Epistle Lesson; 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel Lesson; Matthew 5:1-12

The lightening was flashing, and there were booms of thunder! The young man was terrified! He cried out, "St. Anne, save me and I will become a monk!"

In a thunderstorm, who did young Martin Luther pray to? He invoked the name of St. Anne.

Who is St. Anne? St. Anne happened to be, (at least in tradition), the grandmother of Jesus, the mother of Mary. And, Martin Luther had been taught, as a young child, and as he grew up and became a young man, that there were certain people who were called saints. He was taught that saints were people who had lived profoundly, extraordinarily, good lives, here on this earth, then had died and gone to Heaven. They had lived such good lives here on this earth that, although you and I may not deserve to be able to pray to God and have God hear our prayers, these saints, who had been such good people here on earth, and were now in Heaven, were so good and so pleasing to God that we could invoke them. We could call on them. For example, we could call out, "St. Anne, save me!" And, although God may not listen to me, God would listen to her. She could then take my prayer to God, and God would answer my prayer, because of St. Anne. That is what Martin Luther had been taught. He grew up believing that there were some people who had lived such profoundly, extraordinarily, good lives, like that.

Martin Luther knew that he would never, ever, ever, ever make it to sainthood. But, one of his prayers, as a young person, and even as he was a monk, was this. He prayed to God, quite fervently, that God would someday let him see a living saint. He prayed, "God before I die, let me see a living saint, somebody who is that good, that holy."

As you know, Martin Luther started to study scripture. As Martin Luther matured in his understanding of the Word of God and his understanding of scripture, he went on to say something, and I want you to tell me whether you think this is an arrogant, arrogant thing for Martin Luther to say. Martin Luther said, "When I was young man, I pleaded with God that He would let me see, before I died, a saint, someone who was holy, someone who was perfect. You know, God has granted that prayer a thousand times, over. Every time I look in the mirror, I see a saint! And every time I look at my fellow believers, I see saints. Every time I look in the mirror, I see a holy person. Every time I look at my fellow believers, I see someone who is holy."

How in the world could Martin Luther say that? Was that something arrogant of him to say? No, Martin Luther looked at scripture and asked himself, "How does the Bible use the word ‘saints’, or ‘holy ones’?"

If you look at the piece of paper that you have in front of you (printed below), you will notice that every time St. Paul would write a letter to one of the churches, whether it was in Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, or Rome, what did he call the people that he was writing the letter to?

As we begin to look at scripture, who does scripture call saints, the holy ones?

Scripture calls believers in Christ

holy ones.

Holy!

Is it arrogant to look in the mirror and when you look at your reflection in the mirror say, "There is a saint. There is a holy one."

Not at all. In fact, it is a very humble thing to do.

You, as a believer, know that your works are nothing really but "filthy rags" in God's eyes. And yet, you believe the Word of God.

You believe that Christ's blood is so precious, it is so cleansing, and that the Word of God is true. You believe the Word of God.

They are completely and totally removed in God's eyes. They are blotted out. They are erased. They have been cast away, never to be brought up, again. You believe the Word of God.

And God, for Christ's sake, (because of what Christ has done), sees you and declares you to be holy. He declares you to be just.

If you are a believer in Jesus, in all good conscious and in all humility, you can say, "I am a saint. I am a holy one, because God has declared me to be holy for Christ's sake."

Scripture also uses the word ‘saint’ in another way, if you look at the following two verses from 1 Thessalonians and also from Jude.

• 1 Thessalonians 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones (saints).
• Jude 14 See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones (saints)

Here scripture uses the word ‘saint, His holy ones’, as those who have already died and are already with Christ in Heaven.

• A saint is a holy one who is either living here on this earth, and by faith in Christ is declared holy, for Christ's sake.
• Or, a saint is living one who is living in Heaven, with Jesus our Savior, and now truly is holy. All sin has been removed from them.

Today we particularly think about those saints who died this past year and are now living with Christ in Heaven, with all of the saints in Heaven.

During the days of the Lutheran Reformation, it became evident to the church that the Bible does not tell us to invoke the saints. That is, the Bible does not tell us that we should direct our prayers to saints who have died and gone to Heaven. The Bible never tells us to pray to St. Jude, St. Peter, or St. Mary. And, the Bible never promises to answer prayers that would be directed to saints. The Bible never tells us that there are people who have lived such extraordinarily good lives that they, now in Heaven, can even give their merits to some of us.

When the Lutheran Church began to recognize that the Bible does not say anything about saints like that who have died and gone to Heaven, then the question became, "What is our view? As a church, what is our view of those believers who have died and gone to Heaven? How should we think of them? How should we honor them? Should we honor them?"

I want you to see what confessors, who went before us, five hundred years ago, wrote in what is called the Apology (or the defense), of the Augsburg Confession, which was written in Martin Luther's day.

