MidWeek Lenten Service, 2021 - Chapter 4 of Understanding Luther's Galatians

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers, 2021

 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

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

 

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central StandardTime

 

TLH - Online

 

 

The Hymn #159                    Go to Dark Gethsemane        
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

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

                                                

                                          
The Sermon Hymn #149           Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain

 

The Sermon –   Galatians 4

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymns #552              Abide with Me

 

 

Prayers and Announcements

·        Lori (mother) and Mary Howell (daughter) for continued recovery.

·        Christina Jackson – PET results.

·        Congregation interested in Maundy Thursday Holy Communion in addition to Good Friday? Send an email pro or con.

·        DEP Trump, ongoing investigations, and military tribunals.

·        Greater knowledge of Luther’s works and faithful translations; i.e., the KJV is the English (Tyndale) version of Luther’s German Bible. They established their modern languages in England and Germany by virtue of the power of their work. Nobody ever admits this about the KJV, that it comes from Luther via Tyndale who died for translating the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into English.

 

Luther’s Galatians 4

 

1.         Now I say That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be Lord of all;

2.         But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

The Apostle had apparently finished his discourse on justification when this illustration of the youthful heir occurred to him. He throws it in for good measure. He knows that plain people are sooner impressed by an apt illustration than by learned discussion.

“I want to give you another illustration from everyday life,” he writes to the Galatians. “As long as an heir is underage he is treated very much like a servant. He is not permitted to order his own affairs. He is kept under constant surveillance. Such discipline is good for him, otherwise he would waste his inheritance in no time. This discipline, however, is not to last forever. It is to last only until ‘the time appointed of the father.’”

3.         Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

As children of the Law we were treated like servants and prisoners. We were oppressed and condemned by the Law. But the tyranny of the Law is not to last forever. It is to last only until “the time appointed of the father,” until Christ came and redeemed us.

3.         Under the elements of the world.

By the elements of the world the Apostle does not understand the physical elements, as some have thought. In calling the Law “the elements of the world” Paul means to say that the Law is something material, mundane, earthly. It may restrain evil, but it does not deliver from sin. The Law does not justify; it does not bring a person to heaven. I do not obtain eternal life because I do not kill, commit adultery, steal, etc. Such mere outward decency does not constitute Christianity. The heathen observes the same restraints to avoid punishment or to secure the advantages of a good reputation. In the last analysis such restraint is simple hypocrisy. When the Law exercises its higher function, it accuses and condemns the conscience. All these effects of the Law cannot be called divine or heavenly. These effects are elements of the world.

In calling the Law the elements of the world Paul refers to the whole Law, principally to the ceremonial law which dealt with external matters, as meat, drink, dress, places, times, feasts, cleansings, sacrifices, etc. These are mundane matters which cannot save the sinner. Ceremonial laws are like the statutes of governments dealing with purely civil matters, as commerce, inheritance, etc. As for the pope’s church laws forbidding marriage and meats, Paul calls them elsewhere the doctrines of devils. You would not call such laws elements of heaven.

The Law of Moses deals with mundane matters. It holds the mirror to the evil which is in the world. By revealing the evil that is in us it creates a longing in the heart for the better things of God. The Law forces us into the arms of Christ, “who is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 1:4.) Christ relieves the conscience of the Law. In so far as the Law impels us to Christ it renders excellent service.

I do not mean to give the impression that the Law should be despised. Neither does Paul intend to leave that impression. The Law ought to be honored. But when it is a matter of justification before God, Paul had to speak disparagingly of the Law, because the Law has nothing to do with justification. If it thrusts its nose into the business of justification, we must talk harshly to the Law to keep it in its place. The conscience ought not to be on speaking terms with the Law. The conscience ought to know only Christ. To say this is easy, but in times of trial, when the conscience writhes in the presence of God, it is not so easy to do. As such times we are to believe in Christ as if there were no Law or sin anywhere, but only Christ. We ought to say to the Law: “Mister Law, I do not get you. You stutter so much. I don’t think that you have anything to say to me.”

