Thursday, May 23, 2024

Charlie Sue Helps Me with the Roses, Hummingbirds, and Weeds

 


Charlie had a lot of fun this afternoon. I needed some hummingbird poles for the feeders, already had plenty of fuel for them, but was short on a few feeders. They take a beating over time, so I threw the groady ones away. Charlie began by chasing me around the yard, leaping to the air, and gently brushing my left hand. I found a beat-up ball from the neighbor and tossed it. She grabbed it and ran full speed in circles. 

 Joe Pye Weed is great for birds and butterflies. 
Pokeweed is even more generous toward birds.

Part of her routine is to lose the precious object and make me guess where it is, among six other balls deep in her hideouts. I have found her stash with three balls, different colors, at the base of the meanest rose one could imagine. Her buddies at Doggie Day Care had a similar bunch of three balls, also near the fence in a cluster. 

Clethra or Summer Sweet or Sweet Spice is a small shrub that can grow big with tiny flowers reserved for hummers and butterflies.

Charlie supervised me while I spread some red wiggler worms on the David Austin roses. They are producing a bouquet a day, so I like to help out their quiet earthmovers. My rainwater expert always suggests distributing the best source of fertilizer for the roses - rainwater (you guessed?). Early in the spring there is not so much need, but I like to keep the skeeters from having luxury breeding grounds. 

Charlie looked over each handful of worms - not too excited about them. The moles are the true worm farmers. They not only eat them but sometimes also store them in a bank. That is another example of Creation at work. Earthworms are vital and moles are great at chasing them and feeding on them. Those who hate moles would rather have them than Charlie, a ferocious hole-digger and menace to moles. The vet (who never heard of Patterdale dogs) laughed at my description of Charlie digging at fuel speed and sniffing carefully for an extra meal of mole. 

Porchie is probably too warm to chase around on days like this, but little Dustbin loves the word "RACE!" He loves to chase a ball thrown on our side, but he is now quite happy to initiate and dare Charlie to run along the fence with him. That lasted a short time, but Charlie had to energy to jump at me from behind and grin at her fun.

One hummingbird feeder is completely set up. Tomorrow I hope to get three more going. The four are parallel to the Doggie Day Care Fence and surrounded by roses, hosta, crepe myrtle, and clethra. Hummers especially love crepe myrtle, hosta, and clethra. Poke weed and Joe Pye Weed are already six feet tall, so they will welcome all kinds of birds, front and backyard the rest of the summer.

 Dustmop loves to race with Charlie. He is about half of her size but has great ambitions.


 Charlie is always smiling outdoors. This is a rare, serious look.

Hostas are already blooming with flowers few would notice, but they are loved by hummers. My initial hostas have spread in the shade and in the sun. They are fun to watch grow and leave a new plant when I try to dig them out of the front yard. Nope, they reproduce by the roots, even a root fragment longing to grow. I may put more in the far backyard, even if they look finished off after a hot dry summer.




Parable - The True Vine - John 15 - 11 AM Today

 

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15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman (george) .

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.




Stephanus Greek - John 15

15 εγω ειμι η αμπελος η αληθινη και ο πατηρ μου ο γεωργος εστιν

2 παν κλημα εν εμοι μη φερον καρπον αιρει αυτο και παν το καρπον φερον καθαιρει αυτο ινα πλειονα καρπον φερη

3 ηδη υμεις καθαροι εστε δια τον λογον ον λελαληκα υμιν

4 μεινατε εν εμοι καγω εν υμιν, καθως το κλημα ου δυναται καρπον φερειν αφ εαυτου εαν μη μεινη εν τη αμπελω ουτως ουδε υμεις εαν μη εν εμοι μεινητε

5 εγω ειμι η αμπελος υμεις τα κληματα ο μενων εν εμοι καγω εν αυτω ουτος φερει καρπον πολυν οτι χωρις εμου ου δυνασθε ποιειν ουδεν

6 εαν μη τις μεινη εν εμοι εβληθη εξω ως το κλημα και εξηρανθη και συναγουσιν αυτα και εις πυρ βαλλουσιν και καιεται

7 εαν μεινητε εν εμοι και τα ρηματα μου εν υμιν μεινη ο εαν θελητε αιτησεσθε και γενησεται υμιν

8 εν τουτω εδοξασθη ο πατηρ μου ινα καρπον πολυν φερητε και γενησεσθε εμοι μαθηται

9 καθως ηγαπησεν με ο πατηρ καγω ηγαπησα υμας μεινατε εν τη αγαπη τη εμη

10 εαν τας εντολας μου τηρησητε μενειτε εν τη αγαπη μου καθως εγω τας εντολας του πατρος μου τετηρηκα και μενω αυτου εν τη αγαπη

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) Have Apostatized - Step by Step

 


The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - have fallen from the Faith. This happened slowly - with superb harmony step-by-step, from their Father Below. 

First Step - 

Destruction of the Greek New Testament by Adopting the Fake Tischendorf Codices

What do all the mainline denominations and the Big Five hate, despise, and reject with all their powers? The answer is - the King James Version of the Bible.

All of the other English Bible translations are promoted by the professors - who have little Latin and less Greek - RSV, NRSV, ESV (licensed by the Marxist gay National Council of Churches), NIV (once owned by Rupert Murdoch, etc. etc. 

Readers - do not despair about how many years of Greek it takes to prove this. Have you ever smelled a skunk's pungent odor? Not enough people drive down country roads to experience that, even in an air conditioned car. "What is that?" Answer - A skunk was hit and killed. "Open the windows!" Answer - that will only make it worse. 

