Gerhard and Walther

Grant me Your grace that I from henceforth daily sing praise to You and thank You for all Your benefits with my mouth and heart. Grant that I praise You at all times for Your great grace and glorify and offer praise to You. (Tobit 8:18).—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:384

True Christians, are those in whom Jesus, makes a beginning of such love, but they never bring it to perfection. It is, therefore, evil delusion when a person thinks he is able to justify himself before God and make himself holy by the fulfillment of the commandment to love the neighbor.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 689.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Nor must we overlook the fact that as he was on the point of refreshing the multitude, he gave thanks. He gave thanks in order to teach us always to give thanks for the favors we have received from heaven, and in order to impress upon us how much he himself rejoices at our spiritual refreshment.—The Venerable Bede, Exposition of the Gospel of St. Mark.

Gerhard and Walther

The praise of God has to extend itself through our entire lifetime, for just as we receive God’s blessings throughout our entire life, so also it is proper that we, throughout our entire life, thank God the Lord… Sirach 51:15 I praise Your name without ceasing.—Johann Gerhard,  Schola Pietatis III:382.

Most people believe they are saved by fulfilling what they think are their duties toward their neighbor. They completely forget about the necessity of fearing, loving, and trusting God above all things. Yet focusing on the neighbor while ignoring God is nothing but self-deception.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 685. 

Patristic Quote of the Day

(On why Jesus would have “passed by” the terrified disciples in the boat): What is the explanation, there, of his wish to bypass those persons whom nevertheless he was prepared to encourage when they were in despair? His intent in passing by them was to serve the purpose of eliciting those outcries in response to which he would then come to bring relief.—St. Augustine, Harmony of the Gospels 2.47

Catechesis: Justification

Christ’s glory becomes more brilliant when we teach that we make the most of Him as our Mediator and Atoning Sacrifice. Godly consciences see that the most abundant consolation is offered to them in this doctrine.—Ap V:177.

A Sad and Yet Joyous Day

Today Pr. Gleason retired from St. Paul’s, but thanks be to God, he and Cindy are not going anywhere (other than to enjoy more frequent visits with grandchildren!). Here are some pics from the Divine Service, followed by my comments on Pr. Gleason’s retirement during the reception:









In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings we learn that it was the elves who woke the trees up to talk, that they might join with them in their marvel at creation. There is something decidedly elvish about Pr. Gleason’s ministry. Wherever he has gone, he has wakened creation to praise.

Think of our sanctuary. Before Pr. Gleason, the doors between the sanctuary and the narthex were simply mute. They glowed amber, but they said nothing. Once Pastor was done with them, they proclaimed in vibrant color and image. They shouted the glory of the Holy Trinity: Holy Father, Holy Son (the Lamb of God) and Holy Spirit, who is never separated from holy Church. Pr. Gleason worked his elvish magic and woke them to praise.

Or think of what he effected at our dear sister church, Trinity Worden. You remember the bare colored glass window? Now the building itself preaches the life of Christ around the bottom and the life of Christ in His saints around the top in joyous color and image.

Even in my office, when I go to work in the morning, a beautiful stained glass that Pr. Gleason gave me right after I started my podcast. Vivid gold and blue and Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum around the border, with the Bible open to John 1 (where I started my podcast!) in the center. Pastor Gleason preaches to me every time I walk into the room!

And do I need to tell you that this is exactly what he does in his preaching? Through his finely crafted homilies, he has painted our Savior before our eyes. He draws the readings together that through their light we might marvel with him at the glory of Christ, shining before us. Through him, St. Paul’s word came to life for us “before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” Thus he has opened our lips to praise and moved our hearts to join him in his adoration of the Holy Trinity.

The combo of artist and pastor has thus done an elvish job upon us all, aided by Cindy’s doing in song what he has done with the visual arts, amplifying the joy.

