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The Certainty of Salvation: God’s Grace Beyond Merit

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Sermon for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost- 09/24/2023

Rev. Enzo Pellini

Matthew 20:1-16

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

***

A young man had a conversation with his friend, who was a Christian. The young man wanted to talk to him about salvation in Christ and asked him if he knew where he would go after this life. His friend’s response was hesitant. “John,” his friend responded, “if you don’t know if you’ll go to heaven, then you’ll go to hell,” he said bluntly. This young man surely, after passing away, wished to meet God. However, he always thought, “We can’t know that. The Almighty will determine whether I’ll be with Him or not.” Why do many people respond this way? It’s a valid question related to today’s message.

Today’s message might not be to the liking of many, especially those who have been raised in the faith and have believed that access to God is a matter of merits and sacrifices. It’s as if we have to accumulate points in life to pass God’s test and, perhaps, gain access to heaven. This way of thinking can be exhausting because we can never be good enough to please God. The Word of God itself declares, “There is none who does good… There is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 53:1-3).

Furthermore, this perspective adds the aggravation of uncertainty about whether God will accept us into heaven, and this way of thinking is not in line with biblical teachings. To quote a text from the New Testament, Jesus assures us: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). Those of us who belong to His flock, meaning we have accepted to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of the Most High God and have surrendered our lives to Him, should have the certainty that we are saved. Today’s reading also supports this certainty.

Recently, I heard an apparently intelligent and capable woman, a political candidate for the upcoming elections in Argentina, being interviewed by a journalist in a rapid-fire question-and-answer session. The journalist asked her, “What comes after death?” She replied, “God. Eternal life.” Then, the journalist asked, “Will you go there?” to which the candidate responded, “I don’t know; that’s for God to decide.” Have you heard answers like these? I’ve heard them all my life, but if we are Christians, this response is incorrect. It’s not about being arrogant or proud, or disrespecting God because salvation is an undeserved gift. In the Bible, God promises us that we will attain salvation not by our merits. No one can earn heaven by following human logic of performance and merit. It doesn’t work that way. God promises us salvation to all who believe. In fact, there is a verse where Paul tells the jailer in Philippi, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31), confirming the certainty of salvation.

So, how should we respond if we will go to heaven? If we truly believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and accept to follow Him, we should say, “Yes, I will go to heaven,” because that is the condition and the promise.

When we start believing in God in this way, as God wants us to live our faith, and not according to the values of this world that don’t believe in God or don’t fully know the Word of God yet, we begin to live a spiritually rich life. Being a Christian and having the certainty and assurance of what will happen after this life, instead of settling for speaking the language and wisdom of a world that doesn’t believe in God, fills us with joy and happiness. When we truly understand the essence of God’s Word, which is easy to discover and understand, we just have to start reading the Bible, our existential doubts begin to clear up, and we live a full faith, filled with the blessings and joy that the Holy Spirit can provide.

It’s very sad to live a life in which we are not sure about what will happen after our death. It’s very sad to live a life in which the standards of human performance and merit rule our worth in society. It’s very sad to believe that everything we achieve in life is the result of our own work, effort, and ability, instead of putting God first in our lives. God’s blessings begin when we put Him first, not the other way around. When we make faith the primary condition in our relationship with God, then God grants us salvation. We may make many mistakes and commit sins in life, but if we live in a relationship with God, He will always prioritize us, not because of our perfection, ability, or human performance but because of our sincere dedication to Him.

Today, we read a parable that may seem strange at first glance. Strange because it goes against what a society that doesn’t believe in God thinks and contradicts popular wisdom.

At sunset, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.” The workers who were hired near five in the afternoon came and each received the pay for a full day’s work. Therefore, when those who were hired first came, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a full day’s pay.

