“Brothers, I do not write a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning. Again, I write a new commandment to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true Light now shines. He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother rests in the light, and there is no offense in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because darkness has blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:7-11 (MKJV)

“God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Where this love of God for lost sinners accomplishes its end and goal, sinners repent, trust in Christ Jesus for forgiveness and life and, as a fruit of their faith, love God and their fellowman.

Though love is the fulfilling of the law (Rom. 13:8-10), John reminds his readers of Jesus’ command to love one another. Jesus said: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you should also love one another. By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love toward one another” (John 13:34-35).

Those who walk in Jesus’ love, knowing and believing that God loves them and accepts them as His own dear children for the sake of Jesus and His atoning sacrifice upon the cross, will love God and also love their fellow human beings because of God’s love for them.

Since the darkness brought about by sin is passing away and the true light of God’s love and mercy is shining upon us whenever we hear the Gospel of God’s love and forgiveness toward us in Jesus, we have every reason to share in God’s love for mankind. God loved them and Christ died for them, so we also love them and extend to them God’s love and mercy in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, the one who says he is in the light – that He knows and trusts in Jesus – if he hates his brother, remains in darkness. He does not know or accept in faith God’s love for lost sinners. The darkness of sin has blinded his eyes so that He does not see and walk in God’s love.

On the other hand, the one who loves others and shows mercy and forgiveness toward them walks in the light of God’s love.

In love, O God, You sent Your Son to suffer and die upon the cross to bear our sin and punishment that we might be pardoned and given life with You forevermore. Move us to grasp Your love for us in faith and extend Your love to others. We ask this for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

A Simple Explanation of Christian Doctrine

by Pastor Randy Moll

When did God create the heavens and the earth?

Again, the Bible answers that question for us when it says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….” (Gen. 1:1).

Though some would attempt to extend the six days of creation into long periods of time and others would introduce a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 with the claim that the angels were a part of an earlier failed creation, the Bible is quite clear that the six days are literally six days: “And the evening and the morning were the first day” (Gen. 1:5), with the same parameters mentioned of each day. “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day” (Gen. 1:31).

The Bible also makes clear that all things were created within the six days when it says: “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day” (Ex. 20:11). “You, even You, are LORD alone. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things on it, the seas, and all in them, and You preserve them all. And the host of the heavens worships You” (Neh. 9:6).

When did the six days of creation occur? While it would be a mistake to make a doctrinal issue out of a specific date or year, the Bible’s genealogical records indicate that creation occurred approximately 4,000 years before Christ, or approximately 6,000 years ago – numbers which can be calculated based on the ages of the patriarchs when sons were born to them, the lengths of kings’ reigns and other dates or events in the Bible such as the exile and destruction of the temple (e.g., Gen. 5 and 11; 1 and 2 Kings; 1 and 2 Chron; etc.).

Though the Bible contradicts modern “scientific” theory regarding the age of the earth, there is no contradiction with the true evidence which suggests a young earth and a catastrophic and universal flood (Gen. 6-8). Believers accept the accuracy of God’s account of creation which is recorded for them in the pages of the Bible.

Next time, we shall consider how God created man.

From the Lutheran Confessions

A Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald – 1537

1] The Roman Pontiff claims for himself [in the first place] that by divine right he is [supreme] above all bishops and pastors [in all Christendom].

2] Secondly, he adds also that by divine right he has both swords, i.e., the authority also of bestowing kingdoms [enthroning and deposing kings, regulating secular dominions etc.].

3] And thirdly, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. And for these reasons the Roman bishop calls himself [and boasts that he is] the vicar of Christ on earth.

4] These three articles we hold to be false, godless, tyrannical, and [quite] pernicious to the Church.

5] Now, in order that our proof [reason and opinion] may be [better] understood, we shall first define what they call being above all [what it means that he boasts of being supreme] by divine right. For they mean that he is universal [that the Pope is the general bishop over the entire Christian Church], or, as they say, ecumenical bishop, i.e., from whom all bishops and pastors throughout the entire world ought to seek ordination and [confirmation, who [alone] is to have the right of electing, ordaining, confirming, deposing all bishops [and pastors]. 6] Besides this, he arrogates to himself the authority to make [all kinds of] laws concerning acts of worship, concerning changing the Sacraments [and] concerning doctrine, and wishes his articles, his decrees, his laws [his statutes and ordinances] to be considered equal to the divine laws [to other articles of the Christian Creed and the Holy Scriptures], i.e., he holds that by the papal laws the consciences of men are so bound that those who neglect them, even without public offense, sin mortally [that they cannot be omitted without sin. For he wishes to found this power upon divine right and the Holy Scriptures; yea, he wishes to have it preferred to the Holy Scriptures and God's commands]. And what he adds is still more horrible, namely, that it is necessary to believe all these things in order to be saved [all these things shall and must be believed at the peril of forfeiting salvation].

7] In the first place, therefore, let us show from the [holy] Gospel that the Roman bishop is not by divine right above [cannot arrogate to himself any supremacy whatever over] other bishops and pastors.

8] I. Luke 22:25. Christ expressly prohibits lordship among the apostles [that no apostle should have any supremacy over the rest]. For this was the very question, namely, that when Christ spake of His passion, they were disputing who should be at the head, and as it were the vicar of the absent Christ. There Christ reproves this error of the apostles and teaches that there shall not be lordship or superiority among them, but that the apostles should be sent forth as equals to the common ministry of the Gospel. Accordingly, He says: The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors, but ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. The antithesis here shows [By holding these matters against one another, one sees] that lordship [among the apostles] is disapproved.

II. Matt. 18:2. The same is taught by the parable when Christ in the same dispute concerning the kingdom places a little child in the midst, signifying that among ministers there is not to be sovereignty, just as a child neither takes nor seeks sovereignty for himself.

9] III. John 20:21. Christ sends forth His disciples on an equality, without any distinction [so that no one of them was to have more or less power than any other], when He says: As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. [These words are clear and plain:] He says that He sends them individually in the same manner as He Himself was sent; hence He grants to no one a prerogative or lordship above the rest.

10] IV. Gal. 2:7f St. Paul manifestly affirms that he was neither ordained nor confirmed [and endorsed] by Peter, nor does he acknowledge Peter to be one from whom confirmation should be sought. And he expressly contends concerning this point that his call does not depend upon the authority of Peter. But he ought to have acknowledged Peter as a superior if Peter was superior by divine right [if Peter, indeed, had received such supremacy from Christ]. Paul accordingly says that he had at once preached the Gospel [freely for a long time] without consulting Peter. Also: Of those who seemed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me; God accepteth no man’s person). And: They who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me. Since Paul, then, clearly testifies that he did not even wish to seek for the confirmation of Peter [for permission to preach] even when he had come to him, he teaches that the authority of the ministry depends upon the Word of God, and that Peter was not superior to the other apostles, and that it was not from this one individual Peter that ordination or confirmation was to be sought [that the office of the ministry proceeds from the general call of the apostles, and that it is not necessary for all to have the call or confirmation of this one person, Peter, alone].

11] V. In 1 Cor. 3:6, Paul makes ministers equal, and teaches that the Church is above the ministers. Hence superiority or lordship over the Church or the rest of the ministers is not ascribed to Peter [in preference to other apostles]. For he says thus: All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, i.e., let neither the other ministers nor Peter assume for themselves lordship or superiority over the Church; let them not burden the Church with traditions; let not the authority of any avail more than the Word [of God]; let not the authority of Cephas be opposed to the authority of the other apostles, as they reasoned at that time: “Cephas, who is an apostle of higher rank, observes this; therefore, both Paul and the rest ought to observe this.” Paul removes this pretext from Peter, and denies [Not so, says Paul, and makes Peter doff his little hat, namely, the claim] that his authority is to be preferred to the rest or to the Church.

