Worship on Sunday - God Willing, 10 AM

 

Long ago and far away - I began blogging with primitive equipment and only a few people to notice. I was ecstatic over a total of 100 people visiting the blog. Christina encouraged the effort and we found out how many people debated various issues, from the Church Growth fanatics, to the followers of King James' precise work, and the Luther-Melanchthon-Chemnitz triad.

Printing Lutheran books has always been enjoyable, especially with the artistic help and advice of Norma Boeckler. I enjoy the global reach of blogging.

That total of 100 people reading the blog has risen to a daily count from 2,000 to 40,000 views. 

The Glory of the Gospel

 

Psalm 91 is the fuel and candor and glory of the Old Testament Gospel, teaching so much of the entire Bible and yet offering in only a few verses. Anyone who feels distraught, worn, shunned, or crushed will find Psalm 91 one of the best possible aids. 

The Gospel is the Bible and our hearts long to hear, repeat, and embrace it.

Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, is the voice of Psalm 91. The Son of God gives us the vision of all He does through the Father. People beg for the Savior to rescue and support Him - He is already there and eager to serve us. We are always in need and He is always anxious to lift us up and strengthen us.

We have the advantage of sheep, lambs, shepherd dog, and an earthly shepherd. How can anyone deny the value of a living, breathing example of John 10?

Or the work of the Good Samaritan, a beautiful example of Psalm 91!

The issue is not in wanting but needing to embrace what the Savior graciously offers for us.

Are any other animals more appealing than the lambs?

Foundational - Old Testament And New Testameent

 

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.

From "Faith to Faith" - The Open Mystery

 

In the past, many  Biblical scholars found "from faith to faith" to be difficult to understand. I recall the scholarly books that found it puzzling and enigmatic.

1.17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 

When people began to emphasize the Faith of Jesus, the scales dropped from their eyes. Jesus has all the attributes of a believer because He was one from the beginning and remains the ultimate Believer. 

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed 

from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Once the Faith of Jesus is appreciated as a rare book or article, the readers open their eyes to the meaning of Romans 1:17.

More graphics here on this link