Mid-Week Lenten Service - The Compassion of Christ

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

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

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 6 PM Phoenix Time

The Hymn #462   I Love Thy Kingdom             4:21
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

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

The Sermon Hymn #657            Beautiful Savior                    4:24

The Sermon –     The Compassion of Christ

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #558               All Praise to Thee   2:9

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The Compassion of Christ

The Human Nature of Christ should always be a source of greatest comfort for the Christian.

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Two Messages

This passage has two powerful messages. The first one teaches us that the Word of God discerns exactly what we are like. When someone hears the Word, it is not simply hearing words written in a revered and ancient book. That individual, whatever his lot in life, is hearing the Holy Spirit speak, teach, admonish, and comfort.

For those who do not believe, the impact is great and may seem quite harsh or dramatic. That leads to greater resistance, hatred, and anger – or it collapses all the schemes and philosophies of man, especially his inward righteousness, which is exposed as false and delusional.

That is also the effect upon carnal security, the attitude of “I am in the right church and doing the right things, so everything is fine, no matter what.” That leads people into endorsing and even participating in the most heinous acts, because their fleshly security tells them they are just fine. The Word of God should shatter that concept.

For those reasons above, church officials warn against teaching the Word of God, because it gets people (including the officials) upset. Whether the problem is pure unbelief or the steps along the way (carnal security), the Word will be upsetting, irritating, and drama-producing. It is the action of the Holy Spirit.

The effect is just as strong upon sincere believers, and it is a good remedy for our ills. Because of our own weakness, the impact of the unbelieving world, and the ministrations of Satan, we are always being pulled away from godly contrition and the Gospel.

The believer longs for the Word just as we thirst for water after strenuous exercise, or for food after a long stretch without. When someone experiences discomfort and pain, he wants the doctor to find out what is wrong. Otherwise, there is no cure, or the wrong cure is applied. I recall a man whose family gathered around their father, who was about to die in the hospital. Then they found out he was on the wrong medications, changed them, and promptly went home in good health. There was a problem but the wrong cure also finished him off.

The Second Message

The cure provided by the Word of God is to remind us of the humanity of Christ. This is perhaps the most eloquent passage in the Bible about His human nature.

As all our listeners know, Hebrews is devoted to portraying Jesus as the great High Priest. But what kind?

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

This is a verse we can dwell upon all year around. Often the divinity of Christ is emphasized to the exclusion of His humanity. But here we see portrayed the fact that Jesus shared all our infirmities and was tempted in every single way that we are tempted today.

That is the basis for the word “compassion” – to suffer with. Jesus understands our weaknesses and temptations because He experienced all of the same Himself, and yet He did not sin (because of His divine nature).

The atoning death of Christ is the portrayal of the Two Natures of Christ. As man, He suffered and died. As the Son of God, without sin, He suffered on our behalf. Nothing drives unbelievers into a rage more than this Gospel – Christ crucified.

As they say, “I reject this.” And – “No for my sins. I am a good person.” And they judge God’s Word by attacking God – “God is not like this, according to me.”

This is where faith does not take any side-bets and cannot compromise about the truth of God’s Word revealed. This is or it is not. This is the Son of God as revealed throughout the Scriptures.

Do you have a better and more concise description of the Two Natures than the verse above? I cannot imagine one. And it leads to this –

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The language is clear. Therefore, in conclusion, if you believe in the words before this, then the following is true and worthwhile for each believer.

We do not go to the Throne of God’s Grace because we are worthy, but because God understands, has compassion, and extends His complete and full forgiveness of our sins.

The language of man is always – I will be a better person, I will work harder. Do this, do that.

But God’s language begins with faith and grace. Trust in God’s love and mercy, free and plentiful. Faith informs what we do, but this begins with God’s grace and trust in His love.

And what is faith? True justification by faith means believing that all sins are removed and forgotten by God, because of the merits of sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God.

"That was the time of blindness when we knew nothing of God's Word, but led ourselves and others into misery by our own idle talk and dreams. And I was one of those who indeed bathed in this sweat or in this bath of anxiety. Therefore let us give heed that we may thoroughly grasp and retain this doctrine, if other fanatics and false spirits wish to attack it, so that we may be fore-armed and learn, while we have the time and the beloved sun again enlightens us, and buy while the market is at our door. For it will come to this when once these lights, which God now gives, have departed, Satan will not take a furlough until he raises up other fanatical spirits to do harm; as he has already commenced to do in many places during our generation. What shall take place after we are gone?"

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 192. Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 22:34-46.

LAW AND GOSPEL

"All Scripture ought to be distributed into these two principal topics, the Law and the promises."

Apology Augsburg Confession, IV. #5. Justification. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 121. Tappert, p. 108. Heiser, p. 32.

"They teach that by contrition we merit grace. In reference to which, if any one should ask why Saul and Judas and similar persons, who were dreadfully contrite, did not obtain grace, the answer was to be taken from faith and according to the Gospel, that Judas did not believe, that he did not support himself by the Gospel and promise of Christ. For faith shows the distinction between the contrition of Judas and of Peter. But the adversaries take their answer from the Law, that Judas did not love God, but feared the punishments."