12] VI. The Council of Nice resolved that the bishop of Alexandria should administer the churches in the East, and the Roman bishop the suburban, i.e., those which were in the Roman provinces in the West. From this start by a human law, i.e. the resolution of the Council, the authority of the Roman bishop first arose. If the Roman bishop already had the superiority by divine law, it would not have been lawful for the Council to take any right from him and transfer it to the bishop of Alexandria; nay, all the bishops of the East ought perpetually to have sought ordination and confirmation from the bishop of Rome.

13] VII. Again the Council of Nice determined that bishops should be elected by their own churches, in the presence of some neighboring bishop or of several. 14] The same was observed [for a long time, not only in the East, but] also in the West and in the Latin churches, as Cyprian and Augustine testify. For Cyprian says in his fourth letter to Cornelius: Accordingly, as regards the divine observance and apostolic practice, you must diligently keep and practice what is also observed among us and in almost all the provinces, that for celebrating ordination properly, whatsoever bishops of the same province live nearest should come together with the people for whom a pastor is being appointed, and the bishop should be chosen in the presence of the people, who most fully know the life of each one, which we also have seen done among us at the ordination of our colleague Sabinus, that by the suffrage of the entire brotherhood, and by the judgment of the bishops who had assembled in their presence, the episcopate was conferred and hands laid on him.

15] Cyprian calls this custom a divine tradition and an apostolic observance, and affirms that it is observed in almost all the provinces.

Since, therefore, neither ordination nor confirmation was sought from a bishop of Rome in the greater part of the world in the Latin and Greek churches, it is sufficiently apparent that the churches did not then accord superiority and domination to the bishop of Rome.

16] Such superiority is impossible. For it is impossible for one bishop to be the overseer of the churches of the whole world, or for churches situated in the most distant lands to seek ordination [for all their ministers] from one. For it is manifest that the kingdom of Christ is scattered throughout the whole world; and to-day there are many churches in the East which do not seek ordination or confirmation from the Roman bishop [which have ministers ordained neither by the Pope nor his bishops]. Therefore, since such superiority [which the Pope, contrary to all Scripture, arrogates to himself] is impossible, and the churches in the greater part of the world have not acknowledged [nor made use of] it, it is sufficiently apparent that it was not instituted [by Christ, and does not spring from divine law].

17] VIII. Many ancient synods have been proclaimed and held in which the bishop of Rome did not preside; as that of Nice and most others. This, too, testifies that the Church did not then acknowledge the primacy or superiority of the bishop of Rome.

18] IX. Jerome says: If the question is concerning authority, the world is greater than the city. Wherever there has been a bishop, whether at Rome, or Eugubium, or Constantinople, or Rhegium, or Alexandria, he is of the same dignity and priesthood.

19] X. Gregory, writing to the patriarch at Alexandria, forbids that he be called universal bishop. And in the Records he says that in the Council of Chalcedon the primacy was offered to the bishop of Rome, but was not accepted.

20] XI. Lastly, how can the Pope be over the entire Church by divine right when the Church has the election, and the custom gradually prevailed that bishops of Rome were confirmed by the emperors? 21] Also, when for a long time there had been contests concerning the primacy between the bishops of Rome and Constantinople, the Emperor Phocas finally determined that the primacy should be assigned to the bishop of Rome. But if the ancient Church had acknowledged the primacy of the Roman Pontiff, this contention could not have occurred, neither would there have been need of the decree of the emperor.

22] But they cite against us certain passages, namely, Matt. 16:18f : Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; also: I will give unto thee the keys; also John 21:15: Feed My sheep, and some others. But since this entire controversy has been fully and accurately treated elsewhere in the books of our theologians, and everything cannot be reviewed in this place, we refer to those writings, and wish them to be regarded as repeated. Yet we shall reply briefly concerning the interpretation [of the passages quoted].

23] In all these passages Peter is the representative of the entire assembly of apostles [and does not speak for himself alone, but for all the apostles], as appears from the text itself. For Christ asks not Peter alone, but says: Whom do ye say that I am? And what is here said [to Peter alone] in the singular number: I will give unto thee the keys; and whatsoever thou shalt bind, etc., is elsewhere expressed [to their entire number], in the plural Matt. 18:18: Whatsoever ye shall bind, etc. And in John 20:23: Whosesoever sins ye remit, etc. These words testify that the keys are given alike to all the apostles and that all the apostles are alike sent forth [to preach].

24] In addition to this, it is necessary to acknowledge that the keys belong not to the person of one particular man, but to the Church, as many most clear and firm arguments testify. For Christ, speaking concerning the keys adds, Matt. 18:19: If two or three of you shall agree on earth, etc. Therefore he grants the keys principally and immediately to the Church, just as also for this reason the Church has principally the right of calling. [For just as the promise of the Gospel belongs certainly and immediately to the entire Church, so the keys belong immediately to the entire Church, because the keys are nothing else than the office whereby this promise is communicated to every one who desires it, just as it is actually manifest that the Church has the power to ordain ministers of the Church. And Christ speaks in these words: Whatsoever ye shall bind, etc., and indicates to whom He has given the keys, namely, to the Church: Where two or three are gathered together in My name. Likewise Christ gives supreme and final jurisdiction to the Church, when He says: Tell it unto the Church.]

Therefore it is necessary that in these passages Peter is the representative of the entire assembly of the apostles, and for this reason they do not accord to Peter any prerogative or superiority, or lordship [which he had, or was to have had, in preference to the other apostles].

25] However, as to the declaration: Upon this rock I will build My Church, certainly the Church has not been built upon the authority of man, but upon the ministry of the confession which Peter made, in which he proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He accordingly addresses him as a minister: Upon this rock, i.e., upon this ministry. [Therefore he addresses him as a minister of this office in which this confession and doctrine is to be in operation and says: Upon this rock, i.e., this preaching and ministry.]

26] Furthermore, the ministry of the New Testament is not bound to places and persons as the Levitical ministry, but it is dispersed throughout the whole world, and is there where God gives His gifts, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers; neither does this ministry avail on account of the authority of any person, but on account of the Word given by Christ. 27] [Nor does the person of a teacher add anything to this word and office; it matters not who is preaching and teaching it; if there are hearts who receive and cling to it, to them it is done as they hear and believe.] And in this way, not as referring to the person of Peter, most of the holy Fathers, as Origen, Cyprian, Augustine, 28] Hilary, and Bede, interpret this passage: Upon this rock. Chrysostom says thus: “Upon this rock,” not upon Peter. For He built His Church not upon man, but upon the faith of Peter. But what was his faith? “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Hilary says: To Peter the Father revealed that he should say, “Thou art the Son of the living God.” 29] Therefore the building of the Church is upon this rock of confession; this faith is the foundation of the Church.

30] And as to that which is said John 21:15ff : Feed My sheep, and, Lovest thou Me more than these? it does not as yet follow hence that a peculiar superiority was given Peter. He bids him “feed,” i.e., teach the Word [the Gospel], or rule the Church with the Word [the Gospel], which Peter has in common with the other apostles.

31] The second article is still clearer, that Christ gave to the apostles only spiritual power, i.e., the command to teach the Gospel, to announce the forgiveness of sins, to administer the Sacraments, to excommunicate the godless without bodily force [by the Word], and that He did not give the power of the sword, or the right to establish, occupy or confer kingdoms of the world [to set up or depose kings]. For Christ says, Matt. 28:19. 20: Go ye, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; also John 20:21: As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.

