Daily Luther Sermon Quote - The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity - The Pharisee and the Publican. A Picture and an Example of a True Saint."Hence the beginning of goodness or godliness is not in us, but in the Word of God."

 

Complete Sermon for Trinity 11 - The Pharisee and the Publican, A Picture and an Example of a True Saint

1. Here again we have a picture and an example of the divine judgment on saints and good people. Two extraordinary persons are presented to us in this Gospel; one thoroughly good and truly pious; and one hypocritically pious. But before we take up the example and consider the terrible sentence, we must first notice that Luke here makes the impression as though righteousness came by works. For Luke is most accustomed to do this, as when we at present preach that faith alone saves, he observes that people are led to desire only to believe, and to neglect the power and fruit of faith. This John also does in his Epistle and James, where they show that faith cannot exist without works.

Thus Luke, in the beginning of his introduction, would speak as follows: I see indeed that many have preached how faith alone saves, by which they have brought the people to strive for a fictitious faith; hence I must also speak of works by which they can be assured of their faith, and prove it to the people by their acts. Consequently it sounds as though Luke everywhere taught that righteousness came by works; as you have recently heard: Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven; and, make unto yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness. And here it appears as though the publican had obtained his goodness by praying and smiting his breast. So this Gospel appears as though we should become good or pious by our works.

2. Now you have heard that a man, before he can do anything good, must by all means first be good. For the truth must always stand: “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit;” and again, “An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit.” Thus a man must first be good, before he can do good. So he also firmly concludes that the publican smote his breast, which proves the conclusion, that he had been good.

3. This has taken place and has been written to the end that we should open our eyes and not judge the people according to their outward appearance. To do this in this instance it is necessary to examine the hearts of both, and not judge according to mere external works. For when the heart is good, the whole man is good. For if I judged the publican according to his works, my judgment would soon be false. For nothing appears in him but sin. Again, if I judge the hypocrite or Pharisee according to his works, I will also miss the mark. For he stands at the holy place, makes the best prayer imaginable, for he praises and thanks God with grand works, he fasts, gives the tenth of all his goods, harms no one; in short, everything, both outwardly and inwardly, appears well with him.

4. As he judges, all men judge; no one can condemn such an upright and virtuous life. Who dare say that fasting is not good; or that to praise God and give everyone what we owe them is evil? When I see a priest, monk, or nun with such apparent noble conduct, I regard them as pious. Who can say otherwise? Hence if I am to judge whether this one is good and the other evil, I must be able to look into the hearts of both. But I cannot see into the heart, and must make the proper distinction from their works, as Christ says: “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20.

5. He speaks of the publican as though he must have previously heard a word from God that touched his heart so that he believed it and thus became pious, as St. Paul says, Romans 10:17: “So faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” When the Word falls into the heart, then man becomes pure and good. But the Evangelist does not indicate that he now first heard the Gospel here, but that he heard it somewhere, it matters not where. For he says: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” This knowledge is above the powers of reason. And yet it must previously have been known to him that God is merciful, gracious and friendly to all those who confess their sins, who call upon him and long for grace. As he heard that God is gracious by virtue of his very nature, to all those who humble themselves and seek comfort in him. But to preach thus is always the pure Gospel.

6. Hence the beginning of goodness or godliness is not in us, but in the Word of God. God must first let his Word sound in our hearts by which we learn to know and to believe him, and afterwards do good works.

The Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 2023

 

Tenth Sunday after Trinity

Bethany Lutheran Church

Pastor Gregory Jackson

Vimeo Link for Trinity 10, 2023

The Hymn # 376                                Rock of Ages

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

As for me, I will call upon God; 

and He shall hear my voice: 

He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me.

God shall hear and afflict them, even He that abideth of old: 

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.

Psalm. Give ear to my prayer, O God: and hide not Thyself from my supplication.

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

Collect

O God, who declarest Thine almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity, mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy gracious promises and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual     

  

Gradual

Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of the eye: 

hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.

V. Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence: 

let Thine eyes behold the things that are equal. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. O Lord God of my salvation, 

I have cried day and night before Thee. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

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

The Sermon Hymn #239         Come Thou Almighty King

The Communion Hymn # 246     Holy, Holy, Holy                   

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 #447                    Fight the Good Fight

• Diagnosis and treatment - Sarah Buck, Lori Howell; Ranger Bob had artery surgery for each leg Friday and is recovering, aiming for a skin graft.
• Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris. Kermit and Marie Way, Chris Shrader.  
• Included in our prayers - those suffering from emotional stress and those with metabolic disorders.

KJV 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

KJV Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. 47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Tenth Sunday After Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God, who by Thy Holy Ghost hast revealed unto us the gospel of Thy Son, Jesus Christ: We beseech Thee so to quicken our hearts that we may sincerely receive Thy word, and not make light of it, or hear it without fruit, as did Thy people, the unbelieving Jews, but that we may fear Thee and daily grow in faith in Thy mercy, and finally obtain eternal salvation, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The Prediction - Jesus Mourning

KJV Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

The Fall of Jerusalem, about 40 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, was one of the great calamities of history. The defenses of the city were so great that historians considered it a miracle that Rome was able to break through. The effect was similar to our cities when a major storm is coming. The food stores are emptied of all foods in a few hours, hoarding (or preparing) just in case.

The citizens had all the fresh water they needed, but they were so afraid of starvation that they steal each other's food. Some were so starved that they ate leather shoe laces.

43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 

The destruction was great, and the great constructions were only left standing to show how great the city had been. Herod's Temple was destroyed by the soldiers looking for hidden treasures. The trophies were gathered up and displayed in Rome itself. The Empire struck back, held a Triumph, and made coin stamped (in Latin) "Judaea Capta - Judah Defeated."

KJV Isaiah 3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

Survivors were so plentiful that they had no value as slaves, so they were shipped away.

44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 

Three towers were left standing, just to show how great Jerusalem had been. Otherwise, the city was in ruins and burned.

The Present

45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Jesus predicted the future, mourning its utter destruction. That is where He and His family had attended worship, where He had been circumcised, and where He had spoken with the elders, astonishing them. Corruption had increased after His crucifixion and and resurrection. The evil element had multiplied in their excitement over crucifying Jesus.

47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

The so-called scholars have found many ways to move attention away from the actual events of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Although the material is there, the visible Christian Church has moved away from the facts that make this lesson so compelling. 

1. The Gospel of John has been downplayed to the extent that the "scholars" take away the authorship of the Apostle John and thereby deny its Apostolic truth.
2. The raising of Lazarus is therefore ignored since it is unique in John.
3. The plot based on Jesus accompanied by Lazarus is forgotten. John 11 through 12.
4. One older couple said, decades ago, "Where did you get this? We never heard this in our lives!"

As I have taught so often in this congregation and before, Lazarus was the last straw - as they say - because he entered Jerusalem with Jesus. Lazarus was the proof that a man famous and rich in this area, well known, had been dead for days and was raised by Jesus, the Son of God, Messiah, Savior, Son of David. The stories from earlier miracles were easily confirmed by the entire Jerusalem populace. "Faith comes by hearing..."

KJV John 12:17-19 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Not aware of the dangers that were ahead, the Jewish leaders felt that they could reduce the risk from Rome by eliminating Jesus and His followers. The people had faith in Jesus Christ because they saw the miracle of Lazarus, followed by the greatest miracle, the resurrection of the Son of God. 

Who could have known that matters would soon become much worse in Jerusalem. A group of Zealots were able to defeat the small garrison of Roman troops. The future emperor Titus came with a  massive army and slaves to quash the rebellion (70 AD) and to wreck the defiant city.

We Are Like Jerusalem, Walls Surrounded

Many grave errors have piled up because the basic principles of the US Constitution have been ignored. Besides that, we have turned into another version of Imperial Rome, where the only things that count are fun and games. 