Apology Augsburg Confession, XII. #8. Penitence. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 255. Tappert, p. 183. Heiser, p. 79.

"But the chief office or force of the Law is that it reveal original sin with all its fruits, and show man how very low his nature has fallen, and has become [fundamentally and] utterly corrupted; as the Law must tell man that he has no God nor regards [cares for] God, and worships other gods, a matter which before and without the Law he would not have believed. In this way he becomes terrified, is humbled, desponds, despairs, and anxiously desires aid, but sees no escape; he begins to be an enemy of [enraged at] God, and to murmur, etc. This is what Paul says, Romans 4:15: 'The Law worketh wrath.' And Romans 5:20: Sin is increased by the Law. [The Law entered that the offense might abound.'] Smalcald Articles, Third Part, II. #3. The Law.

Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 479. Tappert, p.303. Heiser, p. 142. Romans 5:20; Romans 4:15.

"But the only thing that was taught and advocated was: Invoke the Virgin Mary and other saints as your mediators and intercessors; fast often and pray much; make pilgrimages, enter cloisters and become monks, or pay for the saying of many masses and like works. And thus we imagined when we did these things we had merited heaven."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 191. Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 22:34-46

"The Law continually chastises us as sinners and transgressors, and threatens us with death and hell, until Christ comes and bestows His Spirit and His love, through the faith preached in the Gospel. Then we are freed from the Law. No longer it demands, no longer chastises, but lets the conscience rest. No more it terrifies with death and hell. It has become our kind friend and companion."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 281. New Year's Day, Galatians 3:23-29

"It is now plain to whom Paul addresses the words of this verse--the work-righteous, who would become godly through the Law and its work, who consider the first office of the Law sufficiently effective to make them righteous. This doctrine gives rise to a class who might be styled 'Absalomites.' For as Absalom remained hanging by his head, in an oak tree, suspended between heaven and earth (2 Samuel 18:9), so this class hang between heaven and earth. Shut up by the Law, they do not touch the earth; they are restrained from the things their evil nature ardently desires. On the other hand, since the Law, powerless to improve their nature, only irritates and provokes it, making them enemies to the Law, they are not godly and so do not reach heaven."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 277. New Year's Day, Galatians 3:23-29; 2 Samuel 18:9

"The Spirit is the ink or the inscription, yes, even the writer himself; but the pencil or pen and the hand of the writer is the ministry of Paul. This figure of a written epistle is, however, in accord with Scripture usage. Moses commands (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 11, 18) that the Israelites write the Ten Commandments in all places where they walked or stood--upon the posts of their houses, and upon their gates, and ever have them before their eyes and in their hearts."

Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 225. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 2 Corinthians 3:4-11; Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 11, 18.

"But now, if we are to know Christ as our helper and Savior, then we must first know, out of what He can help us, not out of fire or water, or other bodily need and danger, but out of sin and the hatred of God. But whence do I know that I lie drowned in misery? From no other source than from the Law, that must show me what my loss and disease are, or I will never inquire for the Physician and His help."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 192. Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 22:34-46

"Since we are unable to keep the Law and it is impossible for the natural man to do so, Christ came and stepped between the Father and us, and prays for us: Beloved Father, be gracious unto them and forgive them their sins. I will take upon Me their transgressions and bear them; I love Thee with my whole heart, and in addition the entire human race, and this I will prove by shedding My blood for mankind. Moreover, I have fulfilled the Law and I did it for their welfare in order that they may partake of my fulfilling the Law and thereby come to grace."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 188. Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 22:34-46

"I have often told you, dearly beloved, that the entire Scriptures consist of two parts, of the law and the Gospel. It is the law that teaches us what we are required to do; the Gospel teaches where we shall receive what the law demands. For it is quite a different thing to know what we should have, and to know where to get it. Just as when I am given into the hands of the physicians, where it is quite a different art to tell what my disease is than to tell what medicine I must take so as to recover. Thus it is likewise here. The law discovers the disease, the Gospel ministers the medicine."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 31. Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 10:23-37

"I would much rather have people say that I preach too sweetly and that it hinders people from doing good works (even though my preaching does not do that), than that I failed to preach faith in Christ, and there was no help or consolation for timid, fearful consciences."

Sermons of Martin Luther, The House Postils, 3 vols., ed. Eugene F. A. Klug, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996, II, p. 115. Ascension Day Acts 1:1-11

"When we examine the laws of Moses, we find they all treat of love. For the commandment: 'Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me,' I cannot explain or interpret otherwise than: Thou shalt love God alone. Thus Moses himself interprets it in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, where he says: 'Hear, O Israel; Jehovah our God is one Jehovah; and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.' From this passage the lawyer has taken his answer."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 21f. Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 10:23-37; Deuteronomy 6:4-5

"For if I love God I love also His will. Now, when God sends us sickness, poverty, shame and disgrace, that is His will. But what do we do under such circumstances? We thunder, scold and growl, and bear it with great impatience...But God does not want this. He wants us to accept His will with joy and love, and this we are too tardy in doing."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 26. Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 10:23-37

