As I read on many Christian blogs around the net, this Christian faith stuff is way too complicated for the average Joe and Mary on the street. How in the world would we ever figure it out if it weren’t for the plethora of books telling us everything that 
we need to do, think, or feel?
Are some of those books helpful? Yes, they can be.
But many of them just muck up the clear waters of a crystal clear message…’Christ died for sinners.’
“At the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” Are you ungodly? I hope so…for then He died for you.
Personally, I have done much damage, and continue to do damage, not only in my own life but more painfully, in the lives of others. I have not loved God with my whole heart and I have not loved my neighbor as myself.
But the Lord has had mercy on me, just has he has had on you. He forgives my sin and cleanses me daily, in the waters of my baptism (which I revisit daily) and in the sacrament of the altar, and in the hearing of His beautiful promises, spoken to me by the poor words of the preacher.
“Your sins are forgive for Jesus’ sake”!
Simple.
Powerful.
Life giving.
And it’s not very complicated. Not complicated at all.
Filed under: Assurance, The Gospel |
The Old Adam Lives! 
As Luther himself would have no doubt put it,
Thanks be to God for ‘the proper man’!
He alone is our refuge.
Yours,
Howard.
Count me as one who is prone to muddying the straightforward. Every day I have to ask myself, what’s so hard about God “‘chose us in him before the creation of the world,” or “repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins,” or “This is my body…This is my blood?” That’s pretty clear. If only we would let go of our claims to self-justification and accept that we’re so powerless Christ had to choose us BEFORE the creation of the world! Not only that, we’re so dead to sin that HE delivered salvation for us through the means of grace! It’s so clear, but often so hard to accept.
Adam
“If we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing…”
You’ve got it, Howard…He is everything!
I too, muddy up those waters, Adam. I guess as long as that Old Adam still lingers, there will be mud.
Exactly why He gave us the sacraments (I think) !!
Happy Holy Trinity Sunday!
– Steve M.
Did I ever mention that guys named “Adam” don’t get to use the phrase “the old Adam?” I tried it once with a non-Lutheran friend. He gave me a puzzled look and asked, “and which Adam are you now?” The “old sin nature” doesn’t sound nearly as cool, but I’m afraid that’s what we “Adam’s” are stuck with. 🙂
Adam,
That’s pretty funny, I never thought about the trouble that might be for non Lutherans!
Actually, I think that ‘The Old Adam’ might be a great name for a beer brand. Lutherans might drink it up (not to excess, of course)
Adam, since you’ve got the name, why don’t you run with that one?
– Steve
We are sinner and saint simultaneously and most of us fall into sin every day.
I agree about the books—these days, every one wants to be an author. God’s Word is our ultimate guide. Christians today have difficulty in finding rest and peace with Him—programmed to believe they having to be “doing” and “showy” in their deeds, rather than focusing on our love for God and those around us in our daily walk. When we focus upon our actions in way of deeds, it truly becomes about us, and not so much about Him.
36″Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Our Lord is filled with such mercy that He washes us daily of our sins.
His Holy Spirit works in us — bringing truth and understand of His Word (spiritual growth) and softens our heart and humbles us.
Well put, Magdalene,
“progrmmed to believe that they have to be “doing” and “showy” in their deeds…”
That is the problem. It is programmed in our natures. The law is written upon our hearts.
” Christ is the end of the law for all those who have faith.” (Romans 10:4)
Thanks very much, Magdalene!
– Steve
Steve,
Thank you for mentioning scriptures: Taking a few minutes this afternoon reviewing Roman 10: 4 (from your above post) finding… Roman 10:3… “Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”
The law is powerless to save. But everyone who calls on the name of God will be saved.
We cannot live a sinless life. We try, only to fail.