Sede Vacante - Latin for "The Throne Is Empty" - True for The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - And the Pope

 

Ah! The papal tiara, removed because the throne is empty.

Sede Vacante

Cool bathrobe for Harrison - no mitre?
Sede Vacante!

Sede Vacante!

Roman Catholics are very angry with the repudiation of what they have been taught since Vatican I and Vatican II. Now they are so furious because Pope Francis, SJ (Jesuit) is busy tearing down anything they might consider Catholic in worst possible way.

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) are just as disgusted with their vacant leadership. They are not aroused with bitter anger - they just drift away.

Quite a few had serious catechism lessons and requirements for being confirmed. In the 1960s, no one had a camp where they played in the woods, swam in the pool, kicked soccer balls, and spent a few minutes going over Luther's Small Catechism.

Can anyone imagine Luther denying Justification by Faith? Every hoo-hah synod wants to prints its own catechism, which is also why every one wants to sell their favorite watered-down, corrupted, blasphemous Bible.

No less an authority than Dr. Lawrence Otto Olson (D.Min. Fuller) bragged that Fuller Seminary had more Lutherans in their program than the synods had in theirs. They may be why Lutheran pastors sound like door-to-door salesmen. We attended one "Lutheran" church where the pastor boasted about the exciting service they were going to have that day. Popcorn is not unknown in these cathedrals of cunning. Nor should anyone be shocked that Lutheran churches organize Bible studies in taverns. Anything that works - because they know the Word is not effective - is good.

Wisconsin Lutheran College (WELS) invited the corrupt Archbishop Weakland and his priests to a public lecture and who knows what else.

Commentary on This Week's Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Listen Up!

 

The Uncle Sam diamond was discovered in Arkansas.

"a little while" times seven

JOHN 16:16-23. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

The amount of bold blue in this week's Luther sermon should alert people to the richness of Luther's explanations of this passage. Some may find the bolding an irritation, as if the blogger did not get enough Magic Markers when he was young. However, very Luther sermon has so much needed content: it is only fair that the gold or diamonds must be searched out and emphasized. People know there are diamonds in Arkansas, so they bring their tools and start looking. Several large examples have been found recently, after a heavy rain. 

Like Paul, Luther suffered from enormous bouts of Anfectungen, bouts of complete despair and anguish, the world bearing down on their shoulders. People also get very anxious, depressed, and filled with sorrow for many reasons. Anticipatory grief is very painful although it is not immediately noticed.  

Luther's sermon deals with all of this, because he felt this as much as the Apostle Paul did. We are all participants, one way or another. Many are feeling the dread from the shrinking of the visible Christian Church. Someone offered this opinion - "The foundation of the Faith has been undermined so long that we have reached the point of total collapse." Other indications include the failure of state and Congressional leaders mindlessly fanning the flames of an upcoming conflagration.

Panic comes from the Greek god Pan, whose job was to throw the enemy forces into ... panic. 2024 will be the Year of Panic. 

"A little while" is stated seven times in John 16, and the phase is only one little word - mikron. That is the root of micro, microscope, micro-manage, etc. All children should learn to answer "mikron."

Mom - "Is your homework done?" Answer - "Mikron."

Dad - "Are you ready for the annual dinner?" Answer - "Mikron."

Child - "Am a getting an increase in my allowance?" Answer - "Mikron."

Given the stupidity and evil of so many players at work in destroying our cities, states, and country, we should expect the worst and find joy in every possible worthwhile way. I make it a point to disrupt the "everyone is doing it" mantra coming from the crowds. 

I had trouble getting my cash back at WaltonMart. More and more people were involved, and I kept adding up the total of people rushing around. "Six people to get my cash?" When a young woman finally came up with the cash, I said, "Those Waltons cannot let go of the money." That is blasphemy, to even name the family name at Walmart. She burst into laughter and said, "Yes, they won't let go. You should see the old equipment back there."

