Baptized Into Christ

Lutherans often speak (rightly) of the fact that we are " Simul Justus et Peccator," which is to say "simultaneously justified and sinner" or "at the same time righteous and sinful." This dichotomy speaks the truth of what God has revealed in His Word, that we are justified (declared not guilty) before God for the sake of Christ, yet we remain sinners until the day that we die. (See Romans 7). But there's another dichotomy described in Scripture that people today, especially Americans, tend not to understand.  Since I'm not away of any cool Latin phrases to describe this, "simultaneously an individual and in communion." Here's what I mean: As Christians we are always individuals.  God created each person individually and unique.  This is a very basic part of what it means to be a human. And it is important in the church to affirm the reality of the individual.  In the Apostles' Creed we say "I believe" because ...

This is an article for the church newsletter a while back...       Circle the correct answer:         A.       Being a part of the church is a blessing.       B.       Being a part of the church is hard. Which one did you choose?   Or maybe you were on to me and recognized right away that the correct answer isn’t one or the other, but both. The local church is a blessing from God in which believers come together as a visible witness to the reality that they are already one in Christ. Through the local church we receive encouragement from fellow Christians, hear God’s Word taught and preached, receive God’s gifts of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, and have a built in support system to help us in all areas of our lives.   Being a part of the church can be an awesome, inspiring, and edifying. But the church is made up of sinne...

The Fourth Commandment Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it. and from Luther's explanation to the third article of the Apostles' Creed... I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. There are two ditches I see when it comes to attending Sunday services (the Divine Service). "I don't have to go to church to be a Christian."  This is a very American and very postmodern attitude, but not a biblical one.  "Because I go to church I'm a Christian."  The response to...