When it is not a question of salvation or justification with us, we are to think highly of the Law and call it “holy, just, and good.” (Romans 7:12) The Law is of no comfort to a stricken conscience. Therefore it should not be allowed to rule in our conscience, particularly in view of the fact that Christ paid so great a price to deliver the conscience from the tyranny of the Law. Let us understand that the Law and Christ are impossible bedfellows. The Law must leave the bed of the conscience, which is so narrow that it cannot hold two, as Isaiah says, chapter 28, verse 20.

Only Paul among the apostles calls the Law “the elements of the world, weak and beggarly elements, the strength of sin, the letter that killeth,” etc. The other apostles do not speak so slightingly of the Law. Those who want to be first-class scholars in the school of Christ want to pick up the language of Paul. Christ called him a chosen vessel and equipped with a facility of expression far above that of the other apostles, that he as the chosen vessel should establish the doctrine of justification in clear-cut words.

4, 5. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law.

“The fullness of the time” means when the time of the Law was fulfilled, and Christ was revealed. Note how Paul explains Christ. “Christ,” says he, “is the Son of God and the son of a woman. He submitted Himself under the Law to redeem us who were under the Law.” In these words the Apostle explains the person and office of Christ. His person is divine and human. “God sent forth His Son, made of a woman.” Christ therefore is true God and true man. Christ’s office the Apostle describes in the words: “Made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law.”

Paul calls the Virgin Mary a woman. This has been frequently deplored even by some of the ancient fathers who felt that Paul should have written “virgin” instead of woman. But Paul is now treating of faith and Christian righteousness, of the person and office of Christ, not of the virginity of Mary. The inestimable mercy of God is sufficiently set forth by the fact that His Son was born of a woman. The more general term “woman” indicates that Christ was born a true man. Paul does not say that Christ was born of man and woman, but only of woman. That he has a virgin in mind is obvious.

This passage furthermore declares that Christ’s purpose in coming was the abolition of the Law, not with the intention of laying down new laws, but “to redeem them that were under the law.” Christ himself declared: “I judge no man.” (John 8:15.) Again, “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John 12:47.) In other words: “I came not to bring more laws, or to judge men according to the existing Law. I have a higher and better office. I came to judge and to condemn the Law, so that it may no more judge and condemn the world.”

How did Christ manage to redeem us? “He was made under the law.” When Christ came, He found us all in prison. What did He do about it? Although He was the Lord of the Law, He voluntarily placed Himself under the Law and permitted it to exercise dominion over Him, indeed, to accuse and to condemn Him. When the Law takes us into judgment it has a perfect right to do so. “For we are by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Eph. 2:3.) Christ, however, “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (I Pet. 2:22.) Hence the Law had no jurisdiction over Him. Yet the Law treated this innocent, just, and blessed Lamb of God as cruelly as it treated us. It accused Him of blasphemy and treason. It made Him guilty of the sins of the whole world. It overwhelmed him with such anguish of soul that His sweat was as blood. The Law condemned Him to the shameful death on the Cross.

It is truly amazing that the Law had the effrontery to turn upon its divine Author, and that without a show of right. For its insolence, the Law in turn was arraigned before the judgment seat of God and condemned. Christ might have overcome the Law by an exercise of His omnipotent authority over the Law. Instead, He humbled Himself under the Law for and together with them that were under the Law. He gave the Law license to accuse and condemn Him. His present mastery over the Law was obtained by virtue of His Sonship and His substitutionary victory.

Thus, Christ banished the Law from the conscience. It dare no longer banish us from God. For that matter, —the Law continues to reveal sin. It still raises its voice in condemnation. But the conscience finds quick relief in the words of the Apostle: “Christ has redeemed us from the law.” The conscience can now hold its head high and say to the Law: “You are not so holy yourself. You crucified the Son of God. That was an awful thing for you to do. You have lost your influence forever.”

The words, “Christ was made under the law,” are worth all the attention we can bestow on them. They declare that the Son of God did not only fulfill one or two easy requirements of the Law, but that He endured all the tortures of the Law. The Law brought all its fright to bear upon Christ until He experienced anguish and terror such as nobody else ever experienced. His bloody sweat. His need of angelic comfort, His tremulous prayer in the garden, His lamentation on the Cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” bear eloquent witness to the sting of the Law. He suffered “to redeem them that were under the law.”

The Roman conception of Christ as a mere lawgiver more stringent than Moses, is quite contrary to Paul’s teaching. Christ, according to Paul, was not an agent of the Law but a patient of the Law. He was not a law-giver, but a law-taker.

