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There is one simple thing that we are gathered to celebrate this morning: the fact that Christ is risen from the dead. These simple words are the backbone of Christianity. There is no forgiveness without these words, no salvation without these words, no eternal life without these words.
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It was 3 pm on Friday, and Jesus was dead. This is most certainly true. He had undergone the agony of Roman scourging, mockery, torture, and execution. He did not deserve this death; this cross was placed upon Him. We did it to Him. Our sins did. For us He died. The Romans were especially efficient at these things. Had the scourging not done it, the crucifixion would have. And had the crucifixion not done it, the spear thrust into His side would have. Instead, it merely showed that Jesus was already dead.
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AboutWhy does the Pastor preach? Scripture explains that the role of preaching the Word of God is how saving faith is created: “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ … So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:14-17). The Augsburg Confession, seeing this connection between the Preaching Office and saving faith, summarizes Scripture on the Office of the Holy Ministry in this way: “To obtain [saving, justifying] faith, God instituted the Office of Preaching, giving the Gospel and the Sacraments. Through these, as through means, He gives the Holy Spirit who produces faith, where and when He wills, in those who hear the Gospel. It teaches that we have a gracious God, not through our merit but through Christ’s merit, when we so believe” (AC V 1-3). The whole reason the Pastor preaches is so saving faith can be created, so we know that “we have a gracious God” who loves us and has saved us from our sin by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Archives
December 2019
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