St. Timothy Lutheran Church » Sin http://www.sainttimothy.org Sharing the Joy! Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:56:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 ©2011 St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Lombard IL hiddenvorlon@msn.com (St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church) hiddenvorlon@msn.com (St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church) 1440 http://www.sainttimothy.org/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg St. Timothy Lutheran Church http://www.sainttimothy.org 144 144 St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church: Sharing the Joy! A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lombard Illinois Podcast. This podcast contains sermons from our worship services. Religion, Jesus, Life, church, Christianity, Spirituality, Christ, God St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church hiddenvorlon@msn.com no no You Are Prepared through Repentance for the Coming of the Lord http://www.sainttimothy.org/2011/12/01/you-are-prepared-through-repentance-for-the-coming-of-the-lord/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2011/12/01/you-are-prepared-through-repentance-for-the-coming-of-the-lord/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:56:18 +0000 HiddenVorlon http://www.sainttimothy.org/?p=682 read more...]]> “The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1) begins when John the Baptist appears and comes “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4).  As the Prophet Isaiah had written, John is the messenger of the Lord, sent before His face to prepare His way.  To this day, the ministry of the Forerunner continues in the preaching of the Law and the Gospel, and in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  By these ways and means “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Is. 40:5), and the Good Shepherd “will gather the lambs in His arms” (Is. 40:11).  He speaks “tenderly to Jerusalem,” and He comforts His people by pardoning their iniquity (Is. 40:1–2).  What is more, He promises “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13).  Repent, therefore, and humble yourself as you wait for His coming in peace (2 Pet. 3:14), because He “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

]]> http://www.sainttimothy.org/2011/12/01/you-are-prepared-through-repentance-for-the-coming-of-the-lord/feed/ 0 The Athanasian Creed http://www.sainttimothy.org/2011/06/16/the-athanasian-creed/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2011/06/16/the-athanasian-creed/#comments Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:42:27 +0000 HiddenVorlon http://www.sainttimothy.org/?p=575 read more...]]> The natural knowledge of God tells us only that there is a god, something that virtually everyone acknowledges, even if it is only a “prime cause” or “nature.”  We only know the living God, the God who is really there, because he has chosen to reveal Himself through the inspired Word given to Adam and Eve and to their descendants, and then written by the Prophets in the Old Testament and by the Apostles and Evangelists in the New Testament.

Because of the deceit of the devil and of the sinful nature of man, God is continually misrepresented and the faith of people is turned away from the true God.  In the Old Testament, God identified Himself as the One who had revealed Himself to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and as YAWEH, (or Jehovah), I AM.  This is the unique name He revealed as His own.  Interchangeably with this He revealed Himself also in the Spirit of God, and in the Angel of the Lord.  For this reason the first-century Jews who accepted Christ as their Messiah had no difficulty with the understanding of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Because of the centrality of Christ as God the Son in God’s work to save us, early Christians confessed that Jesus is at the same time true man, as well as God with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and yet not three Gods, but One.  Jesus Identified himself also with YAWEH, declaring, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”  At various times false teachers arose who denied different aspects of the reality of God, especially the divinity of Christ.  In response, statements of belief called creeds were written to clearly state what God has revealed about Himself in the Bible.

While we grow in our understanding of the God in whom we believe, the important thing is that our faith is in the God who is really there.  For that reason to deny what God has said about Himself is to put our faith in something other than the God who is there – a figment of our imagination.
The Athanasian Creed is the most extensive of the three ecumenical or catholic (meaning “universal,” accepted by all Christian churches) creeds. 

Being written after the year 600 (and after many heresies had been refuted) this creed contrasts such false teaching with the truth.  This creed accentuates the fact that our faith rests in the God who really did create us, redeem us, and call us to faith through the gospel, and that only such faith is a saving faith.  It clearly teaches that faith in any other god leads to damnation.

The Athanasian Creed is traditionally confessed in the divine service on Trinity Sunday, because of its exhaustive expression of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

One clause that is sometimes jarring to Lutheran ears is #39, “And they that have done good will enter into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.”  What about “salvation by grace through faith”?  This is a good reminder that Jesus fulfilled the law for us; He did not abolish it.  On judgment day sinners have no place with the Holy God.  Our salvation comes through faith in Christ who atoned for our sins, taking them away so that we may actually live and do those things that are good.  By faith we have nothing but good works before God.

