Preaching and Teaching from St. John Ev. Lutheran Church (Sherman Center), Random Lake, Wisconsin

And if there are any such among us, we call them to repentance now because Jesus is coming quickly. He says, “Behold, I am coming quickly!” There is no time to remain in trespasses and sins. Repent, believe the Gospel, and you will be saved. Everything in this Christian church is ordered for repentance unto the forgiveness of sins. That is the only way. If anyone is to be saved, God, by His Word and Spirit, must first devastate whatever stupid ideas, immoral lives, and rebellious beliefs are in His way. And having brought an end to all injustice, filthiness, and idolatry, Jesus promises to keep us in His righteousness, holiness, life, and faith until He comes again.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Rev 22:12). Christ comes with the reward which He Himself earned, and which He freely gives to all believers by grace. The “reward” itself is the gift of eternal life in God’s holy presence, earned for God’s people by the death and resurrection of the Lamb of God. This “reward” is represented by the tree of life. Good news and a great gift! So the whole church, the bride, cannot help but cry out, “‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev 22:17) And again, Jesus exclaims, “Surely I am coming quickly!” (Rev 22:20).

December 21, 2022

Is it too hard to imagine that the unbridled stallion or mare will kneel to be ridden by Bev, resurrected and whole again? She will go galloping along the river of water of life, clear as crystal. She and all creation will rejoice in the salvation of the Lamb (Jesus) on His throne. And as she rides down the middle of the streets, she will see the tree of life, bearing its twelve fruits and leaves for the healing of the nations. There will be no more curses. No more M.S. No more obstinate animals. No more land that refuses to yield its fruit.

The hope and promise of God’s covenant promise to you, His people, is the resurrection of the body and heaven. And that heaven for you and Bev is full of life, physical life abundantly furnished and supplied by God. The clear biblical promise is that the present earth, which is suffering God’s judgment and thus is wasting away, will be restored to its original state—even as Bev and all God’s people will have their bodies restored in the resurrection so that they will be like Christ’s own glorious resurrection body (Phil 3:21).

December 20, 2022

December 19, 2022

December 18, 2022

Handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1053iH3pF7uz-ns-CYUQBIaIqIkHT3H-X/view?usp=sharing

December 17, 2022

December 16, 2022

December 15, 2022