Zion Lutheran Church

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Pastor's Pen 04/25/2019

Pastor's Pen for 05/22/2018Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. (Luke 24)

Christ has Risen! He has Risen indeed! Jesus comes to save sinners. Christ preached again and again that He would die and rise. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2)

The wages of sin is death. Jesus dies in the place of sinners. Jesus has come to bring you back to God. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15)

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, life would be hopeless. Death, sin, guilt and shame would run sinners into despair. BUT CHRIST HAS RISEN! The stone is rolled away. Christ’s resurrection DESTROYS DEATH. I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15)

Christ Risen from the dead. This is how you know what Jesus says is TRUE. Christ did everything that He promised. God's LIFE GIVING WORD.

Our God is a God of LIFE. True life lived in the RESURRECTION OF JESUS. I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. (John 11)

Resurrection power. Life everlasting in Christ. The TOMB is Empty. Christ has Risen to fill you with LIFE.

Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. You also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6)

Every Sunday is a celebration of Good Friday and Easter. The first Christians gathered on Sunday to worship God because Christ rose from the dead on Sunday. The first day of the week.

Christians gather together to hear the living Voice of Christ. Jesus’ Word preached into our ears and hearts. It is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. (Luke 24)

Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ. God at work on you. By the Holy Spirit's power – working through the Word – you are brought from death to life. Christ Resurrection Power at work in your life. You live in faith toward God and love to your neighbor.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15)

Happy gathering around the Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus. Happy hearing Christ’s Spirit-filled Word. Christ has Risen! He has Risen Indeed.

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Published: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019
Last Updated: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019

Pastor's Pen 04/03/2019

Pastor's Pen for 05/22/2018For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus is marching His way to the Cross. Salvation. Christ makes everything READY. Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. (Mark 11)

Palm Sunday

Everything is made READY. The donkey is ready to carry Christ the King into the holy city. Palm branches are laid before the King. Jesus rides in to battle your sin. Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” (John 12)

Maundy Thursday

“Take, eat; this is my body.” He took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26)

Jesus makes everything READY. All preparation complete. The upper room is ready for Jesus and His Disciples. Christ Institutes the Lord's Supper. Christ’s Body and Blood for you to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sin. The Words of Jesus from Maundy Thursday are declared in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus is the host. Jesus is the meal.

Good Friday

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. All of Jesus’ preparation intersects at the CROSS. Jesus does SALVATION. Salvation full and free in the BLOOD OF CHRIST. You were a lost and condemned person. Jesus comes to save sinners. Jesus declares from the Altar of the Cross: It is Finished.

You are died for. Your sins are buried in the Body of Christ. Everything is DONE. All is READY. In Christ’s death and resurrection. Come to hear Christ Crucified and Risen.

The Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. (Luke 24)

Gladly believe Christ’s FINISHED work. I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is READY. Come to the wedding feast. (Matthew 22)

Holy Week

Passion Week. God's love for sinners. Christ Crucified and Risen. God's Steadfast Love that endures forever. Salvation is not potential – but FINISHED. Your sins are forgiven.

Repent and believe the Gospel. Everything is READY. Gather around God's Living Word. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

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Published: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019
Last Updated: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019

Pastor's Pen 03/19/2019

Pastor's Pen for 05/22/2018Jesus bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus MUST go to the Cross. It is NECESSARY. There is no other way for your salvation. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4)

God’s Holy Law shows us our sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. (Psalm 51)

God’s anger burns hot against sin. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.”…It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10)

Jesus has come to stand in the place of sinners. Christ is your substitute. Jesus’ face is set resolutely on the Cross. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1) God's righteous anger burns against sin.

The Holy God coming in judgment against law-breaking-sinners.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

The surprise is that God does not bring His anger against you. Rather, God’s wrath is poured out on the Holy One of God – Jesus.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5)

On Good Friday's Tree all the sins of the world are buried in the Body of Christ. Jesus kills your sin on the Cross. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1)

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23)

This Holy Absolution is the same one proclaimed to you each week by your Pastors. Pastors are sent by God to proclaim to the penitent sinner that their sins are forgiven. Where there is forgiveness of sin there is life and salvation.

You believe God's Word that is faithfully preached into your ears and hearts. This same forgiveness that Jesus has finished in His death is what the Christian lives in. Hearing and believing that your sins are forgiven ALL FOR CHRIST’S SAKE.

