Pr. DFD

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Wednesday prior to Easter 6

Our watchword for today is Grace Alone (sola gratia)

Nothing you accomplish. Whose legacy are you trying to build?

We are saved by God’s grace alone and not by doing good works, believing the right things or behaving in a certain way. Indeed we are not even able to participate in our salvation, because humans are and will always be sinful. Sinfulness is part of the human condition we cannot escape. We completely rely on God in Christ to be graceful and save us even though we do not deserve it. Deserving has nothing to do with it.

God’s Grace Is a Free Gift

God’s unconditional love for us is the reason for God’s free gift of grace. Grace frees the Christian from all worries about salvation. It frees us up to do God’s work with our hands in this world. We are called to pour the love we receive from God back into the world again and to become Agents of God’s grace.

When we speak of grace we must first ask the question: What is grace? Grace is God’s undeserved favor (favor Dei) toward sinners. Grace is God’s unmerited good intention. Grace is His loving disposition toward those who have gone astray and are “dead” in sin and “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1, 3). Grace, then, is something in God, not in man. So we hear that “Noah found favor [grace] in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8).

However, God does not declare us righteous and free from guilt in a vacuum, as if He just ignores our sin. We have a great debt we owe God due to our sin, a debt that must be paid. God’s justice demands it. Yet this is a debt none of us can pay.

So, God in His grace planned for our salvation. For God’s grace is more than a disposition in God. God’s grace is active—active in Christ. In His grace God sent forth His Son to become flesh and pay the debt we owe Him. God sent Christ Jesus to offer His righteous life in exchange for our sinful lives upon the cross and to take upon Himself the guilt of our sin, our debt.

Jesus Christ paid for the sin of the world “with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.” Through God’s grace alone we sinners are forgiven and justified because of Christ.

This means that there is nothing in us and nothing we do that moves God to forgive us. God is gracious to us because of Jesus Christ and because of Him alone. St. Paul writes: “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). This gives such comfort to sin-stricken consciences, for God’s grace is not earned by what you do but is given freely by a generous God. For this reason Scripture constantly speaks of God’s grace as the reason for our salvation in opposition to our works: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Again, St. Paul writes, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6). To be saved by grace alone means you do not save yourselves. Christ does. Christ has. It is finished! (John 19:30)

This grace of God extends to everyone. Grace is universal). Scripture teaches that “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). And on Jordan’s banks John the Baptist cried of Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Jesus Himself would simply say, “God so loved the world…” (John 3:16a) No one is excluded from God’s grace in Christ.

Monday, May 4, 2026

Tuesday prior to Easter 6

[1]

Sola Fide – Faith Alone

Nothing you earn – so stop striving!

At the center of this Christian faith is the understanding that a sinner is justified by grace alone (sola gratia) through faith alone (sola fide) for the sake of Christ alone (solus Christus), a truth revealed to us in Scripture alone (sola Scriptura).

Faith comes from God through work of the Holy Spirit as He reveals Himself through His Word. “Faith come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” – Romans 10:17. Sometimes, you might feel Christ’s presence within your soul and life, and that is always a great blessing. Sometimes you feel nothing. Sometimes your faith is passionate and fervent. At other times you are full of doubts and fears. Independent of what you feel and think, Christ is always with you, and his promise of forgiveness and salvation is for you.

Sola fide the Latin phrase “by faith alone,” also known as justification by faith alone, is the single most Christian theological doctrine that distinguishes Lutheran Christianity.

The doctrine of faith alone affirms God's pardon for guilty sinners. God’s forgiveness is granted and received through faith alone, excluding all "works". All mankind is fallen and sinful, under the curse of God, and incapable of saving himself from God's wrath and curse. But God our heavenly Father, on the basis of the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ alone, grants sinners a full judicial pardon, which is received solely through faith.

Faith is passive. Merely receiving Christ and all His benefits, among which benefits are the forgiveness of sins, and peace with God. Christ's active obedience - doing what God's law required – means that every event of Jesus’ life was a part of His payment of the penalty of sin. Every event of His life was a part of His keeping of the law of God by which He earned for His people the reward of eternal life.

This righteousness is a righteousness that we receive from God. A person is righteous, that is, he is in a right relationship with God, when he simply receives the imputed obedience of Christ and the forgiveness of sins through faith. This righteousness is passive and comes apart from the Law.

Christ's righteousness, is imputed (or attributed) by God to the believing sinner (as opposed to infused or imparted), so that the divine verdict and pardon of the believing sinner is based not upon anything in you; a sinner, but upon Jesus Christ and His righteousness alone, which are received through faith alone.

Augsburg Confession, 1530 sums this up with the following words, “Our churches by common consent...teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight.” – Article IV

In his Introduction to the book Romans, Luther stated that saving faith is, “a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn’t stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever...Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire! - Luther, An Introduction to St. Paul's Letter to the Romans

Martin Luther is recorded as stating, “Works are necessary for salvation but they do not cause salvation; for faith alone gives life.” – [Ewald M. Plass, “What Luther says,” page 1509] Remember, works are necessary. But they do not cause salvation. Thus Luther could offer two seemingly contradictory truths:

The Christian is an utterly free man, lord of all, subject to none. –In Christ all sin is covered period. He gave His all for you.