"But there is not a man on earth who thus fulfils the law; yea, we all do just the opposite. Thus this law here makes us all sinners so that not the least letter of this commandment is fulfilled, even by the most holy persons in the world. For no one clings so firmly to God with all the heart, that he could forsake all things for God's sake. We have, God be praised, become so competent that we can almost not suffer the least word, yea, we will not let go of a nickel for the sake of God."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 25. Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 10:23-37

"For God is a jealous God and cannot suffer us to love anything above Himself. But to love anything beneath Himself, He of course allows. Just as a husband can easily allow his wife to love the maid servants, the house and house utensils, cattle and other things; but to love with the love she should have for him, he will not suffer her to love anyone besides himself; yea, he desires her to forsake all things for his sake; and so again the wife also requires the same from her husband."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 24. Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 10:23-37

"That was the time of blindness when we knew nothing of God's Word, but led ourselves and others into misery by our own idle talk and dreams. And I was one of those who indeed bathed in this sweat or in this bath of anxiety. Therefore let us give heed that we may thoroughly grasp and retain this doctrine, if other fanatics and false spirits wish to attack it, so that we may be fore-armed and learn, while we have the time and the beloved sun again enlightens us, and buy while the market is at our door. For it will come to this when once these lights, which God now gives, have departed, Satan will not take a furlough until he raises up other fanatical spirits to do harm; as he has already commenced to do in many places during our generation. What shall take place after we are gone?"

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 192. Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 22:34-46

"Let a prince give a person a castle or several thousand dollars, what a jumping and rejoicing it creates! On the other hand, let a person be baptized or receive the communion which is a heavenly, eternal treasure, there is not one-tenth as much rejoicing. Thus we are by nature; there is none who so heartily rejoices over God's gifts and grace as over money and earthly possessions; what does that mean but that we do not love God as we ought?"

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 190 Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 22:34-46

 

Argentina Pope: Cardinals Sandri, Bergoglio Are Very Different Papal Candidates

Bergoglio. Argentina.

The Washington Post wrote earlier:
"Argentina’s Jose Bergoglio, the Philippines’ Luis Antonio Tagle and Italy’s Angelo Bagnasco are among the cardinals listed as long shots."

Argentina Pope: Cardinals Sandri, Bergoglio Are Very Different Papal Candidates:

Bergoglio, 76, reportedly got the second-most votes after Joseph Ratzinger in the 2005 papal election, and he has long specialized in the kind of pastoral work that some say is an essential skill for the next pope. In a lifetime of teaching and leading priests in Latin America, which has the largest share of the world's Catholics, Bergoglio has shown a keen political sensibility as well as the kind of self-effacing humility that fellow cardinals value highly, says his official biographer, Sergio Rubin.

Bergoglio would likely encourage the church's 400,000 priests to hit the streets to capture more souls, Rubin said in an Associated Press interview. He is also most comfortable taking a low profile, and his personal style is the antithesis of Vatican splendor. "It's a very curious thing: When bishops meet, he always wants to sit in the back rows. This sense of humility is very well seen in Rome," Rubin said.

'via Blog this'

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Daryl Meyer has left a new comment on your post "They Have a New Pope!":

Habemus Antichristum!

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Daryl Meyer has left a new comment on your post "They Have a New Pope!":

Habemus Antichristum!

They Have a New Pope!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/03/13/174201655/a-pope-is-chosen

The world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics have a new spiritual leader.

As afternoon turned to evening in Vatican City on Wednesday, around 7:08 p.m. local time, white smoke rose from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel and bells rang through St. Peter's Square — the traditional signals that the church's cardinals have chosen a new pope.

Still to come: the identity of the cardinal chosen to take the now-retired Pope Benedict XVI's place.

Now, as NPR's Sylvia Poggioli has said, the new pope and the church face a choice: "Whether to continue an inward looking conservative path or to open up to the broader world of the faithful and introduce more collegiality, as had been indicated by the reforms of the Second Vatican Council 50 years ago."

We'll have much more about the new pope and what his selection means as the day continues. Be sure to hit your "refresh" button to see our latest updates.

The papal selection came after five votes by the 115 cardinals eligible to cast ballots. They voted once on Tuesday, twice Wednesday morning and then twice again on Wednesday afternoon. It takes a two-thirds majority (77 in this case) to become pope.

Update at 2:12 p.m. ET. Who Is It? We'll Know Soon:

According to Vatican Radio, which is streaming its coverage on YouTube, the identity of the new pope — who will appear on a balcony above St. Peter's Square — should be known within an hour or so. At this moment, Vatican Radio says, he's likely changing from the vestments he's worn as a cardinal into those made for a pope alone.

Ski Fanatic Accuses, But Has the Glory Departed from the Means of Grace?

Don't tell me that The CORE stole this from Craig Groeschel!

Sean Brouch has left a new comment on your post "Pastor Ski and WELS Fox Valley - The CORE Non-Upda...":

I was told about this blog site two years ago but this is the first time I have ever taken a look at it. I have a great sadness that the glory has departed you. i (sic) confident (sic) that if you were to make your way to Appleton WI and attend The Core, You would receive the word of The Lord and you too would be filled with Jesus' love!

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GJ - More likely this is a WELS pastor. They rush to defend their false teachers and their institutions.