People are shocked at the overwhelming amount of crime, fraud, and betrayal. 

The real story is one of faith in the Son of God, which is mocked and ignored, even though this Faith is all-powerful. As great as the resurrection of Lazarus was, the empty tomb of Christ was greater stir. Lazarus showed everyone that death had no power over the work and the miracles of God Himself. No one could have imagined the outcome. When Jesus was arrested, the disciples scattered and went to a hiding place, as if a locked room could block the officials. For the risen Lord, a door blocked by heavy timber had no effect. 

Everything taught by Jesus came to pass as He instructed the disciples and sent them out on their missions. Every bridge has names in brass posted. They were there when it was commissioned - the same with libraries, schools, and other monuments of mankind. The Apostles set out to take the Gospel as far as they could, and their names barely count in the New Testament. Yet they, in faith, took the Gospel to the frontiers, where it was copied and spread and maintained in many different languages - total dedication. They lost their lives doing this and left an impression - not of their heroics - but of the Word of God itself. 

I was plagued by Acts writing about "the Word grew."

Acts 6:7 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.

12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

Correct me if I am wrong - but this means Jesus the Savior spread out across the various cities and nations because someone was teaching, preaching, and transmitting in writing the Word of God. Jesus as the Word, in both natures - divine and human - goes wherever the revealed Word is believed.

The two natures are in us through our faith, which means not only that the Spirit is with the Word but also that Jesus Himself is that Word, as John 1:1 teaches The Word was God, and God was the Word. 

When the Word spread, Jesus Himself was there.

Sometimes I have to correct students who say things like, "When I invite Jesus into my Bible study..." Variations on that. I remind them that the Savior is always with them through the Word, through remembering, and through hearing it. Those who believe the Gospel have the Son of God in both natures.

The End

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 10 - Cleansing of the Temple - "Trust in God; and your stomach shall most certainly be provided for, and have enough..."

 

The Cleansing of the Temple - Lots of Thrivent Loot And Yet Not Enough!

Complete Luther Sermon - Luke 19:41-48. Tenth Sunday after Trinity

18. But believers in God risk all in him and transfer all things into his care, for him to do according to his pleasure, and think thus: God has given you your home and wife, you have not produced them yourself; now because they are God’s, I will entrust them all to his care, he will keep them from all harm. I must otherwise leave all at any rate, therefore I will bravely trust him with them, and for his sake give up all I have. If God wants me here, he will give me other treasures, for he has promised to give enough for this life and for the life to come. If he does not want me here, I owe him a death, which will bring me into eternal life; when he calls me, I will go trusting in his Word.

19. Whoever is not thus disposed, denies God, and must at the same time lose both, the present and the eternal life. The belly with its foul odors is our God, and prevents us from clinging to God’s Word. First, I will be certain how I shall feed, and where my supplies are. The Gospel says:

Trust in God; and your stomach shall most certainly be provided for, and have enough [without believing or trusting in it]. But if I have only five dollars they give me so much courage to think I have anyhow enough food for ten days, that I trust in such limited provisions, and do not trust God who fed me hitherto, that he will care for me to-morrow.

20. Is it not a shameful vexation or calamity that I trust in a penny that I will have something to eat to-morrow? How contemptible this carcass!

Shall a penny have more weight in my heart and give me more courage than God himself, who holds heaven and earth in his power, who gives us the air we breathe and the water we drink, who makes our corn to grow and gives us all things? It is so scandalous that it cannot be uttered, that God should not amount to as much with us as a hundred guilders. Why not think that God, who has created me, will surely feed me, if he wants me to live? If he does not want this, very well, I shall be satisfied.

