Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

“And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” John 4:27-42

One of the greatest proofs of the truthfulness of the Bible is how accurately it describes you and me and the lost and sinful world in which we live. The Bible says of me, and of you as well: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5); “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21); “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9); “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20); “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19).

Listen to the description in Romans 3:9-20: “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

We may not like this description of ourselves and might like to paint a more favorable portrait. But, if we are honest about it, we must admit that the description of the Bible is accurate and true. Every one of us is, by nature, selfish and inclined to evil. Not one of us is righteous. The sins we haven’t committed in deed we probably have committed in our thoughts and desires.

Even though we may not like the Bible’s revelation of our utter sinfulness, it proves the Bible true. What other book or religious writing so accurately describes the human heart or the results of sin in the world? Other religious writings would make us look at least a little bit good. They would direct us to reform and change as if we were capable of such reform and change. They would make it look as through we can make things right in this world. Only the Bible reveals our utter depravity and sinfulness. And the Bible reveals the coming fiery judgment of God upon this world so that He can create – or recreate – a new heavens and a new earth unravaged by sin and evil and death.

At the well in Samaria, Jesus revealed to a woman there her utter sinfulness. She didn’t have to tell him she had had five husbands and was now living together with a man who was not her husband; Jesus told her. As a result, she realized that Jesus was more than just a man.

When Jesus told her He was the promised Messiah – the Christ – she went and told the men of her city: “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” And they came to see Jesus. Note that this woman did not present an elaborate theological argument to convince her town’s people that Jesus was the promised Messiah. All she had to do was say, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

When Jesus’ disciples came and urged Him to eat some of the food they had bought, Jesus said to them, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of … My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.”

The fields were indeed ripe for harvest. The people of the city came to see Jesus because of the witness of the woman at the well. Jesus stayed there at Sychar and taught the people for two days before resuming His journey.

And the Word of God tells us that “many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

Through the witness of this sinful woman to her Messiah and Savior, the people came to see and hear Jesus. Through her testimony and the Word of the Lord Jesus, many of them also came to trust in Jesus as their Messiah and Savior from sin and death. And the same is true today. We may not have knowledge of every theological argument for Jesus being the Messiah and Savior of the world. But we can say: “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” And if people will but come and listen to Jesus – if they will hear His Word – many will, by the gracious working of God’s Spirit, come to believe in Christ Jesus as their Savior.

Why? Jesus does not mince words about sin. He tells it like it is and reveals our utter sinfulness. But He also went to the cross and suffered and died for our sins – for the sins of the whole world – and rose again. In Jesus there is forgiveness and life eternal, and He reaches out to lost sinners everywhere with His word of pardon and forgiveness. He offers and gives life everlasting in His heavenly kingdom.

Again, the Bible tells us that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures … He was buried … He rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

Yes, we “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” but we are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23,24). “In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

And if we but direct people to Jesus and His revelation of Himself in the Holy Scriptures, many will come to know and trust in Him. By the gracious working of God’s Spirit through the Word, they will come to faith in their Messiah and Savior.

Then, we too may hear people say what the Samaritans said to this woman who directed them to Jesus: “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

God grant that we hear the Word of God and so know and trust in Jesus as the Messiah and our Savior from sin, and that we would also direct others to Jesus that they might hear Him, know Him and trust in Him for eternal salvation. Amen.

[Scripture Quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible]

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE MUSTARD SEED

Read Mark 4:30-32

“And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.”

When one compares a grain of mustard seed to other garden seeds, it is the smallest of all seeds. But this small seed produces a large tree or bush-like plant in which the birds of the air can find shelter. So also is the kingdom of God. It had very small beginnings in the Babe of Bethlehem and in the preaching and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified and buried. It had small beginnings in the little band of disciples who were first entrusted with the task of taking the Gospel of the kingdom to the ends of the earth.

But look at the results! By His sufferings and death upon the cross, Jesus Christ paid the full punishment for the sins of the whole world and redeemed all people. Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God the Father. The saving Word of the Lord Jesus was carried to the ends of the earth by His disciples and is still heard and proclaimed today. Through that Word, people from all over the world have been brought to trust in Christ Jesus as their Savior and thus have become a part of God’s gracious and eternal kingdom. And through the faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word, His kingdom continues to grow to this day.

When we view the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our task of spreading that message as insignificant or unimportant, let us remember the power of the Gospel to save (Romans 1:16-17) and look at what this seemingly small seed and humble task have produced.

Spread, oh, spread, thou mighty Word, spread the kingdom of the Lord, where-so-e’er His breath hath giv’n life to beings meant for heav’n.

Lord of Harvest, let there be joy and strength to work for Thee till the nations far and near see Thy light and learn Thy fear. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #507, Verses 1, 6)

God’s View of Alternative Lifestyles

In these times of change from traditional values to a free and open practice of “alternative lifestyles,” it is important for us to know that God’s views of homosexuality, sexual immorality, adultery and other deviances from His design in creation have not changed.

Many try to change God’s view, or soften it a little, by retranslating or reinterpreting the Bible to fit their modernistic views; but God’s Word has not changed one bit, even though many refuse to hear it in their homes or churches anymore! God’s Word still condemns as sin homosexuality and all sexual relations outside of a marriage between a man and a woman, and it says that those who practice such things are under His wrath.

Read Romans 1:18-32. When people refuse to acknowledge God their Creator and live within His design (cf. Genesis 1 & 2), they are given over to degrade themselves, even to the point of homosexuality. The Bible says: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:26,27).

Read Leviticus 18, where homosexuality, adultery, incest, bestiality and other sexual sins are forbidden and called an “abomination” unto the LORD and the reason for God’s judgment upon the nations who were destroyed and displaced by the Israelites. Consider God’s judgment upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. If God accepts such “alternative lifestyles,” would He call them an abomination and send down fire and brimstone to destroy those who practiced such evil?

God’s Word remains clear. Even if our society and government choose to accept and endorse such “alternative lifestyles” as legitimate, those who practice such things are under the wrath and condemnation of God their Maker! And, whether people believe it or not, God’s judgment will come. Now those who practice and promote lifestyles which God condemns may join together in marches and make speeches to support their sins, but on the Day of Judgment, they will be speechless!

And lest anyone be quick to condemn or even act in hate toward those who practice such alternative lifestyles, read all of Romans 1 through 3 carefully! None of us are free of sin, and none of us can stand by our own merit in God’s Judgment. Whether guilty of homosexuality, sexual immorality, maliciousness, pride, disobedience to parents, envy, gossip or the like, we are still guilty before God and deserving of His eternal wrath and punishment. God’s unchanging Word still calls upon all of us to repent of our evil ways and trust in the LORD God to show us mercy and graciously forgive our sins for the sake of Jesus Christ’s innocent sufferings and death in our stead!

And God’s unchanging Word still offers and promises us divine help – the same divine power which raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:15-21) – to amend our sinful ways and live for Him in accord with His holy will! The Bible tells us: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

God’s Word calls out to us: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). The Bible tells us of God: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5). And, the Apostle Paul reminds us of God’s power at work in those who turn to Him when he says: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). So, whatever your lifestyle has been, turn to Jesus for forgiveness, help and eternal salvation!

Pastor Randy Moll

What Do We Believe?

What do we believe about Marriage and the Bearing of Children? Please consider the statement below and look up the Bible passages.

