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| Norma A. Boeckler |
The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity, 2018
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Raised Up by His Hand
Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Matthew 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
The Book of Concord, Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article III,
The Righteousness of Faith
6] This article concerning justification by faith (as the Apology says) is the chief article in the entire Christian doctrine, without which no poor conscience can have any firm consolation, or can truly know the riches of the grace of Christ, as Dr. Luther also has written: If this only article remains pure on the battlefield, the Christian Church also remains pure, and in goodly harmony and without any sects; but if it does not remain pure, it is not possible that any error or fanatical spirit can be resisted. (Tom. 5, Jena, p. 159.) 7] And concerning this article especially Paul says that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.The Righteousness of Faith
- In the Gospel of John, believing and witnessing to the truth go together - and there is only one Truth in the Bible.
- This is directly related to creeds, because the people witnessing were responding to the truth, the revelation of Christ Jesus. The witness is the result of God's revelation.
- In the early Church, there were various Creeds and catechisms. Some poetical passages may very well be reminders of the memorized creeds or hymns they used. 1 Timothy 3:16.
- Creeds are secondary to Scripture, but that does not make them "boring and irrelevant" as one WELS pastor said.
- Apostates and unionists do not like creeds. Apostates have lost their faith, and unionists see all roads as leading to God. Both are hostile to faith.
- Hymns and creeds are born in conflict, so they are valuable for that reason.
- The Formula of Concord, 1580, came from 50 years of doctrinal strife after the Augsburg Confession. Luther considered himself a "theologian of the Augsburg Confession," as the Book of Concord editors did.
- Confessions are not weighty chains that imprison us in the past - they are witness to Biblical truths, which inform us and keep us from making the same mistakes again.
- The Book of Concord is a reference book, which we read in small sections at a time. Justification can be looked up in AC IV and V, the Apology, and FC III.
- We can see for ourselves in the parts are in agreement with each other and with the Scriptures.
Chemnitz - Apology of the Book of Concord - Ending.
The Zwinglians are like renters ordering the property owners around so there is peace and harmony. They came after the Lutheran Reformation and declared Sacraments did not offer forgiveness, and the "Holy Spirit did not need a vehicle, like an oxcart." They denied the Real Presence in Holy Communion.
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| Universal Objective Justification is a perfect case of this, as Hoenecke falsely claimed, "protecting the Gospel," so much that now WELS-ELS-LCMS are in agreement with each other, and ELCA, against the Chief Article, against Luther, against the Scriptures. |
Luther's Galatians
FC. III. 67] Concerning what is needful furthermore for the proper explanation of this profound and chief article of justification before God, upon which depends the salvation of our souls, we direct, and for the sake of brevity herewith refer, every one to Dr. Luther's beautiful and glorious exposition of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians.This is another provision, lest the topic be kidnapped by false teachers. The editors thought so highly of this work that they recommended it to everyone for additional study of Justification. How often is it cited and quoted by UOJ salesmen?
Romans 5:1-2 summarizes Romans 4 and then elaborates further, after 5:2.
5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
5 δικαιωθεντες (Having been justified) ουν (therefore) εκ πιστεως (by faith) ειρηνην εχομεν (we have peace) προς τον θεον (with God) δια του κυριου ημων (through our Lord) ιησου χριστου (Jesus Christ).
2 δι ου (through Whom) και (also) την προσαγωγην εσχηκαμεν (we have an entryway) τη πιστει (by faith) εις την χαριν ταυτην (into this grace) εν η εστηκαμεν (in which grace we stand) και καυχωμεθα (and we boast or exult) επ ελπιδι (in the hope) της δοξης του θεου (of the glory of God).
Raised Up by His Hand
Matthew 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
The Bible teaches a connection between resurrection and faith, because there is no better display of God's power than giving life back to someone who has died. So there are three specific examples revealed to us, not that they were the only ones. So many miracles were performed that the Gospels use examples which teach us.
The three are the widow's son, the synagogue ruler's daughter, and Lazarus - the third one precipitating the crisis that culminated in the death and resurrection of Christ. That left no question about the divinity of Jesus and His titles, Son of God, David's Son, the Savior.
We should not overlook details, such as the status of this young girl's father. He was the head of a synagogue, so the death and resurrection of his daughter had a powerful influence on the entire group and anyone who knew the father. This is another case of Jesus taking the Gospel to the Jewish leadership, so everyone had a chance to believe in Him. If they did not witness the event, they had many witnesses available to tell them about the event. And how could that be suppressed? When something so tragic happens, a complete turnabout is going to be discussed forever, especially when it is death to life.
There are many examples of this around us. Some great difficulty, painful experience, or impossible burden creates a turning point of some type. And there is a before and an after.
Jesus raises people up, just as surely as He raised up the young woman in this miracle. Her father believed in Jesus and came to Him, worshiping Him and saying "My daughter is dead. Lay your hand on her and she will live."
