Words of Encouragement for May 5, 2010

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE TWO SONS

Read Matthew 21:28-32

“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”

Which of the two sons in this parable did the will of his father? the one who at first refused to obey, but then repented and obeyed? or the one who promised to obey, but did not? With the chief priests and elders of the Jews, we too must answer and say that the son who repented and then obeyed did the will of his father. The son who said that he would obey but did not actually do as he said, did not obey his father’s will.

Jesus used the illustration in this parable to show to the chief priests and elders that many tax-collectors and harlots would enter the kingdom of God before them; for they, though they at first refused to do God’s will, repented upon hearing the preaching of John the Baptist and trusted in Jesus as their Messiah and Savior. The chief priests and elders, on the other hand, did not believe the Word of God which John proclaimed; nor did they later repent and believe.

It is God’s will that we turn from our sins and trust in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:3-4). To just pay lip-service to the will of the heavenly Father will do us no good. God wants us to truly repent – to have godly sorrow over our sins and to know what punishment we deserve, to trust in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work for forgiveness and life, and to then, with God’s help, amend our sinful lives and live for Him.

No matter how great our sins have been, if we, by the gracious working of the Holy Ghost, truly repent, we have forgiveness in Christ Jesus and a place in God’s eternal kingdom!

I, a sinner, come to Thee with a penitent confession; Savior, mercy show to me; grant for all my sins remission. Let these words my soul relieve: Jesus sinners doth receive. Amen. (TLH, Hymn #324, Verse 5)

Pastor Randy Moll

Will we be condemned in the day of judgment?

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:24-29

Dear fellow-redeemed sinners, ransomed by the shed blood of Christ Jesus, our Savior.

Facing death and the ultimate judgment of the almighty God can be frightening – and especially so, when we consider our sinfulness and the judgment of a holy God upon those who set aside His commandments in thoughts, desires, words and deeds.

And which one of us hasn’t sinned? The Bible tells us: “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). God’s Word says, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). And so, even if we could claim to have kept every commandment except for one small failure, we are guilty of all. A single misdeed – even a single evil thought – is already enough to make us guilty before God and deserving of His everlasting wrath and punishment.

And which of us loves and honors God with all his heart? Which of us always trusts Him? Which of us always remembers to pray and always listens attentively to His Word? Which of us always loves our fellow human beings as he loves himself? Who never has an evil thought or desire? Who never utters an unkind word? Who never fails to act rightly toward others?

Indeed, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

We remember, from previous verses in John, chapter five, that Jesus said the Father had committed all judgment into the hands of the Son so that all would honor the Son even as they honor the Father. In fact, those not honoring the Son cannot and do not honor the Father who so loved the world that He sent His only-begotten Son to suffer and die for us (cf. John 5:19-23).

Jesus, God the Son and true man, conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary, came into this world to fulfill all the righteous demands of God’s law for fallen mankind and He suffered and died upon the cross for the sins of all people, rising again on the third day. This same Messiah Jesus is appointed of the Father to judge all people on the Last Day.

He Himself tells us: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Our Judge says – Jesus says – with the utmost certainty, the one who listens to Jesus’ word and message and trusts in the Father who sent Him has everlasting life and will not ever be condemned. We sinners, who most certainly deserve to be condemned for our evil works, will not be condemned if we but hear and believe the words of Jesus and trust in God to show us mercy for the sake of the Son and His innocent sufferings and death in our stead.

How comforting it is to know that, though we deserve God’s wrath and punishment because of our sins, we have everlasting life and will “not come into condemnation”! Instead, when we believe the words of Jesus – that He is God the Son and our Savior come into this world to redeem us by shedding His blood in our stead upon the cross for the remission of all our sins – we have “passed from death unto life.”

Think about this as you consider your own death and the impending judgment of God to follow. Have you continually kept all of God’s commandments as He requires? No. Have you done things amiss? Yes. Have you sinned in your thoughts, desires, words and actions? Yes, we all have. If God were to judge us on the basis of our obedience to His law, could any of us stand? Most certainly not!

Yet, the Bible says – Jesus Himself says – “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Did you hear that? Those who hear and believe the message of Jesus and trust in the One who sent Jesus to die for our sins and rise again will not come into condemnation! Instead, they have everlasting life!

