Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: November 2021

Thursday, November 25, 2021

2. Corinthians 9,6-15. Thanksgiving

2. Corinthians 9,6-15 6021

Ernstdank 097

Katharina, Virgin, Martyr 306

Isaac Watts, Father of English Hymnody. ✠ 1748

25. November 2021

1. O Almighty God, Most Merciful Father, You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing: We give You most humble and hearty thanks that You have crowned the fields with Your blessing, and have permitted us once more to gather in the fruits of the earth; and we beseech You to bless and protect the living seed of Your Word sown in our hearts, that in the abundant fruits of righteousness we may always present to You an acceptable thank-offering. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all contentmentin all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written: He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. [Psalm 112,9] He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, theywill glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!«

3. The Apostle Paul quotes Psalm 112, nine to the Corinthians: »Yahweh has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.« God provides for his creation. He is not a Deistic deity who winds up creation like a watch and then passively observes its business. Scripture tells us that God is active in His creation. Luther thus writes in his Small Catechism: „God also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, lands, animals and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body in life.… For this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.“

4. We can recall numerous accounts of Yahweh providing for people in the Bible: Noah, Abraham, David, and the list goes on and on how God protected them, provided for them and blessed them. God continues to provide for His creation to this day. He gives us seasonable weather, good harvest, health and security, even people with skills and knowledge to help us stay safe, healthy and prosperous. For all these gifts we give thanks to Him.

5. This time last year Thanksgiving was a more somber holiday. Many stayed isolated in their houses. Family gatherings were sparse. We were deep in the doldrums of a pandemic. But today God has been bringing us out of despair into hope. He has provided treatment and vaccines to deal with sickness. Our lives are returning to normalcy. We thank and praise Him for all these good things

6. Thousands will of years ago Yahweh promised Abraham: »I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing« (Genesis 12,12). God fulfilled His promise with the birth of Jesus. This gospel of Christ crucified and risen showcases the love, mercy and grace that God has shown His creation. Sin has been paid for in full. We are redeemed back to God. Eternal life is opened to us. Believe and receive the blessings God gives us in and through Jesus Christ His Son. This is most certainly true.

7. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

8. Let us pray. O Yahweh, worthy are You to be praised; receive our songs of praise to You, so that we rightly give to You the honor You deserve. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

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All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Isaiah 65,17-19.23-25. Eternity Sunday

Isaiah 65,17-19.23-25 5921

Ewigkeitssonntag 27. Trinitatis 073

Chrysogonus, Martyr 303

21. November 2021

1. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, make us watchful and heedful in awaiting the advent of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so that when He stands at the door and knocks, He may find us not sleeping in carelessness and sin, but awake and rejoicing in His appearance. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »Yahweh says: „For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be remembered or enter into mind.“«

3. After Adam and Eve had sinned, one part of their punishment was banishment from the paradise of Eden. The tree of life was denied to them. All of us, their descendants, live with these consequences.

4. But Yahweh gave them a promise: there would be born from Eve a son who would reverse all the tribulations and the curses that resulted from their sin. That son was Jesus, and Luke emphasizes it by tracing Jesus’ lineage all the way back to Adam.

5. As Yahweh unfolded this Heilsgeschichte (salvation history) down through the ages, He promised Abraham that His descendants would dwell in the land of Canaan. It would be the Promised Land akin to Eden. Yahweh fulfilled His promise to Moses and Joshua. Moses told the people that Yahweh would send them a great prophet, and He did with Jesus. When Jesus asked the apostles who people thought He was, the unanimous answer was: they think You are like one of the prophets from of old. In this the people were correct, but it was not the complete answer. The apostles provided the complete answer: Jesus, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16,13-16).

6. When Jesus began His public ministry, He quoted Prophet Isaiah: »The Spirit of Yahweh God is upon Me, because Yahweh has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; so that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that He may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so Yahweh God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations« (Isaiah 61,1-4.10-11). Yahweh spoke many things to Isaiah, including: »For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of Yahweh will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God« (Isaiah 62,1-3). »Yahweh says: „For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be remembered or enter into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; no more will be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. They will not labor in vain or bear children for calamity,for they will be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will graze together; the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain.“« (Isaiah 65,17-19.23-25).