21. Yes, says the stomach, I find no God in my chest! You silly donkey, who assures you that you will live tomorrow? You are not certain whether you will have a belly tomorrow, and you want to know where to find the bread and the food! Yes, you have a fine assurance! When our hearts are thus prompted, we see what a government of hell there would be on earth; yes, it would be the devil himself. Is it not a thing most abominable, that God who feeds so ninny mouths, should be held in such low esteem by me, that I will not trust him to feed me? Yea, that a guilder, thirty-eight cents, should be valued more highly than God, who pours out his treasures everywhere in rich profusion. For the world is full of God and his works, He is everywhere present with his gifts, and yet we will not trust in him, nor accept his visitation. Shame on thee, thou cursed world! What kind of a child is that, who cannot trust in God for a single day, but trusts in a guilder?

"When God sends us sects and false spirits because they are so impudent and daringly bold..."

These yahoos, some already enjoying their fiery sabbaticals, are the basis for ELS-WELS-LCMS evangelism blunders. Where's Waldo? Big spenders/promoters of the sects and false spirits were and are - David Valleskey, Waldo Werning, Frosty Bivens, Larry Otto Olson, Paul Kelm, VP James Huebner, plus the brainiac board leaders of those sects. Thrivent, AAL-LB also throw their money at these fraudsters.

For there is no greater distress and calamity than when God sends us sects and false spirits, because they are so impudent and daringly bold, that they are really to be pitied. On the other hand the Word of God is such a great treasure, that no one can sufficiently comprehend its worth. For God himself considers his treasure immensely great, and when he visits us with his grace, he earnestly desires that we should gladly and freely accept it, and does not compel us as he is able to do, but it is his will that we should gladly obey it from choice and love. For he does not wait until we come to him, but he comes first to us. He comes into the world, becomes man, serves us, dies for us, rises again from the dead, sends us his Holy Spirit, gives us his Word, and opens heaven so wide that all men can enter; besides he gives us rich promises and assurances that he will care for us in time and in eternity, here and there, and pours out into our bosoms all the fullness of his grace. Therefore the acceptable time of grace is now at hand.

Yet, we neglect it, and cast it to the winds, so that he will not and cannot give it to us.

Trinity 10 sermon

When David Valleskey, former president of the WELS seminary, gave his essay on "Spoiling the Egyptians" to the Ohio Conference, I responded, "The Jews took the jewels and precious metals, not the Egyptian garbage." He glared at me. (Note the lopsided, ambiguous smile.)

 

Let's be Frank, because Frank won't listen. The best known Lutheran sects began seeing their demise several decades ago. In fact, the demise of the mainline denominations was foretold in the 1960s.

The 1960s Lutheran leaders were already apostate when it came to Biblical doctrine. They were also frightened of the consequences of their own statistical tables. Think of this - while they were soothing and exciting their customers about the Gospel, they were abandoning the efficacious Word for Fuller/Trinity Divinity drivel. Plan B was dead on arrival and they forgot Plan A entirely. They lost their faith and seized the wrong end of the torch to enthuse their customers.

If someone has a headache, he usually pulls out the cotton on top of the bottle and swallows some aspirin. The officials and professors devour the cotton and wonder what went wrong.

Luther taught in another sermon that we only need faith. God honors faith in His Son and initiates whatever needs to be done - His time, His methods. Lacking faith, the false spirits and their copycats become the Prodigal Son, without the repentance. If anyone questions the officials, they will make the individual shrink away, muttering "Sorry, sorry, didn't mean to overstep my rank in Holy Mother Synod. Sorry. Sorry."

WELS and Missouri just held Apostasy Conventions to shore up their battered and abandoned flanks. Give them some time to detox and return to dismantling the Gospel and copying the false spirits.

"I am unstuck on Synod brand, cuz Synod's stuck on me."

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 10 - "For there is no greater distress and calamity than when God sends us sects and false spirits, because they are so impudent and daringly bold, that they are really to be pitied."