True enough, Christ also taught and expounded the Law. But it was incidental. It was a sideline with Him. He did not come into the world for the purpose of teaching the Law, as little as it was the purpose of His coming to perform miracles. Teaching the Law and performing miracles did not constitute His unique mission to the world. The prophets also taught the Law and performed miracles. In fact, according to the promise of Christ, the apostles performed greater miracles than Christ Himself. (John 14:12.) The true purpose of Christ’s coming was the abolition of the Law, of sin, and of death.

If we think of Christ as Paul here depicts Him, we shall never go wrong. We shall never be in danger of misconstruing the meaning of the Law. We shall understand that the Law does not justify. We shall understand why a Christian observes laws: For the peace of the world, out of gratitude to God, and for a good example that others may be attracted to the Gospel.

5.         That we might receive the adoption of sons.

Paul still has for his text Genesis 22:18, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” In the course of his Epistle he calls this promise of the blessing righteousness, life, deliverance from the Law, the testament, etc. Now he also calls the promise of blessing “the adoption of sons,” the inheritance of everlasting life.

 

Understanding Luther's Galatians, Illustrated by Norma A. Boeckler

For Those WELS-ELS-LCMS Pastors and Executives Who Imagined Fuller Was Conservative

LCMS and WELS Church Shrinkers bragged that more of their seminary classmates went to Fuller Seminary for "graduate work" than attended their own seminaries. Maybe that was because the Fuller classes were even easier, though they cost more. 

After signing a letter expressing disappointment with the new administration, a pro-life evangelical scholar who voted for President Joe Biden said that while he would vote for Biden again if the 2020 presidential election were held today, he would not make his support public.

 

In 2020, Mouw retired from Fuller and returned to Calvin University, becoming a senior research fellow at the Paul B. Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics.^[3]

In 2007, Mouw, who sees Abraham Kuyper as a personal hero,^[4] was awarded the Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life at Princeton Theological Seminary by the Abraham Kuyper Center for Public Theology.^{[5] (Wikipedia)}

Richard Mouw, president emeritus of Fuller Seminary in California and a member of Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden, spoke to The Christian Post Tuesday, days after his group issued a statement in response to the president's support for a coronavirus relief package that did not include a longstanding provision that prevents the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.

"We are very disappointed about the COVID-19 relief package's exclusion of the Hyde Amendment, a longstanding, bipartisan policy," they wrote. "We're even more upset that the Biden administration is supporting this bill."

As a result of Biden's support for the bill, the group contended that they feel "used and betrayed."

Mouw told CP that he and other members of Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden group knew that Biden had been "shifting" his position on the Hyde Amendment when they released a statement in support of Biden's candidacy last October, one month before the 2020 presidential election.

He maintained that conversations they had with campaign officials who now help the administration with faith outreach were reassuring.

"We made ... clear that we would offer support with the understanding that they would urge the White House to have serious conversations with Catholics and evangelicals who are right-to-life people," he recalled. "The problem is that we haven't had those conversations, and leaving the Hyde Amendment out of this particular package, this latest COVID package, is a signal that ... there really ... is no room for that kind of conversation."

Mouw confirmed that an official from the Biden administration reached out to him on Monday.

"We're going to have a meeting later this week," he said.

Mouw and Ronald Sider, another member of Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden, will sit down with two members of the White House faith outreach office to address their concerns.

When asked if he would vote for Biden again and issue a statement in support of his candidacy if the 2020 presidential election was still forthcoming and he knew that Biden would support a coronavirus relief bill that excluded Hyde Amendment protections, Mouw responded that he would "vote the same way" while adding, "I would not give my public support."

Mouw indicated that while he disagrees with Biden's position on abortion, there are other areas where he has found common ground with the new administration, specifically on the issues of global warming and immigration.

Acknowledging that he received "a lot of angry messages from right-to-life people," some of whom called him "naive" due to his support for Biden and subsequent feelings of betrayal, Mouw still defended the object of his previous remarks in support of Biden. He said they would be necessary to provide reassurance to the "many younger evangelicals who are not happy about ... the way in which their parents and grandparents have endorsed and defended the Trump administration."

