Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and, by good coincidence, today the church observes The Confession of St. Peter. Given the grievous events of the last weeks, both observances invite repentant reflection for faith and life. Five years ago, Pastor Victor Belton preached in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus at Concordia Seminary, and spoke about both days.
He began with quotations from Dr. King, deep insights from which I’ll only quote this. “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final words.”
Pastor Belton shifted to Psalm 118, the psalm appointed for the Confession of St. Peter. “Open to me the gates of righteousness.” “We would have open gates this morning. We would have the gates of righteousness unlocked. We would have the way unlocked to justice in the earth. We would have the gate open so that joy and righteousness, peace and deliverance, are received. So that we by faith may enter, find rest, and give thanks unto the Lord, our God. We would have the gates open so that we might behold the righteous goodness of the Lord and dwell in his presence.” Five years after the sermon was preached, those words are even truer today.
“We need a key.” Pastor Belton lists possible keys, but settles on Romans 10, “‘If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’ The word is the key, the confession, the proclamation. When Jesus asked, ‘Who do men say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ.’ That sounds like the dropping of a key. The key to gates of righteousness is in the confession.”
Pastor Belton’s conclusion: “We know from Saints Peter and Martin that opening that gate to glory may mean suffering on earth. But it is bearable, and even in the face of rejection, threats, and even death we can say, ‘Thanks be to God. You have answered me. You’ve become my salvation. And you granted me this grace, the key that unlocks the gates of righteousness. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and the key that opens the gate.’”
You can read Pastor Belton’s sermon at https://scholar.csl.edu/cs1516/57/