The Christian is an utterly dutiful man, servant of all, subject to all. –In love I serve my neighbor giving my all.

Our farmers plant their fields in anticipation of a bountiful harvest. There is also a harvest of souls. Christ has won for you full salvation. You receive this freedom as a gift. No strings attached. You are now free to love and serve your neighbor. Every. Single. Day. You are compelled to do so. You can do no other. Love God. Serve your neighbor. That’s what it means to be a person of faith – a sermon in shoes.

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Monday prior to Easter 6 Easter 6

[1]

The five Lutheran “SOLAS” (sola, is Latin meaning “alone”) Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone; Sola Fide – Faith Alone; Sola Gratia – Grace Alone; Solus Christus - Through Christ alone; Soli Deo Gloria - God’s glory alone"

These are core principles that guide us to this day. We will review these guiding principles this week of Easter 6

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone

Not your wisdom – so how’s your plan working?

You follow a man; Jesus Christ, not a book. The Holy Scriptures testify to the Word of God becoming flesh in Jesus Christ. The authority of the Lutheran church is rooted in the testimony of scripture. The Lutheran church reads that testimony through the eyes of the gospel, which is the good news of Jesus Christ who defeated death and bridged the gap between humans and God.

The greatest story ever told is the story of Christ. It is the message that God and sinners are reconciled. It is the good news as we remember that Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day. “To save us all from Satan’s power lest we should go astray!” And where do we hear this message, this story, this wonderful good news? We discover it in the Scriptures.

The Scriptures are our ultimate and trustworthy authority for faith and practice. This doesn’t mean that the Bible is the only place where truth is found, but it does mean that everything else we learn about God and his world, and all other authorities, should be interpreted in light of Scripture. The Bible gives us everything we need for our faith and life.

Every word of the 66 books of the Bible is inspired by God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit also helps us to understand and obey Scripture.

The Bible is about Jesus Christ and his role as God and Savior. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 See additionally, 2 Timothy 2:16; “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.”

All we need to know concerning the saving work of Jesus Christ, His life, His work, His love comes to us through the Scriptures. Plan to read them every day. They are for us the message of salvation and life.

Collect for the Word

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of Thy holy Word we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which Thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Heavenly Father, as the Ethiopian said to Philip, “How can I understand what I read except someone should guide me?”, so I must confess that I cannot understand what I read of Your Word without the Holy Spirit’s help; open my mind and heart to the Holy Spirit Whom Your Son has promised will guide into all truth, that I might grow in faith and be better prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in me, through Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [2]

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Easter 6 Series A study notes

Acts 17:16–31

1 Peter 3:13–22

John 14:15–21

The Lord Jesus Comforts Us with the Preaching of His Resurrection

“The God who … gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:24–25) wants all people to seek Him that they might “feel their way toward him and find him” (Acts 17:27). But in our sinful ignorance, we humans turn instead to idols “formed by the art and imagination of man” (Acts 17:29). Therefore, God appointed the Man of Righteousness, Jesus Christ, and “has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Because He lives, we also live (John 14:19) in His forgiveness, and thus we love Him and keep His commandments (John 14:15). While the risen Lord prepares us for His ascension, He will not leave us “as orphans” (John 14:18), but He gives “another Helper,” the Holy Spirit, to be with us forever (John 14:16) through the preaching of “Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18). Because He “suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous” (1 Peter 3:18), we “honor Christ the Lord as holy” and are always “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks” for the reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). Our Baptism “now saves” us “as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).

John 14:15–21

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit

15 Ἐὰν ἀγαπᾶτέ με, τὰς ἐντολὰς τὰς ἐμὰς τηρήσετε·

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

16 κἀγὼ ἐρωτήσω τὸν πατέρα καὶ ἄλλον παράκλητον δώσει ὑμῖν ἵνα ᾖ μεθ’ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα,

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever,

Παράκλητον- Advocate, or Counselor; see also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7

17 τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὃ ὁ κόσμος οὐ δύναται λαβεῖν, ὅτι οὐ θεωρεῖ αὐτὸ οὐδὲ γινώσκει· ὑμεῖς γινώσκετε αὐτό, ὅτι παρ’ ὑμῖν μένει καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσται.

even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 Οὐκ ἀφήσω ὑμᾶς ὀρφανούς, ἔρχομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

19 ἔτι μικρὸν καὶ ὁ κόσμος με οὐκέτι θεωρεῖ, ὑμεῖς δὲ θεωρεῖτέ με, ὅτι ἐγὼ ζῶ καὶ ὑμεῖς ζήσετε.

Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

20 ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ [h]γνώσεσθε ὑμεῖς ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρί μου καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν ὑμῖν.

