Sins Are Covered

“Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.” Rom 4:7-8

And, who exactly are those whose sins are forgiven? They are those who trust that the Lord Jesus has died for their sins. They are those who in faith in the Lord Jesus have had their sins covered by his blood. It is only be faith that we are saved.

And, how do we believe? How do we come to such faith? It is a gift of God. St. Paul wrote to the Romans: "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ." (Rom 10:17) Faith comes through hearing the promises of God. Faith comes through hearing what Jesus has done for us. Faith comes by hearing that because of his sacrifice for us, our sins are forgiven and that we have been reconciled to God.

Your iniquities are forgiven! Rejoice and give thanks to the One who has blessed you so richly!

God's Peace - Pr. J

New Day

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" 2 Cor 5:17 NRSV

Who doesn't need start fresh every now and then? 2015 is behind us. A whole new day; a whole new year is before us.

We all make mistakes. We all sin. We all hurt others wittingly and unwittingly. We often carry this baggage with us. Guilty consciences often affect our relationships with God and with one another. In spite of the fact that we know that God forgives us all of our sins; sometimes, we have a difficult time forgiving ourselves.  Today is a new day. Receive the forgiveness that Christ so willing purchased for you on the cross that you might be reconciled to God and to one another. Let not this gift given at the cost of Jesus' blood be given in vain. Receive it! Rejoice! For in Christ, everything, including you, has become new.

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

For The Forgiveness Of Sins

"While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matt 26:26-28)

Who does not need forgiveness? Is there any one who is without sin?

Some time ago, our congregation decided that they would receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion every Sunday. Some of our members have to work on Sundays. Some of our youth were out of town with the other custodial parents on some Sundays. There are also those who worship only occasionally by choice. There are many reasons that prevent God's children from worshipping every Sunday.

It is not our place to figure out why. It is not our place to say that if they wanted to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament, they would come. It is our place to hope and pray for those who cannot or will not hear the Word and receive the Sacrament regularly. We choose to make the Sacrament available to those occasional visitors and members so that they could be reassured that Christ died for the forgiveness of all. Our prayer and hope is that many would come and be relieved of their sins. Our hope and prayer is that in receiving the Sacrament, they will be renewed in the Body of Christ.

May God speak to the hearts and minds of all people; encouraging them to come and receive His Son; to forgiveness of their sins in and through him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Saved By Grace Through Faith

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast." Eph 2:8-9

Often we cling to sins that we may have committed years ago. That's not to say we keep repeating them. But, sometimes, no matter how hard we try to forget them, we do not. The devil keeps reminding us of our past acts against God and against humanity. And... we continue to live in our guilt.

There is nothing we can do to undo those sins of our past. We cannot "fix" them by the works of our hands. Our sins cannot be cancelled out by anything good we might think we do. Just about when we might think we're balancing the scales the devil will rear his ugly head and remind us of yet another sin that we need to atone for. It's a never ending cycle. Do not fall for the devil's tricks. You have been saved by God's grace through faith.

It is time to quit living in the past; carrying the sins of your past. Your sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus. There is only one way that you can be saved from your past or your present sins. By the grace of God you are saved through faith. Salvation is not something that you can earn. Salvation is a gift from God. Have faith that this gift is for you. Receive it! Live in this truth and tell the devil to depart in the name of Jesus Christ for your sins are forgiven.

God's Peace - Pr.

The Righteous In Christ Shall Flourish

Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.  Proverbs 11:28

Who are these who will flourish like green leaves? According to the proverbs it the righteous who shall flourish. The problem with that is that none of us can be found righteous by our own merit; our own good deeds. Paul wrote to the Romans (3:9-10): What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, as it is written: “There is no one who is righteous, not even one..."

But, God provided us a way to be found righteous in His sight. He sent His only begotten Son to die for us; for our sins; upon the cross. This was for all people.

We are not found righteous by the works of our own hands; but, by faith in the one who died for us. Thanks be to God we are found righteous because of Jesus' work on the cross and will flourish in the Kingdom of God, now and forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Holy Spirit Sanctifies; Makes Us Holy

The Third Article.

