a Lutheran’s Confessions

A sermon series for the season of Advent
7pm Wednesdays, December 3, 10 and 17

     John the Baptist remains an eccentric and mysterious figure for many people. Yet, he may be the most pivotal figure in all history and, next to Christ and St. Paul, the most frequently mentioned person in the New Testament.
     We will examine the legacy of John over three Wednesday evenings in Advent. Bring your friends to our 7pm worship services and to the fellowship meals at 6pm.

Dec. 3: “Knowing one’s place” (John 1:6-9, 19-34; 3:22-30)

Dec. 10: “The struggle to believe,” (Matthew 11:1-19)

Dec. 17: “Preparing His way,” (Matthew 3:1-17)

Much of the biblical teaching on hell comes from the lips of Jesus Himself. Sin, and the penalty for sin, which is hell, is what Jesus came to deliver us from. The following are but a few passages representing Jesus’ teaching on hell. They are warnings to us all to repent again, to flee again from the wrath of God and embrace again the Savior of all mankind. This is the heart of Christian living.

[Jesus to his disciples]

“But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Mt 5:22)

“It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Mt 5:29)

“I tell you, my friends…Fear Him who, after killing the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him.” (Lk 12:4-5)

“It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.” (Mk 9”44)

“It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’” (Mk 9:48)

[Jesus to the Pharisees]

“You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” (Mt 23:15)

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (Mt 23:33)

   That there are many wonderful Christians in the various denominations we never doubt, because wherever the Word of God is present, God is gathering a people unto Himself, as God says in Isaiah 55:11, “My Word shall not return unto Me void.”
   That there are hypocrites in our Lutheran churches we also dare not doubt, for Christ Himself has promised that there will always be tares among the wheat (Mt 13:25, 38).
   We, too, daily err in life and conduct but, as Luther would say, “by the grace of God our doctrine is pure; we have all the articles of faith established in Sacred Scripture.” For the sake of our dying world, which is sorely in need of the truth, and for the sake of our descendents, we can never surrender a single article of our Lutheran faith, for it is the pure teaching of the apostles.
   Rev. John Pless has observed that error never creates faith, it only creates doubt. Error never builds up the body of Christ, it only weakens it.
   We love our neighbor best when we stand willing to sacrifice our honor, our wealth and our lives for the sake of the pure doctrine of Christ. It is all we have to give the world, and give it we shall, regardless of the cost to us personally.

   As Christians we are called to serve our neighbor in love, even as our Lord did not come to be served but to serve, giving His life as a ransom for many. Being forgiven and redeemed by the blood of Christ, we are free to serve others, including the least among us.
   One important way we serve our neighbor is by voting. We should vote, not with a view to our own pocketbooks, but with a view to the well-being of our neighbor.
   There are many needs among our neighbors, but there is no earthly need greater than to preserve and sustain the life which God has given. Whenever that life is threatened, we must act in peaceful, God-honoring ways to protect it, including exercising our right to vote.
   Not all issues are equal. Economic issues are important, but some issues are more important than others. When you cast your ballot, serve your neighbor in love, including those still in the womb.