Likewise, I give service people extra extra tips. They get relatively little and appreciate the thanks involved in the work they do, and I tell them - "I appreciate what you do." We can do that in many ways, because the Gospel multiplies the Gospel while the Law is very limited.

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 3 - "Since Abraham received such joy before it had yet transpired, but was only in word and promise, how much more can and will he receive it in the future after it has transpired and is proclaimed in the earth and even in heaven by the angels!"

 

Complete Sermon - Third Sermon: Christ’s Death and Resurrection; the Comfort Christ Ministers to his Disciples, and the World’s Joy

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

24. But notice what further follows. Just as you, he says, shall not be robbed of a view of me forever, nor remain in your sorrow, so they shall not rejoice over your misfortune forever; but it shall be for them also only a short season, and be, as they say, a dance at high mass. For I will soon come to you again and make it worse and more bitter for them than it has ever been before. This was fulfilled in them after Christ’s resurrection, so that the Jews have no severer suffering than that they must hear and see Christ, our Lord. Although it pleases them a little that they slander Christ and his mother Mary and us Christians in the most ignominious manner, yet true joy they can never possess as they desire. And they continually hope that their Messiah will come and uproot all Christians.

25. Thus, also, our Caiaphas and Judas, the pope, with all his factions, who continually console themselves with the hope that we shall yet be uprooted cannot be happy while we live and the Gospel spreads. Nothing that causes man to rejoice has any effect upon them. Some are so angry that they cannot cease their raging and roaring until we all are dead. When that takes place they will be once happy, but the joy for which they long shall never be theirs. For, although we are dead, the Gospel will still remain and others will take our places, and that will be to them a new heart agony.

26. The Turk likewise imagines he will exterminate Christ and enthrone his Mohammed in all the world, and he rejoices whenever there is any hope of doing so; but this joy he craves he shall never experience. Our Lord, whom the Turk himself highly exalts and must esteem as a great prophet, shall restrain him; yea, finally season his joy and make it bitter enough through the exalted work of his death and resurrection, by which he tramples under foot sin, death and Satan. The victory which God accomplished through Christ was long before announced in the Scriptures, whereupon the beloved prophets and fathers died in this joy, as Christ says of Abraham in John 8:56.

27. Since Abraham received such joy before it had yet transpired, but was only in word and promise, how much more can and will he receive it in the future after it has transpired and is proclaimed in the earth and even in heaven by the angels! Neither pope nor Turk can smother and extinguish it. They may indeed try to smother it, and fancy they have a bite of sugar when they do Christendom a little harm; but they shall never obtain the joy they hope for and for which they thirst.

28. They may rejoice for a season, Christ says, but not longer than while you are in sorrow. That joy is particularly short, as your sorrow is short and lasts only a little while, and shall soon be turned into joy that no one will take from you. Without doubt that joy will, on the other hand, be also turned into sorrow that will never end.

29. Here upon the earth, however, you will not be able to have enough joy, nor will it be of the true, perfect quality that will quench your thirst. Only a foretaste, an appetizing morsel or a refreshing sip. It is too great ever to be exhausted as also the work that develops this joy is far too great to be fathomed by our learning. God mingles and tempers things thus upon the earth so that those who should by right rejoice must experience great suffering and sorrow; and, on the other hand, those who should be sorrowful here are happy and have a good time, but still in a way that this outward joy works their ruin. For they cannot acquire the true inner joy they long for, therefore their outer joy will also be their destruction. Their wealth, power, honor, pleasure and high living by no means make them happy, and they cannot lay their heads down to rest until they see that Christ is dead and his disciples are banished from the earth. These are always poor, miserable people whom one may truly pity. They fare the worst in that they cannot have their temporal joy pure, as they desire, because of their jealousy and hatred; and we even are altogether too ready to take vengeance by doing them harm. What more misfortune can they have and what greater injury can they do themselves than that they themselves should spoil and annihilate their own joy?