WELS warned readers about the snip and clip Bibles, using this graphic. But this graphic demonstrates the NIV, which the Big Five use with the giddiness of a sixth grade girl. 


Anyone can smell the skunk in the modern assaults on the Greek New Testament. The so-called scholars even show us what they have removed from the Traditional Text. They slice away the text to justify their dynamic equivalence translations, using footnotes to justify their mischief.

KJV Mark 1:1 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets

Westcott-Hort Greek NT - 1 αρχη του ευαγγελιου ιησου χριστου [omits Son of God] 2 καθως γεγραπται

A reader can find all this in the NIV sponsored Biblegateway.com



What's in your sect's publishing efforts?

                Second Step - Destroying the Reformation

The great Reformation leaders were Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz. The Big Five loathe all three, as proven by their lifeless promotion of the Reformation's 500th Anniversary. They have changed from Here I Stand to Here We Rot. When they are not racing over to Fuller Seminary to enhance their synodical perks, they are sinuflecting to Rome so they can purchase their gorgeous costumes and precious incense.

Sinuflecting is a clever term invented to describe Church of England priests snaking along the path to the Vatican. It worked very well for Rome.

These are just a few of the modern English Bibles, all eager to water down and toxify the Traditional Text of the New Testament. If any single one of these is so good, why do the rest have to alter the modern, scientific Bible, loved by the Tischendorf and Westcott-Hort fan club groupies?



Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity Sunday - "Here divinity is also ascribed to the Holy Spirit, since I may trust or believe in no one but God. And I must trust only in one who has power over death, hell, the devil and all creatures, whose authority withholds them from harming me, and who can save me. None will suffice except one in whom I may trust absolutely."

 



Luther's Sermons - John 3:1-15. Trinity Sunday


8. We can. therefore, have no surer foundation for our belief in the divinity of Christ than that we enwrap and enclose our hearts in the declarations of the Scriptures. The Scriptures gradually and beautifully lead us to Christ; first revealing him to us as a man, then as the lord of all creatures. and finally as God. Thus we are successfully led to the true knowledge of God. But the philosophers and the wise men of this world would begin at the top and so they have become fools. We must begin at the bottom and gradually advance in knowledge, so that the words of Proverbs 25:27 may not apply to us: “It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to search out their own glory is grievous.”

9. Our faith in these two persons, the Father and the Son, is therefore sufficiently established and confirmed by passages from the Scriptures. But of the Holy Spirit, the third person, we read in Matthew 28:19 that Christ sent forth his disciples, saying to them: “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Here divinity is also ascribed to the Holy Spirit, since I may trust or believe in no one but God. And I must trust only in one who has power over death, hell, the devil and all creatures, whose authority withholds them from harming me, and who can save me. None will suffice except one in whom I may trust absolutely.

Now, Christ in this passage commands that we should also believe and trust in the Holy Spirit; therefore he must be God. In the Gospel according to John, Christ speaks frequently to his disciples of the Holy Spirit, his power or existence.

10. In Genesis 1:2 we read: “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” But this passage is not as clear as the one last quoted; the Jews attack it and affirm that the word “spirit” in Hebrew signifies “wind.”

11. David says in Psalm 33:6: “By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the Spirit of his mouth.” Here it is quite clear that the Holy Spirit is God, because the heavens and all their hosts were made by him. And, again, David says in Psalm 139:7-8: “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.” Now, this cannot be said of any creatures — that it is everywhere and fills the whole world — but only of God, the Creator.

12. Therefore, we cling to the Scriptures, those passages which testify of the Trinity of God, and we say: I know very well that in God there are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; but how they can be one I do not know, neither should I know it. This may suffice for the first part. Now we will come back to the Gospel and say something on that in the time that is left us.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Iowa Wind Turbine vs. Tornado - May 21, 2024

 


Bringing Joy, Good Will, And Worthwhile Acts into Each Day

Porchie and Dustmop entertain Charlie, who even waits in a drizzle to play with them.
Racing along the fence is great fun for everyone.


Someone asked about ways to be cheerful in the light of so many disasters around us. I could name them, but they are widely known and generated on purpose. For instance, I have experienced companies deliberately cheating on a bill. One company overcharged me by 50%, and I had their own email proving how far off they were. The first response was the muddled lying used by companies now, if not their AI robot, then a humanoid with an even lower IQ. I twice told one company that "No, I do not want to renew...ever." They billed me $900!  At the same time, a computer company billed me $250. I settled all three falsehoods simply by talking about "legal responsibility" and "fraud." 

If they are building up fury in the costumer, I know it is a confidence scam - knowingly cheating so the customer will slam down the phone and give up. In case anyone wonders, the best way is to cheerfully and politely suggest the doom developing for the crooks. They want a tantrum with empty threats. I may say, "I have already talked to my attorney," but I would rather stir their imagination. The credit union sued me for $200 that was already paid, using a lengthy, attorney letter with various threats. I stated the facts on their voicemail, mentioned my attorney, and got two apologies, the second one especially gracious and apologetic.

We have to stand up for ourselves with dishonest people in the short run. In the long run they have to face God Himself for their chicanery.

Worthwhile Acts

I post on this blog every day, starting with the Daily Luther Sermon Quote. I am happy to hear all the responses and I enjoy each one myself. 

I was going to slow down on blogging but one reader said that many were counting on it for information. I never expected more than 20 readers per day, and now there is a larger group. Our congregation has grown rather than shrinking, so I know we are doing something wrong!

This is not a gardening neighborhood, so I share the excesses. I used to take roses to all the doctor appointments but now I take them to neighbors and Bible John's wife. Mother's Day is for every mother getting roses. Christina said, "Grass is boring. Make the front yard a rose garden." I have had people stop their cars and ask about it. I give Creation Gardening to people.