But the Word of God? What does that mean when everyone is born forgiven!

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Sean Brouch has left a new comment on your post "Ski Fanatic Accuses, But Has the Glory Departed fr...":

Sean Brouch is not a WELS Pastor. He is a newly awakend Christian! Two years ago I didn't know my savior, I was a wreck of a man! Since meeting Pastor Ski I have grown as a man and more importantly I now have a relationship with Jesus! I do not attend the Core because it is WELS Luthern, I attend the Core because through the Pastors such as Ski I get to devour The Word! Every time I get to walk through the doors at The Core (and it is a get to!) Jesus rubs off on me.

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GJ - So where is Ski right now? You must know since you get to attend the remodeled bar.

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Sean Brouch has left a new comment on your post "Ski Fanatic Accuses, But Has the Glory Departed fr...":

You are correct! It is a remodeled bar! How awesome is it that The Kingdom took a bar, a modern day Sodom and turned it into a place of worship! You should come to a service sometime I will save you a seat right up front and give you a tour of the building. By the way before the building housed several different bars it was owned and used by a printing company. Do you hold ill will against printing companies as well? Jesus' church is not a building! The building just keeps us sinners warm and dry while we worship The Lord.

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GJ - Please answer the question. Where is Ski and what is his role right now? Suspended or not? Kicked out of the ministerium?

Pope Mahoney? - Nope. L.A. archdiocese to pay $10M in priest abuse cases

L.A. archdiocese to pay $10M in priest abuse cases:

Ex-priest, later convicted, had confessed to Cardinal Mahony in 1986 to abusing boys.

(Photo: Filippo Monteforte, AFP/Getty Images)

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay four men almost $10 million to settle allegations of sexual abuse by a former priest who more than a quarter century ago had confessed to molesting children, attorneys said Tuesday.

Two brothers will receive $4 million each, and the other two men will get nearly $1 million apiece, said John Manly, a plaintiff's attorney.

The settlement is the first since the Catholic Church released thousands of internal records detailing the actions of the defrocked priest, Michael Baker, and how church officials responded. Baker was convicted in 2007 of child molestation and paroled in 2011.

In January, as the files were about to be made public, a California judge ordered the archdiocese to identify all priests and church officials named in the documents.

STORY: L.A. Diocese told to identify officials in abuse cases

The confidential files -- medical and psychiatric records, abuse reports, church memos and letters with the Vatican -- revealed that in 1986, Baker told Cardinal Roger Mahony that he had abused boys beginning in 1974. Mahony removed Baker from ministry and sent him to New Mexico for psychological treatment.

A year later, however, he returned with a doctor's recommendation that he not spend any time with minors and that he should be defrocked immediately if he did. Nonetheless, the abuse continued until 2000, when Baker was finally removed.

Mahony retired as Los Angeles archbishop in 2011. Last month, his successor, Archbishop Jose Gomez, stripped him of his official duties.

Mahony is in Rome participating in the conclave selecting the next pope. He was aware of the settlement, J. Michael Hennigan, an archdiocese attorney, told the Associated Press.

"We have for a long, long time said that we made serious mistakes with Michael Baker, and we had always taken the position in these cases that whatever Baker did we were responsible for," he said. "That was never an issue."

Two cases were scheduled for civil trial in April.

Another plaintiff attorney, Vince Finaldi, told the Los Angeles Times that he believed that the release of the files was a major factor in the settlement.

"Once we got the files it confirmed everything we had argued for years and years," Finaldi said. "Cardinal Mahony's fingerprints were all over the case."

'via Blog this'

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GJ - Listen to Lutheran leaders exclaim, "We didn't know!" In the ELCA debacle, one known predator, ordained, cost them $40 million.

Ask the LCMS, WELS, and ELS what they spend settling lawsuits each year. They will say, as WELS did to a court of law, "We don't know of any."

Kregel Academic - Charts on the Book of Hebrews - Herbert W. Bateman IV

Herbert W. Bateman, IV. Charts on the Book of Hebrews. 266 pages. Kregel Academic.
ISBN #780825424663. $26.99.

This is one of many books of charts published b Kregel.

Kregel Academic has asked bloggers to review their books, and I have been happy to receive them. Normally I prefer the works of long-dead theologians, but I also like to see what is being published today.

Kregel is my source for Luther's commentaries on Galatians and Romans. I get them "used" but new on the secondary market, often for $1 plus shipping.

Bateman is a prolific author. He teaches at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. Here are some of his books.

This style of reference work was new to me. I can see how useful it would be for anyone undertaking a serious study of Hebrews. Kregel has many more books like it, using a matrix to condense a lot of factual material for easy comparisons. I would rather scan a chart than read a 100 page article on a topic.

In Biblical studies, there are so many learned papers and books on any topic that one German journal was established simply to publish overviews of topics. Its English name is Theological Round-Look, literally: Cliff Notes for scholars.

The first challenge of writing is to gather all the well known research on a topic, whether it is good, bad, or zany. Many do not make the attempt. They go to their school notes and reproduce what they were told in seminary, because their professors had the last word on any given topic.