30. We also have true sorrow, both outwardly and inwardly, when Christ conceals himself from us; not like them, moved by jealousy and hatred, but because we do not possess Christ, the chief good. For this, however, there is already mingled with the sorrow the sugar that Christ speaks. Beloved, only persevere a little. It shall not be eternal, but short-lived sorrow, and soon it will be better. It is only a matter of a little while.

31. These words I hear, but when sorrow comes, it is stamped so deeply in the heart that I do not feel this comfort, and I fancy that it is impossible for the sorrow to have an end. However, this comfort keeps me, so that I do not fall from Christ to the other party. Though I experience grief and need, still they keep me, so that the sorrow must not be thoroughly bitter. As in the case of the others, their joy is sweetened and sugared through and through, yet it is always spoiled by wormwood and gall, so in our case sorrow has within itself its sugar and honey.

32. Therefore, let us continue to hear Christ and learn to understand his language, that we judge not according to our feelings, as if comfort were lost forever and sorrow had no end. That you feel and think thus, he says, I know very well; but still listen to what I say to you and learn only this word modicum, a little while. Sorrow must also be felt, but it shall not harm you, besides it shall not last long. Even by this the sorrow is already sugar-coated and tempered. Later, when the “little while” has passed and triumphed, then one feels what Christ says: “Your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” Then the true joy of the heart commences and the soul sings an eternal Hallelujah, and Christ is Risen — a joy which will in the life beyond be perfect, without a defect and without an end.

33. Notice that the articles of our faith, both on the death and the resurrection of Christ, are thus set before us in this Gospel, and how the same must be put to practice by us. learned, and exercised in our deeds and our experiences, and not only heard with the ears and spoken with the mouth. Also, that we thus feel it, and such power works in us that both body and soul thereby become changed; that is, Christ dies in us and we also die in him. That is a great change, from life to death. However, then I must cleave firmly by faith to the words Christ says, “A little while,” and not only hear, but also take to heart the truth that trial will not last forever, but there will be a change from death to life when Christ again rises and lives in me and I become alive in him. Then the words shall come true, “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you,” etc. For this meeting every Christian should be prepared whenever he is called for it; for he must experience something of it either in life or at the hour of death; so that he will then be reminded of this saying of Christ and let nothing tear this comfort out of his heart. Amen.

34. Whatever is to be said further on this Gospel in a textual exposition of it you can read in the explanation of the three chapters of John, the discourses Christ spoke at the Last Supper to his disciples, where this and the Gospel for the following Sunday are treated at length.

More Nutrition Ideas

The pharm tech I have known for 10 years asked me about losing weight. I had mentioned to her that pharmacy cured very few and charged a fortune. In contrast, good nutrition avoids and cures most diseases, the most dominant being cardio-vascular, diabetes, and cancer. 

These are a few basics, derived from the beginning of time, when the Lord of Creation fashioned our little world to benefit us in every possible way. Only recently have people examined the major sources of nutrition and their value. Ignore the money-based industry propaganda. Processed food is very expensive and often has almost no nutritional value: too much salt, too much fat, too much sugar.

It's easy to say - Don't eat pizza, ice cream, cookies, donuts, candy, and fast food. All of us have heard or read that - and acted upon it - for several weeks or days. Or in our plans for the future.

The alternative is best, because the results are so good. Let's make it the three major categories.

Chopped Greens

Greens are incredibly powerful for providing and abundance of nutrition and almost no calories or fat. Moreover, they provide fiber, which by itself is very good. More importantly, fiber allows our complex bodies to break down and re-arrange the chemistry of foods and bacteria. We are mostly beneficial bacteria; fiber allows the body to be a vast chemistry set (stomach, liver, intestines, etc).

If you take greens (kale, spinach, collards, turnip greens) seriously, you will eat them every day - and you will feel satisfied and healthier immediately. That is my first stop, after produce, where I get blueberries, apples, oranges, pineapples, and bananas.