In this story, the vineyard owner represents God. The workers who had been working for a longer time were those who belonged to the people of God, namely the people of Israel, which included apparently more fervent followers of God, such as the scribes and teachers of the law. They couldn’t bear the idea that God’s salvation could also be granted to newcomers, those who were just beginning to believe, and even to foreigners and pagans who didn’t originally belong to the Jewish people. However, God, like the vineyard owner, has the right to do as He pleases with His grace. And because of His goodness, He decided to give the same reward to everyone. This not only caused envy among the workers in the parable but also among the Jewish teachers of the law.

God is offering us salvation as a gift, although, as some theologians have pointed out, this gift, although free, is not cheap. It requires appreciation on our part. The condition is to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and accept Him as the Lord of our lives. When we say “Lord,” we are acknowledging His authority over our lives, and we want to follow and obey Him from the bottom of our hearts. We may obey Him better or worse, and that will be assessed by God. But none of us is perfect. Some may be better than others, some may have worked more for God than others, but God, because He is good, doesn’t focus on our performance or merit according to the world’s standards. His parameters are based on His love and the love we show to Him. We express that love through our faith, our sincere dedication to God, and our love for His Church and His commandments.

May God grant us the certainty of salvation that comes only through our faith in Him today. May God open our eyes and help us understand that if we truly want to succeed and prosper in this life, our goal should be to place Him first in our earthly lives. Amen.

Forgive and Be Set Free

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Sermon for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost- 09/17/2023

Rev. Enzo Pellini

Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

***

The essence of today’s text focuses on the importance of forgiveness and mercy in the lives of Jesus’ followers. The passage teaches us that we should forgive unconditionally and generously, without setting rigid limits on how many times we should forgive those who have hurt us. Instead, we are urged to forgive repeatedly, no matter how many times we are offended.

The parable in this passage illustrates the idea that, since we have received God’s forgiveness and mercy, we should reflect that grace in our relationships with others. The servant forgiven a massive debt but then refuses to forgive another servant for a much smaller debt highlights the importance of forgiving from the heart and not holding onto resentment.

Today, Jesus speaks to us about forgiveness as a fundamental principle in faith and an essential part of living a life of love, compassion, and reconciliation with others. Jesus calls us to forgive as we have been forgiven and to free ourselves from the burden of resentment to find inner peace and maintain healthy relationships. Furthermore, we are warned about the serious consequences of not forgiving, both in our human relationships and in our relationship with God.

Today’s message, related to last Sunday’s message that urged us to resolve conflicts within the Christian community, is about taking another step: addressing the root of all conflict through the act of forgiveness. This topic has two sides: firstly, we must forgive because God commands it. Just as God was merciful to us in forgiving our original sin, our separation from Him, and our journey to becoming His followers through baptism, accepting us into His flock as children of God, we must have the same permanent disposition to forgive our neighbors. Secondly, we have to forgive because it benefits us, does us good, improves us, and keeps us healthy. Lack of forgiveness not only brings spiritual imbalance and mental difficulties but also physical illness.

It is difficult to ask for forgiveness, humble ourselves, and admit that we were wrong, no doubt. One of the biggest dilemmas we face in our lives is choosing between seeking forgiveness or clinging to our pride. Why is forgiveness difficult for us? This can be explained as obstacles that prevent us from forgiving:

Intense emotional wounds: When someone has hurt us deeply, whether emotionally, physically, or psychologically, it is natural to feel deep distress and resentment. Healing these wounds can be a long and complicated process, making forgiveness challenging.

Pride and ego: Our pride and ego can interfere with our ability to forgive. Sometimes, we may think that forgiving makes us appear weak or makes us feel like we are losing control of the situation. This can hinder the process of forgiving someone.

Lack of understanding the other person’s feelings, i.e., lack of empathy: Sometimes, it’s difficult to forgive when we can’t understand why the other person acted that way or how they felt at that moment. This can make forgiveness a challenge.

Fear of being hurt again: If we have been hurt in the past by the same person or type of situation, we may be afraid to forgive and open ourselves to the possibility of being hurt again. This can lead to resistance to forgiveness.