God's steadfast love that endures forever. This forgiveness is the GOSPEL TREASURE. You are to speak this word of forgiveness one to another. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4)

You have been reconciled to God. Living in the forgiveness of sin. Speak this forgiveness to those who sin against you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

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Published: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019
Last Updated: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019

Pastor's Pen 03/06/2019

Pastor's Pen for 05/22/2018Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Matthew 16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Lent beings. The Christian 40- day journey to Jesus’ Cross and Empty Tomb. Jesus’ work for you and your salvation. The JOY of Lent is that Jesus has come to save sinners.

Jesus is marching His way to Calvary. He will not be deterred. Peter tries, "may this never happen to you." Jesus tells him “Get behind me Satan”. The Devil tried to stop Jesus with the temptation in the wilderness. Jesus answers Satan with the Word of God, sending the Devil running. “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (Matt. 4)

Jesus is relentless when it comes to you and your salvation. The Cross is His goal to do the salvation job completely.

He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53)

This Lent REJOICE that JESUS does all this FOR YOU. Jesus dies the death of a sinner. Jesus suffers the wrath of God FOR YOU. Jesus ROSE from the grave FOR YOU. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5)

What Jesus has won with His all-sufficient death and glorious resurrection He delivers to you in His Word. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1)

Rejoice in repenting of your sins. Rejoice in the gift of Holy Absolution. Your sins are FORGIVEN ALL for Christ’s sake. We confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1)

I have Good News of great joy FOR YOU! Rejoice in coming to church to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen FOR YOU!

It is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. (Luke 24)

Rejoice in hearing a sermon all about Jesus FOR YOU. Rejoice in the GIFT of Holy Baptism. Baptism...now saves you. (1 Peter 3)

This Lent rejoice in your Savior Jesus Christ FOR YOU. Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. (Hebrews 12)

Fix your eyes, ears and hearts on Christ our Crucified and Risen Lord serving YOU with life everlasting. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

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Published: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019
Last Updated: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019

Pastor's Pen 02/21/2019

Pastor's Pen for 05/22/2018God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How do you know that God loves you? Is it how well you pray? Is it because of your good works? NO! God loves you all for the sake of His beloved Son. Jesus’ Good Friday Dying and Easter Rising. While we were still weak. While we were still in our sin. Rebelling. Hating. Fighting. Lusting. Gossiping. God gifted you His beloved Son.

God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2)

The Blood of Jesus is the price – for your redemption. The Good News of the Gospel brings you peace. We have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5)

Brought back to God. Once you were not the people of God. The doom of the wrath of God looming. But Jesus took it for you. In Christ you have been reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5)

The love of Christ. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2)

Be baptized, every one of you. Here is where God is giving out His Good Friday and Easter gifts; through water and the Word. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6)

You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Honor God in your bodies. The righteous will live by faith. Christ’s Church will live by the power of God's Word. Hearing, trusting and believing the Word preached into your ears and hearts. You are the New Creation in Christ, living by faith.

What does the New Creation do? Living in faith toward God and love to our neighbor. We love one another as Christ has loved us. Unconditional. Sacrificially.

How to live the sanctified life? Die – Die to your sin. Rise – Rise as the New Creation in the baptismal waters every day living in Christ.

You also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2)

Rejoice in God's love for you in Christ. Rejoice in hearing and believing God's Word. Happy living as the New Creation in Christ. Living by faith in Christ. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

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Published: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019
Last Updated: 06 June 2019 06 June 2019

Pastor's Pen 02/07/2019

Pastor's Pen for 05/22/2018

Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Valentine's Day. Gentlemen, time to buy your beloved gifts. Chocolate, flowers or maybe something that sparkles. Do not fall into the worlds trap in regards to LOVE. The world seeks love in all the wrong places.

What is LOVE? In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4)

LOVE is NOT a feeling or emotion that comes and goes like a mist. Many times people will describe love as something that they have fallen into. As if you have fallen into the ditch. Falling describes being out of control. God is LOVE. You, the Lord's Church, are the RECIEVER of God's LOVE. The church is described as “the Lord’s Beloved Bride."

