Grace Is Essential at the End.

by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on October 25, 2024 in Genesis 50:15-26

Sermon for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity October 27, 2024

Text: Genesis 50:14-26 Historic Pericope Series 24:2470

Theme: Grace Is Essential at the End.

Joseph, Jacob’s 11th son, Isaac’s grandson, and Abraham’s great grandson….the man whom God raised to the second position of authority in Egypt…through whom God saved the world from starvation some 1,800 years before Jesus was born….Joseph, a man of God whom the Lord used in great ways, lay on his death bed. Although the sacred text tells us little about it, we know that this man was ready to die in faith. That is shown us by his words and his actions which brought to an end a useful life through which God accomplished His good and eternal purposes. In Joseph we see how essential grace is in a person’s life, especially at the end. But, let us first backtrack in Joseph’s life.

When Joseph was in his mid-50s, his father Jacob died. The family travelled back to Canaan and buried Jacob in the Cave of Machpelah where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah were buried. God gathered the patriarchs into one resting place on earth, their bodies to await the end when He would raise them up again.

After the burial, Jacob’s family returned to the land of Goshen in Egypt where Joseph’s brothers were now traumatized by an unfounded fear that Joseph would take revenge on them for the great wrong which they had done to him. A guilty conscience is a terrible thing to live with, and the brothers could not erase the haunting memories of what they had done some 39 years earlier by throwing Joseph into a pit and then selling him into slavery. With their father gone, the sons were totally at Joseph’s mercy. Would he seek to settle the account with them?

Jacob must have foreseen that his sons would have trouble coping with their guilt for the brothers sent a message to Joseph, quoting their father’s instructions before he died: “You are to tell Joseph, ‘Please forgive the offense of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’” To that, the brothers added their own plea for mercy: “Now please forgive the offense of the servants of the God of your father.” They got down on their knees before Joseph, and with bowed heads said, “We are your servants.” Wow! They put themselves into the same position in which they had heartlessly placed their brother some 39 years before this.

The sense of guilt for past sins is a haunting thing. The person

wronged may tell us that he forgives us, and God in His gospel gives us divine assurance of free and full forgiveness in repentance. Yet, in our human weakness and in the devil’s evil way, the old sin can raise its head again and again to haunt and harass our hearts, making us feel that no forgiveness is possible.

This is especially true when there is no frank, full, and humble acknowledgement of guilt. As far as we know from Scriptures, the brothers had not made such a confession to Joseph. They admitted their guilt to each other (42:12), but not to the one they wronged.

Much later King David expressed the haunting experience of unconfessed sin as he said, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away as I groaned all day long….Then I acknowledged my sin to You, LORD, and did not cover up my guilt” (Ps.32:3f).

Do you ever have trouble coping with guilt? Then remember, confession of sin is not just an option. Confession of sin is essential for the health of the soul – confession to the one wronged, if it can be made, but above all, confession to God who knows all things. It is against Him that we sin, as Joseph said years before this in Potiphar’s house (39:9). So, go to Him above all and the Lord God will forgive as the Scriptures promise: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1Jn.1:7-9).

Ah, dear friends, that is the supreme glory and comfort of the Christian Gospel. The disease cannot spread farther than God’s cure, for as Paul exclaims, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more…resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ro.5:20f). God’s grace in Christ covers all!

Grace was sufficient for penitent Peter; sufficient for doubting Thomas; sufficient for Joseph’s brothers; sufficient grace for them – sufficient grace for us! That is what the Bible means when it says, “If anybody does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sin, and not only for ours, but for the sins of the whole world” (1Jn.2:1f). In the sin atoning Savior, believers need never be afraid that a particular sin is beyond forgiveness.

So, confess your sin to the one you have wronged, but most of all to God. Look with pleading faith towards Calvary’s cross. And in the place of a guilty conscience, experience the blessed and binding truth of the Savior’s promise, “Whoever comes to me, I will in no wise cast out” (Jn.6:37). What a blessed end that is to all who believe. Share it with those who struggle.

