Tom Fisher - CFW Walther's Universal Absolution

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

CFW Walther is a great deceiver and liar!!!  WHAT!!! How can you say that?? Walther is the INFALLIBLE Pope of LCMS!!!!  How DARE you subvert his infallible authority!  Oh my!! The LCMS Waltherites have Greta Thunberg leading their throbbing, threatening chant: HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU QUESTION POPE WALTHER!!!!!

 C. F. W. Walther, the first President of LCMS is still their hero and mentor. Walther clearly taught a Universal Justification prior to and without faith, without baptism, without the washing of regeneration, and without the renewing of the Holy Ghost. 

C.F.W. Walther said, "For God has already forgiven you your sins 1800 years ago when He in Christ absolved all men by raising Him after He first had gone into bitter death for them " (The Word of His Grace, CFW Walther, "Christ's Resurrection, The World's Absolution." Cited in The Path To Understanding Justification, Gregory L. Jackson, PhD; pg. 12; ISBN 9781072530428)

C.F.W. Walther clearly teaches everyone is already justified prior to and without faith, without Baptism, without the washing of regeneration, and without the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Note that this is not a permanent or personal justification. It is a temporary justification contingent on you "accepting" Universal Justification as true for you personally. 

Luther warned us that the greatest threat to our Christian faith would come from those adding things you must do to be justified. C.F.W. Walther, the first President of LCMS, added the invented work of "accepting" objective justification in order for God to justify you personally. Notice the deception in the phrase, "Only one thing remains on your part". WHAT!!!! NOTHING should remain on our part to be justified and forgiven by God!! Notice the subtle deception of Walther when he asserts that man's work of "accepting" is faith. WRONG!!!! Man's work of "accepting" is NOT faith!! It is synergism!! It is adding man's work of "accepting" to justification. Walther really tripped when he asserted that man must make justification personal in order for God to personally justify, forgive, and save him. WRONG!! God always personally justifies everyone by faith!! God personally clothes us in the righteousness of Christ in our baptism! Here He calls us by name and gives us forgiveness of sins, eternal life, the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost!!!! C.F.W. Walther erroneously said:

"Only one thing remains on your part so that you also possess the gift.  This one thing is--faith. And this brings me to the second part of today's Easter message, in which I now would show you that every man who wants to be saved must accept by faith the general absolution, pronounced 1800 years ago, as an absolution spoken individually to him."  (The Path To Understanding Justification, Gregory L. Jackson, PhD. ; pg.12; ISBN 9781072530428)

Scripture clearly says no one is justified without faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him;" Hebrews 11:6

Walther rejects this all clear Word of God by teaching that God has already justified the whole world prior to and without faith, baptism, the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Walther is lying and deceiving by God's name and Word here.

Scripture and Christ our Lord clearly teach we must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter into the kingdom of God.  

 Christ our Lord said:

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:5-7

Christ our Lord is speaking of the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost in our  baptism. 

" 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

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians 3:26,27

Walther rejects this by teaching that the whole world is already justified prior to and without faith, baptism, the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Walther tears faith, baptism, and the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost away from justification. God's efficacious Word, faith, baptism, and the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost comes before justification. I challenge you to show me one example where these necessary works of God do not come BEFORE justification.  Let's look at some examples.

At Pentecost the multitudes were convicted of sin and asked the apostle Peter what they should do. Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:38,39

At Gaza the apostle Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch and then immediately baptized him. Notice the preaching of the Word, faith, and baptism always comes first, before justification. Philip first preached Jesus from Isaiah 53, then the Ethiopian Eunuch believed in Jesus, and then he was baptized. This is the sequence evident in all of Scripture.

"Then Phillip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Acts 8:35-38

Notice Philip preached the true gospel NOT the false "gospel" of universal forgiveness. The true gospel is that Christ took all our sins upon Himself, was crucified, dead, buried, and then rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven for us. 

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures; and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above 500  brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time."

 1 Corinthians 15:1-7

Walther and his minions all preach the false "gospel" of objective justification asserting everyone is already forgiven, justified, and saved prior to and without faith and baptism.  

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:6-9

No one is justified prior to and without God's true gospel, faith, baptism, and the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. These are all necessary works of God. 

Abraham is the father of our faith. How was Abraham justified? Abraham was justified by faith in Christ while he was still uncircumcised. Christ our Lord testified that Abraham believed in Him.

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad."     John 8:56

Notice Abraham had true faith in Christ. This true faith in Christ justified Abraham.  The objective/ subjective justification lie is no where to be found. 