This is the happy corner, which now has the ID of Christina for her first day at Augustana College, the day we met. I told my brother I was going to ask for a date and maybe marry her. She said "Maybe?" when I told Moline friends, 40 years later. One Moliner (same dorm) told everyone that Christina could not stop saying my name over and over. She said, "I don't remember that!" We all laughed that much more.


Norma A. Boeckler's garden.


ALPB Ovatines Shocked at the Latest Bad News Bears

 


The ALPB Online Forum continues its solemn march into higher education oblivion. I just wrote about California Lutheran (ELCA) firing its president and hiring John Nunes (LCMS/ELCA) as a temporary president. His credentials include closing the NYC LCMS college, so he is going to be in demand to close a few more schools in a few more years.

The Forum Letter is a bit shocked about how far their ELCA buddies are taking liturgy. More reports are coming in, all parading the same package. I could copy a few paragraphs, but today's Big Five shock - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC - only stirs up boredom, ennui, and despair.

In other news, the failing LCMS college in Ann Arbor has announced cutting its athletic program (yawn) when they previously promised it would continue another year. Colleges do not implement or dissolve programs overnight. Claiming it was going to last one year more (Les Mis) is the same as ending in one year. 

Once upon a time an engineering firm asked for everyone to meet in the conference room. A witty guy asked, "Will this be for resume writing?" They were being absorbed by a much larger firm. Nothing was named but people were looking ahead, and it did happen.

Reformation Seminary - New Testament Greek Lesson - Beatitudes

 


Click here for all previous YouTubes

Matthew 5:1 ιδων δε τους οχλους, ανεβη εις το ορος και καθισαντος αυτου, προσηλθον αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου

ochlophobia, cathedral, math

2 και ανοιξας το στομα αυτου, εδιδασκεν αυτους λεγων

stomach; didactic

3 μακαριοι οι πτωχοι τω πνευματι οτι αυτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων

pneuma, pneumatic, pneumonia; Basil; Uranus

4 μακαριοι οι πενθουντες οτι αυτοι παρακληθησονται

"called close beside"

5 μακαριοι οι πραεις οτι αυτοι κληρονομησουσιν την γην


6 μακαριοι οι πεινωντες και διψωντες την δικαιοσυνην οτι αυτοι χορτασθησονται

dipsomania

7 μακαριοι οι ελεημονες οτι αυτοι ελεηθησονται

eleemosynary - works of mercy

8 μακαριοι οι καθαροι τη καρδια οτι αυτοι τον θεον οψονται

Kathy

9 μακαριοι οι ειρηνοποιοι οτι αυτοι υιοι θεου κληθησονται

Irene, 

10 μακαριοι οι δεδιωγμενοι ενεκεν δικαιοσυνης οτι αυτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων


11 μακαριοι εστε οταν ονειδισωσιν υμας και διωξωσιν και ειπωσιν παν πονηρον ρημα καθ υμων ψευδομενοι ενεκεν εμου


12 χαιρετε και αγαλλιασθε οτι ο μισθος υμων πολυς εν τοις ουρανοις ουτως γαρ εδιωξαν τους προφητας τους προ υμων

I.

Copy a Greek word into the search, add Strong for sorting out and Thayer for definitions.

That will give you a page of examples and explanations for that Greek word.

II.

Always look for Greek words that are common English words - Irene, pneumonia, Uranus. People who learn NT Greek have a much higher score on English exams, IQ tests. 

Three rules for learning Greek - repetition, repetition, repetition.




Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity - "This word signifies that there are three persons in God. It is a heavenly mystery which the world cannot understand. I have often told you that this, as well as every other article of faith, must not be based upon reason or comparisons, but must be understood and established by means of passages from the Scriptures, for God has the only perfect knowledge and knows how to speak concerning himself."

 



Luther's Sermons - John 3:1-15. Trinity Sunday


Text: John 3:1-15 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, 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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

I. THE HOLY TRINITY.

1. Today we celebrate the festival of the Holy Trinity, to which we must briefly allude, so that we may not celebrate it in vain. It is indeed true that the name “Trinity” is nowhere to be found in the Holy Scriptures, but has been conceived and invented by man. For this reason it sounds somewhat cold and we had better speak of “God” than of the “Trinity.”

2. This word signifies that there are three persons in God. It is a heavenly mystery which the world cannot understand. I have often told you that this, as well as every other article of faith, must not be based upon reason or comparisons, but must be understood and established by means of passages from the Scriptures, for God has the only perfect knowledge and knows how to speak concerning himself.

3. The great universities have invented manifold distinctions, dreams and fictions by means of which they would explain the Holy Trinity, and have made fools of themselves. We shall therefore quote only passages from the Scriptures in order to determine and establish the divinity of Christ. In the first place, we quote from the New Testament, where we find many proof texts; for instance, John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.” Now if he is not made, but is himself the Maker, he must indeed be God. John also says afterwards: “And the Word became flesh.”

4. Again, we quote from the Old Testament, where David says, in Psalm 110:1: “Jehovah saith unto my lord, Sit thou at my right hand,” that is, sit upon the royal throne and be a lord and king over all creatures, all which must be subject to thee — “until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” In Psalm 8:4-8, we read: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him but little lower than God, and crownest him with glory and honor. Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” That means: Thou hast made him Lord of the whole world. Paul explains this passage, in Ephesians 1:20 and Colossians 2:9-10, in a masterly way. Now, if God has set him at his right hand and made him lord of all in heaven and on earth, he must indeed be God; for it would not be fitting that he should set him at his right hand and give him as much power over all creatures as he himself possesses, if he were not God. God will not give his glory to another, as he says in Isaiah 48:11. Thus, we have here two persons, the Father, and the Son to whom the Father has given all that is subject to him. To “sit at the right hand of God” means to be over all God’s creatures; he must therefore be God to whom is given all this.

