We know that we cannot contain all the wisdom of the Bible - even the largest areas are a challenge. We should aim at the Biblical foundations rather than just zipping around like dragon flies over a warm summer pond.
Wise readers find that starting from the beginning and going through the Bible is a challenge, one that loses attention, although it can be done.
The Old Testament is wisely described as the foundation created for the New Testament sermons. And why not? Hebrew is an ancient language, relatively easy to learn around the world. The Son of God was just as much in Genesis as the Four Gospels.
If we only start at Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, the readers will find themselves with
- The Genesis Beginning of the Universe
- The Exodus Escape from Egypt's Slavery
- The Psalm Hymnal And Beautiful Poetry
Luther is so wonderful with the foundations that we can listen, read, and enjoy the down-to-earth language of the Reformer, Melanchthon, and Martin Chemnitz.
Tom Fisher, Farmer and Shepherd -
Dear Pastor Jackson,
It is raining this morning. All 13 lambs are staying close to their mother's side to keep dry. I noticed how white my lambs are even in rainy weather. This reminded me of Isaiah 1:18:
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
God promises to forgive our sins.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8
Christ is the lamb of God who takes all our sins upon Himself.
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." John 1:29
God our heavenly Father laid all our sins on Jesus.
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6
God our heavenly Father is merciful and gracious to us.
"The LORD executeth righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so geat is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. " Psalm 103:6-13
In our baptism, God our heavenly Father clothed us in the righteousness of Christ and made us His dear children and heirs of eternal life.
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:5-7
We are justified by faith in Christ.
