Part 2 - Repudiation of Webber's Emmaus Essay

Part 2 of review - Jay Webber Essay, Emmaus Conference, 2015

Webber’s claim to find only minor differences within the Synodical Conference view of justification is patently false. Wishing the differences away will not make that illusion a reality. (p 4)

1. The 1905 Missouri catechism, in German, taught justification by faith and never mentioned Objective Justification.

2. Concordia Publishing House, LCMS, still prints a KJV catechism with no mention of OJ in it, bragging that “two million copies have been sold.”

3. The original Gausewitz catechism, used by the entire Synodical Conference, perhaps standard for WELS, did not mention OJ but taught justification by faith.

4. Even within the OJ dream team, there exists a radical difference between the entire world being absolved at the death of Christ or at the moment of His resurrection. The dates cannot be reconciled, simply another part of the nonsense call UOJ.

5. In quoting Sasse about the Book of Concord, Webber is using a red herring, since the Book of Concord teaches justification by faith, not the anti-Christian dogma of justification without faith. (p. 4)

6. The Brief Statement quotation is correct about the Confessions, but the Brief Statement is utterly wrong about justification, serving as the triumph of the Stephan-Walther-Pieper faction. Besides that simple fact, the Brief Statement has no canonical or confessional authority whatsoever and only marks the beginning of the end for Lutheran doctrine and practice in Missouri and allied sects.

Webber, like Buchholz, imagines that declaring something to be true, without any evidence for that claim, is sufficient. But neither man has credentials for more than repeating the bromides of the Walther-Kokomo faction. If everyone is united, apart from trivial details, why is another windy essay needed? This farrago of unwarranted claims was so compelling to DP Bucholz that he gave it to his WELS congregations to read, mark, and inwardly digest. More than one got indigestion from it.

B. In the Webber Essay, Forgiveness in the Old Testament

Webber wants his audience to believe that he is being consistent with the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord. He quotes the Third Article, misunderstanding the Atonement, but fails to name the Article – III. The Righteousness of Faith. Why are these Enthusiasts allergic to the word faith? Justification by faith is slandered by calling it Calvinism or – oddly enough – Arminianism. One is the opposite of the other, so how ignorant can these people be? To remain consistent with the Great Walther, who had a limited education—only a bachelor’s at a rationalistic school—Webber has to treat faith as a work and make it inconsequential.

The ultimate irony is that Walther’s entire concept of justification came from a man with little interest in a theological education, who never completed his – Martin Stephan. But looking at the official history of the Missouri Synod, Stephan does not exist. According to the LCMS, the synod suddenly birthed itself, with Walther as the leader, in 1847, not when the cult landed in New Orleans in 1839 and Walther joined in making their Pietistic leader a bishop for life.

https://www.lcms.org/aboutus/history

Significant and damning details are omitted about the forgotten eight years between the landing in America and the formation of the Synod. So Webber is really defending the dogma of Pietistic era, a Pietistic cult leader who literally saved Walther’s life by turning him from unhealthy penitential works to the Gospel – or a bad version of the Gospel. 

 

He [Kuhn, their first Pietist leader] urged the group to practice various kinds of denial and hardship in order to test and prove their conversion and commitment and join Christ in His sufferings. It was said of the leader that he had come to his spiritual certainty through many temptations and believed others should do the same. Walther practiced these spiritual exercises to the extreme, depriving himself of food and exercise because he thought these things were sinful. Walther’s condition was described by Franz Delitzsch: “During that period of struggle he was wasted like a skeleton, coughed blood, suffered from insomnia, and experienced the terrors of hell. He was more dead than alive.”

Stephan, Philip; Stephan, Philip (2008-04-07). In Pursuit of Religious Freedom: Bishop Martin Stephan's Journey (p. 67). Lexington Books. Kindle Edition.

Later, as Stephan degenerated in every possible way, he decided he was in charge of the souls and the bodies of young women. Kuhn was all Law, but Stephan was a Universalist, clinging to the formulae of Halle University.

When this was debated on the Intrepid Lutherans blog, Webber chose the explanation of Rambach the Halle Pietist, over Martin Chemnitz, the senior editor of the Book of Concord and Formula of Concord. Rambach over Chemitz? The Pietist Quistorp extolled as an orthodox Lutheran? The Pietist Stephan erased from history and replaced by Walther, another Pietist, now rechristened as an orthodox Lutheran. I see a pattern.

The heroes of the LCMS are the clergy underlings of Stephan who did not notice their leader’s adultery, in spite of massive evidence, including their leader leaving his sick wife and children in Dresden while taking his healthy son and his mistress on the same ship. The Walther circle chose not to see the obvious until the time came to organize a mob, threaten, rob, and kidnap their bishop for life. CFW Walther was already their leader, at the age of 29+, parish experience, about two years.

You must make a decision for world absolution - OJ:
Walther's and JP Meyer's confused synergism.

JP Meyer's synergism.
Will he accept or decline?
Make a decision for Kokomo Justification - no faith required.

Fashion Another Straw Man

Webber would have us accept his conformist (to mainline Pietism) views of faith. (p. 5) He must make his solemn declarations mesh with the sonorities of the Walther-Pieper-JP Meyer faction. That means dodging the teaching of Luther, Chemnitz, Melanchthon, Gerhard, and the Scriptures themselves. The OJ faction would like to have us believe they are not Universalists, but what definition fits those who declare the entire world forgiven and saved, as Webber and Buchholz do. When they walk their reasoning back to some authority, it is the Preuss who became a Roman Catholic after seeing a beautiful sunset – a sign from God to pope. Ignoring that, they say, as their cult does – “I cannot believe I am forgiven unless it has already taken place.”

This kind of statement shows the danger of engaging in slogans, which are repeated until they become a substitute for the Scriptures. OJ is a turn away from the Atonement, but that turn is a veering off the cliff into absurdities like the ones to be quoted from Webber.

“Our faith does not rely on a potential righteousness or even a righteousness that is not yet ‘our righteousness’ before God.” (p. 5)

“Our faith does not contribute, in whole or in part, toward bringing ‘our righteousness’ into existence.” (p. 5)

Martin Chemnitz Press Books - Free PDF Links Posted on the Left

As requested by Alec Satin, I have posted all the Martin Chemnitz Press books on the left. The PDFs are free for everyone to use and free to share.

It is too bad that I have closed down so many blogs, or they could post my book links and use them to prove how horrible I am. Maybe WELS and Missouri could pick up the slack.

• Look at that, he believes in justification by faith.
• How horrible, he teaches Creation. 
• Oh no! He gives away his books. Here they are.
• Closed communion? Here is the proof.
• A picture book about Jesus in full color. So evil.
• True story - Jay Webber to another pastor - "Don't listen to Jackson He has a demon."

The link list will not stay at the top, but it will be somewhere in the upper half of that column. New sticky posts tend to drive the rest down in time, so the list gets re-adjusted from time to time.

Many Lutheran resources are found here.

Thoughts from a Reader

Dear Pastor Jackson,

Just a short note to tell you how much I'm appreciating Thy strong Word.  So far I've finished the first chapter and am about halfway through the second.  Your defense of the Received Text was among the best I've seen.  It balanced well the narrow road of making it clear without overwhelming with minutia.  This seems not easy for many to do.  Extremely helpful to me was your discussion of the 3 "rules" of textual criticism.  I've discussed this with a Pastor friend (ret.) who has done some work on defending the AV in Reformed circles.  He took it very seriously, and was glad to hear it.

Also generous of you to provide your book for free on your website.  Thank you.

A thought - have you ever considered offering the book more visibly on your site?  If you offered it in individual chapters as well as the full PDF, it might be more accessible to people who would not choose to take the time to go through the whole thing.  The content is too important to allow it to fall by the wayside.