5. God has also commanded us not to worship strange gods. Now, we read in John that, according to the will of God, we should honor the Son even as we honor the Father. These are the words of John 5:19-23, where Christ says to the Jews: “Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will. For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son; that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.” These are, to my mind, truly clear and distinct words concerning the divinity of Christ. Now, as God commands that we should have only one God, and should not render to any other creature the glory which belongs to God and is due him, and yet he gives this glory to Christ, Christ must indeed be God.

6. Paul says in Romans 1:2-4: “The Gospel he promised afore through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord.” Therefore, according to the flesh he began to exist, but according to the spirit he existed from eternity, although it was not clearly understood before; as it was not necessary that we should make a God of him, but only that we should declare and understand that he is the Son of God. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, as Christ himself says in John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth.” And elsewhere the Evangelist writes, John 17:1-5: “These things spoke Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee: even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life. And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ. I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do. And now, Father. glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

7. We also read in Psalm 2:8: “Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” He is truly enthroned king of all. He is God’s child, and the world it subject to no other prince or king. Likewise, in another psalm, David openly calls him God, when he says: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of equity is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” Psalm 45:6-7. God will make no one such a king who is not God, for he will not give the reins out of his hands; he alone will be the Lord over heaven and earth, death, hell, the devil and all creatures. If he, then, makes Christ Lord of all that is created, Christ must truly be God.

8. We can. therefore, have no surer foundation for our belief in the divinity of Christ than that we enwrap and enclose our hearts in the declarations of the Scriptures.

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Tom Fisher Points to the Good Shepherd Lesson, KJV John 10:7-11

 

Tom Fisher's lambs love to frolic.



Dear Pastor Jackson,

Jesus our Good Shepherd described a sheepfold to protect the sheep from harm and evil. I also have a sheepfold consisting of 1200 feet of portable fence around two acres of lush pasture.  Every day I fence in a new pasture for my sheep and lambs. I open the gate to the new pasture and call "sheeeeep, sheeeeep.". They all know my voice and come running to be the first to go through the gate into the lush new pasture. The lambs, eager to play and have fun, really  take off running, bucking, and leaping in the air with wild abandon!

Jesus said:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep " KJV John 10:7-11

Wescott, Hort and their minions in LCMS, WELS, and ELS are the thieves and robbers who steal God's Word from us poor Christians. I can hear them howling and yowling:

"We do not have the original autographs, therefore we do not have God's pure Words without errors and omissions. All copies and translations contain errors and omissions. God the Holy Ghost did not preserve God's Word. God the Holy Ghost allowed errors and omissions to corrupt all copies and translations of God's Word. We are wolves of the devil's pack. We delight in blaspheming God the Holy Ghost. Vaticanus and Sinaticus are superior; therefore Mark 16:9-20 must be omitted. God (Theos) must be omitted from 1 Timothy 3:16. 1 John 5:7-8 must be truncated and mutilated. The word "Godhead" must be removed from Colossians 2:9. Jesus never taught the ending to the Lord's prayer. Jesus instituted Holy Communion as a Calvinist covenant that gives nothing therefore He said 'covenant' not 'testament'. We are the devil's wolf pack and follow the howls of the Alpha wolves Wescott and Hort who changed and  corrupted God's Word in 8,000 places."

We poor harassed  Christians hear and believe the voice of Jesus our good Shepherd:

"Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away." Matthew 24:35

God launched the reformation of the whole world 500 years ago with His exact Words in the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Luther's 1545 German Bible, and the King James Bible. God preserved the exact same Words He inspired the prophets and apostles to write thousands of years ago in the TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Luther's 1545 German Bible, and the King James Bible. These are God's Bibles. They contain no errors or omissions. They are the pure efficacious Words of God. God the Holy Ghost has attached Himself to these Bibles. 

"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Psalm 12:6-7

"The grass withereth the flower fadeth but the word of our God shall stand for ever." Isaiah 40:8

In contrast, God soundly rejected the corrupt Vaticanus and all the corrupted Bibles (Nestle-Aland, United Bible Society, ESV, NIV, RSV, NKJV, Becks, NASB, etc) that proceed from it. The corrupt Sinaticus is a complete fraud. Read all about it in: The King James Version: Apostolic Texts, Precise Translation verses Fraudulent Texts and Heretical Translations, Gregory L. Jackson, PhD, ISBN 9798429093451, pg.170

It's Pentecost today. God the Holy Ghost continues to guide us into all truth in the King James Bible and to reject the corrupted Bibles (NIV, ESV, RSV, NASB, NKJV, Beck's, Nestle-Aland, United Bible Society etc). 

God the Holy Ghost guides us to reject the universal justification without faith taught in the 2011 NIV in Romans 3:24.  It adds the word "all" to force the text to say "all are justified".  Read all about this fraud on pg. 169 of Pastor Greg Jackson's book, The King James Version: Apostolic Texts, Precise Translation verses Fraudulent Texts and Heretical Translations.

Oh my! I hear another dangerous wolf pack howling in unison with their leader C. F. W, Walther who said:
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
Let's step out of the weeds for a moment and attempt to grasp this highest blasphemy and mockery against God and His work in Baptism, faith, the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Do you see how they are all permanently tore away from justification. Yes, all of these most necessary works of God in baptism, faith, the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost are permanently tore away from justification. These works of God must come first in justification. 

