Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: November 2023

Monday, November 27, 2023

2. Peter 3,8-13. Eternity Sunday

2. Peter 3,8-13 5523

Ewigkeitssonntag 75

Drittlezter Sonntag des Kirchenjahres. 25. Trinitatis

Konrad, Bishop of Konstanz, Germany. ✠ 976

26. November 2023

1. ℣ The King’s daughters shall be brought into the King:

℟ The virgins, her companions that follow her, shall be brought unto Thee (Psalm 45,13a.14).

О Lord Jesus Christ, Bridegroom of Thy Church; with joy and gladness we await Your advent, so that when You return we shall be in Your fellowship of eternal resurrected life. Amen. (Psalm 45,14-15 gradual).

2. »But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will arrive like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodieswill be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the advent of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.«

3. Water, fire, earth and air are the 4 primordial elements in ancient Greek philosophy. By water, Yahweh cleansed the antediluvian world; by fire, He will cleanse the postdiluvian world. The Scriptures often use water and fire to describe Yahweh’s judgment and forgiveness. »Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean« (Isaiah 1,16), and »And one of the seraphim touched my mouth with a burning coal, and said: „Behold this as touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin is atoned for“« (Isaiah 6,6.7).

4. The Triune God is patient and long-suffering. He is slow to judge and quick to forgive. Yahweh told Noah about the Flood and waited at least 100 years before He sent the Deluge upon the Earth; the Apostle Peter speaks about the fire of judgment and Yahweh has waited 2000 years and He still has not sent the consuming fire. His compassion is found throughout the pages of Scripture. »For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord Yahweh; so turn, and live« (Ezekiel 18,32). »Say to them: As I live, declares the Lord Yahweh, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?« (Ezekiel 33,11). »The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance« (2. Peter 3,9).

5. God the Father is wrath and judgment upon sin has been fully born by the crucified Christ. »For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit« (Romans 8,3-4). »For our sake God the Father made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God« (2. Corinthians 5,21). »There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus« (Romans 8,1).

6. The Prophets looked forward to this final day of restoration. Ezekiel heard from the Lord Yahweh: »They will be My people, and I will be their God. My Servant David will be King over them, and they will have one Shepherd« (Ezekiel 37,23c-24a). Of His eternal Son of David, John the Baptizer declares: »He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire« (Matthew 3,11b). Moses also tells us that Yahweh our God is a consuming fire, a zealous God (Deuteronomy 4,24). Christ desires to make us holy and righteous: He has done so by justifying us by His shed blood, and through the working of the Holy Spirit on our lives He purges us and refines us like a jeweler’s fire sanctifying us to conform more and more to His holy Image. This sanctification will not be completed during our temporal life, but on the last day He will completely make us holy in body, mind and spirit.

7. The Prophets and the Apostles tell us that before the world is purged, we ourselves are purged and refined in sanctification. »I will put them into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and purify them as gold is tested. They will call upon My Name, and I will answer them. I will say: They are My people; and they will say: Yahweh is our God« (Zechariah 13,9). »In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith that is more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ« (1. Peter 1,6-7). Our Liturgy contains numerous rites where we are purged and refined by the Holy Spirit. In the Litany we pray: O God, From all sin, from all error, from all evil; from the crafts and assaults of the Devil; from sudden and evil death; Good Lord, deliver us (lsb 288). In our prepatory rite of Confession and Absolution we acknowledge: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin (Psalm 32,5; lsb 184).

8. We long for the return of Christ Jesus, for we are wearied and burdened by false christs who promise salvation, by false prophets who offer false hope and law burdens disguised as gospel, by those who wear us down with their incessant dating of Christ’s return, by those who persecute our Christian brothers and sisters around the world, by those who ridicule and defame Christians in our society and by the cares and duties of this fallen world that weigh us down as if a millstone were hung around our necks. The pure gospel of the crucified and risen Christ soothes burdened consciences. Every generation sees its share of tribulations that threaten to overwhelm the Church. The gospel brings us this blessed assurance (seligste Versicherung): Fear not, dear Christians, fear not, for we are saved by Christ alone (solus Christus) and no one and no thing can snatch us out of Christ’s redeeming hands: not our sins, not false teachers, not the tribulations of the world and not even the devil himself. We are free; we are forgiven; we belong to Jesus. His vicarious and substitutionary death solves our real, deadly problem: (which is our) sin. There is now full and complete peace between God the Father and us. We are righteous and justified on account of Christ’s merits which have now been credited to us. This is the doctrine of justification that Christ Jesus established for you and your salvation. Let the world and the Devil press against us with tribulations, doubts and despair! Our faith is purified in testing; our sins are purged away with the absolution. We have Christ, and He has rescued us from the fallen world and the hordes of devils that surround us. Christ is our Victor and Deliverer.

