and now for a word from a much respected author Don Matzat


Issues, Etc. Journal - Spring 1998 - Vol. 3 No. 1

Hitting For The Cycle

What is sanctification? How is it produced? To grow in our Christian faith and life, do we simply go in circles and do the same things over and over again? You got it!

by Don Matzat

On a recent Issues, Etc. interview, we discussed the subject of sanctification. My guest, a Reformed theologian, compared the various views on sanctification with a wind-up doll. When you wind-up the Pentecostal doll, it speaks in tongues. The Reformed doll grabs the third use of the Law. The Holiness doll goes after perfect sanctification. And what about the Lutheran doll? Well, from his perspective, when you wind-up the Lutheran doll it simply goes in circles.

After giving some thought to what he had said, I came to the conclusion that he was right. Lutherans go in circles. Or, to put it into baseball parlance, we hit for the cycle. Let me explain. . .

Think of a baseball diamond. At home plate, put the Law. At first base, the Gospel. At second base, Faith. At third base, Good Works or the Christian Life.  Now then, when an unbeliever steps up to the plate, the first thing he is hit with is the Law. He becomes aware of his sin before God.

This drives him to first base where the Gospel confronts him with the Good News of the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. As he rounds first base, the Holy Spirit produces faith causing him to grasp the Good News and rejoice in his salvation.

As he rounds second base, faith, being no idle notion, brought on by the Holy Spirit, and produces good works. His life is changed as he motors to the Good Works of third base.  In the third base coaching box there are a variety of coaches holding up the "stop" sign.

"Stop," they cry. "Come over here and speak in tongues to get really holy." Others offer the dream of perfect sanctification. Some promote their own evangelical house rules – don’t drink, smoke, dance, or go to movies. Some theologians of the Reformation group are debating the third use of the Law.  The Apostle Paul is also in the coaches box waving the runner through. "Get to home plate," he shouts. "Keep going! Don’t stop at third base."

So the runner rounds third and heads for home saying to himself, "Wow! I am really a good, holy Christian."

As he gets to home plate, he is in for a surprise. He gets nailed by the Law again. This time, though, it is not Romans 1 and 2, but rather Romans 7. "The good I want to do I do not do, and the evil I do not want to do I do do."

"So, you think you are really hot stuff," the Law says to him. "Quite a good Christian, eh? You are merely a wretched man born out of the wretched root of your father Adam."

Filled with sorrow and contrition, he wanders back up the first base line declaring, "Almighty God, merciful Father, I a poor, miserable sinner. . ." This time, as he gets to first base, he not only hears the Good News of forgiveness, but his pastor is waiting for him with words of absolution – "I forgive you!" He also hears Jesus saying to him, "Take and eat, this is my Body and Blood given for your forgiveness."

"This is fantastic," he cries as his faith is again built up and his heart is filled with great joy. He heads toward second base renewed in his faith. As a result, his behavior, actions, and attitudes are again being adjusted.

This time, as he arrives at third base, the coaches box is filled to overflowing. Everyone wants him to stop. One former football coach offers "Promise Keeping." Someone else wants to put a "What would Jesus do?" bracelet on his wrist. Bearded psychologists are there offering self-esteem, support groups, and help for his wounded inner child.

The apostle Paul is still there waving him home. But this time he is being backed up with some of the saints of the past – Martin Luther and C.F.W. Walther.

So our faithful baserunner heads back to home plate only to get clobbered with the Law again.

He continues to run the bases and his understanding of sin deepens. He grows in the knowledge of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. His Faith increases and good works freely flow from his life. Much to his amazement, as he reads the Bible, he discovers that this is exactly what God wants for him.

As he grows, he learns to love the worship of the Church. He discovers that various elements of the liturgy deal with either the Law, Gospel, Faith, or Good Works.

The traditional hymnody of the Church enhances his experience of Christian growth. He sings with enthusiasm "Alas, and did my Savior bleed," "Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness," "The Law of God is Good and Wise," and "May We Thy Precepts Lord Fulfill." In so doing, he is running the bases again and growing.

So, we go in circles! Fight the good fight, and run the good race, but whatever you do – don’t stop at third base!

       On this groundhog's Day it bear repeating.   This is why Christ came, to gain you!  
       The assigned texts this week are Isaiah 40:21-31, I Corinthians 9:16-27, and Mark 1:29-39.  If you want to take a minute and look them up now's the time.