The authorship of Hebrews is an interesting topic. This book has about 15 pages listing all the possible authors and who nominated the putative author. Moreover, these authorship debates are arranged in various ways. That alone would save students of the Bible many hours of searching and note-taking.

Paul signed his letters and Hebrews has a different style than Paul's, so it is natural to think of another author. In one place Luther argued for Apollos but went on to say "Paul..." In other words, the issue was not a major one for him.

The date of Hebrews is an issue parallel with the authorship. Having these charts is like finding the note cards of an obsessive compulsive scholar, all neatly arranged. But there is much more than the standard introductory questions for any book of the Bible.

There are so many charts that I can only list a few of them here:

1. Genre and structure
2. Old Testament quotations
3. Second Temple
4. Godhead
5. Interpretive Issues
6. Figures of Speech

Each topic listed above has sub-categories.

The Book of Hebrews should be studied more in congregations, colleges, and seminaries. The work contains some of the most eloquent expressions in the Scriptures. The argumentation is also worth exploring and appreciating - Jesus as the High Priest, Melchizedek. That leads us into a greater appreciation of the Bible as one, unified truth - the Book of the Holy Spirit.

Who would be interested in this book? Every Biblical professor will profit from this concise treasury of research. Biblical students will have their eyes opened about this often-overlooked letter and its meaning.

If a pastor wants to teach a course on Hebrews, this is a reference work to use, for organizing the presentation and the topics to be addressed.

Follow Up on Hunnius - The Righteousness of Faith

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Hunnius Has an Excellent Summary of the Pre-Existe...":

I cannot recommend enough the follow-up Hunnius translation to Rydecki's Theses Opposed to Huberianism which is called "A Clear Explanation Of The Controversy Among The Wittenberg Theologians Concerning Regeneration And Election: (subtitled: With a refutation of the arguments that Dr. Samuel Huber has thus far brought into the midst of Dr. Aegidius Hunnius, Polycarp Leyser, Solomon Gesner, etc., in defense of his opinion.)

It utterly destroys the prevalent contention that the false gospel Samuel Huber taught in his rationalist doctrine of UOJ is different than the false gospel of UOJ being taught by Rev. Boisclair and the Seventh Day Adventists, New Age Religion, ELCA, LCMS, WELS and ELS.

The double mindedness which the doctrine of UOJ imposes upon the Triune God is enough to label it a heresy worthy of the final days of a wicked world.

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Christian Schulz has left a new comment on your post "Follow Up on Hunnius":

What I find telling/disturbing is that if anyone has been in a debate with UOJers and you cite numerous passages of Scripture and the Fathers to them about how there is only one justification that happens by the gift of faith, they'll always cite their devilish, philosophical, man-made dichotomy just as Huber did, that, "well, they're only talking about subjective justification." Well, the fact of the matter is that all the Fathers talk about a subjective justification because that's the only justification of the sinner that exists. Here's how Huber did the same thing; and I think we can all honestly agree that he logically pulled the same stuff with his universal justification despite that this quote deals only with his universal election. Surely Hunnius quoted JBFA passages and got the same response, don't you think -- especially for those involved in these debates? Hunnius as follows: "Among his fallacies also this: whenever the saying either of Scripture or the Church oppose him -- when they teach that predestination pertains only to those who persevere and remain believers in the Son toil to the end --, his [Huber's] immediate response is usually that 'those sayings only have to do with individual election and do not, for that reason, overturn the universal election.'"

I mean really, these translations, to a normal person, is evidence mounting higher and higher against the UOJ position. I've still never seen their claim that Huber was [not] a Universalist backed up with evidence other than their own testimonies from thin air. They roar about that all the time in an attempt to separate their teachings, but the only people with evidence on the Huber - Lutheran debate are JBFA people. Their (UOJ adherents) only argument is from majority consensus (majority as far as alive people in charge of the synods go) just as the papists had in the Reformation.

Our congregation just finished a study of Luther's Commentary on Galatians,
and Galatians itself.
Now we are on Romans, using Luther's Romans Commentary.
The UOJ Hive quotes Walther and Becker - it is to laugh.

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GJ - I supplied a missing [not] above.

Pastor Ski and WELS Fox Valley - The CORE Non-Updates

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Baby Blue Eyes wrote to ask:

"Where is Ski? What is happening with The CORE?"

Answer -

A campaign of disinformation has been launched. One version has DP Doug suspending Pastor Ski for six months without telling the congregation why. He has a new form of suspension, where one pastor is given a six-month vacation and brought back, with the same divine call.

DPs lie to congregations all the time. Bob Mueller in Michigan lied about his VP leaving the parish (for adultery, not "depression"). Good ol' Bob lied to the congregation, lied to the man's wife, and lied to the district. That is considered a good month's work in WELS.

The COP is supposedly confused by a non-suspension suspension. They are famous for extending the Left Foot of Fellowship, in public, for great justice. But this is a yo-yo suspension.

The real congregation is St. Peter in Freedom, where Ron Ash was the pastor while chairing Jeske's Church and Change. Ski was on the board of Church and Change, which will meet again in the area in the disguise of Jeske's Men of His Word.

