President Trump Was Shot Tonight - The Rifleman's Bullet Came Very Close

 

This is likely a bullet in flight.

I wrote to two university classes -

Let's Pray for President Trump

I was watching President Trump's speech live when the turmoil started. Gracious Good Shepherd, who watches over us. Give President Trump strength, courage, peace, and faith in these harrowing times. Reward the peaceful and punish the evil ones. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Please note this link about requested additional service to protect President Trump

https://redstate.com/jenniferoo/2024/07/14/dan-bongino-claims-trump-requested-heightened-security-from-ss-director-kim-cheatle-and-was-denied-n2176824#google_vignette

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - "For he shows indeed forcibly in this example that he is a rich and powerful lord and provider; yea, he is a rich miller and baker, better than any other upon the earth that has learned his trade perfectly. Yes, he does indeed very much work instantly and aside from and without any human help. He plows, harvests, threshes, grinds and bakes in a twinkling of the eye."

Luther's Second Sermon- Mark 8:1-9.
Seventh Sunday after Trinity.

9. Therefore the world should be advised, if it will take advice, that the lords, the princes, the countries, the cities and all in general make efforts to provide a little for the necessaries of the house of God and the kingdom of God, as they must do for other offices and arts, in order that they may give their whole attention to them and obtain their daily bread from them, which are needed much more than other offices and arts. While one officer or judge is sufficient, likewise one jurist or physician can meet the needs of one city or more, and for a time of the entire country; we must have thousands of preachers for the various countries since the parishes and districts are so many; for children are daily born who must be baptized and educated, learn God’s Word and become Christians. From what source can ministers be had, if they are not reared and educated? Then the churches must either stand vacant and the people scatter and go astray, or the people receive and suffer from coarse mulelike characters and corrupters of the Word.

10. But woe unto all who contributed to bring about such a state or have not tried to prevent it, that God’s house had to become desolate; much more, however, those who have discouraged and hindered others from entering the ministry, or continuing in it; for such characters are worse than the Jews or Turks. However they are not to be excused because they allowed themselves to be discouraged from entering the ministry on account of poverty, for their greatest lack was in faith that Christ would notwithstanding give them their daily bread or nourishment for their bodies, which, although at times may be scanty and bitter, yet, you are to remember on the other hand how very much greater treasure it is that one receives a piece of bread into his hands in an exceptional way and through the special blessing of God, than all the riches and fullness of the world.

11. Therefore the civil government should especially try to do something here and to be helpful to our children and posterity, and not withdraw its hand and by its example hinder and deter others, and do Christendom an irreparable damage. How will you give an answer to God if you through your cursed avarice retard or hinder a single soul in its salvation; I will say nothing about hindering a whole city or country by your example, so that they may no longer possess the Word of God and the preaching of it? And he must indeed be a cruel, unmerciful and cursed person who does not help his own children in this way, much more if he hinders it. For if we wish to be Christians we should positively know that we are called to do this, and it is the command of God that we all do it with both our hands and with all our powers, that the house of God may not become desolate nor the pulpits stand vacant and his kingdom cease, and that both we ourselves and the young people be not robbed of their salvation.

12. To be sure, in the Old Testament it was obligatory on everybody, and commanded by Moses, that the tenth part or the tithe be given for this purpose from all their income, Leviticus 27:30f. How much more should we Christians do for this cause, which is the most necessary, and without which no one upon the earth gives and does anything that Christ’s kingdom may continue built up, so that we allow his servants to eat with us in order that we may remain in the same kingdom of God, and give such grace and salvation to our children as an inheritance. If we do not do this then he will as a reward of our ingratitude put an end to our avarice and devouring spirit, so that we ourselves will soon perish; because such great possessions and provisions we have not, but that God can permit rust to enter among them through famine, Turkish war and other national plagues and everything be consumed, ravished or otherwise destroyed in a single year.

13. Thus will Christ warn us first of all here through his own example that everyone is required to help the kingdom of God and his Word with temporal provisions for the body; in case he himself cannot or will not become a minister of the Gospel.