God's LOVE looks like Jesus going to the Cross. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5)

Christ’s Passion for His Church – Christ gives His Life for you. The Cross and Empty Tomb of Jesus is God's LOVE for you, forgiving all your sins. God's STEADFAST LOVE that endures forever. . The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who LOVED ME and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2)

Christ the GIVER – YOU the Church are the RECIEVER OF GOD’S LOVE. The Baptized Children of God are now the New Creation in Christ.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5)

Christians live in Christ’s LOVE – in FAITH toward God and LOVE for your neighbor. Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5) Walking in love means to serve, give, and sacrifice on behalf of your neighbor. So gentlemen, the flowers and chocolate are fine. But to serve your spouse is more than one day a year, then check it off your list. The life of a Christian is one that is marked by LOVE and SERVICE to your neighbor.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5)

The best way you can love your spouse and children is to serve them with what you SAY and DO. Love your family by serving them with God's Word. Love your family by bringing them to church. Forgiving one another as the Lord has forgiven you. Now because of God's LOVE, you love your family unconditionally. Without limits. Without conditions. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4) Happy receiving God's LOVE for you in the Good News of the Gospel. Happy loving one another as Christ has loved you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4)

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Published: 17 February 2019 17 February 2019
Last Updated: 17 February 2019 17 February 2019

Pastor's Pen 01/23/2019

Pastor's Pen for 05/22/2018When Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. (Matthew 3)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Heaven is opened by Christ Jesus. Here at the Baptismal font in the River Jordan. Jesus standing in the place of sinners. What do sinners deserve? Death. For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6)

From the banks of the Jordan – Jesus’ face is set resolutely on His journey to Calvary's Cross. Jesus paying your debt of sin. Jesus dying in the place of sinners. It is by the Blood of Jesus that heaven is open for you.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1) God the Father is well pleased with His Beloved Son. Jesus has come to bring you back to God. You are no longer separated from God by your sin because Jesus has made atonement for you. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 1)

Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11). Believing in Jesus you are pleasing to God. There is no other way to the Father except through the Son. The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus, crucified and risen, comes to you through the power of His Word. In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3)

In Holy Baptism heaven is open for you. God proclaims that He is well pleased with you. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1) Jesus WINS salvation for you. Jesus DELIVERS salvation to you in His Word.

You are the baptized Children of God. Washed clean in the flood of forgiveness at the font.

You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6) Heaven is open. Great boldness and confidence to live as the Children of God.

BUT what about my sin? The sins that continue to war against me? What about my struggles? Where do we turn? THE WORD OF GOD! Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7)

Return to your baptism. The flood of forgiveness never runs out. Your sinful nature does not take days off. As long as you live in the body the Old Adam is at war against your new life in Christ. What to do with sin? Kill it! Let your sins die at the bottom of the baptismal font. What comes forth from the waters? New Creation. Resurrection. Life lived by faith in Christ.

Luther says: (Baptism) indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sin and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. (LS Baptism IV)

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (Romans 6) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. (Mark 16) Heaven is open. Happy living as the Lord's Baptized Children. Repenting of your sins and believing in Christ. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

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Published: 27 January 2019 27 January 2019
Last Updated: 27 January 2019 27 January 2019

Baptism and Abortion

Pastor Hale Bible

A Message from Pastor Hale

Those who hate life and fight for the right to destroy it also see Baptism as a great evil. Baptism, as a divine gift, bestows Christian status on children. And everyone knows that a newborn is not significantly different from an unborn child. The distinction is simply location, and the mode of dependence on a mother. It is much like asking someone if he feels older on his birthday than he did the day before his birthday. Human distinctions, like age, net worth, physical ability, and born or unborn, do not get to the root of the value of life.

Life is something much more distinctive than our reckoning of it. It has intrinsic value, since God is the creator of life. All human life is made in His image. So instead of looking at the outward condition of life – what we look like and how much we can achieve on earth – we look to the origin of life. All life is divine, in a sense, since we have a divine maker who calls us to protect and preserve what He has created. The fifth commandment sums this up in these words: “You shall not murder.” As individuals, we do not have power over life. It is not ours to control, eliminate, or decide if it should exist. This angers and frustrates many, who see life not as a gift, but as a curse.

But the issue becomes imminently practical because children are not mental choices. Women do not choose to be pregnant or not pregnant. God decides to create life and connects His blessing of children to marriage. Neither do we get to pick how many children we are fruitful with, since husband and wife do not create, they are simply the vessels God uses to bring forth life – to do His work. “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” God really was blessing us, and continues to bless with each and every baby, but since sin and death have entered the world, children, and the lack of children, both mean suffering and some pain to sinners. This world does not work as it should.