       The Old Testament text overlaps two sections within Isaiah 40.  The first section is comparing YHWH to all idols using rhetorical questions that he knows his readers know the answer too. This section ends with vs. 26 and we see some strong gospel language here.  He "brings out" then "calls by name" and by the multitude of His power and the might of His strength, "not one is missing".  
        The second section, beginning at vs. 27 proclaims the great promise as intimately given to His people (hence the double naming of "Jacob" and "Israel"). Verse 30-31 show us a chiastic pattern common in Hebrew poetry, with the focal point and punch line of the text being in the center.  Youths are described as "faint" then "weary" then "exhausted" in vs. 30 and then told they will "grow wings" like when the eagle molts, they will not be "weary" and will not "faint".  What's in the middle is the first phrase of vs. 31 "but they who hope in the LORD shall gain new strength".  It's a comparison of power again, only this time it's the Lord's power compared with ours.  vs. 28 and 29 show us clearly where this gaining new strength comes from, the LORD who is everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the Earth, who looks on its inhabitants like grasshoppers.

      Which takes us into the reading from 1 Cor 9.  Here Paul talks about being under compulsion to preach the gospel, as though he doesn't have an option!  He speaks as one who has been "entrusted with as stewardship".  We learn what that stewardship is if we go back to 1 Cor 4:1.  He is called to be a Steward of the mysteries of God and servant of Christ, delivering the revealed Word of God in Christ to the people by God's appointed means. His reward for this task is found in vs. 19, and 23  Free from all, Slave to all, to gain as many as possible. all for the sake of sharing in the blessings of the gospel of Christ.  
       Paul delivers a message to Pastors and to the church here. Emphatically Paul refers to himself in 26 and 27 which serves as warning to the brothers in the ministry.  Just because you preach the Gospel doesn't mean you won't be disqualified from sharing in it's blessings! GULP! The word used for "beating" the air is the same one used to describe the treatment of the prophets, apostles, even Christ himself.  and the phrase "beating the air" is what the philosophers in Alexandria were said to do.  WE DON"T DO THAT.  It's not just semantics,  This Gospel is life and death stuff here folks.  Here's the message for the church.   Every athlete runs to gain a  perishable thing, but we run to gain the imperishable (check out 1 Cor. 15-50-52).  So we hope in the LORD who give us new strength to continue running.

      Finally into our Gospel reading. Mark 1 has been an exciting book already.  Jesus has overcome the temptation of the devil himself, cast out demons, preached the power of salvation ("the time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe the Gospel") and now leaving the Synagogue and heading to Simon's for supper, He can't help but do what he does because of who he is.  Funny how when the king of creation is present in His creation, creation responds! As soon as Jesus walks into Simon's house He's told of the Mother-in-law laid out being feverish.  So Jesus comes "raised her" by the hand and the fever left her....well that's what the English translation will tell you.  What it doesn't say is that the word for "left her" is the same root word used in vs 34 for "not allowing" or "permit"  and the same root word that will be used in few short verses when Jesus tells the paralyzed man lowered through the roof that his Sins are "FORGIVEN"!  Did you track with me there?   Jesus "raised her" by the hand and Forgave her = healed her.  The coming of the kingdom of God is the beginning of the renewal of all creation - disease and demons alike, taken out!  The immediate result of this is the motivation to serve, the effects of the Gospel are evident here!  
     So the sun goes down and the entire city once gathered at the Synagogue are now "synagoging" facing the door of the house where Jesus is healing the "having badly" people (the sick with various diseases and the afflicted by demons).  He is not "forgiving" the demons even to begin to try to speak...because they were (as is had been) Knowing (as in presently and into the future) WHO JESUS WAS & IS.
     Before the dawn Jesus is up and out of there.  Hunted down, by Simon and the boys they discover Him.  "All are seeking you" (duh why do you think i'm out here guys) and Jesus response is wonderful.  "Lets go elsewhere to neighboring towns so I can preach there.  "I am saying this because this is why I have come out"  OUT OF WHERE?  good question, we'll get there in a moment. 

      Through all of Galilee the KING continues His dynamic preaching ministry and the beginning of the renewal of all His creation (getting the demons out).  By His multitude of power and the might of his strength he is calling by name the grasshoppers who will share in the blessings of the gospel.   There is no one like him. His understanding is unsearchable.  This guy is hard to figure out, you could even say untameable. His preaching into their synagogues  was certainly uncomfortable for some of the hearers, but the result is fantastic!  as C.S. Lewis put it "Of course He's good, but he's not safe!  He's not a tame Lion!"   not at all...He's the Lion of Judah!