Exodus 5:1-6:1
1 Corinthians 14:20-40
March 23, 2010
And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."- Mark 9:42-50
Any sacrifice is worth eternal life rather than going to hell forever which is described as eternal torment. Jesus refers to His followers as salt. He calls His followers to radical obedience rather than to accommodation to the world.
It is clear that Jesus believed in the reality of hell. He says that sinners go to hell unless they repent and seek forgiveness. The condition of hell is misery and torment. Here there is no thought that all people ultimately will be saved and live forever in heaven. Hell is a reality to Jesus and the church. We may not believe in the description of hell as a place of fire, but all can agree it is a condition of misery resulting from sin, separation from God.
Jesus wants His followers to enjoy the fullness of life. All that God created is good. However, if any part of us or any habit causes us to sin, we are to get rid of it. It would be better to abstain and deny ourselves certain pleasures and privileges than to allow one pleasure to ruin the whole.
Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this Thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed and given up into the hands of wicked men and to suffer death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ. Thy Son, our Lord.
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
Collect for Good Friday The Lutheran Hymnal © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
1 Corinthians 14:20-40
March 23, 2010
And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."- Mark 9:42-50
Any sacrifice is worth eternal life rather than going to hell forever which is described as eternal torment. Jesus refers to His followers as salt. He calls His followers to radical obedience rather than to accommodation to the world.
It is clear that Jesus believed in the reality of hell. He says that sinners go to hell unless they repent and seek forgiveness. The condition of hell is misery and torment. Here there is no thought that all people ultimately will be saved and live forever in heaven. Hell is a reality to Jesus and the church. We may not believe in the description of hell as a place of fire, but all can agree it is a condition of misery resulting from sin, separation from God.
Jesus wants His followers to enjoy the fullness of life. All that God created is good. However, if any part of us or any habit causes us to sin, we are to get rid of it. It would be better to abstain and deny ourselves certain pleasures and privileges than to allow one pleasure to ruin the whole.
Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this Thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed and given up into the hands of wicked men and to suffer death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ. Thy Son, our Lord.
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
Collect for Good Friday The Lutheran Hymnal © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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