But Baptism, as a gift for all, including infants, marks life as having divine purpose. God recognizes the value of life, even if people don’t. And we all do not see life as being as good as God does, because we all are sinners. Worldly people usually only connect cost, trouble, and work with children – all negative things. Checking out at the store one time with a number of my children, a lady said to me: “How are you going to pay for their college?” That is a strange thing to say to a father with very young children. It makes it seem as if college is a divine sacrament giving life – at a heavy cost. But life is free, all it takes is a little water and the allpowerful Word of God. Baptism is to set the course for life living in Christ. It changes what appears to be only work and care and misery, into a divine privilege. Parents get to raise up children for God and lead them to Christ, where grace and love is found. The forgiveness and dignity bestowed in Baptism is life-changing. Because we are baptized we know that God has forgiven all unrighteousness, saved from death, and given an eternal inheritance. Baptism really does change everything.

True life in Christ is a gift. He is the redeemer of all life and He gave His life to win righteousness for us. This forgiveness changes how life is seen. Despite the work and effort needed to raise and care for children, life is always good. In spite of the sin and earthly problems we see, Christ’s righteousness is available for us. It is granted to the youngest among us – freely as a gift. It angers some Christians and many atheists that baptized children cannot choose to be baptized or reject baptism of their own will. But this is how God intended it – we didn’t choose our own earthly life and have no true power over it. Life in Christ, the second birth, is a gift of God. So also, eternal life and Christ’s righteousness are divine gifts that are not chosen or demanded, they are merely received. This is the life of faith, living by God’s promise. True living is living by Christ’s Word and promise. Those in Christ never die.

So Christians should have no guilt over bringing life into a cursed world. The curse of sin is undone in Christ, who became a curse for us. It is always good for husband and wife to be fruitful and multiply. We need not fear how we will manage or how they will fare – God speaks His promise in Baptism and gives what He declares: a new birth in Christ through the Spirit. The knowledge of a good God, through Christ’s death and resurrection, is needed to see life for what it really is.

No matter how weak, sick, or fragile life seems to be, Baptism bestows the righteousness of Christ and eternal life. We are to die with Christ, according to our Baptism, so we may be raised with Him at the last day. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4). This newness and resurrection promise we cannot see with our eyes, but it pervades every aspect of life, especially for the most helpless and weak among us. Baptism undoes the curse we are under and shows life as what it truly is: a gift of God that is not to be separated from Him. Amen.

Image result for give thanks to the lord

 

Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices.

Who wondrous things has done, In whom His world rejoices;

Who from our mothers’ arms Has blest us on our way

With countless gifts of love And still is ours today.

LSB 895:1

Rev. Philip W. Hale is a pastor of  Zion Lutheran Church in Omaha, NE.
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Published: 15 January 2019 15 January 2019
Last Updated: 07 June 2019 07 June 2019

A Calvinist Critique

Pastor Hale Bible

A Message from Pastor Hale

Calvinism – meaning double predestination, a limited atonement, and once saved always saved teachings – is logical to sinful reason, but not strictly biblical. It goes beyond what the Scriptures actually say. For example, a Calvinist writes: “God ordained the fall in His perfect plan for the world.” This implies that everything that happens is ordained and intended by God, and therefore must be good, “since God does all things for his glory and our good.” But Scripture does not say all things are good that we do and neither do all things work for everyone’s good. Murder and adultery are not good, nor are they caused or promoted by God. This promise of ultimate good only applies to those who have the Gospel and believe it: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28) We cannot apply this promise to unbelieving sinners who are purposely rejecting God’s will.

The other side of this is that God’s commands and Law are technically false, if God wanted there to be sin in the world. “And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death” (Jer. 21:8). Or: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him ...” (Dt. 30:19-20). God really means what He says. Sin is not willed by God, or else it would not be bad or He would not be good. The true God hates sin and cannot will or cause it to happen: “you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness’’ (Ps. 45:7; Heb. 1:9).

