ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
I will cry unto God Most High: unto God that performeth all things for me.
Yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge: until these calamities be overpast.
Psalm. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
The Epistle
KJV Joel 2:12-19
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
Gradual
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee.
V. He shall send from heaven: and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.
Tract. O Lord, deal not with us after our sins: nor reward us according to our iniquities.
V. O Lord, remember not against us former iniquities: let Thy tender mercies speedily come to us, for we are brought very low.
V. Help us, O God of our salvation: for the glory of Thy name
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The basis for the entire universe is the opposite of what people think, promote, and garnish. That must be true, because we see the evidence around us and to some extent somewhat in us. Why? Because the Old Adam is always there with us, spawning many kinds of remedies, never enough and often far worse. Look at the way the nation's "lawmakers" refuse to be even a little bit polite. In another place of politics, the smoke grenades were tossed into the discussion - no, really. Look at Serbia. Or look at us. Half the Congressional audience refused to cheer and clap for the boy with brain cancer who wanted to be an honorary cop.
"Amazing Grace" is often sung, and it has good intentions. However, the words obscure - hide - what the Word of God says. Every word is a tool, and so every word helps or ruins the thought. The concept is quite simple, which can be the reason for the falsehood.
KJV Romans 5 -
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.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Many clergy and laity have shunned me and argued against me (the Bible actually) based on Romans 5. "Justified by faith" simply means that the faith created by the Gospel marks us as forgiven through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Faith means complete trust in the Savior, the Good Shepherd, the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We know all is ours in faith because the Bible starts with the Father ordering Creation and the Son executing each command. That is not obscure but as clear as can be. The Father ordered Light before the sun and galaxies existed, and the Son executed the command. Thus the universe was utterly dark without the Son making Light happen. And so it continued in the Six Days, which were real days, not Daylight imaginary time.
Genesis 1 proves this, though most are blind to it. "And there was Light." Dad may fall down the basement stairs because he did not turn on the switch. Genesis 1 makes it plain that there are two phases - ordering Let there be Light and execution "And there was light."
Verification comes from John 1 -
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same [very emphatic] was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
To absorb this - Read Psalm 1, where the Law (Torah) is encompassing, not simply The Law. (Like the grace error) Torah means Teaching, including Law, Gospel, and Blessings.
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the Teaching (Torah) of the Lord; and in his Teaching (Torah) doth he meditate day and night.
grace = access by faith
Go over these phrases that are marked and keep returning to them. Grace means forgiveness, blessings, removal of pain, guilt and sorrow, joy from overcoming burdens, and so forth.
Access is a plain old word. Don't look it up - it's just access. I have an appointment at the tuxedo shop. One thing is sure - I will look very strange if I am wearing gardening clothes and floppy shoes. Access can mean a meeting place, so it is extremely powerful because it is the Spirit at work in the Word. So if we look at troubles, sins, catastrophes, sorrows, pains, we have access by grace to brush those things away - and to grow the fruits of the Spirit (John 15).
Christina wore a Swedish crown, donated to Augustana through Sweden. She had access to the crown.