]]> http://www.sainttimothy.org/2011/06/16/the-athanasian-creed/feed/ 0 How We Are Saved From Sin And Death http://www.sainttimothy.org/2011/06/13/how-we-are-saved-from-sin-and-death/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2011/06/13/how-we-are-saved-from-sin-and-death/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:27:57 +0000 HiddenVorlon http://www.sainttimothy.org/?p=573 How We Are Saved From Sin And Death
(based on Ephesians 2:4-10)

I. Why God Saves Us
II. For What Future God Saves Us
III. How God Saves Us
IV. What He Accomplishes in Our Lives by Saving Us

]]> http://www.sainttimothy.org/2011/06/13/how-we-are-saved-from-sin-and-death/feed/ 0 0:28:25 How We Are Saved From Sin And Death (based on Ephesians 2:4-10) I. Why God Saves Us II. For What Future God Saves Us III. How God Saves Us IV. What He Accomplishes in Our Lives by Saving Us Share on Facebook How We Are Saved From Sin And Death (based on Ephesians 2:4-10) I. Why God Saves Us II. For What Future God Saves Us III. How God Saves Us IV. What He Accomplishes in Our Lives by Saving Us Share on Facebook Podcast St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church no no Learning The Liturgy – Part 2 http://www.sainttimothy.org/2010/12/03/learning-the-liturgy-part-2/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2010/12/03/learning-the-liturgy-part-2/#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:19:20 +0000 HiddenVorlon http://www.sainttimothy.org/?p=426 read more...]]> The Divine Service – Hymnary, p. 60:1-3

The Service of Preparation came into the historic liturgy of the church during the reformation.  During the middle ages, the salutary use of private confession and absolution was abused into the “sacrament” of penance[1].   The reformers kept the practice of private confession and absolution as preparation for communion.  It wasn’t until later that Lutherans incorporated confession and absolution into the service itself.

Jesus desires that we confess our sins, teaching us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgiven those who trespass against us", and He assures us through His apostle John, (1 John 1:9) 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Jesus also desires that we hear His own words of forgiveness coming from through His own representatives.  He promises that when we hear our pastor forgive us on the basis of our confession, He does so at Christ’s own command. (John 20:21-23) Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; ….”

We therefore may be assured that we come before the Lord as His own dear beloved children.  We have His love and approval because we have Christ’s own righteousness, and are “…found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:9)

Next week:  More on the preparation.

]]> http://www.sainttimothy.org/2010/12/03/learning-the-liturgy-part-2/feed/ 0 THE OFFICE OF THE KEYS AND CONFESSION http://www.sainttimothy.org/2009/04/16/the-office-of-the-keys-and-confession/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2009/04/16/the-office-of-the-keys-and-confession/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:41:00 +0000 HiddenVorlon http://www.sainttimothy.org/?p=236 read more...]]> What is the Office of the Keys?
The Office of the Keys is the special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth: to forgive the sins of the penitent sinners, but to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent.

Where is this written?
The evangelist writes, John 20:22-23: “Jesus breathed on His disciples and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; and if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’”

What is Confession?
Confession consists of two parts: one, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution, or forgiveness, from the pastor or confessor as from God himself, and in no way doubt, but firmly believe that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.

What sins should we confess?
Before God we should acknowledge ourselves guilty of all sins, even of those which we do not know about, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer. But before the pastor or confessor we should acknowledge those sins only which we know and feel in our hearts.

Which are these?
Here consider your own situation according to the Ten Commandments, whether you are a father, mother, son, daughter, employer, employee; whether you have been disobedient, dishonest, lazy; whether you have injured anyone by word or deed; whether you have stolen, neglected, wasted anything, or done any harm.

]]> http://www.sainttimothy.org/2009/04/16/the-office-of-the-keys-and-confession/feed/ 0 Sermon from 03-01-09 http://www.sainttimothy.org/2009/03/01/sermon-from-03-01-09/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2009/03/01/sermon-from-03-01-09/#comments Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:04:07 +0000 HiddenVorlon http://www.sainttimothy.org/?p=214 SEE YOURSELF VICTORIOUS IN TEMPTATION

I. Our Problem with Temptation
II. Jesus’ Very Human Victory
III. His Victory Is Our Victory
 

]]> http://www.sainttimothy.org/2009/03/01/sermon-from-03-01-09/feed/ 0 0:25:54 SEE YOURSELF VICTORIOUS IN TEMPTATION I. Our Problem with Temptation II. Jesus’ Very Human Victory III. His Victory Is Our Victory   Share on Facebook SEE YOURSELF VICTORIOUS IN TEMPTATION I. Our Problem with Temptation II. Jesus’ Very Human Victory III. His Victory Is Our Victory   Share on Facebook Podcast St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church no no Sermon from 12-21-08 http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/12/22/sermon-from-12-21-08/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/12/22/sermon-from-12-21-08/#comments Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:11:43 +0000 HiddenVorlon http://www.sainttimothy.org/?p=185 Sermon from the Children’s Christmas Service…

