Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 3:12-27; Romans 2:1-16
Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves (Psalm 100:3 from the Introit for Epiphany 1)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Which do you suppose takes more faith to believe? To believe that everything was created out of nothing by nothing? Or to believe that everything was created out of nothing by Somebody? The world loves it's explanations that don't include God. If man can get rid of God, we'll show how smart we really are.
But, the Lord made you. He made everything and He made it out of nothing. Just as little as we could cause ourselves to be conceived and born, so we can't create ourselves. It sounds absurd because it is.
But God doesn't just make you. He RE-makes you. St. Paul says that anyone who is in Christ is a “new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.” Tomorrow the church will celebrate our Lord's baptism in the Jordan River. At that moment, the world could see that God was here to make all things new. On the cross, from Jesus' pierced side flows the water and blood that cleanses you from your sins. Into the font flows the water that washes you and makes you a new creation. Into the cup flows His blood which takes away your sins and renews you in your being a new creation.
Our repentance is to not think so highly of ourselves, because of ourselves! We “ain't nothin'” in and of ourselves, but sin and death and condemned criminals. In Christ, however, we are perfect, pure, forgiven, clean, holy, righteous and every other good thing. Because of His water and blood, we are God's dear and precious children. He made us! He saved us! He will make us all new again on the Last Day. And that's a faith not in man, but in God. That's faith that is a gift from God Himself. After all, He Himself made us! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
All who believe and are baptized Shall see the Lord's salvation; Baptized into the death of Christ, They are a new creation. Through Christ's redemption they shall stand Among the glorious, heav'nly band Of ev'ry tribe and nation. (LSB 601:1)