The Fall of Adam was the entrance of sin into the World. It was Satan’s tempting of Eve that led to our current state. If God intended the Fall, and ordained it from eternity, He is not really truthful. He commanded Adam: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Gen. 2:16-17). God meant what He said and does not delight in or will sin and death. He does not desire death and hell for anyone – Scripture is clear. Our Savior “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). And: “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ez. 33:11). We must take God seriously, that He wants us to repent and live. There is no glory for God in the suffering or death of an unbeliever. We do not rejoice at these, and neither does the perfect Lord. He does not rejoice at the sin we see or do. Sin itself is lawlessness and a rejection of the living God. God never wanted us to be separated from Him and His life.

If God ordains everything, then every accident, sickness, and disaster is to God’s glory. While God foreknows all things, the Bible does not say that He directly causes all things. While He allows (in some sense, because He is all-powerful and all-knowing) the Devil and evil people to cause havoc, we only find a loving God in Christ. To look outside of Jesus’ death in time, in a real human body, is to find a God we cannot know or love: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Rom. 11:33).

God does not truly hate sin if He intended and caused us to be sinners, meaning we bear no responsibility. The Law is not the problem, rather, it is we who are sinful and rebel: “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Rom. 7:10-12). The evil and guilt we confess is truly ours – not the Lord’s, who never winks at or sanctions sin. Sin is our problem, not God’s fault. Christ died to save us from sin and wills that we do not sin anymore. “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Rom. 6:1-3). Did not Jesus, our true God, say: “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (Jn. 8:11)?

There are most dangerous side-effects to thinking that because God chooses some to be saved, He must choose others to be controlled by sin and condemned to hell. If this were the case (thankfully, it is not), the Gospel would be an empty word, because God cannot love or forgive, in time, those He has damned in eternity. But we know the Gospel is how we are called. We do not go behind the Word to some hidden judgment we cannot know. We do not have access to eternity or God’s hidden will. God always calls through the Gospel of Christ. This Gospel is not just to be preached to some, but to the whole world. We were chosen in Christ to believe, there is no other salvation than in the name of Christ. This message, like Christ’s death, is for all people.

God does not truly intend people to not believe the message of Christ: “In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (1 Cor. 4:4). Sinners willingly reject the message, just like Judas did. It was prophesied that he would betray Jesus, but he was not a puppet controlled by God. He willingly sinned and betrayed our Lord. The problem is never the seed of the Word. Jesus did not make Judas do this or the Pharisees reject His message, they bear all the blame and are justly condemned for their own sin. God does not intend or cause sin, because He is holy and just. We cannot judge the evil and unbelief that happens on earth among sinners, and reason that must be God’s will. The Father’s gracious will is revealed in His Son, and given to us today by His Spirit in Christ’s life-giving Word.

If God does not mean for all to hear the message and believe, then Christ did not die for all people. This is a central tenant of strict Calvinism: the Gospel only applies to those for whom Christ died – the elect chosen to have salvation. But this is not a comforting gospel – it is a false one. Unless Christ died for all sin and for the whole world, we cannot know He died for us. Our comfort is in Christ, not something behind the Gospel that we cannot hold on to. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). The Father wants all to believe in Christ. The Gospel which forgives all sin is not false advertising. It is meant in seriousness by God to everyone it comes to.

Scripture is clear, that though many do not believe, they willingly sin and reject life in Christ. Hell was not meant for people, though that is the unfortunate result for unbelievers: “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Mt. 25:41). A God who damns for His glory is not a good God and not one we can love. We cannot answer in detail the “why” questions in the midst of tragedy and suffering, but Scripture does not blame God for evil. No, the Father hated sin enough to require His only Son’s death for it. Now His Spirit comes to us in the Gospel, so we believe our Father can use sin and evil (like in Jesus’ betrayal and death), for our good. But death is an enemy, the last one to be defeated (1 Cor. 15:26). It is not God’s will for any to die; death (physical and eternal) is always punishment, the wages of sin (Rom. 6:23).

A result of this kind of logical thinking (that God must actively choose everything that happens) is that it doesn’t matter what we do. We are either saved or condemned and nothing can be done to change God’s mind. Then the Gospel of Christ would be a lie, if it is spoken to those who are not being saved. It bypasses Christ and His Gospel. But forgiveness is truly offered to everyone who hears it, because He really paid the price with His own life. We can fall away though, and sin is a rejection of God, so we must be diligent. “Once saved, always saved,” is another false teaching of Calvinism. King David did lose faith and had to be brought to repentance by the prophet Nathan. We do not rest on our own faith, but Christ who was cursed in our place. There is no election, choosing, or salvation outside of Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:3-5).