Now, it is manifest that Christ was not sent to bear the sword or possess a worldly kingdom [rule in a worldly fashion], as He Himself says, John 18:36: My kingdom is not of this world. And Paul says, 2 Cor. 1:24: Not for that we have dominion over your faith; and 2 Cor. 10:4: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, etc.

32] Accordingly, that Christ in His passion is crowned with thorns and led forth to be derided in royal purple, this signified that in the future, after His spiritual kingdom was despised, i.e., the Gospel was suppressed, another kingdom of a worldly kind would be set up [in its place] with the pretext of ecclesiastical power. 33] Therefore the Constitution of Boniface VIII and the chapter Omnes, Dist. 22, and similar opinions which contend that the Pope is by divine right the ruler of the kingdoms of the world, are [utterly] false and godless. 34] From this persuasion horrible darkness has been brought into the Church, and after that also great commotions have arisen in Europe. For the ministry of the Gospel was neglected, the knowledge of faith and the spiritual kingdom became extinct, Christian righteousness was supposed to be that external government which the Pope had established.

35] Next, the Popes began to seize upon kingdoms for themselves; they transferred kingdoms, they vexed with unjust excommunications and wars the kings of almost all nations in Europe, but especially the German emperors, sometimes for the purpose of occupying cities of Italy, at other times for the purpose of reducing to subjection the bishops of Germany, and wresting from the emperors the conferring of episcopates. Yea, in the Clementines it is even written: When the empire is vacant, the Pope is the legitimate successor.

36] Thus the Pope has not only usurped dominion, contrary to Christ’s command, but has also tyrannically exalted himself above all kings. And in this matter the deed itself is not to be reprehended as much as it is to be detested, that he assigns as a pretext the authority of Christ; that he transfers the keys to a worldly government; that he binds salvation to these godless and execrable opinions, when he says it is necessary to salvation for men to believe that this dominion belongs to him by divine right.

37] Since these great errors obscure [the doctrine of] faith and [of] the kingdom of Christ, they are in no way to be concealed. For the result shows that they have been great pests to the Church.

38] In the third place, this must be added: Even though the bishop of Rome had the primacy and superiority by divine right, nevertheless obedience would not be due those pontiffs who defend godless services, idolatry, and doctrine conflicting with the Gospel. Nay; such pontiffs and such a government ought to be held accursed, as Paul clearly teaches, Gal. 1:8: Though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. And in Acts 5:29: We ought to obey God rather than men. Likewise the canons also clearly teach that a heretical Pope is not to be obeyed.

The Levitical high priest was the chief priest by divine right, and yet godless high priests were not to be obeyed, as Jeremiah and other prophets dissented from the high priests, the apostles dissented from Caiaphas and did not have to obey them.

39] Now, it is manifest that the Roman pontiffs, with their adherents, defend [and practice] godless doctrines and godless services. And the marks [all the vices] of Antichrist plainly agree with the kingdom of the Pope and his adherents. For Paul, in describing Antichrist to the Thessalonians, calls him 2 Thess. 2:3-4: an adversary of Christ, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God. He speaks therefore of one ruling in the Church, not of heathen kings, and he calls this one the adversary of Christ, because he will devise doctrine conflicting with the Gospel, and will assume to himself divine authority.

40] Moreover, it is manifest, in the first place, that the Pope rules in the Church, and by the pretext of ecclesiastical authority and of the ministry has established for himself this kingdom. For he assigns as a pretext these words: I will give to thee the keys. Secondly, the doctrine of the Pope conflicts in many ways with the Gospel, and [thirdly] the Pope assumes to himself divine authority in a threefold manner. First, because he takes to himself the right to change the doctrine of Christ and services instituted by God, and wants his own doctrine and his own services to be observed as divine; secondly, because he takes to himself the power not only of binding and loosing in this life, but also the jurisdiction over souls after this life; thirdly, because the Pope does not want to be judged by the Church or by any one, and puts his own authority ahead of the decision of Councils and the entire Church. But to be unwilling to be judged by the Church or by any one is to make oneself God. Lastly, these errors so horrible, and this impiety, he defends with the greatest cruelty, and puts to death those dissenting.

41] This being the case, all Christians ought to beware of becoming partakers of the godless doctrine, blasphemies, and unjust cruelty of the Pope. On this account they ought to desert and execrate the Pope with his adherents as the kingdom of Antichrist; just as Christ has commanded, Matt. 7:15: Beware of false prophets. And Paul commands that godless teachers should be avoided and execrated as cursed, Gal. 1:8; Titus 3:10. And he says, 2 Cor. 6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what communion hath light with darkness?

42] To dissent from the agreement of so many nations and to be called schismatics is a grave matter. But divine authority commands all not to be allies and defenders of impiety and unjust cruelty.

On this account our consciences are sufficiently excused; for the errors of the kingdom of the Pope are manifest. And Scripture with its entire voice exclaims that these errors are a teaching of demons and of Antichrist. 43] The idolatry in the profanation of the masses is manifest, which, besides other faults [besides being altogether useless] are shamelessly applied to most shameful gain [and trafficking]. 44] The doctrine of repentance has been utterly corrupted by the Pope and his adherents. For they teach that sins are remitted because of the worth of our works. Then they bid us doubt whether the remission takes place. They nowhere teach that sins are remitted freely for Christ’s sake, and that by this faith we obtain remission of sins.

Thus they obscure the glory of Christ, and deprive consciences of firm consolation, and abolish true divine services, namely, the exercises of faith struggling with [unbelief and] despair [concerning the promise of the Gospel].

45] They have obscured the doctrine concerning sin, and have invented a tradition concerning the enumeration of offenses, producing many errors and despair.

They have devised, in addition, satisfactions, whereby they have also obscured the benefit [and merit] of Christ.

46] From these, indulgences have been born, which are pure lies, fabricated for the sake of gain.

47] Then, how many abuses and what horrible idolatry the invocation of saints has produced!

48] What shameful acts have arisen from the tradition concerning celibacy!

What darkness the doctrine concerning vows has spread over the Gospel! There they feigned that vows are righteousness before God and merit the remission of sins. Thus they have transferred the benefit of Christ to human traditions, and have altogether extinguished the doctrine concerning faith. They have feigned that the most trifling traditions are services of God and perfection and have preferred these to the works of callings which God requires and has ordained. Neither are these errors to be regarded as light; for they detract from the glory of Christ and bring destruction to souls, neither can they be passed by unnoticed.

49] Then to these errors two great sins are added: The first, that he defends these errors by unjust cruelty and death-penalties. The second, that he wrests the decision from the Church, and does not permit ecclesiastical controversies [such matters of religion] to be judged according to the prescribed mode; yea he contends that he is above the Council, and can rescind the decrees of Councils, as the canons sometimes impudently speak. But that this was much more impudently done by the pontiffs, examples testify.

50] Quest. 9, canon 3, says: No one shall judge the first seat; for the judge is judged neither by the emperor, nor by all the clergy, nor by the kings, nor by the people.

51] The Pope exercises a twofold tyranny: he defends his errors by force and by murders, and forbids judicial examination. The latter does even more injury than any executions, because, when the true judgment of the Church is removed, godless dogmas and godless services cannot be removed, and for many ages they destroy innumerable souls.

