Schurb: Christ died for His enemies – you

By Janet Morales

Rev. Ken Schurb, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, was the speaker at this year’s final Lenten Luncheon, sponsored by the Altrusa International Club of Moberly.

Pastor Schurb used the Scripture from Romans 5: 1-11 as the basis for his talk.

Schurb said we often hear, and sometimes base our beliefs and hopes on, the phrase, “God hates the sin but loves the sinner.” He said we must be careful in analyzing the truth in this statement.

“God’s wrath is a smoldering, seething, constant and fierce anger against sin AND sinners,” said Schurb.

Schurb quoted a former professor as saying, “Under the Law, God hates your guts!”

He proved this by pointing out incidents in the Bible where God unleashed his wrath upon man: He wiped out the population of the world in the flood; Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed; and the destruction of Jerusalem, although brought about by the Roams, said Schurb, was the outpouring of God’s wrath.

Schurb said the Romans 5 passage describes people. We are weak – incapable before God. We are ungodly – those who do not worship. And we are sinners and enemies of God.

“We are capable of worshiping things other than God,” said Schurb. “Sinners are notorious people who do despicable things.”

“If God is not angry with sin and sinners,” said Schurb, “Christ’s suffering and death are pointless. There was a point to Christ’s suffering and death: He Himself became the cost for human salvation. It is free to us, but because it was dreadfully expensive for Him. Don’t diminish the grit and determination that Jesus showed when He stuck it out for our salvation After all, He is not do this for friends. He did it for His enemies.”

We have God’s justification, said Schurb, God’s “not guilty” verdict. That is what saves us from His wrath and gives us peace.

“We never have to worry He will reject us,” said Schurb. “Because we have access to grace. We can come to God without fear. Even though we daily sin much and truly deserve nothing but punishment, we can ask for His pardon again and again. We know that on account of Christ, God will not say ‘no’.”

Members of the Altrusa International Club of Moberly are from left, front row, Shirley Prewitt, Betty Coons, and Dora May Craven; back row, Barb Riley, Pam Gilmore and Nancy Williams. The Altrusa Club sponsored the six-week series of Lenten Luncheons.