9. We will always resound and stand

Before God’s dias and throne,

With joy all singing

A new song so beautiful:

Praise, honor, glory, power and strength,

To God the Father and the Son,

With the works of the Holy Spirit

Be praised and thanked.

(Herzlich tut mich erfreuen selk 799,8 2021 Johann Walter (1545) Jahre 1552, Strophe 9 Dresden 1557)

This is most certainly true.

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

11. Let us pray. Jesus, our Lord, do Thou meet us while we walk in the way and long to reach that heavenly country, so that, following Thy light, we may keep the way of righteousness and never wander away into the darkness of this world’s night while Thou, who art the Way, the Truth and the Light, art shining within us; for Thy mercy’s sake. Amen. (27. Trinity, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.)

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Friday, November 24, 2023

Matthew 25,31-46. 26. Trinity

Matthew 25,31-46 5423

26. Trinitatis 73

Elisabeth (born in Hungary), Landgravine (countess equivalent to a duchess) of Thuringia, ✠ 1231

19. November 2023

1. ℣ Save me, O God, by Thy Name:

℟ And judge me by Thy strength (Psalm 54,1-2).

O Yahweh, God of heaven and earth; in Your judgement declare Your righteousness to us, so that we see in Your justice both mercy and grace. Amen. (Psalm 50,4.6 Gradual).

2. »„When the Son of Man arrives in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will be seated on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right: ‘Enter, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the reign prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you went to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying: ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will answer them: ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers,you did it to Me.’ Then He will say to those on His left: ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer, saying: ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying: ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.“«

3. Professor C. John Sommerville used to demonstrate to his history students how thoroughly Christianized they were, even those who were atheists or anti-religious. He would list corresponding Christian values, which had been hitherto unknown to the pagans of Europe — things like humility, forgiveness, peaceableness and service to others, along with an equal respect for the dignity of all people made in God’s image. Many of Sommerville’s most anti-religious students were surprised to learn just how deeply they had been influenced by ways of thinking and living that had grown out of biblical ideas and been passed on to them through complex social and cultural processes. His point was that much of what is good and unique about Western civilization is actually „borrowed capital“ from a Christian faith, even though the supernatural elements of the faith have been otherwise neglected of late in the public sphere.

4. We cannot read Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25 apart from the rest of His teaching throughout the Gospel. If we do take today’s teaching all by itself, then the conclusion is that Jesus is teaching that one merits eternal life based solely on how one treats his or her neighbors through social ministry. In its context in Matthew’s Gospel, the social ministry interpretation that seems prevalent in 21. century American Christianity is almost certainly incorrect (Gibbs 1346).

5. This is not to say social ministry in unimportant, but simply that social ministry is not what Jesus is discussing in these verses. Neither Matthew nor any of the Scriptures place caring for the needy in society as the basis for eschatological judgment (Gibbs 1346).

6. The brothers mentioned here are consistent with who the brothers are throughout the Gospel according to St. Matthew: the brothers are Jesus’ disciples. This is clearly taught by Jesus in Matthew 12: »While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and His brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. And someone said to Him: „Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to you.“ But He answered and said to the one who was speaking to Him: „Who is My mother and who are Mt brothers?“ And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, Jesus said: „Behold, here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven—that person is My brother, sister and mother.“« (12,46-50).

7. One of my seminary professors, Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs, calls this teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25 the missionary-encouragement teaching (Gibbs 1348). The all the nations mentioned refers to those to whom the gospel was preached. How did they receive this gospel? Some received it and believed, while others rejected it. In receiving or rejecting the gospel, the nations are receiving or rejecting the brothers of Jesus, that is those Christians who have brought the gospel to them. Ultimately, to receive or reject the gospel is to receive or reject Jesus Himself. On the last day, all the nations will give an account of how they received the gospel, the Christians who brought it to them and ultimately Jesus.

8. „Matthew 25.31-46 is christologically rich. Jesus is the Son of man of Daniel 7. Angels belong to him. And he is destined to be the king and judge of the world. The confluence of these powerful christological facts, which recapitulate so much that has come before, provides the immediate background for the passion narrative and lends to that narrative great irony. Those who condemn and pass judgment upon Jesus know not what they do. The one whom they mock as “king of the Jews” [27:29] is destined to become the king of the world. It is not his fate that is in their hands but their fate that is in his. It is moreover striking that, as soon as he finishes recounting the judgment of the Son of man, Jesus declares: “The Son of man will be handed over to be crucified” [26.2]. Darkness (cf. 27.45) is about to envelop the glory of the Son of man“ (Davies and Allison, Matthew, 3:433; Gibbs 1362).

9. The teaching of these verses concludes with the promise of glory, of judgment and salvation. The Christology is high, perhaps as high as can be found in all the New Testament. The glorious Son of Man is enthroned; He is the King and Judge accompanied by the holy angels. Every human destiny is decided by how each has stood in relation to Jesus as that relation has been mediated through the proclaimed gospel about God’s reign in Himself (Gibbs 1362).

10. We do not know the day when Christ will return. As we long for that day and hope for that day, we do so working with those talents that Jesus has entrusted us with for His honor and the benefit of our neighbor. Jesus is now present with us by faith, and we have Him among us in the Word and the Sacraments. But He will return to judge the wicked and bless those who believe in Him. On that day we will have Him always present among us by sight. »Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the world of Jesus, knowing that in the Lord our labor is not in vain« (1. Corinthians 15,58).

11. God’s Word to us He gives

By His great mercy,

That we should by it live

And make ourselves ready.

So let us now take hold of it,

And cling to it firmly.

If we shall abandon it,

We’re doomed eternally.

(Wacht auf, ihr Christen alle elkg 497,4 2021 Braunschweig 1648, Lübeck 1545; Christian Adolf 1540).

This is most certainly true.

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

13. Let us pray. O Lord Christ, Son of the Living God, who at the last judgment wilt acknowledge all deeds of mercy to others as done onto Thee, grant in this world of sin, pain and want that we may never pass by the poor and helpless whose cry is Thine own; for the honor of Thy holy Name. Amen. (26. Trinitatis, 2. Vespers Collect. The Daily Office.)

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Romans 8,18-25. 25. Trinity

Romans 8,18-25 5323

25. Trinitatis 72

Josaphat, Patron saint of Ukraine. Bishop and Martyr 1623

12. November 2023

1. ℣ Have mercy upon me, O Yahweh, for I am in trouble:

℟ Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute me (Psa 31,9a.15b).

O Lord Jesus Christ, Defender of Your people; remember Your congregation which You have purchased of old, so that we, Your Church, rejoice in the redemption You have paid for our heritage. Amen. (Psalm 74,4.2a Gradual)

2. »For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation is awaiting with eager expectation the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not voluntarily but because of Him having subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we have known that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves having the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly waiting eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope being seen is not hope; for who is hoping for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, then we await it with patience.«

3. With the final 3 Sundays after Trinity, the Church looks forward to the return of Christ. The Gospel lessons focus on judgment and the last day. Paul reminds us in Romans 8 that we are already living under God’s judgment. He mentions the the sufferings of this present time, and we certainly have those today: 2 years of war in Ukraine, the slaughter of 1400 Israelis and a month-long retaliation that has leveled towns in Gaza, killed hundreds of Palestinians and made thousands more refugees.

4. Paul tells us that creation was subjected to futility and in bondage to corruption. Creation has been cursed by God as a consequence of Adam’s sin, cursed so as to cause Adam and Eve’s descendants to suffer as a result. People like to talk about climate change, but the climate changed the moment God cursed creation and it changed more drastically as a result of the Flood. Natural disasters, famine, pestilence and plague all come from creation hat has been cursed. Creation groans in response to this curse; creation was meant to benefit and less men and women but now it also hurts and harms us as temporal punishment for our sinfulness.

5. Paul assures us that creation will be set free from its bondage, and indeed the grip of that bondage has already loosened. Christ crucified has born the judgment of our Heavenly Father; payment for sin has been made; Christ became a curse for us so that through Him we are made holy. The apostle states it beautifully in his Epistle to the Galatians: »Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree [Deuteronomy 21,23]— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith« (3,13-14). Also the Epistle to the Hebrews declares: »And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of all, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him« (9,27-28). And 1. Corinthians: »When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? [Isaiah 25,8; Hosea 13,14] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ« (15,54-57).

6. Creation reacted to Christ’s crucifixion: darkness covered the land from 12 noon - 3 pm, there was an earthquake and rocks split. Creation mourned at the suffering and death of its Creator, testified to His great sacrifice and heralded for men and women the restoration He had accomplished for fallen humanity and cursed creation. At Christ’s 2. advent creation will herald His arrival: there will be portents in the heavens, the earth and sea will give up their buried dead and the clouds will be Christ’s chariot.

7. Peter writes in his 2. Epistle: »For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But the day of the Lord will arrive like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the advent of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells« (2. Peter 3,5-7.10-13).

8. This will be the culmination of the removal of creation’s curse. God will renew creation for resurrected men and women to dwell upon. All this occurs when Christ returns at His 2. advent. Creation longs for this day; we look forward in hope, confident expectation, for that day; Christ will give us a new body, a new heaven and a new earth to enjoy eternal fellowship in His midst.

9. We wait for You, content to share
In patience, days of trial;
So meekly You the cross did bear,
For our sin and denial.
We gladly now receive with You
Your cross of shame and sorrow,
Until the promised morrow.

(Wir warten dein, o Gottes Sohn selk 504,2 2021 Philipp Friedrich Hiller 1767)

This is most certainly true.

