Sermon

September 23, 2007
Pentecost 17c
Genesis 18:20-33
Pastor Ben Berger

God’s Grace Period

Have you ever benefited from a grace period? I’m sure we all have. Maybe your assignment was due and you weren’t quite finished. You asked the teacher for a little more time and were granted a one day grace period. Maybe you didn’t finish a project at work or home and your boss or spouse granted you a grace period before facing the consequences. In fact, we could rightly call our entire life a grace period, a time of grace before we face the Almighty Judge. How are you using your time of grace, your grace period? Today, through a conversation with God, Abraham shows us how to best use God’s Grace Period. God gives us this grace period 1) to warn us of judgment so we can 2) pray for deliverance.

The LORD came to Abraham to warn him of judgment against the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The LORD had chosen Abraham to be the father of the Jews, through whom the Savior would come. He had also chosen Abraham to be the father of all believers by teaching his children and the generations after him about the way of the LORD. That included teaching them about sin and its consequences.

The LORD planned to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their sin. He said to Abraham, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me” (20-21). The LORD’s judgment was just and fair, based on the actual sins of the people. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah would become a warning against sin for all people.

Abraham got the lesson. He was certainly aware of his own sin and the judgment of destruction he himself deserved. In his conversation he later referred to himself as dust and ashes. He knew that the LORD had made him from dust and one day he would die and become ashes. He knew that he deserved the same destruction the LORD planned for Sodom and Gomorrah.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah still serves as a warning of judgment for us today. Like Abraham we know that we have sinned. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because their sin had reached its limit. How close do you think we are to reaching our limit? We know all of the sinful thoughts that continuously run through our heads. We know how often our attitudes reek of selfishness, self-pity or self-righteousness. We know that we are dust and deserve nothing but fire to burn us to ashes. And it’s not just us. Our loved ones have also sinned and deserve the LORD’s destruction. And what about our country? How much longer can the LORD put up with our culture and society? A culture and society that ignores his laws and lives in complete defiance of his natural order. How long before the LORD carries our his judgment on us?

Not yet. We are living in God’s grace period. It’s the same grace period God gave to Abraham. The LORD came to Abraham. We skipped over that amazing fact before. The LORD came to Abraham and told him, warned him of his judgment against sin. And then the LORD let Abraham come to him. After the other two visitors left and went toward Sodom, Abraham remained standing before the LORD (22). The holy God stood and listened to dust and ashes.

The LORD comes to us today. He comes to give us a grace period and to warn us of judgment against our sin. He comes to us through his law. He holds the mirror of his law before us and shows us what we are, sinners. He reminds us that we are dust and ashes that deserve to burn in hell. He gives us a grace period to confess our sins. He stands before us and listens, waiting for our plea for his mercy.

And then the LORD comes to save us. He literally came in flesh and blood to save us. Jesus was born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law. He became a curse for us when he offered his own body as the sacrifice for our sins. He allowed his Father to create him out of dust, but his body did not end in the ash heap. He suffered hell to be sure, but he conquered it by rising from the dead. After he paid for our sin, Jesus came to us again. He came to give us a grace period to believe in him as our Savior.

Now the LORD invites us to come to him. He calls us his children and his friends. He wants us to pray to our heavenly Father as a dear child asks his dear father. He wants us to trust him with all of our cares and concerns and lean on him as our friend. The LORD invites us to pray. Having been warned of judgment against sin, God especially gives us this grace period to pray for deliverance.

As soon as Abraham heard about God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, his thoughts turned to the righteous or the believers living there. Abraham took immediate advantage of his grace period and prayed for those believers, really asking God to extend their grace period.

Abraham’s prayer was unselfish, humble and bold in faith. Even though Abraham recognized his own sin, he wasn’t thinking of himself at the moment. Abraham prayed for others, for any other believer that might face the wrath of God. Abraham prayed with humility. Before he addressed the LORD, he acknowledged that he was a sinful man talking to the holy God. And he often asked permission to speak. Yet, Abraham prayed with the boldness of faith. He expected, almost demanded, that the LORD be just. He couldn’t imagine the righteous God punishing his righteous people along with the wicked. And Abraham boldly requested God’s justice for 50, then 45 and 40 and 30 and 20 all the way down to 10.

The LORD responded to Abraham’s prayer. Isn’t it amazing that God stood before Abraham patiently listening. I’m sure he held eye contact with Abraham and paid attention to every word. He also responded verbally. He gave immediate feedback. And, he granted the request. He agreed to spare the cities for the sake of just ten believers.

As long as God continues to grant us the grace period, we also have opportunity to pray for deliverance. How well are we taking advantage of this opportunity to speak with God? I’m afraid that we don’t always follow Abraham’s example. We’re often selfish, praying only for ourselves and most of the time for physical help or blessings. We’re often proud. We expect God to answer our prayers because we deserve his blessing. We’re good, faithful Christians and God should love us. And we’re often weak in faith. Because we don’t pray based on God’s promises, we’re not sure he’s going to listen or grant our request.

In spite of our weak prayer life, the LORD still stands before us waiting to respond. The LORD continues to extend our grace period. He offers forgiveness for our selfishness, pride and weak faith. And he again invites us to come to him. He is willing to listen. He wants to know what you think and what you have to say. He’s prepared to respond verbally to you through his Word and Sacrament. He’ll look you directly in the eye, perhaps through the eyes of a fellow believer, and tell you what he thinks and says. And he promises to give you the best answer. He may not always grant your request exactly the way you asked it, but he will always do what’s best for you.

So, pray. Pray for deliverance. Start by praying for the righteous, for other believers. Pray for our Mission Partner, Santo Tomas in Phoenix. Pray for the other churches in the Fox Valley. Pray for our world missions. Pray for the students studying to be pastors and teachers. Pray for current pastors and teachers. Pray for our synod and its leaders.

Pray that God would extend his grace period to us. We need more time to warn sinners of God’s impending judgment and destruction for their sin. We need more time to share the good news of Jesus as Savior from our sin. Just think of how many people are dying today without faith in Christ. Their grace period has ended and now they face God’s judgment. Pray for all those who still need to know and believe in Jesus.

Pray boldly and repeatedly. You know that the LORD wants all people to be saved. He does not want to destroy cities like Sodom and Gomorrah. Ask the LORD to give you a longer grace period to share the gospel with more people. Ask him for the opportunity and the courage to tell others about Jesus. And pray with trust. Trust that the LORD will keep his promises and grant every request based on those promises.

We’ve all benefited from a grace period. We’re benefiting from God’s grace period today. He gives us another day to warn ourselves and others of his judgment against sin. He gives us another day to pray for and receive his deliverance  through Christ.

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