Ash Wednesday, 2020, 7 PM Central Standard Time. First Greek Lesson Follows

Ash Wednesday, 2020, 7 PM Central

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central Time

The Hymn #552                Abide with Me 

            

The Order of Vespers                                                p. 41

The Psalmody               Psalm 1                        p. 123

The Lection                              Joel 2:12-19

Matthew 6:16-2

The Sermon Hymn #347     Jesus Priceless Treasure

The Sermon –   Paul - Faith

The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                       p. 45

The Hymn # 429      Lord, Thee I Love

Prayers and Announcements              

• Treatment and recovery - John Hicks, Rush Limbaugh, Kermit Way, Christina Jackson.
• Leg operation, Randy Anderson, father of Andrea.
• Pray for our country as the major trials begin.
• Thanksgiving - Glen Kotten is doing well, Pastor Shrader is clear on scans. Christina has the last of her radiation treatments tomorrow.
• Understanding Pilgrim's Progress is being finished.
• The Gospel of John in Greek, starting slowly for newcomers.

KJV Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

KJV Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Sermon Research - Paul on Faith

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

17 αρα η πιστις εξ ακοης η δε ακοη δια ρηματος θεου

Some call Romans 10 the Means of Grace chapter, like Isaiah 55. 

The ακοη is translated as hearing, and acoustics come from the Greek word. But does it simply mean hearing?

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

16 αλλ ου παντες υπηκουσαν τω ευαγγελιω ησαιας γαρ λεγει κυριε τις επιστευσεν τη ακοη ημων

If we expand the meaning of ακοη, we could say 
"hearing the Report," or
"hearing the Gospel sermon," or
"hearing the Atonement taught."

The Report verse opens Isaiah 53 -

Isaiah 53 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

ΚΥΡΙΕ, τίς ἐπίστευσε τῇ ἀκοῇ ἡμῶν...LXX - Greek Old Testament

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

Reading Isaiah 53 and the verses just before that chapter, we can see that this is the Gospel of the Old Testament, a precise description of the death of Jesus and the reason for that death.

Since Paul is quoting Isaiah 53, the word for hearing is really meant to include that chapter as the Report. In fact, the New Testament reproduces most of Isaiah 53 if all the quotations are collected. Isaiah 53 is central to NT doctrine and serves as the bedrock foundation of evangelism - it was all revealed centuries before. 

This is why serious students need basic NT Greek, because ακοη is translated variously as:

• News, Matthew 4:24
• Hearing, Matthew 13:14
• Fame, Matthew 14:1
• Rumor, Matthew 24:6
• Hearing, Luke 7:1
• Report, Romans 10:16
• Hearing, Romans 10:17

Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Sent is a key verb in the Gospel of John, describing Jesus as sent from the Father. Jesus sending the disciples is directly related to the Father sending the Son.

The Gospel of Peace is not unilateral disarmament, but the righteousness of faith, forgiveness, which gives peace to those who believe the Report.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Salvation comes from calling on the Lord, the result of believing the Report. The word for hearing is the verb form that forms the climax of the argument - ακοη.

Believing is not the work of man, but the gift of God. Those who constantly, foolishly talk about faith as a work of man are ignorant of Jesus' teaching in John -

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.

Note that Jesus defined the Holy Spirit revealing sin as not believing on Him. John 16:8ff.

John 16:8 And when He [GJ - the Holy Spirit, preaching through the Word] is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:9 Of sin, because they believe not on He;

There is no shame in believing the Gospel of Christ

Romans 10: 11 For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.

As taught in the Reformation, the righteousness of works - which Paul described so eloquently - must be replaced by the righteousness of faith.

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the Word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Paul preached the Word of faith, a fact never disclosed by the rabid Objective Justification faction. Everything afterwards in Romans 10 is perfectly in harmony with these two verses.

Nothing in Paul's inspired writing leads the reader to imagine that the world was justified, declared righteous, absolved of all sin - when Jesus rose from the dead. 

