Elizabeth Eaton, Harvard MDiv, Is Back in Office, Working on Photo-ops

 

I linked into a number of nauseating stories this evening and decided not one of them was new, noteworthy, or surprising. They are the necessary sequel of the 1989 development of ELCA. They stole the name ELCA, which was already used a long time for a tiny group of Pietists. Another debacle - The Gotterdammerung - or Twilight of the Gods - arrived in 2009. Dressing up paganism as the greatest event since 1530, ELCA continued the custom of promoting the worst and least able to lead them forth. 

Eaton was quickly promoted from local partial-state bishop to Lord High Bishop, modestly entitled Presiding Bishop of the ELCA. Remember how patient the radicals were in having their time of frolicking with the offerings of the faithful? All things new were building up to a mudslide of massive proportions. 

That began with a female bishop or two, not unlike the first couple of female chaplains long ago, so they could build momentum at Harvard and MIT. A male bishop has conveniently tracked the growth of female bishops, now 55% of all the bishops. I am not sure where Megan Rohrer fit, given a new and touchy equation in their sensitive teeter-totter ELCA.

Tom Fisher's Twin Lambs - Bethlehem and Christmas

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

These twin lambs were born just before a severe thunderstorm hit, dumping two inches of rain with 20 mph winds out of the North. I was soaked making sure the lambs were kept as dry as possible.

The name of their mother is Star of Wonder. She was born early February of last year in extremely cold, windy weather.  So her twins are named Bethlehem and Christmas.  

Ringo, my Great Pyrenees guardian dog was so worried about these little lambs.  He kept whimpering especially, when he heard them crying out to their mother for help.

It's a wonderful miracle Star of Wonder kept her little twins alive through such stormy weather. It reminds me of God's wonderful miracle and gift to us in the little town of Bethlehem. Not far away there were lowly shepherds watching their flocks of sheep by night when suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to them saying:

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,  lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:10-14

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. " 

Isaiah 53:4-6

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 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" John 3:14-18

"And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39,40

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. Ezekiel 37:12-14

Here is a wonderful hymn. Kyrie means Lord. Eleison means mercy. Hymn 6 from The Lutheran Hymnal, CPH

Kyrie, God Father in heaven above, 

Great art Thou in grace and love,

Of all things the Maker and Preserver.

Eleison, Eleison!

Kyrie, O Christ, our King

Salvation for us sinners Thou didst bring.

O Lord Jesus, God's own Son, 

Our Mediator at the heavenly throne,

Hear our cry and grant our supplication.

Eleison, Eleison!

Kyrie, O God the Holy Ghost, 

Guard our faith, the gift we need the most;

Do Thou our last hour bless;

Let us leave this sinful world with gladness.

Eleison, eleison!

In Christ 

Tom Fisher

Reformation Seminary - The Faith of Jesus - 11 AM Zoom Today

 

YouTube

Romans

KJV Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

22 δικαιοσυνη δε θεου δια πιστεως ιησου χριστου εις παντας και επι παντας τους πιστευοντας ου γαρ εστιν διαστολη

Galatians

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:16 16 ειδοτες οτι ου δικαιουται ανθρωπος εξ εργων νομου εαν μη δια πιστεως ιησου χριστου και ημεις εις χριστον ιησουν επιστευσαμεν ινα δικαιωθωμεν εκ πιστεως χριστου και ουκ εξ εργων νομου διοτι ου δικαιωθησεται εξ εργων νομου πασα σαρξ

Philippians

Philippians 3:9  και ευρεθω εν αυτω μη εχων εμην δικαιοσυνην την εκ νομου αλλα την δια πιστεως χριστου την εκ θεου δικαιοσυνην επι τη πιστει

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Romans 3:22 in all the English translations

Rogate Sermon - Easter 5 - "The second requisite of true prayer, following that of God’s promise, is faith — that we believe the promise is true, and do not doubt that God will give what he promises. For the words of the promise require faith. But faith is a firm, undoubting confidence in God’s promise that it is true."

Complete sermon ->Luther's Sermons - John 16:23-30.

