Midweek Lenten Service, 7 PM. March 20, 2024.

 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84012706346?pwd=JaQBsS7XzL7aLvwaD3znbGcCFeQuc6.1

Bethany Lutheran Church, 

Springdale, Arkansas

Midweek Lenten Service

7 PM Central Daylight Time

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

The Hymn #39             Praise to the Lord the Almighty                                 
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody               Psalm 22
The Lection                            The Passion History

The Sermon Hymn #151      Christ the Life of All the  Living         

 The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #575                  Before the Lord We Bow

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

To Be More Like the Good Shepherd

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

     The Apostle Paul, above all notions and attitudes, was the worst kind of antagonist and purist one could imagine. He was going to rid the world of those who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He participated in getting rid of St. Stephen, and it took the risen Christ to confront him and convert him.

     So Paul realized he was the worst of the worst and not the best at all. This passage is concise and clear about how our minds or thoughts should be the mirror of Jesus' mind and thoughts. Jesus was and is equal to God but did not count Himself as glorious and all-powerful, though that was also part of being the Son of God. Jesus' equality with God did not set aside His humility, His humanity, or His role as a servant/slave. 

     The lowest Jesus could have been is bearing the cross - demeaning, slugged in the face, whipped, suffering in every possible way and insulted. That was all predicted in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. Somehow, a silver or gold cross from C. M. Almy, costing thousands of dollars, is not quite the same. And what do the thousand dollar robes suggest? Each one a different color.

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

     That means - whenever we have the opportunity, not waiting to try, but taking care of those concerns of others, worries, hardships, and pains. We know from history that the greatest expansions of the Christian Faith have come from suffering, persecution, imprisonment, loss of everything that mattered.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

     Our concept of the Holy Trinity features what we grasp best of all - Jesus the Son of God and Son of Man. He knows us and cares for each and every one of us. Best of all, His human nature teaches us about God 100%. We can depend on Him to work any miracle in His time and we can understand our tiny perspectives in light of His glory and future in the glories of heaven. I said to someone yesterday, "We are on one side of the Gates of Heaven or the other, as believers. It all depends on Him."

      

Prayers and Announcements

• Prayers - BibleJohn and his wife Pat, Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Sarah Buck.
• Pray for our country as major trials continue. They even hate Francis Scott Key. "Before the Lord We Bow."

Starting up the Reformation Seminary - Open To All Who Wish To Learn

Designed by Norma A. Boeckler

Members and friends of Bethany Lutheran Church were asking about classes in Biblical doctrine. Someone suggested "a seminary," which is a good way organize the work. If I had looked into the future, I would not have imagined Ustream - our first broadcasting effort, Vimeo - our second, and Zoom - the most complicated and effective combination for speaking and music.

I am teaching fewer graduate classes in the Bible now, so I have more time and energy to do this. If people want to contribute, that is fine but not required. We only have one church account, for Bethany Lutheran Church, which is registered for non-profit status.

I am not sure how all this will develop, but I am happy to provide the basics of Biblical doctrine, following the examples of Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and Martin Chemnitz. We will have discussion opportunities in the future. Picking times will be a challenge, but each session will be recorded and saved first on Ichabod and also on the Reformation Seminary blog.

I plan on teaching Thursday, March 21st, 2024. I will send notices and the basics by Zoom email. I am looking forward to the experience. 

Lectures will not be any longer than 30 minutes, and discussions may follow.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Palm Sunday Epistle Sermon - "Paul’s words are chosen, not as an apology for Christ, but as a severe rebuke for those who arrogate to themselves the form of God against the protest of conscience that it is not their own but stolen."

 

Epistle Sermon for Palm Sunday ->Complete Epistle Sermon Here

Paul’s words are chosen, not as an apology for Christ, but as a severe rebuke for those who arrogate to themselves the form of God against the protest of conscience that it is not their own but stolen. The apostle would show how infinitely Christ differs from them, and that the divine form they would take by theft is Christ’s by right.

13. Paul does not use this expression, however, when he refers to Christ’s assumption of the servant form which is his, not by nature, but by assumption. The words produce the impression that Christ took by force something not his own. Paul should be expected to say: “He held it not robbery to assume the form of a servant.” Why should he rather have chosen that form of expression in the first instance, since Christ did not assume the divine form, but possessed it as his very own — yes, laid it aside and assumed a form foreign to his nature? The substance of the matter is that he who becomes a servant does not and cannot assume anything, but only gives, giving even himself. Hence there is no warrant here to speak of robbery or of a disposition to look upon the matter in this light.