Ski has been on and off the staff list at St. Peter Freedom. Someone saw him on it before, on the St. Peter website. I never did, but I saw him as a staffer in the WELS yearbook listing for St. Peter.

Ski is listed in the yearbook on the WELS.net site. If a pastor is suspended, it should be posted on the WELS call report page. But his name is not there.

The CORE has an Easter service, and people are expected to dress up for once. But who is preaching?

Ski is still on the animation starting The CORE's website, but no news is listed.

The irony is that SP Schroeder and Keith Free lavishly funded The CORE when all this ______ was known for years.

Is anyone minding the store?

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Adolph Hoenecke has left a new comment on your post "Pastor Ski and WELS Fox Valley - The CORE Non-Upda...":

I had a dream/nightmare last night in which Pastor Ski came to my congregation to preach. Unfortunately, the Lord did not grant me a vision concerning the reason for Ski's suspension/non-suspension,life-coaching/paid vacation. I have got to stop eating those (insert favorite forbidden food) before bed!

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GJ -


I dreamed a dream in WELS gone by
When funds were high
And beer worth drinking.
I dreamed that grants would never die
I dreamed UOJ without thinking.
Then I was young and unafraid,
And sermons stole and and used and wasted,
There was no ransom to be paid,
No song unsung, no brew untasted.

But the lawsuits come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your CORE apart
As they turn your dream to shame.

Lunch is served.

Cardinals open papal conclave at Sistine Chapel; no pope selected on first day - The Washington Post

Cardinals open papal conclave at Sistine Chapel; no pope selected on first day - The Washington Post:

"But no single candidate has clearly claimed that title here. Instead, the focus was on a small group of papabili, or possible popes, including Cardinals Angelo Scola of Italy, Odilio Scherer of Brazil and Marc Ouellet of Canada.

Other possibilities are Cardinals Timothy Dolan of New York and Sean O’Malley of Boston, either of whom, if elected, would emerge as the first “superpower” pope. Argentina’s Jose Bergoglio, the Philippines’ Luis Antonio Tagle and Italy’s Angelo Bagnasco are among the cardinals listed as long shots."

'via Blog this'

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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Cardinals open papal conclave at Sistine Chapel; n...":

Front runner to be the next pope, and confidant of ex-Pope Benedict, Scola of Milan, has plenty of links to the mafia:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/12/cardinals-overcome-divisions-conclave-pope

But even as preparations for the mass were being made, Cardinal Angelo Scola, the archbishop of Milan – and reportedly the hot favourite to be the next pope – suffered a blow.

Anti-mafia detectives swooped on homes, offices, clinics and hospitals in Lombardy, the region around Milan, and elsewhere. A statement said the dawn raids were part of an investigation into "corruption linked to tenders by, and supplies to, hospitals".

Healthcare in Lombardy is the principal responsibility of the regional administration, which for the past 18 years has been run by Roberto Formigoni, a childhood friend of Scola and the leading political representative of the Communion and Liberation fellowship. Until recently, Scola was seen as the conservative group's most distinguished ecclesiastical spokesman.

But Scola's candidacy has been overshadowed by his past links to a movement that has been linked with pervasive sleaze in Lombardy. By the time Formigoni dissolved the regional assembly last year, 13 members of the governing majority were under investigation, suspected of offences ranging from taking bribes to incitement to violence.

Thoughts on the Catholic Church | Churchmouse Campanologist. Worthwhile Reflectins about the Catholic Church and the Pope

The Antichrist and the Archbishop of Canterbury are leaders of apostasy.

Thoughts on the Catholic Church | Churchmouse Campanologist:

This ties in with the ideas behind la nouvelle théologie: dogma changes over time and old tenets of the faith, even scriptural teachings, can be discarded.

Indeed, Benedict XVI helped to develop the changes which emanated from Vatican II:

Ratzinger became a professor at the University of Bonn in 1959; his inaugural lecture was on “The God of Faith and the God of Philosophy”. In 1963, he moved to the University of Münster.

During this period, Ratzinger participated in the Second Vatican Council (1962–65). Ratzinger served as a peritus (theological consultant) to Cardinal Frings of Cologne. He was viewed during the time of the Council as a reformer, cooperating with theologians like Hans Küng and Edward Schillebeeckx. Ratzinger became an admirer of Karl Rahner, a well-known academic theologian of the Nouvelle Théologie and a proponent of church reform.

Read more here.

'via Blog this'

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GJ - This article deserves a careful reading, because it comes from a former Roman Catholic, now a Protestant, who has experienced the changes and studied the background of Pope Benedict.

News from The Associated Press. Celebrity Predator Could Have Been Stopped Early - Just Like WELS Hochmuth and LCMS Schauer

Someone knew about WELS Joel Hochmuth, because he was caught before.
He was even caught when on work release, after being convicted.

Convicted sexual predator? No problem for LCMS.
They made him a lay pastor, then wiped out the discussion of how it happened.
Destroying evidence is LCMS policy.

News from The Associated Press:

LONDON (AP) -- An independent report into how British police handled allegations against disgraced late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile said Tuesday that police held records that connected him to sexual abuse as early as 1964, but failed to carry out an investigation.