In contrast OJ / SJ insists universal forgiveness comes first, prior to and without faith, Baptism, the washing of regeneration, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

God does not change. OJ/SJ insists God changed and therefore all of His judgement and condemnation  against the world has already been reversed into universal forgiveness and acceptance without and prior to faith, Baptism, the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. OJ places the whole world under grace prior to and without faith and Baptism. Yet without faith it is impossible to please God. In contrast God's Word teaches the whole world is under the full condemnation of the law. Do you see how OJ/SJ teaches the exact opposite of Scripture:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him..." Hebrews 11:6

"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Romans 3:19

"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." 1 John 5:19

"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 3:16-18

LCMS, WELS, ELS, ELCA are all stuck with this blasphemous objective universal justification that has permanently tore away God's work of Faith, Baptism and the renewing of the Holy Ghost from justification. 

True justification by faith was given to Abraham 400 years before the law and thousands of years before CFW Walther's blasphemous objective justification without faith, without Baptism, without the renewing of God the Holy Ghost.

Walther continues his howling and yowling:

"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

Notice how Walther changes true faith in Christ into 'accepting' that God has already forgiven the whole world prior to and without faith, baptism, the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Notice the phrase, "0nly one thing remains on your part."  So God does a part and man does a part. Man's part is 'accepting' or 'making a decision to accept'. This is adding man's work of 'accepting' to God's part. This is justification by works not justification by faith in Christ. The fancy word for this heresy is 'synergism'.

Objective and Subjective justification are extremely confusing and obtuse to true Christians.  It makes absolutely no sense at all. God has already judged the whole world to be guilty and condemned under the law. Objective Justification teaches God has already reversed this and now has already forgiven the whole world prior to and without faith, baptism, the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. God then reverses this forgiveness as men die without accepting that everyone is already forgiven. Do you see the mockery of God here! It also laughs at Christians attempting to unravel this heresy. Objective justification enthusiasts have found a way to escape being judged guilty under the law without repentance and true faith in Christ. 

Tom Fisher





An Expert in Closing Lutheran Colleges - John Nunes, LCMS, ELCA

 

"California Lutheran University President Lori Varlotta has resigned. 

Lori VarlottaLori Varlotta

She will step down from her role May 31.

The action comes only days after the school’s May 10 graduation and four months after an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the leader by the university’s faculty.

The school’s Board of Regents, which issued a statement of support for Varlotta following the no-confidence vote, on Tuesday issued a statement regarding the resignation.

“On behalf of my Board of Regents colleagues, I extend sincere thanks to President Varlotta for her service, which leaves the university well-positioned as we seek new leadership,” said Board of Regents Chair Ann Boynton."

"Replacing Varlotta on a two-year interim basis will be the Rev. Dr. John Nunes, who most recently served as pastor at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Santa Monica and served as president of Concordia College New York from 2016 through 2021, when the school closed.

Nunes has since 2020 served on the Academic Leaders Task Force on Campus Free Expression at the Bipartisan Policy Center. He is also a senior fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy.

Ordained as a Lutheran minister in 1991, Nunes holds a bachelor of arts from Concordia University Ann Arbor, a master of divinity from Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary and a master of theology and doctorate of philosophy from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago."

This Secret about Craving Food Could Make You a Millionaire

 


I have found the secret about craving food, after years of experimentation and reading books. 

Here is the path to make a fortune without reading any books, just this simple plan. Whatever the magic formula might be, just promote A TWO WEEK CRASH DIET AND LOSE 10 POUNDS! 

Once the two weeks are over, the victim I mean customer will gain it all back and then some, because the desire for the missing food is gigantic.

Every trademark food fad works that way, and the fad promoters all get rich as previous victims give it another try from a different source.

I found that slowly reducing the processed foods, pizzas, desserts, and candy will decrease the desire for those foods. The fat builders have to be replaced with greens, beans, vegetables, and fresh fruit. Foolish people like me thought of fresh fruit as expensive. 

Here is a sample - craving a dessert. The solution is eating two large apples (favorite kind - Cosmic Crisp). 

Another part of this comes from really studying  nutrition, from books and websites of Joel Fuhrman and Michael Greger. The facts about expensive processed foods will kill anyone's appetite.


Reformation Seminary - The Parable about Leaven (Yeast) - The Growth Unknown to the Snakeoil Salesmen - 11 AM Central

 


Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89778973126?pwd=OTzAxiJnPP74EuKPVKH2GEqXbeKpD3.1

Click here for all previous YouTubes

KJV Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

1. The dreams of the false teachers are based upon switching from one Biblical concept to something appealing to the Old Adam - using snacks and drinks for the worship service, wearing clown clothes to make it more circus like, borrowing from pagans, coveting entertainment styles.

2. The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) are too conflicted to figure this out.

3. Yeast or leaven is the point of this parable, too complicated for those who only buy bread.

4. Those false teachers who lack faith cannot figure this out, even though it is very plain and inspirational.

5. Whether commercial yeast or the starter for sourdough bread, the concept is to mix it in the flour and work it into the dough at the right temperature. The yeast ferments by eating the sugars and releasing carbon dioxide and ethanol. That emits a beer aroma.

6. The dough becomes rubbery, requiring some warmth (not too much) and it rises. A tiny amount can make a large loaf if all the conditions are right. 

Finnish Easter Bread

7. Baking the bread fills the home with a wonderful aroma. It is placed on a rack to allow cooling and drive hungry people crazy from the fragrance of yeast raising the dough in the heat of the oven.

The Big Five managers and salesmen do not understand or apply 

  1. the efficacy of the Word:
  2. the Holy Spirit working through the Means of Grace, sometimes called the Instruments of Grace, 
  3. the Visible Word of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, 
  4. the Invisible Word of teaching and preaching.