Fresh Fruit

This right here - or ri-cheer - is a great weapon against desserts. Someone can easily eat four fruits a day and eliminate the hunger for desserts, candy, gum, and ice cream. Only one apple is an insult to the body, a cheap shot. People should enjoy the wonder-drug of apples with their skins on. There must be 10 apple varieties at any large grocery store. Why not have two to four apples a day? I can eat two giant Crisp apples, which is more like four apples. For anything on this delightful Big Three menu, google "The nutritional value of..." The numbers are astonishing.

Apples seem to benefit the exquisite value of blueberries. Every fruit has special benefits, and whole fruits are good, but juice is just another from of sugar. Fiber in fruit keeps us from pumping up the sugar fast in our blood. 

Vegetables

I favor frozen vegetables, but I buy cans of chick peas (Cicero beans) by the dozen. I was shopping around for beans, but chick peas are loaded with nutrition, protein, fiber, quite an array for such a humble plant. Check labels for salt. Canned beans can vary by 800% in salt. 

Vegetables I enjoy are peas, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, lima beans, chick peas, asparagus, broccoli, etc.

The other groups are nuts and seeds, with very large nutritional value. Ground flax seed is dirt cheap and recommended against cholesterol. People can buy questionable statin drugs (for cholesterol fees from the happy doctors and pharmacies). A handful of walnuts will clear up the extra bad cholesterol for peanuts.

My vegetable consultant has discussed a lot of these issues with me, and I have learned a lot. I switched over to tea, also, then to loose tea - lots to learn. 

Bad food habits are hard to break, but so are good food habits.

The LCMS University Dominos Are Ready To Fall Down. The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) Take Note.

 

This is the tool used most in colleges today. 

Rick Strickert (Carlvehse) Senior Member Username: Carlvehse Post Number: 11061 Registered: 10-2003

Posted on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 - 3:19 pm:       The CUWAA Board of Regents has issued a Tuesday, April 16, 2024 - Update. The update acknowledges that the most recent [?} fiscal year had a deficit of $9 million. The update also noted that: The Ann Arbor campus cannot generate enough auxiliary revenue to sustain its current cost structure. The university–especially the Ann Arbor campus–cannot maintain the status quo. The university administration is enacting a reduction in force across both campuses and is pursuing a process for program priorization. The Board of Regents has ensured that the Ann Arbor campus will be open for the 2024-25 Academic Year, A task force consisting of four subcommittees will complete a report and submit it by the end of May to the Board of Regents, who plan to publish the findings of whether or not the Ann Arbor campus can support itself as an independent institution.

How many have already fallen? 

1. NYC
2. Selma
3. China
4. Texas going independent
5. Portland's HotChalk
6. Valporaiso - ex-LCMS
7. Ann Arbor - dire straits
8. Mequon - the Catholic campus WELS rejected

The Concordia ship's captain went too fast in shallow waters and drowned 32 passengers. He survived by taking the first boat to safety.

The Concordia today.

I learned an important lesson some years ago - "Live on the basics, save for the emergencies." I was giddy with the income from working at two schools at once, but all the schools were going online, so the game turned upside-down.

I could have given the LCMS universities advice, $37.52 for each advisory, leather notebook extra.

1. Use the online changeover to merge schools, because the local campus concept has become a dinosaur, too large, too expensive, and becoming extinct.
2. Do not use the gym, athletic fields, and sports scholarships to lure students, only to empty their parents' pockets. Taint Notre Dame.
3. Open Google maps and see how close other Lutheran colleges are. Two tiny colleges with big gyms nearby make no sense (Bethany ELS and Martin Luther WELS - about 35 miles).
4. Stick with the reason for the school rather than collecting lots of departments and classes and teachers and costs. One Florida school offered a degree in deep water fishing. 
5. Study the Reformation, which changed education, based on classic studies and Lutheran doctrine - not Church Growth buffoonery.
6. Fire all the extraneous synodical drones. Or retire them. 
7. Stop the Walther idolatry.