Of Sanctification.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?--Answer.
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.

  http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 

 

It is by God the Father that we are created. It is by the life giving sacrifice of God the Son that we have been saved. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are sanctified. In the past I have been warned that it might be best not to use the word sanctify as many would not understand what the word means. Sanctify mean to be made holy. The Holy Spirit makes us holy. Jesus died for our salvation. He died that we might be reconciled to God our Father. This is good news. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that this truth is revealed and preached. It is not by our own reason or strength; but, by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to receive this good news as our own truth.

 

May God grant that the eyes, ears, and hearts of the world be open to hear and receive the truth, who is Jesus the Christ, that we might be made holy by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

I Believe In Jesus Christ

The Second Article.

Of Redemption.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

What does this mean?--Answer.

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won [delivered] me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be [wholly] His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 

As, together, we affirm the second article during worship, we affirm not just that we believe that Jesus was a living breathing man who lived on earth some 2000 years ago; but, that with his precious and innocent blood we have been redeemed. We, who were lost and condemned, have been purchased by His blood; that we might live life in His presence, in His kingdom, for all eternity. Not with silver or gold, not with the works of our hands; but, by His death, we have been saved from eternal death. That is what we believe.

 

That is how much our God loves and cares for us. He was willing to come to earth and live as we live. He was willing to suffer and die that we might also live as He lives: eternally in the Kingdom of God.

 

It would behoove us to not just affirm this every Sunday at worship; but, every morning when we rise lest we forget what our Lord has done for us and turn to other gods. To Him be all honor and glory.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 John 4:7-21 Love

1 John 4:7-21
It can be quite frustrating to love someone and not be loved in return. You can give your life for
someone and have that love and you treated like it was nothing. But, the one who loves does not stop loving. They will continue to love even as they ache inside. Most of us probably have probably known the feeling of loving someone and not being loved in return.

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (vs 9-10)

Our Father in heaven loves us so much He was willing to have His one and only Son suffer and die for us. His Son, Jesus the Christ, loves us so much he was willing to do his Father's will for us. What will our response be? Will we love because he first loved us? Or will we turn our backs on genuine love and seek the earthly desires of our hearts?

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 John 1 - Empty the Trash

1 John 1 NIV
Every Sunday, we are reminded during confession that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Then following confession, we hear that our sins are forgiven. We are cleansed of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. Christians are well aware that we are "simul justus et peccator," both saint and sinner. We do not always do what we know we ought to be doing. But, we also know as we confess our sins that we are forgiven.

It is truly frustrating for me to hear someone's confession and the confession ends up sounding more like they are confessing for someone else. There are some who simply cannot 'fess up. They are always right and everyone else is wrong. They will not confess their own sins. Rather, they end up confessing the sins of others. I'm not sure how they think this is working for them. There are times when I long to be back working within the correctional system again. There they have already been convicted of their sins and many are eager to be absolved of their sins. But, within the community of those baptized into the church, I often see attempts to cover sins committed by blaming someone else or flat out lying about what one did or didn't do. If we truly want to be cleansed of our sins, we first have to admit that we are sinners.

My granddaughter helped me clean the house yesterday. Trash cans were washed. But, before one can be washed; you first have to take out the trash.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us." (vss 8-10)

Help us, Lord, to recognize our sin that we might repent; turn to You.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 9 High Priest Enters the Sanctuary

Hebrews 9 NIV

Church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
St. Petersburg, Russia

Under the first covenant God directed that a tabernacle be set up. This sanctuary made with human hands was only a copy of the true sanctuary of God. Within this sanctuary was an inner room in which only the high priest could enter. He could not enter this Most Holy Place without blood. With fear and trembling he would enter to offer the blood of animals for the unintentional sins of the people. This imperfect ritual had to be repeated over and over again for imperfect people.