The yeast is the Gospel - which works slowly and inevitably. It is God at work in a parable so obvious and attractive that we can picture the results in time without man-made gimmicks. The parable also projects results over time, which we can see from church history - Kenneth Scott Lattourette.


Kenneth Scott Lattourette

Pentecost Tuesday - "Here are deposed from their office and power those who wish to rule in the Church and yet do not teach Christ’s Words but their own commands, and who require the people to obey them as bishops occupying the appointed seats of authority in the Church. So it is the duty of Christ’s sheep to follow Christ’s judgment, holding such teachers as dethroned, condemned and excommunicated from the Church of Christ, and fleeing from them as accursed. "



PENTECOST TUESDAY.

SECOND SERMON. JOHN 10:1-11.


KJV John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.






1. This Gospel lesson presents to us in a picture and parable that which is elsewhere taught concerning Christ’s kingdom and the office of preaching in the Church. The same topic, is continued in the Gospel of the good shepherd immediately following our text. Both portions distinguish the different kinds of teaching that claim to point to heaven; and from these words we may correctly judge which are the true teachings of the Holy Spirit. There are three distinct kinds of teaching here considered. Only one of them can save the soul. The first is the teaching of those whom Christ calls thieves and murderers; the second, that of the porter of the sheepfold; the third, that of the true shepherd, to whom the porter opens and whom he permits to enter. John says that the disciples did not rightly understand this parable until Christ explained that he himself, and he alone, was the door of the sheepfold and that he was likewise the shepherd. We, too, would not understand it if he had not shown us the interpretation.

I. THE FIRST CLASS OF PREACHERS — THIEVES AND MURDERERS.

2. It is a fact that these three classes are always found in the Christian Church. Herein is danger, and the need that the people be warned to be on their guard and to protect themselves well against teachers who spread heresy and destruction, and whose only object, wherever they appear among the sheep, is to steal from them the true pasture of pure doctrine and God’s Word, and to destroy their souls also. Therefore the apostles diligently warned the Christians against such teachers. Paul, in Acts 20:29-30, prophesies to them saying: “I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock,” etc.

3. Such are they who would lord it over souls with doctrines formulated or invented by their own wisdom, or who. with good intent, would dictate to them about what they should do if they would be saved. As, for example, did the Pharisees and scribes among the Jews; they thought themselves saved by their own human doctrines and writings and the worship of good works. And they in the papacy expect to be saved by that utter filth — their own false and self-chosen works, worship and monkery; not to mention their public idolatry and shameful lying nonsense — praying to deceased saints, their indulgences, purgatory and the like. They indeed do not wish to be regarded as thieves and murderers; they would be respected in the world as worthy, invaluable, and safe teachers and preachers. But when they are made manifest by the Word of Christ, it is discovered that they awfully mislead and ruin the souls who follow them.

4. They are called thieves because they come stealthily sneaking, and with smooth speech, as Paul says in Romans 16:18; and they come also with imposing airs, and in true sheep’s clothing, especially advertising their faithfulness and their love of souls. But these are the very marks by which, as Christ teaches, they are to be known; they do not enter by the door, but climb up some other way, or, as Christ himself explains, they come before him and without him, not pointing and directing to him as the only Shepherd and Savior.

5. For the words “came before me” do not refer to those who preached before Christ; nor only to those who undertake to preach without a call and secretly sneak into the fold, who are certainly no better than thieves and murderers. But the words refer in general to all those — yen to them who have a true call and are regularly installed in office — who do not begin with and adhere to the doctrine of faith in Christ as the chief article of Christianity, but mislead the people, directing to their own holiness and their own worship, which ignores faith in Christ. If it were not for this error, such teachers would never harm with their doctrine; for all doctrines concerning works would be harmless if they did not teach faith and trust in works as being sufficient to merit the forgiveness of sins. But in no case is to be tolerated the teaching that we are to place in them our confidence and faith, for it should be centered alone in Christ; nor that we esteem them to be a special service to God when they are without the Word of God.

6. We could also without wrong keep all the commandments of the pope and of his councils if they be not in opposition to God’s Word — when they refer only to outward order and the observance of certain times — the use of certain clothing, meats, and the like; as in other things a person may follow custom. Yes, such outward and immaterial things were without harm if they did not claim that they are necessary to salvation or serve to promote it. Just so the greater part of their priestcraft and monkery is mere unprofitable, useless jugglery and simply child’s play, appropriate to a Shrove-Tuesday carnival performance or to a puppet show. But that they should command man to do such works at the peril of being lost, and say, He who fails to do them shall fall under the wrath and displeasure of God Almighty and of all the saints, and be condemned to hell — that is the wolf-like and murderous voice of the true Antichrist in Christendom.

7. Now, these destructive thieves and murderers are the great multitude; they are always in the majority in the world. And they cannot be different since they are out of Christ. The world desires such wolf preaching, and is not worthy of anything better since it will not hear nor respect Christ. Hence it is that there are so few true Christians and faithful preachers, always outnumbered by the members of the false church. Teachers and pupils mislead one another; as Moses says, the drunkards draw the thirsty after them and lead them to ruin. Deuteronomy 29:19. But Christ on the other hand comforts the true Church with his counsel to his dear sheep to guard against the false teachers and not to listen to, nor follow, them; as he says later, in plainer words: “My sheep hear my voice, but they hear not the voice of strangers.”