Bishop David Letterman

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 3 - "For it is the hour of true sorrow, when I will be to you dead, with all the joy, comfort and assurance you had from me, and you yourselves will be totally lost. However, my dear little children, only think of these words and forget not entirely what I now say to you. It shall not be so forever. A little while I shall be lost and not be seen."

 

Complete Sermon - Third Sermon: Christ’s Death and Resurrection; the Comfort Christ Ministers to his Disciples, and the World’s Joy

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

16. Observe, Christ here gives such joy to the world, and on the other hand severe sorrow to his disciples in that they must see, hear and suffer this. It must penetrate through their hearts, through their bodies and lives. And he truly pictures the world here to be as terrible and horrible as a child of Satan that has no greater joy than to see Christ defeated and his followers shamefully condemned and lost.

17. We see almost this condition now in our clever noblemen, the pope, the bishops and their rabble; how they maliciously rejoice and shout when they discover it goes a little ill with us, and how anxious they are that it under no circumstances remains concealed. It must be trumpeted forth until it reaches the abyss of hell. Dear God, what have we done to them? They still have their property and money, power and luxury, while we have hardly our daily bread. It is not enough that they are superior to us in everything they crave, while we are in other ways harassed and afflicted but they must besides be such bitter enemies to us that they do not wish us God’s grace but would have us burned in the lowest fires of perdition!

18. It is always a horrible sight, and the true fruit of the infernal spirit, that people cannot rejoice so highly over the good nor over worldly or human joy. Yea, no gold nor silver they love so intensely, no stringed instrument sounds so sweet to them, no drink tastes so good as to yield them the joy they feel when they see the fall and grief of pious Christians. They are so inflamed by hatred and a desire of revenge that they enjoy no really happy moment until they are able to sing: Praise be to God, the villains are at last out of the way! We have now rooted the Gospel out of the country. They have no rest and taste no joy before they have brought this about. Heretofore they have sought and partly accomplished this by many prompt intrigues, tricks and ill offices, and God allowed some to have for a short time a little joy, which individuals [contrived and arranged. But they by no means cooled their anger in this way, as they had desired to do.

B. THE COMFORT CHRIST MINISTERS TO HIS DISCIPLES.

19. Hence, Christ wishes to say here: You have now heard both what kind of joy the world will have, and what kind of sorrow will be yours. Therefore, learn it and cleave to it when you meet and experience it, so that you may have patience and lay hold of true comfort in the midst of such suffering. I must try you thus and let you taste what it means to lose me and for me to die in your hearts, in order that you may learn to understand this mystery and secret; for you will otherwise not study me. It will be too great for you to serve your time of apprenticeship in this exalted work, that God’s Son returns to the Father, that is, that he dies and rises again for you, to bring you to heaven. And if I do not allow you to be tried for a time, you will remain too imprudent and finally be incapable of doing right.

20. Therefore, he says, you must adapt and resign yourself to this, so as to experience what this “little while” means, and yet not despair and be wrecked therein. And therefore I tell you before, that it must be so. You have to pass through such sorrow inwardly and outwardly, that is, both in body and soul; but when it takes place and the hour comes that you have nothing to comfort you, and you have lost both me and God, then hold fast still to my Word that I now speak to you. It is only a matter of a little while. Now, if you can learn this saying, and retain these small words, “a little while,” and “again a little while,” there will be no trouble.