And his gentle piety is as beautiful as his sermons. Just ask the home-bound and they will tell you of what a blessing a visit from Pr. Gleason is. Brother, you have been among us an ikon of Christ and for that we join in giving all glory and praise to Him to whom you have so faithfully directed us: Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord, for Pastor Gleason’s elvish touch! Amen.

Gerhard and Walther

Just as the sanctified fruit of God should exist in all our actions, so also it should exist in our praise and exaltation of God. We must remember that we are standing before the throne and praising Him before whose great majesty the holy angels tremble and humble themselves.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:377.

Behold, dear Christian, if you want to know how to divide and use the Gospel and the Law in your heart for salvation, you must ask God for this blessed ability. The Holy Ghost is the only teacher who can teach you correctly.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 680.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Five loaves and fishes two he orders placed

As food before the people thronging round

Their master, by their hunger undeterred,

Who mindful not of food forgot their towns,

Their forts, their markets, hamlets, trading-posts

And cities, glad to feed upon his words.

The festive gathering swarms upon the plain;

By hundreds they recline in friendly bands,

And round the countless boards they range themselves

To dine on two small fish and scanty crusts

He multiplies—know now that he is God!

—Prudentius, Hymn to the Trinity

Catechesis: Justification

When the heart is cheered and quickened through faith in this way, it receives the Holy Spirit. He renews us, so that we are able to keep the Law, to love God and God’s Word, to be submissive to God in afflictions, to be chaste, to love our neighbor, and so on. Even though these works are far from the perfection of the Law, on account of faith they please God.—Ap V:172.

Gerhard and Walther

We are not to look only upon one of the particular benefits that God the Lord has shown us personally, but also upon what our neighbor has received from God and thank God for those benefits and not just those that God has shown us. For since we are obligated to pray for the neighbor, so also we are obligated to thank God when He hears us and helps the neighbor out of his need.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis, III:376

Wo to Christian preachers if they have nothing to preach but the Law! Their hearers will become hungry by it, but not satisfied. They will be startled out of their security, but they will never come to peace.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 678

Patristic Quote of the Day

As he broke up the five loaves and two fishes, and distributed them to his disciples, he opened their minds to understand everything that had been written about him in the law of Moses and in the prophets and the psalms.—The Venerable Bede, Exposition on the Gospel of Mark 2.2

Catechesis: Justification

Nevetheless, scarcely a weak and feeble fulfilling of the law happens even in the saints.—Ap V:169

Gerhard and Walther

Thanksgiving actually is directed toward the blessings that we have received from God the Lord. But still there is such a close relationship between praising God and thanksgiving that nobody can thank the Lord without praising and glorifying His name at the same time. Also, nobody can actually render to God the praise due Him without at the same time thanking Him for His goodness and blessings.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:374. 

The preachers, called by God through the Church, stand in a divine office, not as slaves of men, but as servants of Christ and as ones sent by God the Most High.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 673,4.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Therefore, do not say: “Why was John allowed to die?” For what occurred was not a death, but a crown, not an end, but the beginning of a greater life. Learn to think and live like a Christian. You will not only remain unharmed by these events, but you will reap the greatest benefit.—St. John Chrysostom, On the Providence of God 22:10

Catechesis: Justification

We grant also this, that alms merit many favors from God, lessen punishments, and merit our defense in the dangers of sin and of death, as we have said a little before about the entire repentance.—Ap V:157

Gerhard and Walther

To sum up, He [Jesus] began everything with prayer and concluded everything with thanksgiving in order to teach us that we much more are obligated to thank God the Lord for all His benefits and blessings.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:370.

Sanctification, on the contrary, does not happen suddenly. It occurs gradually, and it continues until the end of our life. Justification is immediately perfect. Each one who is justified instantly receives the full forgiveness of his sins, the complete righteousness of Christ, and a new status as a child of God. Sanctification, which follows justification, begins weakly and grows until death, but it never comes to perfection.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 671.