8. True, the sheep may at first and for a time be deceived by the false appearance and actions of thieves and robbers. Such has been the case hitherto under the papacy when all the pulpits and churches were filled with the false and only a few sheep heard the voice of Christ, the true shepherd; as Christ declared in Matthew 24:24, saying, that they would lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Yet, at last he shall help them to hear the voice of the true shepherd and follow him. And many such have been snatched out of the errors of papacy even on their death-beds, and have laid hold of Christ and died in him.

9. Now, these are the first class of cursed teachers and preachers who directly oppose Christ and only mislead and ruin souls. These he sharply distinguishes from himself, and passes judgment, teaching that we are not to hear them at all nor tolerate them, and that they who, themselves out of Christ, point the people elsewhere, are only thieves and murderers.

II. THE SECOND CLASS OF PREACHERS — PORTERS OF THE FOLD.

10. There are other preachers, who advocate God’s law and commandments, not devised of themselves, but taken from the Scriptures. Such were the teachers or scribes among the Jews, so far as they adhered to Moses and the Scriptures; of whom Christ says: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe.” Matthew 23:3.

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

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

13. Such among the Jewish people were Moses and the prophets, likewise John the Baptist; and such are all who still preach the Law for repentance, to point the people to Christ, who shall save them from sin and death. So, then, such exercise both offices of the porter. They restrain strangers who come as shepherds to draw the sheep after them, taking care that the sheep be not misled by the delusion of a false confidence in their works, but learn to know their sins and danger and be ready to heed their shepherd. Paul speaks of the office of the Law, in Galatians 3:23-24, mentioning how it was given that we might be kept in ward under it, and shut up unto the future faith in Christ. “So,” he says, “the Law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Where the Law is so taught that man, threatened by the wrath and punishment of God, is outwardly held under good discipline, and restrained from presumption and carelessness, and is inwardly urged by fear and terror to feel his helplessness and misery and to recognize his own inability — where the Law is so taught, the fold is rightly closed and guarded, and the sheep cannot run away into error and thus become a prey to wolves.

14. But this preaching and office of the porter is not enough for the sheep.

For if they should remain thus shut up, they would suffer and die from hunger. Therefore another duty of the porter is to open the door to the true shepherd, who himself comes and feeds the sheep. It is all for his sake — the preaching and teaching in the Church; otherwise one would not dare be a doorkeeper or preacher.

15. It is, however, opening the door to Christ when we thus teach the Law, as we said. God requires us to keep these commandments at the peril of our eternal condemnation. And though you have kept them as perfectly as you can, you must know that you will neither be justified nor saved thereby before God; for you can never fulfill them, as you are indebted to do. And if you were to fulfill them, still you would not thereby merit that God should give you mote than he has already given you, for which you are in duty bound to obey him; as Christ says: “Even so ye also, when ye shall have done the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10. Therefore you must, after all this, have Christ, the Lord, for the true shepherd, who gives you his fullness and riches, and you must be fed, pastured and saved by him.

16. Thus you rightly fulfill both offices, and correctly distinguish the doctrine of works from the doctrine of faith — we are to keep the Law, but not trust in it; for faith alone will keep us and comfort us with Christ’s pasture. So, works rest upon the obligation of the Law, and faith upon grace in Christ.

III. THE THIRD CLASS OF PREACHERS, IN WHOM ALONE CHRIST IS FOUND.

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

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

19. With the same figure in which Christ speaks of his office, which he administers through the Word, he speaks also of his sheep, telling how they are to conduct themselves in his kingdom — when the door is opened to him, they at once hear his voice and learn to know it. It is truly a comforting, cheering voice, whereby they are released from terror and fear and brought into liberty, where they can look to God in Christ for grace and all comfort. And where they once recognize this shepherd, they confidently hold to him alone and do not listen to the doctrine of any other. For they have, as the nature of sheep is, very keen ears, that respond to a very soft voice, and are very docile, recognizing and distinguishing the voice of their shepherd from all others who pose as shepherds. For now the experience of their own consciences and the witness of the Holy Spirit in their hearts testifies that no other doctrine or word can console the heart nor bring man rightly to trust in God and call upon him, except the voice of this shepherd, Christ. Therefore they reflect upon it without any doubting or wavering whatever. They do not gaze in wonder at what others teach or do, at what the world likes or the councils decree; if there were not a single person upon earth to agree with them, they would still be assured that they hear the voice of their true shepherd.

20. Yes, and they are of admirable intelligence; if they were, without fear or danger, given the choice, each pious soul would rather follow his conscience and plant himself upon Christ and his grace than upon his own works, even if he had an abundance of the latter. For of his works he is doubtful. Yea, he knows that they cannot stand before God’s judgment; as David and all the saints say: “Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight no man living is righteous.” <19E302>Psalm 143:2. But he knows that grace is assured to him; for it is God’s Word and truth.

21. What mean Christ’s further words: “And he calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out”? All hear the harmonious voice of Christ — the preaching of the Gospel: faith, baptism, hope and salvation they all have in common and in equal measure. The grace that Magdalene has is the same as that of the Virgin Mary, and that of Peter the same as the dying thief experienced.




22. But there is a difference when he begins to call by special names those who are in the same grace; as a shepherd has special marks for each sheep and calls one “Brownie,” another “Blackie,” or such names as he will. Likewise Christ produces special works in each individual when he comforts, admonishes, and helps him in his needs and cares, through his Word. Also he distributes to men his gifts: to one a stronger faith than to another, or more understanding; gifts to teach and explain the Scriptures, to preach, to rule. Again, he uses an individual for a special work, to accomplish more and greater things than another; he visits one with much suffering and another with little; he extended the Gospel farther through Paul than through the other apostles; he called Peter and led him to suffer in a different way than he did John.

23. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, says: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit,” etc. As in the same house there are many kinds of work, many occupations, but all the workers are members of the same fami1y, having the same kind of food; and as there are many members in the same body and each has its special work and use, and yet all are of the same body and the same in health, deriving a common pleasure from the food and nourishment: so in Christ’s kingdom there are many kinds of gifts, of works and sufferings, distributed to each according to his capacity and calling; but all are sheep of the same kind, sharing all his blessings, and one is as dear to him as another. He says further: “He leadeth them out. When he has put forth all his own, he goeth before them” etc.

24. This leading them out is, as I said, Christian liberty. They are now free; no longer penned up and captive under anxious constraint and fear of the Law and of divine judgment, but happily pastured and nourished in Christ’s sweet kingdom of grace. Of this liberty St. Paul says: “Ye are not under law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14. Again he says: “Now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.” Galatians 3:25.

25. This liberty does not mean that the sheep may now without a fold and without a keeper run from their shepherd unrestrained into error; or that Christians can do whatever the flesh lusteth for. But it means that, now free from terror and fear of wolves, thieves and murderers, they may live with their dear shepherd, in love and pleasure following where he leads and guides; because they know that he so defends and lovingly oversees them that the Law dare no more accuse and condemn them, even though they are weak as to the flesh and have not perfectly fulfilled the Law.

26. For here the Lord, God’s Son, is the shepherd, who takes the sheep under his grace, his shelter and protection; and he who will accuse or condemn the sheep, must first accuse or condemn the Lord himself. Paul gloriously and defiantly says in Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus,” etc.; likewise in verses and 34: “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” This is, I say, freedom of conscience — freedom from the condemnation of the Law. Now that we are in Christ, the Law has no claim on us, for the material, bodily life has no place here. It has its own external government and law, unrelated to spiritual life in the kingdom of Christ. “When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him.”

27. That is the Christians’ life under their shepherd. Christ ever rules, leads and guides them. They remain with him in the liberty of faith, wherein they walk, following his example in obedience and good works, of which example Peter says: Christ has “left you an example, that ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21. And Christ himself says in John 13:15: “I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you.”

Christ’s kingdom, as I said, was not instituted that we might indulge the lusts of our flesh; but that we, released from the captivity of the Law, under which we could not in sincerity do anything good, follow Christ forward cheerfully and with a good conscience in our lives and works. And each responds as Christ calls him, a special instrument for Christ’s use.

28. To follow the advancing Christ means that our whole lives and all our works be in the faith of Christ — a constant exercise of faith, wherein we recognize and are assured that because of this dear shepherd we have favor with God. Thus our works and lives, weak and imperfect in obedience as they are, are also under the wings of the mother hen, and are pleasing to God because of the shepherd. In this confidence we now begin to be obedient, to call upon him in our temptations and needs, to confess his Word and serve our neighbors. And thus, both in the inner and the outer life — which Christ here calls “going out and in” — we are to find pasture; that is, comfort, strength, help, the increase of faith, and everything good. To this end a Christian constantly needs the Word of Christ as his daily bread; he needs to learn from it and to exercise himself in it. Therefore, Christ says again, in concluding his words on the sheep that follow him: “For they know his voice.. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.”

29. That means, they know now how to keenly distinguish doctrine, faith and life; for they have the standard of the Word, which teaches them to cling alone to this shepherd, and thus be enabled to rightly judge everything offered to them and shun and condemn that which directs and leads them otherwise. Therefore, under this shepherd they abide indeed safe, undeceived and rightly led; they are excellent, intelligent, well sheltered, contented, secure and blessed sheep.

30. Notice that this parable pictures so beautifully to us Christ and his sheep that we see the inner life of his kingdom and the treasure we have from him. And it finely symbolizes how we should teach the Law and faith and works in the Church. But the Pharisees and their blind leaders and the false saints understand naught of this; as John here says: “But they understand not what things they were which he spoke unto them.”

31. Yes, although Christ even interprets and illustrates these things in plain words, yet his hearers do not understand them. They consider and estimate his words from the low plane of their own reason, which learns nothing beyond the doctrine of the law of works, and seeks the fulfillment of the same by its own strength; as Paul, in Romans 10:3, says of them: They seek to establish their own righteousness, and do not subject themselves to the righteousness that avails before God. Hence, when they hear the doctrine of our salvation, how our lives must be hid in Christ alone and nothing avails without him, they begin to blaspheme; as they say of him at the end of this sermon in verse 20: “He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him?” So in our day they revile the doctrine of faith as heresy, and say that we forbid good works; but thereby they candidly reveal their own blindness — they do not understand what Christ, faith and good works are.

32. We, however, who have — God be praised! — the true knowledge, should learn from this Gospel two things: First, that nothing should be taught in Christendom except that which pertains to this one shepherd, Christ — and every individual should guard against all that does not point to him for enlightenment of the conscience and for strengthening the hope of salvation; or that is not enjoined and commanded as necessary to keep.

Therefore, Christ calls himself the door, through whom alone we must go out and in; and true doctrine and faith, and life proceed only from him, lead to him and are found in him.

33. The second truth is that all Christians have the power and right to pass judgment upon any doctrine, and to turn from false preachers and bishops, refusing obedience to them. For you hear in this Gospel that Christ says of his sheep: “My sheep hear my voice, and a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of the stranger.” The reason Christians can rightly judge is because they apply the standard — as I mentioned — from this Word of Christ, that all who fail to teach Christ are thieves and murderers. These words have already passed the judgment and further knowledge than that of Christ is unnecessary. Christians, then, are in duty bound to follow this judgment, fleeing and avoiding all it contains, it matters not who, how wise or how many they are.

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