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Galatians 3:16

God has given us true faith in Christ so that we believe the same way Abraham believed. We are the children of Abraham.

"Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham."

" 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

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians 3:26,27

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

 

One Easy Step, Two Parts - Almost Universally Ignored - Especially by the Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

 

This may be news to many people, especially the denominational and synodical managers (they are not leaders). There is only one easy step to escape the plummeting future, which has two parts. 

1. Faith in Jesus Christ is access to God's grace.

2. The Gospel plants the seed of faith through preaching, teaching, and Holy Baptism.

The Gospel is the Spirit's work in the Means of Grace, without entertainment, conditions, errors, watering down, legalizing, or rationalizing. Nothing is more damning than saying, "We had 573 at our special event! The parking lot was full because our new program!" 

More damning is the parson who says, "We don't have enough people to have mid-week worship services." That lazy parson is denying faith in Christ, access to God's grace, Romans 5:1-2, which makes his plea as empty as his head.

A congregation has more power than an electrical substation, but that has been short-circuited by those who exploit everything except the Gospel preached and taught, the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. 

KJV Matthew 18:20 - 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

When was the last time Matthew's verse was spoken? "Confessionalism is told to whisper low in Jerusalem lest she be heard in the streets of Gath." T. Schmauk

The Big Five do not teach the Scriptures. They might be forgiven for using the Dynamic Equivocation of the NIV, RSV, ESV, NRSV, and Beck tragedies, but this is no time to whisper low. The managers have reached the low-point where they have nothing left but to sink down month by month. 

 

Can the synodical managers even spell his name correctly? They call themselves "Confessional" but reject the Augsburg Confession, as Dr. Lito Cruz has noted.

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 5 - Concerning Faith - "Manifold tribulations, miseries and distress are the daily experience of all Christendom. If Christ is to help, there must be trials, trouble and toil, and it must come to this, that we despair of all human counsel, comfort and ability."

 

Luther's Sermons - Luke 5:1-11.
Fifth Sunday after Trinity, Second Sermon. Concerning Faith, The Care of God, And Our Daily Occupation.

KJV Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

CONCERNING FAITH, THE CARE OF GOD, AND OUR DAILY OCCUPATION.

1. This Gospel brings before us two parts, in which it exhorts to faith and strengthens faith. In the first part it shows that Christ cares for those who believe in him, so that they are abundantly supplied against temporal and bodily needs. In the second part it shows that he will help them still more against spiritual needs, thus in reality proving the truth of what St. Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:8: “Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.” The Scriptures are everywhere full of these two kinds of promises.

2. To faith he assures temporal and bodily help by giving to Peter and his partners so great a draught of fishes after they had vainly toiled all night and caught nothing, and now could have no expectation or hope of taking anything. But herein he adheres to the rule and order which he himself has given and taught in Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” He here acts according to this saying and shows its truth by example and experience, inasmuch as the people press upon him in crowds, first to hear his words, and to such an extent that, in order to preach to them, he sets out from land in one of the boats. But when he has taught them he proceeds further to provide for their bodily needs, inasmuch as they are in distress and want.

3. Although it is not indeed the purpose of Christ’s coming or preaching to foster and provide for the body, yet he is not unmindful of it when the first thing sought is his kingdom. He therefore takes upon himself the distress of these poor fishermen who, through all this night, and with all their efforts and toil, have caught nothing. However, as they have lent him their boat to preach, and have listened to him, he, without any thought on their part, and before they have uttered any prayer, provides for them a draught of fishes so great that they are thereby enabled fully to learn and clearly to understand that in him they have a Master who cares for them and will not forsake them, provided they abide in his Word and remain his disciples.

4. He would that his Church, or believing people, should be comforted by the fact that he provides for them, and that somewhere on earth they shall find bread and an abiding place, even though they are everywhere so persecuted and scattered, that their place and provision in the world must be uncertain. We find this set forth, not only in the present instance, and in others like it, but in many a beautiful passage, such as Psalm 34:10: “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing.” And Psalm 33:18-19: “Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his loving kindness; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” And Proverbs 10:3: “Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish,” etc.

5. By this example he especially shows how it goes with those upon whom he is to bestow his gifts and assistance, and how he is accustomed to bestow these favors. It goes with them as it went with those fishermen, who labored all the night, yet had nothing for all their trouble and labor, and had nothing to hope for from human counsel or aid. Manifold tribulations, miseries and distress are the daily experience of all Christendom. If Christ is to help, there must be trials, trouble and toil, and it must come to this, that we despair of all human counsel, comfort and ability. Then he comes with his help, and shows that he still has the means of comfort, counsel, protection and deliverance, and that he is able to bestow all this when everything else has failed us, and when all that we have done or suffered, and still may be able to do, is nothing and in vain; yea, that in such need and weakness he gives and helps in richer measure than could be done by all human power, skill and aid.