First Sermon - Rogate. Fifth Sunday after Easter

 

Text: John 16:23-30. And in that day ye shall ask me no question. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name. Hitherto have ye asked for nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full. These things have I spoken unto you in dark sayings: the hour cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in dark sayings, but shall tell you plainly of the Father. In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came out from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father. His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no dark saying. Now know we that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee; by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

1. We are accustomed to read today’s Gospel on this Sunday because it treats of prayer and this week is called Rogation (Supplication) week, in which we give ourselves to prayer and to processions with crosses. Those who first instituted it, no doubt, meant it well, but it has proven to work harm. For, in the processions heretofore, many unchristian things have been practiced, and there has been no praying at all or very little; so that the processions were rightly abolished and discontinued. Often have I admonished that we should persevere in prayer, for there is great need of it. Since the outward prating and muttering of prayer is done away with, we no longer pray in any way. This is a good indication that we heretofore, notwithstanding our many prayers, never prayed.

2. The Lord points out here five things necessary to constitute true prayer.

The first is God’s promise, which is the chief thing and is the foundation and power of all prayers. For he promises here that it shall be given us if we ask; and besides he swears: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name.” He promises that we might be sure of being heard in prayer; yea, he censures the disciples for the reason that they are lazy and have not therefore been praying. As if he would say: God is ready to give more quickly, and to give more than you ask; yea, he offers his treasures if we only take them. It is truly a great shame and a severe chastisement for us Christians that God should still upbraid us for our slothfulness in prayer, and that we fail to let such a rich and excellent promise incite us to pray. We let this precious treasure lie there, and seek it not, nor exercise ourselves to receive the power in such a promise.

3. So God himself now founds our prayer upon his promise and thereby encourages us to pray. If it were not for this promise, who would have the courage to pray? We have hitherto resorted to many ways of preparing ourselves to pray — ways with which the books are filled; but if you wish to be well prepared, take the promise and lay hold of God with it. Then your courage and desire to pray will soon grow, which courage you will never otherwise get. For “those who pray without God’s promise, imagine in themselves how angry God is, whom they wish to propitiate by means of their prayers. Without faith in the promise, there is then, neither courage nor desire to pray, but mere uncertain delusion and a melancholy spirit; there is, therefore, no hearing of prayers, and both prayer and labor are lost.

4. By these words Christ now chastises the unbelief of those who, by reason of their foolish worship, consider themselves unworthy to pray, and gauge the worthiness of their prayer according to themselves and their own ability, and not according to the promise of God. There is then, to be sure, nothing but unworthiness. However, you should, by all means, be conscious of your own unworthiness, taking confidence not from your own doings, but from the promise of God, and be so completely conscious, that if you were all alone, and no one else in the world prayed, you would nevertheless pray, because of this promise. For you can point me to no true saint who prayed, depending upon his own worthiness, and who did not rely only upon God’s promises, be he Peter, Paul, Mary, Elijah, or any one else. All of them have been unworthy. I would not give a nickel for all the prayers of a saint if he prayed because of his own worthiness.

5. The second requisite of true prayer, following that of God’s promise, is faith — that we believe the promise is true, and do not doubt that God will give what he promises. For the words of the promise require faith. But faith is a firm, undoubting confidence in God’s promise that it is true; as James says: “But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:5-7. Moreover, he who doubts and yet prays, tempts God; for he doubts in respect to God’s will and grace. Therefore, his prayer is nothing and he gropes after God like the blind for the wall. John also speaks of this assurance of faith in 1 John 5:14-15: “And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth: and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.” John describes with these words how a truly believing heart is disposed in prayer, namely, that it is concerned about nothing else than that its prayer be heard, knowing that it has even then obtained its petition. That is also true. Such faith and definite assurance, however, the Holy Spirit must impart; therefore, without the Holy Spirit, surely no prayer will be offered.

More Than 100 Colleges Have Closed Or Merged Over last Eight Years. "The list, which does not include for-profit colleges and also omits mergers among public institutions, totals 108 since 2016."

 

Bubble update: More than 100 colleges have closed or merged over last eight years.

The University of Saint Katherine, a small nonprofit in North San Diego County, recently announced it will close May 18, citing “financial pressure due to unprecedented inflation and rising state-mandated labor costs.”

It’s not alone. Nationwide, universities face financial hardships that appear to be getting worse. More than 100 colleges and universities have closed or merged, or announced plans to, over the last eight years, according to a tracker updated this month by Higher Ed Dive.

The list, which does not include for-profit colleges and also omits mergers among public institutions, totals 108 since 2016.

The closures span the spectrum of public and private universities from California to Maine, showing the issue is not localized to any one region or sector.

“Our goal was not to create a death watch but rather to give our readers a tool to show the scope of that activity and any patterns within it,” noted the publication, which reports on higher education trends.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Cantate - Easter 5 - "In the fifth place, one should so act in this confidence of prayer as not to limit God and specify the day or place, nor designate the way or measure of the prayer’s fulfillment; but leave all to his own will, wisdom and almighty power."