21. True, the first “little while” that you now see me and still have me with you, until I depart from you — that you can suffer and pass through. But the other “little while,” until you shall see me again — that will be an especially long and hard time for you. For it is the hour of true sorrow, when I will be to you dead, with all the joy, comfort and assurance you had from me, and you yourselves will be totally lost. However, my dear little children, only think of these words and forget not entirely what I now say to you. It shall not be so forever. A little while I shall be lost and not be seen. This you must now learn by experience. But only retain this much, that I called it “a little while,” and in my eyes it is only a little, short hour, although in your hearts and feelings it is not a little but a long while; yea, an eternally long while and a long eternal while. According to your feelings you will not be able to think differently, for when I am taken from you, you have lost all, since I am the eternal good and the eternal consolation. When that is gone, there is no longer a little while, nothing but the eternal; namely, eternal sorrow and death.

22. Notice, Christ preaches here for the comfort of his disciples and of all Christians when tempted thus by God, whether it takes place inwardly or outwardly, bodily or spiritually, especially in the highest form, which is called losing Christ out of the heart; that they may learn this passage, and retain this drop of the lavender water, by which to refresh and strengthen their hearts. Christ, my Lord, has surely said it shall be only a little while.

Although I now lose him and know of no joy whatever, but lie prostrate and languish in pure sorrow, yet I will use that drop and cling to the cordial that he shall not continue to be lost to me. He says that it shall be only a little, short season, although it appears to me indeed to be great, long, and eternal. He will come again, as he here and in John 14:18 says: “I will not leave you orphans: I come unto you,” etc. And thus we shall possess in him eternal comfort and joy instead of this little season of sorrow.

23. On the other hand, Christ says further that you must endure it that the world rejoices over your suffering and sorrow, for which it has no reason except that of pure satanic jealousy, by which it is so completely blinded, embittered and exasperated that no joy relieves it until its jealousy sees you stumble and become ruined. This is its heart’s delight and pleasure and it esteems it a heavenly, eternal joy. Then it says: Let us now see whether God will save him; is he the Son of God, then let him come down from the cross, etc. Mark 15:31-32. As if they should say: He is now out of the way, and we are done with him forever.

Tom Fisher Clarifies the LCMS and WELS on Their False Doctrine

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

I decided to attempt to clarify what LCMS and WELS actually teach regarding the doctrine of justification. Neither WELS or LCMS were able or willing to honestly answer my questions. 

Here are my questions to LCMS that remain unanswered:

1.The Brief Statement says:

"Scripture teaches that God has already declared the whole world righteous in Christ."

Has God already declared the world to be righteous in Christ prior to and without faith?

Has God already declared little infants righteous in Christ prior to baptism and faith and the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Ghost?

2. The CTCR report states:

"But because theologically justification is the same thing as the forgiveness of sins, it is Biblically and confessionally correct to refer to the great sin-cancelling, atoning work of the Redeemer as the "objective" or "universal" justification of the whole sinful human race."

Has God already forgiven and cancelled the sins of the whole world prior to and without faith?

Has God already forgiven and cancelled the sins of little infants prior to baptism and faith and the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Ghost?

Renowned, powerful doctors of theology in LCMS are unable or unwilling to answer these questions. They refuse to reveal what the LCMS actually teaches concerning the doctrine of justification. Oh my! Could LCMS be officially teaching justification prior to and without faith in Christ?

C.F.W. Walther, the first President of LCMS preached that God forgave the sins of the whole world at Christ's resurrection. This clearly teaches God forgave the sins of the whole world prior to and without faith in Christ.

In contrast Scripture teaches no one is justified or forgiven without faith in Christ.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Scripture teaches we are justified by faith in Christ.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16,17

"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk 2:4

Faith is a flickering elusive thing. Many times our faith seems so weak we are convinced we have lost our faith. God wants us to be certain of our justification so He instituted the sacrament of Holy Baptism in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

Our Baptism into Jesus Christ is with us forever. We can always find our Baptism into Christ. Our Baptism into Jesus Christ depends entirely upon God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Our Baptism into Jesus Christ does not depend on our " accepting", or "asking Jesus into our hearts", or "making a decision", or "devoting ourselves", or "dedicating ourselves", or any other invented work that depend on us. Our Baptism into Christ is entirely God's work. 