7. The Last Sunday in the Church Year is called Eternity Sunday, and Yahweh is speaking about Eternity in Isaiah 65. Jesus fulfilled this promise of eternity by His crucifixion and resurrection, and on the last day He will return to bring eternity to its completion. On this day humanity enters into a new era, an era Yahweh had planned to occur all those millennia ago in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. Yahweh is patient and will bring about the new heavens and the new earth in the fulness of time. He will remove His curse upon the earth. He will resurrect our bodies. Sin will be gone. Illness will not exist. Pandemics will never occur again. No one will die. We will dwell with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for eternity. Angels and archangels will be there too. All the company of heaven will be there. All believers since the days of Adam and Eve will be there. And the celebration will begin with a marvelous feast. The holiday is Thanksgiving foreshadows some of the joy and greatness that Isaiah tells us about in his 65. Chapter.

8. But before the last day there is the exhortation from the parable of the virgins: Watch! We do not know when Eternity will happen. Be vigilant and faithful. Trust in Christ and rely upon Him for comfort, forgiveness and salvation. He is returning. His advent is on the horizon. Be ready and watch!

9. For when Christ returns we shall rise from our gloom. Jesus shall approach in full Divine glory. His grace and mercy will be on full display as His Light shines upon our face (LSB 516,2). Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22,20). This is most certainly true.

10. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7). Amen.

11. Let us pray. O Lord, the path of life leads to You; shine upon us the Light of Your Truth, so that we see the joy of Your mercy and salvation that is approaching. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Matthew 7,12-20. Day of Repentance and Prayer

Matthew 7,12-20 5821

Buß- und Bettag

Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, ✠ 265

17. November 2021

1. O Gracious God, Merciful Father, who does bountifully forgive and show mercy unto all who truly repent of their sins: We heartily beseech You, dear Father, forgive us all our sins, and grant us Your grace, so that all we who call upon Your Name, each day abstain from all unrighteousness and sin, and turn unto You with all our hearts, so that by the power of Your Spirit we may daily be found in sincere faith and obedience, bringing forth fruits of true repentance: grant us also that, seeking and calling upon You in faith and confidence, we may find You a Merciful God and Father, and be assured of Your gracious help and blessing in every need of body and soul, until at length, by Your grace, we obtain eternal salvation. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.«

3. A day repentance in prayer as a Church service originated in Germany at the conclusion of the European Thirty Years War (1618-48) as a Prayer Service of Confession thanking God for His mercy and grace to His people. Dukes and rulers then continue to hold this service during times of war, epidemics, natural disasters and similar events. As a day set in the middle of the 2. Last Week of the Church Year to repent and pray is a good liturgical and theological practice.

4. Our Lutheran Confessions state in Augsburg Confession XII states: „Concerning repentance our Lutheran churches teach that for those who have sinned after Baptism there is forgiveness of sins each time they come to repent and that the Church should not refuse Absolution to them. Now, sure proper repentance consists of these two parts: one is contrition, that is, terror over the sin; the other is to believe the gospel and absolution, that through Christ’s grace the sins are forgiven and the conscience is comforted and delivered from its terrors. Then improvement should also follow, which are the fruits of repentance, as John the Baptizer says in Matthew 3,8: bear fruit worthy of repentance.“

5. When Jesus began His public ministry, He continued the preaching that John initiated: »So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.«

6. You will know a person by their actions. In this week’s Gospel pericope Jesus said Christians show charity and love to others, but unbelievers show their absent faith by ignoring Jesus and His Christians. We see this in our culture and around the world. But what about us? We are Christians. Does our charity and love showcase our faith in Christ? We are to well aware of our sinfulness. We are guilty of not always being charitable to others in their need. Our conscience is stricken by the words of John and Jesus. Our Lutheran Confessions speak to this condition too. „Our Lutheran churches teach that since the fall of Adam all men begotten in the natural way are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God and with the inclination to sin“ (AC II).

7. The Service of Compline has that wonderfully worded confession of sin: „I confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have send in thought, word and deed by my fault, by my own fault, by my most grievous fault“ (LSB 254).

8. Thus, we confess our sins and pray to God each Sunday, and often on a daily basis because we know our sinfulness and how often we fall short of God’s will. We ask for the Holy Spirit to bless and strengthen us to bear fruit worthy of repentance and faith.