MARRIAGE AND BEARING CHILDREN

We believe that marriage is a lifelong union between one man and one woman, that marriage was instituted by God and is entered by mutual consent and promise (Matthew 19:3-6; Genesis 2:18-24; Romans 7:1-3; Luke 20:27-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Deuteronomy 22:23-24). Therefore, we teach that it is sin to violate the marriage union “by unfaithfulness or desertion” (Matthew 19:3-9; 5:31-32; Mark 10:6-12; 1 Corinthians 7:10-16; Hebrews 13:4; Exodus 20:14; Malachi 2:14-16). With Scripture, we also condemn as sin: fornication (sexual relationships outside the bonds of marriage), sodomy, homosexuality and bestiality (Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

We believe that children are a blessing of the LORD, and that the conception and formation of a child in the womb is the result of God’s creative working (Genesis 1:27-28; 25:21; 29:31; 30:22-23; Ruth 4:13; 1 Samuel 1:5,10-11,19-20; 2:21; Psalm 127:3-5; 128:1-6; 139:13-16; Ecclesiastes 11:5); and that it is God’s will and command that a husband and wife seek and desire to have children (Genesis 1:28; 9:1,7; 1 Timothy 2:15; 5:14). We also believe that human life begins at conception, and that it is murder to kill or destroy the life of an unborn child (Psalm 139:13-16; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Genesis 25:21-23; Genesis 9:5-6; Exodus 20:13). Therefore, we condemn as sin abortion – in all its forms – and reject as contrary to God’s will views and practices which would seek to limit and prevent the conception and the bearing of children.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

The Adult Bible Class continues its study of the Gospel of John. To prepare, read John 3:30-36; 4:1-26. What does John say of Jesus in verse 30? How should this also be true of us and our church? To what did Jesus testify? Did people receive Jesus’ testimony? Do they today? When people receive Jesus’ testimony, what do they come to know about God? Whose words did Jesus speak? Why did John say this was so? Was the Holy Spirit restricted or limited in the life and ministry of Jesus? What does John say of the Son? What does verse 36 mean? How does this apply to us and all people yet today? Why did Jesus leave Judea? Which route did He take back to Galilee? At what city did Jesus stop? Why? What is significant about the location? Who met Jesus there? What did Jesus ask of her? How did she respond? Why do the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans? What did Jesus tell the woman in verse 10? How is this a fitting response yet today? How did the woman respond? What did Jesus tell her? How is this true for people yet today?

The Catechism Class continues studying the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed and learning of Jesus and what He has done to redeem all mankind.

The Sunday Readings are Psalm 138; Isaiah 6:1-13; 1 Corinthians 13; and Luke 5:1-11. Please take the time to read them and their context in preparation for Sunday. Marty Jackson will be preaching on 1 Corinthians 13:13 this Sunday.

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 – especially for Ron Wellander who underwent surgery and is recovering and for Bonnie Hawes who underwent tests – for those who have been absent from us, for our students who are away at school, for our extended families and friends, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines, for Christians in Haiti, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering.

Events and Announcements

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

Monthly Wednesday night Bible studies will continue on the second Wednesday of February and be held at the church at 7 p.m. Next month’s study will continue to look at what the Bible says of the Scriptures. We will also look at the formation of the canon – the 66 books of the Bible.

Wednesday Evening Lenten Worship begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17. Worship will be at 7 p.m. A Soup and Sandwich Supper will precede the service at 6:20 p.m.

The Church Council will hold its February meeting following the Feb. 17 Lenten service.

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

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

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

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:1-5:

Message for the day -

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Dear fellow-redeemed sinners, ransomed by the shed blood of Christ Jesus, God’s Son and our Savior.

Who is this Jesus of Nazareth, that Babe born in Bethlehem but raised in Nazareth? We look to the Word of God, to the inspired testimony of the apostles who suffered all to faithfully follow Christ Jesus.

Today, we begin with the inspired testimony of the Apostle John, in his Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

The Word, spoken of here in the inspired Scriptures is Jesus, for John later writes, in verse 14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

In his first epistle, John writes (1 John 5:7): “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

This already tells us that Jesus is the only-begotten Son of God come into this world as a true man, that He had divine glory, and that He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit (a Person of the Triune God).

The opening verses of John’s Gospel tell us that “in the beginning” – the same “in the beginning” when “God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) – the pre-incarnate Jesus, the Son of God, already was. He was with God and He, in fact, was and is God.

While some cult religions of our day (such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons) would try to reduce Jesus to being only “a son of God,” the Greek text leaves no doubt: “The Word was with the God, and God was the Word” (the Greek definite article and the placement of God at the beginning of the second part of the sentence emphasizing that Jesus, the Word, was not only with God; He is God Himself – a Person in the Triune Godhead).

Some so-called “Christian churches” would make Jesus, the Son of God, less than and inferior to God the Father. This too is a rejection of the truth God has revealed to us in His inspired Word.

Not only was the pre-incarnate Christ there with God in the beginning before anything was created or made, He is the Creator God who made all things and gave all living things life and breath.

This is why the Christian Church has, for centuries confessed to believe “in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by Whom all things were made….” (Nicene Creed)

God tells us: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

Can it get any clearer than that? Jesus, before He took on human flesh and blood and became true man and was born of the virgin Mary, created all things. Nothing made or created was made or created without Him.

Read Genesis one in that light. Creation was not just the work of God the Father; all was created by God the Son and nothing was made without Him (cf. Colossians 1:15ff.; Hebrews 1:1-3). The Holy Spirit was also actively engaged in this divine work, for the Scriptures tell us that “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be….” (Genesis 1:2ff.).

In Jesus was life. When “the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7), it was Jesus, the eternal Word, who gave him life and made him a “living soul.”

And, lest we forget that life was more than physical life but included spiritual life and the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), Jesus is the One who gave to Adam and Eve a knowledge of God and a life in harmony and fellowship with their Maker. This life which Jesus gave was “the light of men.” They were spiritually alive, they knew God and His holy will, and they loved and honored Him and trusted in Him.

This was the life which mankind lost in the fall of Genesis three. Instead of loving God, trusting Him and seeking His honor, Adam and Eve rebelled against His commandment and then hid from His presence. And, even yet today, when this light shines into the darkness, the darkness does not comprehend it – it does not understand it or receive it.

People today – all of us as we are by nature – walk in darkness. We do not wish to accept the truth that Jesus is God the Son in human flesh, our Maker and our final Judge. Though the evidence is all around us, we do not wish to face up to the truth that we are sinners and guilty before God. We do not wish to hear of our sins and shortcoming and of the hell fires we so deserve. We would rather continue on in darkness, thinking that we are basically good and that God will not condemn us if only we do our best to be loving and caring people.

The light shines in the darkness, and we would continue on in darkness! We don’t want to give up our own selfish and sinful ways. We don’t want to return to fellowship with God because that would cramp our lifestyle! Instead, we would attempt to change God into a god who smiles at sin and disobedience and would punish no one. Of course, to form our own opinions of God instead of accepting what God tells us of Himself in the Bible is no different than making a graven image and inventing our own ways to serve it. It is idolatry!

What does God say? “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto 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 the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth 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. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:5-2:2

In God – in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word – is light and life! If we claim to have fellowship with God but continue to hide and cover up our sins, pretending that all is well, we are lying and deceiving ourselves. God’s truth tells us that we are sinners, that we have failed to love God with all our heart, soul and strength or love our neighbor as God requires. God’s light reveals His holy will but also our failures to live in accord with His holy commandments.

But God’s light also reveals the way of salvation He has provided for lost mankind: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Jesus, God the Son in human flesh, lived a righteous and holy life in our stead and He suffered and died for our sins and rose again. He satisfied God’s wrath against our sins and the sins of the whole world. That is why: “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.”

Jesus is still the life and light of men. He redeemed sinful mankind by His innocent sufferings and death in our stead. He offers to all people forgiveness of sins and life eternal in fellowship with Him. His light shines into this dark and sinful world, revealing God’s holy will and man’s sinfulness but also offering forgiveness and life with Him in His eternal kingdom. When He, by the gracious operation of the Holy Spirit through His Word, convinces us of sin and assures us of forgiveness – when He breathes into our nostrils the breath of life – we become living souls!

God graciously grant to each of you light and life in Christ Jesus, the eternal Word! Amen.

Psalm and Confession of Sins -

Psalm 32: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. (A Psalm of David, Maschil.)

O Thou crucified Lord Jesus Christ, who, as the truly patient Lamb of God, didst suffer for me the most shameful death on the cross and with Thy precious blood didst redeem me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, I pray Thee, give me the assurance of this redemption through Thy Word, govern my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, preserve me with Thy divine love, and hide me this day, both soul and body, in Thy holy wounds. Wash me clean from all my sins, teach me to live a life of good works, and finally lead me from this world of sorrows to Thine eternal joy and glory, Thou most faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, mine only Comfort, Hope, and Life. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, page 118)

The Apostles Creed: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into Hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers: O Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, the everlasting Son of God, shine upon my heart the light of Your truth, reveal my sinfulness and disobedience to Your holy will, but also comfort me with the knowledge of Your holy life and innocent sufferings and death for my sins that I may take courage, rejoice in Your forgiveness, and walk in the light of Your truth until You come again and take me to live with You forever in Your eternal kingdom. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Blessing: “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Amen. (Numbers 6:24-27)

[Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Bible]

“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.” John 4:25-26

Who is Jesus? Is He just a great teacher and prophet, as many today would say? Who did Jesus claim to be?