On the other hand, assumption of the divine form necessarily involves taking, and altogether precludes giving. Hence there is warrant to speak of robbery in this connection, and of men who so view it. But this charge cannot be brought against Christ. He does not render himself guilty of robbery, nor does he so view his relation, as all others must do. Divinity is his by right, and so is its appropriate form a birthright.

14. Thus, it seems to me, this text very clearly teaches that to have divine form is simply to assume in regard to others, in word and deed, the bearing of God and Lord; and that Christ meets this test in the miraculous signs and life-giving words, as the Gospels contend. He does not rank with the saints who lack the divine essence; he has, in addition to divine form, the divine essence and nature. On the other hand, the servant, or servile, form implies acting toward others, in word and deed, like a servant. Thus Christ did when he served the disciples and gave himself for us. But he served not as the saints, who are servants by nature. Service was, with him, something assumed for our benefit and as an example for us to follow, teaching us to act in like manner toward others, to disrobe ourselves of the appearance of divinity as he did, as we shall see.

15. Unquestionably, then, Paul proclaims Christ true God. Had he been mere man, what would have been the occasion for saying that he became like a man and was found in the fashion of other men? and that he assumed the form of a servant though he was in form divine? Where would be the sense in my saying to you, “You are like a man, are made in the fashion of a man, and take upon yourself the form of a servant”? You would think I was mocking you, and might appropriately reply: “I am glad you regard me as a man; I was wondering if I were an ox or a wolf. Are you mad or foolish?” Would not that be the natural rejoinder to such a foolish statement? Now, Paul not being foolish, nor being guilty of foolish speech, there truly must have been something exalted and divine about Christ. For when the apostle declares that he was made like unto other men, though the fact of his being human is undisputed, he simply means that the man Christ was God, and could, even in his humanity, have borne himself as divine. But this is precisely what he did not do; he refrained: he disrobed himself of his divinity and bore himself as a mere man like others.

Yesterday I Confronted the Pharm Tech with Chick Peas

 

Greger's short essays and videos are fun to watch and read.
There are many of both on each topic, just fill in the blank.
He likes to joke where he can fit in some medical humor.

I got absorbed in the free essays of Dr. Michael Greger today, so I am going to do more on Reformation Seminary tomorrow. 

I was picking up my eye drops and talked to my favorite pharm tech, who was at this Walmart from the beginning, as I was. She was curious about my groceries, so I said, "Blueberries, apples, chick peas..." She said, "Chick peas! What can you do with them!?" She was quite animated. I said, "I enjoy them daily because they are anti-cancer and satisfying." I told her my weight loss and she was stunned, asking for the name of the nutritionists. 

https://nutritionfacts.org/video/blocking-the-cancer-metastasis-enzyme-mmp-9-with-beans-and-chickpeas/

Today I was looking at the value of sweet cherries, thanks to Dr. Greger and I looked up chick peas (Garbanzo, aka Cicero Beans). Anti-inflammatory is the word -

https://nutritionfacts.org/video/anti-inflammatory-life-is-a-bowl-of-cherries/

I am not against meat, but I find the thought of eating chicken revolting. I know too much about the industry and see too many trucks filled with crates of half-dead chickens. No wonder our town's nickname is Chickendale, home of Tyson.

As I wrote before, I studied the nutrition. I saw that fast food and highly processed food were robbing me blind financially and wrecking my blood panel results. I really enjoy the food too, just as Charlie Sue does. 

My vegetable consultant has pointed out many good ideas about food. He moved me into spices, so I replaced the ancient and unused relics with cumin, turmeric (wild ginger, anti-oxidant), allspice, mustard powder, and ground flax seed. 

The beginning of this change was eating walnuts every day, sternly advised by another member. Cholesterol went down to perfect, A1C went up to diabetic, because I put the walnuts on Schwan's Vanilla Ice Cream, a dessert to die for. 

I have repudiated eggs and butter by leaving them in the fridge for the last three months, both because of their value in adding fat.

I am no expert on nutrition, but I have followed two doctors who are. That shook me on how important this list is - and I follow it.