Citing Romans 4:25 for their Objective Justification (Stephan/Walther/Rambach) is proof that the 1932 LCMS convention was a parliament of idiots. The continued abuse of Romans 4:25 proves that nothing is too dumb for false teachers to promote.

 You need Paine to study NT Greek. This is a great introduction to learning through the Gospel of John. Basic grammar charts are handy.

Greek Lesson Following the Service

1 εν αρχη ην ο λογος και ο λογος ην προς τον θεον και θεος ην ο λογος

² ουτος ην εν αρχη προς τον θεον

³ παντα δι αυτου εγενετο και χωρις αυτου εγενετο ουδε εν ο γεγονεν

⁴ εν αυτω ζωη ην και η ζωη ην το φως των ανθρωπων

⁵ και το φως εν τη σκοτια φαινει και η σκοτια αυτο ου κατελαβεν

Resist the Temptation To Clean Up the Yard and Garden

Gardeners are burdened with thoughts of doing something for the yard at this stage. They may plant a few bulbs, but there is little to do.

They long to cut down those old plants that have bloomed and gone to seed.

They want to enjoy cooling breezes and bright sun as they rake leaves into bags for the green police.

They see their 10 horsepower rototiller standing idle in the garage and hope to have the surging, bouncing machine in their hands again, making the soil softer than chocolate cake dough, mixing in the leaves and twigs like bits of nuts into a cake that will be done in the Spring.

Stop!

Nothing we do to clean up in the Fall is good for the garden or creatures of the yard. Just the opposite is true.

God mulches with organic material all year around, but we seldom notice because of the activity of soil creatures, the higher temperatures, and decomposing rain. Cold weather dumps the glorious tree leaves on the soil and puts the plants to sleep.

Cleaning up is a crime against nature, so sell that rototiller, set aside that rake, and use plastic bags for real garbage - not for soil improving leaves.

Last year I added 60+ bags of leaves to the yard, on top of all that fell from five trees. Where are they now? I was knee deep talking to Mr. Gardener, and now I have no leaves in the same spot.

The leaves are in the soil. The carbon in them has fed the fungi, who must have carbon to live. Will you starve the fungi who feed your plants in order to make your yard the cover photo for Scotts Lawn and Garden? Do you covet honors from Lowe's and Home Depot that much?

A sunflower stalk is a perfect example of God not wasting anything. The roots are rotting slowly into the ground. The hollow stalk, inside and out, will serve as a refuge for insects over-wintering and also as potential food storage for birds who live from over-wintering bugs. Yes, it is a cruel game, to attract beneficial bugs and feed beneficial birds, but God sorts all this out.

That is why I have more birds and butterflies than ever before. Not content to lay out a McDonalds spread for a few starving creatures, I have a seven-course meal for everyone, from the tunneling moles to the the flocking starlings. They invite friends. They multiple in the yard. Nothing really remains but gets broken down, built into something living, and starts the divinely engineered cycle over again.

People are agog that I do not rush around with my hair on fire to spray, dig, chop, and osterize. Instead, I trust in the plan of the Creator, the engineering behind every part fitting and working perfectly, and the built-in management system.

Does this not drive us back to the Word to see how it was planned from the beginning? God gave Adam and Eve, real people, free will to decide their fates. Knowing that free will takes all divine gifts for granted, He planned a Savior to rescue mankind from temptation, sin, and death.

The majesty opening of Genesis 1 and the commentary of John 1 explain this to us in the plainest possible words.

John 1:1-14King James Version (KJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Last week, the Homecoming Queen from my hometown stopped me to say, "I read your religion posts all the time."

How many can say that, 50 years after graduating from high school, when time has leveled the playing field and expanded the waistline?

Mid-Week Lenten Service. 2016. Jesus the Son of God

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers, 2016

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central Standard Time

The Hymn #145 -          Jesus Refuge of the Weary           
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody                   Psalm 23                  p. 128
The Lections                            The Passion History

                                                 John 1 
The Sermon Hymn #657        Beautiful Savior               

The Sermon –     Jesus the Son of God

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #660 - Heaven Is My Home   

KJV John 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.  