14. Following this he also comforts those who are in the ministerial office, that they become not distressed or alarmed through their present want or poverty; but that they may know that Christ cares for them and will nourish them even in their poverty and will never permit them to suffer need and want, but will finally provide the richer bounty for them; yea, he has already thought of all things before and provided for them before they thought from what source they should obtain what they need.

15. For he shows indeed forcibly in this example that he is a rich and powerful lord and provider; yea, he is a rich miller and baker, better than any other upon the earth that has learned his trade perfectly. Yes, he does indeed very much work instantly and aside from and without any human help. He plows, harvests, threshes, grinds and bakes in a twinkling of the eye. For it is indeed a miracle and beyond the comprehension of reason that so many thousand men, not counting the women and children, were fed with seven loaves, that they all were satisfied, and yet some were left over; but he did it so quickly by one word, when he only touched the bread and gave to his disciples to distribute; there is at once ground to flour, baked and everything prepared for so many thousand persons and even more. He must be a fine king (as the five thousand said whom he also fed in a like manner, John 6:14), him we would also wish to have as our king, who should lead a multitude of people to the field and care for them, so that one could at all times reach into the basket or into the pocket, and richly feed and pay a whole multitude.

16. Now he can do that and in him we have such a king. Where he reaches there all is full, and where he gives there all must be sufficient and overflowing. Thus in Matthew 17:27 he told Peter to go and take a shekel out of the mouth of a fish. Who prepared or minted the silver there or who would seek there in the water and even in the mouth of the fish for money? But he can create it and take it when and where and as he wishes; yea, can also bring bread and water out of the rock with which to feed the whole world; for we see everywhere he does so daily and everything that the world has comes about only by such miracles which are not less miraculous, as St. Augustine says, than this miracle.

The Answer Is Either Too Obvious Or Too Difficult - Our Country Is in the Dumpster

 

Light and Truth

Our country was established by the Christian Faith, and our founders were men of faith, against witchcraft. This has been reversed by our generations - each one worse than the previous. The witches are back but adored now for their Satanic utterances.

The contrast is so obvious that few people acknowledge it. The denominations - especially the Lutherans and the Church of Rome - despise, ridicule, and parody the Christian Faith. One example is the increasing rot of worship, hymns, and Bibles. The earlier stagnation has become a fetid swamp where unbelievers are in charge and determined to extinguish the last sparks of faith.

Can anyone imagine the President of Yale University writing a hymn today?

Timothy Dwight, the grandson of Jonathan Edwards, was ordained a minister and became President of Yale University. His hymn has continued to be used ever since, in most denominations.

Can anyone imagine a synod president writing a hymn? Honoring the liturgy? Preserving the Word of God instead of marketing a profitable quasi-Bible?

The answer is - our country is in the dumpster.

They erased "the Son of God" from Mark 1:1 and the Resurrection from Mark 16:9-20.

They hate the KJV, which is very much like Luther's translation.
Tyndale, the most important translator of the KJV, associated with Luther and was killed by King Henry VIII's agent. Nevertheless, Tyndale's work prevailed a few years later.

The Ichabod Catacomb Plan For Congregations

 

Free Republic

"Without pretending to offer advice to the Methodists, instead I’ll offer a bit of advice to a large spectrum of churches for these times.

Maybe it’s time for some churches to eschew owning property, buildings, etc. Maybe it’s time for churches to seek out spaces to rent, or lease — such as hotel conference room areas, for Sundays only, while finding a nearby vacant office space, such as in a strip mall, to lease for clerical needs and for meeting spaces during the week.

That way, the landlords are on the hook for insurance, also building and parking lot maintenance. The church takes out a liability policy at a comparatively small price. Then the church would have funds to share with the poor, the persecuted, and for evangelism.

It’s a model that I think would work. And it would obviate the problem stated in this article."

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GJ - Worship in the spare room of a rented house - The Ichabod Catacomb Plan - offers minimal costs and flexible places for worship.