 The Gospel is the reason the world still exists and evil is allowed to seemingly rule the day. But everything that happens now is not the ultimate will of God, who desires all to be saved: “They will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” The believer is not fatalistic, thinking: “If God saves me I must be saved, no matter what I do.” No, Christ is to be trusted in as a true Savior and sin actively resisted. “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened” (Heb. 4:2). The problem is never Christ, but our lack of faith.

To give into the power of sin and be ruled by it is to reject the promise of life and the Spirit: “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt” (Heb. 6:4-6). Rejection of the Gospel is always man’s fault in Scripture, not God’s or the Gospel’s – or else God is a liar.

Lutherans don’t answer the questions of why there is specific evil or why not all are saved. We know God desires the Gospel to be preached to all, so that all may come to a knowledge of Christ. But we see that not all are saved. We do not try to solve this dilemma, but we have a promise that in Christ all things work for the good of those who love Him. But we can only love Him who first loved us, as Christ did in His death. The Gospel is a message of pure love for everyone. This is God’s gracious will and how He has revealed Himself to us for our faith and knowledge. Because of Christ’s death for us, we can be sure of what the Lord thinks of us and that salvation is ours. Look to the Gospel of Jesus and believe that God’s love is for you. This is sufficient for us and it is what Scripture teaches us. Amen.

Rev. Philip W. Hale is a pastor of  Zion Lutheran Church in Omaha, NE.
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Published: 15 January 2019 15 January 2019
Last Updated: 15 January 2019 15 January 2019

Pastor's Pen 01/02/2019

Pastor's Pen for 05/22/2018An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. (Matthew 2)

Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. What does 2019 hold for you? New Year's resolutions? Gym membership? New diet? A budget? 2019 will bring suffering.

Christians suffer. In every age of this sin-filled world. In the world you will have tribulation. (John 16)

After Jesus is born, Herod wants Jesus dead. The shadow of the Cross is already looming before Jesus. The Angel is sent to Joseph to announce that they are to flee to Egypt. Christ’s CROSS will have to wait until Good Friday’s Tree of Calvary.

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified… And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die... (John 12)

Herod is in a rage that he has been fooled. He will not allow another king to threaten his little kingdom. The soldiers are given the order to swing the sword. (Herod was) furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under. (Matthew 2)

The Herods of this world are filled with rage against Christ. They continue to make war against the Church. The soldiers are sent out marching to bring death. It looks much like a (Planned Parenthood) clinic that brings death to little babies. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. (John 10)

Little Herods today bringing death. A culture of death in America. Some see death as a solution rather than sin. There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Prov. 6)

The Church will suffer for confessing the Truth of Jesus Christ. You will suffer for standing for life. In Christ is life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1) Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. (Proverbs 31) The little baby in the womb cannot speak. There is a silent cry for help.

Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10)

Standing for life. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10)

What will 2019 bring? God's Word preached into your ears and hearts bringing life everlasting. Live in and from the Waters of Life from Holy Baptism. Come to feast on Christ in the Lord's Supper. Christ the Bread of Life. This NEW YEAR – the Lord has gifts that REIGN ETERANAL FOR YOU TO LIVE IN BY FAITH.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself. (2 Corinthians 5)

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Published: 15 January 2019 15 January 2019
Last Updated: 15 January 2019 15 January 2019

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  6. Pastor's Pen 10/12/2018
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  8. Pastor's Pen 09/11/2018
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  10. Steadfast Dads - Family Worship

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Hymn of the Church Season

  • A hymn for Lent is called A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth (LSB 438). More info about this hymn is available here.
  • A hymn for Transiguration Sunday O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair (LSB 413).  Two different version and the text can be seen here.
  • Built On the Rock, the Church Shall Stand (LSB 645)
  • Behold a Host Arrayed in White (LSB 676) -   More Info
  • Jesus Priceless Treasure (LSB 743) -   More Info
  • Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest (LSB 498) -   More Info
  • Shepherd of Tender Youth (LSB 864) -   More Info

Other Hymns

Other hymns of the seasons can be found on the Church Hymns page.


T

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
- Matthew 28:5-10

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Zion Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. This is an international church consisting of over 6,000 congregations in the U.S. and missionaries in over 50 foreign countries. To learn more about the LCMS, please visit www.lcms.org.
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Zion Lutheran Church
14205 Ida Street
Omaha, NE 68142