Proper 16 (Pentecost 13)

Pentecost 13 - Proper 16

- Series A

Isaiah 51:1–6

Romans 11:33—12:8

Matthew 16:13–20

The Lord Jesus Christ Is the Son of the Living God

Jesus asked His disciples: “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15). The question is also put to us: "Who do you say that He is?" Flesh and blood do not reveal this to us, but by the ministry of the Gospel the Father in heaven reveals His Son to us on earth, who has become flesh and suffered death for our salvation. Thus we believe and confess that He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16). As He died for our transgressions and was raised for our justification, He looses us from all our sins and preserves our life within His Church, against which even “the gates of hell shall not prevail” (Matt. 16:18–19). His salvation is forever, and His righteousness “will never be dismayed” (Is. 51:6). He comforts us with the Gospel in His Church, so that “joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.” (Is. 51:3). Therefore, “according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Rom. 12:3), we also offer ourselves “as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Rom. 12:1) through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Proper 16 Series A 

Romans 11:33-12:8

Rock Sunday

Old Testament - Abraham the Rock from Which Israelis Hewn  Gospel - Matthew 16:13-20  The confession of St. Peter Hymn of the Day - "Built on the Rock"

Strong parallel with the Old Testament Abraham and Sarah

:33 A Doxology of praise - Paul worshipping as he reflects on the worship of God lived out in the life of the Christian in chapter 12 this is a worship of God's mercy which is bottomless

ta krimata. - "judgments"

"Unsearchable" - "incomprehensible"  Not to be tracked out...beyond description...

34: who first gave to God? Who paid God?  God owes no man...

36 - the end of all things Col.1:20 all things created for Him  what happened before, now, and what is to come.

Romans 12:1ff

Sanctification flows out of Justification Imperatives flow first from the Gospel I comfort you, encourage, urge you,  this is your appropriate worship...in light of the Gospel (the mercies of the Gospel) is the therefore which recalls everything God has done for you.

A sacrifice is something that has been killed. We're not called to bleed, not atoning for sin...but something really is being put to death (daily) daily/hourly offering ourselves to God...a death to sin not for sin.  See Romans 6

This is your daily worship Romans 9 a continuation of the Old Testament worship. Christian life is the liturgy we do after the liturgy.

"Appropriate worship" brought back to be...what is appropriate/logical to do.

Our life is a response to God's service...

Paul says "present your bodies" not gnostic...your body is you...the whole person...present all of you to God in your vocation and station of life...what you do with your body is a reflection of the soul.

:2 do not adapted to the pattern of this present world By renewing of your mind...see Romans 7 the mind affirms will of God, the central control of the new man. To probe the will of God what is God's will into the life God has called me. How do we probe the will of God through the Word...in our  vocation we have free will...in the things below us.

:3 do not consider your calling as superior to others...we are sacramental Ly and forensically one.

:4-8

What you are doing - how does it relate to faith?

Prophecy - narrow or broad?  First classifications (four) clergy, last (three) - laity

One who gives, w/o an agenda

Administrative powers

Acts of mercy