A SERMON IN THE STYLE OF ST. PATRICK: “A CALL TO REPENTANCE AND FAITH”
If Patrick were alive today I think this would be his message to the lost and dying world using his name as a byword for sinful celebrations…
The Call to the Lost
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
I, Patrick, a sinner, unworthy in myself, yet called by the grace of God, do write and speak unto you, O people, as one who was once blind, yet now see. Not by my own wisdom, nor by my own strength, but by the mercy of Jesus Christ, who saved me from bondage, that I might declare His salvation unto those yet in chains.
For I was once a captive in a foreign land, in my youth bound by men, yet more bound by sin. But the Lord had mercy upon me, and in my distress, I cried unto Him. “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34:6) And He sent me forth, not to flatter kings nor to seek the praise of men, but to preach Christ crucified, the only name given among men whereby we must be saved! (Acts 4:12)
I write unto you, O nation once blessed, yet now fallen into great darkness, as the people of Nineveh to whom Jonah was sent. For behold, sin and corruption have overtaken the land, and the people walk in the vanity of their own minds. They call evil good, and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20) Their lips speak of God, but their hearts are far from Him.
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I. The Sins of This Generation
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
O foolish generation, how long will ye love vanity and walk in deceit? You make gods unto yourselves, fashioned by your own hands and minds. Some worship the gods of pleasure and lust, and their bodies are defiled. Some bow before the gods of greed, taking from the poor and calling it wisdom. Some exalt themselves, believing they are wise, yet they have become fools. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.” (Romans 1:22-23)
Ye murder the innocent in the womb and call it freedom. Ye parade your sin in the streets and call it pride. Ye defile the marriage bed and call it love. Ye reject the natural order of God’s creation and call it progress. But the Lord shall bring every work into judgment. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
Ye have cast the commandments of the Lord behind your back, and now the land is filled with confusion and violence. Woe unto you, O people, for as in the days of Noah, so is the wickedness before mine eyes. “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11)
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II. The Universal Guilt of Mankind
“There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3:10-11)
I speak not only of the rulers, nor only of the heathen, but of all men. For whether great or small, rich or poor, all have sinned. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. (1 John 1:8) Not one is innocent before the Lord.
But some say, “Are we not good people?” Nay, the Lord sees the heart, and the heart of man is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9) Not one can stand before the Lord in his own righteousness, for all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)
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III. The Judgment of God
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)
Ye who mock the Almighty, do ye think He shall not repay? The kings of the earth may decree evil, but they shall not escape the judgment of the King of Kings. Every law passed in defiance of God shall be weighed in the balance and found wanting. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17)
Ye who love your sin, do ye think ye shall not die? For the Lord hath decreed, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:20) There is no escape from the wrath to come except one—Jesus Christ the Righteous!
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IV. The Only Salvation: Faith in Christ Alone
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
O sinner, hear the word of the Lord! There is one hope, one salvation, one way of escape. It is not in your wealth, nor in your works, nor in the traditions of men. It is in Christ alone!
When I, Patrick, was but a captive, I cried unto the Lord, and He delivered me. When I was but a sinner, He washed me in His blood. Not because I was worthy, nor because of my deeds, but because of His mercy! He hath said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Turn from your sin! Turn from your idols! Turn from your wicked ways, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved! (Acts 16:31)
For this cause I came unto you, though unworthy, though despised, that ye might know the riches of Christ. He who saved me, a wretched man, can save thee also.
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Conclusion: The Time is Now
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
O America, return unto the Lord! Ye who once knew righteousness, how are ye fallen? But the mercy of God endureth forever. If ye will repent, He will have mercy. If ye will believe, He will save. If ye will forsake your wicked ways, He will heal your land.
Let none say, “Tomorrow I shall seek the Lord.” For tomorrow is not promised. Seek Him while He may be found. (Isaiah 55:6)
I, Patrick, testify before you this day: Christ is Lord, and there is no other! May those with ears to hear, hear, and may the Spirit of God turn the hearts of the people unto righteousness.
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Sources:
• The Confession of St. Patrick
• Letter to Coroticus
• The Holy Bible (King James Version)
