"I am not a better Christian now than I was tens year ago. All I have is a better awareness of how bad I am and how gracious Jesus is."
The point of it all is that the power of the Word, Christ’s Word, has unlimited power. It can fell the most powerful enemy one can imagine, even Satan himself. Like God’s power to speak the world into existence, it has the power to bespeak us righteous; that is, to declare us righteous. And what... Continue Reading →
"In condemning Israel’s faithless, boastful attitude, Paul echoes Jesus’ own words of warning: “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 7:21). They failed to use their advantage. They rejected most everything God gave them, and instead of relying of His promises made, they lived lives of their... Continue Reading →
It is an objective fact that God has forgiven your sins and counts sinners to be righteous. So why does He do it? Many Christians say that God forgives them because of their faith. Their faith, they believe, is what brings God to forgive them. So they will say things like, “God forgives me because... Continue Reading →
Sunday Sermon We Can Know that God Has a Way of Working All Things for the Good. That doesn’t, of course, make them good. Great and terrible evil and sickness still happen in the world, and we don’t want to confuse them with God continuing renewal of His creation. . . . The last word in this... Continue Reading →
At Good Shepherd San Diego, the parish where I serve, our lectionary is taking through a continuous reading of St. Paul's letter to the Romans. This coming Sunday the text is from Romans 8, verses 28-39. The opening verse is something most every Christian has heard and maybe even committed to memory, and it's worth... Continue Reading →
Sunday Sermon -- Romans 8:16-28 This message is about the day-to-day struggles and challenges that we face every day. The bad news we receive from the Doctor: Cancer. The heartbreaking realization that this person is really leaving me. After awhile it is hard to cope. What makes it worse is I'm a Christian, and I... Continue Reading →
Sunday Sermon - Text: Romans 8:12-17 In this Sunday sermon we learn that the Holy Spirit, through the Word, assures us that by our Baptism into Christ we are true children of our Father and He is our "True" Father, forever members of His family. This is the case because it has been declared to... Continue Reading →
The Marines have released a video to honor the 15 Marines and Navy sailor killed in a military plane crash earlier this week in Mississippi. Psalm 90: -- "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from... Continue Reading →
As Christians, we constantly struggle to do the right thing, but many times we don't. We want to do what is right, but often it seems we are powerless. The great St. Paul struggled with the same thing, but he also knew the solution. https://youtu.be/AYUivT5NFIw
Recently I mentioned that though I was raised Lutheran, in my early adult years (until about 38) I was closely yoked — theologically — with my Baptist friends and other evangelicals. Differences on the Sacraments were often a topic of conversation. On the subject of Holy Baptism, their reasoning made sense to me. Over time,... Continue Reading →
Where the forgiveness of sins is given amid a pandemic
"I am not a better Christian now than I was tens year ago. All I have is a better awareness of how bad I am and how gracious Jesus is."
We Ride for Those Who Can't
theological education, reflection, growth
Daily Bible Meditation
Law and Gospel in Joyful Clarity
biblical, theological, personal reflections
Rev. HOG 