Reformation Seminary Lecture - 7 PM Tonight John 8:12ff.

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KJV John 8:

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. η μαρτυρια σου, noun and verb - martyr, bear witness

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. εγω εκ των ανω ειμι, also as anothen - from above.

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

Notice how early Jesus is declaring His divinity from above, His Father, and the opposition, blindness of His opponents. This builds in John's Gospel to the resurrection of Lazareth and his walk with Jesus to nearby Jerusalem.

YouTube

KJV John 8:

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. η μαρτυρια σου, noun and verb - martyr, bear witness

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. εγω εκ των ανω ειμι, also as anothen - from above.

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

Notice how early Jesus is declaring His divinity from above, His Father, and the opposition, blindness of His opponents. This builds in John's Gospel to the resurrection of Lazareth and his walk with Jesus to nearby Jerusalem.

Lutheran Librarian - Alec Satin - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry

 

May God bless you now and always. From your Lutheran Librarian,

📅 NEW PUBLICATIONS AND UPDATES

Living Fountains or Broken Cisterns: Education for Protestants by E A Sutherland “D’Aubigne says that in the Reformation, ’the school was early placed beside the church; and these two great institutions, so powerful to regenerate the nations, were equally reanimated by it. It was by a close alliance with learning that the Reformation entered the world. “True education, Protestantism, and republicanism form a threefold union which defies the powers of earth to overthrow; but today Protestant churches are growing weak, and the boasted freedom of America’s democracy is ... Read more How Europe Was Won for Christianity by M Wilma Stubbs “We do well to honor the great and good men and women of the past as members with us of the great Church Universal. Let us rejoice in their victories and conquests. Needless to say, God’s saints are not of one age or of one sphere of labor… Every sincere follower of the Master must recognize that He has other sheep and that all must be brought to know the great compassionate heart of the Father.” - From the Preface. Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject matter knowledge ... Read more True Stories of Great American Men for Young Americans by Elbridge S Brooks “There is nothing which (we or) our boys and girls so much love to read, or have told to them, as true stories of the lives of great and noble people. This book gives such true stories… how they came to be great and famous, and the wonderful things they did in the world.” - From the Introduction Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject matter knowledge needed." Contents About the Lutheran Library Frontispiece Titlepage Introduction Contents List of Illustrations The Inspiring History ... Read more Sermons on the Eisenach Gospels by J Sheatsley “One cannot continue long in the kingdom of God without in some way openly confessing the fact… There is a reason why a disciple of Jesus must soon confess Him… One of the sure evidences of your own pardon is a strong desire to tell others how they also may get the pardon.” -from Encouragement for Confessing Christ Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject matter knowledge needed." Contents About the Lutheran Library Foreword Contents Index of Sundays and Subjects Index of ... Read more Vindication of Luther Against His Recent English Assailants by Julian Charles Hare “When a man has taken a leading part in the conflicts of his age, it will often happen that… the feelings with which he was regarded during his life, will cluster around him after his death… Now perhaps there is no one in the whole history of the world, against whom such a host of implacable prejudices and antipathies have been permanently arrayed, as against Luther. For the contest in which he engaged is the most momentous ever waged by a single man… its issue is still pending.” - Charles ... Read more History of the Old Covenant by J H Kurtz “(This is) one of the best contributions towards the explanation of the Old Testament with which Germany has enriched our common theological literature. Comprehensive and trustworthy in its information, exhaustive in point of research and learning, fresh and vigorous in thought and style, throughout marked by sobriety and good sense; above all, thoroughly evangelical in its tone.” -Alfred Edersheim, from the Preface Level of Difficulty: Advanced: Prior subject matter ... Read more

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Reformation Seminary Lecture Later Today

 

"They did what?!" said Tom Fisher's cow.

I wanted to get the lecture going yesterday, but I had to start dealing with various home invasions, robbery, and mail theft. The thefts are the work teen boys (I figure) from this cul-de-sac. The police started their investigation. Detectives will be on it next, because a box of unopened mail, indoors, was taken. 

So I am having a super-lock installed Monday, surveillance is going to be worked out. I was going to upgrade my phone anyway, and that seems to be mandatory. 

The lecture will be at 7:30 AM this morning and YouTubed. I plan to go back to Tuesday and Thursday lectures at 11 AM, next week.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 21 - "Hence the devil, when he notices what a treasure faith is and in what a poor vessel it is kept, rages and storms, and in his wrath says to us: “I will strike you and shatter your vessel: you have a great treasure, but I will spill it for you; I will give you a blow. If I were permitted, how soon would I shatter the vessel. You are after all nothing but a little poor and weak vessel of earth.”