That’s what Joseph did for his brothers. He pointed them to God, whose plan in the end was worked out for the good of all: “You meant evil against me,” he said, “but God meant it for good…to keep many people alive…Therefore, do not be afraid.” He pointed them to our Savior-God. In knowing his own guilt and forgiveness in Christ from his earlier pride-filled life (his dreams), Joseph sought to comfort his brothers in their sad time. As Paul writes, “He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the same comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Through Christ our comfort overflows” (2Co.1:4f).

This is the highest point of a useful life – in the end to comfort others in Christ with the comfort of forgiveness that we ourselves have received from His hand. Such grace is essential at the end.

Following this Joseph lived another 55 years. It was a long life, not as long as his father’s grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s, but he lived long enough:

1) to see his brothers comforted;

2) to save many who would have died in the famine, maybe many

whom he was able to point to the Savior;

3) to hold his children’s children’s children in his arms.

In every case, Joseph’s testimony to God was clear: “God intended it all for good to accomplish what is being done, the saving of many.”

So ended a useful life, a life that from start to finish was willing at every turn to be God’s instrument for the accomplishment of God’s good purposes, in which grace was essential. At the end Joseph died, identifying himself with God’s people and looking ahead to all the promises that God would carry out for them. His body was placed in a coffin, awaiting the day, hundreds of years later, when God would deliver His people from Egypt and take them back home to the Promised Land of Israel, from which the Savior would be born. It’s where Joseph wanted to be at the end, near the Savior.

Likewise, when we are called to leave this earth, may we leave it at the end as we entered it, found solely in the grace of God. At the End Grace Is Essential, trusting in Christ, our Savior, knowing in faith that God has meant all for our present and eternal good. Then we can confidently say with Joseph to those whom we leave behind, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you and bring you up out of this land to that land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob’” – not a land here on earth, but “looking forward to the city that has foundations (above), whose architect and builder is God…a better land, a heavenly one.” (Hb.11:10,16). For that Grace Is Essential. God grant it to us in faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield

(A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)

4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)

Church phone: 417.887.0886 Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244

www.zionluthchurch.com email: revelehmann@gmail.com

You can also find us on Facebook

The Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity October 27, 2024

“He who has begun a good work in you, will carry it on to completion.” Phlp.1:6

Welcome: The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today. We encourage children to worship with us. However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary. The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary. We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.

U p o n E n t e r i n g G o d’ s H o u s e

Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice. If You, LORD, kept a record of guilt, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is pardon. I wait for the LORD, and in His word I put my hope” (Psalm 130).

W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t

The Saved Face the End – Kept Uninjured through Forgiveness. God, who has graciously begun the good work of faith in His people, will carry it on to completion in their lives. Their confidence rests solely in Him. Thus, by virtue of His grace, the saved are able to face the end.

Too few of us think only of the immediate present and not even back to the beginning of our Christian life, to say nothing of thinking forward to “the day of Christ Jesus” and the judgment which all of us must face. Christians are to be truly eschatologically minded and grace oriented.

We need His grace for believers must contend against great spiritual enemies “in the heavenly realms” that are bent on the destruction of the soul. For that reason, Paul encouraged us last week to “pull on the full armor of God so that we can stand against the schemes of the devil, for our struggle is not against flesh or blood” (Ep.6:11).

To that end we pray: Lord, in Your grace finish the good work of faith that You have begun within us that we may be prepared for the coming day of the Lord and may show love, mercy, and forgiveness to all who have wronged us, even as You have shown it to us, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

– T h e W o r d o f G o d f o r T o d a y –

(The Lessons of the Day are from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)

The Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 50:15-21

Upon their father’s death, Joseph’s brothers were afraid that he would get even with them for selling him into slavery. But Joseph did not yield to vengeful wrath as he recalled God’s grace to him. Realizing that God’s gracious hand have been at work to save many lives, he forgave his brothers and assured them of his continuing kindness towards them.