That marvel of expert buffoonery - Fuller Seminary - thinks everyone should follow their plans 

1. to own buildings and parking lots, 
2. to avoid associating the name of the parish while hiding its doctrinal foundation, 
3. to aim at material wealth while ignoring the rooster crowing - Luke 26:34.

In times past, the denominations aimed at reaching people rather than bragging about buildings. The efficacious Word of God will draw people to the truth.

Daily Lutheran Sermon - Trinity 7, Second Sermon - "But he takes the Word and the true doctrine entirely away, and in their stead permits fanatical spirits and false teachers to enter among them, by whom they are led astray and deceived before they are aware of it both as to their souls and property, and for their neglect they must contribute richly and most bountifully."

 

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

SECOND SERMON: MARK 8:1-9.

6. From this then will follow the ruin of the Church, in that the parishes will stand vacant, the pulpits be neglected and again preachers arrive who seek not faithfully God’s Word nor the kingdom of Christ; but who think, as they preach, what the people will gladly hear, so that they may continue in that direction and again become rich; and in this manner things will again go to ruin. Therefore also at present the great and powerful, especially the nobility, plan to keep their pastors and preachers under their feet in order that they may not again become rich, and lord it over them as they formerly experienced and are now overcautious. But they will not be able to bring it about as they plan.

7. How shall we now act in this matter and from what source shall we obtain preachers and pastors in order that the kingdom of Christ may be perpetuated? For neither poverty nor riches is good for the Church; mere poverty, hunger and anxiety the preachers cannot suffer; great possessions and riches they cannot stand. Poverty hinders the development of their personality; riches are in the way of them performing the duties of their work and office. But wherever it thus happens that support is not given, and the pulpit and the office of the pastor are left vacant, then will the world also see what it will have to enjoy because of such action.

For if each will consider the welfare only of his own house and seek how he may maintain himself and no one inquires how the Word of God and the office of the ministry are to be perpetuated, then will God also say as he said in the prophecy of Haggai 1:4-11, where the people also left the house of the Lord desolate, neglected God’s Word and the service of the temple, so that the priests and servants of the temple had to resort to work as farmers and learn to do other things, by which they could support themselves because nothing was given for their office and service.

Therefore he speaks thus: “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lieth waste? Now therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts:

Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith Jehovah.

Ye looked for much, and lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith Jehovah of hosts. Because of my house that lieth waste, while ye run every man to his own house. Therefore for your sake the heavens withhold the dew, and the earth withholdeth its fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.”

8. Behold, this is the punishment for despising the office of the ministry, when such punishment was the most gracious as it has been still in our day, and I would to God, that it might continue so. But when we esteem the Word of God so lightly and the ministers and preachers are so poorly supported that they are compelled to forsake their office and seek their bread through other occupations, and thereby also discourage others from entering this office, who otherwise are gifted for it and inclined to it; God not only sends famine and other great national calamities as now appear before our eyes, in order that no one’s purse may retain anything and no blessing and no provisions remain. But he takes the Word and the true doctrine entirely away, and in their stead permits fanatical spirits and false teachers to enter among them, by whom they are led astray and deceived before they are aware of it both as to their souls and property, and for their neglect they must contribute richly and most bountifully.

Protestia - Strange Concepts of Married Pastor in the United Church of Canada, eh?

 

Protestia - Patrick Woodbeck, who uses He/They pronouns, spent a decade as the pastor of Windsor Park United Church before taking on a position at Gordon-King Memorial United Church.

Both congregations are part of the United Church of Canada denomination, which was formed when liberal Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational churches merged to create a new denomination. A Canadian version of the United Church of Christ, they are a denomination so woke and corrupt that one of its most prominent ministers, Gretta Vosper, has spent decades leading her church as an avowed atheist, and she has never been removed.

“So my partner and I have been together for probably 16 years. And so we were exclusive up until four years ago, so we are in a relationship where we can engage in physical intimacy with others outside of the relationship, both together and alone.”

Tiny Shrinking WELS Commends Alternative Lifestyles, 

Not Unlike ELCA

Cross-dressing WELS Pastor Leads the Church Picnic! 