 

Complete sermon ->Luther's Sermons - John 16:23-30.
Rogate. Fifth Sunday after Easter. Second Sermon

1. First we note that in order for a prayer to be really right and to be heard five things are required. The first is, that we have from God his promise or his permission to speak to him, and that we remember the same before we pray and remind God of it, thereby encouraging ourselves to pray in a calm and confident frame of mind. Had God not told us to pray, and pledged himself to hear us, none of his creatures could ever, with all their prayers, obtain so much as a grain of corn. From this, then, there follows that no one receives anything from God by virtue of his own merit or that of his prayer. His answer comes by virtue of the divine goodness alone, which precedes every prayer and desire, which moves us, through his gracious promise and call, to pray and to desire, in order that we may learn how much he cares for us, and how he is more ready to give than we are to receive. He would have us seek to become bold, to pray in a calm and confident spirit, since he offers all, and even more, than we are able to ask.

2. In the second place, it is necessary that we never doubt the pledge and promise of the true and faithful God. For even to this end did God pledge himself to hear, yea, commanded us to pray, in order that we may always have a sure and firm faith that we will be heard; as Jesus says in Matthew 21:22: “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Christ says in Luke 11:9-13: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” With this and like promises and commands we must consolingly exercise ourselves and pray in true confidence.

3. In the third place, if one prays doubting that God will hear him, and only offers his prayers as a venture, whether it be granted or not granted, he is guilty of two wicked deeds. The first is, that he, himself, makes his prayer unavailing and he labors in vain. For Jesus says: “Whoever will ask of God, let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:6-7. He means that the heart of such a man does not continue stable, therefore God can give it nothing; but faith keeps the heart calm and stable and makes it receptive for the divine gifts.

4. The other wicked deed is, that he regards his most true and faithful God as a liar and an unstable and doubtful being; as one who can not or will not keep his promise; and thus through his doubt he robs God of his honor and of his name of truth and faithfulness. In this, such a grievous sin is committed that by this sin a Christian becomes a heathen, denying and losing his own God, and thus he remains in his sin, and must be condemned forever, without comfort. Moreover, if he receives that for which he prays, it will be given, not for his salvation, but for his punishment in time and eternity and it is not for the sake of the prayers, but because of his wrath that God rewards the good words which were spoken in sin, unbelief and divine dishonor.

5. In the fourth place, some say: Yes, I would gladly trust that my prayer would be heard, if I were only worthy and prayed aright. My answer is: If you do not pray until you know and experience that you are fit, then you will never need to pray. As I have said before, our prayers must not be founded nor rest upon ourselves or their own merits, but upon the unshakable truth of the divine promise. Where they are founded upon anything else, they are false, and deceive us, even though the heart break in the midst of its great devotions and we weep drops of blood. The very reason we do pray is because of our unworthiness; and just through the fact that we believe we are unworthy and confidently venture upon God’s faithfulness to his Word do we become worthy to pray and to be heard. Be you as unworthy as you may, only look to it, and with all earnestness accept it as true, that a thousandfold more depends upon this, that you know God’s truth and not change his faithful promise into a lie by your doubting. Your worthiness does not help you, but your unworthiness is no barrier. Disbelief condemns you, and trust makes you worthy and sustains you.

6. Therefore, be on your guard all through life that you may never think yourself worthy or fit to pray or to receive; unless it be that you discover yourself to be a freebold character risking all upon the faithful and sure promises of your gracious God, who thus wishes to reveal to you his mercy and goodness. Just as he, out of pure grace, has promised you, being so unworthy, an unmerited and unasked hearing, so will he also hear you, an unworthy beggar, out of pure grace, to the praise of his truth and promise. This he does in order that you may thank, not your worthiness, but his truth, by which he fulfils his promise, and that you thank his mercy that gave the promise, that the saying in Psalm 25:8-10 may stand: “Good and upright is Jehovah: Therefore will he instruct sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in justice; and the meek will he teach his way.

All the paths of Jehovah are loving kindness and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Loving-kindness or mercy in the promise; faithfulness and truth in the fulfilling or hearing of the promises.

And in another Psalm he says: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10. That is, they come together in every work and gift we receive from God through prayer.

