Cascione Thinks His Eructations Deserve a Response

Email from David Becker to Otten, RIP, Cascione, and "Father" Steve Spencer, WELS:

FYI, I don't think it was the greatest response in the world but Dr. Greg Jackson DID respond on July 13 to Pastor Jack Cascione's review of his latest book.  The response is below.  I personally don't think it's essential to reprint.  I summarized Dr. Jackson's main points in what you printed in the 7-29-19 CN, p. 7. 

Dr. Jackson also covered similar ground in a number of new blog posts.  I figure anyone truly interested can find those responses or obtain a copy of Dr. Jackson's book.
But Dr. Jackson did respond, and so the statement "Waiting for Jackson's Reply," 7-29-19 CN, p. 4, may not have been correct.


https://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2019/07/jack-b-simple-cascione-and-his-lady.html
Saturday, July 13, 2019

---

July 29 Christian News

Waiting for Jackson’s Reply It is has been three weeks since the review of Dr. Gregory Jackson’s “The Path to Understanding Justification” by Jack Cascione was sent to Jackson. Jackson has complained about the review on his blog called Ichabod, but he has not posted nor written any response dealing with the issues Cascione has raised about his book. Cascione’s comparison of Jackson’s position to R. C. Sproul illustrates that Jackson is no longer Lutheran, but has adopted a Reformed reposition (sic) on Election. In fact, Sproul gives a stronger case for Jackson’s views than Jackson.  

Jack B. Simple Cascione and His Lady Scholars versus the KJV Scriptures, the Original Text, Luther, and the Book of Concord

***

 Jack B. Simple quoted Robert's essay with approval, and yet the entire piece is larded with doctrinal error and stupidity. Robert neglected to say that Edward Preus joined the Church of Rome and became a famous apologist for Catholicism.

GJ - Book authors do not owe reviewers any response at all, but Jack has a rather grand view of himself. I have well over 100 posts about Objective Justification. When Cascione has published a review of all those posts, I might consider a response. I have written a few books about the Chief Article and the errors that cling to the Cascione gang. I also taught Romans 1-5 in Greek recently, for  anyone who wanted to participate online. We went over every verse.

Greek Lesson - Mark 8:1ff

Parser - tells us the I.D. of the word

Lenski's Mark Commentary - download as a PDF

8 εν εκειναις ταις ημεραις, παμπολλου οχλου οντος και μη εχοντων τι φαγωσιν, προσκαλεσαμενος ο ιησους τους μαθητας αυτου λεγει αυτοις

2 σπλαγχνιζομαι επι τον οχλον οτι ηδη ημερας τρεις προσμενουσιν μοι και ουκ εχουσιν τι φαγωσιν

3 και εαν απολυσω αυτους νηστεις εις οικον αυτων εκλυθησονται εν τη οδω τινες γαρ αυτων μακροθεν ηκασιν

4 και απεκριθησαν αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου, ποθεν τουτους δυνησεται τις ωδε χορτασαι αρτων επ ερημιας

5 και επηρωτα αυτους ποσους εχετε αρτους οι δε ειπον επτα

6 και παρηγγειλεν τω οχλω αναπεσειν επι της γης και λαβων τους επτα αρτους ευχαριστησας εκλασεν και εδιδου τοις μαθηταις αυτου ινα παραθωσιν και παρεθηκαν τω οχλω

7 και ειχον ιχθυδια ολιγα και ευλογησας ειπεν παραθειναι και αυτα

8 εφαγον δε και εχορτασθησαν και ηραν περισσευματα κλασματων επτα σπυριδας

9 ησαν δε οι φαγοντες ως τετρακισχιλιοι και απελυσεν αυτους

10 και ευθεως εμβας εις το πλοιον μετα των μαθητων αυτου ηλθεν εις τα μερη δαλμανουθα

11 και εξηλθον οι φαρισαιοι και ηρξαντο συζητειν αυτω ζητουντες παρ αυτου σημειον απο του ουρανου πειραζοντες αυτον

12 και αναστεναξας τω πνευματι αυτου λεγει τι η γενεα αυτη σημειον επιζητει αμην λεγω υμιν ει δοθησεται τη γενεα ταυτη σημειον