1. Greens - lowest in calories and fat, highest in nutrition, inexpensive and filling: kale, collards, turnip greens, spinach.
2. Beans - Cicero beans are the best in all categories, no need to add salt and oil, humus addicts.
3. Vegetables - A wide variety of colors makes lunch fun and very healthy.
4. Fresh fruit - Switching from apple pie to apples is not torture. Ditto blueberries vs. blueberry muffins.
5. Nuts and seeds - Walnuts and almonds are tops. Ground flax seeds are almost free - many other seeds add to nutrition.
6. Spice has many nutritional bonus points plus livening the food. 

The Lutheran Hymnal - All Glory, Laud, and Honor

Tune: Valet will ich dir geben

"All Glory, Laud, and Honor"
by St. Theodulph of Orleans, c. 821

Translated by John M. Neale, 1818-1866
1. All glory, laud, and honor
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David's royal Son,
Who in the Lord's name comest,
The King and Blessed One.

2. All glory, laud, and honor
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
The company of angels
Are praising Thee on high,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.

3. All glory, Iaud, and honor
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
The people of the Hebrews
With psalms before Thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before Thee we present.

4. All glory, laud, and honor
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
To Thee, before Thy Passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.

5. All glory, laud, and honor
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #160
Text: Matt 21:16
Author: St. Theodulph of Orleans, c. 821
Translated by: John M. Neale, 1854, alt.
Titled: Gloria, laus et honor
Composer: Melchior Teschner, 1613
Tune: Valet will ich dir geben

The Lutheran Hymnal - Hosanna, Loud Hosannas - #161

Tune: Ellacombe

"Hosanna, Loud Hosanna"
by Jeannette Threlfall, 1821-1880

1. Hosanna, loud hosanna,
The little children sang;
Through pillared court and Temple
The lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them,
Close folded to His breast,
The children sang their praises,
The simplest and the best.

2. From Olivet they followed
Mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm-branch waving
And chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of men and angels
Rode on in lowly state
Nor scorned that little children
Should on His bidding wait.

3. "Hosanna in the highest!"
That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer,
The Lord of heaven our King.
Oh, may we ever praise Him
With heart and life and voice
And in His blissful presence
Eternally rejoice.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #161
Text: Matt. 21:15
Author: Jeannette Threlfall, 1873
Tune: Ellacombe
1st Published in: _Gesangbuch d. Herzolgl. Wuerttemberg.
Hofkapelle_, 1784

The Lutheran Hymnal - Father in Whom We Live

 

Tune: "Dover"

"Father, in Whom We Live"
by Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

1. Father, in whom we live,
In whom we are and move,
All glory, power, and praise receive
For Thy creating love.

2. O Thou Incarnate Word,
Let all Thy ransomed race
Unite in thanks with one accord
For Thy redeeming grace.

3. Spirit of Holiness,
Let all Thy saints adore
Thy sacred gifts and join to bless
Thy heart-renewing power.

4. Eternal Triune Lord,
Let all the hosts above,
Let all the sons of men record,
And dwell upon, Thy love.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #241
Text: Acts 17:28
Author: Charles Wesley, 1747, cento
Composer: Aaron Williams, 1770
Tune: "Dover"

The Lutheran Hymnal - All People That on Earth Do Dwell

 
Tune: "Old Hundredth"

"All People that on Earth do Dwell"
by William Kethe, ?-c.1595

1. All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice,
Him serve with fear, His praise forthtell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.

2. The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make.
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.

3. Oh, enter, then, His gates with praise,
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His name always.
For it is seemly so to do.

4. For why? The Lord, our God, is good;
His mercy is forever sure.
His truth at all times firmly stood
And shall from age to age endure.

5. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
To God whom heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #14
Text: Ps. 100
Author: William Kethe, 1561
Tune: "Old Hundredth"
1st Published in: _Genevan Psalter_, 1551

The Social Gospel Movement Now Owns the Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic),

 

If the great and wise among the Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) would read, mark, learn and inwardly digest this, they would end their siege against the Chief Article, Justification by Faith.

America thinks history concerns what happened a few years ago. Let me fill you in on The Social Gospel Movement, which owns the better part of all denominations. I was looking for a dissertation topic when a kindly librarian at Wittenberg College gave me someone to study and a box full of books on the topic of the Social Gospel Movement.

A few men gathered to form the Brotherhood of the Kingdom. At that time, Kingdom was a special word for them, not unlike Growth! is for today's Church Shrinkage Movement. Walter Rauschenbusch was one of the Brotherhood leaders. He was one of the liberal Baptists, very popular among the liberal Protestants. His famous Yale lecture on "The Social Gospel" was a reworking of the Gospel itself - many parallels with the obnoxious Church Growth Movement. The articles of Christianity are simply there to be used for the benefit of the Movement.