9. The Psalmist exhorts us: »Seek Yahweh while he may be found, and call upon Him while He is near; have a mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions« (Isaiah 55,6; Psalm 51,1). Yahweh will do it, and in doing so will glorify His Name among us and through us. Soli Deo Gloria. This is most certainly true.

9. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Yahweh, Who is near to those who seek You out; make haste to help us, so that our certainty of salvation is strengthened, our sin is forgiven and we bear the fruits of faith. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

2. Corinthians 5,1-10. 2. Last Sunday

2. Corinthians 5,1-10 5721

Vorletzter Sonntag. 26. Trinitatis 071

Justinian, Emperor and Confessor of Christ ✠ 565. Livin, Bishop in Scotland, Martyr 659.

Livin, Pastor, ✠ 8^th c.

14. November 2021

1. O Almighty, Eternal and Merciful God, who by Your beloved Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has established the kingdom of grace for us, so that we might believe the forgiveness of our sins, in Your holy Church on earth, since You are a God who has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: We beseech You, graciously forgive us all our sins. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.«

3. The Apostle Paul reminds us that »we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.« Jesus describes this event in our Gospel pericope this morning: believers will be separated from unbelievers, with believers in Christ’s right and unbelievers on His left. Before Christ’s judgment seat, He will give to the faithful and elect eternal life and everlasting joy, but He will damn godless people and the devils to hell and eternal punishment (AC 17).

4. There is one important word that separates the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25. Those on His right inherit the heavenly reign. Paul also spoke about inheritance throughout his epistles (1. Corinthians 6,10; 15,50; Galatians 3,18; 4,30; 5,21; Ephesians 1,11.14.18; Colossians 1,12; 3,24; Hebrews 6,12; 9,15; 11,8; ). Paul writes: »For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse … Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for the righteous shall live by faith … Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law … For if the inheritance comes by the law, then it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise … For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ … And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee (Galatians 3,10.11.13.18.26-27.29; 2. Corinthians 5,5).

5. To inherit the reign of heaven is to believe in Jesus Christ. Unbelievers show their complete lack of faith by the utter contempt of Jesus and his Christians. Believers show their faith by their love and charity Sean to Jesus and their fellow Christians. Thus Paul reminds us: »We walk by faith, not by sight. We make it our aim to please Christ.«

6. Faith receives Jesus, and in receiving Jesus we also receive our fellow Christian brothers and sisters. We are in this together; if the world hates us, then know that it has hated Christ first (John 15,18). Jesus assures us that before His judgment seat there will indeed be a reckoning. Those who trust in Christ will be exonerated before all people; those who reject Christ will be condemned and separated from Him.

7. The judgment of the world is joined closely to the visible return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead (Pieper 539). Before this judgment seat men, women and fallen angels will receive their judgment. As Jesus teaches: the works of those before Christ are the proof of their faith or their unbelief. Notice that only the good works of the believers are cited, while for the unbelievers only their evil works are cited. »I will bear the indignation of Yahweh because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon His vindication« (Micah 7,9). »Whoever believes in God’s Son is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God« (John 3,18). Of the believers, there are no degrees of bliss, because all the blessed are perfectly happy, that is, every one of them will find full contentment for themselves in beholding God. (Pieper 552). However, Scripture does teach that there are degrees of glory corresponding to the differences of the work God performed through each person here on earth (Pieper 552). One salvation to all the saints, but different degrees of glory. Omnibus una salus sanctis, sed gloria dispar (Pieper 552. This is one of Baier’s axioms). Luther described it this way: „Thus everyone will have his distinction and glory according to his office, and still one God and Lord will be in all, and one and the same joy and bliss. In his person none shall be more or have more than the other“ (Pieper 553; SL VIII:1223 f).

8. We receive our salvation by faith. When we finally stand before Jesus and His judgment seat we will stand there as inheritors of God’s heavenly reign. We are saved by Jesus who now and before His judgment seat declares us righteous because He has made us righteous. Soli Deo Gloria. This is most certainly true.

9. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord, You are a merciful Judge; exhort us to join the hosts of the heavens to declare Your the righteousness among us through Christ our Savior. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Psalm 85. 3. Last Sunday

Psalm 85 5621

25. Trinitatis 070

Willibrord, Apostle of Frisia in the Frankish Empire (Netherlands) ✠ 738

7. November 2021

1. O Mighty and Everlasting God, we most heartily thank You that by Your Word You have brought us out of the darkness of Papacy into the light of Your grace: We beseech You, mercifully help us to walk in that light, guard us from all error and false doctrine, and grant that we may not, as the Jews, become ungrateful and despise and persecute Your Word, but receive it with all our heart, govern our lives according to it and put all our trust in Your grace through the merit of Your dear Son. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »Lord, You were favorable to Your land; You restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin. Selah You withdrew all Your wrath; You turned from Your hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away Your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.« To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah

3. Antiochus IV Epiphanes (215-164 bc) was the Greek king of the Seleucid Empire from 175-164 bc. During his reign he attempted to conquer Ptolemaic Egypt, and he persecuted the Jews in Judea and Samaria. In his quest to force the Jews to embrace Greek culture, he committed the abomination of desolation in Jerusalem by setting up an altar to Zeus in the temple’s holy place and sacrificed pigs there in 168 bc (1. Maccabees 1,57; 4,38). This caused Judah/Judas Maccabee to lead a rebellion in 167 bc (the main phase lasted from 167-60 bc, but fighting continued between the Maccabees, Hellenized Jews and Seleucids until 134 bc ). Hanukkah commemorates the 8- day purifying and rededication of the temple following the abomination.

4. Psalm 85 talks about another type of abomination. Our iniquity and sin are a desecration to God, and He pours out His wrath and anger upon sin. Yahweh told Israel: »I am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the 3. and 4. generation of those who hate Me« (Exodus 20,5). God threatens to punish all who break these commandments, therefore we should fear His wrath and not do anything against them (Small Catechism).

5. The Psalmist furthermore exhorts us that Yahweh’s salvation is at hand for those who fear Him. „The Holy Scriptures declare that, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart. To the Lord belongs mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him (Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal 1908 page 10).

6. The Psalmist also proclaims: »Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so Yahweh shows compassion to those who fear Him« (Psalm 103,8-13).

7. Just as we seek God’s mercy upon us for our sinfulness, so to do we beseech Him to be merciful to those who have erred in the Church and the State. We beseech our Heavenly Father to visit with fatherly correction all who have erred and gone astray from the truth of His holy Word and to bring them to a due sense of error that they may again with hearty faith receive, and hold fast, His unchangeable truth (The Lutheran Hymnal 103 # 19). Likewise we petition our Heavenly Father and humbly confess unto Him that by our nation’s evil-doing and continual disobedience we have deserved His chastisement, yet we earnestly beseech Him to spare our nation and the world, and help His suffering people, and that they amend their sinful lives and walk obediently to His holy commandments (The Lutheran Hymnal 104-5 # 28).

8. Luther himself exemplified these concerns over Church and State. His reformation was a call to the Church to repent, amend those hurtful practices and piety that were detrimental to hurting souls and return to the preaching of the gospel to comfort those terror-stricken by their sins. This was the context for his 95 Theses, which challenged the efficacy of indulgences (Bainton 60). To the State, Luther recognized its temporal authority given to it by God, counseled against rebellion, but also proclaimed that we must rebuke the State and its leaders when they commit evil (Bainton 190; WA 28,360).

9. Holy Scripture exhorts us in these endeavors. »Yahweh’s salvation is near to those who fear Him, for He will give generously; righteousness will go forth before Him and He will make a path for His steps« (Psalm 84,10.13.14 lxx). »Build yourselves up on your most holy faith, keep yourselves in the love (αγαπη) of God and look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life« (Jude 20-21). In times of trials, tribulations, persecutions, worldly evil and desolations, Jesus Christ is able to keep us from falling and make us stand in the presence of His glory without blemish« (Jude 24). This is most certainly true.

10. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7). Amen.