When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in Samaria and answered her question regarding true worship of God, she said, “I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.”

Jesus’ answer was straight to the point: “I that speak unto thee am he.”

Jesus Himself claimed to be the promised Messiah, the Anointed One – Christ in the Greek – together with all that the Scriptures taught concerning the Christ. He claimed to be the LORD’s anointed of Psalm 2 – the only-begotten Son of God who would judge and rule the world. He was and is the promised prophet of Deuteronomy 18, the perpetual priest after the order of Melchizedek of Psalm 110, and the eternal king of Jeremiah 23; Micah 5; and 2 Samuel 7. Jesus’ knowledge of this woman’s life – past and present – was proof of the truthfulness of His claim.

Elsewhere, too, Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. To Nicodemus, He said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:14-16). To the Jews He said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), claiming to be the great “I Am,” Jehovah God Himself in human flesh.

Why did Jesus reveal to this woman His true identity? At the very beginning of His conversation with the woman at the well, Jesus had told her, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (v. 10). Jesus desired that this woman look to Him for forgiveness and life everlasting. He had compassion on her, a love for her soul and desired her to receive from Him life-giving water – the Holy Spirit, faith and eternal salvation.

Who speaks to us through the pages of Scriptures? Who confronts us with our sinfulness and also offers us forgiveness and life in His name? Is it just a man? A great teacher? A prophet sent from God? No, it is the promised Christ, the Messiah, God the Son in human flesh and the Savior of the world.

Why does Jesus reveal Himself to us? Why does He open our eyes and let us see and learn from the Scriptures that He is indeed “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16; cf. v. 17)? It is because He desires our salvation. He desires to give us to drink of His Spirit and have faith in His innocent sufferings and death in our stead that the thirst of our souls would be satisfied and we would find in Him forgiveness for all our sins and everlasting life! He does not want us to be lost and forever condemned but desires us to know Him, trust in Him and reign with Him in His everlasting kingdom.

God grant to you and to me the blessing of knowing Jesus for who He truly is, and the blessing of faith in His name that our thirsting souls might be satisfied and we might live forever with Christ Jesus.

Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing to us in Your Word that You are indeed the long-promised Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the world, that we might place our hope and confidence in You and not be condemned along with this world but have everlasting life with You in Your eternal kingdom. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible]

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE SEED AND ITS GROWTH

Read Mark 4:26-29

“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”

This parable of Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a man who sows his seed and waits until the seed of itself springs up and grows, maturing until the harvest. Then the farmer puts in the sickle for the harvest. The farmer can only sow good seed, cultivate the crops and wait for the fruit to mature. He himself cannot make the seed grow and produce fruit.

The kingdom of God is like this in that all we as Christians can do is sow the pure Word of God. We cannot make it grow or produce fruit. The power to create spiritual life and produce fruit lies in God’s Word and not in us as the sowers. It is our task to sow the Word of God; but the results must be left up to the Holy Ghost, who works through the Word to bring people to saving faith in Jesus Christ, build them up and preserve them in the faith.

We cannot see how faith is created in the heart, nor should we expect to harvest immediately after the seed is sown. Our Lord Jesus has given us the simple task of sowing the good seed of God’s Word. The rest is up to Him!

Let us then diligently sow the Word! By means of God’s Law, the Holy Ghost will convict men of their sins and show them their guilt before the Almighty God. By means of the Gospel, He will comfort them with the assurance that their sins are forgiven for the sake of Jesus Christ’s holy life and innocent sufferings and death in their stead. If we only sow the Word, we need not worry about the results. They remain in God’s hands, and He has promised that His Word will not return unto Him void.

It is as the Scripture says in Isaiah 55:10-11: “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Let us then sow the pure Word and await the harvest!

On what has now been sown Thy blessing, Lord, bestow; the pow’r is Thine alone to make it spring and grow. Do Thou in grace the harvest raise, and Thou alone shalt have the praise. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 46, Verse 1)

Pastor Randy Moll

What Kind of Heart Do You Have?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

About whose heart is Jeremiah the prophet speaking in this passage? It must describe the murderer, the thief, the adulterer. It even sounds like the heart of some people I know. It could be that fellow employee, my ex-spouse, the neighbor that is always complaining and causing me trouble. But whose heart is Jeremiah describing? The truth is he is describing your heart and mine.

Our hearts deceive us into thinking that we are pretty good; and, when we sin, our heart comes up with a thousand excuses to justify what we have done. If you don’t think your heart is deceitful and wicked, just think back over the thoughts that have gone through your mind, the things you have desired, the words and actions which almost spilled out. I’m afraid that the thoughts and desires of my heart would shock the people I know. In fact, I am often appalled at what goes on in my heart and what sometimes comes out of it in the form of words and actions!

Jesus says the same thing of our hearts in Matthew 15:19: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” And how could Jesus know what’s in our hearts? Jeremiah writes further: “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10).

Our hearts – yours and mine – are “desperately wicked,” and they deceive us into thinking that we’re not all that bad. Yet the imagination of our hearts is evil from our youth (cf. Genesis 8:21). That is why we need a Savior! That is why God Himself took on human flesh and kept the holy law of God for us and then suffered and died upon the cross to bear the full punishment for our sins! That is why the risen Christ poured out His Holy Spirit upon us and regenerated us, giving us faith in Him as our Savior and a new heart which loves the LORD God and desires to please Him!

This is why David, in the Old Testament, prayed: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin … Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:1-2, 10).

Yes, our hearts are wicked, and they would deceive us into thinking they are good. God’s Word describes our hearts as they really are. But God, in His Word, also tells us of His mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus and of His gracious working to recreate our hearts in His image.

“Create in me a new heart, Lord, that gladly I obey Thy Word and naught but what Thou wilt, desire; with such new life my soul inspire” (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 398, v. 3).

Pastor Randy Moll

“Be not afraid,only believe.”

Mark 5:36 (Read Mark 5:21-43)

Sometimes things seem hopeless. People say such things as: “My sins are too great,” “My disease has no cure,” “Time has run out,” or “There’s nothing anyone can do.”

Jairus, no doubt, was desperate for help when he came to Jesus and begged Him to come and heal his sick and dying daughter. Jairus still had hope. If only Jesus could get there in time, He could lay his hands on her and she would live; but Jesus was delayed.

While on His way to the home of Jairus, with crowds pressing around Him, another sought the healing touch of Jesus, a woman with an issue of blood for 12 years. Physicians couldn’t help her, and it was only getting worse.

“If I can just touch His clothes,” she thought. “I’ll be made well.”

She, unknown to the crowds, reached out and touched but the garment of Jesus and was healed; but Jesus knew and turned to ask who had touched Him. The question seemed foolish to His disciples because of the crowds pressing in on Jesus from every side, but Jesus knew what had happened and took the time to speak words of assurance to the woman.

But then the bad news came. It was too late. The young daughter of Jairus had died.

Just imagine the hopeless pain that must have come over Jairus when he heard the words: “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Master any further?”

It was just then, when all hope was gone for Jairus, that Jesus spoke the words: “Be not afraid, only believe.”

Humanly speaking, there was no hope. It was too late. His daughter had died while Jesus delayed to minister to another. But Jesus spoke words of hope to Jairus – it wasn’t too late, Jesus could and would still help.

Of course, we know what happened. Jesus went, put out the mourners, and spoke the words: “Talitha cumi.” These words, translated, mean, “Damsel, I say to you arise.” And what happened? Against all doubts and fears, Jairus’ daughter rose from the dead and got up from her bed.

How often our sinful hearts tell us there is no hope. But Jesus tells us, “Be not afraid, only believe.”

Our hearts tell us our sins are too great – God will never forgive us or accept us into His eternal kingdom. What does Jesus say? “Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2).