In contrast LCMS officially teaches Objective / Subjective Justification that is contingent on you "accepting" it as true for you personally. Wait a minute!! The true justification in the Bible is permanent not contingent. Luther warned us it is very easy to slip and slide away from justification by faith.

This reminds me of an old John Wayne movie titled "McClintock". A huge fist fight broke out on top of a hill between the cowboys and the homesteaders. It was muddy so there was a constant stream of both cowboys and homesteaders sliding down the hill into a muddy pond at the bottom. Everyone was working to keep their balance and footing. This picture is similar to Objective/ Subjective Justification where you are constantly working to continue "accepting" Universal Justification as true for you personally.

Are you beginning to see the difference between true justification by faith and justification by works?  When we were helpless infants God baptized us into Jesus Christ, and justified us in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Here in our baptism into Christ we are permanently and eternally clothed in the righteousness of Christ and justified in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11

In contrast 0bjective / Subjective justification is temporary, not permanent. It is also contingent on you "accepting" it as true for you personally. It occurs prior to and without faith, baptism, the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. It is uncertain because it depends on you. God does not justify anyone prior to and without faith, baptism, the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Ghost.

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7.

True justification by faith is personal, permanent, certain, and eternal.  God calls us by name and baptizes us into Jesus Christ in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Notice that God is personal with us calling us by our name as He clothes us in the righteousness of Christ and justifies us in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in our Baptism.

In contrast LCMS Objective / Subjective justification is impersonal, contingent, temporary, and uncertain. Notice that you must be personal with God in order for God to justify you personally. You must "accept" Universal Justification for you personally. This is justification by works not justification by faith in Christ.

LCMS Objective / Subjective Justification is not permanently valid. If you die without properly and adequately and personally "accepting" Universal Justification as your own it is immediately changed into eternal damnation. This is a horrible horrible teaching. This is justification by invented works. 

True justification by faith in Christ is personal, permanent, certain, and eternal. It is entirely God's work and will never be cancelled. Notice the certainty of justification by faith in Romans 8:29,30. 

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans 8:29,30

LCMS theologians have deceitfully camouflaged Objective / Subjective Justification as justification by faith. They refuse to answer my questions.  They are slippery evasive eels. LCMS pastors and theologians lie and deceive by God's name and Word.

 C. F. W. Walther, the first President of LCMS is still their hero and mentor. Walther clearly taught a Universal Justification prior to and without faith, without baptism, without the washing of regeneration, and without the renewing of the Holy Ghost. 

C.F.W. Walther said, "For God has already forgiven you your sins 1800 years ago when He in Christ absolved all men by raising Him after He first had gone into bitter death for them." (The Path To Understanding Justification, Gregory L. Jackson, PhD; pg. 12; ISBN 9781072530428)

C.F.W. Walther clearly teaches everyone is already justified prior to and without faith, without Baptism, without the washing of regeneration, and without the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Note that this is not a permanent or personal justification. It is a temporary justification contingent on you "accepting" Universal Justification as true for you personally. 

This reminds me of being confronted by a "ask Jesus into your heart" fanatic. I was busy grocery shopping when this woman comes up to me and starts asking me one question over and over: " Have you accepted Jesus into your heart as your personal Savior?" I replied, "I am Baptized." She brushed my Baptism into Jesus Christ aside as irrelevant and said, "Sir, you must accept Jesus into your heart as your personal Savior." I firmly replied, "No I don't. I am Baptized!" She softened her tone and pleaded, "Sir, please pray with me. Just repeat after me. Dear Jesus I accept you as my personal Savior." I firmly refused and said, "Go away! I am baptized." I noticed her tone became increasingly threatening. "Sir, you must accept Jesus into your heart as your personal Savior or you will be eternally lost." I firmly replied, "No I don't need to do that. I am Baptized." I noticed her demeanor changed to deep sadness as she said, "Sir, I will pray God will help you to accept Jesus as your personal Savior. I am very concerned you are not a Christian." I firmly replied, "Go away! I am Baptized." I suddenly realized she would never go away. I had to weave my way into a crowd of shoppers to make my escape.  