]]> http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/12/22/sermon-from-12-21-08/feed/ 0 0:07:54 Sermon from the Children’s Christmas Service… Share on Facebook Sermon from the Children’s Christmas Service… Share on Facebook Podcast St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church no no ANCIENT EXAMPLES OF GOD’S WRATH PRESERVED FOR TODAY’S CHILD OF GOD http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/07/17/ancient-examples-of-god%e2%80%99s-wrath-preserved-for-today%e2%80%99s-child-of-god/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/07/17/ancient-examples-of-god%e2%80%99s-wrath-preserved-for-today%e2%80%99s-child-of-god/#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:36:02 +0000 PastorBryant http://www.sainttimothy.org/?p=105 read more...]]>  

One of the objections that I hear levied against the Bible is the stark anger of God toward sin. The emotion (one can hardly call it a thought) that goes along with the objection is the resentment that people feel toward God and His holiness. “How dare God treat people that way!” seems to be the attitude.
Sinful humanity wants a “tame” God, one of whom we can make demands when we need something, but otherwise push conveniently out of the way. Our culture wants to ignore that we all live under God’s sentence of death already. (Romans 5:12 NKJV) 12… through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
In today’s text, Paul points out that God chose to have accounts of His wrath written down as warnings to us, so that we would not grow indifferent to sin or inappreciative of His saving grace.
Human beings are so given to indifference, so incapable of keeping faith, so easily led into self-centeredness and pursuit of personal pleasure that Paul warns us, 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! He doesn’t want anyone to be lost, for after all, He spent the blood of His own son to redeem us.
What of you? What are your priorities? Have you pondered the riches of God’s grace and mercy toward you, including the gift of everlasting life? Do so you value heaven, purchased at the terrible price of Christ’s suffering and death, enough to cling to your faith? Will you take the strength that Christ Himself offers you in His powerful word and sacrament, so that you will never lose what He has given you? God grant that you will!
]]> http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/07/17/ancient-examples-of-god%e2%80%99s-wrath-preserved-for-today%e2%80%99s-child-of-god/feed/ 0 Sermon from 06-29-08 Online http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/07/02/101/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/07/02/101/#comments Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:30:53 +0000 HiddenVorlon http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/07/02/101/  

THE CHRISTIAN AS THE CHILD OF GOD

Born in Baptism
 
I. Dead toward Sin

II. Alive Toward Christ

]]> http://www.sainttimothy.org/2008/07/02/101/feed/ 0 0:22:54   THE CHRISTIAN AS THE CHILD OF GOD Born in Baptism   I. Dead toward Sin II. Alive Toward Christ Share on Facebook   THE CHRISTIAN AS THE CHILD OF GOD Born in Baptism   I. Dead toward Sin II. Alive Toward Christ Share on Facebook Podcast St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church no no God Forgives Your Trespasses http://www.sainttimothy.org/2007/08/29/god-forgives-your-trespasses/ http://www.sainttimothy.org/2007/08/29/god-forgives-your-trespasses/#comments Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:56:23 +0000 HiddenVorlon http://www.sainttimothy.info/2007/08/29/god-forgives-your-trespasses/ read more...]]> “No Trespassing!” A sign like this in front of your path should make you stop. “Is there danger? What are the consequences if I keep going? Will I get hurt or will somebody fine me?” These are questions you might consider before proceeding and would probably prompt you to turn away.

In the Bible God gives us many “No Trespassing” signs. Many of these are for our good and protection.

For example God says, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY. Don’t go there. Don’t cross that line! Love your wife and protect your marriage.”

Or “DO NOT STEAL. Don’t go there. Don’t cross that line. Love your neighbor and protect his or her goods.”

Our inherent sinful nature prompts us to question the sign. “Should I really not cross the line? Will it really hurt me? It looks good over there. I can see short term pleasure! I can see worldly gain!” So often we ignore God’s signs and we cross the line.

Besides the earthly consequences, unfortunately there are also severe spiritual fines for trespassing God’s moral law – including ultimately, eternal death in hell.

Colossians 2:13 tells us, “And you, being dead in your trespasses… He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”

When God raised his Son Jesus Christ from the dead on Easter Sunday, he demonstrated that he had forgiven all trespasses. His innocent Son Jesus (who had never crossed the line) had made the trespasses of others his own. He died on the cross with our trespasses and paid the fine for them with his own blood.

Believe in Jesus! Trust his message! It is what gives you spiritual life and allows you one day to cross the line that God wants you to cross – into his Heaven.

 “And you, being dead in your trespasses… He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”
Colossians 2:13

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