Funeral Sermon

Title: Loved, Forgiven, Forever!

Theme: CHRIST CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH, SO THAT THROUGH HIM WE ARE FORGIVEN - FOREVER!

Romans 8:28-39
English Standard Version (ESV)

28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

God’s Everlasting Love

31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,

"For your sake we are being killed all the daylong;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear friends in Christ,

Each morning during the week, after I say a few prayers and read a short devotion, I like to get a cup of coffee and sit and read the paper.

If you’re like me, I read the headlines and then I look over the sports to see how the teams are doing and before long … I’m reading through the obituaries.

As I look over this section, I find much more in common with the people on these pages than I use to … especially their age. Sure, there are some that are many years older than me and some, unfortunately, quite a bit younger. But, quite a few around my age and it causes me to think - as it must for many of you - that life is a lot shorter then we care to think about. But as we think about death today with the loss of our beloved Grace we can have confidence that:

CHRIST CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH, SO THAT THROUGH HIM WE ARE FORGIVEN - FOREVER!

The epistle lesson today speaks of trial and comfort. These believers in Rome were being persecuted for their faith and the Apostle offers assurance to them that no matter the trial whether, tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Rom. 8:35) that we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8-28)

The world, the flesh and the Devil continued to bring these believers to doubt that there salvation was secure. Paul comforts them with the assurance that no matter whether trial, persecution in this life or even death that God has redeemed them and bought them with the precious blood of His only Son and in Christ they cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:39)

Death brings about a separation from our loved ones for a time in this life. It is a consequence of sin and a corruption of this perfect creation of our loving God. We all see the evidence in our life. At times, it is wonderful to grow older, to look forward to getting your driver’s license or graduating from High School … going to college, falling in love, getting married … starting a family. All the while you’re thinking very little of this sinful condition in a corrupted world and time that is slipping away.

Before long, the kids are grown and out of the house … or … maybe not … because this life corrupted by sin can throw a wrench in the plans you made, a job lost or a marriage that you thought would last forever.

Some of the pain of sin we cause; some is thrust upon us by the sin of others; and some, could have been avoided had we only been a little less self-centered and bit more loving.

But death, none the less, makes you look at the reality that at some point we’re all going to die. For some sooner and for some later, the sin of Adam and Eve that we are all born into comes knocking and as much as we try, we all will eventually answer that door and leave this life.

CHRIST CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH, SO THAT THROUGH HIM WE ARE FORGIVEN - FOREVER!

So, what is God’s purpose and hope for us? Well, we learn again from our epistle lesson that:
29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

God foreknew – or knew beforehand - these believers in Rome before the foundations of the world. He predestined – determined or decreed – that they would bear the image of His son; that they would be covered by the righteous, royal robes of the God/man Jesus Christ. He called them by name to believe the Good News of the Gospel and justified them through saving faith in the blessed Gospel that they too, like the Son, would be glorified, forgiven in Christ and with Him forever in heaven.

God called Grace by name as well and she knew her savior and his call to faith. As I sat with her in her hospital room and watched her body getting ravaged by cancer we talked and she shared the loss she felt at not being able to see her grandchildren grow up. I too felt a profound loss for Grace and these children who would be missing out on the wonderful, loving grandmother she was and would have continued to be. But her hope was in her Lord and savior Jesus and the reunion she knew was waiting her in heaven.

Because 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32) Because of Jesus’ death on the cross Grace knew her sins were forgiven. Because He rose from the dead, she knew that she would too. Because of Christ, Grace knew that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)

Heaven is her home and Jesus has prepared a place for her, so that even with the veil of death lurking at the door and waiting to cover her, Grace had hope in a blessed reunion forever with Jesus.

You too can have this home waiting for you. The blessed Good News that Jesus died for your sins - is the wonderful Gospel message you can trust. Jesus has forgiven your sin and has called you to by the Gospel and through the power of the Holy Spirit, in you, and has given you faith to believe in Christ’s saving work. There is a place prepared for you and for all who believe this Good News. You are forgiven in Christ and will spend forever with our Lord and savior Jesus in Heaven and that neither death nor life, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:39)

CHRIST CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH, SO THAT THROUGH HIM WE ARE FORGIVEN - FOREVER!

May our Lord comfort you at this time of loss with this precious Good News that in Christ we are all loved by God, forgiven in Christ and together live forever with Him!

Amen

And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in and through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior now and forever.

Amen