19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
On the way to one miracle - there was another miracle. This gives us a perspective about how much happened during His public ministry. This woman also believed in Him. After suffering for years with no relief from doctors, she concluded that touching His clothing would be enough for healing. She drew near and received that healing. Knowing all, Jesus turned and re-assured her - He does not cast down, but lifts up. The woman was healed.
This was like being raised from the dead, because of all the physical and social problems. So there was definitely a before and an after. She doubtless told everyone, because it could hardly be suppressed, and people ask, "Have you found anything that worked?" This is how the Gospel initially spread, so there were many believers, many curious people too, with everything confirmed by the empty tomb.
23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
Therefore, when Jesus arrived at the home of the synagogue ruler, He had performed a great and greatly appreciated miracle. But He was back to zero with the crowd. When He began to shoo the professional mourners away, they mockingly laughed at Him.
This is the reaction of un-faith to the object of faith. People become blinded by their version of reality and do not see what is plainly before them. Sedona, Arizona has interesting rock formations where sea life is high up in the rocks. Two different guides said, "According to scientists, millions of years ago..." And I finished - "Or the Flood." One said, "Well, yes. I am not getting into that."
Jesus revealed the girl was about to live again, not that she was in a coma. The crowd knew their stuff. They went to lots of funerals and the poor girl was beyond hope. But there is scornful laughter, which happens when faith antagonizes unbelievers. The Epistle of James 2:19: "They believe but their hides bristle."
2. Of course there is also at times something in the Gospel on John the Baptist, Mary and the Apostles, but this is not properly the Gospel, for they are taken into consideration so as more perfectly to indicate whence Christ came and what his office is. So Luke relates the history of John the Baptist from the beginning, his conception and birth; and that of the Virgin Mary, all which is written not for their sake, but only for the sake of the one person Christ, so that everything written in the Gospel concerns this person Christ alone. In St. Paul’s Epistles there is nothing written about the saints, all there is about Christ alone. The Evangelists describe what miracles and wonders Christ performed; but they write of no work that John or Mary did; but only what Christ did, how he helped the people in body and soul, and how the people clung to him.
25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
The unseeing or unbelieving were not allowed in for the miracle. They might have remained scornful too. God blinds and hardens those who increasingly oppose His Word.
She rose from the dead, and this miracle was told throughout the land. So we can see how this great sign from God planted faith and fulfilled hopes - the Messiah is here! - and also fired up opposition to Him! - stop this Jesus before he becomes too powerful.
We would like to think, "This is such a wonderful miracle, the whole countryside should have believed in Him and not gone into a suicidal war only a few years later." But as soon as faith is planted or renewed, opposition sets in.
In one case, many years ago, there was no problem with someone going to an old-fashioned Lutheran Church. But he discovered the Reformation and suddenly it became a marriage crisis and an ultimatum.
Two sets of facts go together - one is resurrection and faith, because the foundation of Christianity is the empty grave. Through faith we are forgiven our sins and promised eternal life.
The set of facts is well known and illustrated in Europe - cross and crown. Those who do not bear the cross will not not wear the crown. Faith in the Gospel inspires opposition, ridicule, hatred, and all kinds of opposition from the New Pharisees - the professional religious set, the rulers of the synods and denominations. I can read a book called The Jesuits and check back on the cover - "This reads like Recent Lutheran History 101."
Remedies for the Malady
I realize the Reformation had its moment last month, largely spoiled by those who despise Luther's doctrine, but Reformation is year around at Bethany, because that was a peak century - the 16th.
The first remedy is a knowledge and love for the Scriptures themselves. It is fun to see that a chance remark led a number of people into studying Greek, which we will continue. That provoked even more thirst for Greek. That is not litmus test, but once someone gets a sample of what can be learned, it is difficult to stop. That can be done 100% in English because we have great books for that if only people discover and use them.
If someone is not well armed - for the Word is a shield and a sword - he will be prey to the claims of various books and leaders. That is why the Christian Church needs to renew sermons on the Biblical text, not themes about friendship, time-management, and making new friends (signs of triumphant rationalism, by the way; nothing is new - we keep recycling errors).
Secondly, faith leads to witnessing faith, so we have the remarkable and harmonious Book of Concord, a one-volume Bible commentary. There key statements that keep us from drifting into old errors.
The Chief Article is Justification by Faith.
If someone argues against this, he is against the Book of Concord and by implication - the Scriptures. I can show Justification by Faith in dozens of Scripture passages.
If we have problems with that statement, there are many places we can go for support and additional education. I am thankful for all the opposition that made me study these topics for years.
And this is so important to understand, grasp, and apply. The great quest of our time is Grace - and that is good - God's love, favor, and forgiveness.
How do we know we really have this grace and all its benefits? We know through faith in Jesus, who takes us by the hand, raises us up, and leaves all sin behind.