The Fourth Sunday after Trinity, 2024.

 

YouTube

The melodies are linked in the hymn name. 

The lyrics are linked in the hymn number.

• The melody site is linked here.
• TLH Lyrics site is linked here.

The Hymn # 452                      The Son of God  
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 
The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #528:10-15  If God Himself Be For Me

A Simple Guideline

The Communion Hymn # 308       Invited Lord  
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 # 651                    Be Still My Soul 

Prayers and Announcements

•  Kermit and Maria Way, Pastor Jim and Chris Shrader, Callie, her mother Peggy, and her father Calvin.
• Mike and Amanda Oak were blessed with a beautiful girl, June, last week. 
• Lito Cruz and his son are much better. 

KJV Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

KJV Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Fourth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, who art merciful, and through Christ didst promise us, that Thou wilt neither judge nor condemn us, but graciously forgive us all our sins, and abundantly provide for all our wants of body and soul: We pray Thee, that by Thy Holy Spirit Thou wilt establish in our hearts a confident faith in Thy mercy, and teach us also to be merciful to our neighbor, that we may not judge or condemn others, but willingly forgive all men, and, Judging only ourselves, lead blessed lives in Thy fear, through Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Mercy

KJV Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: These verses are so clearly stated that we can imagine Luke 15 following them - the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son - each emphasizing mercy, not being judged, not condemning, and being forgiven. The Luke 15 parables emphasize ordinary people rejoicing in finding the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost child.

    There are two pairs -  to be merciful and to judge not; to condemn not and to forgive. 

These are the kinds of memory work Luther used. He would think about a verse or a phase for one or two days. We have trained ourselves to rush through literature and the Scriptures, but more likely to slow down for sports, recipes, and local news.

    The words are very powerful because the Holy Spirit is always at work in the Word of God. As that phrase suggests, it is the Word that belongs to God, so it is not something for joking or twisting around. Nor does the-Word-belonging-to-God ever lack in its energy, whether condemning our sins or forgiving our sins.

    Media experts now take advantage of words themselves, making us listen to a waterfall of sludge, all kinds of broadcasts filled with empty claims, obscenities, and worse. They have the effect of replacing what is good and beautiful with that which is evil and ugly.

    These two verses condense most of the wisdom about how we should live our lives and affect others. If we take the verses seriously, we have to examine the Scriptures teaching us about mercy and forgiveness. Not only are they primary but they are also the opposite of judging and condemning. 

    It is funny that the shallow use of judging has been used to condemn something said. For instance, at a clergy meeting I said something that made the district vice-president say, "You are being judgmental!" I said, "Yes, I am supposed to judge between right and wrong." He mumbled something in response.

    The use of "judgmental" has been cleverly crafted to move the ethics of our country into the sewers and worse. That actually from the ex-minister Carl Rogers, psychologist, atheist. He advocated that there was no right or wrong. He invented "didn't you, aren't you" counseling. If someone wanted to do something bad, he said, "You are wrong, aren't you." Listening to the flat voice on the tapes can put a whole room into a deep sleep.

    So now we have a change from judging between good and bad, right and wrong, patriot or traitor. Political law and religious law have always marked such pairs as worthwhile. 

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

    This is quite an image for anyone baking. For example, there are always measuring instruments in the kitchen or bakery, even more so in large bakery factories. The measurements should be precise because a small error can have catastrophic results - forgetting the yeast or salt, too much of either one, flavorings, etc.

    However, this is an example of hyperbole on the positive side. Jesus exaggerates how much God returns on our response. Let's imagine a cup or a quart of flour or anything else in making bread.   

• good measure, (not skimping)
• pressed down, (adding even more)
• and shaken together, (no gaps)
• and running over. (abundance)

As a veteran in my father's retail bakery and in the kitchen, I can list any number of bad examples and outrageous errors. But this is Jesus' way of showing us that we should not be stingy in the fruit of the Spirit, all those things that come from the Gospel leaven at work in our lives. 

KJV Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Downtown Moline was more than a business district. It was a collection of family owned businesses, with the location and business continuing into multiple generations - like John Deere and the radio/tv store nearby.  People had a lot of connections. The mother-church of the Augustana Synod was right across the street from the donut shop, clothing store, and basement restaurant. 

That kind of association is mostly gone today, but it continues in many forms, from denominations to congregations. What God gives to us freely should also be a blessing in the lives of others, to be multiplied many times over.