The Social Gospel Movement was far to the Left from the beginning. Using the Biblical terms, it was dedicated to changing the meaning of all of them. They wanted the federal government to pass more regulations and the churches to support everything, actually to be lobbyists for all those causes.

President Franklin Roosevelt was very busy in controlling everything and passing would-be-good federal regulations that suffocate us to this day, because they never stop smothering and devouring.

If you run across a Lutheran praising Rauschenbusch, you have identified another Social Gospeler. Their agenda is Socialism or worse, their doctrine is modern Unitarianism at its "best." I have been invited to Unitarian-Universalist congregations to teach twice - not that I would go. They now have a very long radical activist creed that must be obeyed to join. I said, "Thank you, but we have nothing in common."

Readers should be concerned that their Church Growth icons are also radical leftists. The modern Social Gospelers want the Growthers to be lax in doctrine and ruthless in carrying out a caring program of improvement - more like Jane Fonda, a lot less like Luther. The Social Gospelers want everyone to feel guilty about everything, but that is not enough. The complete agenda must be fulfilled so they can add more items.

Do you really think the LCMS and WELS have pushed back the Social Gospel and worse to come? If they have any connection with the Federal Student Loan business, they are sworn to accept and support homosexuals, lesbians, and combinations thereof. How are they different from ELCA? 

As I have said before, one WELS pastor almost cried when he heard that our District Pope was on an ELCA board for sending things overseas. I have to prove to another, chapter and verse, how WELS was giving money ($5,000) to the United Nations!

When I could search synodical gift funds through an Internet program (no longer allowed for free), I could see how ice cream money was given to LCMS and WELS and shuffled around so that outsiders did not know where it finally arrived. While they were kicking out a pastor for teaching Justification by Faith, they were also praising and protecting a man who gave them tons of money. They were furious that I had part of the truth printed in Christian News. The whole truth was even worse.

The peewee synods (ELS and CLC) like to posture as so far beyond the LCMS and WELS, but they are also proponents of nest-feathering and shock at how bad the other synods are. Former members have a lot they can tell, and current members keep their silence.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Epistle Sermon for Palm Sunday - "So Paul’s words commend Christ’s essential divinity and his love toward us, and at the same time correct all who falsely assume a divine form. Such are we all so long as we are the devil’s members."

 

Epistle Sermon for Palm Sunday ->Complete Epistle Sermon Here

9. From these explanations Paul’s meaning must have become clear. His thought is: Christ was in the form of God; that is, both the essence and the bearing of Deity were his. He did not assume the divine form as he did that of a servant. He was, I repeat it; he was in the form of God. The little word “was” expresses that divinity was his both in essence and form. The meaning is: Many assume and display an appearance of divinity, but are not themselves actually divine; the devil, for instance, and Anti-christ and Adam’s children. This is sacrilege — the assumption of divinity by an act of robbery. See Romans 2:22. Though the offender does not look upon such conduct as robbery, it is none the less robbing divine honor, and is so regarded by God and angels and saints, and even by his own conscience.

But Christ, who had not come by divinity through arrogating it to himself, but was divine by nature according to his very essence, did not deem his divinity a thing he had grasped; nor could he, knowing divinity to be his very birthright, and holding it as his own natural possession from eternity.

10. So Paul’s words commend Christ’s essential divinity and his love toward us, and at the same time correct all who falsely assume a divine form. Such are we all so long as we are the devil’s members. The thought is: The devil’s members all would be God, would rob the divinity they do not possess; and they must admit their action to be robbery, for conscience testifies, indeed must testify, that they are not God. Though they may despise the testimony of conscience and fail to heed it, yet the testimony stands, steadfastly maintaining the act as not right — as a malicious robbery.

But the one man, Christ, who did not assume the divine form but was in it by right and had a claim upon it from eternity; who did not and could not hold it robbery to be equal with God; this man humbled himself, taking upon him the form of a servant — not his rightful form — that he by the power of his winning example, might induce them to assume the bearing of servants who possessed the form and character of servants, but who, refusing to own them, appropriated the appearance of divinity upon which they had no claim, since the essence of divinity was forever beyond them.