On a side note, your garden seems to be shaping up well.  Happy Spring!
Alec

Today's thought on alecsatin com: Good morning America, how are ya'? Monday Morning Rail

***

GJ - Thank you for the encouragement, Alec.

Here is the free PDF version of Thy Strong Word. I will set up some sticky links on the left.

I am not going to post an entire chapter at a time, because 50 pages of text is too much for a post. I may assign a chapter to study from time to time.

I am banned, censured, and shunned in so many Lutheran circles that having my books mentioned always shocks me.

Logia, the vanity journal started with Schwan guilt money, would not accept paid ads from me.

Resisting the Monoculture - Planning for Fall

Imagine eight of these Veterans Honor roses on one plant.
They last up to two weeks in a vase.

Veterans Honor burst into bloom yesterday - eight perfect, fragrant, red roses on one bush. Planning ahead meant the soil was ready for the roses, long before they were planted. Soil creatures were abundant in each hole dug - red wiggler earthworms bailing out of shovels-full like paratroopers. Jackson Mulch and daily watering got the roses off to a good start.

The few laggard roses, poised on the edge of non-growth, caught up from extra prunes to waken them and rainwater to give them the best Intensive Creation Unit care.

Sharon Lovejoy and Jessica Walliser offer a three dimensional view of the garden, with plants as the backdrop for a wide array of God's creatures involved in a constant drama, like classical Greek theater, antagonists and protagonists, slugs and assassin bugs, All of Western literature is based upon the clash of heroes and a chain of events centered around Helen of Troy, "the face that launched a thousand ships and toppled the topless towers of Ilium."

In the garden, the events began at Creation, with each element designed to relate to all others. Unraveling all the relationships is like studying Greek literature and history, which still affect and influence us today, but Creation is far more complex and inter-related.

But we’ve also got some problems with them that will probably never be sorted out. As you already know, fewer than 1 percent of insects are considered agricultural pests, but those that are present some big challenges. As we continue to turn to more ecologically friendly methods of pest control, the use of natural enemies to aid our efforts becomes more and more valuable. The science of biological control, or biocontrol, uses one living organism to help control the population of another.

Walliser, Jessica (2014-02-26). Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Kindle Locations 2889-2893). Timber Press. Kindle Edition. 

We can change the drama in the garden by setting the stage differently. The props are already there and freely available. My distant neighbor has two KnockOut roses in his yard. He pruned one carefully, and it looked like an oil painting when it bloomed. He even built a  base  around it and added some soil or compost. The other rose was left alone and soon looked neglected. Now both are neglected and sport old, tired, woebegone roses.

Batman or Catman.

The landscaper is now ready for his red wigglers, as soon as he is done installing Jackson Mulch in his rose beds. He is tearing out his collection of weeds and putting down newspaper and mulch. The newspapers are free leftovers - "You won't get mine anymore," he warned me with a smile. The mulch costs very little.

Our artist-in-residentce, Norma Boeckler, just finished installing Jackson Mulch in her garden, observing how neat it made the garden.

The first is to not consider it a dedicated border per se but rather to incorporate as many of the plants profiled in the previous chapter into your existing landscape as possible. Scattering them about in hopes of increasing the structural and floral diversity of your existing landscape will likely lead to an increase in the numbers and diversity of beneficials you find on your property. To some extent, this is how I got started with my own insectary plantings. I already had a handful of perennial gardens, a vegetable garden, and lots of shrub beds and foundation plantings. Instead of adding plants that I thought were pretty, I began to incorporate some of the species known to provide for beneficials (many of which also happen to be very pretty plants). The addition of any of these plants to any part of your landscape is a decent place to start.

Walliser, Jessica (2014-02-26). Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Kindle Locations 2923-2929). Timber Press. Kindle Edition. 

From various authors I realized that adding a few plants will create a haven for beneficial insects who will earn their way in the garden. Simply leaving pests alone will draw beneficial creatures to this bounty of food.

Another change was adding an abundance of water sources for the birds and toads. "They have plenty of water already. This is not a desert." If you think this is a minor matter for birds, reconsider. My community pool for birds - a former kiddie pool - is messed up each day and needs to be dumped and refilled frequently, with a good hosing to clean it out.

I refill all the shallow water pans twice a day - mark that well. If one birdbath is enough, why are they using up 10 of them? The abundance attracts even more birds and creatures, and the guests stay to earn their keep by patrolling the yard and feeding on insects and grubs.

How many plants have decided to grow a bug on their flowers,
to keep pollination active?
And yet so many deny Creation.

In the Fall
I have a natural wooden border for the wild garden in the back. If the landscaper trims more of his trees, I will have more logs to place on the lawn as a low fence, bug-bird-toad haven. The grass is growing tall, because we no longer mow the wild garden. Bushes and favored weeds are growing up to shelter insects.

Queen Ann's Lace is Bird's Nest
for its manner of bunching up when seeds are maturing.
Beneficial insects count on this flower for nectar and pollen.

Queen Ann's Lace is often found in neglected areas, a group created by their prolific seeding. In the wild garden I have several growing alone, mulched, watered, earth-wormed to a fare-thee-well. They are majestic in reaching their full potential.

That is the fun of weeds. They survive almost anything, so a little pampering turns them into real showboats. Pigweed shoots up and spreads out. Queen Ann's Lace spreads its branches to gather more sun and pollinators. Cow Vetch clmbs the fence to catch the morning sun and drop more seed for future generations.

The wild area will be mulched with cardboard, newspaper, and autumn leaves this fall. Quenching the lawn in the back area will feed the soil and set the stage for new plants in the spring.

A cold wet spring gave way to summer heat and dryness.
Rain may be back next week.

Beginning of the Repudiation of the Emmaus Essay

Jay Webber Essay, First Part

The Term Justification and the Double Justification of OJ and SJ.

            The essay begins with the routine, practiced dishonesty of the crowd who took over the Synodical Conference and sold its members down the river to mainline apostasy and union with the ELCA. Nothing is more appropriate than to have Jay Webber write - an advocate for open communion with ELCA. Moreover, as a Lutheran missionary in the Ukraine, Webber was happy to work with and obtain money from Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, Church Growth advocate extraordinaire in Columbus, Ohio – unfaithful in marriage and doctrine, expelled from the LCMS but embraced by WELS/ELS.

            The essay is not about justification but the pet dogma of the mainline Protestants, CFW Walther, and Martin Stephan – universal absolution without faith. Webber chooses to call this “an aspect” of justification in focusing on Objective Justification. But for the heirs of rationalistic Pietism, Objective Justification is the Gospel and faith is only an afterthought. Yes, their Gospel message is – “The entire world has already been forgiven and saved, without faith.” Their afterthought is, “But you have to believe this for it to matter for your sin-free, guilt-free soul.” This afterthought is called Subjective Justification, which has also been demoted by Webber to an “aspect of justification.”

            These peculiar labels, Objective Justification and Subjective Justification, have a history, but one outside of the Lutheran Church. Long ago, when few theology books were printed, Georg Christian Knapp published his Halle University lectures in German. He was considered the last of the old fashioned Pietists at Halle, which was established to promote Pietism. The university rapidly became rationalistic, and some of that certainly rubbed off on Knapp. He denied that the Christian Church’s definition of the Holy Trinity was in harmony with the Bible. But Knapp was old-fashioned for his time, and his book was translated by the Calvinist Woods in America. Knapp was already established as a famous and traditional theologians for all Protestants, so this translation was published well before the Stephanites landed in New Orleans in 1839. However, the group remained German speaking for many decades and doubtless relied on the German edition of Knapp. The Calvinist translator explained Knapp’s opaque language in a footnote -

"This is very conveniently expressed by the terms objective and subjective justification. Objective justification is the act of God, by which he proffers pardon to all through Christ; subjective, is the act of man, by which he accepts the pardon freely offered in the Gospel. The former is universal, the latter not (Woods, p. )."