But, when the Christ who is the high priest came he, himself, was the lamb that was sacrificed. The sacrifice did not take place in an earthly tabernacle. He went through the greater and most perfect tabernacle in heaven itself. He entered into the Most Perfect Holy Place willingly shedding his blood and giving his own life for the sins of the people. This most perfect sacrifice in the most perfect place needs no repeating. He died once for the many who would believe.

We live under a new covenant established for us by the great high priest, Jesus the Christ. Through the offering of his blood our sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God we need have no to fear to enter into the heavenly tabernacle which has been opened to us by the blood of the lamb. We have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb; by the blood of the Great High Priest, himself.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Timothy 5 - Christian Charity

1 Timothy 5 NIV

Zion's Youth Choirt
at Toys for Tots Benefit Concert

In a time when the state was not expected to support the elderly or anyone else, St. Paul exhorts families to care for their elderly relatives, especially their parents, before they are put on the list for the church to care for them. His list of who gets assistance is pretty narrow. He focuses mainly on widows. They are not to be put on the list for assistance unless they are over sixty years old, has been faithful to their husbands, and have been known for their good deeds.

It is, of course, the Christians duty and privilege to care for those in need. Today, we help all in need. Yes, there are definitely those who would take advantage of the church's assistance. There are those who go from one congregation to the next asking for assistance. There are those few who make a career of exploiting Christian charity rather than working themselves. It depletes the funds that could be used for those who are truly in need. In order to help those in genuine need sometimes we have to say no to those who would steal the support we have to offer from the one in real need.

There is an old saying that "charity begins at home." This is not to say that we should indulge ourselves and care only for ourselves; rather, we should look to our own relatives, the aunts and uncles, parents, and grandparents who are in genuine need and care for them so that they do not suffer. If we cannot, then churches or other charitable non-profits such as St. Vincent DePaul should be called on for assistance. Lastly, I believe, the state is there. It seems like we've turned this around a bit today.

Paul gives a list for discerning who is in real need in his letter to Timothy. Then he adds: "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (vs 8)

We are not saved by our good works; rather, the joy of our salvation inspires us to be merciful and caring to those in need. The joy over what Jesus was willing to do for us, inspires us to reach out to others in need. "The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever." (vs 24-25)

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 18:1-14 Father's Will

John 18:1-14 NIV
After he had finished praying, Jesus was arrested. His friend, his follower, his betrayer was at hand. He told the cohort who came to arrest him that he was the one that they were looking for. Yet, they were reluctant to arrest him. He had to remind them that they had come to arrest him before they actually did. Whether they knew it or not, they do not appear to impressed with having to do the Father's will. Somehow, it seemed a bit distasteful to them.

We are often called to do things that we might find distasteful. We do not always understand why God would allow or not allow something to happen. We don't quite get where He's going and leading all of the time. He sometimes calls us to do things which we would rather not do based on our own traditions, personal desires, or sense of right and wrong. But, Jesus had to die for the world (it was His Father's will) and in order to do that, someone had to arrest him. The lot fell to this detachment of soldiers. It was their job. It was their duty; however, distasteful they found it, to take their part in the death of the one who would die for their (our) sins.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 9 - Your Sins Are Forgiven

We have, in chapter five, six different episodes or movements. Jesus is busy healing both physically and spiritually. In the episode in which he is eating with the tax collector Matthew whom he has called to "follow" him, Jesus is questioned regarding eating with sinners. His response connects the physically ill with spiritually ill:  "On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matt 9:12-13 NIV)

Sadly, I have witnessed many a person who, for whatever reason, do not have as full relationships with Jesus Christ as they could have. Although, they confess Christ, they have not quite gotten to the place where they fully trust him for their daily needs; to forgive them their trespasses; or that the kingdom has come for them, even now, through his death and resurrection. They live day to day, suffering in many ways; without really being able to enjoy the life that God has given to them. Ultimately; although, they are still quite young, they are quite worn out spiritually, emotionally, as well as physically.