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

11. Let us pray. Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, Giver of light and life, so teach us those things which belong to the heavenly kingdom and those duties which are of the earth that we, stirred by the light and life of the peace of God, may be enabled faithfully to do the things committed to us, looking ever unto Thee for light and life that, being lifted above ourselves, the life of God in the soul of man may be ours. Amen. (25. Trinity, Vespers Collect 1. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.)

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

1. John 2,12-17. 22. Trinity

1. John 2,12-17 5223

22. Trinitatis 69

Berthilla, Abbess of Chelles Abbey (near Paris), France. ✠ 692

5. November 2023

1. ℣ If Thou, Yahweh, shouldst mark iniquities: who shall stand?

℟ But there is forgiveness with Thee: that Thou mayest be feared, O God of Israel (Psalm 130,3-4).

O Yahweh, who blesses; make us to dwell in unity so that this temporal life is good, pleasant and fulfilled in eternal life forevermore. Amen. (Psalm 133,1.3b Gradual).

2. »I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His Name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.«

3. This past Wednesday the Church commemorated the saints on All Saints Day. The exact date moved around the calendar until it finally settled on 1. November. As early as 373 the Church set a day aside remembering the saints; at first it was on the Sunday after Pentecost (the Orthodox Church retains this day for commemoration). In 417 it was on the Friday after Easter. Pope Boniface IV moved it to 13. May in 610, then a century later Pope Gregory III (731-41) moved it to 1. November, and Pope Gregory IV (827-44) reaffirmed this date a century later; and so it has remained the date for the Western Church. As Lutherans, we remembered all the commemorated saints throughout the year on that day.

4. Our Lutheran Confessions say this concerning the saints: „Concerning the worship of saints our churches teach that the memory of saints may be set before us, that we may follow their faith and good work. But the Scripture does not teach the invocation of saints or to ask help of saints, since Scripture sets before us the one Christ as the Mediator, Propitiation, High Priest and Intercessor. Christ is to be prayed to, and has promised that He will hear our prayer“ (AC XXI,1-3).

5. The final verses from our sermon text speak to this. When you read the stories and histories of the plethora of saints, on thing is clear: the saints did not love the world nor the things of this world. This is not to say they rejected this temporal life, although some did who became ascetics, monks or nuns, but many of them lived their lives and vocations in service to Christ and their neighbor. They rejoiced in all the blessings God gives in and through the world, while they rejected the wickedness of the world.

6. The saints knew that the world is not enough. The words of Christ were in their hearts and minds: »Do not be anxious about your life, but seek first the reign of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you« (Matthew 6,25.33). »It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom« (Luke 12,32).

7. Our Treasure is Jesus Christ, and that is where our heart is. The Devil, the world and our sinful flesh all try to focus us on other worldly treasures. We must daily re-focus our heart, mind and body upon Jesus Christ. This can be done in many ways, and I will mention a couple. 1. We should daily remember our Baptism, for it works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the Devil and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this. Our Baptism indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever (Small Catechism). 2. Daily devotions focus our heart and mind on Christ and discipline the body. These devotions can be simple or elaborate. A Scripture lesson, a Hymn, a Reading from a sermon or a Church Father and a Prayer are good, straightforward elements in a devotion.

8. In Luther’s famous hymn we sing: One little word can fell the Devil (lsb 656,3). This little word is a mighty Word, for it is the Word of God, Jesus Christ, who has saved us and redeemed us and made us righteous. Jesus is more valuable than the entirety of the world’s wealth. Christ is the most costly gift give to us by our Heavenly Father. The Apostle Peter quotes the Prophet Isaiah where he writes in his epistle: »Behold, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a Cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame« (Isaiah 28,16; 1. Peter 2,6). Jesus has redeemed us that we may live under Him in His kingdom (Small Catechism).

10. Jesus prayed for us: »Father, I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth« (John 17,14-19).

9. Of Christ’s grace I say

Praise and thanks always

I wear His priceless gift

With joy as it befits

Boasting now and ever

Of God’s majesty

In the hope hereafter

Of blessed eternity.

(Ich freu mich in dem Herren elkg 566,4 2021 Bartolomäus Helder (vor 1635) 1646/48.

This is most certainly true.

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

11. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us; grant unto that with all our hearts, minds and strength we may evermore seek Thy face; and finally bring us in Thine infinite mercy to Thy holy presence; so strength our weakness that, following in Thy footsteps, we may obtain Thy mercy and enter into Thy promised joy. Amen. (22. Trinitatis, 2. Vespers Collect. The Daily Office.)

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Monday, November 27, 2023

2. Peter 3,8-13. Eternity Sunday

Friday, November 24, 2023

Matthew 25,31-46. 26. Trinity

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Romans 8,18-25. 25. Trinity

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

1. John 2,12-17. 22. Trinity