"We ... don't want to lose them to evangelicalism because of what is perceived as a mean-spirited, highly partisan commitment on the part of the older generation of evangelicals who voted 81% ... in the presidential election before this last one for Mr. Trump," he said.

"We thought it was important to hold up the right to life position and at the same time, say it's OK to be concerned about a broader range of issues such as global warming and children at the border separated from their parents and those kinds of questions. And so, we wanted to use our own access through the Biden campaign people to at least get them to stay in conversation with people like us."

In addition to explaining that he was "less optimistic" about the possibility of Biden and the Democratic Party building a "bigger tent" to accommodate pro-lifers, Mouw expressed concern about the president's support for another major legislative initiative: The Equality Act.

According to Mouw, the legislation puts "the rights of Christian institutions to preserve commitments to traditional biblical teaching regarding sexuality without being penalized in terms of federal grants, federal loans for students" in jeopardy.

"A lot of Christian colleges and universities are well over 50% dependent in their tuition income on students getting federal loans," the Fuller Seminary president emeritus added.

Mouw warned that making "the sexuality issue" an eligibility requirement for "receiving students with federal loans" would deal a "huge blow" to faith-based schools.

Leading up to the 2020 presidential election, Biden had vowed to push for the Equality Act's passage within his first 100 days in office. Biden indicated that he would work to codify Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, into law.

Biden's documented public support for policies widely opposed by evangelicals has led some conservatives, like former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, to conclude that "'Evangelicals' for Biden are getting exactly what they voted for."

44 Years of Church Growth! - Don't tell Wayne Mueller.

Old Story and Movie - Good Message - Thanks Alec.

About The Children's Story

Save for Christmas

Who Will Be the Stone Foltz - Dead from Hazing - of WELS?

1. The University Says the Incident Is an Alleged ‘Hazing Activity Involving Alcohol Consumption’

“We have to drink a handle of any alcohol that our big gives us. We have to finish the whole thing in the time we’re there before we leave,” the student told the television station.

---

He said his roommate came back from the same party under investigation.

“A handle of alcohol is… equal to about 40, 1.5-ounce shots,” the television station reported, quoting the student as saying, “I’ve never seen my roommate more drunk in his entire life. He immediately went to the bathroom and was throwing up in the toilet for just 15 minutes to an hour and making himself vomit.”

["A handle of vodka (or a handle of alcohol generally, for that matter) holds 59.2 fluid ounces, or 1.75 liters, of liquid courage. But what does that mean for you and your party?

Let’s do the math: One shot of vodka is 1 ½ ounces, and most cocktails contain at least one shot. So inside that handle, you’ve got about 20 two-shot drinks, or 40 one-shot drinks. If you’re throwing a super small party, one handle of liquor will suffice. Otherwise, you may need to step up your game."]

---

5. Foltz Was Attending a Big Brother Event at the Frat

WELS-ELCA Joint Effort in Digital Communications, Continuing the Mischke Tradition of ELCA Bedfellows. Does Anyone Smell Jeske's Expensive Cologne?

Here is the original copy - ELCA-WELS-LCMS and Seibert.

Brothers in Christ, A while back, the Siebert Lutheran Foundation contacted representatives from WELS, LCMS, and ELCA about the possibility of making a grant available to Lutheran churches in Southeastern Wisconsin to help them make better use of technology—particularly video streaming for worship and Bible study—to share the gospel. I was the representative from WELS who was part of this discussion. Those other representatives and I discussed the challenges our church bodies have faced during the pandemic. 

Interested parties need to attend one online “Foundational Event.” There are three options.

• Thursday, March 18 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

• Saturday, March 20 from 10:00-11:3 a.m.

• Monday, April 12 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

It looks like Unstuck did not work for WELS - and it looked so promising!

The beginning and end portion of these “Foundational Events” will be denomination specific, i.e. you would be with other WELS pastors in the webinar. The middle portion of this presentation will be a discussion led by Rev. Joe Liles, an ELCA pastor The Neighborhood Church in Bentonville, Arkansas, who serves a mission congregation that has always used technology extensively. He has some helpful, practical insights into the topic

There were many similarities: • universal absolution without faith in Christ - Objective Justification  •   churches figuring out the technical issues, such as livestreaming • the opportunities virtual content presented (reconnecting with straying members, outreach, etc.) • the challenges of managing copyrights • trying to encourage members who enjoy the convenience of worshiping at home to not make that permanent, but to return to in-person worship. We came up with a plan, lavishly supported by Siebert, allowing us to help congregations within our respective church bodies, because we are all one when it comes to putting our trotters in the trough.

