Preached at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California on the Seventh Sunday After the Epiphany, February 19, 2017, by Rev. Craig Donofrio, Missionary to Eurasia.

Sermon Text: Matthew 5:38-48
Sermon Theme: “You Can’t Do It”

Old Testament: Leviticus 19:1–2, 9–18
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 3:10–23
Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:38–48

God Manifests His Perfect Holiness in Christ through Compassion and Forgiveness

God reveals His perfect holiness in compassion as “he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). By His grace in Jesus Christ, we are holy just as He is holy (Lev. 19:2), and we are “God’s temple” in whom “God’s Spirit dwells” (1 Cor. 3:16). This gift of holiness begins with fearing, loving and trusting God above all things, and it leads us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18). No longer should we practice “injustice in court.” No longer should we “be partial to the poor or defer to the great.” No longer should we “go around as a slanderer” among God’s people. No longer should we “take vengeance or bear a grudge” (Lev. 19:15–18). Though we were His enemies, our Lord Jesus Christ has loved us and forgiven us. Nourished and sustained by His holy body and blood under the bread and wine of His holy Supper, we “shall be holy” (Lev. 19:2) even as the Lord our God is holy.

Rev. Craig and Paula Donofrio, Missionaries to Eurasia
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