If, then, the promise of the land of Canaan is a pure promise of grace, how much more will not the promise of eternal life be a pure promise of grace, which flows forth simply and solely out of the undeserved grace of God, and in no way depends on the merits of one’s own works? When you have done everything that I have commanded, then still say, we are non-beneficial servants; we have done what we were obligated to do. That’s how Jesus teaches us in Luke 17:10: With what would we be able to earn the promise of eternal life? If someone does a particular thing, but does not actually perfectly fulfill what he already owes, he cannot earn anything with his works.
Now, however, we humans have this privilege: that all the things we do to glorify God and do to please Him, we are to do since we already owe Him that jure creationis, conservationis & redemptionis [by right of creation, preservation and redemption] because He has created, preserved, and redeemed us; indeed, we do not do this perfectly on account of the fact that in this life, we do not perfectly do all these things; how, then, would we be able to earn anything from God the Lord with our indebted imperfection? Oh! The poor cannot earn it! Yet we as poor beggars have to petition and beg before God’s door for daily bread (Mat. 6:11). How dare we ever more deeply fall into this line of thinking that we might be able earn heaven and eternal life from God the Lord by our good works? The holy apostle says it well in Rom. 8:18—I maintain that the sufferings in these times is not worth compare to the glory which shall be revealed to us. If the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to eternal glory, then suffering for the sake of God’s glory is of much weightier and greater importance than works. And in Rom. 6:23: Eternal life is (not a payment or an earned wage from good works, but a gift of God χάρισμα, a gift of grace) in Christ Jesus our Lord, which He, through His precious merit and perfect obedience, won for us. … What God the Lord has promised us, He gives to us on the grounds of grace, not as a reward for our works. (Schola Pietatus-Volume 1 by Johann Gerhard, Repristination Press, p. 25-26)
Author Archive: luther
Prayer for Monday
- Almighty and Ever Faithful God, I thank Thee that Thou hast this day so paternally protected me and mine, and kept from us all evil. In Thy name let me now retire to rest, and sleep upon my bed under Thy protection. Pardon, dear Lord, all my sins by which I have this day either consciously or unconsciously offended against and pained Thee. Grant me a quiet night and peaceful sleep, that no terrors overtake me. O Thou, Who keepest Israel, Who neither slumberest nor sleepest, watch over me. Abide with me, for the day is now far spent and evening is at hand. Charge Thy holy angels to be with me, to protect me as a wall of fire about me, that Satan, nor evil dreams, nor any phantasies may disturb me. (In the darkness be Thou the light unto my soul, that, though I sleep in darkness, I may have no fear. Let my soul rest in Thee; and, though death seek to embrace me, preserve Thou me in mind and spirit, that I may awake unto Thee, to be Thine, whether living or dying.) I commend unto Thee also all who are mine, my friends and neighbors, together with all my house and home. Grant also, O Lord, unto all who are in distress, sickness, want, sorrow, or temptation, and unto all who without Thy merciful hand find no sleep because of pains in body or soul, that they may enjoy a quiet and peaceful night. Preserve us from all evil; Awaken me early in Thy peace, unto the glory of Thy Name, and teach me to do Thy pleasure according to Thy will. And when, at last, I close mine eyes in death, and fall asleep in blessed communion with Thee, awaken me again with joy in the day of the resurrection of all flesh, unto eternal life. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer. The Creed. Psalm 123, and The Gloria Patri. (Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians by William Loehe, Wartburg Publishing House, 1914, Pages 228)
Divine Service Rogate / Easter Five – May 25, 2025
Rogate Divine Service, May 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM Link to Live Stream
Order of Divine Service, p.7 The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Hymn “Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire” TLH #454
Readings: Jeremiah 29:11-14, James 1:22-27, St. John 16:23-33
Hymn of the Day: “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #34, LW 431, TLH 458)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…” p.18
General Prayer……… p.19-20
Hymn: “O Living Bread from Heaven” LW 244, TLH 316
Exhortation p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray” LW 155
“May We Your Precepts, Lord, Fulfil” LW 389
“O God, My Faithful God” LW 371, TLH 395
“Christians, While on Earth Abiding” LW 434
Closing Hymn: “We Give You But Your Own” LW 405
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Rogate-Cover-5-25-2025-Online.pdf
Picture: Ottheinrich Bible 1430 (IV:22) Lazarus Raised John 11:1-44
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Bible Class #37 on Exodus 39-40 on May 25, 2025
We continue our study of the book of Exodus.
Overhead 1: Text-for-Exodus-40-May-2025.pdf
Overhead 2: Priest-Clothing-Topical-Encyclopedia-B.pdf
Overhead 3: Text-for-Exodus-35-39-May-2025.pdf
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
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Catechesis Rogate/Easter Five – May 21, 2025
On Wednesday nights, Trinity Lutheran Church(Herrin, IL) offers to both children and adults an opportunity for teaching with Learn-by-Heart at 6:30 PM and a catechetical service at 7:00 PM.
This service is designed to prepare God’s people for the theme of the upcoming Sunday Divine Service. The dialog sermon explains Prayer (St. John 16:23-33), which is the Holy Gospel for the Fifth Sunday in Easter.
