Equally Boring, Insipid, and Mainstream. Triple Crown Winners - ALPB Online Discussion Group, LutherQuest (sic), and Christian News.

 

Tom Fisher - On the State of the Lutheran Church

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

This continues my previous article about Christ our good Shepherd carrying us into pastures of rest for our souls. Today I write about a real life example in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod of which I am a member. Yes many LCMS pastors, laymen, and seminary professors speak correctly but think wickedly of whom I am sharply critical. Not all pastors in LCMS are this way. Some LCMS pastors, laymen, and seminary professors are really trying to follow Christ their good shepherd. It is our duty to encourage all of them even though they are wobbly and unstable. We must help them by God's word to be strengthened. So I begin with a tiny rural LCMS congregation in a tiny little town of Golden, Illinois which I attend regularly. They use the red King James Bible hymnal. They love to sing "Dear Christians One and All Rejoice" written by Martin Luther and also "Jesus Christ Our Blessed Savior" by John Huss to name a few. Their pastor who is really trying to follow Christ recently accepted a call to North Dakota so now they are vulnerable to LCMS wolves promoting church growth business models at the expense of God's Word and Sacraments. Here is the letter I wrote to the call committee now searching for a new pastor.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church at Golden, Illinois sustained, nourished, and strengthened me with God's Word and Sacraments during the six years I cared for my mom 24 hours a day 7 days a week. That's really all I had. It was all I really needed. Christ is alive! His Word is efficacious, living, powerful, giving forgiveness of all my sins, giving deliverance from my sin, my death, my hell, and lifting all the evil of this world off of me, and giving me a peace that passes all understanding. I was full of worry, cares, fears and my soul was troubled about many things, but only one thing was needful: to listen to my gentle Shepherd the Lord Jesus Christ and to listen to and ponder His words being repeated verbatim by another gentle Shepherd, pastor Mike Grieve. Pastor Grieve obeyed Christ's command and promise to forgive my sins in the person of Christ. (St. Paul expounds on this in 2 Cor. 2:10) The Office of The Keys is Christ's command and promise to all of us, especially pastors.

"Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you: and when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted into them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. John 20:21-23

Let's not rush past these very important words of Christ. First Christ says "ye" which is plural referring to the whole church especially pastors. Secondly, Christ says 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost'. Wow this is huge!! God gives all of us, especially pastors, the Holy Ghost to forgive sins in Christ's stead. It is God the Holy Ghost who is forgiving our sins when the pastor says, (see pg. 16 Red Hymnal)

"Upon this your confession,  I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

This is precious to me, very precious! I hope it is precious to you also and that you will want your next pastor to forgive your sins in the person of Christ.

I stress the word 'forgive' because many 'pastors' fail to do this probably because they really do not believe what Luther taught and especially what Christ taught. So these smart alecks say, 'I assure' instead of 'I forgive'. It is happening here in Quincy and many LCMS pastors speak correctly but think wickedly. I want you to be ready to insist pastors repeat the words of Christ verbatim.

Now a word from Luther written to his friend Spenlein:

"I wish to know the condition of your heart, whether you have at last come to loathe your own righteousness and desire to rejoice in the righteousness of Christ and to be of good cheer because of it. For in these days the temptation to presumptuousness is very strong, particularly in those who strive with might and main to be righteous and godly and do not know of the altogether immaculate righteousness of God which is freely given us in Christ. As a result of this they are searching for something good in themselves until they become confident that they can pass muster before God as people who are properly adorned with virtuous and meritorious deeds, all of which is impossible. While you were with us, you held this opinion, or rather this error, just as I did. For my part, I am still wrestling with this error and am not quite rid of it yet. Therefore my dear brother, learn Christ - Christ crucified. Learn to sing praises to Him and to despair utterly of your own works...Ponder this love of His, and you will realize His sweetest consolation. For if we must achieve rest of conscience by our own toil and worry, for what purpose did He die? Therefore you are to find peace in Him by a hearty despair of yourself and your own works. And now that He has received you, made your sins His and His righteousness yours, learn also from Him firmly to believe this, as behooves you; for cursed is everyone who does not believe it " (Martin Luther, St Louis Ed., XXIa, 20f)

Your next pastor can't do it alone. So you must support him, encourage him to do and teach exactly what Luther said in above quote. Are these words of Luther precious to you? They should be! They must be precious to you if you want to be Christian. Works righteousness, and reasoning is around all our necks. None of us are immune from slipping, but God has saved us from this in our baptism into Christ.