J. Hein, WELS

Mark and Avoid Jeske has been a leader in working with ELCA pastors. Harrison and Schroeder are no different. They pretend otherwise.

The Turning Point - The Sine Qua Non of Biblical Studies. From The Bible Book

The new plan is starting with the Bible:

Old Testament - Law, Prophets, and the Writings

New Testament.

Next will be the path from the Medieval Bible to Luther's, The Tyndale from Luther, and the KJV from the Tyndale-Luther.

I am planning an edifying essay about the Bible and the KJV in particular before starting the second part. That second part has been roughed out and posted here as the fraudulent text claims from Tischendorf, Wescott and Hort, which set the stage for the Historical-Critical Method. The evil fruit from the corrupt tree of unbelief includes:

1. The RSV
2. The NIV
3. Good News or TEV
4. The ESV
5. The copy and paste EHV
6. The Living and New Living Bibles
7. Amplified Bibles
8. Concordia Publishing House - Seminex Disinterred

The second part is infuriating and depressing, so people can skip that or use it to realize how special the KJV is, text and translation.

The Turning Point

If people do not understand and believe this turning point, they do not comprehend the message of the Bible.

The Bible is not only inspired and inerrant, which most traditional Christians would allow, but it is also never without the power of the Holy Spirit. That means every verse of the Bible is efficacious or effective in accomplishing the will of God.

There are many proofs of this, but the clearest and most powerful is Isaiah 55.

KJV Isaiah 55: 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Now that spring is arriving, people are especially aware of the power of rain and snow-melt to water the earth with usable nitrogen, the foundation of plant life. Rain and snow always have a powerful effect on the landscape, and many crops sown early pop out of the snow to begin their growth in the sun without many pests.

The cycle of rain and snow shows that growth is inevitable. No matter how scientific we pretend to be, God's Creation gives us seed for farmer and bread for the dinner table.

This is a comparison which allows no exceptions - like many in the Bible. 

The verses mean that God's Word is always accompanied by the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit always works exclusively through the Word. 

I first learned this when going through dozens of Old Testament books, especially ones on rabbinic lore. This is the message of the entire Bible, from Creation on, Old Testament and New Testament.

The Lutheran Reformation (actually the only Reformation) taught this when God gathered an unusual group of scholars at Wittenberg for translating and teaching the Scriptures. 

This was foreign to the papacy and still is.

Zwingli and Calvin rejected the efficacy of the Word. That is why they inevitably turn to rationalism and Unitarianism.

Pentecostals, not unlike the Catholics, have an ever-growing canon, because every dream and notion and dogma is from God - but without the Word. Pentecostals seem to have lost the thrill of tongue-speaking, so they are more like the Baptists.

Baptists who teach the inerrancy of the Word and avoid the double-predestination of Calvin are the closest to the Reformation.

Religions of the world that borrow the Scriptures dishonestly are in the same category of Enthusiasm, a term used by Luther to describe those who do not teach the Word/Holy Spirit connection. Enthusiasm is any kind of religion that divorces the Spirit from the Word; for instance, when the Pope declares a new dogma infallibly or when the LCMS-ELS-WELS says Objective Justification is true because they teach it at their dying seminaries.

Cascione Writes! The Biggest Event Since Brando Sings!

Brando sings! Guys and Dolls
They decided to use a more appealing concept to promote the movie.

Whenever the musical Guys and Dolls is discussed, someone recalls that a promotional banner was going to say, "Brando sings!" Wiser marketing experts prevailed.

Cascione Speaks!

I remembered that nugget when LutherQuest (sic) headlined - "Cascione speaks!"