 

Complete Luther Sermon - Luke 19:41-48. Tenth Sunday after Trinity

APPLICATION TO GERMANY [AND US]

11. Here let us learn a lesson, for this concerns us, not us alone who are here present, but the whole country of Germany. It is not a mere jest, nor should we think that it will go different with us. The Jews would not believe until they experienced it and became conscious of it. God has now also visited us, and has opened the precious treasures of his holy Gospel unto us, by which we can learn God’s will, and see how we were held by the power of the devil. Yet no one will earnestly believe it, yea, we much more despise it and make light of it. No city, no officer of the government is thankful for the Gospel; and what is still worse the great majority persecute and blaspheme it. God has great patience; he waits to see how we will deal with his Gospel; but when we once let the opportunity slip, he will take his Word from us, and then the wrath which consumed the Jews will also con-st, me us. For it is one and the selfsame Word, the very same God, and the identical Christ, the Jews themselves had; therefore the punishment in body and soul will also most certainly be the same. [We, of course, regard it as mockery, and care nothing for it. This is only an evidence of our own blindness. We ought to perceive that God is hardening us; for there is not a single city that is concerned about it; no officer of the law shows any zeal in its favor. It is most deplorable.] And I fear the time will yet come when Germany will lay in a heap of ruins. The evil winds have already begun to blow destruction in our peasant war. We have already lost many people. Nearly one hundred thousand men, only between Easter and Pentecost! It is an awful work of God, and I fear it will not stop at this. It is only a foretaste of a threat to frighten us, that we may prepare ourselves for the coming ordeal. So far it is but a fox’s tail, but God will soon come with a terrible scourge, and lash us to pieces.

12. But we will act just like the Jews, and care nothing for it, until all help and counsel are lost forever. Now we might check it, for now it is high time for us to know what is best for us, and accept the Gospel in peace, while grace is brought, and peace is offered unto us. But we permit one day after another, one year after another to pass, and do even less than formerly. No one prays now, no one is in earnest. When the time is past, prayers will be of no avail. We do not lay it to heart, and think we are safe, and do not see the awful calamity which has already begun, and are not aware that God so dreadfully punishes us with false prophets and sects, which he sends us everywhere, and who preach so securely as though they had swallowed the Holy Spirit whole. Those whom we had thought were the very best among us, go to work and lead the people astray, until they scarcely know what to do or leave undone.

13. But this is only a beginning, although it is frightful and terrible enough.

For there is no greater distress and calamity than when God sends us sects and false spirits, because they are so impudent and daringly bold, that they are really to be pitied. On the other hand the Word of God is such a great treasure, that no one can sufficiently comprehend its worth. For God himself considers his treasure immensely great, and when he visits us with his grace, he earnestly desires that we should gladly and freely accept it, and does not compel us as he is able to do, but it is his will that we should gladly obey it from choice and love. For he does not wait until we come to him, but he comes first to us. He comes into the world, becomes man, serves us, dies for us, rises again from the dead, sends us his Holy Spirit, gives us his Word, and opens heaven so wide that all men can enter; besides he gives us rich promises and assurances that he will care for us in time and in eternity, here and there, and pours out into our bosoms all the fullness of his grace. Therefore the acceptable time of grace is now at hand.

Yet, we neglect it, and cast it to the winds, so that he will not and cannot give it to us.

14. For when we fall and sin in other ways, he can better spare us and be lenient, he of course will spare us and forgive; but when we despise his Word, it calls for punishment, and he will also punish us, even if he delays a hundred years. But he will not wait that long. And the clearer the Word is preached the greater the punishment will be. I fear it will be the destruction of all Germany. Would to God I were a false prophet in this matter. Yet it will most certainly take place. God cannot permit this shameful disregard of his Word to go unpunished, nor will he wait long, for the Gospel is so abundantly proclaimed that it has never been as plainly and clearly taught since the days of the Apostles, as it is at present. God be praised! Hence it applies to Germany, as I fear it will be destroyed, unless we act differently.