“His [Woods'] translation of Georg Christian Knapp's Christian Theology (1831-1833) was long used as a text-book in American theological seminaries.” (http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Leonard_Woods)

            The terms, conveniently expressed, did not come from Confessional Lutherans, but from a famous Calvinist with no Lutheran training. The impact of the English Halle lectures made itself felt when the two terms were adapted in Germany and pleased Walther, who approved their use. This does not make them orthodox or Lutheran, although the soothsayers would have us believe that. Instead, the adoption of Objective Justification reveals the common thread of Halle Pietism and rationalism in America. All the Lutheran groups were Pietistic to some extent and this Pietism soon displaced their loyalty to any Confessions, whether Calvinistic or Lutheran. The spirit of Pietism—which favors cooperation over sound doctrine—makes it easy for the LCMS, WELS, and ELS to work with the ELCA – especially through Thrivent.  Their own LCMS/WELS pastor, Mark Jeske sits on the Thrivent board.

Halle Rationalistic Pietism

            We should never underestimate the power and influence of Halle University and its rationalistic Pietism. The founder of the ULCA/LCA tradition was Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, who taught at the Franke Foundation orphanage at Halle. The real founder of the Missouri Synod, Martin Stephan, attended but did not graduate from Halle University. In fact, Stephan never graduated from a university and was not qualified to be a pastor. His position as a Bohemian and Pietist gave him the credibility to be called to the Pietist congregation, which was closely allied with the Pietist Zinzendorf. The Pietist Stephan attracted the attention of the Pietistic Walther group of clergy, who gravitated to Stephan when their Pietist guru - Johann Gottlieb Kuehn - suddenly died.

The main theologian of the Wisconsin Synod, Adolph Hoenecke, graduated from Halle University in 1859. His mentor Tholuck was a Universalist. Thus we should not be too shocked that Hoenecke wrote about General Justification, a misleading translation of the German term – algemeine Rechtfertigung – Universal Justification (every single one, no exceptions, as in Universal Conscription).

            As one theological student asked, “What happened to Subjective Justification in the mainline denominations like ELCA?” The best explanation comes from the meaning of the term – not faith in Christ, but faith in Universal Justification – “the former is universal, “as the Calvinist Woods translated. The nature of Subjective Justification dooms it to make faith irrelevant, as Webber’s essay has demonstrated with countless, stolid, prolixic, redundancies.

Another Obscure Pietistic Hero

            Webber enjoys citing Pietists and baptizing them as orthodox or confessional Lutherans. The seldom-cited Quistorp gets that treatment from Webber, which would make church historians gasp in wonder. Strangely, Webber begins his essay citing Professor Caroll Herman Little, who once served as president of the seminary I attended – Waterloo Lutheran in Ontario, Canada. Robert Preus once mentioned Little to me and doubtless taught Little as an example of a ULCA pastor who agreed with the LCMS about doctrine. One little problem remains – the Canada Synod was Pietistic. For example, when one of the patriarchs of the synod visited a home and saw the boys playing cards, he said nothing. On Sunday, old Reble delivered a blistering sermon on the evils of playing cards – a typical Pietistic sermon for that era. Like most readers I have to wonder why Little’s opinions about justification matter to anyone.

Misuse of Justification as a Term

            The Objective Justification cabal has decided that their peculiar dogma is the justification of the Reformation, the Book of Concord, and the Scriptures. Rather than attack justification by faith directly, they simply substitute their philosophy for Biblical doctrine, knowing well that their OJ terminology is found no earlier than Pietism – after the Reformation – and freely witnessed in various denominations and even in cults.

“As an objective fact, justification is applied to the entire human race fully redeemed in Christ. [Read Rom. 5:18.] – Adventist website - http://www.jacksequeira.org/issues06.htm

“ Legal universal justification implies that all human beings come into the world legally saved, pardoned, justified; from God's perspective they are not lost. If it is true that every human being who has been and will be born on this planet was present in Christ when he died and that they all were legally justified, then those who are not yet born have already been justified.” Adventist website –

https://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/materials/theology-salvation/some-problems-legal-universal-justification

One should not be shocked by Synodical Conference authors praising justification in the words of Luther and switching to OJ for the rest of the essay. Webber is almost this obvious.

            Indeed, Webber on page 3 indulges himself in the usual potpourri of Scriptural citations that do not fit. He quoted Romans 5:18 – as the Adventist did. In spite of Romans 4 being a chapter about justification by faith, climaxing with Romans 5:1-2, Webber fished out Romans 4:25, part of a verse, avoiding the real meaning of the sentence, chapter, and epistle.

^{Romans 4:22} And therefore it was imputed to him [Abraham] for righteousness.

²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

²⁴ But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

²⁵ Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. KJV

As we see in many LCMS publications, the citations are simply stated as if they prove a contentious point, but there is no contention since the OJ mob does not recognize, quote, or acknowledge justification by faith. For example, Webber studied under Robert Preus but in this essay never mentioned the last book of Preus, Justification and Rome, which eviscerated OJ in a series of quotations from orthodox Lutherans.

More Confusion – In View of Faith

            As many have observed, the second part is just as distorted and strange as Objective Justification. Note the additional terms – Individual, Personal, and Subjective Justification. So many terms are needed to replace justification by faith. Webber defines this Subjective Justification as faith in Objective Justification –

“… the actual acceptance by faith in the Objective Justification.” (p. 3)

The plot grows even shallower –

“If personal or subjective Justification is the acceptance by faith of Objective Justification it is manifest that it does not take place ‘in view of faith.’ Thus a synergistic view of Justification is avoided. (p. 3)

The logic is bizarre, because Webber proves his assumption with his assumption, reasoning in a circle. Justification by faith is synergistic or Calvinism – I can never figure those accusations out. If justification by faith, as taught by Paul, Luther, and the Book of Concord, is synergistic, then what is faith in OJ, as taught by Stephan, Walther, DP Ed Werner, and David Valleskey?

            This in view of faith accusation seems to have originated in Walther’s febrile mind, where he imagined faith as a work. And yet, the self-contradicting Walther told his gullible followers they had to make a decision for OJ, precisely what Webber is claiming.

Naturally, one can never be accused of anything when aping Walther, but the circle of rationalistic Pietists supporting rationalistic Pietists is not a compelling Biblical or Concordist argument.

No Grasp of Lutheran Doctrine

            Webber displays no grasp of Lutheran doctrine as he wanders from point to point, something to be expected when someone starts with a Canadian-American professor of Pietism as the ruling norm of doctrine. There are minor disagreements among the Lutherans, say Little and Webber, but no worry. (p. 4)

            One would never imagine that this Webber essay is an extended, if bloated, attack on justification by faith, the Bible, Luther, the Book of Concord, the post-Concord orthodox Lutherans, Gerhard, groups within the LCMS, and Gausewitz. Dismissing a long history of justification by faith and large numbers of people who find OJ alarmingly foul, Webber tries to jawbone the new Synodical Conference into an agreement that never will happen. Too many people, when informed of the agenda of OJ, disagree with great energy and conviction.

           

           

               

Did You Plant That on Purpose? A Next-Door Nursery Trumps a Local Nursery

Coreopsis or tick-seed has many varieties,
and they favor beneficial insects.

More than once someone has said to me, "Did you plant that on purpose?" Many overlooked plants are the best possible treatment for the ills caused by monoculture - too much of the same plant.

My blog-friend and reader has a vineyard, and he points out the difficulty in controlling all the evils drawn in by a mass of grape vines. I see the same problem with rows of roses. Fortunately, I can drop beneficial insect plants wherever I want and provide host plants for my little allies.

Almost Eden is the next-door nursery, and the owner has the same philosophy about planting that I do. His wife works in hospitality for Walmart, so I do not have to listen to rants about our local mom and pop store.