Steve Schmidt (Sschmidt) Senior Member Username: Sschmidt Post Number: 1409 Registered: 3-2017

Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2021 - 11:20 am:       I have posted here for four years and never recall Pastor Cascione conversing with us. What I find revelatory is a picture of an alternate LCMS in transition and what was left behind, what might have been. An alternative LCMS, if you will. Most of these quotes could deserve a thread of their own. “The LCMS has chosen to abandon its differentiation from the broad spectrum of American congregations and surrender considerable “market share.” They have posted a sign, “Hey everybody. We are just like all the other churches.” Here we don’t shy away from the idea of denominational marketing and “brand loyalty.” You may locate this principally in women’s suffrage. Yet we are fortunate in having the example of the WELS, which maintained this prohibition. The WELS does not display any more congregational harmony or growth than the LCMS. They may possibly have a bit more clubby esprit de corps. But the American public at large is not interested in buying into either.

***

GJ -  I have noticed that LQ (sic) and the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau Online Discussion Forum are equally enamored of sociology and marketing. Both are dedicated to the crypto-Universalism of Objective Justification. Both host Rolf Preus pontificating and preening in his declining years. Both sites have writers who discuss marketing trends, sociology, and comparing themselves to other denominations and volunteer groups.

Neither one pays any attention to faith in Jesus, 

• as if the Savior never compared the good tree and the corrupt tree in Matthew 7 to faith and unbelief, 
• as if Paul never wrote Galatians or Romans 10. 
• I know they have never read Romans 4, because they jibber like monkeys ready to throw their Dreck at anyone who upsets them. 
• Both sites have called me crazy for following Luther rather than their heroes, though LQ (sic) did apologize when civil law was mentioned.

Another favorite, Calvinist News, has popped off about OJ again. The cub editor, another Ft. Wayne graduate (like Cascione, Webber, Rolf, and Heiser) invoked Romans 4:25 again, but so ambiguously that I failed to see a blatant OJ spasm. But there is a reason, as Krauth explained long ago.

Will It Take a Student Death To End WELS Hazing in Their Preps, College, and Seminary?

Cross-dressing, injuries, out of control drinking, lying - what's not to love in the WELS preps, college, and seminary!

Bowling Green State University student in critical condition after alleged fraternity hazing incident

Stone Foltz was hospitalized after an off-campus Pi Kappa Alpha event Thursday.

The incident comes just weeks after another student was found dead in a fraternity house at Virgi...

A Bowling Green State University student is in critical condition after an alleged hazing incident involving alcohol.

The student has been identified as Stone Foltz, family attorney Sean Alto told ABC News.

Foltz was hospitalized after "alleged hazing activity involving alcohol consumption" at an off-campus Pi Kappa Alpha event in Bowling Green, Ohio, the university said in a statement.

He is currently in critical condition, according to the ProMedica Toledo Hospital. Doctors treating Foltz are going through the organ donation process, Alto said.

MORE: 2 Ohio University students plead guilty in 18-year-old's hazing death

The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity told ABC News in a statement they were "horrified and outraged" by the incident.

The fraternity erroneously said that Foltz had died in its initial statement.

ByMarlene Lenthang andNicholas Cirone

March 6, 2021, 5:28 PM

• 4 min read

***

GJ - The WELS Discussions page in Facebook has revealed past and present abuse of students. I know Paul Kuske had no trouble with it, as dean of Michigan Lutheran Seminary (a tiny high school). John Brenner supported abuse at Michigan Lutheran Seminary and at Mordor - the failing seminary in Mequon. 

The wife of one MLS board member was shocked at the abusive tactics and said so to her husband. He waved it off as nothing special.

I believe the purpose of their evil system is to make the victims slavishly loyal to WELS, detached from their families. Even people living in other states repeat the sect's mantra that the only true WELS members and pastors come from the State of Wisconsin. I even heard that sentiment expressed by a senior in his last semester at Mordor. He also observed that Lutheran was wrong about Holy Communion and Zwingli was correct.

Oculi, The Third Sunday in Lent, 2021. Real Opposition to the Gospel

Norma A. Boeckler

Oculi Sunday, The Third Sunday in Lent, 2021

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

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

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time

The Hymn #175      When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord: 

for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me: 

for I am desolate and afflicted.

Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: 

O my God, I trust in Thee; let me not be ashamed.