So let's go to the Jordan river where Christ is baptized with our sins and we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. This blessed exchange is the forever innocent Christ being clothed with our sins and us sinners being clothed in the entire Christ and His righteousness. 

"Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleasèd." (Luke 3:21,22)

This is very very precious to me! The same things happened to me at my infant baptism:

*Heaven was opened

*God the Holy Ghost was given to me so I believe in Christ and God's Word and persistently cling to it.

*God clothed me in the righteousness of Christ (without my works)

*Christ is wrapped in all my sins 

Reasoning can't grasp this. Faith holds firmly on to it. God makes me His child in baptism.

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."(Gal. 3:26,27)

Time has gotten away from me. It's already time to do chores. I must make a few more important points.

The Lord's Supper is medicine for my soul.

Now a word from Martin Luther:

"So in this matter, you must above all else take heed to your heart, that you believe the words of Christ, and admit their truth, when He says to you and to all, 'This is my blood, a new testament, by which I bequeath to you forgiveness of all sins and eternal life.'" (Martin Luther, LW, vol. 35, pg 88)

Holy Communion is Christ's last will and testament bequeathing to you forgiveness of all sins and eternal life. I firmly believe this. It is very very precious to me!!

"That little word 'testament' is a short summary of all God's wonder and grace fulfilled for us in Christ." (Martin Luther, LW, vol 35, pg. 84)

Yet there are many smart aleck 'pastors' who say 'covenant' instead of 'testament' during the words of institution. The word 'covenant' is Calvinistic. It gives nothing. To support their heresy these smart aleck 'pastors' state that their Bible says 'covenant' not 'testament'. Of course it does. These heretics always use modern corrupted Bibles such as the ESV, NIV, NKJV, RSV to name a few. There is only one Bible that says 'testament' : the Bible God chose for the reformation: the King James Bible. This is Luther's Bible in English. 

It is a terrible sin to change Christ's last will and testament into an empty Calvinistic 'covenant'. These smart aleck pastors, laymen, and seminary professors really don't believe what Luther said and especially what Christ Himself said. They are above Luther, Chemnitz, and especially above Christ Himself. Chemnitz, the second Luther, has harsh words against all of these high powered smart alecks:

"For since Christ instituted His supper in the form of a testament, it is also not allowed at another time to distort even a man's covenant, if it is confirmed, by adding or subtracting. How much greater sin it is therefore, to change or mutilate the testament of the Son of God." (Martin Chemnitz, Ministry Word, and Sacrament, CPH, 1981, pg. 122)

So, I hope your next pastor will cherish and adhere to Christ's Word 'testament' during the words of institution and not change it into an empty Calvinistic 'covenant' that gives nothing.

What is the church?

* A business that thrives on advertising and business strategies like Knapheide, and FS?

*A little gathering of Christians who believe God's Word and live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and insist their pastor repeats the words of Christ verbatim as found in the red King James hymnal liturgy:

**'I forgive you - Office of the Keys

**'This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you for the remission of sin.

**Baptism into Christ: clothes us in the entire Christ and his righteousness..

**Justification by faith in Jesus Christ without works.

   -Not universalism (Everyone is already forgiven       without faith in Christ: objective justification)

   -Not synergism (man must make a decision to accept everyone is already forgiven without faith in Christ: subjective justification)

So I am a genuine Christian who holds to the King James Bible, the red hymnal, the old 1943 King James catechism. Are you a true Christian? 

I think we need a reformation that takes us back to the the King James Bible that worked wonders during the reformation and especially now!!!!! The corrupt  Bibles (ESV, NKJV, RSV, NIV etc) and  corrupt catechisms, and business model church growth all need to be cast aside unless of course you want to be a smart aleck heretic  instead of a Christian.

Pastor Jackson, please publish freely as you wish and add your own comments freely as much as you would like.