52] Therefore let the godly consider the great errors of the kingdom of the Pope and his tyranny, and let them ponder, first, that the errors must be rejected and the true doctrine embraced, for the glory of God and to the salvation of souls. 53] Then let them ponder also how great a crime it is to aid unjust cruelty in killing saints, whose blood God will undoubtedly avenge.

54] But especially the chief members of the Church, kings and princes, ought to guard the interests of the Church, and to see to it that errors be removed and consciences be healed [rightly instructed], as God expressly exhorts kings, Ps. 2:10: Be wise, now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth. For it should be the first care of kings [and great lords] to advance the glory of God. Therefore it would be very shameful for them to lend their influence and power to confirm idolatry and infinite other crimes, and to slaughter saints.

55] And even though the Pope should hold Synods [a Council], how can the Church be healed if the Pope suffers nothing to be decreed contrary to his will, if he allows no one to express his opinion except his adherents whom he has bound by dreadful oaths and curses to the defense of his tyranny and wickedness without any exception concerning God’s Word [not even the Word of God being excepted]?

56] But since the decisions of Synods are the decisions of the Church, and not of the Popes, it is especially incumbent on kings to check the license of the Popes [not allow such wantonness], and to act so that the power of judging and decreeing from the Word of God is not wrested from the Church. And as the rest of the Christians must censure all other errors of the Pope, so they must also rebuke the Pope when he evades and impedes the true investigation and true decision of the Church.

57] Therefore, even though the bishop of Rome had the primacy by divine right, yet since he defends godless services and doctrine conflicting with the Gospel, obedience is not due him; yea, it is necessary to resist him as Antichrist. The errors of the Pope are manifest and not trifling.

58] Manifest also is the cruelty [against godly Christians] which he exercises. And it is clear that it is God’s command that we flee idolatry, godless doctrine, and unjust cruelty. On this account all the godly have great, compelling, and manifest reasons for not obeying the Pope. And these compelling reasons comfort the godly against all the reproaches which are usually cast against them concerning offenses, schism, and discord [which they are said to cause].

59] But those who agree with the Pope, and defend his doctrine and [false] services, defile themselves with idolatry and blasphemous opinions, become guilty of the blood of the godly, whom the Pope [and his adherents] persecutes, detract from the glory of God, and hinder the welfare of the Church, because they strengthen errors and crimes to all posterity [in the sight of all the world and to the injury of all descendants].

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings for Sunday are: Psalm 1; Acts 1:12-26; 1 John 5:9-15; and John 17:11-19. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.

The Sunday Adult Bible Class will continue its study of the book of Hebrews, in chapter 11, verse 1ff.

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 continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us; for our extended families; and for believers who are alone and have no congregation. Continue to pray for Lutheran congregations and believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

Ascension Day worship will be held at 7 p.m. this Thursday, May 17. All are invited to join in worshiping our Savior for His sufferings, death, resurrection and glorious ascension.

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

Scripture quotations are from Green’s Modern King James Version (MKJV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.

Why do we sing praises to the LORD God? Why do we worship Him with our voices and with instruments (whether it be harp, lyre or horn, guitar, keyboard or organ)?

This psalm answers the question for us: “For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have saved for Him.”

How have His right hand and His holy arm accomplished salvation and obtained the victory for God? God the Son – Christ Jesus – destroyed the devil’s rule over us when He fulfilled the righteous demands of the law (something we could not do) and suffered and died in our stead and made full atonement for our sin (also something we were unable to do) and rose again in triumph. As the Bible says, Jesus saved us, “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:14-15).

And, the LORD God made known to us, through the preaching of the Gospel, His salvation. He unveiled His righteousness to the eyes of all people – not our righteousness under the law, but His, the righteousness of Christ which is imputed to us by faith (cf. Rom. 1:16-17; 3:21:ff.; Phil. 3:9).

God remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel. He kept His word and fulfilled the promises of salvation He made to His people and has shown it to the ends of the earth. Jesus won for us forgiveness of sins and life everlasting and has sent His disciples to the ends of the earth with the good news of forgiveness and life through faith in the Son (cf. Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47).

It is for this reason we make a joyful noise to the LORD, rejoice and sing praise to His name. It is why we use instruments to glorify our God and Savior. It is why the earth itself praises the LORD God (cf. v. 4-9). And, yes, Christ Jesus – Jehovah God Himself – is coming to judge the earth and all people with righteous and upright judgment. It is then that those who believe and are baptized will be saved, but those who do not believe will be condemned (cf. Mark 16:16).

We praise and glorify Your name, O LORD God, for providing us salvation in the Son and bringing us to know and believe in His name unto life everlasting. Amen.

Scripture quotations from Green’s Modern King James Version (MKJV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.

“And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.” 1 John 2:3-6 (MKJV)

Many claim to be Christians and followers of Jesus Christ but not all who make such claims know Jesus. Some are hypocrites and some deceive themselves into thinking they are Christian when, in fact, they are impenitent and do not trust in Jesus and His blood shed upon the cross for cleansing and everlasting life.

God’s Word teaches us that we can know we know and trust in Christ Jesus as our Savior by our attitude toward Jesus’ word and commandments.

“And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected.”

The one who knows and trusts in Jesus for forgiveness of sins and life everlasting will gladly and willingly obey His commandments. This desire to obey God’s Word is evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit and the new nature created in believers which loves God and desires to serve Him. Of course, as John wrote in the first chapter (1:5-10), believers are not without sin in this world and cannot claim to be sinless and holy of themselves, for they still have their old sinful nature inherited from Adam which balks at and resists living in accord with the Word of God.

Nevertheless, believers can see evidence of their regeneration in their new-found love for God and in their desire to keep the words and commandments of Jesus. Those who come to know the great love of God in sending His Son to suffer and die for our sins and the sins of the world are moved to love Him in return for providing salvation for lost sinners.

If we continue to trust in Jesus as our Savior – if we acknowledge our sinfulness and look to Jesus’ shed blood for pardon and life everlasting – we will, as a fruit of that faith seek to conform our lives to His. We will seek to live and conduct ourselves as Jesus did in this world – in obedience to God the Father, with utmost respect for God’s Word and with love toward lost sinners.

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.”

Jesus, our Savior, You have redeemed us and all mankind from sin by Your atoning sacrifice upon the cross, and You have graciously brought us to know Your great love and mercy toward us in shedding Your blood to cleanse us from all sin. Grant that we grow ever deeper in the knowledge of You and Your love for us and so move us in return to love You and gladly obey Your commandments Amen.

A Simple Explanation of Christian Doctrine

by Pastor Randy Moll

What did God do when He created the heavens and the earth?

Again, the Bible says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth; and the earth being without form and empty, and darkness on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moving gently on the face of the waters, then God said, Let light be! And there was light….” (Genesis 1:1-3; Read all of Genesis 1 and 2).

The Hebrew word for “created” in verse one is ברא (bara) and indicates that God created all out of nothing. He called it into existence by saying, “Let … be,” and “There was.”

The Scriptures echo this truth throughout.

Psalm 33:6 says: “Through Jehovah’s word the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of His mouth.”

Hebrews 11:3 says: “By faith we understand the ages to have been framed by the word of God, so that the things seen should not come into being out of things that appear.”

These words teach us the truth that God created all things and sustains them by the power of His word.

The Bible says of the Son of God, in Hebrews 1:2-3: “Through whom He indeed made the ages; who being the shining splendor of His glory, and the express image of His essence, and upholding all things by the word of His power…”

So, what has God done? He created all things out of nothing. He created and called all into being by His all-powerful word. And, it is by that same creating word that all continues to exist.