I went through his website, looking for hummingbird plants - not only a major education by itself but also great encouragement for the future. The distant and expensive online nurseries deliver plants where the first question is - "Has it died yet?"

Any supplier is going to make me dizzy with the varieties of plants I have never grown. I know some of the names superficially, but that does not make me knowledgeable about how to use them and enjoy them. Some brand new names for me were - Chaste Tree and Beautyberry.

Now I am especially interested in plants -

1. Favored by beneficial insects. The life stages of various beneficial insects need more than food for their babies. The adults need their own food and shelter.
2. Visited by hummingbirds. Free hummingbird food is a plus since I do not own or fill feeders.
3. Loved by bees of all types. In Phoenix we had the leaf-cutter bees, black and ominous, but harmless. They lumbered through from time to time, harvesting leaves from my bougainvillea jungle. There are many varieties of bees, and they have their special roles.

I planted my latest finds from Almost Eden this morning. Sassy, after enjoying her 6 AM walk, sat nearby and supervised each hole.

Mrs. Ichabod wants screening plants to block the unscenic back alley view. I was able to put the Chaste Tree in just the right spot to grow 10 - 20 feet tall. This shrub-tree is the ultimate bee plant, which is fine with me. The flowers are beautiful and fragrant.

The Big Slug Trap
I began with one can of beer in the old roasting pan.

• First night - 24 slugs were in the brew and dead.
• Second night - more slugs were slowing moving in. In the morning many dead slugs were missing and the pan was almost dry.
• Third night - the pan was completely cleared of all beer and all slugs.

Hummingbird Plants - a complete list

John Huss Holy Communion Hymn - From Christianity Today's Website

The Huss statue in Prague encouraged freedom lovers,
just as Huss inspired Luther to break with the papacy.

We sang this hymn in church today.

John Huss

Pre-Reformation Reformer -

Kelmed from Christian History

"Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies."

Early in his monastic career, Martin Luther, rummaging through the stacks of a library, happened upon a volume of sermons by John Huss, the Bohemian who had been condemned as a heretic. "I was overwhelmed with astonishment," Luther later wrote. "I could not understand for what cause they had burnt so great a man, who explained the Scriptures with so much gravity and skill."

Huss would become a hero to Luther and many other Reformers, for Huss preached key Reformation themes (like hostility to indulgences) a century before Luther drew up his 95 Theses. But the Reformers also looked to Huss's life, in particular, his steadfast commitment in the face of the church's cunning brutality.

To escape poverty, Huss trained for the priesthood: "I had thought to become a priest quickly in order to secure a good livelihood and dress and to be held in esteem by men." He earned a bachelor's, master's, and then finally a doctorate. Along the way he was ordained (in 1401) and became the preacher at Prague's Bethlehem Chapel (which held 3,000), the most popular church in one of the largest of Europe's cities, a center of reform in Bohemia (for example, sermons were preached in Czech, not Latin).

During these years, Huss underwent a change. Though he spent some time with what he called a "foolish sect," he finally discovered the Bible: "When the Lord gave me knowledge of Scriptures, I discharged that kind of stupidity from my foolish mind."

The writings of John Wycliffe had stirred his interest in the Bible, and these same writings were causing a stir in Bohemia (technically the northeastern portion of today's Czech Republic, but a general term for the area where the Czech language and culture prevailed). The University of Prague was already split between Czechs and Germans, and Wycliffe's teachings only divided them more. Early debates hinged on fine points of philosophy (the Czechs, with Wycliffe, were realists; the Germans nominalists). But the Czechs, with Huss, also warmed up to Wycliffe's reforming ideas; though they had no intention of captionering traditional doctrines, they wanted to place more emphasis on the Bible, expand the authority of church councils (and lessen that of the pope), and promote the moral reform of clergy. Thus Huss began increasingly to trust the Scriptures, "desiring to hold, believe, and assert whatever is contained in them as long as I have breath in me."

A political struggle ensued, with the Germans labeling Wycliffe and his followers heretics. With the support of the king of Bohemia, the Czechs gained the upper hand, and the Germans were forced to flee to other universities.

The situation was complicated by European politics, which watched as two popes vied to rule all of Christendom. A church council was called at Pisa in 1409 to settle the matter. It deposed both popes and elected Alexander V as the legitimate pontiff (though the other popes, repudiating this election, continued to rule their factions). Alexander was soon "persuaded"—that is, bribed—to side with Bohemian church authorities against Huss, who continued to criticize them. Huss was forbidden to preach and excommunicated, but only on paper: with local Bohemians backing him, Huss continued to preach and minister at Bethlehem Chapel.

When Alexander V's successor, the antipope John XXIII (not to be confused with the modern pope by the same name), authorized the selling of indulgences to raise funds for his crusade against one of his rivals, Huss was scandalized and further radicalized. The pope was acting in mere self-interest, and Huss could no longer justify the pope's moral authority. He leaned even more heavily on the Bible, which he proclaimed the final authority for the church. Huss further argued that the Czech people were being exploited by the pope's indulgences, which was a not-so-veiled attack on the Bohemian king, who earned a cut of the indulgence proceeds.

Scripture rebel

With that Huss lost the support of his king. His excommunication, which had been tacitly dropped, was now revived, and an interdict was put upon the city of Prague: no citizen could receive Communion or be buried on church grounds as long as Huss continued his ministry. To spare the city, Huss withdrew to the countryside toward the end of 1412. He spent the next two years in feverish literary activity, composing a number of treatises. The most important was The Church, which he sent to Prague to be read publicly. In it he argued that Christ alone is head of the church, that a pope "through ignorance and love of money" can make many mistakes, and that to rebel against an erring pope is to obey Christ.

In November 1414, the Council of Constance assembled, and Huss was urged by Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund to come and give an account of his doctrine. Because he was promised safe conduct, and because of the importance of the council (which promised significant church reforms), Huss went. When he arrived, however, he was immediately arrested, and he remained imprisoned for months. Instead of a hearing, Huss was eventually hauled before authorities in chains and asked merely to recant his views.

When he saw he wasn't to be given a forum for explaining his ideas, let alone a fair hearing, he finally said, "I appeal to Jesus Christ, the only judge who is almighty and completely just. In his hands I plead my cause, not on the basis of false witnesses and erring councils, but on truth and justice." He was taken to his cell, where many pleaded with him to recant. On July 6, 1415, he was taken to the cathedral, dressed in his priestly garments, then stripped of them one by one. He refused one last chance to recant at the stake, where he prayed, "Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies." He was heard reciting the Psalms as the flames engulfed him.

His executioners scooped up his ashes and tossed them into a lake so that nothing would remain of the "heretic," but some Czechs collected bits of soil from the ground where Huss had died and took them back to Bohemia as a memorial.

Bohemians were furious with the execution and repudiated the council; over the next several years, a coalition of Hussites, radical Taborites, and others refused to submit to the authority of the Holy Roman emperor or the church and fended off three military assaults. Bohemia eventually reconciled with the rest of western Christendom—though on its own terms (for example, it was one of the few Catholic regions that offered Communion of both bread and wine; the rest of Christendom simply received the bread). Those who repudiated this last compromise formed the Unitas Fratrum ("Union of Brethren"), which became the foundation for the Moravian Brethren (Moravia is a region in the Czech Republic), who would play an influential role in the conversion of the Wesley brothers, among others.

How far we have come from the days of Huss - straight down.

Justification Book Plan and Budget

P. Leyser refuted the first version of UOJ.

I was going to work on separate topics repudiating the Emmaus Conference drivel, but addressing the essay, paragraph by paragraph, is a better approach. I can address the foolishness as it arises in the text.

We will also have additional contributions, such as Brett Meyer's collection of UOJ quotations.

We have a small budget for a big project:
$125 for a used computer for one researcher to use.
$300 for the researcher for expenses and time spent away from his job.
$200 for an editor.