The Apology of the Augsburg Confession reads as follows:

So, I want to look at the threefold honor that we give to the saints. Particularly now, I am talking about those who have died and gone before us, into Heaven.

Now, let us look again at what the Apology of the Augsburg Confession says.

You know, Martin Luther once said, after the scriptures, after studying the scriptures, probably the best thing you could study would be a book about the lives of the saints. Not a book that makes up things about their lives that are not true, but just a good book about the lives of the saints.

Why would that be such a good thing for us to study? You know, it is one thing to read in scripture that God wants all men to be saved, which is a theological concept. But, it is quite another thing, then, to see an actual example in ‘flesh and blood’ of how true it is that God really does want all men to be saved! It can bolster us in our faith, and strengthen us in our faith.

It is true that God wants all men to be saved. And, an awesome example of that in ‘flesh and blood,’ that you can look at, that actually happened in somebody's life, is the thief on the cross! There was a man who, at the last minute, came to repentance in faith. And, what did Jesus say to him? "Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."

There is an example of someone who died and is now in Heaven. There is an example of a theological concept that is actually true.

You can look at someone like John Newton. I don't know if you know who he was, but he was a slave trader. He led a sinful life. And by grace, he came to repentance, came to believe in Jesus, as his Savior, and went on to write the hymn, Amazing Grace.

Examples, like that, real life examples, can be such a comfort for you and me, as we look at how God deals in the lives of His people.

We can look at real ‘flesh and blood’ examples of people who lived in the trades. One of my favorites is Johan Sebastian Bach. He was a musician. Not all of his music was written for the church. He wrote secular music, as well. Johan Sebastian Bach happened to be a faithful Lutheran believer. Every time he would write a piece of music, before he ever began, he would write the initials "J. J." which stood in Latin for "Jesu Juve," or "Jesus, help me."

And when he was done writing his piece of music, he would write the initials "S. D. G.," "soli deo gloria," "to God alone the glory." What a beautiful example of a man who in his vocation understood that all that is to be done with the help of God and to the glory of God. That is a real ‘flesh and blood’ example of how we can live our lives in Christ and for Christ.

I am so thankful that when God tells us to be good mothers and fathers, tells us to be good husbands and wives, God has given us real ‘flesh and blood’ examples. I think of some of the people whose names were read and the bells rang for this morning, who are real ‘flesh and blood’ examples.

What does that look like, when God tells us to be a godly husband or a godly wife? What does that look like? I can look at those examples and say, "I see. I see in their lives what that meant." God has given us examples of what it means to be godly spouses in those who have lived here on this earth, and are now in Heaven. We thank God for those examples.

Next, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession talks about the strengthening of faith.

Can you say that you will ever equal St. Peter or St. Paul? Will you ever accomplish as much for the Church as God did through St. Peter? I don't know. Will you ever accomplish as much for the Church as God did through St. Paul? And all of us can say, "Probably not."

As we look at some of the people who have died and gone before us into Heaven, we could look at them and say, "I will never attain to what they were. I will never be as good in this life. I will never live as god-pleasing a life as they did." And, we could fall into despair, if we began to think like that. And so, it is so awesome that in scripture God does not hide from us (those of us who are still here on this earth), God does not hide from us the ‘dirt’ that was in the lives of the saints who are now in Heaven! It is such a comfort to me, when I look at St. Peter, and I know all that the Lord accomplished through St. Peter, for the good of the church, and I also see the ‘dirt’ that was in his life. He fell grievously into sin. He denied his Savior three times, even though the Lord warned him. Peter had said, "I will never deny you." And yet, he still grievously fell into sin.

I look at St. Paul, who again accomplished a great deal, through God's grace, here on this earth. And yet, he fell grievously into sin. Before he was a believer, St. Paul blasphemed Jesus Christ. He blasphemed Jesus! What a grievous sin. He arrested believers in Jesus. He oversaw the death of the first Christian martyr in the New Testament Church, Stephen. He fell into grievous sin.

David fell into grievous sin, the sins of murder and adultery.

You could go through the pages of scripture and see the grievous sins that the saints, who are now in Heaven, fell into, here in this life. What a comfort that is for you and me. Not that it gives us license to go out and sin, but it is a comfort for us to see that there is no sin that is so great that God does not forgive it.