13 και αφεις αυτους εμβας παλιν εις το πλοιον απηλθεν εις το περαν

14 και επελαθοντο λαβειν αρτους και ει μη ενα αρτον ουκ ειχον μεθ εαυτων εν τω πλοιω

15 και διεστελλετο αυτοις λεγων ορατε βλεπετε απο της ζυμης των φαρισαιων και της ζυμης ηρωδου

16 και διελογιζοντο προς αλληλους λεγοντες οτι αρτους ουκ εχομεν

17 και γνους ο ιησους λεγει αυτοις τι διαλογιζεσθε οτι αρτους ουκ εχετε ουπω νοειτε ουδε συνιετε ετι πεπωρωμενην εχετε την καρδιαν υμων

18 οφθαλμους εχοντες ου βλεπετε και ωτα εχοντες ουκ ακουετε και ου μνημονευετε

19 οτε τους πεντε αρτους εκλασα εις τους πεντακισχιλιους ποσους κοφινους πληρεις κλασματων ηρατε λεγουσιν αυτω δωδεκα

20 οτε δε τους επτα εις τους τετρακισχιλιους ποσων σπυριδων πληρωματα κλασματων ηρατε οι δε ειπον επτα

21 και ελεγεν αυτοις πως ου συνιετε

22 και ερχεται εις βηθσαιδαν και φερουσιν αυτω τυφλον και παρακαλουσιν αυτον ινα αυτου αψηται

23 και επιλαβομενος της χειρος του τυφλου εξηγαγεν αυτον εξω της κωμης και πτυσας εις τα ομματα αυτου επιθεις τας χειρας αυτω επηρωτα αυτον ει τι βλεπει

24 και αναβλεψας ελεγεν βλεπω τους ανθρωπους οτι ως δενδρα ορω περιπατουντας

25 ειτα παλιν επεθηκεν τας χειρας επι τους οφθαλμους αυτου και εποιησεν αυτον αναβλεψαι και αποκατεσταθη και ενεβλεψεν τηλαυγως απαντας

26 και απεστειλεν αυτον εις τον οικον αυτου λεγων μηδε εις την κωμην εισελθης μηδε ειπης τινι εν τη κωμη

LutherQuislings Attacking Justification by Faith

 "Why do you stubbornly stick to the Scriptures when we have provided so many cool insights from Calvinists, Pietists, Halle drop-outs, and kidnappers?"

Christian News "reviews" of The Path To Understanding Justification.

The Denominations - Not Very Good in Business - Horrible in Christianity

 Synodocrats take a selfie - they just got another estate.

The church bodies work at two levels, which means their operational dishonesty establishes new generations of dishonest clergy and disinterested laity.

When we graduated from college, 50 years ago, I went to seminary and attended classes with a lot of time for discussion. The new attitude shocked me. Instead of debating issues, people became angry if I disturbed the status quo by questioning something.

• One minister in the seminary theology class told me off and called me a series of names in a burst of anger. Why? - because I said the book being fed to us, The Shining Stranger, was garbage. Nobody answered the fuming pastor, but some chuckled later, "We didn't have the professor's son reading that book to us anymore." 
• In the graduate seminar on hermaneutics (Biblical interpretation), I suggested that we offer our opinion of the Virgin Birth, true or false. The entire class went nuts and no one answered, especially the professor, a PhD from Princeton.
• I vicared where no one else wanted to work, the largest Lutheran congregation in Canada. The church was bi-lingual and the pastor very old-fashioned. The German chapel? - "The Labyrinth in the Chapel is currently available for use Sunday mornings from 9 am to 10 am." The congregation now has 1/3 the members of 50 years ago; it pioneered gay marriages.

At the congregational level, the Lutheran congregations were equally liturgical, used hymnals, and followed a set of Biblical passages for the sermons. That was just as true of the ALC-LCA as the LCMS. Although the ALC-LCA pressed for women's ordination, that had little effect for decades. Quotas leveraged that, and now Bishop Liz Eaton, ELCA, leads the pan-sexual army.