And so...

That Pastor Leads the Next WELS Teachers' Conference!

"I'm ready for my close-ups."

WELS Parish Welcomes Children Facilitating 

Pastors and Their Parents

 "These lipsticks proclaim the glory of WELS...?"

 Cross-dressing video-taped and published on YouTube? No problem. They all got calls.

 I always thought they were a bunch of thespians.

This Satanic symbol was posted on Facebook, WELS  graduate.

 Apsiring WELS college students reveals the correct use of sic.

WELS welcomes the onslaught.

Reformation Lecture - The Empty Tomb

YouTube

Note well - In 1987 I wrote to all the LCA-ELCA seminary presidents, asking if any professor taught the Virgin Birth of Christ and the actual Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The only answer was "perhaps one," since that professor published that the Resurrections could have happened. That seminary (Pacific by the Bay)  gave up their campus and went to the bottom of the hill, and now is renting space.

Simon Greenleaf, Harvard Law Professor, wrote the model work on evidence, and applied himself to the Testimony of the Evangelists. John Warwick Montgomery and Josh McDowell are known for their apologetics (defense of the Gospel).

Matthew 28:11 - Lenski  - bribe money for the centurions.

Greenleaf - neatly folded grave clothes..

Disciples mourning supports their lack of hiding the corps.

From Grand Canyon University -

"According to Dr. Licona in Strobel’s book, the majority of scholars today agree on the historicity of five events that took place near the time of the resurrection of Jesus:

1. Jesus was killed by crucifixion.
2. The disciples of Jesus really believed that Jesus had resurrected and appeared to them in a resurrected body. (This testimony was preserved in the earliest writings of the Apostle Paul, in the oral traditions of the first-century church and in the Christian writings from late in the first century and into the second century).
3. The conversion of Paul, which took place just a few years after the resurrection of Jesus; Paul had been a fierce persecutor of the Christians.
4. The post-resurrection conversion of James, the brother of Jesus, into a believer in Jesus. Before the resurrection of Jesus, James and the other brothers of Jesus had been skeptic about His claims.
5. The empty tomb of Jesus."

Robert Clifton Robinson:

Were The Gospels Written By Eyewitnesses?

There are 203 eyewitness statements in the 260 chapters of the New Testament that declare that the writers saw and heard Jesus. There are 396 citations in the New Testament where His crucifixion and resurrection three days later are recorded. These citations are in my book, “You Are My Witnesses: The Men Who Saw Jesus.”

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 7, Second Sermon - "And faith belongs here since Christ came not for the purpose of establishing a government that may be called a political or a domestic kingdom, which were long ago established by God and given for the purpose of meeting our bodily needs."

Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83439451568?pwd=5lI5K9Jtdcl0UbuDMwNBnBD56Vxre0.1

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

SECOND SERMON: MARK 8:1-9.

1. Today’s Gospel presents to us again both the doctrine and the consolation against the temptation in caring for the necessaries of this life, or the temporal support and maintenance of the Church upon the earth.

And faith belongs here since Christ came not for the purpose of establishing a government that may be called a political or a domestic kingdom, which were long ago established by God and given for the purpose of meeting our bodily needs. And reason itself here teaches how and from what source we can bring it to pass that everyone in his station may enjoy a livelihood, peace and protection, so that one may see before his eyes and have in his hands all the necessaries of life that he needs to maintain the temporal government. Therefore this did not claim the attention of Christ since it was not a part of his calling and office; but as his kingdom was to be a different government, in which all persons in all callings and offices, high and low, as sinners condemned before God to everlasting death, should be helped to the divine, eternal kingdom and life; the spiritual kingdom had to engage his attention while he passed by the other two, the civil, and the domestic.

2. Therefore it had to follow that his disciples, preachers and servants would have to suffer poverty because they could not outside of their service and office seek their livelihood as the rest of the world does, nor hope to become rich from their calling; in addition, that they, aside from this, would be persecuted by the world, which would oppose their preaching because it would not be in harmony with their understanding and prejudices. And thus the Christians in the world could not depend upon any sure guarantee for their peaceful life and protection; but had to live continually in uncertainty because of the world, and felt in danger and as restless as the waves of the sea because of that which they already had or might have. But should they have enough to eat and to drink and a place and a room where to live, they could not expect it from any other one than alone from Christ.