Jimmy Savile, was early on, a friend of the
homosexual priest who became Britain's only cardinal.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, an independent police oversight group, found that police recorded five allegations and two pieces of intelligence against Savile during his lifetime.

Once one of Britain's most popular entertainers, Savile's reputation took a dive after his death in 2011 at age 84, when hundreds of witnesses and victims came forward accusing him of sexual abuse. Police have since described the television and radio presenter as a serial sexual predator who used his fame to target young victims across Britain.

Tuesday's report suggested that Savile could have been stopped decades ago.

'via Blog this'

Paul Scaer, LCMS pastor, died of AIDS.
If a victim tries to sue the LCMS, the machine goes into action.

VirtueOnline - News.WELS Spares the Paddle for Felonies, Alcoholism, and Sexual Harrassment

VirtueOnline - News:

The Episcopal Church's Tyranny and Thought Control over Filed Amicus Briefs

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org 
March 11, 2013

The Episcopal Church has embraced tyranny and thought control when it charges certain Episcopal bishops with filing amicus briefs supporting former Episcopal bishops who still defend the faith and who refuse to bow to TEC's pansexual agenda.

Recently, following a January conciliation meeting concerning complaints involving the Episcopal Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy, nine bishops were held in contempt and threatened according to Canon IV.10. This could have led to their being dismissed from the Episcopal Church.

This past week an Accord was struck wherein the nine bishops, four of whom are sitting bishops (five had resigned), agreed to a sound thrashing from Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori but fell short of being inhibited and deposed for their actions. They were not allowed to express an opinion on the polity of TEC and they were punished for signing a brief she did not like.

The nine are:

The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe (resigned, Diocese of Central Florida) 
The Rt. Rev. Paul E. Lambert (suffragan, Diocese of Dallas) 
The Rt. Rev. William H. Love (diocesan, Diocese of Albany) 
The Rt. Rev. D. Bruce MacPherson (resigned, Diocese of W. Louisiana) 
The Rt. Rev. Daniel H. Martins (diocesan, Diocese of Springfield) 
The Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton (diocesan, Diocese of Dallas) 
The Rt. Rev. Maurice M. Benitez (resigned, Diocese of Texas)
The Rt. Rev. Peter Beckwith (resigned, Diocese of Springfield)
The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon (resigned, Diocese of South Carolina)

The Presiding Bishop demanded and got (through conciliation) terms which "promoted healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation." 

The nine orthodox bishops committed the ecclesiastical "sin" of filing amicus briefs supporting continuing Episcopal Dioceses in Ft. Worth and Quincy in their struggle over property and funds lawsuits.

The nine bishops agreed to express regret for any harm to the bishops, clergy and laity of the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy resulting from their acts; agreed not to file or endorse any further amicus brief or affidavit in litigation outside of their respective dioceses and against the legal position of The Episcopal Church until the General Convention formally addresses this conduct, either by amendment to the Constitution and/or canons or by formal resolution; and to act in accordance with the action of the General Convention.

They also agreed to acknowledge that the 2009 Bishops' Statement on the Polity of the Episcopal Church is a minority opinion.

VOL was told by one of the nine bishops that while the Accord looks like they caved in to TEC in the face of the "conciliation" process and repented of what they had done, it was done to avoid causing any more harm to the four sitting diocesan bishops who have to go on living with Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and risk their future and those to whom they must minister. Had all the bishops been out of office, resigned or retired, the outcome might have been different, VOL was told.

The Episcopal Church has a double standard on who is being charged with what and by whom. When Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan was summarily dismissed from the Episcopal Church for his stand against the church's increasing immoral positions, a ruckus was raised that he had been fired without due process of a trial. To maintain the appearance of complying with canon law, Jefferts Schori then held a trial and declared him guilty. It was something right out of Alice in Wonderland; guilty first, then have a trial.

But that is by no means the worst case.

In January of 2002, twenty-six ECUSA bishops filed an Amici Brief supporting then Washington Bishop Jane Dixon in a legal clash with the vestry and rector Fr. Sam Edwards of Christ Church in Accokeek, Md.

It was a line up ECUSA's most liberal and corporatist bishops that included The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Bishop of the Diocese of Nevada.

It was the beginning of open warfare amongst bishops in The Episcopal Church that continues to this day.

Two orthodox bishops, Jack Iker (Fort Worth) and Robert Duncan (Pittsburgh), signed an amicus brief in support of Fr. Samuel Edwards against Jane Dixon in her ongoing struggle to take back the parish and put one of her own postmodern priests in charge.

The 4th Circuit Court ordered the filing of the amicus brief by Bishops Iker and Duncan despite vigorous opposition by Jane Dixon, Suffragan Bishop of Washington.

The parish vigorously defended its right to call whom they wish, with Dixon vigorously fighting not to let them keep Fr. Edwards because of statements accusing the ECUSA of being the "unchurch" and "hell-bound." (Edwards later joined the Roman Catholic Church through the Ordinariate).

The bishops argued that The District Court determined that the Episcopal Church is a hierarchical polity and ordered that the Court accept and enforce Bishop Dixon's decision not to license Fr. Edwards as rector of St. John's Parish. They further said that the Court should not accept Amici's invitation to review Episcopal Church authorities' interpretation and application of Episcopal Church law. The bishops cited case law, scripture and canons of General Convention.