We worry about having enough food to eat, clothes to wear and money to pay the bills. All seems hopeless to us. What does Jesus say? “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

We face sickness and finally the hour of our death, all looks hopeless. But again, what does Jesus say? “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). Jesus says, as He said to the dying thief on the cross who had no reason for hope, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 22:43).

When our faith grows weak and all appears hopeless, Jesus speaks words of hope to comfort us, assure us and build up our faith in Him. And since He has suffered and died for our sins and is risen again and ascended to the right hand of God the Father, we have every reason to hope and take comfort in Him!

Pastor Randy Moll

What Do We Believe?

What do we believe about the Sabbath Day? Please consider the statement below and look up the Bible passages.

SABBATH DAY

We believe that the Old Testament observance of the Sabbath and other holy days has been abrogated by God and is not required of the Church under the New Testament (Colossians 2:16-17; Romans 14:5-6; cf. Acts 15:). The Commandment regarding the Sabbath Day does still require us to regularly take time to hear and learn God’s Word and to worship Him (Exodus 20:8; Isaiah 58:13-14; Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16; Psalm 119:15-16; 26:8; 111:1; 95:1-6; 96:1-2). For this reason, we have set aside Sundays and other feast days for the hearing of God’s Word and for our gathering together to worship the LORD our God (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42). However, the observance of these certain days is a church ordinance made in Christian liberty rather than a divine command binding upon the conscience (Romans 14:5-6).

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

The Adult Bible Class continues its study of the Gospel of John. To prepare, read John 3:30-36; 4:1-26. What does John say of Jesus in verse 30? How should this also be true of us and our church? To what did Jesus testify? Did people receive Jesus’ testimony? Do they today? When people receive Jesus’ testimony, what do they come to know about God? Whose words did Jesus speak? Why did John say this was so? Was the Holy Spirit restricted or limited in the life and ministry of Jesus? What does John say of the Son? What does verse 36 mean? How does this apply to us and all people yet today? Why did Jesus leave Judea? Which route did He take back to Galilee? At what city did Jesus stop? Why? What is significant about the location? Who met Jesus there? What did Jesus ask of her? How did she respond? Why do the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans? What did Jesus tell the woman in verse 10? How is this a fitting response yet today? How did the woman respond? What did Jesus tell her? How is this true for people yet today?

The Catechism Class continues studying the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed and learning of Jesus and what He has done to redeem all mankind.

The Sunday Readings are Psalm 71:1-6; Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Corinthians 13; and Luke 4:33-44. Please take the time to read them and their context in preparation for Sunday. Marty Jackson will be preaching on Sunday.

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 – especially for Ron Wellander who underwent surgery and is recovering and for Bonnie Hawes who underwent tests – for those who have been absent from us, for our students who are away at school, for our extended families and friends, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines, for Christians in Haiti, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering.

Events and Announcements

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

Monthly Wednesday night Bible studies will continue on the second Wednesday of February and be held at the church at 7 p.m. Next month’s study will continue to look at what the Bible says of the Scriptures. We will also look at the formation of the canon – the 66 books of the Bible.

Wednesday Evening Lenten Worship begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17. Worship will be at 7 p.m. A Soup and Sandwich Supper will precede the service at 6:20 p.m.

The Church Council will hold its February meeting following the Feb. 17 Lenten service.

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

“My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

Proverbs 3:21-26

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

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:19-24

After Jesus revealed His knowledge of this woman’s life – having had five husbands and now living together with one who was not her husband – she perceived that He was a prophet and changed the subject away from herself and her own sin and need of a Savior to a more generic question which had been disputed between the Samaritans and the Jews for several centuries: Where should men worship?

As she said, the Samaritans said Mt. Gerizim in Samaria was the place to worship, even altering the portion of the Old Testament Scriptures which they accepted to reflect their beliefs. The Jews, on the other hand, said, as did the Old Testament Scriptures, that people should worship at the temple in Jerusalem.

Jesus’ answer is rather astonishing to Jew, Samaritan, and to us today: “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Though where one worshipped was an issue under the Old Covenant (cf. 1 Kings 12), the real issue under the New Covenant would not be the place of worship but the heart of the worshiper. Simply observing the feasts and festivals in accord with God’s commands is not what God seeks. He desires worship to be genuine and sincere worship which is motivated by God’s Spirit and the knowledge and belief of the truth. The Jews had that truth and testimony in the Scriptures. The Samaritans had altered and rejected it.

But true worship would no longer be connected to the temple at Jerusalem, which served to point to Christ and His perfect sacrifice for sin. Nor is true worship today dependent upon following certain forms or traditions. True worship is dependent upon knowing and trusting in the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God made man and the Savior of the world.

The truth is that only those who know and trust in Christ Jesus can worship the Father. As Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6; cf. 1 John 2:23).

Apart from Jesus, we cannot know or worship the Father (cf. John 15:5). Thus, true worshipers gain access to the Father, not by going to a certain place like Mt. Gerizim or Jerusalem, not by following certain forms or saying certain words, but through faith in Christ Jesus (cf. Hebrews 9:11-28; 10:19-22; Ephesians 1:6-7).

Jesus, God’s own dear Son in the flesh, shed His blood upon the cross and paid in full for our sins to make us acceptable in God’s eyes. Through Him, we gain access to the Father, and for His sake our worship is acceptable to God. And, it is because of what He has done for us that we are moved to sincerely and truly worship and glorify the Father for His grace and mercy toward us in Christ Jesus.

Dear Lord Jesus, our Messiah and Savior, grant us Your Holy Spirit and faith in You and Your shed blood that we might partake of Your salvation, be assured of forgiveness for all our sins and walk in fellowship with You and the Father. Let our worship and praise of the Father be acceptable for the sake of Your innocent sufferings and death in our stead. Amen.

[Scripture Quotations from the King James Version of the Bible]

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE WHEAT AND THE TARES

Read Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn….

“…Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus explains this parable for us. He sows the good seed. The field is the world. The good seed are the children of the kingdom of God; but the tares are the children of the devil, the evil one. Jesus, through His faithful servants, sows the pure seed of the Gospel in this world and thus produces true believers who trust in Christ for salvation and are members of His eternal kingdom. These are the good seed, or the wheat.

But in the same field where the Gospel is proclaimed and produces Christians, the devil and his false prophets sow error and false doctrine which produce false Christians. These may appear to be genuine believers; but they do not have saving faith in Jesus Christ, and their fruits, or works, are unacceptable to the Lord God.

In this world the true believers and false believers continue to dwell side by side until the day of Judgment. Then God’s holy angels will separate the true believers from the false. Those whose faith did not spring up from the good seed of the Gospel will be cast into hell! But those whose faith comes from the pure Gospel – who trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins and for eternal salvation, who as a fruit of that faith also produce fruit acceptable in God’s sight for Jesus’ sake – will be taken to heaven where they will live with Christ in righteousness and purity forever!

This is a warning to us that wherever the Gospel is sown and true believers are, the devil will also sow his lies and false doctrine to lead people into a false confidence and hope based on their own works and righteousness or upon some other lie or deception of the evil one. Even though such people may outwardly appear to be true Christians, they are not. We may not be able to tell who they are, but ultimately – on the Last Day – they will be cast into hell because their faith and confidence was not in the Lord Jesus Christ and His blood shed upon the cross for the sins of the world.

Let us hold fast to Jesus Christ and His saving Word lest we also be misled by the working of the evil one!

Defend Thy truth, O God, and stay this evil generation; and from the error of its way keep Thine own congregation. The wicked everywhere abound and would Thy little flock confound; but Thou art our Salvation. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #260, Verse 6)

Pastor Randy Moll

Why Baptize Infants?

GOD’S WORD SAYS: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39). Even though this passage of Scripture commands “every one” to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and says the promise is also “to your children,” there are many who believe and teach that infants and small children should not be brought to Christ through Holy Baptism. We look at their arguments against infant baptism and the answer of God’s Word. And, we look at the reasons why, according to the Word of God, infants and small children indeed should be baptized. Please take the time to look up and study the Bible references below.

I. Arguments against infant baptism answered by God’s Word.

A. False Argument: Babies are not sinful or are not accountable for their sins.

Romans 3:23 says: “All have sinned.” This includes infants and children.

Romans 5:12 says that sin and death is passed on to all because of Adam’s sin.