 

Complete sermon link -> TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. SECOND SERMON: JOHN 4:46-54.

9. Escape from the enemy is most difficult. He lurks and watches everywhere, and pushes his affairs so hard, that even the learned fall and the elect stumble, as did Moses, St. Peter, and the Apostles. We think we are safe, permit matters to drift along, no one is concerned for his own welfare, no one cares for it. We should pray and call on God to maintain the Gospel and cause his holy name to be proclaimed more and more widely; but no one cares, no one prays for the advancement of the Gospel.

The consequence of this must be, God will overthrow both us and Satan.

Our end will be, he will make us bite the dust, and through our own rashness and indifference we shall fall into great misery.

10. The devil also is able to present to the factious spirits the idea that they regard themselves as right, like the Arians who thought their cause was right. But there was no one who could decide whether or not their teachings were orthodox. The Christian, however, subdues his reason and does not deceive himself, but in humility says to God: “Dear Lord, although I feel certain concerning the matter, yet without thee I cannot maintain it; therefore help me or else I am lost.” To be sure he may feel certain of it, like Peter on the water, who could not well feel more sure that the water would bear him on; he knew of no more hindrance; but when the storm burst on him he saw wherein he lacked. The heart must have thoroughly grasped this idea that, although we may feel secure concerning a matter and have Scripture for it, and be prepared and fortified in the best possible manner with clear proofs, it is the power, will and might of God that protect us and defend us against the devil, our adversary and most bitter foe.

11. This occurs only, however, when God awakens us and keeps us in his fear, so that we may always be concerned and cry to him: “O Lord, help us and increase our faith, for without thee we are lost,” Luke 17:5. Our hearts should always be in the condition as if we had only begun to believe to-day, and always be so disposed toward the Gospel as if we had never before heard it. We should make a fresh beginning each day. The nature and character of faith is constantly to grow and become stronger. The devil, as has already been said, is not idle, and has no rest. If he is struck down once, he will arise again; if he cannot enter at the front door, he sees to it that he enters at the rear; if he cannot effect an entrance in this way, he breaks in through the roof or digs his way through underneath the doorsill, toiling until he effects an entrance, employing all manner of cunning and schemes. If one way fails, he tries another and perseveres until he succeeds.

12. Over against this, man is a poor, weak creature, as St. Paul says, Corinthians 4:7, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” The treasure is the Gospel; but I am weaker than the vessel in the potter’s hands. An earthen vessel is a weak thing and is easily broken and its contents spilled.

Hence the devil, when he notices what a treasure faith is and in what a poor vessel it is kept, rages and storms, and in his wrath says to us: “I will strike you and shatter your vessel: you have a great treasure, but I will spill it for you; I will give you a blow. If I were permitted, how soon would I shatter the vessel. You are after all nothing but a little poor and weak vessel of earth.”

13. So God has placed this poor, little vessel among enemies. How soon may it not therefore be destroyed! It may be broken with a club; yea, if a serpent would prick it, it would go to pieces. It would be a small matter for Satan suddenly to ruin an entire country. Hence he is angry, because God takes hold of the matter in such a bantering manner and confronts him with a poor little earthen vessel, and yet he is so great a prince and so powerful a lord of the world. I would also be vexed, if I were a strong man and some one were to tickle me with a straw. I would undoubtedly crush the straw in my anger, and would rather be met with spear, sword and complete armor; even as the strong Goliath was vexed because David, without armor, dared to approach him with a staff, 1 Samuel 17:43. Thus also the devil is angry because God wants to trample him under foot by means of flesh and blood. If a mighty spirit were opposed to him, he would not be so sorely vexed; but it greatly angers him that a poor worm of the dust, a fragile earthen vessel defies him, a weak vessel against a mighty prince. God has placed his treasure, says St. Paul, in a poor, weak vessel; for man is weak, easily aroused to anger, avaricious, arrogant, and weighed down with other imperfections, through which Satan easily shatters the earthen vessel; for if God would permit him, he would soon have utterly destroyed the whole vessel. He breaks many an earthen vessel with false doctrine. Now all this happens, says St. Paul, in order that we may learn our inability to accomplish anything by our own strength, but alone by the power of God.

God has, therefore, bid defiance to the devil and said to him: Thou mighty spirit, I will oppose thee with a poor, weak earthen vessel; nevertheless, seize it. This angers the devil exceedingly. Therefore he goes about, as a roaring lion, in order to break and shatter to pieces the fragile vessels made of earth.

14. See what he did with the prophets whom the peasants raised up.

Certainly, no one did this but the devil, who desired to shatter the vessels and indeed did shatter many of them, so that faith and the Scriptures fared badly among them.