3. Now Christ knows this very well, therefore he arms and comforts his disciples with these and like examples and sayings in order that they might not despair. Although his kingdom has nothing to do with eating and drinking, building and caring for the needs of the body; yet they should not die from hunger. And this he again confirms in the passage of Matthew 6:33. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” For by to-day’s Gospel he proves that they, who followed him to hear his preaching, and followed him so faithfully that they continued with him three days in the desert, could not now very well return out of the desert without fainting and coming to poverty, need and distress on account of his Word. Yet since they sought first the kingdom of God and Christ had previously preached, prayed and accomplished that which pertains to the righteousness of God, there must follow also that which pertains to the body in order that they may learn to believe that they would not come to want and that they should expect from him all his Church needs for the maintenance of her bodily or external existence upon the earth.

4. It is true that in all ages of the Church two things have done and are doing great harm, namely, poverty and riches. For in the first place, we see the apostles and true bishops and preachers in such straightened circumstances, that no one gave them anything and they themselves were not able to acquire anything; hence everybody felt shy of such an office and no one wished to enter it. In the second place, when the church became extremely wealthy through great endowments and stipends and sat in all luxury, the ministers themselves neglected the office of preaching and the care of souls, and themselves became lords.

5. Just so it is also at present: Where true pastors and preachers are so poorly supported that no one donates anything to them, and moreover what they have is snatched out of their mouths by a shameless and unthankful world, by princes, noblemen, townsmen and farmers, so that they with their poor wives and children must suffer need, and when they die leave behind them pitiable, rejected widows and orphans. By this very many good-hearted and very clever people are more and more discouraged from becoming pastors and preachers. For all arts, trades and callings in life serve to the end that we may through them fortify ourselves against hunger and poverty; but with the office of the ministry the contrary is the case, whoever will perform its duties faithfully, must expose himself to danger and poverty.

Reformation Seminary - Romans 4 to 5

 

YouTube

                  Abraham - Romans 4 KJV

Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed [counted] to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.:

1. Abraham is the Father of Faith in the Bible. Genesis 15:5-6

2. The last section, Romans 4:23-25 is blocked by the Objective Faithless Justification false teachers, who only quote Romans 4:25.

3. Therefore...Romans 5:1 - connects Romans 4 through 5. This is a unit, not a Chinese cookie fortune with one verse.

Romans 5

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

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6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Tom Fisher - Born in Sin

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

All of us were born into this world in sin, under the law, condemned, under the wrath of God, and completely helpless. Notice the phrase "dead in sins" means we were born completely sinful with no way to free ourselves from our sinfulness. 

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

Christ our Lord said:

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15

Luther's hymn, From Depths Of Woe I Cry To Thee, is true repentance and true belief in the gospel.

"From depths of woe I cry to Thee, Lord, hear me, I implore Thee. Bend down Thy gracious ear to me, My prayer let come before Thee. If Thou rememb'rest each misdeed, If each should have its rightful meed, Who may abide Thy presence?

Thy love and grace alone avail To blot out my transgressions; The best and holiest deeds must fail To break sin's dread oppression. Before Thee none can boasting stand, But all must fear Thy strict demand And live alone by mercy. 

Therefore my hope is in the Lord And not in mine own merit; It rests upon His faithful Word To them of contrite spirit That He is merciful and just; This is my comfort and my trust. His help I wait with patience.

And though it tarry till the night And till morning waken, My heart shall never doubt His might Nor count itself forsaken. Do this, O ye of Israel's seed, Ye of the Spirit born indeed; Wait for your God's appearing.