Learn-by-Heart will include the hymn “O Jesus Lamb of God Thou Art” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #91), Small Catechism, Table of Duties: Government: Romans 13:1-4, Subjects: Mt 22:21, 1 Peter 3:5-6, and St. John 16:33.
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Rogate-5-21-2025.pdf
Responsive Prayer: Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2024-ASBH.pdf
Insert for Hymn: ASBH-91-O-Jesus-Lamb-of-God-Thou-Art.pdf
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#39 Part 20 The Benefits of Godliness Are of Sheer Grace.
This is also the second part of this apostolic verse; namely, the important reason which should motivate us so that with the utmost zeal, we should train in godliness. This, then, is the greatest overwhelming benefit which we shall derive from this, because godliness is good for all things and holds the promise for this and the future life, for which bodily training is of little value.
With this, however, of necessity we are to take note of two things: First of all, that such a rich bestowal of godliness—as one experiences it in this and also in the future life—takes place by sheer grace and not by our earning it by works. The apostle teaches this when he says: Godliness possesses the promise of this and the future life. For if it is a promise, then it cannot be something earned, especially since the promise flows forth from sheer unearned grace. Concerning the promise of the land of Canaan given to the Israelites, God the Lord says the following through Moses to His people in Deu. 9:4-5: Do not say in your heart: The Lord has led me in to take this land because of my righteousness, for you are not entering in to receive this land of the Gentiles because of your righteousness and because of the uprightness of your heart. And later He repeats this again in v. 6—So then, realize that the heart of your God does not give you this good land to enter into because of your righteousness, especially since you are a stiff-necked people. (Schola Pietatus-Volume 1 by Johann Gerhard, Repristination Press, p. 24-25)
Prayer for The Lord’s Day.
- Almighty God, our Lord, according to Thine ordinance, darkness and night are now falling, and we retire to rest and sleep. We call upon Thee and beseech Thee awaken me and grant me the light by which I may walk and dwell safely with Thee in yonder eternity. Hear my prayer and answer me, O Thou Who slumberest not nor sleepest; through Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer. The Creed. Psalm 103, and the Gloria Patri. (Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians by William Loehe, Wartburg Publishing House, 1914, Pages 173)
Divine Service Cantate – May 18, 2025
Order of Divine Service, p.7 The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Hymn “Come, Oh, Come, O Quickening Spirit” LW #165
Readings: Isaiah 12:1-6, James 1:16-21, St. John 16:5-15
Hymn of the Day: “Look Down, O Lord, From Heaven Behold” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #33)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…” p.18
General Prayer……… p.19-20
Hymn: “Here, O My Lord, I See You Face to Face” LW 243
Exhortation p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “I Know My Faith is Founded” LW #354, TLH #381
“O God, My Faithful God” LW 371, TLH 395
“We Have a Sure Prophetic Word” LW 340
Closing Hymn “This Joyful Eastertide” LW 140
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Cantate-Cover-5-18-2025-Online-b.pdf
Picture: Ottheinrich Bible 1430 (IV:17) Jesus Heals Blind Man John 9:1-41
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Bible Class #36 on Exodus 28 – May 18, 2025
We continue our study of the book of Exodus.
Overhead 1: Text-for-Exodus-25-31-May-2025-b.pdf
Overhead 2: Text-for-Exodus-35-39-May-2025.pdf
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
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#38 Part 19 Bodily Training Give Benefits If Used to Serve the Pursuit of Godliness.
For bodily training by which we discipline the body in food and drink and refrain from certain foods (1 Cor. 9:25), as well as chastising the body by fasting, these practices indeed have their good benefits so that one might be able to more actively meet the obligation for prayer and godliness. Yet this still does not instill true holiness; does not cleanse the heart of sin; nor does it, in and of itself, make us acceptable to God. Thus, these are of little value if we practice and uphold them in opposition to true inward godliness which consists of true inward heart-felt repentance, true humble faith in Christ, true heart-felt love in the fear of God and other holy, inward motivations of the heart. For this, godliness has the promise of this and the future life. Accordingly, what the holy apostle specifically teaches here about bodily training being of little value is one and the same view and meaning that he teaches in other places about such outward practices and distinctions about food, Rom. 14:3: Whoever eats should not despise him who does not eat; and whoever does not eat, let him not judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. V. 6: Whoever eats, let him eat for the Lord, for he thanks God. V. 17-18: For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but rather righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves God this way is pleasing to God and acceptable to mankind. 1 Cor. 8:8—Food does not draw us to God. If we eat, we will not thereby be any better. If we do not eat, we will not on that account be any less. Heb. 13:9—It is a precious matter that the heart become steadfast. This occurs by grace, not by food. None benefit who circumvent this, that is, those who want to serve God in this way. For it can only have a benefit, as the apostle testifies in this verse, if one uses this as an external discipline and Paedagogiam [pedagogy], without any delusion of necessity, as a special service of worship. (Schola Pietatus-Volume 1 by Johann Gerhard, Repristination Press, p. 23-24)