September 23, 2024 — Ephesians 1  

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the G-d of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him, – since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And G-d put all things under Christʼs feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:15-23  

In verses 19-20 Paul writes that the power and strength which G-d exercised or “energized” is the power that G-d worked first when G-d raised Christ from the dead. What gives this statement its bite is the teaching that Christ’s exaltation and Lordship proceed from and are brought to completion upon his cross — upon his suffering and death. That word “exercise” or “energize” is typically translated as “work” or “work out” in the Greek language. The Greek word commonly was used to refer to the influencing power of a minor G-d in the Stoic system — in other words the power of a G-d that permeates and works itself out in the details of life. By stating that G-d’s energizing power is the very power that raised Christ from the dead, Paul proclaims that G-d’s triumph through Christ and the cross is what energizes all people and gives them new birth through Christ’s suffering and death. In raising Christ, G-d did not communicate that the suffering and death of Jesus was a bad mistake. Rather, Paul proclaims, G-d validated the suffering and death of Jesus as the defining act for G-d and for the very existence of those who live “in Christ.” 

This is why Paul will continue to encourage his churches, and us, to always live “In Christ”.  

Pastor Dave 

September 24, 2024 – Ephesians 2  

“And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this worldʼs present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest — But G-d, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved!” Ephesians 2:1–5 

Notice the details — the situation Paul observed of the Ephesians: 

1. They were dead in sin — the Greek word for “dead” is “nekros”, which literally means a corpse or dead body. Since we know Paul is talking about a spiritual state (not a physical state), we must understand this deadness here refers to the spiritual life. The Ephesians were alive physically but dead spiritually. Paul chose this comparison because it accurately describes not only the nature of an unbeliever but, like any dead person, they cannot recognize how dead they are. Just as a corpse cannot revive itself to life, neither can an unbeliever revive his own spirit. 

• This state of spiritual deadness is part of their age — their known place in the universe. The word “course” in Greek is “aion”, which literally means age or a space of time. So, Paul explains that the natural state of every man and woman during “this age or time” is to be spiritually dead — at least preceding their introduction to Christ. Every person begins their life on earth in a state of spiritual deadness, and apart from G-d’s working in their lives, this state will continue uninterrupted until our physical death. 

• This state of deadness is according to the prince of the power of the air — namely Satan. He was the first to fall, and his deceptive influence contributed to the fall of Man in the Garden. Today, he rules the hearts of those bound in spiritual deadness, and he exerts his controlling influence through the fear of death. 

• We were all, everyone of us, living according to this dead nature.  No one is “born” a Christian. Every human being is a sinner, dead in their trespasses from birth. All humanity shares the same starting point as children of (G-d’s) wrath. 

Thus it is all dependent upon Grace. By grace we are saved. It is part of our absolution statement — it is something we need to hear each and every Sunday — each and every day — it is by the Grace of Jesus Christ that we are saved. 

Pastor Dave 

September 17, 2024 – Galatians 4:1–20  

“Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world. But when the appropriate time had come, G-d sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. And because you are sons, G-d sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through G-d. Formerly when you did not know G-d, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not G-ds at all. But now that you have come to know G-d (or rather to be known by G-d), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!” Galatians 4:1–12  

“But now that you have come to know G-d (or rather to be known by G-d), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces?” 

As Lutherans we teach that salvation is all about grace that comes to us through faith, alone. As such, it is G-d who finds us; we do not find G-d. G-d extends grace to us; we have nothing to offer G-d except our prayer, praise and thanksgiving. When we return to the wrong notion that we can earn G-d’s favor, we turn back the clock spiritually. 

Yes, there is always a tendency, a human desire to want to revert to the past. Somehow, someway, we think we need to earn our way to everything – even our acceptance through Jesus. That puts our salvation into our hands — but it is contrary to the Gospel. Many people need to trade in their “earned salvation” for the gospel of grace found only in the finished work of Christ on the cross. This is a bitter pill to swallow for those who are impressed with their self-effort — but it is a pill worth swallowing. Which is harder — knowing we have done enough to earn salvation — or trusting G-d that Christ has done it all? I know which one I will choose….. 

