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BULLETIN
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Pentecost 6 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
July 5, 2026
Zechariah 9:9-12, Romans 7:14-25a, Matthew 11:25-30
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We are drawn to spiritual giants for inspiration. In the Bible we have Moses and David and Peter. In the history of Christianity we have Augustine of Hippo who laid the foundation for the Western Church. Martin Luther, who stood up for the truth of the Bible in the face of great pressure and the threat of death. C.S. Lewis with his profound spiritual writings. Mother Theresa dedicated to serving the poor in India and around the world. For you, it may also be someone less famous and closer to home. Perhaps your Grandfather, or your mother who remained faithful even in times of tragedy and struggle. You look to people like these, and others, for inspiration and as an example of how to live life as a follower of Jesus.
In our epistle reading today we have another inspirational, spiritual giant. He is thought to be the greatest missionary of all times who brought the good news of salvation in Jesus to churches across a wide swath of the world, traveling, it is thought, around 15,000 miles through difficult conditions on both land and sea. His dedication and perseverance is impressive. This is, of course, St. Paul, formerly known as Saul, who was a rabid anti-Jesus Pharisee involved in the arrest and murder of Christians in Israel and the surrounding region. Saul was converted by Jesus Himself on the road to Damascus. After his conversion, Paul spent the rest of his life, up until his execution, preaching and teaching the Good News of forgiveness through the blood of Jesus.
In our reading from Romans, we get some bad news about St. Paul. In Romans 7, Paul confesses that he has an ongoing sin problem. Romans 7:18-19 (ESV) 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”
How can this be? How can this spiritual giant, this greatest missionary of all time, struggle with sin. How can it be that St. Paul battles with evil the same as me…the same as you? It is shocking, that someone who seems like they have their faith-life house in order is, internally, a spiritual mess. If St. Paul cannot do it… who can do it? St. Paul has the same thought about himself that I have far too often. Romans 7:24 (ESV) 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
Like we talked about last Sunday, life as a follower of Jesus is a constant struggle with sin and temptation. So much of this is a battle in your thoughts. How mortified would you be if others could read your mind and see the evil you struggle with?
I know my own struggles… the scary thing is… I fear that you all may struggle as badly as I do. It is maddening. You have been set apart by God… made holy in Jesus’ blood, and yet you still retain that old, natural, sinful self.
It is a paradox. A paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that is… actually… true. Until the day you die you will live in the tension of a most frustrating paradox. You are…as Martin Luther said in Latin…Simul Justus et Peccator. At the same time… saint and sinner. You are — at the same time — a saint made holy by the blood of Jesus – and a sinner struggling with ugly temptations and desires. You so much want there to be a switch that turns off your sinful nature, but frustratingly, you will struggle until the day you die.
So what can you learn from St. Paul about dealing with life in this paradox? What is the answer to St. Paul’s question? Romans 7:24 (ESV) 24 …Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Your natural reaction is to look in the mirror and believe you can deliver yourself if you just try harder. But that is not the answer that St. Paul gives. Romans 7:25 (ESV) 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! …”
The struggle is real. You know that. How many times have you prayed, “Lord, take away this desire… this behavior…this sin? Take it away from me.” And yet you still struggle against the influence of the old man in you — the Old Adam. The struggle continues, but as you live as a Christian you get better.
Martin Luther writes in the Large Catechism on Baptism, “What is the old man? It is what is born in human beings from Adam; anger, hate, envy, unchastity, stinginess, laziness, arrogance—yes, unbelief. The old man is infected with all vices and has by nature nothing good in him. Now, when we have come into Christ’s kingdom, these things must daily decrease. The longer we live the more we become gentle, patient, meek, and ever turn away from unbelief, greed, hatred, envy, and arrogance.”[1]
It is frustrating to know that you are a beloved, baptized child of God and you are in an ongoing, very real, struggle with sin. The frustration is real, but don’t let the devil use your frustration or your failures to get you to quit. Now, I am not much of a sports fan, but I understand a bit about baseball. When a batter comes up to the plate his goal is to get on base, and/or advance a runner already on base. The batter wants to get a hit, or at least get a walk. How often does this happen for a ballplayer?
Some say Elly De La Cruz is the best player for the Reds. He gets a hit a little more than one out of every four times at bat. Including walks, De La Cruz gets on base about 1 out of 3 times he is up to bat. He fails much more than he succeeds. Does he quit? Does he get frustrated and give up? No, he keeps getting up to bat.
Each morning you are up to bat for another day. Start with Luther’s Morning Prayer and pray, “…keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You…” At the end of the day, if it was a pretty good day… or a day marked by sin and failure… pray Luther’s evening prayer, “…I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night…”
Each day you will struggle against sin and temptation. Strive to keep the struggle internal, known only to you and God. Sins of thought are still sins, but they do not damage your love for your neighbor.
This is a very challenging part of being a Christian, but also very clarifying. Your struggles clearly show you that you cannot do it. You really do need Jesus. And the great Good News is Jesus welcomes sinners who know they cannot save themselves.
You feel the frustration. Paul feels the frustration and you cry out with him… Romans 7:24 (ESV) 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” How does Jesus respond to your cry of distress in the battle against sin? Does Jesus tell you to try a little harder and get back to Him? Does Jesus yell, “get away from me, you filthy sinner?”
In our Gospel reading today we hear Jesus’ sweet invitation. Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV) 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
In your struggle with sin and temptation, something changes when you realize that your salvation is not based on how well you resist sin and temptation. Romans 5:8 (ESV) 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Knowing your salvation is not based on how well you do, frees you to live in love for God and others without feeling the burden of impossible obedience.
Imagine you were working outside this last week in the heat of the day breaking rocks with a sledge hammer while wearing a 100 pound backpack. This is glimpse at what it feels like to try to work your way out of the burden of your own sin…it is brutal, impossible work to justify yourself before God.
Jesus says, “Put down the sledgehammer. Take off your burden. Come inside where it is cool. Sit down and rest. Jesus gives you the yoke of learning that He is gentle and humble in heart. Jesus is the King, but He is a different kind of King. Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus is the humble King who comes into Jerusalem on a donkey to offer Himself as the sacrifice for sins. Jesus’ yoke brings rest as you learn that He went to the cross to suffer and die and rise again for you. Jesus’ yoke is to learn that He set you free from the guilt of your sin and He cancelled the condemnation of the law to give you rest in the joy of your salvation.
When you think about inspirational, spiritual giants remember this. They will disappoint you. They struggled the same as you. All of them were sinners. Sometimes, public, notorious sinners like David and Peter, sometimes quiet, doubting, desperate people as Mother Theresa revealed herself to be in her writings found after her death. You can look to them as good examples of sinners on the journey, but look to Jesus alone for salvation.
And fight the good fight. Each day get back up to bat … confident in the knowledge that you are redeemed in the blood of Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit. Strive to live out your identity as a holy saint of God. Resist sin and do your best to love God and love your neighbor. And when you strike out…and you will… remember that you are actually batting 1.000 because Jesus has given you His perfection. Do not give in to frustration. Repent and return to Jesus who gives you rest. Lay down your burdens and rest in the love of Christ. Amen.
[1] LC IV 66-67
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