Jesus went on to say: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”

Jesus is not here speaking of the Last Day when He calls all to rise and stand before Him. He says, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” The hour was here when Jesus walked on this earth with His disciples, and it is still here today. It is the hour when those in spiritual death and darkness – those who continue in their sinful ways and do not know the LORD God or the salvation He has provided in His Son, those who think they can please God by their own lives and works, and those who do not even care about the LORD God or His ways – will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live.

What is Jesus saying? He is saying that His Word has power. He is saying that, when His Word is rightly proclaimed in this lost and sinful world, it will have an effect. He is saying that He Himself is speaking and calling in the words of Scripture. He is saying that, by the mighty working of the Holy Spirit, those who are dead in their trespasses and sins, when they hear of God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus, will be raised to spiritual life and brought to trust in Jesus as their Savior. Jesus is saying that those who, by the gracious working of the Holy Ghost, hear and believe His life-giving Word will be assured that, indeed, their sins are forgiven because Jesus died for them and paid in full. They will be assured that they have everlasting life because Christ Jesus was raised up from the dead and has ascended to the right hand of God the Father in heaven and will come again to raise us up on the Last Day to the everlasting joys of heaven.

As Jesus said, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” As the Father gives life, so the Son gives life and graciously raises us up from spiritual darkness and lack of understanding to spiritual life and trust in Him and His Word.

Should we be amazed at this? Not at all! Jesus said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

The day will soon come when Christ returns. Then all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth to be judged by Him. Those who have done good will go unto the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned forever in hell.

If Jesus’ voice can raise all the dead on the Last Day, should we be surprised that His voice can raise the spiritually dead to spiritual life now? No, His Word is powerful. When He said, “Let there be.…” it was and remains even to this day (Genesis 1:1ff.; cf. Hebrews 1:1-3).

“The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

St. Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17). “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

And, on the Last Day, when all the dead hear the voice of the Son of God and come forth to stand before His throne for judgment, will we be condemned? Jesus said of that resurrection: “They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

Will our evil thoughts, desires, words and actions be brought up on that day and used against us? If so, we all would be condemned – none could stand (cf. Psalm 130:3-4). But the answer is no. Those who, by the gracious working of God’s Spirit, hear the voice of Jesus calling now and look to Him for forgiveness and life – those who believe Jesus’ Word and trust in the One who sent Him to die for sins and rise again – have passed from death unto life. They will most certainly not be condemned on that day for their sins, for they have a Savior – Christ Jesus – who suffered and died for all sins and rose again in victory!

The Bible tells us: “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:11-12).

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19).

In Jesus, and for the sake of His innocent sufferings and death in our stead, our sins have been removed from us as far as the east is from the west – they are cast into the depths of the sea – never to be held against us again. Our sins are forgiven in Jesus. Those trusting in Jesus will not be condemned!

Have we done good works by which we may be judged? Not of ourselves, but God has worked good in us and brought us to faith, whereby we now love God and seek to serve Him and do His will.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). We are saved entirely of God’s grace, but God saved us to do good works and has recreated us in Christ Jesus to live for Him.

And so, Jesus calls us through His Word, and His voice raises us from spiritual darkness and death to life in Him. His voice assures us that all our sins are forgiven and forever forgotten because of the shed blood of Jesus. For Jesus’ sake, we will not come into condemnation on that last great day, but enter into the eternal joys of heaven. We have, by His grace, passed from death unto life! Amen.

Pastor Randy Moll

The Brief Statement

of the

Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod as adopted in 1932

(Editor’s Note: This remains the official position of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod yet today, though in practice, many have departed from it.)

Of the Public Ministry

31. By the public ministry we mean the office by which the Word of God is preached and the Sacraments are administered by order and in the name of a Christian congregation. Concerning this office we teach that it is a divine ordinance; that is, the Christians of a certain locality must apply the means of grace not only privately and within the circle of their families nor merely in their common intercourse with fellow-Christians, John 5:39; Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:16, but they are also required, by the divine order, to make provision that the Word of God be publicly preached in their midst, and the Sacraments administered according to the institution of Christ, by persons qualified for such work, whose qualifications and official functions are exactly defined in Scripture, Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; 20:28; 2 Tim. 2:2.