It is as Nehemiah wrote in chapter nine, verse six: “You alone are He , O Jehovah; You have made the heavens, and heavens of the heavens, and all their host; the earth and all which is on it; the seas, and all that is in them; and You shall preserve them all alive. And the host of the heavens bows down to You.”

Next time, we shall consider when God created all things.

[Scripture quotations in this article from Green's Literal Translation]

From the Lutheran Confessions

The Smalcald Articles

THE THIRD PART OF THE ARTICLES

Part III, Article XIV. Of Monastic Vows.

1] As monastic vows directly conflict with the first chief article, they must be absolutely abolished. For it is of them that Christ says, Matt. 24:5,23ff : I am Christ, etc. 2] For he who makes a vow to live as a monk believes that he will enter upon a mode of life holier than ordinary Christians lead, and wishes to earn heaven by his own works not only for himself, but also for others; this is to deny Christ. 3] And they boast from their St. Thomas that a monastic vow is equal to Baptism. This is blasphemy [against God].

Part III, Article XV. Of Human Traditions.

1] The declaration of the Papists that human traditions serve for the remission of sins, or merit salvation, is [altogether] unchristian and condemned, as Christ says Matt. 15:9: In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 2] Again, Titus 1:14: That turn from the truth. Again, when they declare that it is a mortal sin if one breaks these ordinances [does not keep these statutes], this, too, is not right.

3] These are the articles on which I must stand, and, God willing, shall stand even to my death; and I do not know how to change or to yield anything in them. If any one wishes to yield anything, let him do it at the peril of his conscience.

4] Lastly, there still remains the Pope’s bag of impostures concerning foolish and childish articles, as, the dedication of churches, the baptism of bells, the baptism of the altarstone, and the inviting of sponsors to these rites, who would make donations towards them. Such baptizing is a reproach and mockery of Holy Baptism, hence should not be tolerated. 5] Furthermore, concerning the consecration of wax-tapers, palm-branches, cakes, oats, [herbs,] spices, etc., which indeed, cannot be called consecrations, but are sheer mockery and fraud. And such deceptions there are without number, which we commend for adoration to their god and to themselves, until they weary of it. We will [ought to] have nothing to do with them.

1] Dr. Martin Luther subscribed.

2] Dr. Justus Jonas, Rector, subscribed with his own hand.

3] Dr. John Bugenhagen, Pomeranus, subscribed.

4] Dr. Caspar Creutziger subscribed.

5] Niclas Ambsdorf of Magdeburg subscribed.

6] George Spalatin of Altenburg subscribed.

7] I, Philip Melanchthon, also regard [approve] the above articles as right and Christian. But regarding the Pope I hold that, if he would allow the Gospel, his superiority over the bishops which he has otherwise, is conceded to him by human right also by us, for the sake of peace and general unity of those Christians who are also under him, and may be under him hereafter.

8] John Agricola of Eisleben subscribed.

9] Gabriel Didymus subscribed.

10] I, Dr. Urban Rhegius, Superintendent of the churches in the Duchy of Lueneburg, subscribe in my own name and in the name of my brethren, and of the Church of Hannover.

11] I, Stephen Agricola, Minister at Hof, subscribe.

12] Also I, John Draconites, Professor and Minister at Marburg, subscribe.

13] I, Conrad Figenbotz, for the glory of God subscribe that I have thus believed, and am still preaching and firmly believing as above.

14] I, Andrew Osiander of Nuernberg, subscribe.

15] I, Magister Veit Dieterich, Minister at Nuernberg, subscribe.

16] I, Erhard Schnepf, Preacher at Stuttgart, subscribe.

17] Conrad Oetinger, Preacher of Duke Ulrich at Pforzheim.

18] Simon Schnevveis, Pastor of the Church at Crailsheim.

19] I, John Schlainhauffen, Pastor of the Church at Koethen, subscribe.

20] The Reverend Magister George Helt of Forchheim.

21] The Reverend Magister Adam of Fulda, Preacher in Hesse.

22] The Reverend Magister Anthony Corvinus, Preacher in Hesse.

23] I, Doctor John Bugenhagen, Pomeranus, again subscribe in the name of Magister John Brentz, as on departing from Smalcald he directed me orally and by a letter, which I have shown to those brethren who have subscribed.

24] I, Dionysius Melander, subscribe to the Confession, the Apology, and the Concordia on the subject of the Eucharist.

25] Paul Rhodius, Superintendent of Stettin.

26] Gerard Oeniken, Superintendent of the Church at Minden.

27] I, Brixius Northanus, Minister of the Church of Christ which is at Soest, subscribe to the Articles of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, and confess that hitherto I have thus believed and taught, and by the Spirit of Christ I shall continue thus to believe and teach.

28] Michael Coelius, Preacher at Mansfeld, subscribed.

29] The Reverend Magister Peter Geltner, Preacher at Frankfort, subscribed.

30] Wendal Faber, Pastor of Seeburg in Mansfeld.

31] I, John Aepinus, subscribe.

32] Likewise, I, John Amsterdam of Bremen.

33] I, Frederick Myconius, Pastor of the Church at Gotha in Thuringia, subscribe in my own name and in that of Justus Menius of Eisenach

34] I, Doctor John Lang, Preacher of the Church at Erfurt, subscribe with my own hand in my own name, and in that of my other coworkers in the Gospel, namely:

35] The Reverend Licentiate Ludwig Platz of Melsungen.

36] The Reverend Magister Sigismund Kirchner.

37] The Reverend Wolfgang Kismetter.

38] The Reverend Melchior Weitmann.

39] The Reverend John Tall.

40] The Reverend John Kilian.

41] The Reverend Nicholas Faber.

42] The Reverend Andrew Menser.

43] And I, Egidius Mechler, have subscribed with my own hand.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings for Sunday are: Psalm 98; Acts 10:34-48; 1 John 5:1-8; and John 15:9-17. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.

The Sunday Adult Bible Class will continue its study of the book of Hebrews, in chapter 10, verse 29ff.

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 continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us, for Sam Rusch, who was hospitalized last week; for those who have been absent from us; for our extended families; and for believers who are alone and have no congregation. Continue to pray for Lutheran congregations and believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

Ascension Day worship will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 17. All are invited to join in worshiping our Savior for His sufferings, death, resurrection and glorious ascension.

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

Scripture quotations are from Green’s Literal Translation (LITV) where so marked or from Green’s Modern King James Version (MKJV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.

Can a man do good works in God’s sight without having saving faith in Jesus Christ? Many would say “Yes” to this question, but Jesus says, “No.”

In the Parable of the Vine and the Branches, Jesus teaches us that only those who abide in Him – those who are connected to Him through saving faith – are able to produce fruit acceptable to the LORD God. God the Father will cut off those branches which produce no fruit for Him, and He also prunes and purges those branches which do produce fruit that they might bring forth more fruit.

Those who through faith are joined to Jesus Christ have forgiveness for all their sins and evil works. They are clean through the Word of the Gospel spoken to them – all their sins are washed away by the precious blood of Jesus, which was shed upon the cross for the sins of the whole world! As long as they have true and saving faith in Christ and His redemptive work, they will be fruitful and do works which are acceptable and pleasing in God’s sight. This is so because Christ, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, abides in them and empowers them to live for Him, and because the sin and impurity yet in their works is forgiven and not held against them.

Apart from saving faith in Jesus Christ, one cannot do good works in God’s sight; for one remains spiritually dead to God and unable to truly love Him and honor Him with pure and holy works. An unbeliever is like a branch which has been severed from the grape vine. It will not produce grapes but will wither up and eventually be thrown into the fire and be burned. So also, the one who does not trust in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for forgiveness and life will not only be unable to do good works in God’s sight; he will be gathered up on the Last Day, together with all others who were unbelieving and fruitless, and be cast into the eternal fires of hell!

