June 20, 2021 Text: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Dear Friends in Christ,
Some of you have been around since the early stages of the church plant that became our church – Good Shepherd Lutheran. This morning we look at another church plant that got off to a rocky start. There were divisions among the members. A sex scandal involving a member. There was disorder in worship and confusion about fundamental beliefs, including the resurrection of Jesus. A painful visit from the Pastor-missionary was followed by a tough letter from this same fella. This church plant was hanging by a thread. Then came another letter from the missionary except this letter brought comfort and good news that they needed.
We know this letter as 2 Corinthians. The Pastor/Church planter is the Apostle Paul. The Church in Corinth had been through a lot when they received this letter. There was even conflict between the church and Paul.
Paul notes a problem they have. Their hearts are restricted, confined, closed off. Their hearts are blocked by a stubbornness that is putting them at risk. Paul pleads with them and speaks to us . . .
“WHAT CAN HEAL OUR SPIRITUAL HEART DISEASE?”
We all are aware of physical heart disease. The hamburger we have piled high from the fast food restaurant or movie theater popcorn with butter is not helping the situation. Neither is the backside on the couch when a nice walk should be the menu item for the day. It builds up fat that clogs heart and arteries. Not enough oxygen is getting through to our cells and we suffer.
We don’t know if the Corinthians suffered physical heart disease but we do know they suffered spiritual heart disease. How about you? Ever closed your heart off to others? Walked by a person in need? Conveniently forgot to wash the dishes or take out the garbage and it was left for someone else? We too suffer spiritual heart disease when we fail to love our neighbor as ourselves.
What could damage our heart? Maybe you’ve been hurt by someone and you find it hard to trust? Someone close to you has died and you can’t understand why God would allow such a thing. Or could it be a conflict with another person that causes anxiety and you suffer in silence for it?
Every one of us in this sanctuary has had affliction and suffering. No one has a perfect heart. Like the Corinthians are hearts are restricted.
The Church in Corinth was not left to themselves to conquer their spiritual heart disease. Healing was available to them and it is available to you. Paul proclaimed, “Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (v. 2) These early Christians no longer have to carry around their burdens. They don’t need to hang on to their shame, their guilt, or the wrong done to them. Their damaged hearts have been made whole in Jesus. Paul wrote in the previous chapter, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17) A new heart has been created within them. Salvation, help, and grace, are all theirs because of Jesus.
We inherit this same help, grace, and salvation as these brothers and sisters. We are new creations because of Jesus. Jesus opened his heart and his whole body and came down to earth and became us – fully human. This sinless Son of God opened his heart and his arms and took our sin to a cross. Jesus took our spiritual heart disease and, in exchange, gave us righteousness, forgiveness, and clean hearts.
We are not left to heal ourselves. We do not become our own cardiologist. Our healer is the Lord Jesus. Brothers and sisters in this mission plant of a congregation, now is the favorable time. Now is the day of salvation when Jesus brings healing for our spiritual heart disease. There is no waiting. Come to the altar today for forgiveness, life and salvation through the healer’s body and blood. You have already had your sins absolved by the authority of Jesus Himself. You received God’s favor by hearing His Word of Good News.
Our hearts will continue to be challenged. We may even suffer some of the things Paul mentions. Hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger, dishonor, slander. We may still internalize conflict and grief and broken relationships. Our hearts are imperfect. But the struggle does not last forever. We do not receive the grace of God in vain. We receive the grace of God fully. Just as Jesus has risen from the dead, we, too, will rise from our graves on the Last Day. When He returns our hearts will not be restricted but will be opened wide. When Jesus comes again, our spiritual heart disease will be forever cured.
Amen.