Patristic Quote of the Day

What was a lesser sin for him became the occasion of a greater sin. By God’s strict judgment it happened to him that, as a result of his craving for the adulteress, whom he knew he ought to refuse, he caused the shedding of the blood of the prophet he knew was pleasing to God.—Venerable Bede, Exposition of Mark 2.23.

Catechesis: Justification

Afterward, even we concede that the punishments by which we are chastised are soothed. This happens by our prayers, by our good works, and finally by our entire repentance, according to 1 Cor. 11:31, “But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged.”—Ap V:147

Gerhard and Walther

All saints have exercised themselves in all diligence in proclaiming God’s praise and in thanksgiving.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:366.

A person in whom the process of sanctification has begun regards the pleasures of the world as vanity. Therefore, he no longer conforms himself to the world. The pleasure he receives from God’s Word and edifying fellowship with zealous Christians is more dear to him.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 669.

Patristic Quote of the Day

The request was abominable but she persuaded him, and he gave the order to bridle John’s holy tongue. But even now it continues to speak. For even today in every church, you can hear John still crying aloud through the Gospels and saying, “It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother Philip.” He cut off his head, but he could not cut off the voice. He curbed the tongue, but he did not curb the accusation.—St. John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instructions 10:27.

Catechesis: Justification

To deny that there must be a sure promise of the forgiveness of sins would completely abolish the Gospel.—Ap V:143.

One of those…

… “how come this never registered before?” moments. Was reading in Acts 17 and of course the beautiful verse about the Bereans being more noble than the Thessalonians, and how they received the Word with readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. But what struck me for the first time was the “therefore” at the start of verse 12 “Therefore many of them believed.” They believed because upon hearing the Gospel from the Apostles’ mouth, they checked out the message against the Old Testament Scriptures, and those Scriptures convinced that the Apostles were preaching them the truth! O Lord, give us a Berean heart to ask always: “Where is this written?” And then to believe the promises of Your holy Word! Amen.

Gerhard and Walther

When we take to heart the many great blessings of God, first, one finds cause for giving praise and glory to God. For as many blessings as God the Lord shows to our body and soul, that’s how many matters and reasons for divine praise and inward thanksgiving pass before our eyes.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:361.

Whoever thinks he is unable to accept some small part of Holy Scripture rejects all of it. Whoever does not want to recognize the Old Testament as God’s Word thereby rejects the New Testament, for the latter is grounded in the former.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 664.

Patristic Quote of the Day

A girl dances, a mother rages, there is rash swearing in the midst of the luxurious feast, and an impious fulfillment of what is sworn.—St. Augustine, Harmony of the Gospels 2.33 (on the death of the Baptist)

Catechesis: Justification

For the following is sure, and none of the gates of hell can overthrow it: the preaching of the Law is not enough in preaching of repentance. This is true because the Law works wrath and always accuses. But the preaching of the Gospel should be added so that forgiveness of sins is granted us.—Ap V:139

Gerhard and Walther

So then, we rightly now should also do the will of God in the same manner here upon earth as we sing and proclaim His praise. Just as God the Lord never ceases to do good for us, so also we should never cease to thank Him.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:356.

A person who does know if he has true faith and stands in grace with God is certainly in a miserable state…. Conversely, there is no one more fortunate than the one who knows he stands in grace before God. With joy he can lie down at night, for he knows he is placing himself in the arms of his God, who appoints His angels to watch over him.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 659, 660.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Now, do not make this cold reply: “What does it matter to me? I have nothing in common with him.” With the devil alone we have nothing in common, but with all humanity we have many things in common. All partake of the same nature with us. They inhabit the same earth. They are nourished with the same food. They have the same Lord. They have received the same laws. They are invited to the same blessings with ourselves. Let us not say then that we have nothing in common with them.—St. John Chrysostom, Concerning the Statues 1.32

Catechesis: Justification

But this general judgment, which interprets the whole law, must be retained, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”—Ap V:135

You know…

…it has been much to long since I observed what a wonderful game Liverpool is, and how it just requires the exact amount of ingenuity and calculation to win. Well, modesty forbids me saying more… 

Gerhard and Walther

There is nothing more powerful to lighten the wearisome load of this life’s labors than to praise and extol God. For thereby the heart of man is revived, it is drawn away from earthly things and directed to God—the Highest Good. Whoever steadfastly praises and extols God the Lord lives with his mind in heaven.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:354,5.

