Living Savior Podcast

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” Jesus’ dying on the cross and his rising from the tomb are true. His saving grace for sinners is true. So our following him in faith and love is of infinite importance. No one must come between us and our Savior. Is such allegiance worth it? God did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also, along with Jesus, graciously grant us all things?

Human nature sees humility as something the loser has to suffer. After all, who of us hasn’t been humbled by a crushing defeat? Yet Jesus speaks a different language. In our Savior’s Book, those who humble themselves will be exalted. So as one of his disciples, you can easily afford to give generously to those who cannot pay you back. They may not even give you the satisfaction of thanking you for what you’ve done. No matter! By God’s grace you will be “repaid” many times over at the resurrection of the righteous.

Human nature sees humility as something the loser has to suffer. After all, who of us hasn’t been humbled by a crushing defeat? Yet Jesus speaks a different language. In our Savior’s Book, those who humble themselves will be exalted. So as one of his disciples, you can easily afford to give generously to those who cannot pay you back. They may not even give you the satisfaction of thanking you for what you’ve done. No matter! By God’s grace you will be “repaid” many times over at the resurrection of the righteous.

Many people will try to get into heaven, but they will be left on the outside. Why?  Because the door is narrow, Holy Scripture teaches, and God doesn’t allow anyone to enter except through faith in Jesus Christ.Yet while the door is narrow, it is open to all. Believers will come from east and west and north and south. With Jesus as their Mediator, forgiven sinners from all nations will take their place at the heavenly feast and celebrate the glory of their merciful God.

It seems counterintuitive that the Prince of Peace would bring division. But consider the kind of peace Jesus came to bring. Peace from this broken world. Peace with God. Therefore, when Jesus would go through his second, figurative baptism, i.e., his sufferings and death, the world would never be the same. This division is eternally good for us as Jesus saves us for himself from all that would harm and condemn us. Yet while we see how good this news of Jesus is, others see it differently. No one cannot remain neutral.

Last week we heard God’s warnings against all kinds of greed. In the very words out of Jesus’ mouth in our Gospel lesson today, he warns against all kinds of worry over earthly matters. What is worry after all? Isn’t it just the fear that what we do, what we have, and who we are will never be enough? Yet elemental to the Christian is Spirit-given faith which holds onto our Father’s promises to provide, protect, and preserve us into eternal life. Such God given priorities are key to our faith and transcend this world.

So much of life is aimed at accumulating things that will end up in the trash or in someone else’s possession. To make such matters worse, nothing in this world can fill our hearts and provide security for our souls. So we listen closely to wise King Solomon’s warning about everything that is meaningless. We pay attention to the apostle Paul’s encouragement, “Set your heart on things above, not on earthly things.” We heed our Savior’s call to “be on guard against all kinds of greed.” Instead we strive by the Holy Spirit to “be rich toward God.” Such eternal security is a key component to our Christian faith.

So much of life is aimed at accumulating things that will end up in the trash or in someone else’s possession. To make such matters worse, nothing in this world can fill our hearts and provide security for our souls. So we listen closely to wise King Solomon’s warning about everything that is meaningless. We pay attention to the apostle Paul’s encouragement, “Set your heart on things above, not on earthly things.” We heed our Savior’s call to “be on guard against all kinds of greed.” Instead we strive by the Holy Spirit to “be rich toward God.” Such eternal security is a key component to our Christian faith.

Sunday’s Focus - Jesus has a way with stories, doesn’t he? An expert on the law approaches him, wanting to justify himself from a legal point of view. “What must I do?” he asks. Jesus repeats what God’s law of love demands. Then he tells an unforgettable story to show how hard it is to keep God’s law. Legally, it cannot be done!

Yet Jesus’ story goes further. He earns God’s “not guilty” verdict for us himself. Through his work you are justified by grace and set free from the law’s threats. Then the same Holy Spirit who creates faith in Jesus produces its fruit. The Spirit starts with love for God and, yes, love for your neighbor, whoever that might be. Go and do this, Christian!

Sunday’s Focus - Jesus has a way with stories, doesn’t he? An expert on the law approaches him, wanting to justify himself from a legal point of view. “What must I do?” he asks. Jesus repeats what God’s law of love demands. Then he tells an unforgettable story to show how hard it is to keep God’s law. Legally, it cannot be done!

Yet Jesus’ story goes further. He earns God’s “not guilty” verdict for us himself. Through his work you are justified by grace and set free from the law’s threats. Then the same Holy Spirit who creates faith in Jesus produces its fruit. The Spirit starts with love for God and, yes, love for your neighbor, whoever that might be. Go and do this, Christian!