11. That some fail to understand readily this great text, is due to the fact that they do not accept Paul’s words as spoken, but substitute their own ideas of what he should have said, namely: Christ was born true God and did not rob divinity, etc. The expression “who, existing in the form of God” sounds, in the Greek and Latin, almost as if Christ had merely borne himself as God, unless particular regard be given to the words “existing in,” which Paul contrasts with the phrase “took upon him.” Christ took upon himself the form of a servant, it is true, but in that form was no real servant. Just so, while dispensing with a divine appearance, behind the appearance chosen was God. And we likewise take upon ourselves the divine form, but in the form we are not divine; and we spurn the form of servants, though that is what we are irrespective of appearance. Christ disrobes himself of the divine form wherein he existed, to assume that of a servant, which did not express his essential character; but we lay aside the servant form of our real being and take upon ourselves, or arrogate to ourselves, the form of God to which we are not fitted by what we are in reality.

12. They are startled by this expression also: “Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Now, at first sight these words do not seem to refer solely to Christ, since even the devil and his own, who continually aspire to equality with God, do not think their action robbery in spite of the testimony of their conscience to the contrary. But with Paul the little word “think,” or “regard,” possesses a powerful significance, having the force of “perfect assurance.” Similarly he says (Romans 3:28), “We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law”; and (1 Corinthians 7:40), “I think [deem] that I also have the spirit of God.” But the wicked cannot boast it no robbery when they dare take upon themselves the form of God; for they know, they are satisfied in themselves, that they are not God. Christ, however, did not, nor could he, think himself not equal to God; in other words, he was confident of his equality with God, and knew he had not stolen the honor.

KJV Hater James White - His Wiki Bio

 

 James White 

His ThM, Th.D. and D.Min. degrees from Columbia Evangelical Seminary (formerly Faraston Theological Seminary), an unaccredited online school.^[5][6][7] The legitimacy of White's academic credentials has been questioned.^[8]

The point of a real doctorate is to spend a lot of time studying, listening to lectures, and debating with fellow students on germane topics.

It is bad enough when people like Lawrence Otto Olson (D.Min. Fuller Seminary) pretend they have an earned doctorate when it is just a master's degree about a favorite fad, like Church Growth. I am glad that my work at Notre Dame and Yale helped me to ferret out the facts and learn how to put arguments together honestly.

Olson will not answer questions in his class unless he is addressed as "Dr. Olson." That is the state of the clergy today. However, it is better to have the background without the degree than to have the phony degree without any cause for it. 

Stan Hauerwas asked me what I wanted to do with a PhD. I said, "Write books and articles." He said, "You have to have a degree then. It is the union card for publishing."

Stan Hauerwas grew up as a bricklayer. He earned a number of degrees at Yale, including the PhD. He was let go at Augustana College, got a teaching job at Notre Dame, and moved on to Duke University. He was born in 1940.

Setting Up the Three Main Blog Pages

 

This blog has always covered many topics. Starting the Reformation Seminary, Arkansas, means we need to organize some posts separately. Posts will be posted here on Ichabod first and repeated in the separate areas, alphabetically. That will make it easy to find 

1. worship services, 
2. hymns from TLH, and 
3. the lessons at Reformation Seminary.

• The first one is Bethany Lutheran Worship for all worship posts and videos.
• The second one is Bethany The Lutheran Hymnal, for all hymns and hymn graphics.
• The third one is Reformation Seminary, Arkansas, under the link of Martin Chemnitz Friends.

Other links will be separate below those three. They will be listed by how new they are. That way, the newest post gets attention. I like promoting the blogs of others.

"It is about time to have a Reformation Seminary instead of Fuller Seminary, Willow Creek, and Trinity Divinity."

The Big Five Seminaries - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - They Teach Apostasy And Fight for Universalism

 

Walther's higher education training was limited to undergraduate school. CFS got his doctrine from a syphilitic Pietist. Valleskey got his training at Fuller Seminary, which he confessed to others but denied to the innocent. Both men are crypto-Universalists, insisting on universal forgiveness without faith.

That is not a minor matter, but the ultimate issue. The Chief Article of Christianity is Justification by Faith, not universal forgiveness at the cross, at the empty tomb, or the Garden of Eden after its corruption. Their confusion reveals their ignorance, because they cannot start with one false and ridiculous premise while leaving the Biblical truths alone.