Desiring the person who caused harm to receive punishment: Sometimes, we want the person who hurt us to be punished for what they did instead of forgiving. We believe it is important for them to face the consequences of their actions.

Culture of revenge: This is something we need to mention today. Many times, even within Christian communities, we allow different types of ideologies or false theologies to infiltrate, as well as popular wisdom or the worldly way of thinking that often has nothing to do with the Gospel. In this case, you may have heard the sad phrase: “I forgive but I don’t forget,” for example, or “I forgive only once,” etc., which are clichés and common phrases that are repeated and seem to be trendy. In our (worldly) culture and in many social contexts, revenge is considered a more acceptable response than forgiveness. This can influence our willingness to forgive, as we may feel external pressure to seek retaliation instead of forgiveness. And that popular philosophy has nothing to do with the gospel. Today, Jesus tells us that we must forgive even up to 490 times, for example, meaning always.

Not knowing how to deal with feelings: Some people may not know what to do with feelings of anger, rage, and pain they experience. Instead of facing and resolving them, it may be easier to stay angry rather than forgive.

Complicated circumstances: Sometimes, it’s not clear whom or what we should forgive. On occasions, it can be confusing to know whom or what to forgive, especially when multiple people or situations are involved. Or when the people who hurt us are no longer around or have passed away. This can make the forgiveness process complicated.

Nevertheless, Jesus tells us today that we must make the effort to forgive. Even people from our past, those who have passed away, for example. Forgiveness is not an act of feelings but an act of the will. That is, we can choose to forgive, not wait to emotionally feel capable of forgiving. It’s difficult, yes, of course it’s difficult, but it becomes easier when we handle it that way, as a decision of the will and not of the emotions, and also as an act of obedience to God. What happens to those forgiven? Will they accept our forgiveness, value our forgiveness? That will be up to them. If they do not accept forgiveness, they will have to give an account before God, just as it happened with the unmerciful  servant in Jesus’ parable.

In the case of people who are no longer with us, we can still free ourselves and forgive. We can say out loud and simply, for example: “I forgive you, I have decided to forgive you because Jesus asks it of me.”

When we gather all our possible strength and go back on our words and express the opposite of pride: “Forgive me, I was wrong.” Needless to say, everything changes from that moment on because once we say that “magic” word, every barrier falls, and we rebuild our relationships.

Many times, we cannot enjoy our lives because we have unresolved issues with others. And I’m not referring to the financial aspect but to the realm of our emotions. In fact, many health professionals agree that a large part of modern diseases arise from unresolved issues with other people. In other words, the lack of humility to take the brave step of asking for forgiveness (or also accepting forgiveness when others ask it of us for things they did) can lead to psychosomatic illnesses (something that begins in the soul and soon affects various parts of our body). Many professionals and healers affirm that, no matter how horrible the situation may seem, if we are willing to release and forgive, we can heal practically anything. And in the church, we know that where there is forgiveness, the Holy Spirit of God is manifested in the community, because the lack of forgiveness grieves the Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30-32).

It’s true. Many of our consultations with psychologists, our conversations with religious people, and our investments in self-help books stem from the search for elements that give us courage and meaning when others have mistreated us. That is, we seek how to reaffirm ourselves and even desire to rid ourselves of burdens in order to forgive.

But you know something? Throughout our lives, there are various occasions when we are the ones in the wrong and have to ask for forgiveness.

King David wrote: “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away    through my groaning all day long. Then I acknowledged my sin to you    and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:3, 5).

Here’s a practical suggestion for this new week. I encourage you to ask for forgiveness from those you have offended, if applicable, or to accept forgiveness from those who have asked it of you. Make that call, write that email, meet with those people for that reason, and even pray with the words of the Psalm. But most importantly, to live a blessed life, which means spiritual, mental, and physical health, let’s free ourselves today from all emotional burdens by saying: “I’m sorry, I was wrong” or “Yes, I accept your forgiveness.”

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen