Empty Tomb = Justification for you!

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Such is the greeting in many congregations on Easter Sunday. This could be the greeting every Sunday thereafter since the gathering of the justified is possible through the resurrection of Jesus.

who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:25 ESV)

This act of rising from the dead Jesus proclaimed his conquering of death for us. That through faith we receive this gift.  This empty tomb is really good news for the Christian since we are living in the valley of the shadow of death.

Christ, as a Good Shepherd, has preceded us into the grave and resurrected to show his justified ones what awaits them. When resurrected there will be a time of judgement.  We need not fear that judgement, for our Savior will say;

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
(Matthew 25:34 ESV)

Trust this good news and live in its peace. Amen! †

Sin Put Away For You!

What a joyous and comforting thought. Due to no deserving, choosing, disciplining ourselves we have no sin as far as our Father in heaven is concerned!

 But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

(Hebrews 9:26 ESV)

We know nothing of any sin for it was all laid on the back of Our Lord Christ. It cannot lay on both our backs. We need not fear the day of judgement for we are in Christ and we will hear "well my good and faithful servant. Enter the joy of your Master!" Matthew 25:21 Justified by faith apart from works of the law. Romans 3:28.

The objection appears from our flesh, the world and satan; "so this means you can do anything you want and God has to forgive it? That is cheap grace!" No it is not cheap grace it is free grace. If it came to us due to our work it would be a wage instead of grace. Yes we can do what we want. Now that you love Jesus and know what he gives you what is it you want to do? Considering this love and concern Jesus has for us we want to serve him by serving our neighbor and perfectly love him. However, God looks at us in Jesus so we actually do love him and serve our neighbor through all the simple tasks of life.

Trust this good news and live in its peace. Amen †

Satan Sent Away For You!

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
(1 Peter 5:8 ESV)

Make no mistake, my friends, Satan has yet to give up on those who follow the Lord Jesus. In his fierce anger he is like the lion looking for food. Is this physical food like our lions eat? No, rather it is our faith in the Crucified and Risen Jesus. He seeks to rob us of the promise of  forgiveness of sin, salvation and the forgiveness of sin.

No, Satan does not busy himself invading the body of a young girl and causing her to convulse  and thrash about as in a Hollywood depiction. He is much more subtle, just as he was in Eden. He seeks to have us doubt God’s word for us and to have our mind wander after some really good stuff. Our Father is not against his children having good stuff but it becomes bad stuff when it takes us away from the things most needful.

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
(Matthew 4:10 ESV)

This is how our Lord Christ handled our adversary once for all, quoting the word of God to him the Word defeated him for us. This holy and complete rebuke and sending away is granted to us by faith. This is not something more to do but rather something in which to rejoice.

To live sober-minded and watchful contains participating in those means whereby God has promised to be located for our salvation. Scripture and prayer. These gifts are with us everyday. We need not wait until gathering in worship to hear the voice of Jesus. He is here each and everyday to proclaim to us repentance and forgiveness of sin. We also need not wait for special events in which to pray. No time to pray? Our Father…… only takes a few moments and is completely filled with all that we need. Participating in these activities will send Satan away and place all our good things in behind the best thing where they belong.

Trust this good news and live in its peace. †

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

I’m just a soul who’s intentions are good Oh Lord, please, don’t let me be misunderstood

On 1/24/65 the group called the Animals performed this song on Ed Sullivan. This song was about a man’s problem with his girl friend. Thankfully Our Lord has blessed me with a lovely bride of 37 years who seeks to not misunderstand my intentions. Even when the results resemble a dog’s breakfast.

This misunderstanding happens often when one engages others in Christianity. One would expect it to be different. We are, after all, trying to serve and brother, sister, friends and neighbors the summary of the second table of the law.

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
(Leviticus 19:17-18 ESV)

This appears to be a command easy to pull off. When one acts with integrity seeking the best for you neighbor one does not expect strain and loss of friendship. The difficulty happens due to being finite and sinful humans. The well intention ed act will be imperfect by the doer and will perhaps offend the receiver. But should this surprise those of us who follow Jesus?

Jesus’ intention was the very best. He pulled it off perfectly. However, he was and still is hated for his work. A beaten and bleeding God is not wanted by humanity. Even his closest companions were offended. One betrayed him and the rest took a powder at his mock trial.

Rather than being disheartening this is actually good news. The good deeds of our Lord is credited to us as a gift. This good act on the cross is for our sin and the resurrection is for our Justification.

Trust this good news and live in its peace. Thanks be to God. Amen. †

Do we Tick God Off?

"I don't know. Something about you really ticks me off."

This is a slightly adjusted line from a Mini series based on Stephen King's writings. It is called Storm of  The Century. This is the supposed answer, in the story, God gave Job for a reason all that awful stuff happened to him. God never informed him of why. We know a little more about it by the interaction between God and Satan but still do not understand the why.