I began memorizing, reading, and studying the King James Bible in eighth grade and continue to do so today over 50 years later.  God's Word is efficacious, living, and powerful in a still, quiet and peaceful sort of way. It reached into the depths of my soul so I could later accept Luther's correct teachings. He became my trusted friend and pastor as I read his writings and continue to do so today. Thank you Pastor Jackson for helping me continue to study Luther's sermons by your many books, and your web site!

 

Tom Fisher

"Our church will grow because of the Unstuck program. Wheee! Oh no!"

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Pentecost Wednesday - The Bread of Life

 

Complete - Pentecost Wednesday Sermon

I. ON FAITH, AND COMING TO CHRIST.

1. This Gospel text teaches exclusively of the Christian faith, and awakens that faith in us; just as John, throughout his whole Gospel, simply instructs us how to trust in Christ the Lord. This faith alone, when based upon the sure promises of God, must save us; as our text clearly explains. And in the light of it all, they must become fools who have taught us other ways to become godly. All that human ingenuity can devise, be it as holy and as luminous as it may, must tumble to the ground if man be saved in God’s way — in a way different from that which man himself plans. Man may forever do as he will, he can never enter heaven unless God takes the first step with his Word, which offers him divine grace and enlightens his heart so as to get upon the right way.

2. This right way, however, is the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever desires to seek another way, as the great multitudes venture to do by means of their own works, has already missed the right way; for Paul says to the Galatians: “If righteousness is through the Law,” that is, through the works of the Law, “then Christ died for naught.” Galatians 2:21. Therefore I say man must fall upon this Gospel and be broken to pieces and in deep consciousness lie prostrate, like a man that is powerless, unable to move hand or foot. He must only lie motionless and cry: Almighty God, merciful Father, now help me! I cannot help myself. Christ, my Lord, do help now, for with only my own effort all is lost! Thus, in the light of this cornerstone, which is Christ, everyone becomes as nothing; as Christ says of himself in Luke 20:17-18, when he asks the Pharisees and scribes: “What then is this that is written. The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner? Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.” Psalm 118:22. Therefore, we must either fall upon this stone, Christ, in all our inability and helplessness, rejecting our own merits, and be broken to pieces, or he will forever crush us by his severe sentence and judgment. It is better that we fall upon him than that he should fall upon us. For this reason the Lord says in this Gospel: “No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.”

KJV John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Star of Stage, Screen, Television, and the Internet - Charli the Patterdale Terrier

 

Charli's Homecoming

May 26, 2023

Staff - Gregory L. Jackson

Link to 

Charlie the Patterdale Terrier

More Than 44,000 Views of The Bethany Hymnal Blog

 

The Lutheran Hymnal remains a great gathering of wonderful hymns, and Norma A. Boeckler has created beautiful graphics for most of them. Sing along with this tune for Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand, click Alford.

Many of us can read the notes and sing along with a new or old melody - results may vary. The Bethany Hymnal allows for having the lyrics, the melody, and an illustration for most hymns. As time allows, more information about the authors and the hymn itself will be added.

I enjoy using YouTube for hymns because many of us have one tune or another in our minds. The alternatives are good to know.

Printing hymnals is a great money-maker for the denominations, but their expensive boat anchors keep getting worse and worse. Well over 44,000 views for The Bethany Hymnal Blog suggests that people would like quality instead of high cost and weight.

Hymn - Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand - TLH #476

 

"Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand"
by Henry Alford, 1810-1871

Tune linked - Alford

1. Ten thousand times ten thousand,
In sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints
Throng up the steeps of light.
'Tis finished, all is finished,
Their fight with death and sin;
Fling open wide the golden gates
And let the victors in.

2. What rush of alleluias
Fills all the earth and sky!
What ringing of a thousand harps
Proclaims the triumph nigh!
O day, for which creation
And all its tribes were made;
O joy, for all its former woes
A thousandfold repaid!

3. Oh, then what raptured greetings
On Canaan's happy shore;
What knitting severed friendships up
Where partings are no more!
Then eyes with joy shall sparkle
That brimmed with tears of late;
Orphans no longer fatherless
Nor widows desolate.