This is definitely not to say that we don't need doctors. God has provided us some tremendous gifts in the advancement of medicine and many men and women who know how to apply that knowledge and gifts. It is a reminder that the physical and spiritual work hand in hand. When our spirits are low, often we are more susceptible to physical ailments and when we are physically ill our spirits are in danger of becoming ill as well. The whole person must be cared for. In order to be made whole, we need to be able to hear and receive these words: "Your sins are forgiven."

Jesus did a lot of wandering around, getting in trouble, for forgiving the sins of others. Ultimately, he died on the cross to take away the sins of the world. "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) He died that we might be made whole.

But, there is a whole world out there that does not know this. They do not the great and awesome works of God. Someone must tell them.

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matt 9:35-37)

As Jesus, called that sinful tax collector, Matthew, to follow him, so he calls you. Will you follow? Will you have compassion on those who are harassed, helpless, and like sheep without a shepherd. Is the Lord of the harvest, asking you to go out into his harvest field?

But... before you head out to that harvest field; take this bit of knowledge with you: your sins are forgiven you, too, in the name of Jesus Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Amos 1 - Three Sins and Four

Amos, the shepherd was not a timid man. He warned people vehemently of the coming disaster. He prophesied about the same time as Hosea and Isaiah did. If those two were disliked, Amos was most hated. You will hear very little good news from Amos. He just declares what is going to happen and it's not good. For three sins and for four sins... there will be consequences. He's not talking about different sins. He's talking about the fact that after one sins once; rather than repent, they continue sinning.

How often do we sin and not only not repent; but, make excuses for ourselves as though the sin was not a sin; rather it was something good? I'm thinking probably all too often. Just as no one wanted to hear Amos in his day, no one would probably listen to him today, either. We just don't want to be reminded that we could possibly do anything wrong

Turn to the LORD for He is God and there is only one God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 19 - Today Is For Proclamation Not Lamenting

“Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel." (Ezekiel 19:1 NIV)

Today I want to tell you about a sermon I heard yesterday. It was long... by most Lutheran standards, but every word was worth listening to! Pr. Jay Weidner of the Apostolic Lutheran Seminary, Hancock, MI was the preacher at the Suomi Conference Michigan Word and Song Fest at Bethany Lutheran in Covington.  Pr. Jay exhorted us to quit lamenting! It is time to proclaim the Good News and indeed he did proclaim it! He is an amazing, spirit-filled and led preacher!

It is, indeed, not the time to lament the state of the world; the world has been in chaos for as long as there has been history! Today is not the time to cry about our minor aches and pains. It is not the time to be worried about what we cannot do or do not have. Focus on what we have: the grace of God; the Word of God! It is time to quit lamenting about our own minor suffering and get on with alleviating the suffering of a world that lives in darkness by proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom through the blood of Jesus Christ to all people. Reach out to your neighbor with grace, as God, Himself, reached out to all people from the cross, with grace, that we might be reconciled to him.

I could not help but smile as I was reminded how so often congregations, synods, entire denominations use excuses like demographics or economics as excuses for the decline in the visible church. I do not think that God buys into those excuses. There were a whole lot less people on earth when Jesus and those first disciples walked the earth. There were multitudes of obstacles; yet, the church grew. The church grew because those early Christians were busy, not lamenting, but celebrating and sharing the Good News that the Kingdom of God was open to all who believe that Jesus died for their sins. Their/Our sins are forgiven by this gracious gift of God's own Son's life. We are justified by the grace of God through faith alone.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph 2:8-10)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lamentations 4 - Prophets and Priests to Blame

The lament continues. The people suffer. They are suffering, the lament tells us, because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests.

"But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
    and the iniquities of her priests,
who shed within her    the blood of the righteous." (Lam 4:13 NIV)

What were the sins of the priests and prophets? Simply put, they spoke falsely, in the LORD's name, to please the itching ears of God's people. The consequences were bad... really bad! Don't forget to read chapter 4 of Lamentations today to get a better idea of how bad things got for God's people.

