Luther points out that preachers must practice what they preach so no one can discredit them because of their actions, as in Jesus saying, “Which of you can accuse me of sin?” How many religious leaders have we seen fall from their pedestals because of sin? Too many.
One point of Luther is that a corrupt tree is known by its fruit. When one shows anger, bitterness, impatience, cruelty, and judgment because their ideas and ways are being rejected, that’s not the sign of a good tree. The fruits of the Spirit are peace, kindness, goodness, hope, love, etc., even in the face of rejection – like Jesus.
What does it take to be of God? Doesn’t baptism make us a child of God? Or not? Is it one of the sacramental forms we cherish and perform, but isn’t effectual without the trust/belief/life component? And what does it mean to hear God’s Word? If someone puts a new interpretation on the Bible that shakes the foundation of someone’s belief, there is great resistance and fear when the ground you are standing on is being shaken. Many Christians still seem to stand on the Ten Commandments as their foundation rather than on Jesus Christ. Luther says the Word is not a word of the law but the gospel of Christ, and this is the only way Christ could be distributed to the world. Jesus couldn’t reach everyone in bodily form, so He is the Word in the gospel that is given to those who will hear it, in my words - above the din of the law.
Brother Martin claims the evangelical office of the ministry is nothing but glorifying God. What he means by this is that people come to Jesus because He is the image of kindness, healing, peace, commitment, loyalty, love, and concern for human need. We don’t need to honor ourselves or what we preach when facing opposition, but we should always honor God in our teaching of His grace, knowing we are assured of God’s honor to us.
Luther points out that when Jesus says He keeps God’s Word, ‘keeps’ does not mean doing or following the works of the law but rather holding the Word in the heart by faith so nothing can separate us from it, not even death. This is why Christians do not fear bodily death, because we know we approach death only as sleep. Ultimately, when we speak the truth about God, those with hardened hearts will only resist more furiously.
Peace - PWM
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Those Who Hear God’s Word – John 8:46-59
How hard it must have been for Jews who were trying to be faithful to the Scriptures to hear this rebel prophet tell them their father was Satan and they were not of God. He said they didn’t understand God’s word, even though they were the experts in what was written in the Scriptures. Jesus’ approach wasn’t the most delicate and would make anyone defensive. Does that give us permission to be less than delicate in telling literalists and legalists they may know the words but they don’t understand what the Bible means? I guess that depends on whether you want to get crucified or not. Jesus infers that just because you read and know the words in the Scriptures does not mean you know God.
Luther points out that preachers must practice what they preach so no one can discredit them because of their actions, as in Jesus saying, “Which of you can accuse me of sin?” How many religious leaders have we seen fall from their pedestals because of sin? Too many.
One point of Luther is that a corrupt tree is known by its fruit. When one shows anger, bitterness, impatience, cruelty, and judgment because their ideas and ways are being rejected, that’s not the sign of a good tree. The fruits of the Spirit are peace, kindness, goodness, hope, love, etc., even in the face of rejection – like Jesus.
What does it take to be of God? Doesn’t baptism make us a child of God? Or not? Is it one of the sacramental forms we cherish and perform, but isn’t effectual without the trust/belief/life component? And what does it mean to hear God’s Word? If someone puts a new interpretation on the Bible that shakes the foundation of someone’s belief, there is great resistance and fear when the ground you are standing on is being shaken. Many Christians still seem to stand on the Ten Commandments as their foundation rather than on Jesus Christ. Luther says the Word is not a word of the law but the gospel of Christ, and this is the only way Christ could be distributed to the world. Jesus couldn’t reach everyone in bodily form, so He is the Word in the gospel that is given to those who will hear it, in my words - above the din of the law.
Brother Martin claims the evangelical office of the ministry is nothing but glorifying God. What he means by this is that people come to Jesus because He is the image of kindness, healing, peace, commitment, loyalty, love, and concern for human need. We don’t need to honor ourselves or what we preach when facing opposition, but we should always honor God in our teaching of His grace, knowing we are assured of God’s honor to us.
Luther points out that when Jesus says He keeps God’s Word, ‘keeps’ does not mean doing or following the works of the law but rather holding the Word in the heart by faith so nothing can separate us from it, not even death. This is why Christians do not fear bodily death, because we know we approach death only as sleep. Ultimately, when we speak the truth about God, those with hardened hearts will only resist more furiously.
Peace - PWM
Luther points out that preachers must practice what they preach so no one can discredit them because of their actions, as in Jesus saying, “Which of you can accuse me of sin?” How many religious leaders have we seen fall from their pedestals because of sin? Too many.
One point of Luther is that a corrupt tree is known by its fruit. When one shows anger, bitterness, impatience, cruelty, and judgment because their ideas and ways are being rejected, that’s not the sign of a good tree. The fruits of the Spirit are peace, kindness, goodness, hope, love, etc., even in the face of rejection – like Jesus.
What does it take to be of God? Doesn’t baptism make us a child of God? Or not? Is it one of the sacramental forms we cherish and perform, but isn’t effectual without the trust/belief/life component? And what does it mean to hear God’s Word? If someone puts a new interpretation on the Bible that shakes the foundation of someone’s belief, there is great resistance and fear when the ground you are standing on is being shaken. Many Christians still seem to stand on the Ten Commandments as their foundation rather than on Jesus Christ. Luther says the Word is not a word of the law but the gospel of Christ, and this is the only way Christ could be distributed to the world. Jesus couldn’t reach everyone in bodily form, so He is the Word in the gospel that is given to those who will hear it, in my words - above the din of the law.
Brother Martin claims the evangelical office of the ministry is nothing but glorifying God. What he means by this is that people come to Jesus because He is the image of kindness, healing, peace, commitment, loyalty, love, and concern for human need. We don’t need to honor ourselves or what we preach when facing opposition, but we should always honor God in our teaching of His grace, knowing we are assured of God’s honor to us.
Luther points out that when Jesus says He keeps God’s Word, ‘keeps’ does not mean doing or following the works of the law but rather holding the Word in the heart by faith so nothing can separate us from it, not even death. This is why Christians do not fear bodily death, because we know we approach death only as sleep. Ultimately, when we speak the truth about God, those with hardened hearts will only resist more furiously.
Peace - PWM
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