$625 total.

If you wish to contribute a part of this cost, a free printed book or books will be sent to you when completed.

Send checks to:
Bethany Lutheran Church
1104 Letha Drive
Springdale, AR 72762

PayPal - if you wish to use it -

 

Click here for the account.

The mailing address for Bethany Lutheran Church is -

Bethany Lutheran Church
1104 Letha Drive
Springdale AR  72762

email - bethanylutheranworship@gmail.com

Everyone will have access to a free PDF and research materials.

---

I am trying to complete my part in June, with teaching much slower.  One part may come along later, but that will be added.

I have to fight the what's-the-use feeling from dealing with nominal Lutherans constantly at war against the Reformation. And yet, they are gear up to celebrate the 500th anniversary of an era they have abandoned for Roman Enthusiasm or Evangelical Enthusiasm, depending on which flavor of apostasy suits them.

I appreciate the encouragement from so many readers.

Sassy Goes to the Garden of Eden - Or - Almost Eden

Coreopsis is always mentioned with beneficial insects.

Called tickseed for their buggy-looking seeds, these North American natives may already have a home in your garden. Several dozen species of coreopsis exist, and quite a few of them are common garden perennials. They have become so popular because of their ease of growth, long flowering period, drought tolerance, deer resistance, and all-around good looks. Nearly all coreopsis are attractive to good bugs of all sorts, including minute pirate bugs, parasitic wasps, soldier beetles, syrphid flies, lacewings, and spiders.

Walliser, Jessica (2014-02-26). Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Kindle Locations 2075-2079). Timber Press. Kindle Edition. 

Something began to change last year at our "park" at the end of the cul-de-sac where we live. Large loads of soil were dumped at the edge and some commercial style tables were set up for a nursery. There had always been a little more gardening equipment there before, but this was a definite surge. We walked over together once and met the owner, Derrick. His friends called it Almost Eden, because the property is shaping up so well.

Pause. Sassy insisted on her second walk for the day. I tried to wait until it was cooler, but she pulled on my arm and kissed my ear until I gave in. Back to the main topic.

Facebook let me know that Almost Eden was having a sale, so Sassy took me over to check that out. The property, which includes the large grassy park, is a former dairy farm which once delivered milk to the entire neighborhood. The farmer's son and daughter-in-law now live there and use their extra time in creating a nursery.

Sassy and I came upon the couple, who were resting in the shade, and Sassy got a warm greeting. "What a sweetheart. Lock at that beautiful dog." Sassy loves to adopt new fans into her flock, so she wiggled with delight.

They have many of the plants I thought about buying, but I resist most online pleas to buy. One reason is delivery of fragile plants in a beat-up and dried-up state, which only works for plants that respond quickly to soil and water. The other reason is cost. I know how easily some plants reproduce, and the retail charges make me gasp.

I told Derrick I wanted more birds-bees-butterfly plants. He had some that I wanted and others new to me.

Chaste Tree is bumble bee friendly.
They even sleep overnight in the blossoms.

Another new one for me was - Beautyberry -

Beautyberry is colorful and creature-friendly,
and it is an insect repellent.

This nectar was first thought to just be a way for a plant to excrete metabolic wastes, but we now know that plants use EFN [extra floral nectar] to attract predators and parasitoids by offering them a reward for helping to control herbivorous pests.

In my garden I can readily spot EFN production sites on my elderberries, fruit trees, beautyberries, peonies, sunflowers, morning glories, impatiens, and hibiscus. EFN is, in fact, a very important extra nutrient source for natural enemies, especially when prey are scarce. Being on the lookout for EFN production sites on your own plants can lead to some interesting interactions with insects.


Walliser, Jessica (2014-02-26). Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Kindle Locations, 1462-1464 1489-1492). Timber Press. Kindle Edition. 

I also got lavender and gooseberry. I bought all these plants to foster and feed the creatures in the yard, which is exactly what they are doing at Almost Eden. Derrick explained that by putting down a covercrop of buckwheat, he squeezed a lot of annoying weeds out of production.

Goosebrries are thorny plants, loved by birds for food and shelter.

Slug News
The slugs got one can of beer in the straw bale garden. About 25 slugs entered their doom the first night, and with beer left, more the second night. This morning almost all the beer was gone, and so were most of the dead slugs. Did a raccoon have a meal of slugs with beer?

Additional Pests - Rose Pests
My first night inspection found some beetles chewing on rose petals. I am fairly sure I know which kind, but I left the two insects alone that I spotted having their night-time spot.

Last year insect pests hit the white roses (KnockOut) hard and left the rest alone. That may be from white flowers showing up so well in the dark, when night insects work their weal or woe. Once again the white roses are hit hard (John Paul II) while the rest are largely spared. I saw Double Delight get chewed on this morning.

I am watching and learning to use natural methods instead of insecticides.

Designing an insectary border that is appealing to both beneficial insects and humans isn’t as difficult as it might seem. The challenge is to include a diversity of flower shapes, plan for continuous in-season bloom, create year-round habitat, and blend plants together in an appealing manner, as this garden has done. The design of the border greatly influences the types of predators and parasitoids lured to it, as well as the length of their stay and even their health and well-being. Several factors are involved in such consequences, including the diversity of flower shapes and bloom times, the complexity of plant architectures, and the creation of winter habitat. Blending all these factors together with some sense of aesthetic appeal can prove challenging.

Walliser, Jessica (2014-02-26). Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Kindle Locations 2867-2873). Timber Press. Kindle Edition. 

I have starlings splashing around together in the
Community Pool, a ridig kiddy pool with short sides
and just enough depth and room
for a number of birds at once.
They are hilarious when bathing as a group.
$10 cost. They are ferocious insect and grub predators.

Trinity One, 2015. Luke 16:19-31. The Rich Man and Lazarus

"To Abrahm's bosom bear me home."
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2013/04/norma-boecklers-new-book-treasury-of.html

The First Sunday after Trinity, 2015

The melodies are linked in the hymn name. 

The lyrics are linked in the hymn number.

• The melody site is linked here.
• TLH Lyrics site is linked here.

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10AM Central Time

The Hymn # 427                                   How Firm a Foundation                 

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #429                     Lord, Thee I Love            

 Faith and the Efficacy of the Word

The CommunionHymn # 311             Jesus Christ               

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #347                                   Jesus Priceless Treasure                      

KJV 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

First Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we beseech Thee so to rule and govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not, like the rich man, hear Thy word in vain, and become so devoted to things temporal as to forget things eternal; but that we readily and according to our ability minister to such as are in need, and not defile ourselves with surfeiting and pride; in trial and misfortune keep us from despair, and grant us to put our trust wholly in Thy fatherly help and grace, so that in faith and Christian patience we may overcome all things, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Luther’s Sermon on the Rich Man and Lazarus

Faith and the Efficacy of the Word

KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 

This is a parable about the effectiveness (efficacy) of the Word of God. Various wise men and literary scholars have scoffed at the simplicity of the Gospels. In fact, that served as an excuse for Augustine to look down on the Christian Faith, which had such simple documents in ordinary - not classical - Greek. I once opened a conservative book, more or less, that offered similar comments about passages she did not think measured up to her standards.

But who can match the packed details of this little story? The first few words tell us this is a Parable, a fictional story - a certain rich man.

How do we know he is rich? There are several details added in this theme sentence. He was clothed in purple - reserved for the rich and powerful. He wore linen - not that old flour sack stuff. And he dined in great luxury every single day.

Look at how many unforgettable details start this memorable story. If anyone wants to write fiction, this is a model that no one can match, because the plot is compelling and it is told in a few words. Many professional writers (or their writing factories) create novels longer than the New Testament with far less to teach us. So if we only know and repeat this one parable, we have a great treasure in our hearts.

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

For a description of the opposite, Lazarus, we have even more details in all of two verses.