Lutherans, as well as other denominations in the U.S., typically call their pastors. They meet each other; they hear him/her preach; they pray for God to help them discern whether He is calling the pastor to that community to serve; and, then the congregation votes. I cannot begin to tell you how tragic it ends when the people of God do not take seriously this discernment process. They must  listen to this man or woman they are considering calling to see whether they truly proclaim God's Word or if they speak to please the itching ears of those who call. I cannot begin to imagine how many congregations actually listen for and call those who are willing to serve their itching ears before the Word of the LORD. It is not good!

And, a word to the pastors and priests, who are called to serve: consider the consequences to the people that you are teaching falsely. Is your paycheck and retirement really worth the devastation that false proclamations will bring to the people, to the land? Consider the consequences, for all people, of your decision to proclaim the truth or not. Sure, some of them may not like you for speaking the truth. But, speak it anyway so that they might have life!

Let us part with a bit of good news: even in our reading today, God promises that the sorrow will pass.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 25 - Forget My Sins, Please!

"Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord." (25:7 NIV)

According to His mercy, the sins of our youth, are sins of the past and they are fogotten, blotted out by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Thanks be to God!

However, it would be nice if our neighbors' memories were as short as God's!  So often, it is difficult for people to move ahead with their lives, because everyone around them has this picture of a sin that they may have committed in their past and they just won't let go of that picture.  They build up walls and obstacles for the one who would like to move forward with their lives in service to God and community.

I left Upper Michigan when I was very young.  When I returned, after my husband's retirement from the Marine Corps, to my surprise, everyone thought I was the same person that I had been when I left.  Wow!  It was amazing!  It was like when I left, my life must have stopped or something.  I assure you, it did not.  It has been quite full of God's presence and guidance and refining!

I knew a faithful Pastor years ago.  He served in the same community that he grew up in.  After decades of ministry, there were still some who thought he could not have been really called by God to serve His Church.  (I assure you - he really was!)  But, they thought this about him because when he was in his early 20's, he had been caught driving drunk.  This, many of the people of the small community, never forgot. 

It is a good thing for all of us, that God in His mercy, pardons our inquity for His name's sake. Our sins of the past are just that - in the past.  They are behind us.  Let us look to each day as a new day to live in the presence of God.  And... not just we.  May God help us to allow our neighbor's to live for today and tomorrow, not stuck in the past.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Psalm 12 - Faithful or Faithless?

"Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race." (vs 1 NIV)

My only question this morning is:  was there really a time when someone was totally, completely, 100% faithful.  The only one I can think of that was truely faithful was and is Jesus the Christ.  We all like sheep, have gone astray.  (Isaiah 53:6) It is true that many have turned and returned to the shepherd of our souls.  (1 Peter 2:25)  Yet, can any of really say that we are completely faithful?  When was the last time we put ourselves first and doing the will of the LORD second or maybe third or fourth?  Yesterday?  Maybe, it was the moment you got up out of bed this morning? 

We sin against God and one another without even realizing it.  We might pray for relief from our enemy, but who might be praying for relief from us? That is why in our corporate confession at worship we often ask God to forgive our sins both known and unknown to us. 

Often in our weekly Bible study, we discuss the amazing things that were accomplished through the first followers (miracles, if you will).  We wonder if God has stopped producing miracles or is our faith and our faithfulness so wanting that nothing (or very little) can actually be accomplished through us? 

No, not one is completely faithful anymore, except the Son, Jesus the Christ.  He is faithful. We have all turned our backs and like sheep have gone astray.  But....  I remind you of Luther's explanation of the third article of the Apostle's Creed:  "I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him.  But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.  In this Christian church he daily and abundantly forgives all my sins, and the sins of all believers, and on the last day he will raise me and all the dead and will grant eternal life to me and to all who believe in Christ.  This is most certainly true.

We, are sinners, indeed.  We are faithless.  Yet, the Spirit of the one who is faithful, keeps us in the true faith.  Quite the paradox! But, thanks be to God!  This is most certainly true!

God's Peace - Pr. J