39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

    That is a familiar, concise parable. We even have games based on this. If we are not fruitful from the Gospel in our lives, others will fall into the same problem. So I see in many denominations a very strict measure of shunning, freezing people out of a congregation, district, and synod. "They strain out a gnat and swallow a camel." The self-described purity is really a gigantic monument to man-made law. A young visitor to our house said about dancing - "That is my favorite dance of the ones I am not allowed." He gave a demonstration.

40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

    In other words, the student (Christian) is not above his Master (Christ), but they are to conduct themselves in the pattern of Jesus Christ. This is where the denominations have fallen down and lost their way, both at the same time. They are blind to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. It could not be more simple and clear, especially for those who say "grace" and yet deny its origin.

KJV Romans 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.

access by faith προσαγωγην εσχηκαμεν τη πιστει εις την χαριν ταυτην

access 

προσαγωγην 

we have

εσχηκαμεν

by faith

τη πιστει

into this grace

εις την χαριν ταυτην

    Doc Lito wrote to say that Jews now  becoming Christian are startled to find that the church they were are attending is not Trinitarian, not really Christian.

    Romans 5:1-2 have always been the bulwark of Biblical doctrine, and yet The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - sidestep it by saying everything is "by grace." By saying everything is "by grace," they water down the meaning and are really saying "all is grace without faith." The last I heard, five different things were "by grace." The Apostle Paul says, "faith gives us access to God's grace." Luther said "faith alone" to emphasize the difference between that message and Roman Catholic "faith plus works."

    Not by working harder, not by promising to never sin again, not by works of contrition - such as walking over painful paths, etc etc - but only access to grace through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Link explaining access

Definition: a bringing to
Usage: approach, access, admission.

    As stated before - and - is always needed for all of us - access to grace is only by faith in Jesus Christ and should not be mixed around so much that we get dizzy figuring out all kinds of graces. In the end, grace is not found in works, in becoming cloistered, etc. Faith in the Savior is access to grace, and faith comes from the Gospel Word.

Emphasizing the Gospel message builds grace through faith. Faith and grace are from God.

41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

    Our country has fallen into a terrible scourge, an epidemic of man-made law. The laws multiply daily. When the Covid scam was running at full steam, I asked where the "clean pens" were for signing. When I was done I pushed the pen back - with fingertips - under the glass plate (now gone) and said, "Make sure this is in the to- be-washed bunch." I said to another severe hawk-eyed watcher, "Do you realize how often you touch credit cards in getting the doctor paid?" That was followed the next time by an added device so the desk workers would not directly touch those credit cards. How many lives were not saved?

    If everyone is going to concentrate on man-made laws, then how will we every expand the reach of God's own grace through access to faith in Jesus? As Paul said, we are children until we grow up and act according to faith rather than laws. Of course, the anti-law people jump on that and miss the mark entirely (antinomians). An anti-law pastor rejected the 10 Commandments and Creation. Needless to say, he soon became a loud, open Atheist.

    Notice that Jesus taught access to grace in Him in this message.

Moses and the Ten Commandments on the Supreme Court Building.The Luther Monument in Washington D.C. Ashamed of both?

 

 

Confucius, Moses, and Salon in the east gate of the Federal Supreme Court of the United States.

People cheered when the Berlin Wall was torn down. How much more significant is Moses on the Supreme Court building?

 Luther monument, Washington DC

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) loathe Justification by Faith, even though Martin Luther established that phrase as the Chief Article of the Christian Church - that is - all of Christianity, including the American sects.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 4 - Second Sermon - "Now, when one should justly be kind and give, and show his thankfulness to God for the holy Gospel, everyone is about to perish with hunger, no one will give anything, but will only receive."

 

Luther's Sermons - Luke 6:36-42.
Fourth Sunday after Trinity, Second Sermon

36. Now dear friends, do not despise such a warning, but take it to yourselves, and if you have already been ensnared by this covetousness, turn again and reform. Formerly when one served the devil in popedom, everyone was merciful and kind, then they gave with both hands joyfully and with great devotion, to support the false worship of God. Now, when one should justly be kind and give, and show his thankfulness to God for the holy Gospel, everyone is about to perish with hunger, no one will give anything, but will only receive. Formerly every city according to its size, liberally supported several cloisters, not to mention mass-priests and rich monasteries. Now, when only two or three persons, who preach God’s Word, administer the sacraments, visit and comfort the sick in an honest and Christian manner and instruct the youth, are to be supported in one city, and that too not from their own but from property that came to us from the papacy, it is hard for everybody to give.