I like the painting that shows Lazarus stretched on the stairs leading up to a fine mansion, his poverty contrasting with the indifferent servant walking past him. If the rich man had ordered the servant, food, bandages, and water would have been brought to him.

Lazarus was a beggar. He had no income. He was placed in a high traffic area where he might get some water and food from time to time. He was sick and full of sores. If anyone has had blisters, open wounds, bedsores, or other skin ailments, the pain is great and constant. Often small remedies help a little, to calm the burning, to ease the pain, to heal the broken skin. For instance, now skin rashes come from antibiotics killing all the beneficial bacteria, letting the itching burning ones take over. 

All Lazarus wanted was a little food from the rich man's table - dog food. But the irony is, the dogs who probably scooped up extras from the rich man came to help Lazarus by licking his wounds.

Grandson Alex had to eat his meat yesterday to qualify for dessert - ice cream. He was manfully chewing, and chewing, and chewing, but the meat he had in his mouth would not give way. I said, "Probably gristle." I had him give it to Sassy, who promptly and gratefully ate it. I added, "That's what dogs are for." Everyone laughed.

Dogs know about infections and sore places. They instinctively try to nurse those wounds and make them better. 

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 

Given the climate, the man's poverty, and the illness, Lazarus was bound to die. But when he did pass away, the angels carried him to Abraham's bosom, to heaven. As someone explained, the angels know the way to heaven and come to bring believers home. This is even part of the old Latin worship service - May the angels guide you to Paradise. We know Lazarus believed in Christ, because he went to heaven. He had no good works to boast about, as mortal men do, as the rich man doubtless did. 

The modern Rest in Peace implies what the Christian Faith teaches - those who die believers have peace from justification by faith, salvation in Christ.

The rich dies and is buried. He has very little plot here, but his story takes over. The rich man and Lazarus are alike in one respect - both are mortal. Both men die.

We were talking about how the rich powerful get away with so many crimes, but I added, "They are often tormented by their crime, even in getting away with it, and if not - they pay for it at the end. No one escapes that."

The worst criminals are those teaching against faith in Christ, because the cure for sin is not legislation and preaching against sin, but the cure is the Gospel and faith in Christ. Where faith prevails, sin diminishes, though we are still sinners. Nevertheless, the Gospel is a constant barrier against sin, a strengthening against temptation, and the energy behind good works based on love.

The unbeliever sins and tries to make up for it in some way, or he justifies it as necessary and good. As one pastor said to me, "Use others before they use you."

The believer sins and repents, trusts in Christ, and he is forgiven. The Gospel leaven grows in him to make him more patient, more loving, more generous.

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Now the situation is reversed. Lazarus' torment seemed long for him, but it was brief. The rich man had luxury forever, but that was brief. 

When I remarked that a famous philosopher was living "forever," a librarian said, "Betrand Russel? He has nowhere to go." But Russell died, too, and he is largely forgotten.

This dialogue is part of the imaginary tale, and helps us see the contrast between the foolishness of the rich man and the peace of Lazarus.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Now the rich man wants to least little comfort, which he never gave to Lazarus. Who is wealthy now? This shows us that true wealth is faith in Christ, because believing in Him gives us heaven and earth - something no mortal power can take away from us.

The least little comfort in pain is wonderful. There is no better way to be grateful than to have a surgery that takes away a serious problem, like cancer, or to recover from a painful condition. God gave us many natural medicines (often abused) that take away pain for the moment. They take away the pain and the fear.

When we offer those little things denied to Lazarus, they give comfort in ways beyond knowing. Sometimes we find out - sometimes now. I have a constant surplus of roses now, so I share them with neighbors. One neighbor takes them when she serves as a nurse with dying patients. The roses first delight the neighbor, then then family of those she comforts in their last moments. We received a thankyou note from one family who loved the uplifting effect of the flowers. So one little gesture made three families happy, because it was such a marvel that extra flowers from us meant so much to strangers.

The rich man doubtless gave his gifts with great pomp and had his name on various monuments. Tis funny how that gets recognized, honored, even worshiped. But the everyday gestures of life that flow from faith seldom if ever get that recognition. Who is richer? God sees in secret and rewards accordingly. Those who have the praise of men already have their reward.

Abraham tells the rich man, "You had a lifetime of good things and Lazarus bad things. Now he has eternal comfort and you have eternal torment. He cannot help you at all." We see in this little parable how much is meant in this one verse. Pastors tell me they cannot do or that because it would cost them something.  And it will, but do they want to good things of God, which cannot be taken away, or the good things from man, which are here today and stripped away tomorrow.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

This parable builds up to the efficacy of God's Word. The rich man wants his brothers to learn the truth and be spared the torment - so we know they are also  unbelievers. 

"They have Moses and the Prophets." The brothers can learn the Gospel from Moses and Prophets. Isaiah 53 has the entire Gospel in it, and the great and small prophets have hundreds of details about salvation in the Messiah.

The Word alone creates faith in Christ, forgiveness of sin, salvation, eternal peace.

The rich man, showing his warped understanding, says someone coming from the dead would definitely have an impact. Here Purgatory is laid to rest before it was invented within the Christian Church.

But if the Word alone is not enough, nothing else will help.

Efficacy of the Word

Bible
Effectual, powerful: energes

1 Corinthians 16:9 (KJV) For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and many adversaries.

Philemon 1:6 (KJV) That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) For the word of God quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Operations, working: energema

1 Corinthians 12:6 (KJV) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

To show forth, work: energew

Matthew 14:2 (KJV) And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.

Mark 6:14 (KJV) And king Herod heard ; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.

Romans 7:5 (KJV) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

1 Corinthians 12:6 (KJV) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1 Corinthians 12:11 (KJV) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

2 Corinthians 1:6 (KJV) And whether we be afflicted, for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, for your consolation and salvation.

2 Corinthians 4:12 (KJV) So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

Galatians 2:8 (KJV) (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

Galatians 3:5 (KJV) He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Galatians 5:6 (KJV) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Ephesians 1:11 (KJV) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Ephesians 1:20 (KJV) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set at his own right hand in the heavenly ,

Ephesians 2:2 (KJV) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 3:20‑21 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, {21} Unto him glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Philippians 2:13 (KJV) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of good pleasure.

Colossians 1:29 (KJV) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received not the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (KJV) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth , until he be taken out of the way.

James 5:16 (KJV) Confess faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Effectual, working: energeia

Ephesians 1:19 (KJV) And what the exceeding greatness of his power to us‑ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Ephesians 3:7 (KJV) Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Ephesians 4:16 (KJV) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Philippians 3:21 (KJV) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Colossians 1:29 (KJV) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Colossians 2:12 (KJV) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

2 Thessalonians 2:9‑12 (KJV) , whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, {10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of
the truth, that they might be saved. {11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: {12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. [Note 2
Thessalonians 2:7, the mystery of iniquity already at work.]

Anglican Denial of the Means of Grace

"First, our Lord does encourage us or even command us to believe that wherever there is the good character, the Christ‑like character, there the Holy Spirit is at work. God works far beyond How own appointed channels. The principle of loyalty and obedience binds us who know His will to use His sacraments, His instituted ordinances; but God is not tied to His own ordinances. He can work wherever He sees the good disposition; and it is blasphemy against His Spirit to deny that He is at work anywhere where we we witness the forming of the Christian character. The good fruit cannot come from anything else than the good tree."
Bishop Charles Gore, The Sermon on the Mount, A Practical Exposition, London: John Murray 1906, p. 179f. 

Luther

"The world is now full of sects which exclaim that Baptism is merely an external matter and that external matters are of no use. However, let it be ever so much an external matter; here stand God's Word and command which institute, establish, and confirm Baptism. However, whatever God institutes and commands cannot be useless but must be an altogether precious matter, even if it were worth less than a straw."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 43. Large Catechism, Matthew 28:19.