People should take a close look at seminaries today, because they are quickly becoming expensive relics with increasing overhead and decreasing attendance. They teach the Bible, but which one? There is only one good Bible around - that is the King James Version. Lutherans should blush to think the Luther Bible and KJV are alike in their translations - in both cases prepared by faithful theological geniuses. 

The KJV is the only Bible the Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) hate, despise, and reject. Some tolerate the New KJV, but that oddity changes as often as the weather report. None of the money-makers cite the KJV parallels in footnotes, because that would make their magic act fade away - the way a verse or phrase or word is there in one printing and gone in the next.

The greatest miracle ever is the Revised Standard Version dropping Isaiah 7:14 replacing "virgin" with  "young woman" down in the footnote - "or virgin" back up again in 7:14 only to have the young woman re-instated later in the text and "or virgin" footnoted once again.

Do not worry - the seminaries today are not going to damage sons and daughters with knowledge of the Bible, so they just go with downhill flow. Biblical languages were taught long ago at Gettysburg Seminary, where almost all the courses were Hebrew, Greek, and homiletics, with some German added. Biblical knowledge is not appreciated or taught today, fad theology is consumed because it is so simple for the simple-minded.

The fads vary somewhat. The LCMS-ELS fosters Roman Catholic worship, which is why Robert Preus wrote against it 30 years ago, Justification and Rome. The problem is worse, entering micro-synods with self-appointed micro-bishops. Must we wait for suffragen bishops next?

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - grovel before Fuller Seminary and its copycats, begging for a chance to taste and test the Church Growth Principles so highly regarded (by Fuller). 

Those who donate to their seminaries should first remember that Fuller Seminary is at the front of the line for loot. Thrivent Insurance is portrayed as a bonus for the Lutherans, but their niggling contributions are aimed at those synodicals with big salaries and small brains. The insurance company wants a direct line on all the members of the Big Five, a captive audience, easy targets because everything is Thrivent, Thrivent, Thrivent. Fuller speaks their language, which is business, business, business.

Thrivent pro-abortion? Of course. What else comes from Thrivent dollars?

Corrupt Bibles

Imagine this - all the current New Testament texts are based upon two fraudulent items - Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus. The evidence against both is staggering, but the radicals took over and gloated to have all the new paraphrased (not translated) Bibles suit their hatred of the Scriptures. Their logic is simple. The majority of all Greek New Testament texts are harmonious. That is why they are called the Traditional or Majority or Apostolic texts. The radicals are allergic to the divinity of Christ and faith in Him, so they ridicule the Majority.

The new theologians after WWII were hotter than Georgia asphalt for anything that belittled the Christian Faith. Karl Barth and Paul Tillich also set records in marital infidelity - so much the better for apostates and their seminary students. Everything traditional was questioned and ridiculed. Anyone can say, "Scholars are divided," which was old before the work of Thomas Aquinas began. Augustine published a book of his retractions, based on his change of doctrine over the years. When will seminary presidents apologize for teaching Church Growth and Bad Bogus Bibles?

The question remains, "What do we honor as the divine text? One that changes every few months?" Each modern effort must be bad, because they have to change their edition every few years or months. That is good for renewing the copyright and bank accounts.

Look around your synod. What is it like after 50 years, roughly the span of the toxic Church Growth Movement? 

• Has church become entertainment, with balding boomers strumming their guitars?
• Have the leaders become "excited" over the next effort to shrink the parish?
• Have they searched for vision, methods, and treats during the service?
• Are the synodicals hiding their red-tape Titanic Purple Palace, Love Shack, and Little School on the Prairie?
• ELCA started with a Chicago high rise for a big booming synod. What is left? 

Their CPAs must be groaning for the One Thing Needful - the Gospel itself - because nothing else has worked, except driving the faithful away. I have been arguing against these synodical trends for 30 years, only to have clergy howl with rage and say all kinds of nasty things.  

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Palm Sunday - "You are Christians; you have Christ, and in him and through him all fullness of comfort for time and eternity: therefore nothing should appeal to your thought, your judgment, your pleasure, but that which was in the mind of Christ concerning you as the source of your welfare."

 

Complete Epistle Sermon Here

PALM SUNDAY


TEXT:

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

CHRIST AN EXAMPLE OF LOVE.

1. Here Paul again presents to us as a powerful example of the celestial and eternal fire, the love of Christ, for the purpose of persuading us to exercise a loving concern for one another. The apostle employs fine words and precious admonitions, having perceived the indolence and negligence displayed by Christians in this matter of loving. For this the flesh is responsible. The flesh continually resists the willing spirit, seeking its own interest and causing sects and factions. Although a sermon on this same text went forth in my name a few years ago, entitled “The Twofold Righteousness,” the text was not exhausted; therefore we will now examine it word by word. “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

2. You are Christians; you have Christ, and in him and through him all fullness of comfort for time and eternity: therefore nothing should appeal to your thought, your judgment, your pleasure, but that which was in the mind of Christ concerning you as the source of your welfare. For his motive throughout was not his own advantage; everything he did was done for your sake and in your interest. Let men therefore, in accord with his example, work every good thing for one another’s benefit. “Who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” [“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.”] 3. If Christ, who was true God by nature, has humbled himself to become servant of all, how much more should such action befit us who are of no worth, and are by nature children of sin, death and the devil! Were we similarly to humble ourselves, and even to go beyond Christ in humility — a thing, however, impossible — we should do nothing extraordinary. Our humility would still reek of sin in comparison with his. Suppose Christ to humble himself in the least degree — but a hair’s breadth, so to speak — below the most exalted angels; and suppose we were to humble ourselves to a position a thousand times more abased than that of the devils in hell; yet our humility would not compare in the least with that of Christ. For he is an infinite blessing — God himself — and we are but miserable creatures whose existence and life are not for one moment secure.

4. What terrible judgment must come upon those who fail to imitate the ineffable example of Christ; who do not humble themselves below their neighbors and serve them, but rather exalt themselves above them! Indeed, the example of Christ may well terrify the exalted, and those high in authority; and still more the self-exalted. Who would not shrink from occupying the uppermost seat and from lording it over others when he sees the Son of God humble and eliminate himself?

5. The phrase “form of God” does not receive the same interpretation from all. Some understand Paul to refer to the divine essence and nature in Christ; meaning that Christ, though true God, humbled himself. While Christ is indeed true God, Paul is not speaking here of his divine essence, which is concealed. The word he uses — “morphe,” or “forma” — he employs again where he tells of Christ taking upon himself the form of a servant. “Form of a servant” certainly cannot signify “essence of a real servant” — possessing by nature the qualities of a servant. For Christ is not our servant by nature; he has become our servant from good will and favor toward us. For the same reason “divine form” cannot properly mean “divine essence”; for divine essence is not visible, while the divine form was truly seen. Very well; then let us use the vernacular, and thus make the apostle’s meaning clear.

6. “Form of God,” then, means the assumption of a divine attitude and bearing, or the manifestation of divinity in port and presence; and this not privately, but before others, who witness such form and bearing. To speak in the clearest possible manner: Divine bearing and attitude are in evidence when one manifests in word and deed that which pertains peculiarly to God and suggests divinity. Accordingly, “the form of a servant” implies the assumption of the attitude and bearing of a servant in relation to others. It might be better to render “Morphe tu dulu,” by “the bearing of a servant,” that means, manners of such character that whoever sees the person must take him for a servant. This should make it clear that the passage in question does not refer to the manifestation of divinity or servility as such, but to the characteristics and the expression of the same. For, as previously stated, the essence is concealed, but its manifestation is public. The essence implies a condition, while its expression implies action.

Click Link for Today's Communion Service

 https://youtu.be/WEHowTOktXY

Judica - The Fifth Sunday of Lent - 2024. The Sin of Unbelief

                                             

                      Bethany Lutheran Church

Sunday worship, 10 AM

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Zoom Link Is Here->https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86211445686?pwd=E3CAJIbElaWYb8I2pvR0Ky4qox2wXH.1

The YouTube link appears after the service.

The Hymn #12     This Day at Thy Creating Word                                     

The Absolution

The Introit 

Judge me, O God: and plead my cause against an ungodly nation.

Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man: for Thou art the God of my strength.

Psalm. Oh, send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation p. 19

The Collect

We beseech Thee, Almighty God, 

mercifully to look upon Thy people, 

that by Thy great goodness 

they may be governed and preserved 

evermore both in body and soul; 

through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #67     The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us - Loy Translation

The Sin of Unbelief

The Communion Hymn #307      Draw Nigh

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #410    Jesus Lead Thou On    

       

Prayers and Announcements

• Randy Anderson is home; Sarah Buck; Lorie Howell, Dr. Kermit Way, Pastor and Mrs. Jim Shrader.
• Mid-Week Vespers, 7 PM
• Palm Sunday Holy Communion, 10 AM
• Holy Week - Maundy Thursday, Holy Communion 7 PM. 
• Good Friday 7 PM. 
• Easter Sunday  Holy Communion, 10 AM.