7. In the fifth place, one should so act in this confidence of prayer as not to limit God and specify the day or place, nor designate the way or measure of the prayer’s fulfillment; but leave all to his own will, wisdom and almighty power. Then confidently and cheerfully await the answer, not even wishing to know how and where, how soon, how long, and through whom. His divine wisdom will find far better ways and measures, time and place, than we can devise, even should we perform miracles. So, in the Old Testament, the children of Israel all trusted in God to deliver them while yet there was no possible way before their eyes, nor even in their thoughts; then the Red Sea parted and offered them a way through the waters, and suddenly drowned all their enemies. Exodus 14.

Ohio Colleges - Cuts, Mergers, and Closures

 

A new era: Enrollment declines forcing Ohio colleges and universities to look at cuts, mergers and closures

By 

• Laura Hancock, cleveland.com

"COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio’s higher education system, once a source of optimism and confidence in the future, now faces declining enrollment, high costs and crushing debt.

Just in Northeast Ohio in recent months, Lakeland Community College is near a financial crisis, according to state auditors. Cleveland State and Baldwin Wallace universities are cutting jobs. And Notre Dame College is closing after 102 years."

WELS Official Answers

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

I received a response from a WELS Official. 

He did not answer my question!

He teaches the atonement is the same as Objective Justification? 

He teaches Justification By Faith is the same as Subjective Justification? 

He teaches those who reject forgiveness are eternally lost?  I think he means those who reject universal forgiveness prior to and without faith are eternally lost. 

In Christ,

Tom Fisher 

no-reply@wels.net

To tomfisher99@yahoo.com

Mar 18 at 8:25 AM

wels.net

Dear Tom Fisher ,

A recent question you submitted to WELS has a response. Please view the details below.

Date submitted: Sat Mar 16 2024

Subject: Justification

Question/Comment:

I read the following statement on your web site:

"The Bible and Lutherans teach that God judged all sinners righteous in his sight when Jesus Christ died on the cross for us."

Does this statement teach that God has already judged all sinners righteous in his sight prior to and without faith?

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

Answer:

Dear Mr. Fisher,

When Jesus died on the cross, his sacrifice paid for the sins of the whole world. This is what we have historically referred to as "objective justification." I can say to anyone, Jesus paid the full price for your sins and won God's forgiveness for you."

When a person is brought to faith in Jesus by the Holy Spirit, then that forgiveness won by Jesus is obtained by that person. This is what we have referred to as "subjective justification."

Even though the sins of the whole world have been paid for, some (many) reject that forgiveness through unbelief, so they remain in their sins and will ultimately lose the forgiveness that Jesus won for them.

Yours in Christ, WELS Official

When will the Walther Four - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) Admit Their Gross Errors And Blasphemies?

 

Abraham was justified by faith about 4800 years ago.
When will the Walther Four - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)
 admit their gross errors and blasphemies?  

Dear Pastor Jackson,

I have been pondering what you said on your podcast about the blasphemy against God the Holy Ghost.  You said that it is making fun of the Word of God, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion, and miracles. 

That reminds me of a LCMS pastor making fun of the words in the King James Bible such as "thee", "ye", and "thou". But God knows we need these precious little Words to understand the Bible.

Christ our Lord rose from the dead and stood in the midst of the apostles and said,:

"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 unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." John 20:21-23

Notice that Christ said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost;" which is plural. That means Christ gives the Holy Ghost to all Christians especially pastors. So God the Holy Ghost abundantly forgives our sins when a pastor or laymen says, "I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost". 

Some LCMS pastors do not believe in these clear Words of Christ our Lord. They do not believe in the Office of the Keys so they change what Christ said.  Instead of saying, "I forgive you" they say, "I assure you". Saying, "I assure you" does not forgive sins."

Pastor Jackson, I remember you said that the Holy Spirit is never without the Word and the Word is never without the Holy Spirit.

The King James Bible is never without God the Holy Ghost, and God the Holy Ghost is never without the King James Bible. This is true for all Bibles translated from the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS into many other languages. God the Holy Ghost has attached Himself to these Bibles for more than 500 years. 

Christ our Lord said:

"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." Luke 21:33

O Lord, look down from heav'n, behold 

And let Thy pity waken;

How few are we within Thy fold,

Thy saints by men forsaken!

True faith seems quenched on every hand,

Men suffer not Thy Word to stand;

Dark times have us o'ertaken.

With fraud which they themselves invent

Thy truth they have confounded;

Their hearts are not with one consent 

On Thy pure doctrine grounded.