4. Bring near Thy great salvation,
Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect,
Then take Thy power and reign.
Appear, Desire of Nations;
Thine exiles long for home.
Show in the heavens Thy promised sign;
Thou Prince and Savior, come!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #476
Text: Revelation 7:17
Author: Henry Alford, 1867
Composer: James B. Dykes, 1875
Tune: "Alford"

Hymn - Savior, Sprinkle Many Nations - TLH #510

 

"Savior, Sprinkle Many Nations"
by Arthur C. Coxe, 1818-1896, stanza 1
by W. Gustave Polack, 1890-1950, stanzas 2, 3

Tune linked here - O du Liebe

1. Savior, sprinkle many nations,
Fruitful let Thy sorrows be;
By Thy pains and consolations
Draw the Gentiles unto Thee.
Of Thy Cross the wondrous story,
Be it to the nations told;
Let them see Thee in Thy glory
And Thy mercy manifold.

2. Let to mortals all be given
Thee to know and life to gain,
Thee, the very God of heaven,
Thee, the Man for sinners slain.
Speak Thou hope to ev'ry mortal
Thro' the Gospel, sweet and blest;
Lead them thro' Thy kingdom's portal
To eternal peace and rest.

3. Great the need in ev'ry nation,
Dense the darkness of sin's night;
Let Thy Spirit bring salvation,
Love's pure flame, and wisdom's light.
Give the Word, Thy preachers strengthen
With the prophets' pow'r of old,
Help them Zion's cords to lengthen,
All Thy wand'ring sheep to fold.

Hymn #510
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Isaiah 54:2
Author stanza 1: Arthur C. Coxe, 1851
Author stanza 2, 3: W. Gustave Polack, 1927
Tune: "O du Liebe"
1st Published in: Musikalischer Christenschatz
Town: Basel, 1745

Hymn - Savior,Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise - TLH #47

 

"Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise"
by John Ellerton, 1826-1893

Tune linked here - Ellers

1. Savior, again to Thy dear name we raise
With one accord our parting hymn of praise.
Once more we bless Thee ere our worship cease,
Then, lowly bending, wait Thy word of peace.

2. Grant us Thy peace upon our homeward way;
With Thee began, with Thee shall end, the day;
Guard Thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,
That in this house have called upon Thy name.

3. Grant us Thy peace, Lord, through the coming night;
Turn Thou for us its darkness into light.
From harm and danger keep Thy children free,
For dark and light are both alike to Thee.

4. Grant us Thy peace throughout our earthly life,
Our balm in sorrow and our stay in strife;
Then, when Thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,
Call us, O Lord, to Thine eternal peace.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #47
Text: Psalm 110:2
Author: John Ellerton, 1866
Tune: "Ellers"
Composer: Edward J. Hopkins, 1869

Hymn - Our Heavenly Father, Hear - TLH #455

"Our Heavenly Father, Hear"
by James Montgomery, 1771-1854

Tune linked here - St. Bride

1. Our heav'nly Father, hear
The prayer we offer now.
Thy name be hallowed far and near;
To Thee all nations bow.

2. Thy kingdom come; Thy will
On earth be done in love
As saints and seraphim fulfil
Thy holy will above.

3. Our daily bread supply
While by Thy word we live.
The guilt of our iniquity
Forgive as we forgive.

4. From dark temptation's power,
From Satan's wiles, defend.
Deliver in the evil hour
And guide us to the end.

5. Thine shall forever be
Glory and power divine;
The scepter, throne, and majesty
Of heaven and earth are Thine.
Hymn #455
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Luke 11:2-4
Author: James Montgomery, 1835
Composer: Samuel Howard, 1762
Tune: "St. Bride"

Daily Luther Sermon Quote,Pentecost Tuesday - Second Sermon. Three Classes of Preachers - 1, Thieves and Murderers. 2, Porters of the Fold. 3, In Whom Alone Christ Is Found.

 

Second Sermon - Second Sermon: Three Classes of Preachers; or How We Enter the Sheepfold Through Christ and the Sheep Hear.