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

We beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires 

of Thy humble servants and stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty 

to be our defense against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ, 

Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual             Ephesians 5:1-9
The Gospel                                 Luke 11:14-28
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #524         In Thee Lord Have I Put My Trust (alt tune #177)

Real Opposition to the Gospel

The Hymn #315:1-5          I Come O Savior To Thy Table

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 #568                  We Praise Thee O God        

    

Alternate tune for this hymn #177

Prayers and Announcements

• Treatment and recovery - Christina Jackson, PET on Tuesday. Pastor Jim Shrader is facing various challenges.
• Two brothers, both with health issues.
• Pray for our country and DEP Trump. 
• Wednesdays - Vespers at 7 PM, Understanding Luther's Galatians - PDF, Chapter 4.
• We are putting together a video component for our media ministries. Travis and Lauren Cartee are natural leaders in this area.
• The literature discussion group is next.

Norma A. Boeckler

KJV Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

KJV Luke 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

  Norma A. Boeckler

Third Sunday in Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, who hast sent Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh, that He might overcome the devil, and defend us poor sinners against the adversary: We give thanks unto Thee for Thy merciful help, and we beseech Thee to attend us with Thy grace in all temptations, to preserve us from carnal security, and by Thy Holy Spirit to keep us in Thy word and Thy fear, that unto the end we may be delivered from the enemy, and obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Real Opposition to the Gospel

Introductory

It is fashionable to mock the reality of Satan. Napoleon Hill, the popular business fraud and author quoted his mother saying, "The only devil is the one who believes in him." (He claimed spirits spoke to him in his study.)  But it is also fashionable to use Satanic symbols, worship the occult, and follow anything opposed to Christianity. Our impression of Phoenix was that the biggest holiday (a contraction of holy day) is Halloween, not for children but for adults. Christmas, in comparison, seemed minor.

Luther summarized the conflict as Two Kingdoms - the Kingdom of Christ versus the Kingdom of Satan. Modernists have confused the terminology with the Two Regiments - the Church and the Government. I think that came about to avoid talking about faith and to concentrate on politics. That is why the ELCA's World Hunger Appeal funds lobbyists for their causes in D.C. and every state, plus Canada (ELCiC). 

Luther was much more careful with Biblical terms. Satan has his kingdom on earth and he never tires of taking people away from the Kingdom of Christ. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is very good at portraying this battle and how it affects people differently. My niece, many years ago, asked me about Satan, if he existed. I asked her what Jesus taught, if He spoke as if Satan existed. She turned and grinned at her mother and said, "Seee?"

KJV Luke 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

Jesus worked among the poor and sick. Instead of advising rich people about their wealth, as many clergy do today, He went to the poor, the sick, and the outcasts. That should have pleased everyone. The crowds marveled at His power and spread the Word, which was connected with the Messianic Promises. The Gospel of John especially emphasizes that the miracles were performed to verify His divinity and His teaching. Now people seem a little more willing to listen to His teaching (to some degree) while dismissing the miracles. They go together, like the invisible Word of teaching and preaching, the visible Word of the sacraments - baptism and communion.

Everyone should have been delighted by His miracles and teaching, but they were not. That should remind every congregation and pastor that the cross accompanies all Gospel work. If opponents confronted Jesus with the crowds present, why would they not confront the Gospel in the same way? - always upset, always holier than thou in the accusations, always willing to escalate the battle.

The first realization of every minister is that the best and most worthwhile efforts are met with opposition. The response should be, "I must be doing something right, because something is hated, really hated." In Bunyan's case, he went from a flourishing ministry to a jail cell away from his family and members. He was clearly despondent and anxious because he was sure he did the right thing and instead lost everything dear to him. Toward the end of his life, after two jail terms, he realized the prison made his books possible, and one become the most read book in the English language, second only to the Bible, 2002 editions as of today. The 2001st and 2002nd are Alec Satin's pdf and print versions.

When we reflect on the public ministry of Jesus Christ, we see that He had opposition from the start, ending with the cross. And He was and is without sin. Should Christians expect a better, a more pleasing deal than what He earned? And yet, He proceeded with patience, showing faith and love in His actions, knowing what was lying ahead.

15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 

The accusation was the worst of slanders. That meant Jesus worked through Satan, their only explanation for the source of His great power. Others saw the miracle and demanded more proof - another miracle from heaven. Thus there are two groups who do not see or understand the Kingdom of God. The same can been seen today. Some look upon Christianity as the worst of all evils. Others say, "I prayed for for a miracle, and it never happened, so I don't believe anymore."