While they parade with outward show

They lead the people to and fro,

In error's maze astounded.

May God root out all heresy

And of false teachers rid us

Who proudly say: Now where is he

That shall our speech forbid us?

By right or might we shall prevail;

What we determine cannot fail;

We own no Lord or master.

Therefore saith God, I must arise,

The poor my help are needing

To me ascend my people's cries,

And I have heard their pleading.

For them my saving Word shall fight

And fearlessly and sharply smite,

The poor with might defending.

As silver tried by fire is pure

From all adulteration.

So thro God's Word shall men endure.

Each trial and temptation 

It's light beams brighter thro' the cross,

And purified from human dross,

It shines through every nation.

Defend Thy truth, O God, and stay.

This evil generation;

And from the error of it's way

Keep Thine own congregation.

The wicked everywhere around

And would Thy little flock confound;

But Thou art our Salvation. (Martin Luther; O LORD, Look Down From Heaven, Behold; The Lutheran Hymnal; CPH; Hymn 260)

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

+++

"They which are of faith are children of Abraham."
The Walther Four - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - deny this truth.

Dear Pastor Jackson,

This question to WELS is derived from Gausewitz 1956 Catechism, Northwestern Publishing House; page 131; Question 214

"How does the redemption won for us by Christ become our own?"

Answer: "This redemption becomes our own by faith in Jesus Christ."

Notice WELS response suggests I  may need to add something to my faith. 

Notice the stealthy qualifying phrase, "If I understand your confession of faith correctly" suggests I may need to add something to faith in Christ. 

WELS gave me the WRONG answer.

The correct answer is a resounding YES you are justified by faith in Jesus Christ.

No you absolutely do not need to add anything.

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

Asking WELS

Date submitted: Tue Apr 23 2024

Subject: Justification

Question/Comment:

I firmly believe the redemption won for me by Christ becomes my own by faith in Jesus Christ!

Is this correct or do I need to add something to my faith?

Answer:

If I understand your confession of faith correctly, Tom, it is indeed correct and you do not need to add something else.

Attachments (available for 30 days):

none

If you have any issues viewing your response, please contact the WELS Helpdesk at 414.259.HELP or support@wels.net. Thank you for using WELS Contact Us!

Have a blessed day!

WELS Contact Us Administrator

Harvard Medical School Offers Some Advice - Or Is It Humor?

 

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GJ - Harvard? Seriously? Laughter is the best medicine, and it worked, no fees or excise taxes.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...Proverbs 17:22.

Cantate, The Fourth Sunday after Easter, 2024

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

10 AM Central Standard Time

Cantate, The Fourth Sunday after Easter, 2024

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

The Hymn #347                           Jesus Priceless Treasure                     

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Oh, sing (cantate) unto the Lord a new song: 

for He hath done marvelous things.

The Lord hath made known His salvation: 

His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen.

Psalm. His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory.

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

Collect

O God, who makest the minds of the faithful to be of one will, grant unto Thy people that they may love what Thou commandest and desire what Thou dost promise, that among the manifold changes of this world our hearts may there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Gradual

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. The right hand of the Lord is exalted: 

the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. Hallelujah!

V. Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more: 

death hath no more dominion over Him. Hallelujah!

    

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #345                Jesus Lover of My Soul        

                 Jesus Teaching the Three Parts

These are the three parts we have in this Gospel lesson: Sin is unbelief; righteousness is faith; the judgment is the holy cross.

Communion Hymn #297     The Gospel Shows the Father's Grace - by M. Loy, Capital Seminary President, Author

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 #657                        Beautiful Savior                     

In Our Prayers -

• Treatment and recovery - Randy Anderson, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Lori Howell, . Dr. Kermit Way, Sarah Buck, Dr. Cruz, his wife Lyne, their son Thadeus.
• Pray for our country as the major trials continue. Victory is approaching for the duly elected President.
• Biblical doctrine is broadcast live on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 11 AM Central. Greek lessons are Wednesday at 11 AM. I am aiming at learning Greek from well known passages, such as the Lord's Prayer, the Great Commission, the Beatitudes, and other key passages. This link includes the latest sermons, lectures, and Greek.
• "The Bethany Lutheran Hymnal texts are finished. All the hymns have their own pages. Norma A. Boeckler is providing art for them. Typo alerts are welcome." That was years ago! - almost 70,000 views have been recorded, as of today.
• Mother's Day is May 12th, a great opportunity to show appreciation, gratitude, and love. Roses will be plentiful, on the altar, in our neighborhood, and everywhere.