15. We, who have heard the Gospel for a long time, ought earnestly to pray God that he continue to grant us peace. The princes and officers want to settle everything with the sword, and too impudently interfere with God’s office, until God himself shall smite them down. So it is high time faithfully to beseech God to permit his Gospel to be further spread through Germany, to those who have not yet heard it. For if the punishment came suddenly upon us, all will be lost, and many souls will be taken before the Gospel comes to them. Therefore I wish that we would not so terribly despise the Gospel, the costly treasure, not only for our own sakes, but also for the sake of those who have not yet heard it. It has become a little quiet, God grant that it may so continue, and that both the princes and the citizens may become more sane; for if it should begin afresh, I fear it would have no end.

The Non-Gospel of Calvinistic Pietism and F. Pieper - Regurgitated Anew by Brad Kerkow ELS

 

Why do the Waltherian dimwits cite Romans 4:25 when the context demands the entire sentence? The Brief Statement, canonized by the LCMS-ELS-WELS places itself above the Scriptures and against the Scriptures.

Alan Lubeck

tnsrdoSeoph5g3fu1fuag4a254537h5t36ffl07i78u5426uc09i2l3u065u  · 

August 2023.

The Reason Why You Can Share Jesus with Anyone!

One of the greatest comforts for the Christian is the teaching of Objective Justification. This is the teaching that God has declared the verdict of ‘not guilty’ upon the world for the sake of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Here is comfort for you: Do you ever wonder whether your sins are truly forgiven? Do you have a past sin that haunts you? Do you wonder if God is still angry with you? Well, if the whole world is declared 'not guilty' for the sake of Christ, then you also must be included. Franz Pieper said,

"The reconciliation which Christ brought about is history, a finished event lying in the past that pertains to all mankind and is of an entirely objective character. For it does not consist in a change of mind or "moral transformation" on the part of man, but in a change in God; God in His heart is not imputing their trespasses unto men, but forgiving them (2 Cor 5:19)."*

God has forgiven you in Christ! He has declared it! It is an historic fact. This is also true for anyone else you meet (i.e. any other human): If the whole world is declared 'not guilty' for the sake of Christ, then they also must be included. Pieper continued, referring to the Apostle Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5,

"To the report of the finished universal objective reconciliation the Apostle immediately adds that God has committed unto us the Word or news of this complete reconciliation in order that men may share in the finished reconciliation."*

This is the reason why you can share Jesus with anyone! We use the Means of Grace (God's Word and the Sacraments) to do this. In fact, the above quote comes from the section of Pieper's Christian Dogmatics which discusses and explains the Means of Grace. God's Word and His Sacraments are the means which He has chosen to deliver this beautiful truth of Jesus' forgiveness for everyone.

This does not mean that everyone will go to heaven. The other aspect of justification is Subjective Justification which means the benefits of God's verdict of 'not guilty' become yours through faith. Sadly, some people will reject this truth and remain in their sin. But until Christ returns we live in this time of grace and we can confidently use every opportunity to share the Gospel with others and let the Holy Spirit work faith in their hearts.

Be comforted, and know that you can share this comfort with anyone. No one is excluded, including you.

God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. And he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, inasmuch as God is making an appeal through us." 2 Corinthians 5:19-20

*Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, Vol. 3, (St Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953), p. 105.

Rev. Brad Kerkow, Evangelism and Missions Counselor (ELS)

David G. Peters and 8 others

Alan Lubeck Author

To Gregory L. Jackson

Try reading the Bible as though it doesn't contradict itself and submit yourself to the revelation that justification is already in Christ and received from Him to the individual through faith. You don't manufacture justification with faith you receive it. The objective justification denier heretics imagine a justification that somehow didn't get off the ground in the work of Christ, it wasn't finished...till you justify yourself with faith. I notice in the article that Pastor Kerkow is careful to point out that everyone is justified IN CHRIST. He doesn't teach that the individual is justified apart from Christ...but IN Christ who IS already the justification of the world. The article is sound. "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men."

GJ - Quoting without a citation and without the translation is lazy. No wonder the newest NIV spells out Universalism so clearly.