Abide with richest blessings among us, bounteous Lord; let us in grace and wisdom grow daily through Thy Word. Abide, O faithful Savior, among us with Thy love; grant steadfastness and help us to reach our home above. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, #53, Verses 4,6)

Scripture quotations from Green’s Modern King James Version (MKJV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.

1 My little children, I write these things to you so that you do not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world. 1 John 2:1-2 (MKJV)

While it is certainly not the desire of Christians to continue on in sin because they are born anew, have a new nature, and God’s Spirit dwells within them, it is comforting to know that when we do sin – and we all still do because of our sinful nature – we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Jesus, who lived a righteous and holy life in our stead under God’s law and then suffered and died for the sins of the word and rose again, is our Advocate with the Father. He is there with His own precious blood, shed upon the cross for the sins of the world, pleading our case before the Father.

Though we are guilty under the law and would stand condemned to eternal torment on account of our sins, “Jesus Christ the righteous … is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world.” He took our punishment and paid in full for our sins and the sins of all the world when He suffered and died upon the cross. For His sake, God has acquitted and pardoned us and gives us everlasting life.

That is why, when we sin – as we all do – and “we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1:9).

God does not grant us permission to sin but enjoins us to live for Him in accord with His Word. But, when we do sin, “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world.”

Dearest Lord Jesus, You came into this world to redeem us from sin and grant us life everlasting in fellowship with You and the Father, strengthen our faith and move us to live for You in accord with Your perfect Word. And, when we sin, plead for us before the Father with Your holy and precious blood shed upon the cross for the sins of all the world. Amen.

A Simple Explanation of Christian Doctrine

by Pastor Randy Moll

How is it that this world and the universe came to be? How did life begin and why does it go on? Is it all the result of chance over extreme lengths of time? Or is it the result of an intelligent creator who wisely designed and created all things?

While many have speculated and theorized, there is one eye-witness account of how all came to be and who is behind it.

Many scoff and criticize this account and offer alternative theories with no foundation in truth in an attempt to escape the accountability which goes with the creation account, but wisdom calls upon us to seek the truth and accept it, along with any accountability which accompanies that truth.

That one eye-witness account is recorded for all to know in the first two chapters of Genesis. It is the account of the Creator Himself, recorded by Moses for all to read and know the truth.

That account begins: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth; and the earth being without form and empty, and darkness on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moving gently on the face of the waters, then God said, Let light be! And there was light….” (Genesis 1:1-3).

Who is the Creator?

Who is the Creator? The Bible, which is God’s inspired account, tells us that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

And, who is this God? The Hebrew word, Elohim, which is the plural form of God, is the descriptor used to describe the Creator (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). He is also called by the name Jehovah, often translated LORD. “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created in the day that Jehovah God was making earth and heavens” (Gen. 2:4).

The Bible further defines God, when it says: “To us is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we by Him” (1 Cor. 8:6). Thus we see that all things were created by God the Father through Jesus Christ.

God’s creation account also tells us that, in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, “the Spirit of God [was] moving gently on the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2). Thus we see that the Holy Spirit was involved in the creation of all things.

The opening verses of John’s Gospel tell us: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men….” (John 1:1-4). Thus we see that the Word, Jesus Christ, identified in v. 14 as God Himself in the flesh and the only begotten Son of the Father, created all things and is the giver of life, both physical and spiritual.

In St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, the inspired Scriptures say of Christ Jesus, that He is “the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation. For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible; whether thrones, or lordships, or rulers, or authorities, all things have been created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and all things consist in Him” (Col. 1:15-17).

So, who is the Creator? It is God, the God the Scriptures identify for us as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Though God is one – “Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah” (Deut. 6:4) – God is also three – thus, the command to “disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). This is why the God of the Bible is often called the Triune (three/one) God, because He is one God and yet three distinct Persons. Thus, the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Yet, there are not three Gods, but one God.

The Bible tells us “there are three bearing witness in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7).

Though beyond our ability to comprehend, this is how God has revealed Himself to us – it is His account and His word. And it is this God who has created all things and given us life.

Next time, we shall consider what God has done in creating all things.

[Scripture quotations in this article from Green's Literal Translation]

From the Lutheran Confessions

The Smalcald Articles

THE THIRD PART OF THE ARTICLES

Part III, Article XII. Of the Church.

1] We do not concede to them that they are the Church, and [in truth] they are not [the Church]; nor will we listen to those things which, under the name of Church, they enjoin or forbid. 2] For, thank God, [to-day] a child seven years old knows what the Church is, namely, the holy believers and lambs who hear the voice of their Shepherd. For the children pray thus: I believe in one holy [catholic or] Christian Church. 3] This holiness does not consist in albs, tonsures, long gowns, and other of their ceremonies devised by them beyond Holy Scripture, but in the Word of God and true faith.

Part III, Article XIII. How One is Justified before God, and of Good Works.

1] What I have hitherto and constantly taught concerning this I know not how to change in the least, namely, that by faith, as St. Peter says, we acquire a new and clean heart, and God will and does account us entirely righteous and holy for the sake of Christ, our Mediator. And although sin in the flesh has not yet been altogether removed or become dead, yet He will not punish or remember it.

2] And such faith, renewal, and forgiveness of sins is followed by good works. And what there is still sinful or imperfect also in them shall not be accounted as sin or defect, even [and that, too] for Christ’s sake; but the entire man, both as to his person and his works, is to be called and to be righteous and holy from pure grace and mercy, shed upon us [unfolded] and spread over us in Christ. 3] Therefore we cannot boast of many merits and works, if they are viewed apart from grace and mercy, but as it is written, 1 Cor. 1:31: He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, namely, that he has a gracious God. For thus all is well. 4] We say, besides, that if good works do not follow, faith is false and not true.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings for Sunday are: Psalm 150; Acts 8:26-40; 1 John 4:1-21; and John 15:1-8. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.

The Sunday Adult Bible Class will continue its study of the book of Hebrews, in chapter 10, verse 26ff.

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 continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us; for those who have been absent from us, for those who have wronged us, for our extended families and for believers who are alone and have no congregation. Continue to pray for Lutheran congregations and believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

A pot-luck dinner will be held at the church on Sunday. All are invited to join us for the meal and fellowship following our morning worship service.

A Church Council Meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 9.

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.

Scripture quotations are from Green’s Literal Translation (LITV) where so marked or from Green’s Modern King James Version (MKJV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.

Though hirelings flee before the wolves and thieves seek to steal and destroy God’s flock, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. He suffered and died for the sins of the world, rose again, and now seeks to gather His sheep into His fold – His Church – protect them from the assaults of the devil and his followers, and nourish and keep them unto life everlasting.

As Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (v. 27; cf v. 3-5). Jesus’ sheep hear His Word, trust in Him and follow Him. They do not follow strangers or accept strange doctrines, because they do not know the voice of strangers and recognize that strangers are not speaking the words of Jesus.

True believers follow Jesus and accept His words, His doctrine, the Bible. They recognize that the Bible is the voice of Jesus calling His sheep, leading them, guiding them and warning them of danger. They will not follow the teaching of those who pervert God’s Word, add to it or take from it.

Jesus knows those who are His. He calls them by name and brings them into His flock and fold. And His sheep know Jesus. They know that He is God Himself in human flesh, come into this world to redeem lost mankind. They know and believe that God forgives all their sins and accepts them for the sake of Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross. They trust in Jesus to give them eternal life.