32. Although the office of the ministry is a divine ordinance, it possesses no other power than the power of the Word of God, 1 Pet. 4: 11; that is to say, it is the duty of Christians to yield unconditional obedience to the office of the ministry whenever, and as long as, the minister proclaims to them the Word of God, Heb. 13:17; Luke 10: 16. If, however, the minister, in his teachings and injunctions, were to go beyond the Word of God, it would be the duty of Christians not to obey, but to disobey him, so as to remain faithful to Christ, Matt. 23:8. Accordingly, we reject the false doctrine ascribing to the office of the ministry the right to demand obedience and submission in matters which Christ has not commanded.

33. Regarding ordination we teach that it is not a divine, but a commendable ecclesiastical ordinance. (Smalcald Articles. Triglot, p. 525, @70; M., p. 342.)

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

The Adult Bible Class will continue its study of the Gospel of John in chapter five. To prepare, read John 5:31-47. What does Jesus mean when He says, “If I bare witness of myself, my witness is not true”? Cf. John 8:13ff. Who else bore witness to Jesus, who He is and what He would do? What did He say of Jesus? Cf. John 1:6ff.; 15ff. Did Jesus need testimony from man? Why did He speak of John’s testimony? How did the Jews receive John’s testimony? What else witnessed to the truthfulness of Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God and the Messiah? What do Jesus’ works prove about Him? Who else testified of Jesus’ person and work? How did He testify of Jesus and His work? Did the Jews accept His testimony? What proof does Jesus offer? What does Jesus direct His hearers to do? Why? Is this true for us yet today? What did Jesus offer His hearers? Would His Jewish hearers come to Him? What did they forfeit? How is this true yet today? Did Jesus receive or seek honor from men? Why did Jesus say His hearers did not have the love of God in them? Cf. John 8:41ff. Whose honor did Jesus’ hearers seek? How did this keep them from Jesus? Does this happen yet today? How? Whose honor should we seek? Cf. Matthew 23:1ff. Who does Jesus say would accuse them before the Father? Why? How did the Jews not believe the testimony of Moses and the Prophets? What does Jesus say of this? Can one reject Jesus as the Messiah, Son of God and Savior and still believe the Bible or part of it? Why not? Will one believe in Jesus if he rejects the testimony of the Bible?

The Catechism Class continues studying the Lord’s Prayer and the Sacraments and learning of Jesus and what He has done to redeem all mankind.

The Appointed Sunday Readings are Psalm 67, Revelation 21:9-27 and John 16:23-33. Please take the time to read them in their context in preparation for Sunday. The sermon text for Sunday is the reading from John 16:33. Psalm 67 – What is the prayer of the first two verses of this psalm? How does this compare to the Aaronic Benediction used at the close of our church services and recorded in Numbers 6:22-27? What does the psalmist pray will be known among all the nations? Why does the psalmist pray that people would praise God? What does he say will happen if people all over the world know, trust and honor the God of the Bible? Revelation 21:9-27 – What did John see coming down out of heaven? Who (or what) is this? Cf. Ephesians 5:22ff. How is it described? What is the temple in the new and holy Jerusalem? What is the light in this vision of the Church in glory with Jesus? Who will be in this city of God? Will its gates ever be shut? What will not be there? John 16:23-33 – When would Jesus’ disciples understand what Jesus was telling them? What does Jesus say of asking in His name? Cf. 1 John 5:14-15. Do we, as believers in Jesus, have access to the Father? How? Cf. Hebrews 10:19ff. What does Jesus mean in v. 28? What did the disciples say of Jesus? What does Jesus say would happen to them? How was this fulfilled? Who would continue to be with Jesus? Why did Jesus speak all these words – His discourses in John 13-17 – to His disciples? What would they experience in this world? In whom would they have peace? Why could they be of good cheer? How is this true for you and for me?

Remember to Pray

Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We pray for God’s healing and strengthening of our congregation. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – especially for Sam Rusch, who has been ill – for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families, for Christians who are alone and have no congregation, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

The Choir is practicing for upcoming services. More voices are always welcome.

Congregational Evening Bible studies will resume on the second Wednesday in May, at 7 p.m.

Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at goodshepherdrogers@yahoo.com.

“God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2

[Scripture in this Newsletter is taken from the King James Version of the Bible]