What he [the publican] was really saying was that he took refuge, not in God’s goodness and grace, but in His grace of the atonement through the work of the Savior. That is the firm foundation upon which justification rests.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 657.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Jesus came as the son of a carpenter. He was not physically attractive, just as the prophets had predicted of him. He was merely a carpenter, making ploughs and yokes, and instructing us by such symbols of righteousness to avoid an inactive life.—St. Justin Martyr, Dialog with Trypho 7.9

Catechesis: Justification

Furthermore, we have shown already several times what we mean by faith. For do not mean passive knowledge, such as the devils have. Instead, we mean that resists the terrors of conscience and encourages and comforts terrified hearts. Such faith is not an easy matter, as the adversaries dream. Neither is it a human power, but it is a divine power.—Ap V:128, 129.

Gerhard and Walther

That is also why God the Lord requires thanksgiving of us. Namely, not because He, on account of this, Himself becomes more exalted and greater—for He is and at all times remains perfect and blessed on His own, whether we thank Him or not. Instead, so that we, as a result, thereby become prepared to receive from Him ever more and greater gifts.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:354.

The debt of all people’s sin has already been paid by Christ, God has been reconciled to them, the prison of God’s wrath and hell has been opened, the pardon of everyone has been accomplished, and through the Gospel it has been proclaimed and offered to all. What must a person do to receive all of this with joy? Nothing, absolutely nothing, but receive it gratefully.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 655.

Catechesis: Justification

Harmony in the Church cannot last unless pastors and churches mutually overlook and pardon many things.—Ap V:122

Patristic Quote of the Day

This is the cause of all evils, the not knowing the Scriptures. We go into battle without arms, and how ought we to come off safe?—St. John Chrysostom, Homily 9 on Colossians

Congratulations to Mr. Joseph Gerth…

…St. Paul’s new principal. He and Elsa are such a blessing to us!

Gerhard and Walther

What then could be more noble or better than for a poor person upon earth to direct to heaven the same activity along with the holy angels and the elect? That he can, at the same time, step into the chorus of the holy angels and elect and simultaneously lift up his voice to God in praise along with them?…Praise of God is the true attribute and characteristic of a true Christian.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:351,2.

According to our Gospel, justification is not an act a person performs himself, but something done in him by God. It does not begin in a person’s heart, but in the heart of God.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 653.

Catechesis: Justification

If anyone should cast away love, even though he has great faith, he does not keep his faith. For he does not keep the Holy Spirit.—Ap V:98

Justification is not the approval of a particular work, but of the entire person.—Ap V:101

Patristic Quote of the Day

I have entered into these details, to show you the grandeur of the luminaries, and to make you see that, in the inspired words, there is not one idle syllable.—St. Basil the Great, Hexameron 6:11

A Rather Packed Sunday

After assisting at both early and late liturgies, we had Joe and Jenny Herl over for lunch (and a much, much too short time of visiting), sent them back off to the Church picnic to hopefully connect with other friends, and then we headed down to Keysport for a belated family birthday for Evangeline, Sawyer and Lauren. 

Gerhard and Walther

What greater and nobler thing could a person do in this life than to praise God, his Creator?—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:350.

Whoever does not believe the Gospel that was sealed by the old miracles would hardly be convinced by new miracles. Indeed, had God continued to work these gifts and miracles in the Church they would have become contemptible, dismissed as something commonplace and considered to be no longer convincing to most people.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 646.