Luther warned us that the greatest threat to our Christian faith would come from those adding things you must do to be a Christian. C.F.W. Walther, the first President of LCMS added an invented work you must do to be forgiven and saved. He added his version of synergism named "faith". How cute! He camouflaged justification by invented works as " faith". C.F.W. Walther said:

"Only one thing remains on your part so that you also possess the gift.  This one thing is--faith. And this brings me to the second part of today's Easter message, in which I now would show you that every man who wants to be saved must accept by faith the general absolution, pronounced 1800 years ago, as an absolution spoken individually to him."  (The Path To Understanding Justification, Gregory L. Jackson, PhD. ; pg.12; ISBN 9781072530428)

All of these invented works that our old nature adds to justification reminds me of the towering patch of rag weeds in my parent's huge garden. My brother and I would spend the whole summer chopping and hacking away to no avail. Soon new sprouts would shoot up from the roots.

 Reasoning, the highest powers of our old nature, constantly brings forth new rag weed "invented works" that we think need to be added to justification by faith in Christ. This is why Christ our Lord said:

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:5-7

Christ our Lord is speaking of the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost in our  baptism. 

" Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:5-7

Notice God baptized us, clothed us in Christ's righteousness, justified us, gave us the Holy Ghost, and made us His children and heirs of eternal life in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

"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." Galatians 3:26,27

When you were a helpless little infant God baptized you into Christ and clothed you in the righteousness of Christ. Heaven opened and God the Holy Ghost came to be with you forever. God the Holy Ghost is the gift you needed the most. Here in your Baptism God gave you the gift of the Holy Ghost to keep you in the one true faith believing in Jesus Christ His Son, true God and true man in one person. Jesus took all your sins upon Himself, was crucified, dead, buried, and rose again from the dead the third day, ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father for you.

"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

God laid all our sins on Jesus and clothed us in Christ's righteousness. Luther said:

 "By this fortunate exchange with us He took upon Himself our sinful person and granted us His innocent and victorious Person." (Martin Luther, CPH; LW; Vol. 26; pg. 284)

Then let us feast this Easter Day

On Christ, the Bread of heaven;

The Word of Grace hath purged away

The old and evil leaven

Christ alone our souls will feed,

He is our meat and drink indeed:

Faith lives upon no other. Hallelujah!

(Christ Jesus Lay In Death's Strong Bands; Martin Luther; The Lutheran Hymnal; CPH; 1941; Hymn 195)

Christ our Lord true God begotten of His Father from all eternity and also true man born of the virgin Mary is true God and man in one person. He took all our sins upon Himself, crucified, dead, buried, risen from the dead the third day, ascended into heaven and sits on God the Father's right hand for us. Christ is risen from the dead for you. He speaks to you today saying:

"Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Luke 24:38,39

Christ is risen from the dead for you! He speaks to you today with the same words he spoke to Thomas saying:

"Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." John 20:27

Christ is risen from the dead for you! He ascends into heaven to make His Father your Heavenly Father and His God your God.

"I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." John 20:17

Christ is risen from the dead for you! Believe in Him. Trust in Him alone. He is your true God and only Savior. He has swallowed up your death and hell in a victory for you. Christ has abolished your death and hell.

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes." Hosea 13:14

Christ is risen from the dead for you! Behold, He comes in the clouds to raise you from the dead on the last day. Trust in Him. He is your true God and only Savior.

"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 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

Christ is risen from the dead for you! He speaks to you:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgement also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:24-29

Believe in Christ. He is your good Shepherd.

"And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." John 10:27-30

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

KJV John 21 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.