Dear Pastor Jackson,
Christ and Luther always give true comfort and certainty. I experience true relief and comfort when I listen to Christ and Luther. Luther is especially skilled in providing vivid illustrations and examples that amplify the true and certain comfort of Christ Words.
Our sins and the cares and worries of this life often weigh us down with dejection and sadness. We feel our sins and the threats of this life. As true Christians we are sorry for our sins, but the voice of Christ and Luther brings us eternal relief and comfort. The world mocks us for being sorry and sad over what it considers petty insignificant sins. No sin is petty. All sin no matter how petty wars against our souls. Luther says that we daily sin much and deserve only wrath and punishment.
The voice of Christ and Luther will not allow us to wallow in dejection and sadness over our sins and the threats of this life. I experienced this last night while reading the Words of Christ and Luther in John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37
Last night I was especially sad and dejected over my sins, worries and fears of that day. I could not sleep so I began to read Luther's explanation of John 6:37 in Luther's Works, CPH, vol. 23, page 48:
"When you come, just believe, and you will not want. Your shortcomings and failures will not harm you." This we learn from Romans 14:22 and 15:1. A believer has forgiveness of sin, and Christ will not cast him out. Sin will ever remain part of the Christian's flesh, as seen, for instance, in evil desires referred to in Romans 6-8. "But as long as a man comes to Me in faith, even though he should stumble, I shall see to it that this does not harm him." His sinful flesh will have no dominion over him; there is no condemnation for those who are incorporated into the body of Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 ), although they are not yet entirely pure, and their flesh is not completely mortified."
Luther then gives us a wonderful illustration and example:
"Thus even if you fall and sin, Christ will not cast you out. A mother will not put a soiled, mangy, or sick child out of the house. A son or a daughter often does wrong, but they are not disinherited and ejected from the house because of this."
As I listened to the voice of Christ and Luther, my dejection and sadness lifted and was replaced by true Christian cheerfulness. Yes, I am that sinful, soiled, sick child that Christ my good Shepherd forgives and cleanses from ALL sin.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1
The comforting voice of Christ and Luther is our pearl of great price this reformation day. It stands alone in stark contrast to the troubling voices of ALL other religions that ADD the preparations of 'free will' to justification by faith. These preparations of 'free will' are not recognized as works righteousness. For example these works righteousness salesmen require that you must 'make a decision for Christ' or 'ask Jesus into your heart', or 'put Christ first', or 'go forward to the alter', or 'dedicate your life to Christ', or 'do wonderful things for Christ', or have an emotional conversion, or speak in tongues, or go on a pilgrimage. All of these false religions add their own works to justification by faith. They are called Christian, but they add their own works to justification by faith. They all reject God's work in Baptism in favor of their own flavor of works righteousness. They are enemies of the gospel of Christ because they add their own works to justification by faith. The Catholics, Baptists, Christian Reformed, Greek Orthodox, Calvinists, Presbyterians, Methodist, Turks, Jews, Amish, Objective Justification Cultists, Pentecostals, etc. all add their own works to justification by faith. They are NOT Christian at all. This is troubling because many of our relatives and loved ones follow the teachings of these false churches. They need the comforting voice of Christ and Luther so we must do our best to help them.
Christ is our Good Shepherd. No one is able to pluck us out of His hands.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one. John 10:27-30
In Christ,