Though great our sins and sore our woes, His grace much more aboundeth; His helping love no limit knows, Our utmost need it soundeth. Our Shepherd good and true is He, Who will at last His Israel free From all their sins and sorrows. (Martin Luther, From Depths of Woe I Cry To Thee; The Lutheran Hymnal, CPH; 1941; Hymn 329)

God our Heavenly Father had mercy on our helplessness and sent His only begotten Son Jesus to take all our sins upon Himself. Jesus was baptized into our sins in the Jordan River, heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon Him  from heaven in the form of a dove.  

When we were helpless little infants God baptized us into Christ, and clothed us in the righteousness of Christ. 

"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

In our Baptism, God has taken away the blindness of our understanding and has given us eyes to see the correct understanding of His Words. God gives us 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

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Ephesians 5:8-11

"Again a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth." 1 John 2:8

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:1-5

Keep in mind that our most damnable and filthy meritorious works come from our highest powers of reasoning and will. For example, "making a decision for Christ" is a damnable filthy meritorious work of our reasoning and will. Another example is found in the false doctrine called Subjective Justification where you make a decision to accept the lie that God has already justified and forgiven the whole world prior to and without faith, and without baptism. As true Christians we confess with Luther:

"I believe that I cannot by my own reasoning or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith: in which Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all sin to me and all believers, and will at the last day raise up me and all the dead, and give unto me and all believers in Chríst eternal life  This is most  certainly true.

(Martin Luther's Small Catechism, LutheranLibrary.org;

ISBN: 9798521116799)

Note that God the Holy Ghost, "keeps us with Jesus Christ in the one true faith". We are helpless without the Holy Ghost, so God gave us the gift of the Holy Ghost in our Baptism. The apostle Peter preached to the multitude at Pentecost in Acts 2:36-39.

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call ." Acts 2:36-39

Note that both repentance and Baptism are the work of God. Esau used his own emotional devotion to obtain repentance but could not find it. 

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Hebrews 12:14-17

True Christians confess with Luther: 

"I believe that I cannot by my own reasoning or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith: in which Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all sin to me and all believers, and will at the last day raise up me and all the dead, and give unto me and all believers in Chríst eternal life  This is most  certainly true."

(Martin Luther's Small Catechism, LutheranLibrary.org;

ISBN: 9798521116799)

Note that God rejected Esau because he sought repentance by his own works, will, and strength and yet failed to repent. Keep in mind we as true Christians remain completely helpless.  So let us turn away from synergism (cooperating with God with our own reasoning, will, and strength).  Luther covers everything when he said:

"I believe that I cannot by my own reasoning or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; "

We cannot believe in Jesus Christ our Lord by our own reasoning, will, and strength. God must give us true faith by His Word. His Word (King James Bible) is efficacious, living, and powerful because God the Holy Ghost has attached Himself to it.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17

"This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:29

We cannot even come to Jesus Christ our Lord by our own reasoning, will power, and strength.

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44

We cannot keep ourselves in Jesus Christ in the one true faith by our own reasoning, will power, and strength. God the Holy Ghost keeps us in Jesus Christ by the Word, Holy Baptism, The Office of the Keys, and Holy Communion. 

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." John 14:15-20

Note God the Holy Ghost is our Comforter. He guides us into all truth and teaches us all things. He brings to our hearts and minds everything Jesus has said to us.

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

"We now implore God the Holy Ghost

For the true faith, which we need the most,

That in our last moments He may befriend us

And, as homeward we journey, attend us. Lord, have mercy!

Shine in our hearts, O most precious Light,

That we Jesus Christ may know aright,

Clinging to our Savior, whose blood hath bought us,

Who again to our homeland hath brought us. Lord, have mercy!

Thou sacred Love, grace on us bestow, 

Set our hearts with heavenly fire aglow

That with hearts United we love each other,

Of one mind,, in peace with every brother. Lord, have mercy!

Thou highest Comfort in every need

Grant that neither shame nor death we heed,

That even then our courage may never fail us

When Foe shall accuse and assail us. Lord, have mercy!" (Martin Luther, We Now Implore God The Holy Ghost ; The Lutheran Hymnal, CPH; 1941; Hymn 231)

In Christ,

Tom Fisher