Catechesis: Justification

We cannot set our works against God’s wrath and justice. Works cannot overcome the terrors of sin. But the terrors of sin are overcome through faith alone. Only Christ the Mediator is to be presented by faith against God’s wrath and judgment.—Ap V:93

Patristic Quote of the Day

Now twenty-four hours fill up the space of one day—we mean of a day and of a night; and if, at the time of the solstices, they have not both an equal length, the time marked by Scripture does not the less circumscribe their duration. It is as though it said: twenty-four hours measure the space of a day—St. Basil the Great, Hexameron, Homily 2, par. 8. 

Gerhard and Walther

We sin every day. That is why it is necessary to pray for the forgiveness of sins every day. We daily receive God’s blessings, indeed hourly and with every blink of the eye. That’s why it is right and proper that we also thank God the Lord for them—indeed hourly and with every blink of the eye.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:345.

All of these miraculous gifts had a purpose: to confirm and seal the new revelation before the world in a divine way… It is not surprising that such miraculous gifts are no longer found in the Church. The New Testament has been divinely sealed.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 646

Catechesis: Justification

In true terror, heaping up works upon works, they eventually despair because they find no work important and precious enough. The Law always accuses and produces wrath.—Ap V:83

Patristic Quote of the Day

I know the laws of allegory, though less by myself than from the works of others. There are those truly, who do not admit the common sense of the Scriptures, for whom water is not water, but some other nature, who see in a plant, in a fish, what their fancy wishes, who change the nature of reptiles and of wild beasts to suit their allegories, like the interpreters of dreams who explain visions in sleep to make them serve their own ends. For me grass is grass; plant, fish, wild beast, domestic animal, I take all in the literal sense.—St. Basil the Great, Homily IX Hexameron

And a very happy birthday to my oldest daughter, Lauren!

Hard to believe the child is actually 34 this year! We are so proud of her (wife of one; mom to six with the seventh on the way; and absolutely unflappable, no matter how life messes with her plans). She’s just a wee bit crazy and we love that about her! So thankful the Lord saw fit to unite her and her hubby, Dean. 

Gerhard and Walther

Every proper prayer has to have its beginning from true repentance… What are the tears that the saints shed when they pray other than an indication of proper inward repentance?—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:337.

Those who are lost are lost solely because they did not want to be rescued. Therefore, whoever knows he has an obstinate heart but still feels a secret longing for God’s grace and deliverance from sins is certainly not yet irretrievably lost. Every good thing in us—even the sinner’s longing for deliverance—is a work of God’s grace.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 641.

Patristic Quote of the Day

When he promised a kingdom to the patriarchs, the seed took root in them; with the prophets it sprang up; with the apostles it grew tall; in the Church it became a great tree putting forth innumerable branches laden with gifts. And now you too must take the wings of the psalmist’s dove, gleaming gold in the rays of divine sunlight, and fly to rest for ever among those sturdy, faithful branches.—St. Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 98.

Catechesis: Justification

But when obedience happens in those who have been justified, it merits other great rewards. God puts His saints to work in various ways.—Ap V:76, 77.

Gerhard and Walther

Whoever does not pray, in him faith will ultimately disappear. Love is lost, hope, humility, and all Christian virtues that have to be sustained with prayer.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:329.

But doesn’t the Bible also clearly say that God had really hardened many people? Yes, but it also emphasizes that God hardens only those who have already hardened themselves by despising grace.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 638.

Patristic Quote of the Day

It is up to us to sow this mustard seed in our minds and let it grow up within us into a great tree of understanding, reaching up to heaven and elevating all our faculties; then it will spread out branches of knowledge, the pungent savor of its fruits will make our mouths burn, its fiery kernel will kindle a blaze within us, inflaming our hearts, and the taste of it will dispel our unenlightened repugnance. Yes, it is true, a mustard seed is indeed an image of the Kingdom of God.—St. Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 98.

Catechesis: Justification

We teach that rewards have been offered and promised for the works of believers. We teach that good works have merit, not for forgiveness of sins, for grace or for justification (for these we receive only through faith), but for other rewards, bodily and spiritual, in this life and after this life. For Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:8 “Each will receive his wages according to his labor.” —Ap V:73.

Gerhard and Walther

Since Christ, God’s Son—who had no need—had everything in His hand (John 3:35), still prayed fervently, should not we also pray, we who need everything and have to obtain everything from the mighty hand of God?—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:326.

We see here a vivid example of a person who is obdurate. Such a person has fallen so far that he no longer knows what makes for his peace. The Word of God is preached to him in vain. It no longer makes an impression upon him. His heart is as indifferent as a stone.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 636.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Then we are righteous when we confess that we are sinners, and that our righteousness stands not in our own merit, but in God’s mercy.—St. Jerome, Against the Pelagians I:13 a.

Catechesis: Justification

Here’s what we ought to understand: People regenerated through faith not only receive the Holy Spirit, and have motives that agree with God’s Law, but we ought also to realize that they are far distant from the Law’s perfection. This point has the greatest importance by far.—Ap V:54

Sawyer’s birthday always reminds me…

…of these videos. I did them for CPH while Lauren was in labor and I was itching to get to the hospital! So even though I was talking Apocrypha, my mind was all on meeting grandchild #1.

https://youtu.be/kby7q2jtylM

https://youtu.be/erdbSYrlSbg

https://youtu.be/erdbSYrlSbg

https://youtu.be/88X8OoV0118

https://youtu.be/tuj0A_8sHds

Today Oldest Grandson…

…Sawyer Dean Herberts, turns 9. He was born upon the same day as my own maternal grandmother, just 124 years apart! Happy birthday, Sawyer! You are such a great big brother and helper to your mom and dad

Gerhard and Walther

All the saints prayed diligently, and, as God’s friends, they eagerly spoke with God the Lord with prayer. Anywhere in the Holy Scriptures where a true believer and saint is mentioned, at the same time, there is an announcement that he prayed to God.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:325.

This (1 Cor. 10:11) should serve as a warning for us, lest we be offended by the falls into sin that still take place in the true Church, as if the Church would be false because of sin. It remains the true Church when God’s pure Word is preached there and the Sacraments are administered according to His institution.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 629.

Patristic Quote of the Day

He speaks in parables that he may also make his discourse more vivid, and fix the memory of it in them more perfectly, and bring the things before their sight, as did the prophets also.—St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on St. Matthew, 44.

Catechesis: Justification

The flesh distrusts God, trusts in present things, seeks human aid in trouble, even contrary to God’s will. It flees from suffering, which it ought to bear because of God’s commands. It doubts God’s mercy and so on. The Holy Spirit in our hearts fights against such tendencies in order to suppress and kill them and to produce new spiritual motives. —Ap V:49

Gerhard and Walther

The faith by which we receive and seize the salvation in Christ produces prayer, so that we longingly sigh for the promised inheritance of eternal life. So then whoever in true faith prays for this shall also obtain it.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:325. 

That is why we should never be offended by the fact that the Bible presents even the holiest of people as sinners. We must recognize God’s wisdom in portraying them in this way. By revealing the sins that have flourished among people from the beginning of the world, God shows us that human righteousness and worthiness are nothing but an empty dream, that every person is a sinner, that even the most godly cannot stand before the heavenly Father in their own righteousness, that free grace is man’s only refuge, and that there is no salvation and no blessedness outside of Christ.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 626,7.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Let us observe, dear friends, how something like resurrection is so often anticipated in the course of nature…. The sower goes forth and casts into the earth each of the seeds. They fall into the dry and bare ground and decay. Then out of their decay the majesty of God’s providence raises them up, and from being one seed, many grow up and bring forth fruit.—St. Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 2

Catechesis: Justification

It can now be seen much more clearly that starting to fulfill the Law does not justify, because such fulfillment is only accepted on account of faith. Nor must we trust that we are accounted righteous before God by our own perfection and fulfilling of the law, but rather for Christ’s sake… If the regenerate afterward think that they will be accepted because of the fulfilling of the Law, when would a conscience be certain that it pleased God? We never satisfy the Law! So we must always run back to the promise.—Ap V:40, 43, 44.

Gerhard and Walther

Prayer is a golden ladder on which we are able to climb up to heaven, and can begin to walk and in a spiritual manner, live in heaven. If we lift up our hearts to God with prayer and walk about Him daily and converse with Him, we will thereby indeed be more and more drawn away from the earthly. We will ever more learn the practices and speech of heaven.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:321.

Complete equality would hardly change earth into heaven; rather, it would make the earth a hell. God thus wrote the commandment: “You shall not steal” into the hearts of all people, publicly and solemnly calling it down from fiery Sinai through His elect servant and messenger, Moses.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 623 [Note, this entire selection is remarkably apropos to our current day and the thinking that inequality in wealth is the source of all miseries!]

Patristic Quote of the Day

It would be through a man that humanity would be set free to return to the Lord, leaving the adversary in those bonds by which he himself had been fettered, that is, sin. For when Satan is bound, man is set free.—St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.21.3

Catechesis: Justification

Faith alone looks upon the promise. It knows that because of the promise, it is absolutely that God forgives, because Christ has not died in vain. Such faith overcomes the terrors of sin and death. If anyoone doubts whether sins are forgiven him, he dishonors Christ. For he judges that his sin is greater or more effective than Christ’s death and promise.—Ap V:27, 28.

Gerhard and Walther

Whatever good and salutary thing a person is able to think about or express comes to us through prayer.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:316.

Thus you can rejoice if God has given you a good understanding, but do not seek personal glory in this. Instead, you must be content on earth with your steward’s wages, with nourishment and clothing. Turn your gift to God’s glory and the good of your neighbor, and in heaven you will find a rich eternal harvest from your brief sowing.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 620.

Patristic Quote of the Day

In this way humanity was rescued from the clutches of its possessor by the tender mercy of God the Father, who had compassion on his own handiwork, and gave to it salvation, restoring it by means of the Word, Christ, in order that humanity might learn from this actual event that they receive incorruptibility not of themselves, but by the free gift of God.—St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.21.3.

Catechesis: Justification

We profess that the work of the Lw must be begun in us and that it must be kept continually more and more. At the same time we also speak about both spiritual movements and outward good works. Therefore, the adversaries falsely charge that our theologians do not teach good works.—Ap V:15

O MY

As in, scrumptious! Dinner tonight? Cindi made “appetizers” of some left-over sockeye salmon, for which she stirred up an Alfredo sauce to top. Then she fried up some skirt steak (yum! Thank you, Matt! We learned to love skirt steak down in Mexico) AND somehow managed to grill three chuck-eyes the same time, nice and thick and RED, but seared crunchy on the outside. And that Alfredo sauce just might have made its way onto the steaks also. Oh, and I think I forgot the pork belly that was also part of the appetizer. Sigh. All this self-denial on this “restricted” diet is soooo hard. (Snicker, snicker). 

Gerhard and Walther

Prayer is our spiritual armor with which we not only guard ourselves and are able to protect ourselves against the enemies’ might (Eph. 6:18), but also with it we can battle and fight against the enemy (Rom. 15:30).—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis, III:314.

From the moment mankind fell, the reason for man’s destruction has been that he wants to be his own lord. Every person, by nature, thinks or lives as if he were convinced he is an absolute lord over everything that belongs to him.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 617.

Patristic Quote of the Day

James and John his brother he calls “sons of thunder.” Why? To show that he was the same One who, in giving the old covenant, altered names, who called Abram “Abraham” and Sarai “Sarah” and Jacob “Israel.”—St. John Chrysostom, Homily 19 on St. John

Catechesis: Justification

Nor, indeed, is this [saving] faith an idle knowledge, neither can it coexist with mortal sin. It is a work of the Holy Spirit, by which we are freed from death and terrified minds are encouraged and brought to life.—Ap IV:115