LENT AND LEPROSY
Romans 2:1-16
O LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people;
that we, who are justly punished for our offences,
may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Septuagesima
Introduction—We have come to the Lenten season. Epiphany celebrated appearance of Savior to Gentiles, but now begin to count Sundays backwards from Lent; reminder of sins. Collect speaks of humiliation and forgiveness. In the second year of her reign Elizabeth ordered BCP translated into Latin to be used in universities. It is illustrated and the first word of this is Prayes; P is a traveler receiving a letter from man in prison—request for deliverance to angel who will present it to God.
I. We Who Are Sinners
A. We confess that justly punished for our offences—not comparing selves to each other cause then no better or worse—but to God who is perfect. Standard of punishment is God, not man. Slapping your mother is far worse than slapping your brother, though both are sins.
B. Thief on cross admitted that all pain, discomfort, thirst, and death he justly deserved; deep humiliation of heart; in all my sufferings I only receive what I have merited by my sins. And so united his cross to that of Christ.
C. Humble yourself under mighty hand of God and in due time be exalted (1 Pe 5:6). You are just in all you have brought on us, but we have done wickedly (Neh 9:33). If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged (1 Co 11:31).
II. God Who Hears From Afar
A. Latin verb for hearing means from afar. Our sin makes us like the 10 lepers (Lu 17:12) who dare not come near. Cannot rush into God’s presence, demanding help as our right. Publican stood afar off and beat on his breast (Lu 18:13) and said God be merciful to me a sinner.
B. God, our Judge, is also our loving and merciful Father who will not, cannot, deal other than compassionately with those who confess their sins. Could a human parent, sinner that he is, deal harshly with a child who confessed that punishment was merited?
III. Christ Who Draws Near To Deliver Us
A. We should believe that Christ will deliver us because God prophesied this before he came (Is 61:1; Lu 4:18), and because we have just been reminded by Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany that he did come to release us from the prison house of sin, and now sits at right hand of Father to ensure his work.
B. God has himself put this prayer in our mouths that he might be glorified in our salvation. We have nothing in our character or conduct to plead as a reason why God should be merciful. Jer 14:7, Ps 115:1, Ezek 20:8,9,13,14,21,22.
C. Glory of God promoted more by saving than destroying. In Christ mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Ps 85:10). God is both just and the justifier of the one who believes in Christ (Ro 3:26).