       

KJV Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

The Sin of Unbelief

KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 

The situation was building up between the religious leaders and Jesus. The more He taught by words and miracles, the more these people objected. This is the Son of God teaching the truth and making His opponents increasingly hostile. The problem continues to this day - those who read and hear the truth of the Scriptures become more hostile. It takes a crowd of unbelievers to support one another in opposition to faith.

John's Gospel is often called the Faith Gospel because of the use of "believe" and "faith." The professor/minister said in class. "If you remember the verb and noun - believe/faith - in the Fourth Gospel, you have half of the Gospel translated." (He was exaggerating.) The opposition continues to this day, people angrily deny what Jesus teaches in this Gospel. The modern opponents do not credit Jesus in John's Gospel because they do not believe in Him. Unbelief is the foundational sin against the Holy Spirit, the battering ram against hardened hearts.

KJV John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Luther:

1. This Gospel teaches how hardened persons become the more furious, the more one teaches them and lovingly stirs them to do their duty. For Christ asks them here in a very loving way for a reason why they still disbelieve, since they can find fault neither with his life nor with his teaching. 

48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

The very nature of unbelief stirs up people to doubt, and those reactions are often quite hurtful in many ways - mocking the believing speaker, name-calling, obvious hatred, rejection, and various forms of guilt by association. However, that is where the battle begins, and it can be quite powerful. 

The Holy Spirit works through the Word, and the Spirit is God, not something to ignore or dismiss. If people believe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they have a counselor (spokesman) who argues the case, which goes back to Creation. Nevertheless, people find escapes and fallacies that permit them - so they think - to oppose faith in the Savior, His Word, and His miracles.

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

The moderns like to modify Jesus because of their unbelief. But Jesus declared the truth to His opponents because that was His mission, and it meant they had reason to convict Him. Jesus was and is the dual threat, not just a threat. He endangered the Jewish state of that time, which could cause Rome to march in and subdue the land, destroying whatever they wished. Jesus made it possible to engage the Roman rulers to go along with this opposition against Him.

John 11:48 - If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

The people who live luxuriously have reason to be afraid of losing their power, prestige, and cushy lifestyle. And they did - 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, the Roman army arrived and leveled the Temple and city, taking away the people as slaves.

The unbelievers think they can stand behind Abraham as the father of faith, getting themselves into a quandary with Jesus, who claims He is before Abraham and all of them, and yet was seen and glorified by Abraham. That was impossible for them, to have Jesus in the past and Abraham glorified this future Redeemer.

54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

This is a dialogue where only One is truly present. The scribes and Pharisees have a view of Jesus which is completely human while He is also divine, Two Natures in One, just as He is today with us - human/divine - walking ahead to lead us, bringing us to green pastures and fighting off the wolves.

Jesus aggravated the religious leaders because that was - and is - His mission, to awaken people with the Gospel of Faith in Him. The foundation of the early church was Judaism. They had the Scriptures as the Old Testament alone (for a time), where the historical epochs were described - with the Psalms and prophets. The apostolic age brought out the written New Testament as documents were being compiled. The wolves were present and active. John was perhaps the greatest of the disciples, certainly the longest living one, and yet he was plagued by Cerinthus who opposed him.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. 

This is an impossible statement, unless it comes from God. Only God could say this, and no one can really say or imagine it, Before Abraham - thousands of years ago - I am, or I was. The I AM is the Name of God, in Exodus 3. Moses saw the Burning Bush, which was to be a symbol of the Two Natures of Christ. God is know as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob - foreshadowing the Trinity. But what is the Name of God? Tell me, Moses says, so I can give your Name. The voice says - I AM. Tell them I AM sent you.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

They picked up stones because Jesus was saying, "I spoke from the Burning Bush, just as earlier, Abraham saw My future of millions of people becoming believers and enjoying life eternal."

The stone throwing shows His time had not yet come. Everything was to be revealed in its time. His Two Natures are also implied because He was the center of focus and yet passed through them, just as He  entered the locked room (emphasized twice) where the disciples were after His resurrection.

This was very early in the ministry of Jesus, and it shows us how region was filled with anxieties and hopes about the Messiah. Just as those times, we wonder and try to predict, but cannot know the exact future.