11. Let us pray. O God, You are worthy to be given thanks; be omnipresent among us, so that we withstand the time of the abomination of desolation and flee unto You for salvation. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

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Monday, November 1, 2021

Isaiah 44,21-23. 22. Trinity Reformationfest

Isaiah 44,21-23 5521

22. Trinitatis 067. Gedenktag der Reformation

Wolfgang, Bishop of Regensburg, Germany. ✠ 994

31. Oktober 2021

1. O Almighty, Eternal God: We confess that we are poor sinners and cannot answer one of a thousand, when You contend with us; but with all our hearts we thank You, that You have taken all our guilt from us and laid it upon Your dear Son Jesus Christ, and made Him to atone for it: We pray graciously to sustain us in faith, and so to govern us by Your Holy Spirit, so that we may live according to Your will, in neighborly love, service and helpfulness, and not give way to wrath or revenge, that we may not incur Your wrath, but always find in You a gracious Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »„Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I formed you; you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you.“ Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.«

3. When Martin Luther was a boy, there was a very popular German Catholic Catechism; it was written by Dietrich Kolde and was entitled A Fruitful Mirror or Small Handbook for Christians; it was first published in 1470; 19 editions followed through 1500. His catechism highlights the state of late Medieval Catholicism: people were religious and pious but they had intense fears of being eternally punished by God. Kolde’s catechism exemplifies this as it includes with these words: „There are 3 things I know to be true that frequently make my heart heavy. The first troubles my spirit, because I have to die. The second troubles my heart more, because I do not know when. The third troubles me above all. I do not know where I will go“ (Janz 127, Three Reformation Catechisms © 1982).

4. Luther himself experienced this Anfechtung (spiritual struggle). He did what the Church prescribed: he went to confession, he attended mass, he fasted, he sought the holy relics for relief of punishment … but still Luther’s conscience convicted him – was I truly repentant? Am I really spared of God’s anger and wrath? What was Luther to do? Johan Staupitz saw Luther’s struggle and in April 1511 sent him to Wittenberg to earn his Doctorate and in August 1513 he began teaching courses there in Holy Scripture (Psalms 1513, Romans 1515 and Galatians 1516).

5. The Prophet Isaiah has the balm for our hurting soul, where He quotes the Lord Himself: »O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you.« Isaiah never disappoints to give the sweet gospel to burdened consciences.

6. Luther says this of Isaiah 44: „Thus this passage makes a free offer of the grace of the God who justifies. God is saying: Remember this. Let nothing turn you away, because the conscience is easily deceived by the dangers of unbelief. For that reason the whole Bible and Christ always bind us to this righteousness of God“ (AE 17,115). For it’s by the righteousness of God that we’re justified and saved through Christ (AE 54,194).

7. It should be no surprise then that Luther’s Small Catechism had a completely different conclusion to Kolde’s when it was published in 1529. Luther’s Catechism emphasizes that there are 3 things a person must know to be saved: The Law shows a us our disease, the Creed tells us where to find our medicine and the Lord’s Prayer teaches us how to seek it and appropriate it (WA 7,195f).

8. Kolde’s catechism closes with: I do not know where I will go; it expresses the doubt and fear common in Luther’s day as regards to salvation. Luther’s Small Catechism ends by focusing our hearts and minds upon Christ. Luther writes: „16. Why should we remember and proclaim [Christ’s] death? First, so we may learn to believe that no creature could make satisfaction for our sins. Only Christ, true God and Man, could do that. Second, so we may learn to be horrified by our sins, and to regard them as very serious. Third, so we may find joy and comfort in Christ alone, and through faith in Him be saved.“

9 This certainty of salvation especially troubled many in Luther’s day. While perhaps not as dire in our age, nevertheless the certainty of salvation also weighs heavily upon people’s hearts and minds in the 21. century. How do I appease God? How can I be certain of my eternal destiny? These are questions still pondered today.

10. Luther’s answer ignited the Reformation and eased the consciences of many. May Luther’s answer comfort your soul, too. It is summarized in his explanation of the 2. article of the Creed: „I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to eternity. This is most certainly true.“

11. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

12. Let us pray. O Almighty and Gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Thursday, November 25, 2021

2. Corinthians 9,6-15. Thanksgiving

Isaiah 65,17-19.23-25. Eternity Sunday

Matthew 7,12-20. Day of Repentance and Prayer

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

2. Corinthians 5,1-10. 2. Last Sunday

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Psalm 85. 3. Last Sunday

Monday, November 1, 2021

Isaiah 44,21-23. 22. Trinity Reformationfest