37. But thus it must be, that Jesus with Mary and Joseph should have no room in the inn at Bethlehem, but after all he finds a crib, and Mary and Joseph a stall, in which they miserably help themselves as best they may.

And as they are not at home in Nazareth but in a strange place at an inconvenient time, in the midst of winter, and altogether forgotten in the stall by the people of Bethlehem, yet after all they do not perish with hunger. But before they should suffer hunger among their blood relations who care nothing for them, even the heathen must come from rich Arabia and present the little child Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh. Christians understand well enough what is meant.

38. Therefore let everyone be diligent to comply with this admonition, that he willingly give, if he desires that it shall be given unto him again. If he will not do this, Christ will most certainly keep his Word, that it shall not be given unto him again. And though he already has something, there shall not be given him grace enough to enjoy it, as has already been shown from Scripture passages, Now God does not only show us by his Word that our covetousness is displeasing to him, and that usurers shall not enjoy their goods, but proves it also by daily examples. I will relate one as a warning which has recently occurred, although some may be offended at it: It is not far from here to Wittenberg, as has been reported to me and have also myself made proper inquiries, there was a farmer, who all his life cheated and took advantage of the people in the market, as at present nearly all are accustomed to do, he went into his barn to look after his grain; then the devil set such a ghost before his eyes, that he found his barn empty, and could see no corn there. What happened? The miserable, stingy man becomes frightened, and thinks the corn was secretly stolen from his barn. He goes down to his wife and servants with great cries and lamentations and says all his grain has been stolen out of his barn. As the wife and servants go in to look after it, in the meantime the wretched man hangs himself for grief, and dies in the rope before they return again to him. And yet it was but the deception of the devil. For all the corn was still lying untouched on the floor. The devil by the decree of God had thus infatuated him, that he could not see even a single grain.

39. This I say, has taken place before our very doors, to frighten and warn us. What benefit did the poor man reap from it? What help are now his goods to him, which he had scraped together so long with care and labor? The devil wanted to kill him, therefore he so blindfolded him that he could not see his own corn, and thus he gave him a cause, to hang himself for grief. This is I think a curse, which came upon ill-gotten goods, that he should not only not enjoy it, but even not behold it, and thereby lose both body and soul. More similar histories have appeared, as you at other times have heard from me; and it is good not to forget them, there may yet be some who will be reformed by them. The wretched man who so miserably hung himself will find his sentence. But we tell it you as a warning. If you will not receive it, but despise it, you do not despise me who told it you, but the Lord Christ, who tells it to you through me. But if you receive it and do better, I will give you no reward, for I cannot reward the works of a Christian. But he who here says: Give and it shall be given to you, will richly reward it. Whoever will, let him accept, and whoever will not, can let it alone. This text will not become false on that account. For although not all are punished like this man, yet everyone who despises this admonition of Christ, will find his condemnation on the last day. And it is indeed to be wondered at, that we willingly and with great care, weariness and labor, for the stingy man’s stinginess becomes very hard, 1 Timothy 6:10, should bring into our own house first our own injury and curse, whereas with lighter labor and a more joyful courage, if we according to the doctrine of Christ would give and help our neighbor, could well be rich. For he who said, Give, and it will be given you, will certainly keep his Word, and give again to those who obey his admonition, and that abundantly; for he says: A full, pressed down, shaken together, and overrunning measure shall be given to you again.

40. Were it not better, you had but little with God and honor, and give and help the needy according to your ability, and have thereby a good conscience and the glorious comfort that God will bless and increase your humble store, than that you should, with care and restlessness and with an evil conscience, have great possessions, which you not only cannot enjoy, but cannot even be master of, for a miser is mammon’s servant and a captive. And yet, you do not only know from God’s Word, although you will not believe it, but also from daily experience, that it will do your children or heirs no good, but by the very consumption of it they shall become poor.

41. What have you of it at last, O wretched man, when you have so long scraped and scratched together, except that you have made your life very toilsome in sins, and the devil, when your last hour comes, will drag you into the abyss of hell, and so you will not only shamefully lose your money and goods, which in this life you never could enjoy, but besides you also wretchedly lose both body and soul, and upon all this with your condemned treasures you bring down God’s displeasure and curse upon your children and heirs, who have become no better than yourself, but fall into poverty and into all distress and misfortune. Very well, he that will hear, let him hear. For everyone must bear his own burden, as St. Paul says, Galatians 6:5: I believe it also. Therefore you who will not hear, answer for yourselves. This is enough of this Gospel for a small admonition. God grant, that in some of you it may bring forth fruit! Amen.