And, He has given us ‘flesh and blood’ examples in this life to see! I can look at my own life and say, "You know, my good works, well, they are nothing but filthy rags in God's eyes. And my sin, well, I am nothing but a bag of trash in God's eyes." And yet, I can never ever, ever praise Jesus Christ enough, because no matter how grievous we have fallen into sin, scripture teaches us that the blood of Jesus has literally washed away all of those sins. His blood has made us clean! We see that in the lives of people, like Peter, like Paul, like David, who had fallen deeply into sin, the Lord forgave them! And if the Lord can forgive them their sins, then surely, He can forgive me. It is intended as a comfort for us, as we look at the lives of all those who have died and gone before us into Heaven, whether it is your mother, your father, your spouse, Peter, or Paul. They were saint and sinner at the same time, here on this earth. They were sinners, and yet, they were declared holy by Christ, no matter what sin they had committed. And the same is true for you and me. What comfort that brings, as we see those real ‘flesh and blood’ examples.

Finally, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession talks about the imitation.

Each of you has a calling in life. Actually, you have several callings in life. Your calling may be that you are a son or daughter. It may be that you are a mother, father, husband, or a wife. You also may be called to an occupation. It may be that you are a student. It may be that you do some job out in society. Or, it may be that you are retired. And, you have been called with certain gifts, skills, and abilities.

As we look at the saints, those who have died and gone before us into Heaven, they can serve as examples that we want to imitate, here in this life. I will give you a real life example for me that was so comforting to me, when I was a young man in high school. When I was in about 4^th grade, my mom and dad took me to see a missionary.

His name is Richard Wurmbrand. He has since died and gone to Heaven. He was a Lutheran pastor, from Romania, during the days of the Iron Curtain, when it was not legal to be a Lutheran pastor in Romania. Nevertheless, he had served as a Lutheran pastor, even though it was illegal! He had been arrested. Finally, he had fled Romania.

And so, when I was a child, he was touring the United States, and happened to stop in our town. My mom and dad took me to hear Richard Wurmbrand. He talked about what it was like to live for Jesus, in a place where he was persecuted. I vividly remember him talking about being put in prison and being humiliated, because he was a Lutheran pastor.

He took up his shirt and showed us his back. There were these huge scars, whip marks, across his back. He then talked about how he had suffered for Christ.

That made a huge impact on me. When I went off to high school, I happened to go to a huge, huge, public high school, in Pennsylvania. As soon as I would get on the bus in the morning, I would notice that the bus would be filled with marijuana smoke. That was how liberal this school was. It seemed like there were no morals at this school. The morals of the people I knew were not good. And, I got to be known, (even though I didn't think I really talked much about my faith), I got to be known at school as "The Preacher." It was kind of hard. But, it was such a comfort for me to look at and try to imitate the man, Pastor Wurmbrand, that I had heard speak, and how he had been able to stand up for Christ, go through humiliation, (if that is what it took), and suffer for his Savior.

The saints, who have gone before us, can serve as examples that you and I can imitate, in our lives. Again, I can think of saints, (names who we read this morning, that died this past year), who are real ‘flesh and blood’ examples that you and I can imitate of fatherhood, motherhood, examples of being a good husband, or a good wife.

And, there is a man who I personally imitate in the way he carries out his pastoral ministry. He is still alive, but he is just a wonderful example of how to carry out the pastoral ministry. And so, God's people also can serve as examples for us to imitate and grow in our faith.

Today, we thank God that we are saints! By grace, we are holy ones. We cling to Jesus' holy life and God sees us holy, for Christ's sake.

We thank God for those saints who are now safe in Heaven. We thank God that in this life they were able to live for Him. They serve as examples for us in many ways of how to live. They also serve as awesome examples of God's mercy, because God forgives us, no matter what our sin.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

• from the Bible: from the past
• from our congregation from your family
• What about you? Can you write your name in this blank: I’m Saint ______________
• List some saints for whom you are thankful:
• Who is an example to you of God’s mercy?
• Who is an example to you that God wishes to save men?
• Who has had teaching or other gifts for to the Church that you have benefited from?
• What gifts of certain saints would you like to amplify?
• The saints, like you, had dirt in their earthly lives. When those who have lost courage in their faith look at how Christ had compassion on Peter and forgave him, their faith can be strengthened. What about you? Is their someone in the Bible or from history who fits your situation and can serve as a strengthening for you?
• Do you know a saint who had (has) an awesome faith? Who is it? How can you imitate them?
• What virtues would you like to study and imitate in certain saints, according to your calling?
• What is your calling in the family? Are you a mother, father, husband, wife, parent, son, daughter? Do you know a saint whom you can imitate in this regard?
• What is your calling with your abilities? Are you artistic, athletic, musical, social, able to build things, compassionate, generous? Do you know a saint whom you can imitate in this regard?
• What is your calling in your occupation? Are you retired, a student, have an occupation? Do you know a saint whom you can imitate in this regard?

Psalm 37:28 For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones (saints). They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Matthew 25:21 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Romans 16:1-2 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.

Psalm 30:4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.

Ephesians 3:7-8, 17-19 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people (saints), this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…..And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 4:11-12 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people (saints) for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Ephesians 5:3-4 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people (saints). Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.