The third group are those who understand the power and mercy of God and believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God. Many aids and signs come our way if we only wait for God's timing rather than demanding our own. 

But some are like the student who phoned me at 1 AM and wondered why I sounded so sleepy.

17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

Jesus' response is common sense. Notice that He knew their thoughts - an important note, and that is still true today. That is why so much is done by God to guide our thoughts and actions, meditation versus impulse, sacraments as Means of Grace and guides, instead of popular opinion.

The accusation is that Satan is driving out Satanic spirits. If so, Satan's kingdom is at war with itself and must fall. They are saying in their own clumsy way that Jesus will bring about the fall of Satan because of His exorcisms against Satan.

19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Their own people - rabbis (sons) - claim to cast out demons, to exorcise devils, so is that how their own perform such miracles? Instead, He claims the power of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus spoke to the believers of His time and ours - the third group. The blasphemers or opponents are one group; the skeptics or rationalists are the second - who test God and find Him wanting; the third group are those who are strengthened and encouraged by the Savior. The Kingdom of God has come to them, as promised to Abraham in Genesis 15 - like the stars in the sky and the sands of the seashore, too numerous to count. 

The next sentence clarifies the situation, but the allegory flies past most of us the first or second time.

21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

This Gospel selection is about Christ and Satan, so the allegory seems mysterious at first. Like many other places, it is so clear when explained. The strong man guards his palace - that is Satan in control of the earth. In ancient days, only the Jewish people knew of the Messiah and many believed in Him. Overall the planet belonged to Satan, which meant atrocities were the norm, common "religious" practice too horrible to list. Some civilizations passed away from their constant warfare with others, too.

We can still find "new" ancient ruins that speak of great wealth and power, but something happened. A stronger Man came along and defeated Satan through the cross and took away all the weapons of Satan that worked so well in the past. Bloodthirsty acts, random violence, and slavery over the weak and poor - all were methodically defeated by Christian growth and love for the brothers.

Satan once had all the wealth and power, but a Christian Europe - and then America - emerged that used that wealth and power for the good. It is no wonder now that people on the other side, those who oppose Christianity, are striving against the Constitution, freedom, and Christianity. The paganism that grew in the shadows and underground must be exorcised completely.

Luther:

And as that house must be conquered by a stronger man and thus wrested from the tyrant, so must man also be ransomed through Christ and wrested from Satan. We see again, therefore, that our works and righteousness contribute absolutely nothing toward our salvation; it is effected alone by the grace of God. #10

23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 

24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Indifference (sceptics, rationalists) are not neutral - they are against Christ. Either one gathers or scatters. We can see how clever the dabblers were in getting every denomination together to declare all they needed was love and good works. Doctrinal differences do not matter and should not be explored - they said. Quickly their indifference became the indifference and soporific peace of the masses. Fuller Seminary sold their magic formulas to all denominations and the Catholics, plus some obviously heretical groups. It worked the same with all of them. And one wit wrote to me, "Yes, they failed equally with all of them." Besides that, the Andrew Cuomo of Willow Creek chased the women around the altar and xerox machine while telling everyone he had the answer to their evangelism questions. The best combo, for the uncertain, was to study at Fuller and Willow Creek, teaching every form and variety of adulteration.

The second part is a warning against those who repent and then repent of their repentance. The one who is no longer a slave to his base desires can easily rejoice in his new life, but his old evil buddies and his body chemistry want him back, with even more helpers in his downfall. That is why we need to deal gently with fallen, since renewal is not easy and regaining a God-pleasing life is a major battle. Paul warned the Galatians about this.

27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. οι ακουοντες (hears) τον λογον του θεου (Word of God) και φυλασσοντες (guards) αυτον

This is another example (like Jesus speaking to His mother as "woman,") about elevating Mary beyond her status. Like a time traveler from Rome or Eastern Orthodoxy, this woman uttered a blessing for Mary and her care for the infant Jesus. But He emphasized instead (not with the blessing, but a replacement) blessed are those who listen to the Word of God and guard/keep/protect it. Faith and God's grace come to us from hearing the Gospel Word; the second part is guarding and witnessing to it.

 Norma A. Boeckler