Ephesians 2:1-3 teaches that we were all dead in sin by our natural birth.

Psalm 51:5 teaches that we were sinful (without true fear, love, and trust in God) from the time of our conception and formation in the womb. As a result, acts of sin soon followed.

Genesis 8:21 says: “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”

Nowhere does Scripture teach that a person is not accountable for his sins until he reaches a certain age. Rather, the Scriptures do say: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20).

B. False Argument: Infants and small children cannot believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Matthew 18:6 – Jesus says: “Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me….”

Luke 18:15-17 says that when “infants” were brought to Jesus, He said, “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

Jesus wants infants and children brought to Him. Through faith in Jesus, they too become a part of God’s kingdom. If one will not, like a little child, humbly trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation from sin and eternal death, he will not enter God’s kingdom or be saved.

John 1:12-13 teaches that no one – not even an adult – can come to faith in Christ of his own will or decision. One must be born of God.

John 3:5-6 teaches that one must be born again of water and the Spirit (Holy Baptism) to enter the kingdom of God. Natural birth leaves one dead in sin (Eph. 2:1-3). Being born of the Holy Spirit through “the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5), which is Holy Baptism, makes one alive to God. Children too need this spiritual rebirth to enter God’s kingdom.

C. False Argument: Baptism is only an outward profession of what has already taken place inwardly and is simply done in obedience to Matthew 28:19.

Acts 2:38-39 teaches that baptism is for “the remission of sins,” and that the Holy Ghost is given in Christian Baptism.

Acts 22:16 teaches that one’s sins are washed away in baptism. The Scriptures say, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Titus 3:5 teaches that regeneration (new spiritual life) and salvation are given in Baptism (Cf. 1 Peter 3:21).

Matthew 28:19 teaches that God works through Baptism, for it is done in His name. “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost….”

Baptism is a means whereby God offers and gives the forgiveness of sins and eternal life which Christ won on the cross to people. Baptism is God’s work, not man’s.

D. False Argument: Jesus doesn’t want infants and small children brought to Him in Baptism.

Luke 18:15-17 teaches that Jesus wants infants and small children brought to Him and into His kingdom.

John 3:5 teaches that being born of water and the Spirit in Baptism is God’s means to bring a person into His kingdom.

E. False Argument: Scripture never says that infants and small children are to be baptized or that they were baptized.

Acts 2:38-39 commands “every one” to be baptized and says the promise is also to your children.

Matthew 28:19 says “all nations” are to be baptized.

Infants and Small Children are nowhere excluded from these commands.

Colossians 2:11-12 says that Baptism is the circumcision made without hands, and, according to Genesis 17:9-14, circumcision was performed at eight days old.

Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16 tell of whole households (very likely including infants and young children) being baptized.

F. False Argument: Matthew 28:19-20 says to “teach” first and then “baptize.”

The Word translated “teach” in verse 19 literally means “to disciple,” and is different from the word “teach” in verse 20. The Greek indicates that we are to teach (or disciple) all nations by going out, baptizing and teaching. Baptizing is mentioned before the teaching and thorough indoctrination.

G. False Argument: Infant Baptism was not practiced in the days of the apostles, but was later introduced into the church.

This too is false. Tertullian (b. 150 A.D.) opposed infant baptism but acknowledged its universal practice; Origen (b. 185 A.D.) says that infant baptism was an “apostolic tradition”; and Augustine (b. 354 A.D.) wrote books against heretics who disapproved of the Baptism of children. History makes it clear that infant baptism was practiced from the apostles onward (cf. Eph. 2:20).

The following is intended not as irrefutable evidence, nor as the first line of an apologetic for infant baptism. It is certainly neither. The Scriptures themselves, especially the Scriptural teaching of sin, grace and faith, as well as the command to baptize all nations and every one, form the clear basis for the practice. However these passages do present the clear practice of infant baptism in the ancient church of the second through the fourth centuries.

Polycarp (about 69-155 A.D.), a disciple of the Apostle John, was baptized as an infant. This enabled him to say at his martyrdom. “Eighty and six years have I served the Lord Christ” (Martyrdom of Polycarp 9: 3). Justin Martyr (100 – 166) of the next generation states about the year 150, “Many, both men and women, who have been Christ’s disciples since childhood, remain pure at the age of sixty or seventy years” (Apology 1: 15). Further, in his Dialog with Trypho the Jew, Justin Martyr states that Baptism is the circumcision of the New Testament.

Irenaeus (About 125-202 A.D. – student of Polycarp who was a student of the Apostle John): “For he came to save all by means of himself – all, I say, who by him are born again to God – infants, children, adolescents, young men, and old men.” (Against Heresies II.22.4)

Hippolytus (about 170-236 A.D.): “And they shall baptize the little children first. And if they can answer for themselves, let them answer. But if they cannot, let their parents answer or someone from their family. And next they shall baptize the grown men; and last the women.” (Apostolic Tradition 21.3-5)

Origen (about 185–254 A.D.): “I take this occasion to discuss something which our brothers often inquire about. Infants are baptized for the remission of sins. Of what kinds? Or when did they sin? But since ‘No one is exempt from stain,’ one removes the stain by the mystery of baptism. For this reason infants are baptized. For ‘Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.’” (Homily on Luke 14:5).

[After quoting Psalm 51:5 and Job 14:4] “These verses may be adduced when it is asked why, since the baptism of the church is given for the remission of sins, baptism according to the practice of the church is given even to infants; since indeed if there is in infants nothing which ought to pertain to forgiveness and mercy, the grace of baptism would be superfluous.” (Homily on Leviticus 8:3).

[After quoting Leviticus 12:8 and Psalm 51:5] “For this also the church had a tradition from the apostles, to give baptism even to infants. For they to whom the secrets of the divine mysteries were given knew that there is in all persons the natural stains of sin which must be washed away by the water and the Spirit. On account of these stains the body itself is called the body of sin.” (Commentary on Romans 5:9)

Cyprian (died 258 A.D. in Carthage, North Africa): “In respect of the case of infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think that one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day, we all thought very differently in our council. For in this course which you thought was to be taken, no one agreed; but we all rather judge that the mercy and grace of God is not to be refused to any one born of man… Spiritual circumcision ought not to be hindered by carnal circumcision… we ought to shrink from hindering an infant, who, being lately born, has not sinned, except in that, being born after the flesh according to Adam, he has contracted the contagion of the ancient death at its earliest birth, who approaches the more easily on this very account to the reception of the forgiveness of sins – that to him are remitted, not his own sins, but the sins of another” (Letter 58 to Fidus).

Augustine (354-430 A.D.): For from the infant newly born to the old man bent with age, as there is none shut out from baptism, so there is none who in baptism does not die to sin. (Enchiridion; ch. 43)

H. False Argument: The rejection of infant baptism is not a serious matter.

While one cannot be saved – even if baptized – apart from faith in Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16), to reject infant baptism is serious. Luke 7:30 tells us that the Pharisees and lawyers rejected God’s counsel when they rejected John’s Baptism.

John 3:5 teaches that one who rejects Baptism cannot enter God’s kingdom.

Matthew 18:6 says: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

It is no small matter if one brings about the eternal ruin of a child by preventing him from being baptized. Only in Christ is there forgiveness! (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2).

II. Why, according to God’s Word, Infants and Small Children should be Baptized.

A. They are sinners in need of forgiveness and salvation (Romans 3:23; Psalm 51:5).

B. Scripture commands that they too be baptized (Acts 2:38-39; Matthew 28:19; Luke 18:15-17).

C. Fathers are commanded to bring up their children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), and this includes bringing them to Christ in Baptism.

D. In Holy Baptism, the Holy Ghost works to create saving faith in Jesus Christ and to regenerate (Acts 2:38-39; Titus 3:5; John 3:5-6). Baptism is the means which God has appointed to do this saving work in infants and small children.

E. In Holy Baptism, they are offered and given forgiveness of sins for the sake of Jesus’ innocent sufferings and death on the cross (Acts 2:38-39; 22:16; Colossians 2:11-14).

F. In Holy Baptism, they are given new life and are empowered to live for Jesus Christ, their Savior (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12-14; 3:1).

G. In Holy Baptism, eternal salvation is given to all who believe (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26-29).