Jesus the Son of God

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Two Natures in Christ have not been separated, ever since the Incarnation, but we can see that passages in the Bible emphasize one Nature, then the other, many times in the same section. For us is these times, it is good to consider the categories because people have denied one or the other. This rationalistic age denies and attacks the divine nature of Christ. Almost all the mainline theologians and scholars simply start from the concept of Jesus as a man, around Whom the early followers invented a religion. 

Many modern sermons presume the same, but people of faith hear the faith words and still believe. They hear the Scripture readings and still believe. Where the liturgy and creeds have not been kicked to the curb, and the hymns are still sung, those elements also strengthen faith in Jesus as the Son of God.

I read that John does not speak of the Virgin Birth, but that means ignoring the nature of the Fourth Gospel, which is to supplement Matthew Mark and Luke. John's Gospel goes beyond the Virgin Birth to reveal more about the pre-existence of the Son of God and His role in Creation, not to mention additional proclamation about the Trinity. To do this in a few verses, in such simple words, is beyond human ability, unaided by the Holy Spirit.

The first verse is Trinitarian, using the Word three times and making it clear in the following verses that Jesus is the Word of God - Logos in Greek. The Logos created everything in the universe. And in the style of Biblical revelation, there are no exception. "without him was not any thing made that was made."

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

This is a beautiful statement, because life really means eternal life. The Gospel brings eternal life to everyone who hears and believes, so it is the light of men also. The Gospel of John (like Paul) uses light and darkness to illustrate truth and error. The occult followers "send light" to their friends. One person was sending me light during a talk I gave - that is how low Lutheranism has sunk today.

There is only one Truth and only one Light. John's Gospel makes that absolutely clear. I told one classmate that he should study John's Gospel and forget about the shortcomings of the visible Christian Church.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

This is a prose interlude in the middle of the Logos hymn (or poem, or confession of faith.

How important was John the Baptist? He fulfilled Isaiah 40, so his arrival on the scene was the definite sign of the Messianic Age. That stirred the excitement of the people and the anger of the authorities, but it also prepared people for the coming of Jesus and His public ministry.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

So John turns back to Jesus the Son of God. John was not the Light - HE was te true Light. There is only one illumination, one enlightenment, one wisdom, and that is Christ the Light of all the living. 

Here is the paradox. He was in the world, the very world He created, and yet the world did know realize or acknowledge this. 

Even worse, He came to His own people and His own people did not believe in Him.

Although many Jews converted to Christ, the entire nation did not, which grieved Paul so much. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, knowing the tragedy they were buying by their rejection.

Receiving is an important word, parallel to believing. They are different words for the same concept. It is not making a decision. Christians are new Creations by the Word (creatures in KJV) not New Decisions. It is not an act of the will or intellect. But by hearing the Gospel our hearts are open to receive Him, to trust in Him for forgiveness and eternal life.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

One could say - as many as believed in Him... But the variation is a simple but profound way to emphasizing what we know to be true. The expression is very much like the Old Testament because receiving is used with believing.

Why name? Nothing is more important than a name. Every false god has a name, and nincompoops want to embrace them all, more like a divine lottery - one must be a lucky number. But there is only One Name by which we are saved. Or to use the exclusive expression of Acts 4:12 - By no other Name is anyone saved than by this one.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin - for not believing on Him, on His Name. We cast our cares on Him because He cares for us.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

This is the Incarnation, the Word (pre-existent) took on our flesh and dwelt among us. Let me be the first to note that this sounds exactly like the Virgin Birth but in different words. The Son born of Mary retained the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

This is the second prose interlude in the Logos Hymn.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [GJ - explained] him. 

Nothing is clearer than John's declaration of Jesus being the essence of God's grace, full of grace, overflowing with grace to give to all who believe in Him. Here is the important distinction between Moses (very important figure in John) and Jesus. The Law came from Moses, grace and truth from Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the best possible one to explain and show God the Father to us. The task of explaining the Scriptures, verse by verse, is called exegesis. Jesus is the only begotten Son - the exegesis of the Father.