"We should be on our guard against the Anabaptists and sectarian spirits, who speak contemptuously of Baptism and say that it is nothing but ordinary water, which helps no one. They look at the sacred act as a cow looks at a new door; for they see a poor preacher standing there or some woman who baptizes in an emergency, are offended at the sight, and say: Indeed! What might Baptism be? Moreover, they state: Whoever does not believe is really not baptized. In this way they dishonor and blaspheme the most worthy Sacrament, not seeing any farther than a horse or a cow sees...."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 45. John 1:30‑32.

"But here it is written that when Christ was baptized, all three Persons of the Trinity were present‑‑God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit...and that the heavens stood open, too. In fact, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit daily stand about and at the side of our own Baptism....For this reason we should highly esteem and honor Baptism and say: Baptism was not devised by any human being, but God instituted it; and it is not simple water, but God's Word is in it and with it, which makes of its water a washing of the soul and a washing of regeneration."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 45. John 1:30‑32.

"One must not make the sweeping assertion: God is not worshiped by anything external. Therefore we should not ridicule all things that are external in the worship of God. For when God speaks about a splinter, His Word makes the splinter as important as the sun. It is, therefore, profane language to say that the water of Baptism is only water; for the water of Baptism has the Word added to it. Therefore it is like a glowing or fiery iron, which is as truly fire as it is iron and does all that fire usually does. But only the pious see and appreciate the Word in the water; a cow or a dog sees only water."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 45. Psalm 122:3.

"Whoever is baptized in Christ is baptized through His suffering and blood or, to state it more clearly, through Baptism he is bathed in the blood of Christ and is cleansed from sins. For this reason St. Paul calls Baptism a "washing of regeneration" (Titus 3:5); and according to what Christians say and picture, the Sacraments flow from the wounds of Christ. And what they say and picture is right." [Plass footnote: "Thus Jerome (d. 420) sees the Sacrament symbolized by the blood and water that flowed from the side of the dead Christ (John 19:34). Similarly St. Augustine (d. 430). In Luther's days pictures and woodcuts presented the same view. See W 30, II, 527, note; SL 13a, 491f.]
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 46. to Duke George, 1533 John 19:34; Titus 3:5.

[endangered infant not baptized in womb] "But the women who are present at the birth should kneel down and with a prayer of faith commit the endangered infant to God who is mighty and able to do more than we ask. Without a doubt He will accept the infant for the sake of the prayer of the believers."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 49. J. Aurifaber, undated 


"I still maintain, as I have maintained in the Postil (SL 11, 496f.) that the surest Baptism is infant Baptism. For an old person may deceive, may come to Christ as a Judas and permit himself to be baptized. But a child cannot deceive. It comes to Christ in Baptism as John came to Him and as the little children were brought to Him, that His Word and work may come over them, touch them, and thus make them holy. For His Word and work cannot pass by without effect; and in Baptism they are directed at the child alone. If they were to fail of success here, they would have to be entire failures and useless means, which is impossible."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 50. Letter to two ministers, 1528

"To be sure, Baptism is so great that if you turn from sins and appeal to the covenant of Baptism, your sins are forgiven. Only see to it‑‑if you sin in this wicked and wanton manner by presuming on God's grace‑‑that the judgment does not lay hold of you and forestall your turning back. And even if you then wanted to believe and trust in your Baptism, your trial might by God's decree, be so great that faith could not stand the strain. If they scarcely remain in the faith who do no sin or who fall because of sheer weakness, where will your brazen wickedness remain, which has challenged and mocked God's grace? Let us, therefore, walk with care and fear that we may hold fast the riches of God's grace with a firm faith and joyfully give thanks to His mercy forever and ever. Amen."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 57. Treatise on Baptism, 1519 [advocates infant immersion or something similar] Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 58.

"Thus we see what a very splendid thing Baptism is. It snatches us from the jaws of the devil, makes us God's own, restrains and removes sin, and then daily strengthens the new man within us. It is and remains ever efficacious until we pass from this state of misery to eternal glory. For this reason everyone should consider his Baptism as his daily dress, to be worn constantly. Every day he should be found in the faith and its fruits, suppressing the old man, and growing up in the new; for if we want to be Christians, we must practice the work whereby we are Christians. But if anyone falls from baptismal grace, let him return to it. For as Christ, the Mercy Seat, does not withdraw from us or forbid us to come to Him again even though we sin, so all His treasures and gifts also remain with us."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 61. Article on baptism, 1529

"There is on earth no greater comfort than Baptism."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 61.

The Effectiveness of the Word

1 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV) I have planted, [Apollos] watered; but God gave the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6.

Revelation 19:13 (KJV) And he clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The [Word] of God. Revelation 19:13.

Revelation 12:10 (KJV) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:11 (KJV) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the [word] of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:10‑11.

Revelation 1:9 (KJV) I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the [word] of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:9.

1 John 5:7 (KJV) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the [Word], and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7.

1 John 2:14 (KJV) I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the [word] of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:14.

1 John 1:10 (KJV) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his [word] is not in us. 1 John 1:10.

1 John 1:1 (KJV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the [Word] of life; 1 John 1:1.

1 Peter 2:7 (KJV) Unto you therefore which believe precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 1 Peter 2:8 (KJV) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, which stumble at the [word], being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 1 Peter 2:7‑8.

1 Peter 1:23 (KJV) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the [word] of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the [word] of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the [word] which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 2:1 (KJV) Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the [word], that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord gracious. 1 Pt. 1:23‑25; 2:1f.

James 1:21 (KJV) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted [word], which is able to save your souls. James 1:21.

James 1:18 (KJV) Of his own will begat he us with the [word] of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1:18.

Hebrews 13:7 (KJV) Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the [word] of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of conversation. Hebrews 13:7.

Hebrews 11:3 (KJV) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the [word] of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:3.

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) For the [word] of God quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebews 4:12.

Hebrews 1:3 (KJV) Who being the brightness of glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the [word] of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:3

Titus 2:5 (KJV) discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the [word] of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:5.

Titus 1:9 (KJV) Holding fast the faithful [word] as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Titus 1:9.

2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV) Preach the [word]; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn awayears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2 Timothy 4:2‑5.

2 Timothy 2:9 (KJV) Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, unto bonds; but the [word] of God is not bound. 2 Timothy 2:9.

1 Timothy 5:17 (KJV) Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the [word] and doctrine. 1 Timothy 5:17.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the [word] of God which ye heard of us, ye received not the [word] of men, but as it is in truth, the [word] of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 (KJV) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the [word] in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 1 Thessalonians 1:6.

Colossians 3:16 (KJV) Let the [word] of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16.

Philippians 2:16 (KJV) Holding forth the [word] of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Philippians 2:16.

Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the [word], Ephesians 5:27 (KJV) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26.

Ephesians 6:17 (KJV) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the [word] of God: Ephesians 6:17.

Ephesians 1:13 (KJV) In whom ye also , after that ye heard the [word] of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13.

2 Corinthians 5:19 (KJV) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the [word] of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19.

2 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the [word] of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:2.

2 Corinthians 2:17 (KJV) For we are not as many, which corrupt the [word] of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:17.

Romans 10:8 (KJV) But what saith it? The [word] is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the [word] of faith, which we preach; Romans 10:8.

Acts 20:32 (KJV) And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the [word] of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32.

Acts 19:20 (KJV) So mightily grew the [word] of God and prevailed. Acts 19:20

Acts 17:10 (KJV) And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming went into the synagogue of the Jews. Acts 17:11 (KJV) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the [word] with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:10‑11.

Acts 13:48 (KJV) And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the [word] of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 13:49 (KJV) And the [word] of the Lord was published throughout all the region. Acts 13:48‑49.