And Jesus gives life to His sheep – both now and forever in His eternal kingdom. It is, as Jesus said: “I give to them eternal life, and they shall never ever perish, and not anyone shall pluck them out of My hand. My Father who gave them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one!” (v. 28-30).

Though thieves and robbers seek to enter the sheepfold by another way to prey upon God’s flock and attack and destroy God’s sheep, Jesus, our Good Shepherd, gave His life for the sheep to save us. He suffered and died on the cross and rose again from the dead to grant us life everlasting.

O Lord Jesus, Shepherd of the sheep, grant that we hear and follow only Your voice and turn from the voice of strangers. Grant us faith to trust in You and follow You unto life everlasting. Amen.

Scripture quotations from Green’s Modern King James Version (MKJV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.

And this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.  1 John 1:5-10 (MKJV)

What is it to walk in the light or to walk in darkness?

John answers this question for us when he says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

If we claim to be without sin or seek to hide and cover up our sin, we are walking in darkness. We are attempting to keep our sinfulness from being exposed by the light of God’s Word, and we deceive only ourselves but not God.

John wrote in his Gospel: “And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices truth comes to the Light so that his deeds may be made known, that they have been worked in God.”

This is why people would rather not read the Bible or attend church services where God’s Word is preached and proclaimed in its truth and purity. They would rather stay in the darkness than have the wickedness of their hearts and actions exposed for what they are.

Though God is light and is sinless and holy, to walk in the light does not mean that we, of ourselves are without sin. To walk in the light is to face the truth – to hear what God says of us and our sins and to look to Him for mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the atoning sacrifice of Messiah Jesus, God the Son and Son of man.

When John writes, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” he is saying, literally, that when we confess and say of our sins what God says of our sins (ομολογωμεν), that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Consider David’s words in the opening verses of Psalm 32 (v. 1-5): “Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not charge iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones became old through my roaring all the day long. For by day and by night Your hand was heavy on me; my sap is turned into the droughts of summer. Selah. I confessed my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgression to the LORD; and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

When David kept silent about His sins, he felt God’s wrath upon him; but when He acknowledged and confessed his sin, God forgave him. When David walked in darkness and hid from the light, he bore the guilt and weight of his sinful deeds. When He came into the light and confessed his sins, God forgave him, lifted the burden of guilt and cleansed him.

John wrote the words of this epistle so that we might not hide and cover up our sins – that we might not deceive ourselves and walk in darkness. Rather, John calls upon you and me to walk in the light and have our sinfulness exposed that the light of God’s mercy and grace may also shine upon us and we hear and take comfort in God’s forgiveness which was won for us for the sake of Jesus and His blood shed upon the cross for the sins of the world.

And how can God be faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? It is because “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world” (1John 2:1,2).

O Holy Spirit, shine upon our hearts with the light of Your Word. Reveal our sinfulness in thoughts, desires, words and deeds and move us to acknowledge and confess our sins to the Father, seeking and imploring His grace and forgiveness for the sake of the Son, who shed His blood on the cross to redeem us and is risen again and intercedes for us. In Christ Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

(Editor’s note: If you haven’t already seen this on our church website, I would encourage you to read it and join me in praying for the lost in this world.)

Like sheep without a shepherd

There’s a passage in the Gospel of Matthew which so well describes the people of this world: “And seeing the crowds, He was moved with pity for them, because they were tired and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (9:36 LITV).

How true these words remain! Like sheep without a shepherd and wandering aimlessly here and there looking for fulfillment in life but not finding it, trying this and trying that but without any lasting happiness or purpose: how well this depicts so many around us!

And, how sad! I wonder sometimes how people can live like that, not really knowing their Maker and why they are here in this world. Though they may be knowledgeable and wise, they are not wise in the things which really matter. Though they experience many temporary joys, they know no lasting peace and happiness!

Jesus was filled with pity — moved with compassion — for the people of His day whom He encountered during His earthly ministry. Though they may have been religious, most didn’t even know the God they claimed to worship. Though He was their Maker and came into the world to suffer and die to redeem them, they didn’t recognize Him. Instead of being concerned about their spiritual and eternal well being, their concern was only for earthly things. Instead of desiring the Bread of Life to nourish and give life to their souls, they desired only earthly bread to temporarily nourish their bodies. Though they thought they could see, they were blind to the truth taught throughout the Scriptures.

And nothing has changed. Many people are still religious, but few know their Maker and Redeemer. They seek the Lord, but not for forgiveness and life everlasting; they seek Him only when they desire help to meet their earthly needs. They think they see and know the truth, but they are spiritually blind, dead and in rebellion against their God and Maker.

It’s especially disheartening to see one’s own children or family members wandering about in life without knowing and following the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep and who seeks to gather them into His fold and lead them to nourishing pastures and springs of life-giving waters. Instead of seeking out their Shepherd and hearing Him call them through His Word, they wander off in other directions and pay no heed to the Word.

Jesus urged His disciples to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into the harvest; for, He said, the harvest truly is great but the workers are few. That is true today as well. There are so many wandering through life, clueless as to what it’s all about and not knowing the One who suffered, died and rose again and who now offers them pardon, forgiveness and life in fellowship with their Maker, both now and in eternity. But the workers are few — most are clueless themselves and are blind leaders of the blind. While many hold up Jesus as an example of a loving and caring life, few proclaim what Jesus did for all when He, in love, went to the cross and laid down His life for us wandering sheep to win for us forgiveness and life everlasting.

It is my prayer — and I hope it is yours too — that Jesus, the Lord of the Harvest, would raise up workers who, like Him, have pity on all the lost sheep of this world, and that they would go out and proclaim God’s Word — nothing more and nothing less — and call those wandering sheep back from their wandering ways to Jesus, the true Shepherd of their souls.

Jesus is the giver of life and only in Him can lost souls have life!

From the Lutheran Confessions

The Smalcald Articles

THE THIRD PART OF THE ARTICLES

Part III, Article X. Of Ordination and the Call.

1] If the bishops would be true bishops [would rightly discharge their office], and would devote themselves to the Church and the Gospel, it might be granted to them for the sake of love and unity, but not from necessity, to ordain and confirm us and our preachers; omitting, however, all comedies and spectacular display [deceptions, absurdities, and appearances] of unchristian [heathenish] parade and pomp. 2] But because they neither are, nor wish to be, true bishops, but worldly lords and princes, who will neither preach, nor teach, nor baptize, nor administer the Lord’s Supper, nor perform any work or office of the Church, and, moreover, persecute and condemn those who discharge these functions, having been called to do so, the Church ought not on their account to remain without ministers [to be forsaken by or deprived of ministers].

3] Therefore, as the ancient examples of the Church and the Fathers teach us, we ourselves will and ought to ordain suitable persons to this office; and, even according to their own laws, they have not the right to forbid or prevent us. For their laws say that those ordained even by heretics should be declared [truly] ordained and stay ordained [and that such ordination must not be changed], as St. Jerome writes of the Church at Alexandria, that at first it was governed in common by priests and preachers, without bishops.

Part III, Article XI. Of the Marriage of Priests.