Conclusion

This then is why we baptize infants and small children as is commanded in Acts 2:38-39 and Matthew 28:18-20. This is also why our baptism is valid and we are blessed through it today – even if we were baptized many years ago as infants or small children. For Christ’s sake – because of His innocent sufferings and death for the sins of all people – God, in our baptism, has given us forgiveness for all our sins, His Holy Spirit, and eternal salvation. God grant that we treasure our Baptism and what God has worked in us through it. Amen.

What Do We Believe?

What do we believe about the Antichrist? Please consider the statement below and look up the Bible passages.

ANTICHRIST

We believe that though there have been and are many antichrists who oppose Christ and the true Word of God with their lies and false teaching, there is also one Antichrist, the son of perdition, whose coming was foretold in the Scriptures (1 John 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:3). We also believe that this Antichrist is none other than the Roman Papacy (including all who hold the office of pope), for all the marks of this Antichrist have been fulfilled in the papacy of Rome (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13 & 17; cf. Galatians 1:6-9).

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

The Adult Bible Class continues its study of the Gospel of John. To prepare, read John 3:18-36. Will those who trust in Jesus for forgiveness and life be condemned on the Day of Judgment? What about those who do not look to Jesus in faith? When are they already condemned? Why are believers saved? Why are unbelievers condemned? Why do many people not come to Jesus and trust in Him? What is meant by verse 21? What is it to do the truth? Who works all that is good in believers? Cf. Ephesians 2:8-10. Did Jesus and His disciples also baptize? Where was John baptizing? What question or dispute arose between disciples of John and the Jews? What did John’s disciples tell him? What was John’s response? What does John say of Jesus in verse 30? How should this also be true of us and our church? To what did Jesus testify? Did people receive Jesus’ testimony? Do they today? When people receive Jesus’ testimony, what do they come to know about God? Whose words did Jesus speak? Why did John say this was so? Was the Holy Spirit restricted or limited in the life and ministry of Jesus? What does John say of the Son? What does verse 36 mean? How does this apply to us and all people yet today?

The Catechism Class continues studying the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed and learning of Jesus and what He has done to redeem all mankind.

The Sunday Sermon will be based on Psalm 19. In preparation, read this portion of Scripture and consider the following questions: What do the heavens and the sky reveal about the LORD God? Cf. Romans 1:18ff. Is there any place on earth where one could claim he didn’t know there was a wise, powerful and glorious God? What does the sun reveal about God? To whom does it testify? Can one come to faith in Christ through the witness of God’s creation? What reveals more about God than His creation? Where can we learn of God’s will and of His mercy and grace in Jesus Christ? Cf. 2 Timothy 3:14-17. What does this psalm say of the Law of the LORD? What is included in the law here described? What does the psalmist David pray? What does this mean for you and for me?

Remember to Pray

Remember to pray for our church and for all our members that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom, but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – especially for Ron Wellander who underwent surgery and is recovering – for those who have been absent from us, for our students who are away at school, for our extended families and friends, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering. Pray for the believers in Haiti who are suffering as a result of the earthquakes.

Upcoming Events

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

Monthly Wednesday night Bible studies will continue on the second Wednesday of February and be held at the church at 7 p.m. Next month’s study will continue to look at what the Bible says of the Scriptures. We will also look at the formation of the canon – the 66 books of the Bible.

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

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.”

Proverbs 3:13-20

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

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.” John 4:15-18

Is anything hidden from the eyes of the LORD God? Is there any sin or shortcoming in our lives of which our Lord Jesus does not know?

When the woman at the well in Samaria, not understanding the living water which Jesus offered her, asked for Jesus to give her some of that water so she would not thirst or have to come to Jacob’s well to draw water, Jesus told her to go and call her husband and come to Jesus at the well.

“The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.”

The fact that this woman had had five husbands and was now living together with a man outside of a marriage covenant was not hidden from the eyes of the Lord Jesus. He knows all and sees all. Nothing is hidden from His sight.

As Psalm 90 says, “Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance” (v. 8).

There is nothing about you or me that the Lord Jesus does not know, no secret sin which is not exposed and open before His face. It will do us no good to attempt to hide or cover up our sins and failures to live in accord with God’s commandments. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

Did Jesus reject and turn away from this woman because of her sinful past and present? Did He refuse to reach out to her with mercy and forgiveness? The answer is no. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). He came into this word to redeem us, to suffer and die for the sins of all, whether Jew or Gentile, whether outwardly righteous or openly known as a sinner. Jesus came to save this Samaritan woman even though the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans because of the Samaritans’ mixed race and corrupted beliefs.

As we stand before the Lord Jesus, nothing hidden from His sight, we pray as David did in Psalm 32:5-6: “I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.”

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” because “Jesus Christ the righteous … is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” ( 1 John 1:9; 2:1,2).

Indeed, it is true that Jesus knows everything about us. No sin, no disobedience, is hidden from His sight. Yet, as He did with the woman at the well in Samaria, He reaches out to us and offers us forgiveness and life in Him – living water which will quench the thirst of our soul for a right relationship with God our Maker.

Lord Jesus, give us this water and satisfy the deepest needs of our thirsty souls. Give us to drink of Your Spirit and to know and trust in You for life everlasting.

O dearest Lord Jesus, Son of God and our Savior, forgive our sins and iniquities, even the secret sins which are open before You, and give unto us Your pardon and peace and a place in Your eternal kingdom. Quench our thirsting souls with the living water which only You can give. Amen.

[Scripture Quotations from the King James Version of the Bible]

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

Read Matthew 13:1-23 (cf. Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15)

1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

What Kind of Hearer Are You?

What kind of hearer are you? As we read the parable of the sower and its explanation, we are quick to identify people we know with the poor kinds of soil and ourselves with the good ground. But when we do this, we miss the warning and comfort of this parable for ourselves.

We may think of ourselves as the good soil, but how often do we not also fit the descriptions of the poor ground? Many times we are like the hard ground. The Word of God is sown upon us, but it doesn’t sink in and produce fruit in our lives because we have been uninterested or inattentive and have not understood the Word. Then, as the birds eat up the seed which falls on the hard ground by the way side, so the Word is snatched away from us by the devil.

Often we are also like the rocky soil or the thorny ground. In times of affliction or persecution, we shrink back from a bold and faithful confession of the truths of God’s Word because we have not let that Word sink its roots deep into our lives. When times of persecution or suffering come, we turn away and doubt God’s love and mercy toward us in Christ Jesus.

And how often we let the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things in this life keep us from faithfully hearing and learning God’s Word! We are too busy to attend church services and Bible classes. We neglect to read and study our Bibles each day. And the focus of our lives is on earthly things and the concerns of this life.

When we are good soil, we can take no credit. We must say with Jesus that it is a blessing of the Lord God when the Word sinks in, grows and produces fruit in our lives (Matt. 13:16). It is the Lord who cultivates the soil of our hearts, breaking up the hard ground, removing the rocks and pulling the weeds and thorns from our lives, that the Gospel of forgiveness of sins and life eternal for the sake of Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death might be heard and believed by us and produce fruit in our lives.

Why did Jesus speak of God’s kingdom with parables? He answered that very question: “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”

It is a gift of God to truly hear and understand the Scriptures. Without the gracious operation of the Holy Ghost, one may hear the words and relate to the earthly story, but the true message remains hidden. The Bible is a closed book unless God opens our ears and hearts to hear and understand and believe.

As Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God … Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3,5-6).

For most, the Word is sown but not received and understood and is quickly snatched away by the devil to keep one from coming to trust in Christ Jesus. And when it is received, so often people’s faith is shallow and they quickly turn away in time of adversity or trouble. And how often the Word is choked out and prevented from bearing fruit in one’s life by the cares and concerns of this world.

When the Word of God is received and one believes and lives by faith in the Son of God as his Savior, it is indeed a gracious blessing of God worked by the Holy Spirit of God. May He so bless you that you both hear and believe unto life everlasting.

Almighty God, Thy Word is cast like seed into the ground; now let the dew of heaven descend and righteous fruits abound. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #49, Verse 1)

Pastor Randy Moll

Why Do We Preach Repentance?