The First Class of Preachers - 

Thieves and Murderers

7. Now, these destructive thieves and murderers are the great multitude; they are always in the majority in the world. And they cannot be different since they are out of Christ. The world desires such wolf preaching, and is not worthy of anything better since it will not hear nor respect Christ.

Hence it is that there are so few true Christians and faithful preachers, always outnumbered by the members of the false church. Teachers and pupils mislead one another; as Moses says, the drunkards draw the thirsty after them and lead them to ruin. Deuteronomy 29:19. But Christ on the other hand comforts the true Church with his counsel to his dear sheep to guard against the false teachers and not to listen to, nor follow, them; as he says later, in plainer words: “My sheep hear my voice, but they hear not the voice of strangers.”

The Second Class of Preachers -

Porters of the Fold

11. These teachings in themselves do not oppose Christ, but they who make use of them to teach the people to trust in themselves and in salvation through the works of the Law, are thieves and murderers like the others; for they also hinder and restrain the sheep from coming to Christ.

12. But if these preachers are to rightly serve, faithfully and helpfully, they must not themselves climb into the sheepfold like the others, nor attempt to be shepherds; they must be simply porters and servants of the true shepherd, Christ, keeping the sheep in shelter and safety and not allowing strangers to break in upon them, and preparing for and giving place to the shepherd, who himself leads them out to pasture and in. Further, their office is appointed not to feed themselves, but to open to the shepherd; then the sheep hear the shepherd himself and are fed by him.

The Third Class of Preachers -

In Whom Christ Alone Is Found

17. Now, where the door is opened to the shepherd and he enters, the sheep receive comfort and help; as Christ says at the lose of our Gospel lesson: “I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” For as Christ rules, guides and leads them, feeds and keeps them, he works in them through his Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, and they grow daily, becoming richer in knowledge, stronger in faith. in consolation, in patience, having victory in suffering and other trials, and of themselves bear fruit, teaching, serving and helping others. And thus the office and work of the shepherd, whose own the sheep are, go on continually, when he himself receives the sheep and works his will in them, which he does by his voice, that is, the external Word and preaching.

18. Therefore, Christ calls himself the door by which the sheep go in and out. For, as he is the shepherd and also the sermon through which he comes to us and by which he is made known, so faith in our hearts, by which his power and work are experienced, is simply Christ dwelling and working in us, making us in our life and work complete in him. So all goodness goes forth from him and is received through faith in him; we are pleasing to God only because of him, and are not dependent upon anything else, neither have we comfort from any other source.

...

34. Here are deposed from their office and power those who wish to rule in the Church and yet do not teach Christ’s Words but their own commands, and who require the people to obey them as bishops occupying the appointed seats of authority in the Church. So it is the duty of Christ’s sheep to follow Christ’s judgment, holding such teachers as dethroned, condemned and excommunicated from the Church of Christ, and fleeing from them as accursed. And they who wish to remain godly, and Christ’s true sheep, should never yield this power and fight of judgment, nor permit themselves to indorse, accept or follow what others may decree, contrary to its teaching, be they pope, bishop or councils.

Would Someone Explain the ELCA Graphic?

 

Someone wearing an alb has bright red paint in the shape of a hand on her face coupled with a concerned look. That strikes me as hammy and disrespectful, as if formal wear for church worship can be used as a bulletin board for causes. Note Liz Eaton's first tenuous step in that direction, below.

 

May is now designed for a new cause in ELCA, though they might want to include the unborn on their growing agenda list. Their favorite insurance company, Thrivent, is gung ho for abortion on demand. Their LCMS-WELS-ELS bootlickers have no problems with that. 

One wonders why the ELS-ELCA-WELS-LCMS are separate when they are shrinking faster than ever.

Wayne Mueller denied in print that WELS had anything to do with Church Growth, the message being "We love it!"

Wayne's son Adam was given a national (for WELS) speaking role as an expert in education, after the parish drag picnic he led with children present and helping out - way ahead of the radical Left.

 This statement is all one needs to know about the perfidy of WELS and its decline. 

Note that he, perhaps a council member, was wearing Adam's dress.

WELS is not that far from ELCA's agenda. The Wisconsin Synod is actually ahead of ELCA in their enjoyment of drag. All the photos I published earlier were from WELS, not borrowed from some hidden cameras. 