God never tells us why either. Even if he were to inform us of the reasons we would not understand and most certainly not approve of them. This is due to the fact we still have an inner brat. Said brat never learns, never improves and will be dogging us all our life on this fallen world.

I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
(Psalm 119:75-76 ESV)

The offense happens when the sinner is told that their suffering is because God the Lord is angry. What is given to the sufferer is a Christ less presentation of the law. This law is given as an attempt at behavior management. Behavior management is good in business and the civil realm. In the realm of our life together before God it is devastating. We cannot teach the inner brat how to behave and have it work. The flesh will take that instruction, try to do it, and get all puffed up about it. The flesh will never learn, improve or go away while on this fallen world. The flesh is our natural distrust of Our Father and confusing him with one of  many idols. He is a God beyond all our imaginings.

The difficulties brought into our lives are from the Lord. However, it is not from anger but rather from a loving Father. A loving Father will correct his children to guide them away from harm. That is what sin does. It consumes lives, drives loved ones from each other and will seek to lead us away from Jesus. Our Lord has placed his name on us. The way we know that is he had a minister apply water and the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit which shows us our adoption into God's family. This way we do not have to see how life is going and how we are reacting in order to measure how God sees us. We are in Jesus and that is how we are seen by Our Father in Heaven.

In Jesus we are in God's peace. Depart from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34

In the name of Jesus. Amen. †

Heavenly Minded Means No Earthly Good?

"You are so heavenly minded you are no earthly good."

This started in the liberal part of the Christian Church and took the form of social activism. We are indeed, as children of our Heavenly Father, concerned about the plight of our neighbors. We are to seek and help him in his well being out of service to him in the name of Jesus. If she needs aid in raising her children, and we can help, we prayerfully give it in the name of Jesus. But Jesus is not particularly needed to do this. Many people give aid that are not believers in Jesus. Thank God we have people that help out in time of need.

This phrase has since been adopted by the more conservative element of the Christian Church. The social activism takes the form of working toward becoming a success at all that we do. The guarantee is that if we do all the right things, work hard at our employment we will be a raging success. This as well can be done without Jesus as savior.  A new reformation more about what we do than what we believe? A new reformation not about justification by faith? Bah!

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

(1 John 3:1-3 ESV)

What is offensive to those who believe in Jesus is to hide this promise. The Apostle John gives us one of the differences we have as believers in Jesus.  Being heavenly minded is also being earthly good. The purify John speaks of is all throughout the epistle. Loving one another. Giving aid to those in need. And confessing and receiving forgiveness of sin. This is what life is like now for the children of God.

But there is more. Some day Jesus is returning in power and great glory. Although he is with us now, as he promised, we do not see him with our eyes. When he comes to judge the living and the dead we will finally behold him and be like him. No more sickness, sin or death. We had the name of God Father Son and Holy Spirit placed upon us at our baptism. A certainty that cannot be taken away regardless of success or failure in earths endeavors.

Trust this good news and live in the peace it gives. Amen. †

A Scandalous King For You!

If you were to choose a king  who would be  your choice? In all the elections I can recall the candidates all promised;

1. everyone would have a house

2. a chicken in every pot in that house,

3. transportation,

4. employment to which one was to be transported

5. little or no taxes or they will be paid by others.

Wow! Now those are fantastic promises. If he could carry them off what a wonderful king he would be.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
(Luke 1:30-33 ESV)

This is the King given to us by God. Of a scandalous birth to an unmarried girl. This King grew up not in a palace but in a regular family. This King, instead of leading an army into victorious battle, did battle with the devil and his servants. Not at all what one would want for a King.

To make it worse, This King was tried in a mock trial with lying witnesses. This King was severely beaten beyond any other man. And this King was nailed to the cross which was the only throne he had on this fallen world.

What Child is This?

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary.

Some of the unbelieving world does not mind the babe in the manger. There he is all safe and warm. And we are safe with him there. The above verse is skipped on secular broadcast on radio and in stores. From a marketing standpoint perhaps it is understandable. But sadly if and when this hymn is sung in many churches this part is left out or rewritten. What of a people who are embarrassed of what Our King did for the world? Is it a wonder this society is going down hill?

Take heart dear brothers and sisters. This King is Sovereign. This King has chosen to be located in the manger, on the cross and risen from the dead for you. He has determined his Gospel to never be silenced. This encourages us to repent and trust in his work for us on the cross and his resurrection. We can pray for his Church which is in such disarray that Christ grant her true repentance and forgiveness. And also pray for and encourage his pastors to boldly preach repentance and the forgiveness of sin in the name of King Jesus.

Trust this good news and live in its peace. Amen. †