Acts 13:26 (KJV) Men brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the [word] of this salvation sent. Acts 13:26.

Acts 12:24 (KJV) But the [word] of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:24

Acts 11:1 (KJV) And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the [word] of God. Acts 11:1.

Acts 10:36 (KJV) The [word] which sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Acts 10:37 (KJV) That [word], (I say), ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; Acts 10:36‑37.

Acts 8:25 (KJV) And they, when they had testified and preached the [word] of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. Acts 8:25.

Acts 8:4 (KJV) Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the [word]. Acts 8:4.

Acts 6:7 (KJV) And the [word] of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7.

Acts 4:29 (KJV) And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy [word], Acts 4:30 (KJV) By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. Acts 4:31 (KJV) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the [word] of God with boldness. Acts 4:29‑31.

Acts 2:41 (KJV) Then they that gladly received his [word] were baptized: and the same day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41.

John 17:20 (KJV) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their [word]; John 17:21 (KJV) That they all may be one; as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:20‑21.

John 17:17 (KJV) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy [word] is truth. John 17:17.
John 17:14 (KJV) I have given them thy [word]; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John 17:14.
John 17:6 (KJV) I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy [word]. John 17:6.

John 15:25 (KJV) But , that the [word] might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. John 15:25.

John 15:3 (KJV) Now ye are clean through the [word] which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3.

John 14:24 (KJV) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the [word] which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. John 14:24.

John 12:47 (KJV) And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. John 12:48 (KJV) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the [word] that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. John 12:47‑48.

John 10:35 (KJV) If he called them gods, unto whom the [word] of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; John 10:35.

John 8:37 (KJV) I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my [word] hath no place in you. John 8:37.

John 8:31 (KJV) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my [word], are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:31.

John 5:38 (KJV) And ye have not his [word] abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. John 5:38.

John 5:24 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my [word], and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24.

John 4:41 (KJV) And many more believed because of his own [word]; John 4:41.

John 2:22 (KJV) When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the [word] which Jesus had said. John 2:22.

John 1:14 (KJV) And the [Word] was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14.

John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the [Word], and the [Word] was with God, and the [Word] was God. John 1:1.

Luke 24:19 (KJV) And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and [word] before God and all the people: Luke 24:19.

Luke 12:10 (KJV) And whosoever shall speak a [word] against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. Luke 12:10.

Luke 11:27 (KJV) And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. Luke 11:28 (KJV) But he said, Yea rather, blessed they that hear the [word] of God, and keep it. Luke 11:27‑28.
Luke 10:39 (KJV) And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his [word]. Luke 10:39.

Luke 8:21 (KJV) And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the [word] of God, and do it. Luke 8:21.

Luke 7:7 (KJV) Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a [word], and my servant shall be healed. Luke 7:7.

Luke 5:5 (KJV) And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy [word] I will let down the net. Luke 5:5.

Luke 5:1 (KJV) And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the [word] of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, Luke 5:1.

Luke 4:32 (KJV) And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his [word] was with power. Luke 4:32.

Luke 1:37 (KJV) For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:38 (KJV) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy [word]. And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:37.

Luke 1:2 (KJV) Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the [word]; Luke 1:2.

Mark 7:13 (KJV) Making the [word] of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:13.

Matthew 8:26 (KJV) And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and [rebuked] the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26.

Matthew 8:16 (KJV) When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with [word], and healed all that were sick: Matthew 8:16.

Matthew 8:8 (KJV) The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the [word] only, and my servant shall be healed. Matthew 8:8.

Matthew 4:4 (KJV) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

Zechariah 12:1 (KJV) The burden of the [word] of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

Ezekiel 34:7 (KJV) Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the [word] of the LORD; Ezekiel 34:8 (KJV) I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Ezekiel 34:9 (KJV) Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the [word] of the LORD; Ezekiel 34:10 (KJV) Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. Ezekiel 34:11 (KJV) For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Ezekiel 3:16 (KJV) And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the [word] of the LORD came unto me, saying, Ezekiel 3:17 (KJV) Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the [word] at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

Jeremiah 31:10 (KJV) Hear the [word] of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd his flock. Jeremiah 31:11 (KJV) For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of stronger than he. Jeremiah 31:12 (KJV) Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

Jeremiah 23:28 (KJV) The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my [word], let him speak my [word] faithfully. What the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Jeremiah 23:29 (KJV) not my [word] like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer breaketh the rock in pieces?

Jeremiah 23:18 (KJV) For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his [word]? who hath marked his [word], and heard ? Jeremiah 23:19 (KJV) Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

Jeremiah 8:9 (KJV) The wise are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the [word] of the LORD; and what wisdom in them?

Jeremiah 6:10 (KJV) To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their earuncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the [word] of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. Jeremiah 6:11 (KJV) Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with full of days.

Jeremiah 5:13 (KJV) And the prophets shall become wind, and the [word] not in them: thus shall it be done unto them. Jeremiah 5:14 (KJV) Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this [word], behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Isaiah 66:2 (KJV) For all those hath mine hand made, and all those have been, saith the LORD: but to this will I look, to poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my [word].

Isaiah 40:8 (KJV) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the [word] of our God shall stand for ever.

Isaiah 28:13 (KJV) But the [word] of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Isaiah 5:24 (KJV) Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the [word] of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 2:3 (KJV) And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the [word] of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Proverbs 30:5 (KJV) Every [word] of God pure: he a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Proverbs 13:13 (KJV) Whoso despiseth the [word] shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Psalms 148:4‑6 (KJV) Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that above the heavens. {5} Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. {6} He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Psalms 147:15‑18 (KJV) He sendeth forth his commandment earth: his word runneth very swiftly. {16} He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. {17} He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? {18} He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, the waters flow.

Psalms 119:160‑163 (KJV) Thy word true the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments for ever. {161} SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. {162} I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. {163} I hate and abhor lying: thy law do I love.

Psalms 119:140 (KJV) Thy [word] very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Psalms 119:114 (KJV) Thou my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy [word].

Psalms 119:105 (KJV) NUN. Thy [word] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalms 119:89 (KJV) LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy [word] is settled in heaven.

Psalms 119:49‑51 (KJV) ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. {50} This my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. {51} The proud have had me greatly in derision: have I not declined from thy law.

Psalms 119:41‑43 (KJV) VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, thy salvation, according to thy word. {42} So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. {43} And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

Psalms 119:28 (KJV) My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy [word].

Psalms 119:16 (KJV) I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy [word].

Psalms 119:11 (KJV) Thy [word] have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalms 105:8 (KJV) He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the [word] he commanded to a thousand generations.

Psalms 33:6‑7 (KJV) By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. {7} He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

2 Chronicles 36:22 (KJV) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the [word] of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also in writing, saying,

2 Chronicles 34:21 (KJV) Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the [word] of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.

1 Chronicles 10:13 (KJV) So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD,against the [word] of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking of a familiar spirit, to inquire ;

1 Kings 22:19 (KJV) And he said, Hear thou therefore the [word] of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

1 Kings 17:24 (KJV) And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou a man of God, that the [word] of the LORD in thy mouth truth.

Deuteronomy 18:20 (KJV) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a [word] in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Deuteronomy 4:1‑2(KJV) Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do , that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the [word] which I command you, neither shall ye diminishfrom it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Numbers 22:35 (KJV) And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the [word] that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Numbers 15:31 (KJV) Because he hath despised the [word] of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity upon him.

Romans 10:13‑17 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. {14} How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? {15} And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! {16} But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? {17} So then faith by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:13‑17 Romans 10:13‑17.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received not the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which [effectually] worketh also in you that believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

Isaiah 55:8‑13 (KJV) For my thoughts not your thoughts, neither your ways my ways, saith the LORD. {9} For the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. {10} For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: {11} So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper whereto I sent it. {12} For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap hands. Isaiah 55:8‑12 Isaiah 55:8‑12.