Memorial Day 2023

 

Let's Hear from the Peanut Gallery - Objective Faithless Justification

 

The Scaer graphic seems to have set off the short-fused "Father." The quotation is something Scaer published via the Ft. Wayne vanity press or CPH.

Correction - thousands of posts, millions of views - they add up.

People ask me about the LCMS-ELS-WELS obsession with Objective Faithless Justification. Some chaps below did not know there was something other than their precious Universal Objective Justification, NewSpeak from Purple Papal Palace.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Pentecost Monday - John 3:16-21

 

Link to Complete Sermon - Pentecost Monday. John 3:16-21. Christ as Mediator and Savior and his Judgment on the World and Believers

I. HOW CHRIST PRESENTS HIMSELF IN THIS SERMON AS MEDIATOR AND SAVIOR.

1. This is another of the true Gospel lessons, such as John is accustomed to write; for he writes in a way to make him alone worthy the name of an evangelist. Now, as you have often heard, the Gospel teaches nothing but that one must learn to know Christ alone, and so the Holy Spirit teaches nothing more. Therefore, examine only the words themselves; they. are weighty, precious and comforting beyond measure. First Christ says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

2. Now, notice that Christ represents the Father to us as none else than the all-loving and magnetic one, and he brings us through himself to the Father. Everything Christ does tends to help us to acquire a loving confidence in the Father. To simply fear the Father confers no benefit; but to bear to him a companionable love of rare quality makes us blessed.

Now, Christ says here, the Father so loved the world that he gave his beloved child for the world, and instituted for us a way to come to him; that way is Christ. I have often said that faith alone is not sufficient before God, but the price of redemption must also be in evidence. The Turk and Jew, too, believe in God, but without means and mediator.

3. What is now the cost of redemption? Today’s Gospel points this out.

The Holy Spirit teaches everywhere that we do not possess the Father except through a mediator, and he will not allow us to approach the Father without one. Now, the schools teach us to approach the Father without a mediator, through our own good works. That means to reject Christ as a mediator, as Jeremiah tells us did the godless, who thought and said: Let us send wood to him as his food, and we will root him out of the land, and there will be no remembrance of his name. But their plans did not result as they intended they should. Therefore, let us never join them. It would be at the peril of our lives, for we should be despising the priceless sacrifice which the Father made for us. But let us thank the Father for ordering it as he has, and placing between us one who is God and equal with God, and also man, on a level with man; for we are human and he is God. Where God and man oppose each other, man meets with instant destruction, for he cannot stand against God. God has intervened by placing as mediator one who is alike true God and true man. Through him we are to come to the Father; with the price we can pay nothing is accomplished.

 The Path To Understanding Justification by Faith

The Day of Pentecost 2023. The Holy Spirit Takes From the Father and Son, Teaching Us.

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Day of Pentecost, 2023

Vimeo Link to the 

Day of Pentecost Service

The melodies are linked in the hymn name. 

The lyrics are linked in the hymn number.

• The melody site is linked here.
• TLH Lyrics are linked on the Bethany Lutheran Hymnal Blog

The Hymn #1         Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty    
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: Hallelujah!

Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm. Let God arise; let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created: 

and Thou renewest the face of the earth. Hallelujah!

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful: 

and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.

The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 224   Luther - Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord 

The Holy Spirit Takes 

From the Father and Son, Teaching Us

The Communion Hymn #227       Come, Holy Ghost, in Love 
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 #309       Kingo - O Jesus Blessed Lord

In Our Prayers

• Sarah Buck is undergoing diagnostic tests and treatment. 
• The flowers are in honor and in memory of our soldiers who gave their lives for our country.
• Prayers continue for the Way, Shrader and Cruz families, and for those with metabolic and stress disorders.
• Ten Super Large and ten large KJVs were delivered Saturday to be distributed.

KJV Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

 From Norma A. Boeckler

KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 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. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Pentecost Monday Text
KJV John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The Holy Spirit Takes 

From the Father and Son, Teaching Us

KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Before His death, Jesus predicted that He would leave them and give them unlimited expansion of His Kingdom. Because Christianity is world-wide, we take for granted its spread, but this started from the Apostles taking Jesus' Gospel method plus the groups and individual converts from Jesus' own ministry. The wording of many healing miracles suggest to me that those individuals were well known to the early Church.