Everything the Lutheran sects officially practiced in the 1970s was just the opposite of what they believed, as shown by the firecracker-in-the-henhouse effect of addressing the Biblical doctrine of the Virgin Birth. The LCMS was almost LCA in those days and more devoted to politics than to the Book of Concord. The conservative reputation of the ALC and LCMS were promoted for PR but despised by the leaders and professors.

That dishonesty has continued and has the same effect as sprinkling salt on soap bubbles. Where did everybody go? Why are the seminaries empty?

Some thematic lies that should not be challenged today:

• WELS was born orthodox. "There is no Church Growth Movement in WELS." God is thankful for WELS.
• The LCMS was never Pietistic but always taught Objective Justification. Church Growth is good.
• The ELS is a shining light of Book of Concord Lutheran doctrine. Church Growth Movement? Where?
• ELCA has discovered the value and divine merit of diversity.
• The Church of Rome is the answer - or at least Eastern Orthodoxy.

The synodocrats have a proven method to lead laity around with their lies and discussions. The leaders are hyper-sensitive to clergy who question the downward rush to apostasy. They have extended the Left Foot of Fellowship so often that few are left to voice an opinion.

"Don't let Ichabod disturb you. That blog is a waste of time, all lies and slander."

Yes - Dishonesty at the Top Is a Major Problem

 Faithless politician. Faithless politician. Faithless politician.

Hi Greg,
Thank you for the information about Eldona, etc.  In thinking about it, and the other things I've read on your blog and we've discussed over the years, I'm wondering if a big part of what you are consistently reacting to and picking out is systematic dishonesty amongst the Lutheran clergy. This realization may seem obvious or overly simplistic to you.  But it did not really occur to me until now.
So many of the objections raised against you (at least the ones I've seen, which are certainly a small subset), fall into:

• personal attacks, ad hominems
• your "denial of UOJ"
• (wrongly applied) eighth commandment including "who told you"

What I never seem to see are Scriptural objections to you or to the means of grace, efficacy, or justification.


Perhaps your readers, and especially those who are seminary training poor, but Bible reading rich, would appreciate a steady hammering on the theme of honest conversation as contrasted with the "Secret Society" and/or "we know best" approach and/or "hide dirty laundry" habits.  Adding the contrast of the Scriptural examples and exhortations, and the behavior of our Lutheran forebears like Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, Passavant, Loy, etc, etc, we can see that these honest and flawed men were completely different than those we see today.


The difference is not only doctrinal (UOJ vs. JBFA).  It is "conversational". 


Not sure if this is helpful to you - but thought it might spark some ideas...

===

 Time of Grace!

***
GJ - Good idea. I will write about it.

How To Communicate with LutherQuisling Know-Nothings

Even if I read all the volumes of Johann Gerhard, and they all agreed with Walther, they would not supplant the plain, simple truths of Scripture.

The Preus politicians feared the enormous popularity of WAM II, in part because of his popular seminary teaching, but also because of Dr. Walter A. Maier (PhD, Harvard Semitics, a bit tougher than a Ft. Wayne DMin or DMiss in Church Growth). So they used their UOJ clubs on him and anyone else who touched the third rail of Norwegian Pietism and German Rationalism/Unionism.

But the facts remain, not only in the Scriptural teaching, but also in the actual record. LCMS and WELS published Justification by Faith teaching materials at the beginning, yielding only when the Stephan-Walther-Pieper dogma took over. The proof is in The Path To Understanding Justification.

The UOJ thralls think Atonement = Justification of the Word, Without Faith. They cannot read the basic Scriptures and learn from the Holy Spirit. They imagine their philosophical treatises will convince everyone. Unbelievers cannot abide the teaching of the Spirit in the Scriptures, so they turn to philosophy, looking inward at their own MDiv education.

Lenski's Eisenach Epistles - Over 1000 page - Free Ebook. Thank You Alec Satin

Lenski's old books are hard to find. I gave one to WELS VP Huebner and inscribed it in the hope he would abandon Church Growth dogma. He did not thank me, even though he asked me for one when I found it.

The Eisenach Epistle book is over 1000 pages. It is linked below. Alec Satin prepared the PDF. He exhales classic books!

Lenski Eisenach Epistles Dropbox Link

Yes, Knapp Was a Real Halle Pietist Who Taught the Objective and Subjective Justification Owned by His Calvinist Translator

As an addendum to my previous post I might add that G.C. Knapp in his book is a pure Pietist in that he speaks about the fulfilling of conditions on the part of people to attain their salvation in Christ. You do not find such teaching in Walther and Pieper - [GJ but the same dogma and terms as the Calvinist and the Pietist in the graphic.]

GJ -

CFW Walther, Justification: Subjective and Objective. Fort Wayne: Concordia Theological Seminary Press, 1982. Translated by Kurt E. Marquart. This is a more recent translation of the essay delivered at the 1872 convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference.

 Let me count the ways: 1. He was part of a Pietist circle when that guru moved and died. 2. He and his cell group attached themselves to Pastor Martin Stephan, a Bohemian Pietist with a Bohemian Pietist congregation, the land given to them by Zinzendorf, the original Bohemian Pietist. 3. Stephan attended Halle University, where the Pietists taught the Easter absolution of the entire world. 4. They still had cell group meetings in America.

 Halle Pietist

 Fuller Pietist

 Pietist Taught OJ by a Halle Pietist

Retired ELCA Pastor - ALPB Forum. Sioux City Iowa No Longer Feels Like Home

--

I don’t know then what to make of the fact that two recent young pastors and a seminarian I met seemed very much like myself, no visible tats, formal liturgical presence in the chancel and (I think) preachers who know how to use scripture.
But then, one was female and one was gay.

 Logged

Retired ELCA pastor. Iowa born. Long-time New York/New Jersey. Just spent 4 days in Sioux City, where I spent the first 22 years of my life. Some things are the same, many have changed. But the feelings of “home” and place are mostly gone. Nostalgia has faded.  This is no longer “my“ place.

 Nadia

Quote from: Charles Austin on Yesterday at 02:13:54 PM

Pastor Bolz-Weber is not the theology Of the ELCA.

Charles Austin (left) and ELCA Bishop Tracie.

The current graduates of our ELCA seminaries resemble Pastor Bolz-Weber (in dress, language, sexual ethics and theology) far more than they resemble you or me.

Mineral Wells, Texas

https://www.discipleshiplc.church/page/missions

The Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America is committed to the restoration and advancement of consistently Evangelical Lutheran doctrine and practice in harmony with the Sacred Scriptures and the Book of Concord (1580).

* While we support ElDona as part of our larger church community, we are not officially affiliated.

They support the empty St. Ignatius Seminary and also the Salvation Army.

Stealth Missouri?

Pray for Andrea's Retina Surgery This Thursday

Andrea will have retina surgery on Thursday. Her parents appreciate your prayers.

Gracious Heavenly Father, guide the doctors and medical team who are helping Andrea in her two eye surgeries. Give them strength, patience, and wisdom in their care for her. Help her parents during this time with patience, hope, faith, and joy in the people who pray for her and them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Loy - "The Only Source of Our Knowledge of the Truth unto Salvation and the Only Judge of Controversies"

First of all, let us not lose sight of the principle on which the whole battle of the Reformation was fought and the Augsburg Confession as brought into being. The Word of God as given us in the Holy Scriptures is the only source of our knowledge of the truth unto salvation and the only judge of controversies arising among men in regard to that truth. From this alone articles of faith can be derived. What this declares must be received; what conflicts with this must be rejected.

The Church can recognize no authority but that of God, and no revelation of His will unto man’s salvation but Holy Scripture. From this no appeal to any other authority can be allowed. If any person or church will not recognize this sovereign authority, the difference in principle is such as to render all discussion of differences in doctrine useless.

From Loy, Matthias. The Augsburg confession: An Introduction To Its Study And An Exposition Of Its Contents Columbus, Ohio: Lutheran Book Concern, 1908.

Claims without Evidence - Objective Justification Refuted, Denied, Disproved

 Dr. Robert Preus hosted a DMin program in Church Growth at Ft. Wayne, and the faculty voted to support "Church Growth principles," according to Marquart. To support his promotion of Objective Justification (against WAM II), Preus went to Calvinist experts.

"At the time of the faculty’s conversations with Maier II, Robert Preus looked for support and found it among conservative friends in the Evangelical movement who admired him for his defense of biblical inspiration and inerrancy, including several faculty members of Westminster Seminary—Escondido, California, with its renowned Reformed scholar Michael Horton (b. 1964). Preus must have been aware, but chose to ignore that the Reformed see objective justification as a component of their doctrine of election, but it was hardly universal in scope as Lutherans have historically held it."  

Scaer, David P.. Surviving the Storms: Memoirs of David P. Scaer . Luther Academy. Kindle Edition.

 Dr. Walter A. Maier, PhD in Semitics at Harvard, stated the issue so well. The OJ Hive hates the Maier clan for undermining their little poison factory.

***
GJ

As one member of our little group observed,

- Is Objective Justification equal to the Atonement?  Why or why not?
- Is Subjective Justification the same thing as faith?  Why or why not?
- What is faith?
There is no Biblical proof presented.  Instead there is name calling (Fideists) and talk about Pietism.  I personally don't care that much about who is and who is not a Pietist.  What I do care about is what the Scriptures teach.  

One of the Yale doctoral students presented an excellent paper on evidence, which is part of our legal, academic, and theological arguments.

A claim must have evidence, which he called "a warrant for a conclusion."

We do not have to start at proving Biblical inerrancy, although the topic is worthwhile to study. Among Lutherans, certain verities are agreed upon - which are:

1. The Bible is inerrant and infallible, without contradiction in any area. 
2. The Bible judges all books and is not judged by any book.
3. All Christian doctrine must be derived from the Scriptures.

Those who make claims about doctrine have to test them to make sure they are backed by evidence. Few clergy do this, and the loudest are the most negligent.

For example, I was taken to task by one ELS pastor for misleading people about the Knapp graphic. I was quoting the Calvinist about OJ and SJ, not Knapp himself. I found the passage explosive for the claims of OJ, especially since those are favorite terms used to express the dogma. A Calvinist had no trouble explaining the theology of a Halle Pietist with those two terms. I looked up my copy of Knapp - I have actually possessed one for a long time. Knapp made his point in the text - the world is universally justified. Nothing was misleading, just uncomfortable for those who falsely equate the ELS with Lutheran doctrine, who think they own OJ and SJ, when the terms were pilfered from the Calvinists.

Scaer is one of the loudest promoters of OJ, so it is revealing that he admitted his OJ boss, Robert Preus, went to the Calvinists to prop up his OJ attack against Dr. Walter A. Maier II. Scaer admitted what many of us knew - it was a way to clear the path for the Righteous Brothers, Jack and Robert, to rule the LCMS. And it worked.

That line of attack is still working. Matt the Fatt Harrison is OJ!, and CPH is completely OJ!, given their dreadful dogmatics and their new SMALL CATECHISM promotion of OJ/SJ!.

 Explain these passages in clear, simple terms, without falling back on the ephemeral publications of man.

To this date, the claims about OJ/SJ being Biblical and Lutheran are lacking in Scriptural evidence. That is why I wrote The Path To Understanding Justification.

The only path is Scriptural, but the OJ Hive runs away from Scriptural exegesis like panicked children. 

They refused to exegete (declare the meaning of) the passages on the back cover, not to mention the entire section of Romans 3 - 5.

Repeating the errors of the beloved dead professors is not the same as providing evidence. 

Their weakness and fear are revealed by:

1. Attacking David Becker for reviewing the book in a mildly positive way. He revealed the 180 degree switch from JBFA in the Missouri Synod's own publications, proven by the book. Ow, that must hurt.
2. Calling me lots of names which have nothing to do with topic.
3. Continuing to avoid Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4 - 5:2.
4. Continuing to confuse the Atonement with Justification.

 Amazon link - The Path To Understanding Justification.

Our Very Large Classroom - 4,200+ Views in Two Days, Free Classic Lutheran Books

Classic Lutheran Books on Facebook

A good way to keep up with the many free classic Lutheran books we make available - join the Classic Lutheran Books page on Facebook.

 Keil-Delitsch Old Testament - free links to every volume. KD teaches the six-day Creation. Why not LCMS?

Displaying the products - absolutely necessary.

I learned in the bakery business that the products had to be in front of everyone. The books we offer are free or very low cost (non-profit). However, so many have been hidden away - no longer printed - that laity and pastors need to see the titles and get an idea about who the great American writers were.

One thing we do on the CLB page is feature the books from the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry.

Alec Satin's Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry already has books that are very hard to find but very worthwhile - no cost.

We also have a lot of links to free Luther books and translations, plus all of my books free as PDFs (and public domain, too).

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity, 2019 - The Miraculous Catch of Fish.Trusting the Word, Not Our Feelings, Not Our Experience. Luke 5:1-11

  By Norma A. Boeckler

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity, 2019

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

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

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time

The melodies are linked in the hymn name. 

The lyrics are linked in the hymn number.

• The melody site is linked here.
• TLH Lyrics site is linked here.

The Hymn #  375 If Thy Beloved Son
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
The Sermon Hymn # 649 Jesus Savior Pilot Me

Trusting the Word, Not Our Feelings, Not Our Experience

The Communion Hymn #350      Jesus the Very Thought (St. Agnes)
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 #52          Almighty Father, Bless the Word

In Our Prayers

• Andrea will have retina surgery this week.
• Pastor Palangyos' daughter and father-in-law were having medical difficulties.
• Christina Jackson celebrated her birthday with a catered meal served at home.
• Elizabeth Mior - has cancer. She is the mother of two small children.
• Those looking for work and a better income.
• Glen Kotten is doing well and appreciates your prayers.
• Carl Roper will have another growth treated.
• Pastor KE and Moliner Kym Dennhardt had diabetic crises over the weekend.
• Alicia Meyer's birthday is Saturday.

 By Norma A. Boeckler

KJV 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

KJV Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Fifth Sunday After Trinity
O Jesus Christ, Thou Son of the living God, who hast given us Thy holy word, and hast bountifully provided for all our temporal wants, we confess that we are unworthy of all these mercies, and that we have rather deserved punishment: But we beseech Thee, forgive us our sins, and prosper and bless us in our several callings, that by Thy strength we may be sustained and defended, now and forever, and so praise and glorify Thee eternally, Thou who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Background for the Sermon
The only way to understand the modernist approach to the Scriptures is to see how Zwingli, Calvin, and their followers treated the Word of God. The Calvinists would say about the Word - It points the way, like a sign in the road, but it does not have have power beyond that. Calvin was even more brash, saying a sermon or the sacraments were completely void if the Holy Spirit was not present. That also lies behind the slogan "sovereign grace," which communicates that grace falls on those God has predestined to salvation, apart from the Word, apart from faith, apart from the Means of Grace (the Word and Sacraments).

My introduction to the Word was the meaning in Hebrew, in the Old Testament. There is no distinction between the will and the Word of God, as seen in Creation. When God commanded through the Word, the Son who is the Creating Word, the universe was fashioned in six 24-hour days.

All the miracles of Jesus are from the power of His Word, whether commanding the elements or creatures, healing, or raising the dead. His Word is so great that there are no limits on what it can do with what He created. The universe is subordinate to Him, not to man's reason or experience.

1. That same power is wedded to the Word, since God has promised it always has the power of the Holy Spirit and (like rain and snow) never returns void
2. always accomplishes His purpose
3. always prospers His purpose. Isaiah 55:8ff.

Therefore, our challenge is to listen to what the Word teaches and not make our own feelings and experiences the judge of the Word. If we listen to those who reject the efficacy of the Word, it is clear that they appeal to both, feelings and experiences. Forgiven? Saved? Do you feel forgiven and saved? No? Then you have to do this... We then make ourselves our own savior, and so fickle. Our feelings change from gloom to exultation and back again, daily. 

If we can say, that cannot happen, based on everything we have seen before, then our reality subordinate's God reality. 

If we look at the pile of doubts cast on the Christian Faith and the Christian Life, it all comes from not trusting the Word of God, which means of course - not trusting God. Gerhardt's hymns deal with this very thing. 

4. 

Thou Christian heart,
Whoe'er thou art,
Be of good cheer and let no sorrow move
thee!
For God's own Child,
In mercy mild,
Joins thee to Him; - how greatly God must
love thee!TLH, #81 - O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is

  By Norma A. Boeckler

Trusting the Word, Not Our Feelings, Not Our Experience

KJV Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

Each detail is important in these eleven verses. The Bible is concise, so no words are wasted. Although the Bible as a whole seems intimidating in its size, just the opposite is true of all teaching and history provided, from Creation onward. "It came to pass" is a phrase used by Luke to show an important event follows. This involves the people gathered to hear Him, the Word of God being preached, and the location by the Sea of Galilee.

As Lenski says, this is a sermon (not quoted) and the visualization of the sermon. Just as the parables combined a lesson with memorable characters (Prodigal Son) or items (mustard seed), this combines the Word being taught with the effect of the Word (a miraculous catch, beyond expectations).

Jesus was crowded by the people around Him, so this was not a good way to teach.

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

Here is a common element. In Creation God provided vast fields where He grows food for us - all the creatures of the seas and the lakes. When I was reading about the formation of new bodies of water, I wondered - how did they obtain their supplies of aquatic life? One article explained it - the birds that fish carry fish eggs (and other eggs) on their feet. So there is never any lack, because God has provided - and most of the world lives within 100 miles of the oceans or around large bodies of water.

Although this miracle is not primarily about God taking care of us, it reminds us of how He works to do that. The disciples were ordinary working people and their jobs before being called by Jesus were definitely blue collar - except Matthew (tax collector).

Luther:
3. Although it is not indeed the purpose of Christ’s coming or preaching to foster and provide for the body, yet he is not unmindful of it when the first thing sought is his kingdom. He therefore takes upon himself the distress of these poor fishermen who, through all this night, and with all their efforts and toil, have caught nothing. However, as they have lent him their boat to preach, and have listened to him, he, without any thought on their part, and before they have uttered any prayer, provides for them a draught of fishes so great that they are thereby enabled fully to learn and clearly to understand that in him they have a Master who cares for them and will not forsake them, provided they abide in his Word and remain his disciples.

4. He would that his Church, or believing people, should be comforted by the fact that he provides for them, and that somewhere on earth they shall find bread and an abiding place, even though they are everywhere so persecuted and scattered, that their place and provision in the world must be uncertain. We find this set forth, not only in the present instance, and in others like it, but in many a beautiful passage, such as Psalm 34:10: “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing.” And Psalm 33:18-19: “Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his loving kindness; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” And Proverbs 10:3: “Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish,” etc.

Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

The large, flat, stable boats were nearby but empty. The fishermen had used them all night and were washing their nets after catching nothing.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

We have so much in one verse. Jesus had a solution for teaching, which was not practical when crowded along the shore. He would preach the Word to everyone and demonstrate the Word. This miracle provided a vast amount of food and demonstrated the power and mercy of God.

The lake made a great sounding board and the shore provided a rising level of "pews" so they could all listen comfortably and pay attention to the Gospel. Jesus sat because that was the traditional way rabbis taught, as demonstrated in the Sermon on the Mount, with the topography changed, Matthew 5.

ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 5 1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)5 ιδων δε τους οχλους, ανεβη εις το ορος, και καθισαντος αυτου, προσηλθον αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου2 και ανοιξας το στομα αυτου, εδιδασκεν αυτους λεγων

That Jesus taught from the boat is quite an image. Joe DiMaggio hated the stink of the fishing boat, and he begged his father to let him leave it for baseball. But Jesus did not scorn the ways of the people He taught.  

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Human wisdom and experience cannot see this miracle. Experienced fishermen knew where and when to fish. Modernists who are purely rationalists say - "This is mythological, but it teaches an important point." Calvinists want to make it reasonable, relevant, and appealing. The worst of them want to draw followers by promising them the same kind of abundant material gain as the miraculous catch. Those preachers illustrate it by wearing gold chains and driving big luxury cars - proof they know the formula.

We cannot shut off the practical, rational side of our thinking. That part usually works overtime. Without being shaken and inspired by the Word, our minds get ever-more fixed on what we can figure out for ourselves. Jesus did not prove Himself first with this miracle, but asked the impossible after the sermon.

Here is one thing that will never work. Simon Peter struggled against it and explained why it was impossible. Faith moved him to say, "But at your Word I will let down the net." (Word - utterance, not just talk, but a solemn, divine proclamation.)

This is where the OJists fall on their faces - as a group - they consider faith "looking inward" and condemn it. Faith is created and built up by the Promises of God, and this faith in Him makes us look outward, just the opposite of the rationalists who pile up their teachers and their opinions and say, "Here is a great treasure, and they all agree." 

It is so strange that anyone ordained would define faith as "looking inward" and condemn it. That means they do not comprehend what faith is and what God promises. The purpose of the Bible is to create faith in the Savior, and that is expressed hundreds of ways. Thus the Word always has the power to create and build this faith, but clergy turn from the Word to statistics and studies to make themselves confident in what they are doing. Slowly, faith is snuffed out in these clergy, so they become rationalistic and statistical - or they find meaning in Left-wing socialistic actions.

Jesus told them to cast their nets into the deep (wrong place) in the broad daylight (wrong time). Peter resisted, doubtless seeing the looks on the experienced fishermen in the crowd. "But at your divine Command, I will do it."

As Luther has said - we can ask God anything, but we do not demand the manner, time, or amount. If we do not think He can hear us or manage things well, we lack faith.

I know where people get misled, if they think they have to believe harder. Trust in God is outward and objective in the sense that He has told us what He can and will do.  How that develops is often an exercise in opposition and difficulty, but faithfulness to God bears fruit in many ways.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

There are so many parallels to this. What God can accomplish is beyond our thinking and greater than our wishes. But that is done His way and in His time, often through and because of the experiences of the cross.

As soon as the Gospel begins to take root, opposition arises. It always has, from within and without. That is necessary to prove what is good, to separate the good from the bad. If a country is burdened with a powerful hierarchy that can do no wrong - not just the LCMS but the Church of Rome too - then the good cannot flourish without a separation.

Peter did not even ask for fish, but Jesus gave them such an abundance that the steady, stable fishing boats began to sink and the nets began to break. Thus Jesus showed them how God would care for them in the future (at the last chapter of John too).

That is the first meaning of this miracle. God will provide and do so in abundance.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 

Luther:
34. The second part of this Gospel presents the great doctrine of the inner distress and conflict of conscience, and what constitutes our true comfort in the midst of it. Only after Peter saw this wonderful work of Christ and the abundance it produced, did he begin to consider what sort of a Man this Wonderworker must be, and what sort of a man he himself was in comparison. Out of this great blessing there comes upon him a greater distress than he has ever experienced from any bodily want. He now becomes so thoroughly poor and destitute, that, on account of terror, he almost sinks to the earth and bids Christ depart from him. He has begun to feel his unworthiness and sins. He is forced to acknowledge and lament that he is a poor sinner.

35. Peter is to become a different man; and a greater miracle is to be wrought in him than in the draught of fishes. 

Peter is overwhelmed at the miracle because he feels the great gulf between the righteousness and power of Christ and his sinfulness and weakness.

The difference is frightening and reminds us of how people only see the power and condemnation of God because they do not know the mercy of the Gospel.

Knowing his spiritual poverty makes Peter that much more needy of God's grace and forgiveness. So Jesus went to ordinary people because the rich and powerful were too full of pride to feel the need for the righteousness of faith.

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

The ending of the miracle is its ultimate meaning. They will go out with Jesus and draw more people into the Kingdom of God than they could ever imagine. The fish were real and they were also symbolic of the future.

Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Fishing nets are not smart-nets. They catch everything. A current video has a net pouring out all kinds of fish - and one enormous walrus.

The net is thrown and gathers, good and bad. The living Seed of the Word is cast and grows various ways, good and bad.

We are inclined to worry, but God's Word accomplishes His will. Where and how is determined by Him alone. The greater our trust in Him, the more we look outwardly to Him, His mercy, and His power.

 By Norma A. Boeckler