(A Synopsis of Biblical Preaching)

From the fall of mankind onward, God has been calling upon people to repent and turn unto Him for forgiveness and life. The Old Testament prophets continually called upon God’s people to repent of their sinful ways and return unto the LORD for mercy. In words like those of Joel, they said, “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, Turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil” (Joel 2:12-13).

We read of John the Baptist: “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2). The Gospel of Mark tells us that he preached “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (1:4).

What did Jesus preach? The Gospels tell us: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:14-15; cf. Matthew 4:17). And, before He ascended into heaven, what did He tell His disciples? He commanded them to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins through faith in His name. The Gospel of Luke tells us: “And He said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (24:46-47).

What did the apostles preach? Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). On another occasion he preached: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19). Jesus, through the Apostle John, called upon the erring churches in Asia Minor to repent and return unto Him (cf. Revelation 2-3). The Apostle Paul summarizes his own ministry and teaching, saying that he testified “both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

Therefore, the preaching of repentance should also be central to us; and a right understanding of repentance is key to understanding the Holy Scriptures and rightly applying God’s truth to ourselves and others.

What is repentance?

Repentance, in the narrow sense of its use in the Word of God, is worked by God’s Law, which reveals to man the holy and perfect will of God and also man’s failures, shortcomings and rebellion against his Maker. It reveals man’s sin and the consequences of that disobedience and sin; namely, spiritual death and God’s wrath and punishment. Thus Jesus preached “Repent ye, and believe the Gospel” and commanded that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name” (Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47).

In the broader sense, repentance, as used in Scripture, refers not only to the awareness of sins and failures and the fear of God’s judgment worked by the Law (contrition), but also to faith in the Gospel – the confidence that God accepts the sinner and mercifully forgives him for the sake of the holy life and innocent sufferings and death of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in man’s stead. In the broader sense, repentance can also include the fruits (result) of true contrition and faith, an amended life empowered by God’s gracious working through the Gospel but guided by the revelation of God’s perfect will in His Law. John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, but also warned against those who feigned repentance but did not bring forth the fruits of true repentance (Luke 3:3-18).

Essentially, preaching “repentance and remission of sins in Jesus’ name” is done by rightly preaching Law and Gospel, the two chief doctrines of the Holy Scripture.

Our catechism defines the difference between the Law and the Gospel in this way: “The Law is that doctrine of the Bible in which God tells us how we are to be and what we are to do and not to do. The Gospel is that doctrine of the Bible in which God tells us the good news of our salvation in Jesus Christ … The Law teaches what we are to do and not to do; the Gospel teaches what God has done, and still does, for our salvation. The Law shows our sin and the wrath of God; the Gospel shows our Savior and the grace of God. The Law must be preached to all men, but especially to impenitent sinners; the Gospel must be preached to sinners who are troubled in their minds because of their sins.” (A Short Explanation of Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism: A Handbook of Christian Doctrine, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. 1943.)

Does this mean the Law and the Gospel are contradictory? Not at all. The Law teaches us what is good and right – God’s perfect and good will for us, His creatures. It also reveals the consequences of disobedience, sin and rebellion against our Maker – death, both spiritual and eternal.

The Gospel teaches what God has done and still does to save us lost and condemned sinners from sin and sin’s consequences. Thus the Gospel offers and gives forgiveness of sins, spiritual life and eternal salvation for Jesus’ sake.

There is nothing bad or faulty with God’s Law. It is good and right and holy. It condemns mankind because all of us, since Adam’s fall, are sinful and disobedient to God’s perfect will. In this way, God’s good Law is an instrument of death to us because we do not obey it.

St. Paul wrote to the Romans: “And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful” (Romans 7:10-13).

While we may not always like it, a safe speed limit on the highway is good. When drivers follow it, it helps to make their trip safe. If, on the other hand, a driver exceeds the speed limit, there very well could be consequences. He may receive a speeding ticket or, worse yet, have an accident because he drove faster than the safe posted speed. The fact that the driver is cited for speed or has an accident does not make the speed law bad. He suffered the ill consequences because he disobeyed the law and drove in an unsafe manner.

The same is true of God’s commandments. They are good and right, commanding what is best for us and warning of the consequences of disobedience. Whether it be the command to have no other gods, to honor our parents or not to covet, steal, commit adultery or kill, the commandments require what is good for us and forbid those things which bring spiritual death, ruined lives and eternal damnation.

The problem is with mankind – with you and me – instead of loving God, believing that His Word is good and right and seeking to honor Him with our lives, we love ourselves, think we know better than God what is good for us and seek our own honor and glory and praise. Thus, the good Law of God condemns us because we have rebelled against it and gone our own way.

That is why each and every one of us needs to repent – to agree with God that His Law is right and we are wrong, and to trust in the Gospel which tells us of His mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the innocent sufferings and death of His only-begotten Son in our stead. And, as a result of true and genuine repentance, there will also be fruit – a sincere desire to amend our sinful ways and conform to God’s holy commandments.

The Scriptures tell us that God’s Law is indeed good and right. In Psalm 137, we read: “Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful … Thy word is true from the very beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever” (v. 137-138, 160). That is why the psalmist could also say: “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me” (v. 73). Indeed, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (v. 105). “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (v. 130).

Jesus Himself did not abrogate God’s Law or throw it out, but amplified and explained its full implication in His sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7). He said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).

The writings of the apostles do not throw out the Law of God. Those ceremonies and practices which served only to point to the coming of the Messiah and Savior are not demanded in the New Testament writings, but the moral Law of God – His commandments – are repeated and explained throughout.

Why is this so? Why does God’s Law need to be taught even yet today? Simply, because it is God’s good and holy will for His creatures and our knowledge of it has become clouded by our own sinfulness. As the God’s Word says, man’s “foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). An honest look at the decline in moral values in our own society – people thinking nothing of sins which were clearly recognized as such less than 50 years ago – will reveal the effect of sin on our understanding of God’s Law which was written upon our hearts and proclaimed in our ears.

Thus preachers who set aside the Law of God and wink at disobedience to His commandments do great harm to the souls of men, for they do not hold forth God’s good and perfect will for our lives or the sad and devastating consequences of disobedience on our part. Their hearers do not see their utter sinfulness before God and are not troubled in their consciences over their disobedience and the impending judgment of the Almighty. And, not being troubled over sin and the judgment of God, the Gospel of forgiveness and life in Christ Jesus means nothing to them. They are left to go on in their sinful ways to a Christless eternity – to an eternity where they are judged and condemned for their sins because they have rejected Jesus, their only hope!

Indeed, without a right knowledge of God’s Law – His holy commandments – there can be no true repentance!

Of course, true repentance cannot be worked by the preaching of God’s Law alone; for if one is rightly shown what it is that God requires of him and sees his own sins and failures, he is left with nothing but despair and hopelessness. It is through the right preaching of the Gospel that the despairing sinner is comforted and assured of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting in Jesus Christ. The Law holds forth God’s good and perfect will but tells us that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20) and that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Gospel, on the other hand, tells lost and condemned sinners that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures … that He was buried … and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). It tells us that “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1, 2). It tells us that in Jesus “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). It tells us that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Thus, the right preaching of the Gospel assures sinners, troubled in their consciences over their sins, that in Jesus Christ and for the sake of His holy life and innocent sufferings and death in their stead they have full and complete forgiveness for all sins and the certainty of everlasting life in heaven!

Where the Law is preached in all truth and severity and where the Gospel is preached in all its truth and sweetness, there the Holy Spirit will be at work convicting consciences of their sins and failures and comforting lost and condemned sinners with the good news of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting in Jesus Christ!

Where the Spirit of God works true repentance – convicting hearts of sin and disobedience to God’s perfect will and comforting troubled hearts with the good news of pardon and peace in Christ Jesus – fruits of repentance will also follow. In fact, this is so certain that one can say, “Where there is no fruit, there is no repentance.” Yet, we must here remember that it is God who looks upon the heart and sees the fruits of true repentance. We, while we may in many instances see the results of one’s repentance, may misjudge. We may not see the sincere desire in a person’s heart to amend a sinful way of life, and we may not recognize in another feigned fruit of repentance which is for outward show only but not from a sincere heart.