   

        

Fourth Sunday After Easter

Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst through Thy Son promise us Thy Holy Spirit, that He should convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment: We beseech Thee, enlighten our hearts, that we may confess our sins, through faith in Christ obtain everlasting righteousness, and in all our trials and temptations retain this consolation, that Christ is Lord over the devil and death, and all things, and that He will graciously deliver us out of all our afflictions, and make us forever partakers of eternal salvation, through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle

KJV James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.

The Gospel

KJV John 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16

8 και ελθων εκεινος ελεγξει τον κοσμον περι αμαρτιας και περι δικαιοσυνης και περι κρισεως

9 περι αμαρτιας μεν οτι ου πιστευουσιν εις εμε

10 περι δικαιοσυνης δε οτι προς τον πατερα μου υπαγω και ουκ ετι θεωρειτε με

11 περι δε κρισεως οτι ο αρχων του κοσμου τουτου κεκριται.

KJV John 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Christian is bent over from the weight of his sins, studying the Bible as he seeks the truth. The Pilgrim's Progress

Jesus Teaching the Three Steps

 

KJV John 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

This is so important that many miss the meaning of this passage in John. I recall hearing church people saying "Wither goest thou?" But I do not think anyone grasped these fine verses, which require "fine people" to understand the words, as Luther said.

These are farewell sermons that left the disciples filled with anxiety, sadness, and fear. We know the outcome but they did not. They were headed to glory, as Jesus was, but they had to suffer before it all made sense with the appearance of Jesus in the locked room.

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

This should be very clear, because we know how this Gospel ends. We understand the future making sense of our present events. Jesus understood their sorrow but His work would become global in a mysterious way. The crucifixion mixed them up and made them more filled with sorrow and more dread. Jesus knew in the midst of all this they would be glorified, following the pattern of the Savior. They did not expect the supposed ending when the risen Christ appeared and showed showed His divinity in the greatest example of His power.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Unbelief is sin

The Holy Spirit will accuse the world of sin because of unbelief. Every single perversion of Christianity is based upon not believing in Christ. Instead, people turn away from trust in Christ and impose a replacement for the ultimate work of the Holy Spirit through the Word. Unbelief is praised as the highest level of intellect known to man. Audiences clamor to hear someone who can prove so smoothly that Jesus was  a really fine person, but not the Son of God. Or not born of a Virgin, or not one who can heal the sick and raise the dead. Those great thinkers are patient with Christian believers, saying, "I used to be like that but I grew up and studied the great minds of civilization - Plato, Marx, and Donald McGavran."  

    Therefore the removal of sin is only through faith, never through the works of man, no matter how impressive that might be. That is why the world mocks the Christian Faith and replaces the Gospel the works of man.

Righteousness is faith

People are by nature self-righteous, our natural state. There are hundreds of ways to invent a righteousness that the multitude approves. Every time a relative lectured me on "saving planet Earth," I offered solutions, such as using the Grand Canyon for recycling - which set off a lot of fireworks. I said, "Mom was recycling with compost for the garden before you got your first tricycle." More fireworks exploded after that simple statement. That is also why people get excited by versions of the Bible which are not even close to the truth. But that is also why the King James Version is more popular than any single brand of Bible.

The judgment is the Holy Cross

Listeners or readers might want to read Pilgrim's Progress again. More than 2,000 editions have been printed, more than any other English book except the Bible. Christian, the name of the main person in the allegory, leaves everyone and searches for the truth, with a heavy burden on his back. He reaches the cross and his enormous backpack of sin falls away from him, careens down the hill, and enters the empty cave of the Resurrection. He finally realizes that all his sin has been captured and removed by the Only One who could do this, Jesus - the Son of God.

This illustration shows Christian's weight of sin falling away from viewing the cross, tumbling down into the cave of the Resurrection. The Pilgrim's Progress

His story continues with the various problems and assaults of this life. He is captured by the Giant of Despair, address - Castle Doom - and locked up. Interpreter (who explains the Bible) tells Christian he can leave any time. He tells Christian that he has always had the way out of despair. In Christian's pocket are keys - the Promises of God.

Here is a free version online of The Pilgrim's Progress, provided by Lutheran Library.

As long as we dwell on the weight on our backs or being locked in despair, we have the Word of God to guide us and to set us free from sin. We should remember that Peter's first response to the divinity of Christ was - Luke 5 -

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Matthew 11 -

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The end.