The 26 liberal bishops submitted their brief in response to arguments presented by the two orthodox bishops because they said their position would "undermine and drastically alter the authority and the role of bishops in the Episcopal Church." The bishops say that Dixon had acted within her authority in refusing to license Edwards as rector of the parish.

An Episcopal Church Review Committee concluded unanimously that Bishop Dixon had acted reasonably and did not commit an offense against the Canon law of the Church.

Bishops Iker and Duncan argued that Bishop Dixon violated the canons of the church, but a disciplinary Review Committee of the Episcopal Church cleared Bishop Dixon of all alleged wrongdoing.

Then Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold stated his support for Bishop Dixon's decision. Griswold publicly accused Edwards of being schismatic but without benefit of due process required by canon.

Bishops Iker and Duncan argued that the District Court erred in not adopting their interpretation of the "thirty day rule" of Canon III.17.2, claiming that the interpretation of Bishop Dixon and other Church authorities is "not rational."

Ironically, neither Iker nor Duncan was brought up on charges for filing an amicus brief in support of Edwards.

By filing charges against and by tightening the screws on the nine orthodox Episcopal bishops this year, the Episcopal Church demonstrated that they hope to cower any future opposition.

A new twist was using a new canon passed at the last General Convention that allows not just bishops but clergy and laity to go after a bishop(s) on any frivolous grounds. In this case, only one bishop, C. Wallis Ohl (rump bishop of Ft. Worth), was a complainant, six were priests and three were laity.

A number of bloggers described the behavior of these people as "totalitarian" and described Jefferts Schori's leadership as a "sociopathic reign of terror." One layman who knew Ohl well when he was the Bishop of Northwest Texas said, "Wallace Ohl has a history of self-service and self-aggrandizement at the expense of others. In his last parish he left the congregation deeply in debt after having propped up the place to make himself look successful so he could become a bishop. He totally betrayed his diocese theologically and was a total ass to people who disagreed with him. He lied to his fellow bishops about standing with them against their apostate leadership, and now he goes after these very bishops with a vengeance because they challenged his betrayal."

It is ironic that the Episcopal Church in June 2012 hammered bishops Bruce MacPherson, Ed Salmon and Peter Beckwith bringing disciplinary proceedings against the three bishops of the Episcopal Church under the provisions of Title IV for filing an affidavit in the Quincy lawsuit, yet the paperwork in the Bishop Charles vonRosenberg federal motion against Bishop Mark Lawrence, reveals that bishops John Buchanan and Dorsey Henderson filed a similar affidavit in support of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Will bishops Buchanan and Henderson now be brought to account? Don't count on it.

What we clearly have is two sets of rules running here. If a TEC bishop files in support of a realigned diocese, he gets hammered, but if a TEC bishop files in support of TEC he gets a pass.

The hypocrisy stinks to high heaven. But then many now believe that there is little hope the Episcopal Church can or has any desire to be turned around. One must look to a realigned North American Anglicanism to provide hope for those who wish to be authentically Anglican.

The Anglican Church in North America recently announced that it was well on the way to establishing 1,000 new churches in the US and Canada.

END

'via Blog this'

Hunnius Has an Excellent Summary of the Pre-Existence of UOJ - "Nope!"

"There are a great many sermons on the justification of men before God in our published writings -- in the Augsburg Confession, the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, in both Catechisms of Luther, in the Epitome and the Formula of Concord -- indeed, in the entire controversy with the papists that has gone on now for more than 70 years. But regarding this general justification by which all men were supposedly justified at some time, received into the embrace of divine grace, adopted, with sin having been forgiven to all men equally -- truly, properly and by the deed itself -- of this, I say, in all of these published writings and in all of Holy Scripture, there is nothing but eternal silence." -- Aegidius Hunnius (c. 1594)
Cited by Christian Schulz

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David Boisclair has left a new comment on your post "Hunnius Has an Excellent Summary of the Pre-Existe...":

Hunnius here is not speaking of what we believe, teach, and confess in the Lutheran synods that formerly constituted the Synodical Conference. He is speaking here about Huberianism, which is something totally different. Our doctrine is the same as that of Aegidius Hunnius. Notice that Hunnius is speaking here of the receipt and adoption by divine grace. For lack of a better label this is the heresy of Universal Subjective Justification. 

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David Boisclair has left a new comment on your post "Hunnius Has an Excellent Summary of the Pre-Existe...":

Correction: "Notice that Hunnius is speaking here of the receipt of and adoption by divine grace." Please excuse the omission of the preposition "of" after the posted word "receipt." 

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LPC has left a new comment on your post "Hunnius Has an Excellent Summary of the Pre-Existe...":

Yes and he is speaking also of sin having been forgiven to all men equally.

Like I said Rev. Boisclair, you focus too much on where you think you differ and there you comfort yourself, you should be bothered where your (UOJ) is similar to Huber.

That bit of having all sins forgiven to all men equally is something your UOJ shares with Huber.

LPC 

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GJ - The UOJ Storm-Brownies specialize in distinctions without a difference.