One trouble people have with early Christian history is the lack of details and history of what the Apostles did. One cause is the ancient artifacts crumbling and disappearing. The other cause is the emphasis upon Jesus' work and teaching, which is so important that our normal concept of the news - even when honestly reported - is overshadowed, as it should be. People become acquainted with the verses and overlook how important a few words can be. 

If there are difficulties, the rationalists dismiss the story. If the story is well known, the rationalists dismiss the story for being too good to be true. 

The Trinity (which the rationalists refuse to acknowledge) is clearly found in this one paragraph. The Father and Son will abide in the believer, because the Spirit has brought the Father and Son to the individual. This explains several things to use, which are vital for the Christian believer.

People know the Father and Son, their true characteristics through the Spirit. That is very concise - this happens through the baptism of babies, plus teaching and preaching to those who are older and already baptized. Every Christian believer has the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is always active in the Word of God, so we learn about the Father and Son.

Westcott and Hort proved how dangerous it was for them to dabble with the Greek New Testament text. Wescott believed that the whole world would eventually absorb Christ and make everyone part of a universal truth. That is clearly against the Scriptures, which he had a major role in corrupting. Hort, an active fanatic and self-made expert, favored Mary over Jesus and said so. That is a good example of "the Spirit without the Word," someone making "christian" claims without the Scriptures backing up the claims. Tischendorf, Westcott, and Hort gave the world the utterly corrupt Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament of today. All your modern New Testaments are based on the denial of the miraculous, the divine, and faith in Jesus - yea even the Beck Bible and the "Brug" Bible. Everyone who buys an RSV, ESV, or NRSV is paying money to the Drag-Marxist National Council of Churches. So, yes, it does matter.

God promised that He would always preserve His Word, so those who think otherwise despise the Word, no matter how many titles of dignities they have, including the Fuller DMin.

Most importantly, The Father and Son abide in the believer through the work of the Holy Spirit. The simple, basic word "abide" means to remain, not just to stop by. Those who lose their trust and become apathetic about Jesus Christ no longer abide. Because we are fickle and easily distracted, we need to continue in the Word and give God's Word due honor in giving us truth and guiding our way.

24 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. 

There is a direct relationship between loving Jesus Christ and keeping (guarding) His sayings. The word for keeping is also used for guarding a prison or guarding a treasure. It is not casual and flippant, temporary and used only when convenient.

Everything from Jesus is from the Father as well. They teach and act in harmony, the Spirit teaching us about this Father/Son relationship.

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The great puzzle is solved. How can the Fourth Gospels be in harmony with each other. People cannot get a small book done without errors and contradictions. And how can hundreds of predictions in the Old Testament come true in the New Testament? 

The answer has been given time after time, but ignored by the "great and wise." The Spirit helped the Apostles and Paul with the divine message. The Spirit also inspired all other writers of the Bible. Many struggle to make their rationalistic notions fit the Bible, or make the Bible's new editions fit their notions. The Scriptures are eternal. Reliable Bibles give us the confidence to say, "This is the Word  of God."

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 

Peace is not the cause but the result of faith in Jesus Christ. Faith gives us access to God's grace through His Son, and that is the source of peace - God's absolving of our sins because Jesus atoned for them. We strangely turn that around and yell, "Calm down!" at people - which is not calming. Or - "Stop being so nervous" which is equally ineffective. A lot of things make us anxious and worried; dwelling on them does not help. Starting with these Promises from Jesus Christ is always good. What God promises is always good in the long run, even when it looks hopeless at first. 

Loving the Savior is a sure way of leveraging blessings, the ones which really matter. I arranged for 10 more Super Giant KJVs. While I was telling Big John that, he said, "I met a lady..." She has a prison ministry for women? "Yes, I need medium KJVs for her two groups." I said, tentatively, "Two groups?

He tells me the stories of people finally having Bibles they can read with the Large Print. "Now I can read a Bible," he quotes one person saying, his face beaming. 

How can there not be blessings from that?