It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The sweetness of this Gospel is such that it requires faith to gain. For faith must believe in the goodness of God and in the lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus who went the way of the cross before it can believe that the Father desires to give us the kingdom. But see, Jesus is the King of the kingdom, crowned with thorns, and with the title "King" placed above his head. So he as king has authority to grant access and ownership of his kingdom to whom he will. Hence we, as his people, must live every day believing this, carrying out our duties with confidence. It is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom. Sermon for midweek of Trinity IX.