Psalm 130; The Third Sunday after Pentecost; June 9, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared. Psalm 130:3-4

Grace and peace to you from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

What would happen if God kept score? What would happen if the Lord and a divine score card where every deed, both good and bad were tallied up? Every time you sin, count that one for Mary; Count that one up for Bob. Every time you do something completely perfect, completely selfless, with pure motives... What would happen? Would you win or would you lose? Well, that's how we would run the world. That's how we would keep things going and keep evil in check. After all, that would be fair, right? You get what you pay for, you get what's coming to you.

But if God kept score, we would all languish in hell forever. The law of God makes this perfectly clear. Sometimes God's word does that to you, you hear a sermon, you read a text and the law slams you between the eyes and backs you up in the corner. If God kept score, you would be lost, you would lose. If God kept score, I would be lost, I would lose.

“If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3)

That is the question. The answer is very clear. No one! Not a single one of us could stand if God kept score. None of us can stand up to the perfection that is required of God's perfect law.

That is why the psalmist cries out,

“Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord!” (Psalm 130:1)

As we look upon the cross, the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ we see that he dies for us. He dies for you. He dies for me. You are in the crowd shouting "Crucify him!" You are Herod who wanted to see a show. You are Pilate com committed Jesus to death. You are the soldiers who pierced his hand and feet and side and hung him on the tree. You are the disciples who scattered at the first sign of danger. It is your sins that nailed him there. They are real and they killed the son of God.

If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? (Psalm 130:3).

Left to ourselves we are lost, condemned creatures. Left to ourselves we are dead in our trespasses and sins. Left to ourselves... BUT we are not left to ourselves! That is the Gospel! The wonderful message of Salvation in Jesus Christ.

But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared (130:4).

We learn two things from seeing God die on the cross. First, we learn that our sins put him there. Second, we learn the God forgives. Forgiveness is a word we say as if it costs nothing. Yet it is the most expensive word ever to be spoken. That word, forgiveness, cost Jesus Christ, the son of God, his very life. That word sent him from his Father's side, to earth, to live, and walk, and teach, and give. That word led him to be beaten, mocked, pierced and crucified. That word led him to be killed, especially for you.

But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.

When Jesus cried out from the cross, "It is finished." He paid the price of that word forgiveness. he cried out of the depths. He was abandoned and smitten by God, and afflicted. He bore all this so that you can be forgiven. So that you would not have to endure the very suffering of Hell that he endured for you. It is in the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and only in him that we have forgiveness. It is only in his death that we can rejoice in forgiveness.

The Psalmist prays,

He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities [from all their sins] (130:8)

God redeemed you, bought you back from Satan's hold. God dragged you out of the pit of hell. That work of forgiveness continues in you every single day. The word of Absolution, "I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" is the sweetest sound you can hear. Ever so much sweeter when we hear it spoken directly to a troubling sin. Look forward to that gift. Long for it. Ask for it as often as possible. Flee from sin to God's Word of forgiveness. Don't let the sun go down on your sins. The tree of death is the tree of life for you.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

It was your sins that put Him on the cross, but it was also God’s love that put Him on the cross. Jesus could have come down. He could have given in and gone His own way. But He stayed the course. He said Amen to God’s love for you. And His love for His Father meant that His love for you would never end.

If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared (Psalm 130:3–4)

God forgives. He gives you Himself. He washes you and makes you clean. He feeds you with His very body and blood. He puts the word of absolution into your ears. You will not die, but live, and proclaim the great works of God. Truly this is Good Friday. For the greatest good was accomplished by Jesus Christ today. Your life. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.