1] To prohibit marriage, and to burden the divine order of priests with perpetual celibacy, they have had neither authority nor right [they have done out of malice, without any honest reason], but have acted like antichristian, tyrannical, desperate scoundrels [have performed the work of antichrist, of tyrants and the worst knaves], and have thereby caused all kinds of horrible, abominable, innumerable sins of unchastity [depraved lusts], in which they still wallow. 2] Now, as little as we or they have been given the power to make a woman out of a man or a man out of a woman, or to nullify either sex, so little have they had the power to [sunder and] separate such creatures of God, or to forbid them from living [and cohabiting] honestly in marriage with one another. 3] Therefore we are unwilling to assent to their abominable celibacy, nor will we [even] tolerate it, but we wish to have marriage free as God has instituted [and ordained] it, and we wish neither to rescind nor hinder His work; for Paul says, 1 Tim. 4:1ff , that this [prohibition of marriage] is a doctrine of devils.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings for Sunday are: Psalm 23; Acts 4:1-12; 1 John 3:16-24; and John 10:11-18. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.

The Sunday Adult Bible Class will continue its study of the book of Hebrews, in chapter 10, verse 19ff.

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 continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us, for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families and for believers who are alone and have no congregation. Continue to pray for Lutheran congregations and believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

A pot-luck picnic is being planned for after church on Sunday, May 6. Watch the bulletin and newsletter for more information.

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.

Scripture quotations from Green’s Literal Translation (LITV) or Modern King James Version (MKJV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.

Because Jesus Christ suffered and died upon the cross for the sins of the world and rose again on the third day, our hope as believers is in heaven. We look forward to that Day when our Lord and Savior returns and changes us to be like Him that we might live with Him forever in His heavenly kingdom!

And, since our hope is in heaven, we purify ourselves, even as our Lord and Savior is pure. We remember that Christ Jesus came into the world to redeem us from sin and undo the works of the devil. Therefore, since we have been redeemed through the precious blood of Jesus, we now seek to live for Him rather than continuing on in the wicked works of the devil.

In fact, the Word of God says: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous. He who practices sin is of the Devil, for the Devil sins from the beginning” (v. 7-8); and, “Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother” (v.9,10).

To put it simply, the one who continues on in sin and disobedience is not of God but of the devil; but the one who purifies himself and practices righteousness shows evidence that he has been born anew of God and trusts in Christ Jesus and his Savior.

It is true that one cannot become a Christian by works. But it is also true that one cannot be a Christian without works, for the fruit of faith in Jesus is amending one’s life and seeking to live in accord with God’s perfect will which is revealed to us in the Scriptures. A man is not justified by works, but a justified man works (cf. Eph. 2:8-10).

Therefore, since Christ died for our sins and is risen again, since God is gracious and merciful to us and forgives our sins and gives us a place in His heavenly kingdom, the Scriptures call upon each of us who trust in Christ Jesus to purify ourselves just as He is pure, to begin conforming ourselves into the image to which we were called, to live for Him who died for us and is risen again (cf. 2 Cor. 5:15; Rom. 8:29).

O Lord Jesus Christ, with Your shed blood, cleanse me from all my sins. By Your Spirit, purify me as You are pure and grant that I seek to conform myself to Your image. Amen.

Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations from Green’s Modern King James Version (MKJV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, Ind.

How true these words remain! Like sheep without a shepherd and wandering aimlessly here and there looking for fulfillment in life but not finding it, trying this and trying that but without any lasting happiness or purpose: how well this depicts so many around us!

And, how sad! I wonder sometimes how people can live like that, not really knowing their Maker and why they are here in this world. Though they may be knowledgeable and wise, they are not wise in the things which really matter. Though they experience many temporary joys, they know no lasting peace and happiness!

Jesus was filled with pity — moved with compassion — for the people of His day whom He encountered during His earthly ministry. Though they may have been religious, most didn’t even know the God they claimed to worship. Though He was their Maker and came into the world to suffer and die to redeem them, they didn’t recognize Him. Instead of being concerned about their spiritual and eternal well being, their concern was only for earthly things. Instead of desiring the Bread of Life to nourish and give life to their souls, they desired only earthly bread to temporarily nourish their bodies. Though they thought they could see, they were blind to the truth taught throughout the Scriptures.

And nothing has changed. Many people are still religious, but few know their Maker and Redeemer. They seek the Lord, but not for forgiveness and life everlasting; they seek Him only when they desire help to meet their earthly needs. They think they see and know the truth, but they are spiritually blind, dead and in rebellion against their God and Maker.

It’s especially disheartening to see one’s own children or family members wandering about in life without knowing and following the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep and who seeks to gather them into His fold and lead them to nourishing pastures and springs of life-giving waters. Instead of seeking out their Shepherd and hearing Him call them through His Word, they wander off in other directions and pay no heed to the Word.

Jesus urged His disciples to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into the harvest; for, He said, the harvest truly is great but the workers are few. That is true today as well. There are so many wandering through life, clueless as to what it’s all about and not knowing the One who suffered, died and rose again and who now offers them pardon, forgiveness and life in fellowship with their Maker, both now and in eternity. But the workers are few — most are clueless themselves and are blind leaders of the blind. While many hold up Jesus as an example of a loving and caring life, few proclaim what Jesus did for all when He, in love, went to the cross and laid down His life for us wandering sheep to win for us forgiveness and life everlasting.

It is my prayer — and I hope it is yours too — that Jesus, the Lord of the Harvest, would raise up workers who, like Him, have pity on all the lost sheep of this world, and that they would go out and proclaim God’s Word — nothing more and nothing less — and call those wandering sheep back from their wandering ways to Jesus, the true Shepherd of their souls.

Jesus is the giver of life and only in Him can lost souls have life!

 [Green's Literal Translation (LITV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr. All rights reserved.]

When praying to the LORD God for deliverance from the evil schemes of men and for God’s judgment upon the unbelieving and rebellious, David speaks of an important truth for all of us to consider.

Have you ever noticed how the ungodly prosper in this world? How they are greatly blessed in this life with wealth and earthly success while the believer often has nothing in comparison?

It is as the psalm says of “men of the world whose portion is in this life”: “Their belly You fill with Your treasure; they are satisfied with sons, and will leave their riches to their babes.” People of this world are often blessed of God with wealth and prosperity. They have, it would seem, all their heart could desire. They leave a rich inheritance for their children.

Believers, on the other hand, often have little or nothing in this world. They struggle to get by. Instead of a nice home, they may live in a small rented apartment. Instead of driving a luxury car, they may drive a used car and still have difficulty making their payments. Instead of leaving a rich inheritance for their children, they can’t even afford to help them get a good education.

But believers do have untold wealth! Though they may be poor in the goods of this world, they have their inheritance in heaven.

As the psalm says: “As for me, in righteousness I will look upon Your face; when I awaken, I shall be satisfied by Your image.”

Believers in Jesus, the promised Messiah and Savior of the world, have a better inheritance. They have the blessings of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting for the sake of Jesus Christ and His blood shed upon the cross for the sins of the world. They have the certainty of the resurrection – of being raised up righteous and without sin to forever be with the Lord Jesus. They have the rich inheritance of being raised up to look upon the face of the LORD God and being fully satisfied forever because His image will be restored in them. Believers will, as the catechism says in the explanation to the second article of the Apostles’ Creed, “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.”

So, though those who have turned from their sinful and rebellious ways to the LORD God for mercy and forgiveness in the Son may have little or nothing in this world, they truly have everything, for they shall be raised up on the Last Day in righteousness. They shall behold the face of their Lord and Savior. And they shall be in His image and share in the glories of His heavenly kingdom forevermore!

O LORD God, grant that I not become discouraged when I see the wicked prosper in this world. Keep my eyes upon You and the inheritance awaiting me in heaven for the sake of Christ Jesus and His glorious redemption. In His name I pray. Amen.

Scripture quotations from Green’s Literal Translation (LITV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.