The Epistle Lesson: Philippians 1:3-11

Paul, the great pastor of souls, prays tenderly for his congregation, rejoicing in their fellowship with him in the saving gospel. God’s grace shown to them makes him give thanks and enables him to pray that God would continue to keep them strong to the end, while increasing their love, knowledge and insight until Christ returns.

The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 18:23-35

Jesus’ Parable of the Unmerciful Servant pictures God’s tremendous mercy and grace in forgiving us the complete debt of our sin. So we also have mercy upon and forgive those who sin against us. How can we retain God’s forgiveness if we do not forgive from the heart?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann

Points to Ponder: “As the dew falls upon the thistle as well as the lily, so the grace of God falls upon the heart of the hardened as well as the penitent sinner. As the ocean washes not only the tiny grains of sand but also the depths of the earth, so the ocean of God’s grace covers not only the small but also the gross sins of man. As the sky spans the entire universe, so the sky of God’s grace revealed in the birth of the Savior spans the entire human race. Man can harden his heart to such an extent that he does not yearn for God’s grace, but he cannot fall so deeply that God in His grace should have no desire for him.” — CFW Walther on The Full Extent of God’s Grace

Never Grow Tired! We can easily grow tired and not live our faith. When temptations arise, Paul encourages: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Outline of Our Worship

Lord, Hear Us

Opening Thoughts on the Service

The Entrance Hymn: #916

The Order of Service Morning Prayer: Hymnal pg.207

Lord, Feed Us

Psalm of the Day: #130

Genesis 50:15-21

Philippians 1:3-11

Hymn Response: #927

Matthew 18:23-25

Sermon Hymn: #654 st.1-3,6-7

Sermon Text: Genesis 50:15-26 Grace Is Essential at the End.

Lord, Accept Our Response

The Te Deum Laudamus Hymnal page 210

The Offering

Hymnal pg.213-214

“Lord, Have Mercy”

Prayers, Lord’s Prayer

Lord, Bless Us

The Benediction Hymnal page 214

Closing Hymn: #923

Silent Prayer

WELS Connection: World Ministry

The Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity – Historic Series

Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 50:15-21 – Joseph Forgives His Brothers

¹⁵When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and will pay us back in full for all of the evil that we did to him.”

¹⁶They sent the following message to Joseph: “Before he died your father commanded us, ¹⁷‘You are to tell Joseph, “Please forgive the offense of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ Now, please forgive the offense of the servants of the God of your father.”

Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

¹⁸His brothers also came and fell down in front of him, and they said, “See now, we are your servants.”

¹⁹Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring this to pass and to keep many people alive, as it is this day. ²¹Now therefore, do not be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones.” He comforted them and spoke to them in a kind way.

Epistle Lesson: Philippians 1:3-11 – Paul’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

³I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴Every time I pray for all of you, I always pray with joy, ⁵because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶I am convinced of this very thing: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷I am equally convinced that it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, for both in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all share in this grace with me. ⁸Yes, God is my witness of how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹And I pray that your love may still increase more and more in knowledge and every insight. ¹⁰This will result in your approval of the things that really matter, so that you will be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 18:23-35 – Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

²³For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴When he began to settle them, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. ²⁵Because the man was not able to pay the debt, his master ordered that he be sold, along with his wife, children, and all that he owned to repay the debt.

²⁶“Then the servant fell down on his knees in front of him, saying, ‘Master, be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’ ²⁷The master of that servant had pity on him, released him, and forgave him the debt.

²⁸“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’

²⁹“So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ ³⁰But he refused. Instead he went off and threw the man into prison until he could pay back what he owed.

³¹“When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very distressed. They went and reported to their master everything that had taken place.

³²“Then his master called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt when you begged me to. ³³Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴His master was angry and handed him over to the jailers until he could pay back everything he owed.

³⁵“This is what my heavenly Father will also do to you unless each one of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

⁵⁴This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did after he came from Judea into Galilee.

Calendar & Announcements for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Today

Oct.27

Mon.

Oct.28

Tues.

Oct.29

Wed.

Oct.30

Thurs.

Oct.31

Fri.

Nov.1

Sat.

Nov.2

Next Sun.

Nov.3

9:00 am

Divine Worship Service

online -Facebook

10:15 am

Fellowship & Bible Study

Brief Voters Meeting after the worship service

22^nd Sunday after Trinity

9:30 am Women’s Neighborhood Bible Study begins

Reformation Day

9:00 am

Divine Worship Service

With Holy Communion

online -Facebook

10:15 am

Fellowship & Bible Study

5 pm

Area Reformation Service at Beautiful Savior LC, Bella Vista, AR

Reformation Festival

A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today

One timeless truth that we review Sunday after Sunday is this: God, in His boundless grace and mercy, has forgiven me, a poor, miserable sinner. One of the special blessings of having Christian friends is that they, too, forgive. Today, in His Word God speaks to us about the correlation between being forgiven and being forgiving.

The Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 50:15-21 (answers are found below)

Joseph wept as his brothers spoke to him. Were these tears of sorrow or tears of joy?
What comfort does the Christian find in verse 20?

Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Libya, (Jodi Milam’s granddaughter); Barbara Long; Norine Richardson; Melissa Morlock-Jaeger; Liz Lisenby; Barbara Long; Pastor Roger Neumann from Oskaloosa, IA.

Neighborhood Women’s Bible Study on the Book of Ruth begins this coming Thursday at 9:30 pm in the fellowship hall. All are welcome. Bring a friend or neighbor if you know of any women who would enjoy this study and fellowship time together. Childcare is being provided.

Divine Call Sent At the joint service and call meeting of Zion and Peace last Sunday in Marshfield, Pastor Benjamin Birner was selected to whom our eighth call for a pastor will be sent. He is 32 years old and presently serves Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Liverpool, NY. He and wife Julie have 2 children, age 3 and infant.. Please keep Pastor Birner and family in your prayers over the next few weeks as he prayerfully considers where the Lord would have him serve in His Kingdom of Grace. More information about Pastor Birner may be found on the bulletin board in the hallway.

Area Reformation Service From Beautiful Savior LC, Bella Vista, AR: “We are excited to host another area joint Reformation Service on Sunday, November 3rd at 5:00 pm. Pastor Ross Chartrand from the new mission in Bentonville, AR will be the guest preacher. A supper will follow the service. Your singers/choir are invited to be part of an area choir for this service, with a rehearsal at 4:30 pm. See your pastor for the hymns we will sing. Please respond by October 20^th to your pastor if you will be attending. We are looking forward to celebrating God’s Word and faithfulness with you on November 3^rd.”

First Sem Chapel This past Thursday, Oct.24, Cody Bone, a member at Peace, Marshfield, led his first chapel service at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. You can watch the service at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary facebook.com.

Upcoming Services and Events

Thursday, November 31, 9:30 am – Neighborhood Women’s Thursday Bible Study begins (see Barbara Breidel for more info)

Sunday, November 3, 5 pm – Area Joint Reformation Service at Beautiful Savior, Bella Vista, AR; with supper following

Friday-Sunday a.m., November 8-10 – LWMS sponsored Women’s Fall Retreat at Heit’s Point (see bulletin board for info.)

Next Sunday’s Lessons:

Festival of the Reformation: 1 Samuel 3:19-4:1; Revelation 14:6-7; John 8:31-36 (Historic Pericope Series)

Answers to Today’s Old Testament Lesson Brief Study:

Likely, both. There were tears of sorrow as it grieved Joseph to think that his brothers believed him capable of such retaliation. Also, his eyes welled with tears of joy over the evidence of his brothers’ complete repentance.
God, in His love and providence, frustrates the evil intent of those who oppose us and turns the intended evil to work good in our lives, in this case, for the salvation of many.