God, of course, looks upon the heart. He sees and knows the heart that acknowledges and confesses utter sinfulness, and He knows and sees the heart which trusts in His grace and mercy for Jesus’ sake. God sees and knows when one is truly repentant, and He sees – and in fact, creates in the believer’s heart – the sincere desire and will to amend one’s life and live for Him. Jesus “searcheth the reins and hearts” (Revelation 2:23). “The LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Where one agrees with the LORD God about his own sinfulness and trusts in Christ Jesus for forgiveness and life eternal, there God will also work the fruit of repentance – a new will and desire to live for God in accord with His will. This new and regenerated life is worked in man through the Gospel, but is guided by God’s Law.

The Holy Ghost graciously calls us to faith in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. Paul writes to the believers at Thessalonica: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

Indeed, we are saved entirely by God’s grace. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). God the Spirit created faith in our hearts, and He has also recreated us – giving us new life – to do those works which God “before ordained that we should walk in them.”

That is why David, in the Psalms acknowledged and confessed his sins, trusting in God’s mercy, and implored God to create in him “a clean heart … and renew a right spirit” within him (Psalm 51).

It is also why John the Baptist could say to those coming to him for baptism, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children of Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Luke 3:8-9).

What We Preach

Thus, with the prophets and apostles, and with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, we preach repentance and remission of sins in Jesus’ name. We preach the Law of God as revealed to us by God Himself in the pages of Scripture. We don’t mince words. We call sin sin, and we teach that the wages of sin is death and eternal damnation.

But we also preach the Gospel to penitent sinners. We tell them what God Himself says to us in His Word; namely, that Jesus Christ suffered and died upon the cross in our stead and paid in full the just penalty for the sins of the world. We preach that God, for the sake of the crucified and risen Christ has pardoned mankind and reaches out to us in mercy and grace, forgiving all our sins for Jesus’ sake and giving us everlasting life in fellowship with Him. We add no conditions, for Christ has done it all. It is finished. Our salvation is sure!

We preach that where this is true repentance, there will also follow fruits of repentance. Those who have turned from their sins to Christ for forgiveness will also, as a fruit of their faith in the Gospel, seek to live for Christ in accord with God’s perfect will revealed to us in His Word – there is no true repentance where one has no desire and makes no attempt to live in accord with God’s will. But such works, wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, do not merit God’s grace or earn for us salvation; they are in response to God’s gracious gift of salvation to us in His Son. In accord with God’s Word, we also know and teach that such works in this life which result from faith in Christ are yet imperfect – we still fall short – but are accepted of God for the sake of the sacrifice of His Son. We are not justified and saved by our works, but a man justified and saved by the grace of God works.

Pastor Randy Moll

What Do We Believe?

What do we believe about the Final Judgment? Please consider the statement below and look up the Bible passages.

FINAL JUDGMENT

We believe that, at death, the souls of believers are taken to be with their Lord and Savior in heaven, and the souls of unbelievers begin suffering the eternal torments of hell (Luke 16:19-31; 23:43; Philippians 1:23; Revelation 14:13; 1 Peter 3:19; 2 Peter 2:4-9). On the Last Day, Jesus Christ will return to judge the living and the dead; and on that Day, all the dead will be raised up (John 5:28-29; Job 19:25-27; Revelation 20:11-15; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The wicked and unbelieving will be cast, both body and soul, into the everlasting torments of hell; but those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation will, according to both body and soul, dwell with Christ forever, enjoying the blessings of heaven (John 5:29; Matthew 10:28; Luke 16:23-24; Isaiah 66:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Hebrews 9:27-28; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 John 3:2; John 3:36; 17:24; 14:1-3; Psalm 16:11). We believe that the Day of Christ’s return is known only to God and not to man (Matthew 24:29-42; Mark 13:32; 2 Peter 3:10). Therefore, we also reject as false all contrary doctrines, such as purgatory or limbo, an earthly millennial kingdom and attempts to predict the time of Christ’s return.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

The Adult Bible Class continues its study of the Gospel of John. To prepare, read John 3:7-21. Did Nicodemus understand what Jesus meant by being born again of water and the Spirit? Did He understand the working of God’s Spirit? Can we see the wind or know from where it came and to where it will go? How is that like being born of God’s Spirit? Can we see the Spirit of God? Can we see His working in us and in others? Did Nicodemus understand? What did Jesus say to him when he asked how these things could be? What did Jesus mean? Who came down from heaven and then ascended back into heaven? How could Jesus be in heaven while He was here on earth talking with Nicodemus? What did Jesus, in His conversation with Nicodemus, say must happen to Him? To what historical event did Jesus compare His coming crucifixion? Cf. Numbers 21. What are the similarities between these two events? How does the Old testament event point to Jesus and His crucifixion? From what does Jesus save us when we look to Him and His cross in faith? What will happen if we do not look to Him in faith? How does Jesus further explain the reason and purpose of His coming into the world? Did Jesus, at His first coming, come to judge and condemn the world? Why did He come? Will those who trust in Jesus for forgiveness and life be condemned on the Day of Judgment? What about those who do not look to Jesus in faith? When are they already condemned? Why are believers saved? Why are unbelievers condemned? Why do many people not come to Jesus and trust in Him? What is meant by verse 21? What is it to do the truth? Who works all that is good in believers? Cf. Ephesians 2:8-10.

The Catechism Class continues studying the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed and learning of Jesus and what He has done to redeem all mankind.

The Sunday Sermon will be based on Isaiah 62. In preparation, read this chapter of Scripture and consider the following questions: What does God say of Zion and Jerusalem? Why will God not hold His peace or rest? What will He accomplish? What names will be given to Jerusalem and the land of Israel? What do these names mean? Who will be a delight in Zion? To whom will Zion be married? How will God rejoice over Zion? What were Jerusalem’s watchmen to do? What has the LORD proclaimed, and what is to be said to the daughter of Zion? What will Zion and her people be called? What does this mean for us as believers today?

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 – especially for Ron Wellander who underwent surgery and is recovering at home – for those who have been absent from us, for our students who are away at school, for our extended families and friends, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering.

Upcoming Events

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

Wednesday night Bible studies will begin tonight at 7 p.m. and be held on the second Wednesday of each month. A soup and sandwich supper is planned for tonight at 6:20. All are invited. The monthly studies will be topical but 100 percent Biblical, so bring your Bibles.

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

“My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Proverbs 3:11-12

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

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:11-14

What was it that Jesus wanted to give to this Samaritan woman? She didn’t understand, for she thought of water to quench her earthly thirst and wondered how Jesus would be able to give her living water with nothing with which to draw it from the well. She asked Jesus if He was greater than Jacob who dug the well and drank from it.

Jesus pointed out to her that anyone drinking from the well of Jacob would thirst again. This water could only temporarily quench one’s thirst and need for water. The water Jesus offered and wanted to give to her was different. It was a water which would satisfy her spiritual thirst forever. The water which Jesus offers and gives will be in the recipient “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

What was Jesus offering to this woman of Samaria? What does He offer and desire to give to you and to me? Jesus offers and desires to give us Himself and eternal salvation through faith in Him (cf. Isaiah 12).

He says, in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” In chapter 7:37ff, Jesus says, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John goes on to explain: “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.”

Water is, of course, necessary to sustain life; and the people living in the arid parts of Israel knew what it was to thirst. Jesus and the forgiveness and life He won for all by His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross are needed by all to have life eternal. He desires to give to everyone this living water which springs up into everlasting life, for He wants no one to perish and be lost forever.

It is the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes to see Jesus for who He really is: the Son of God and our Savior. It is the Spirit, working through the Word, who assures us that God is gracious to us and forgives our sins for the sake of Jesus’ holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead. It is the Holy Spirit who strengthens us in our faith and keeps us trusting in Jesus for forgiveness and life. And God’s Spirit moves and enables us to share our faith and tell others of Jesus and what He has done for us.

So it is that all who come to know and trust in Jesus as Savior and are baptized in His name have the gift of God’s indwelling Spirit who, not only brought them to such faith and conviction, but keeps them trusting in Jesus and moves them to share their faith with others who thirst spiritually. The life-giving water that Jesus gives is in believers a well of water springing up into everlasting life. It satisfies for eternity and continues to well up within us and refresh us with forgiveness and life.

O dearest Jesus, grant us Your Spirit and the forgiveness and life You have won for us by Your holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead. Preserve and keep us in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible]