Second of all, shame on us if you have sold that salvation for a cheap thrill. Shame
on us if we have cheapened that salvation so much that it isn’t even worth receiving
at the expense of giving up the life of sin. If we think that our sin is more precious
than God’s forgiveness, shame on us. Is your sinful pleasure worth more to you than
God’s salvation? Do you forfeit his grace for the sake of your petty self-gratification?
Run to Jesus. Fall on your knees this year. See how great and miserable your sin
has been, and then see how great and complete God’s salvation is. He was given the
name Jesus—the only name which truly befits him. He is not he Lord who judges. He
is not the Lord who exacts payment. He is not the Lord who administers punishment.
He is Jesus—the Lord who saves.
Don’t think for a second that you are going to keep your New Year’s resolution. But
do see the resolution that God has made this year, and every new year, and every
new day. See that God resolved to become a man and to live beneath the law. See his
resolve to every day keep every bit of the law perfectly for you. See his resolve
to follow every step exactly as the Father laid out for him, all so that he could
be Jesus—the Lord who saves. See where those steps led him, to the cross to be the
God of our salvation. This year run to see this Jesus more regularly. Make this promise:
I will run to my Savior for forgiveness more often. I will treasure his salvation
more fully this year. I will take delight in the forgiveness in the sacrament as
often as it is available. God’s law is placed before me that I cannot keep it. But
when it was placed before Jesus, he kept it. Come and see in Jesus your salvation,
and then go and show your thanks with your life. Amen.