Pastor Dave 

September 18, 2024 – Galatians 4:21–31  

“Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise. These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written:  “Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.” But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac. But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now. But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son” of the free woman. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.” Galatians 4:21–31  

Freedom is what you have when there is no lack of opportunity, ability or availability. Yet in order to be truly free you have to have opportunity, ability, and availability. Let’s take sky-jumping, for example. Suppose you are on your way to the airport to go up for your first real jump, but your car has a blowout. You are no longer free to jump because the opportunity passes while you wait for the tow truck. Or suppose you do make it to the airport, but you have no ability—you have never learned about the basics of parachuting. The opportunity is there, but you don’t have the freedom of ability. But suppose that you make it to the airport, but upon arrival you learn that the sky-diving program has been closed due to a lack of funding. The opportunity is there, the ability and know-how are there, but your availability has ended because the program has ended.  

But there is one last requirement for full freedom. Suppose you get to the airport with no obstacle; you have all the know-how necessary; you see that there is one more opening in the sky-diving class. But as you jump, and as you are enjoying the free fall, without knowing it the person who packed your parachute packed it the wrong way — and your parachute malfunctions and will not open. Now, are you free? You have the opportunity to jump, you have the ability to jump, you have the availability to jump, but in jumping, you will die.  

Whether you know it or not, everyone is in bondage to something – especially to our eternal demise. In order to be truly free, it is not enough to have opportunity, ability, and availability. These are all fine, but if what we choose to do leads to death, then we just confirm our bondage to death. But even if we try to always choose life, we still will die. But if we die “in the faith of Christ”, then we live knowing that even though we all die, as people of faith we will be lead to life — eternal life — not eternal death. 

Pastor Dave 

September 19, 2024 – Galatians 5:1–15  

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love. You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you! A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise! I am confident in the Lord that you will accept no other view. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those agitators would go so far as to castrate themselves!” Galatians 5:1–12  

The Galatian Christians appeared to have viewed circumcision as a ritualistic act which although painful and inconvenient, was a small price to pay to be more spiritual. Thank goodness we do not look upon circumcision the same way in our churches today. Granted, there are significant differences between the Galatian churches of Paul’s day and the church today. The Galatian saints only wanted to enhance their spiritual standing – to ensure that they were not forgotten by G-d.

Many young couples today view baptism the same way — to remind G-d of their child’s existence. It is a legalistic not spiritual act if we view baptism in that manner. We cannot earn salvation by the “work” of baptism. Furthermore, baptism is not associated with additional duties and obligations. Circumcision for the Galatians however, carried with it far-reaching consequences which they did not seem to understand. They did not realize that circumcision implied certain binding obligations. It was Paul’s intention in this passage to point out the consequences of circumcision, showing them they had everything to lose from it and nothing to gain. 

As I said earlier, we recognize that circumcision is not an issue for the Christian today — it is more an issue of hygiene than a mark of belonging. Yet not all male children are circumcised because it is even being viewed today as a cultural practice. And yet Paul’s message is clear — to fall back into legalism is a particularly grave danger. As such, we must pay all the more attention to the warning of the apostle. Christ freed us in order that we might be free. Bondage is the opposite of freedom, and since the Law produces bondage, living under it is inconsistent with the gospel.  

And yet, that’s the way a lot of professing Christians view baptism. They don’t understand the relationship and the claiming that happens in baptism. Instead, they feel some social pressure or fear of hell for their child. So they want to “get their children done” — in other words they go through the motions to have them baptized not worrying about or understanding what baptism is all about — naming, claiming, identity and responsibility.  

It is important that we teach our fellow believers, and our children, that baptism is not a matter of “legal obligation” — it is a matter of the Spirit — and the beginning of a relationship with G-d through Jesus. 

Pastor Dave