The Just For The Unjust

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

                                                                (1 Pet 3:18-22 KJV)

The just one, Jesus the Christ, died for us the unjust. He sacrificed his body for our sakes. 

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom while he walked upon the earth as true man. Then he sacrificed himself for all of the unjust; for each and every sinner that we might live in that Kingdom in the presence of God. St. Peter tells us that even in death he went and preached the spirits who were in prison; those who had been disobedient in the days of Noah.

The Word of the Lord is meant to be preached to every nation; to every man, woman, and child that they too might hear the Good News and believe.

It is by hearing the Word that we come to faith and by faith alone in the Word alone who is Jesus the Christ we are saved.

Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Pray For Kings And Live In Peace

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (Tim 2:1-2 KJV)

Those of us who live in the United States really are privileged to live in such a great country. But, there are those who bring a lot of disharmony to the people. Rather than pray for our leaders that they might first know and have a desire for peace; violence is incited against anyone they disagree with and way too many of our elected leaders actually support the violence. Slander and malice abound. Rather than listen to and pray for one another, even our leaders spew hateful rhetoric at and about each other. 

Maybe it is God's will that this country be torn apart. Maybe it is His will that the greed; the slander; the lies, the extortions; the sacrificing of His children both young and old; the false gods; the egos all be brought to end. I do not know. But, I know this: God wants us to pray for our leaders and not destroy them. He wants us to worship Him in Spirit and truth. 

Let there be peace. Let us pray for all in authority!

God's peace - Pr. J

Give To God Your Whole Life

Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

                                                                      (Matthew 22:17-21 NIV)

Have you paid your taxes? There is only a couple of more days before the deadline for filing income taxes. I think most people probably get a little worried that they will make a mistake on their taxes and the IRS will be knocking on their door. That is why so many people hire tax accountants to do their taxes even if they are simple 1040 EZ's that they are filing. We worry about being charged with not giving to the government what is owed.

If we are so concerned about making no mistakes when it comes to paying our taxes to the governing authorities; why then are we so lax in giving God the thanks and praise that belongs to Him? 

The governing authorities use our tax money to build roads and support hospitals and schools and all kinds of things that we deem necessary for life. But, it is God who gives life to all. It is God who gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Do not hold back on paying your taxes to the governing authorities. Do not hold back from dedicating your whole life to God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Armor of God

"Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  Eph 6:11-12 NRSV

Sometimes we forget that the battle is not against each other; but, against the spiritual forces that attack every one of us. We forget and when we forget we forget to pray even for our enemies that they might change (repent) and receive the peace of the Lord so that we all might live in peace; so that we all might live in the joy of His presence.

Yes, the evil one does manifest himself in humankind and we do find ourselves in conflicts and wars. To protect those who cannot protect themselves there are times that we must engage in battle; in physical warfare. But, even in those times, the spiritual warfare must be paramount.

We can never forget to wear the armor that the Lord has provided us. We are, at all times and in places, to wear the belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, shoes to help us go out and proclaim the gospel of peace, the shield of faith so that the evil one's arrows will be thwarted, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). Even as we venture forth wearing this armor we should always and in all places remember to pray. (Eph 6:14-18) Pray in the Spirit that we do the Lord's will and not our own. Pray that God is with us; that, the battle might be won and that the devil have no power over us or any whom God loves. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Respect Civil Authorities

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (Rom 13:1-4 NIV)

Concerning Civil Government.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For the power which exists anywhere is ordained of God. Whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Rom. 13:1-4.

Book of Concord; Luther's Small Catechism/Table of Duties

 

We see more and more disrespect for our elected officials and public servants as each year passes. Unless, it clearly goes against the word and the will of God there is no excuse for the public to persecute these men and women so unjustly. I am old enough to remember a time when whether we particularly liked our president or not, we still respected the office of the President of the United States and we showed it. It's not all that apparent today. There are peaceful means in place to replace them. If the majority wants someone out of office they will use those means. We do not have to become so ugly that we look like bullies to do it.

 

A person gets stopped because of a possible traffic violation and instead of cooperating they choose to disrespect the person stopping them by refusing to cooperate. A neighbor reports unruly behavior and instead of responding calmly to the officers or possibly protective service workers who show up at your door; they are met by all sorts of disrespectful attitudes and behavior. That is surely not God's will. Those men and women who are responding to the call are there to ensure that you and all of your household are safe and well.

 

It is not God's will that we should set ourselves in such a high place that we think that we are above the law of the land. The law of the land is not just for everyone else. It is for all people. It is not God's will that we should act like uncooperative bullies; but, to use the system that has been set in place for the good of all people. Use the system to try to change the system if it needs changing. Violence against others is not the way to get what you might want. Those who would encourage other than peaceful protests that result in harm to others as well as the property of others go against the will of God. He is the provider of all. We don't get to destroy the property of others and still say that we are doing God's will.

 

God's will is for the good of all people; not just for you; not just for the few.

 

May God help us to live peacefully in the land.

 

Pr. J

Fight The Good Fight; The Right Fight

Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  Eph 6:11-12 NRSV

 

Sometimes we forget that the battle is not against each other; but, against the spiritual forces that attack every one of us. We often fail to recognize that it is the devil's work to distract us and lead us down wrong paths so that we will not follow in The Way or help others in The Way. He will lead us to infighting to the direct result that we forget that he is the real enemy. He does not want us to live  in the Lord's peace and so we, the whole church on earth, is attacked from within. 

 

Yes, the evil one does manifest himself in humankind and we do find ourselves in conflicts and wars. To protect those who cannot protect themselves there are times that we must engage in physical warfare. But, even in those times the spiritual warfare must be paramount. We can never forget to wear the armor that the Lord has provided us. We are to at all times and in places wear the belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, shoes to help us go out and proclaim the gospel of peace, the shield of faith so that the evil one's arrows will be thwarted, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). Even as we venture forth wearing this armor we should always and in all places remember to pray. (Eph 6:14-18) Pray in the Spirit that we do the Lord's will and not our own. Pray that God is with us; that, the battle might be won and that the devil have no power over us or any one whom God loves. 

 

God's Peace - Pr. J