soul.  So, act in a manner consistent with the fact you will live forever and be responsible for your actions forever.

 

Let’s start by reading the Collect for today:

 

The Second Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

 

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LMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Consider these words from the Collect:

 

… given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life …

 

To understand the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice, it is critical to understand He is the only begotten Son (John 3:16) of God.  He is also referred to in places as The Word, the means by which God has given His instructions to the world.  But, more than that, 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.   (John 1:1-3)  Though the corrupted versions of the Bible (NIV, NKJV, RSV, etc) have attempted to erase His Divine Status and the role He plays in our salvation, that does not change the reality of Who He is. He is in simplest terms, the great I AM.  He was the one who brought light into this World. He has been there since before the beginning of time, before the beginning of what we know as our Universe. He created this world, it is by rights His. It is not the true possession of the Prince of this World, otherwise known as Satan. When Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness, he offered Christ something that was not his to give away. This shows how he truly does not understand God or Christ. Christ is the one who created this world and truly is the rightful owner of it and not Satan.  God values us so highly that He sent His only begotten son that all who believe on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  

 

If we recognize anything close to the magnitude of the sacrifice made on our behalf by our Lord and Savior, we will do our best to put away all hate and evil thinking that we might more successfully follow His instruction and example.  Carefully study Scripture, no matter how many times you read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them you will not find one instance of Jesus being mean or nasty, taking revenge or even being condescending.   We must do whatsoever lieth within us to do ye likewise. If we do not, we are doomed.  We will try and fail.  But, remember, you cannot be beaten if you do not give up.

 

This brings us to Peter’s point in the Epistle, Christ serves as a perfect example for the conduct of our lives. Not only was He sent to sacrifice His Life for us that we might have eternal freedom, He was sent to provide a perfect example of us, to how we should live our lives. There again the Epistle and the Collect tie together amazingly well. Very fittingly, His Ministry acts as the pattern we should look to emulate in our trials and tribulations here on Earth. His Ministry was based upon action. It then follows that we should we in our earthly attempt to follow Him center our words on action.  We need to not just speak nice words but back them up with nice actions as well. As our friend KT pointed out recently, our actions show who we truly are and what we truly believe.  This also connects with the Bible verse from Matthew (6:21) that says “For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” If we treasure and believe upon Him, our actions will show that we do indeed believe and value Him highly.

 

If we do wrong actions and suffer for it, there is little honor; for we were wrong.  But, if we do right actions, that is follow God’s Will, and suffer for it, there is in fact glory, laud and honor there.  Jesus went to His death on the Cross that we might be accounted as perfect at our final accounting rather than being held accountable for our failures.  He who is, was and always will be perfect suffered great pain that we might live life eternal.  If He did that for us, should we not follow that example and follow His Direction, counting the cost only after the work is done? We can be assured that no matter how bad our sufferings and tribulations here are on Earth, Jesus had it far worse. Not only did He die a painful death, but then He had to descend into Hell and fight the Devil. I think we have it better than He did as far as suffering goes. Just something to think about next time we think our sufferings are so awful. 

 

We are, after all, much like sheep, following the lead of those around us, somewhat like lemmings, it seems.  We have great need of a shepherd to lead us back from the edge of The Pit and to life, back to those verdant pastures and still waters. This Shepherd never will fail to lead us back to the pastures, we just have to pick up the guidance from the Holy Ghost and follow the path He has set for us. 

 

In order to follow His Directions to the path He has set for us, we have to let go of our pride, vanity and arrogance and accept His Guidance and teachings of humbleness and humility into our hearts. We have to realize we cannot do this on our own; we cannot save ourselves and we need God’s influence in our lives.   We have to allow the Holy Ghost to enter into our hearts and once He is in accept His Direction and Guidance and then act upon that guidance. It is not good enough just to say we believe, we must actually believe. Actually, believing means if we truly believe on Him, we have no choice but act in a manner consistent with Scripture.  

 

Acting is the key word here, not just talking about it, but acting. It isn’t good enough just to read Scriptures and go on our merry way and act like we did before we read them. We have to apply the key principles of Scripture in our lives and shine the light of Christ to those around us.

 

The Gospel notes the difference of ownership.  Our true owner will, and I might add, has, given His Life so we might be protected from the ravening wolves of this world, the Prince of this World.  We are cautioned to 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:(1 Peter 5:8) But, sobriety only gets you so far; sheep do poorly against wolves and lions. We alone cannot defend ourselves against this great spiritual threat. We need one who is experienced in protecting our souls against the spiritual wolves and lions of this world. Jesus is that experienced protector we need.  Make no mistake, we need the help of that Good Shepherd.  That Good Shepherd calls to each of us, we need the Holy Ghost in our hearts to hear the call.  Regardless of what you have been told by those of this world, there is only One God, One Lord, One Savior.  Thus, there is only One Flock; there are many ways to follow Scripture, but they must all have the same general plan.  That is the reason for the creeds, the reason we tell all to compare what is preached against what is in Scripture.  We need to daily work towards doing a better job of following God’s Will.

 

We need help, He provides it, we need to accept it.

 

The key is action, in this case our action.  We need to actually accept the offered help; like the life ring thrown to a drowning person, we must grab God’s proffered help, else we profit nothing.

 

Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail.  The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.  But, it takes Action, not Diction, to get there.  The way is hard, it is just not as hard as that easy downhill trail to The Pit everthing considered.

 

Hard as it may seem at the time, there is much joy and satisfaction to be found in proper action.

 

The time is now, not tomorrow.  The time has come, indeed.  How will you ACT?

 

It is by our actions we are known.

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

Sermon Notes - The Good Shepherd - Second Sunday after Easter - 14 April 2024, Anno Domini

 

The Gospel Reading.

John 10:1-11

 

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 ERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ² But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. ⁴ And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ⁵ And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. ⁶ This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. ⁷ Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep

 

The Sermon

The New Testament Gospel is previewed in the Old. The Law and the Prophets often afford a less stark image of the glorious Gospel revealed in Christ – the Good Shepherd, perhaps because we could have little understood it before His actual coming.  However, we have a beautiful image of Christ presented in the 23^rd Psalm with direct reference to that Good Shepherd depicted in today’s Gospel text from John 10. It is the LORD who is our Shepherd and none other:

 

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HE LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23)

          Though today’s Gospel text ends with the 10^th verse, I could not bring myself to end there without adding the 11^th which fully reveals this gracious Personage described as the Good Shepherd.

 

          The Universe is a closed system as every student of astronomy will admit as scientific fact. Heaven, too, is separate and distinct from the physical universe and is also, itself, a closed system (much like a simple Sheep Fold) and the abode of God. Just as the Universe is a place prepared of God for our temporal existence, so Heaven is a place prepared for the spiritual existence of those who cling to Him as lambs and children. There is an old saying that “nothing happens by accident” and I believe that saying is true as regards the Universe and the heavenlies. 

 

           Far greater faith is required to believe that the intricacies of the Universe, of the great organization of galaxies and star systems, of the perfect balance existing upon earth for the support of life, for the amazing structure and continually working intellect that is evident in the human body. To believe that the tiny cell, much less the complex organization of millions of cells of the human body, could happen by accident of nature requires a faith that can only be identified as ridiculous. Of course there is, as even Einstein admitted, a great Intellect behind the perfect balance and structure of the universe – and of life itself. – and that Intellect is God!

 

          In today’s text, Christ makes reference to that closed system of Heaven – the Sheep Fold. The Mind that conceived the organization of interstellar space also is the same Mind that created the natural world as we know it. He created every rose of crimson beauty, and every lily of purest white splendor, the tiny creatures that are unseen to man, the lambs and bears, lions and elephants, and you and me. His Mind is Macro in its enormity to consider the whole Universe and Micro in its meticulous awareness of the tender baby sucking at its mother’s breast. The Divine Creator has endowed man with a special glory and privilege and made him the crowning achievement of His Creative genius. We are compelled to say, along with the psalmist: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all thingsunder his feet: ⁷ All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoeverpasseth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:3-9)

 

          Our God is a God, not only of this one-time life on earth, but the God of the Resurrection. Life is continually being resurrected, even in this world of woe, from death. Every stalk of wheat derives its being from that first grain of wheat that fell into the earth at Eden and sprang into newness of life. Every cell of our bodies can trace its primitive DNA back to that of the first man – Adam. So, God, even in the temporal, has place seeds of the eternal. There is, however, a known end to the ways of the world and its supporting planetary accoutrements. This system of death and life is not that which God approves for those He loves. He has sent His only Begotten into the world to redeem us out of that sin of Adam (and our own) which has interrupted His creative plan for eternal life in all things.

 

          As a great and all-knowing scientist speaking to children of the Manse, He leaves off the references that cannot possibly be conceived by a child, and uses vocabulary that is simple, pictorial and imaginative in revealing the great mysteries of the closed system of His Heaven. He speaks of sheep and shepherds, of porters and strangers, of doors and thieves.  These mental pictures we can grasp and know. Being the greatest teacher ever to open His mouth, Christ employs the fundamental principle of teaching, known today, as teaching from the KNOWN to the UNKNOWN. Teaching cannot be accomplished in any other way. Unfortunately, the technique used in many of today’s university classrooms is that of teaching from the UNKNOWN to the IMPOSSIBLE!

 

          ¹ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber Christ begins with the negative – those who attempt to enter “some other way” – precisely because this is the manner in which most will attempt to gain heaven. The loose theologies of man-made truth has crept into churches and corrupted the simplicity and truth of the Gospel. The leaven of the Pharisees is far more prevalent than the pure unleavened Bread of Heaven  served in most churches today. How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matt 16:11-12) Some modern churches’ theology is more a WALMART variety than that of Treasures of Heaven.

 

          ² But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Christ is our Door to Heaven. He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” and “no one cometh unto the Father but by Him.” We may come up with every self-enriching scheme and call it exalted faith; we may labor our fingers to the bone in doing good; we may sacrifice every of our livestock on the altar of benevolence; but still stands in the foreground and brilliance of Light the single means by which we may enter Heave n – the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He who keeps getting in the way of the builders of a human paradise. If the secular humanists, the Communists, the totalitarians of every stripe could only vanquish this shining figure in the midst, they could then complete their human utopia (which, in reality, is Hell). But “the Stone that the builders rejected has become the chief Corner-Stone of the building thereof.” When they have near-completed their structure, they then may note the troublesome stone at the base around which they had to labor in building their building. It kept getting in the way and causing them to stumble. Now they recognize, after all, that it is the Chief Corner Stone – but too late. As they try to lift it to the crown of their hand-made building, it tumbles back upon them and crushes them to dust. We often build our lives on false premises, too, and discover too late that the foundation is unstable.

 

           ³ To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.The porter is very like the true ministers of God who open the Door into Christ to his hearers. While living in Iran, the sheep were led out during the warmer part of day from the stone enclosures called sheepfolds in the mountain heights. These were usually semi-caves in the mountainside with a large stone fence erected in an arch around the front. There was an opening that was always guarded by the Shepherd to keep the sheep from escaping into the dangers of winter and the predator-infested mountain slopes. There were often different shepherds whose sheep were sheltered in the fold. The Shepherd would make a unique sound with his voice and his sheep would immediately respond by following him out of the fold. The others would not respond. I found this remarkable and in complete accord with the Words of our Lord. Christ calls out today and many do not heed His Voice because they are not of His Fold.

 

          ⁴ And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. If we know the Shepherd’s Voice, we will follow Him everywhere, for everywhere He leads will be a place of security – green pastures and still waters. If danger lies ahead, the Shepherd is first to address the danger and will even lay down His life for the sheep. He has laid down His life for YOU.

 

          ⁵ And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. We have many who profess Christ today who are following strangers. If they truly knew Christ, they would not recognize and follow a stranger’s voice.  I recently drew several hundred dollars from a bank in which I have a savings account and went to deposit that money in another bank where my personal checking account is maintained. The teller took the bills and ran them through a machine. They all passed muster. She then marked each with a special pen to verify their authenticity. They all passed this test. She then took one of the bills and held it up to the light for quite a while. She then told me that this particular one hundred dollar bill was actually a five dollar bill. Well, I thought this ridiculous for it was clearly a one hundred dollar bill. She told me to hold the bill up to the light and see whose visage was inscribed in the watermark on the right side. It was Lincoln when it should have been Franklin! She told me that a skilled counterfeiter had bleached out a five, and over-stamped with the one hundred. This is why the bank device could not recognize the fake – the paper was Federal stock. Neither would the pen. But the skilled eye of the teller could catch the phony because she was so very familiar with the true money. We may appear to be genuine Christians, and our lifestyles may be moral and above reproach, but what of the watermark that is INSIDE our hearts. Will that expose us as imposters to the knowing eye of the Lord? ⁶ This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. He often speaks to us in such simple words that we, too, do not understand. We expect words of greater sophistication and profundity perhaps.

 

          ⁷ Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. When we simply do not ‘get it’, Jesus will speak to us in more direct ways. Many local Christians of the Baptist persuasion wonder why I commit idolatry by displaying the cross and candles above the Lord’s Table. I explain, usually in vain, that the cross is a reminder of who Christ is to us and what He did. I explain that Christ used metaphors to point to Himself. The Cross is one such example of who Christ is and what He did. The candles, I explain, represent both the Light of the Gospels and that of the Epistles which go out to the World in giving Light. I explain that Christ tells us in the second chapter of Revelations (2:5) to the church at Ephesus that if that church forgets from whence they have fallen, Christ will remove their candlestick. I then remind them that the Anglican Church still has its candlestick. This usually ends the dialogue….(*___~) Christ is our DOOR. He meets every specification for a DOOR. He is the only entrance available.

 

          ⁸ All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. Those false prophets who deceived and misled the people are the thieves and robbers. Their kin still dominate the world of theology today. They change biblical meanings and words for profit. They build up the esteem of man, and minimize the truth of God. But those who truly belong to the Shepherd will recognize the phonies, just as the bank teller mentioned.

 

         ⁹ I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. We have a perfect liberty IN Christ. Outside of Christ, there is only bondage and whimpering servitude. The same is true of nations that honor Christ. Those whose constitutions and morality adhere to Christian faith are free and her people live without bondage.

 

          ¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. The thief never announces his intentions ahead. His success is due to his cunning and secrecy. Modern false teachers are never going to pronounce that they have no faith at all in God the Father, or His Son Jesus. They begin, as the Serpent in the Garden, with a half-truth and proceed, step-by-step, with a full denunciation of Truth. Lies led to death at Eden, and lies lead to death in the church. But in Christ, we have Life, and that life we have, even on earth, is full, abundant and heavenly.

 

           ¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep  What other shepherd, bent on profitable gain, will lay down his life for the sheep? But there is One Shepherd, who is the Owner of the Sheep, who does not view them out of a prospect for profit, but loves them fundamentally with a heart love of warmth and kindly beneficence. He loves them as His own family (which they are) and will lay down His very life for the sheep so that THEY may have life. Do you know this Shepherd, and do you hear His Voice today?

Easter 02 Collect – 14 April 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

 

The Second Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

 

A

LMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

            The Second Sunday after Easter is referred to as the Good Shepherd Sunday for the obvious reason both the Gospel Text (John 10:11) ans the Epistle (1 Peter 2:25) are of the Good Shepherd whom Jesus is for us. The Collect for today calls pastors to the high standard set in Christ as under-shepherds of the flock, and to the layperson as well, in striving to approach that plumbline of righteousness set up by our Lord and Savior. The Collect does not appear in traditional worship until the 1549 Book of Common Prayer for which it was composed. 

 

            Though this prayer is well-written and has deep meaning for the Church and its pastors, I would have preferred, for the sake of exactness and clarity, one word would have been added between “only” and “Son.” You may think me too persnickety regarding this point of meaning, but, to be honest, Jesus was NOT the only Son of God. To omit referring to Jesus as the only BEGOTTEN Son is to obscure the great distinction of who Christ is in comparison with us. Since Scripture plainly grants all who receive Christ are sons of God (John 1:12, Romans 8:14, Galatians 4:6, Philippians 2:15, 1 John 3:1&2), does it not follow Christ bears a particular Son-ship which is not of the same nature with our own? Does Christ not proceed from the same substance with the Father with like nature and complete agreement of purpose? Are we likewise perfect as sons of God? May I remind you that we are not in any wise like unto Christ in fullness of righteousness, power, or holiness? We have no righteousness of our own, but claim that IMPUTED righteousness of Christ. So how do we differ from Christ if we are also sons and daughters of God? Romans 8:15 gives the answer most clearly: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (Romans 8:14-16) I consider it most necessary to make this distinction. I realize that there are some references in the New Testament to Christ as the Son of God, but the context always clarifies His special status as separate in nature from you and me.

 

            ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life. Why do targets display a bulls eye (the large black dot at the center) surrounded by ever larger concentric circles? Why not just display the bull’s eye alone and be done with it? The bull’s eye is difficult to hit by the trained marksman, but the outer circles give him some understanding of how NEAR the bull’s eye he came. The righteousness of Christ is the Bulls Eye at 500 yards, at 1,000 yards, and at one million miles distant. When a marksman aims at the target, he aims at the bull’s eye, but at a great distance away, he will often miss that bull’s eye – the outer rings also count for points, but not as much so as the bull’s eye. If we simply aim at the whole target, we will seldom approach the bull’s eye of righteousness and may even miss the whole target. When we aim, in our lives, for the Bulls Eye of Righteousness which Christ has established, we will always come closer to the perfect point than if we only aim at the general area. As our lives are continually sanctified by the inner workings of the Holy Ghost, our marksmanship will also improve by and by. Christ is our example after whom we must always tailor our lives and conduct. We can never be perfect in the way that He is perfect, but we will come closer to that perfection by continually striving to hit the mark. 

 

            But far more than an example to us is Christ as our Redeemer of our sin-debt. Without His sacrifice at Calvary, we would be far-gone on the road to Hell. It is Christ’s death and resurrection that offered us the opportunity to aim at that perfect Bulls Eye He has set before us. 

 

            The early heretical teachings of Pelagius (they are still in the major churches of America) taught that we could strive to be righteous enough on our own to gain salvation if we only winked at God from time to time. The Holy Scriptures refute that heresy. We have not even a hint of righteousness on our own merits and efforts – all of our righteousness comes by grant of grace from God. It is His grace working in our members that lead us in the paths of righteousness. Being blind as sheep, we cannot find that path without being led there. The Shepherd Psalms points out: “….he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” (Psalm 23:3) If we are led, indeed, by the Hand of God and not by our own whims and imaginations, we shall surely find those paths of righteousness. Give us GRACE that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit You will note that even our thankfulness is a result of God’s endowment of Grace to us. The benefits we claim are not even our own, but HIS. Those benefits are immeasurable and, in the end, all that benefits Christ benefits those of us who are IN Christ.

 

            “…..and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life” What are those steps which we beg to follow? Those steps lead us upon the wind-tossed Galilean seas and along its shorelines where many needy people are gathered begging for mercy. They lead us in out-of-the-way places such as to a Well outside the gates of Sychar. They lead us into public conflict with wicked rulers and erroneous religious teachers. They lead us into the Wilderness of Life to be tempted of the Devil. They lead us into the public square to defend a helpless woman against her hate-mongering accusers. They lead us into the House of Praise and Worship and may require us to clean it out of commercialism. They lead us to a sorrowful last supper with those we love and cherish. They lead us into the Garden of prayer and weeping. They lead us to the courtyard of our accusers who falsely label us as blasphemers. They lead us to the place of thorns and torture….to the Magistrate’s false trial…..to the cross – ever to the CROSS! They lead us to a BORROWED grave, and, finally, to a glorious resurrection with Christ! That daily endeavoring which prompts us to the paths of righteousness is also evidence of the free grace of God which is ever-flowing into our cups and causing them to overflow…..”….my Cup runneth over.” Speed the day that the heavens shall be rolled back as a scroll, and we shall behold the Fountain of our Salvation descending for us with the white-robed Armies of Heaven. AMEN.