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

21 ὁ ἔχων τὰς ἐντολάς μου καὶ τηρῶν αὐτὰς ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν ὁ ἀγαπῶν με· ὁ δὲ ἀγαπῶν με ἀγαπηθήσεται ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρός μου, κἀγὼ ἀγαπήσω αὐτὸν καὶ ἐμφανίσω αὐτῷ ἐμαυτόν.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

-Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts, ‘The Resurrection of our Lord’© WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

Friday, May 1, 2026

Saturday prior to Ester 5

[1]

John 6:32-35 – is the inspiration for the hymn “At the Lambs High Feast we Sing“{LSB 633}. The manna, which came from heaven, was from God. The Father still “gives” the true bread from heaven, which is life through His Son Jesus Christ. Who is this bread of heaven? Jesus answers for us in Vs. 35 “I am” the bread of heaven.

The disciples were encouraged to take a Siesta to “rest for a while” And in that rest the disciples were strengthened for the journey and their work. Where do you find this rest? You are do what the great physician describes today this very hour as you are taking time from your busy schedule and hurried lives to spend time with the Savior.

The body can literally shut down if it is not give rest. Man was created to be constantly on the go with any time set aside for rest. At creation the Lord established the 7th day for rest and reflection.

You are doing this each time you come to His meal. You are doing this each time you come to Bible class and in your prayer and devotional times. With the focus on the Savior you will be rejuvenated to continue on in the life and plan the Savior has for you. This is why you come to worship services; to reflect on the mercies and blessings the Savior has given to you. And what are these blessings? Forgiveness, life, salvation. Restrictions are being lifted so we can soon worship together. When you have that opportunity take advantage of gathering around Christ’s gifts of life and salvation.

There is forgiveness in Jesus Christ. All sin is forgotten and forgiven period! As the Savior traveled to the cross and rose from the sealed tomb He has won for us complete and total forgiveness from all our sin.

He gives us life. Life to be lived in eternity but also life which starts now! Because we are forgiven we are given the opportunity to live abundant and transformed lives. A forgiven life is what He gives us – living our lives blessing and forgiving others is our gift back to Him.

He gives us salvation. That’s nothing more than receiving the gifts of God with thanksgiving with thankful hearts we bless and worship God.

This world will continue to be filled with its own agendas, plans schedules and programs. When it appears that life has got you stressed to the limit when you can be stretch no further take a time out to be with the Savior. As your great physician He has written you this prescription; “Come unto Me all ye that are weary and heavy ladened and I will give thee rest. Take my yoke and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble in heart for my yoke is easy and burden is light.”

Heavenly Father, though we do not deserve Your goodness Your still provide for all of our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we might acknowledge Your gifts, give thanks for all Your benefits and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ our Lord. [2]

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Friday prior to Ester 5

[1]

– Psalm 31 – This Psalm is a prayer when confronted by a conspiracy so powerful and open that all David’s friends abandoned him. According to Luke 23:46, Jesus applied verse 5 “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” to His own circumstance. Those who share in His sufferings at the hands of all sorts of forces are encouraged to hear and use this psalm in light of what Jesus has endured for us. Notice that Jesus dismisses His own spirit.

Jesus' death is different from any other.

“The wages of sin is death” - the Bible tells us. Each man must die as a result of sin. We will face death because of our common corrupt nature - found in every person who has ever taken the breath of life. Jesus' death is different, as He never sinned.

The Bible further tells us; "It is appointed for man once to die and after this comes judgment" We will face the judgment seat of God once we die. There will be a day or reckoning for every soul upon this earth. Again, not so with Jesus. His was a perfect sacrifice. As He was innocent and yet charged and judged. Yet He bore our punishment for us - that His sentencing might be sufficient for the sin of the entire world.

Jesus' death is absolutely voluntary - no one else- including His enemies or the devil himself -can take His life from Him. The death of Jesus is a supreme sacrifice. Jesus tells us plainly, "No one takes My life from Me - I lay it down and I take it up again."

Jesus dismisses His life voluntarily. He does it of His own will. This selfless act is necessary and essential to your salvation.

It had to be voluntary for God to be just. There is an element of justice with God. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. Each sin must be dealt with. Total payment must be made. The debt for sin must be paid. Jesus Christ by His voluntary death paid the ultimate price for sin.

It had to be voluntary for God to be God. People can't kill God. We can ignore Him. We can defy Him. We can abandon and disown Him. But we can't kill Him. The devil thought in his heart of hearts that he had killed the Lord of life. Not so! Remember those words of Jesus, "No one takes My life from Me - I lay it down and I take it up again.” That's why Jesus could pray "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit."

It had to be voluntary to display fully His love. The death of Jesus was not a selfish act. It was a labor o life to demonstrate fully His love for us. Jesus says in John chapter three: "God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."

See what manner of love the Farther has for us that we might be the children of God. As the Son has given up His life for you now you are free and your sins they are no more!

Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us has no end. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may always think and do those things which are pleasing in Your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.[2]

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Thursday prior to Ester 5

[1]

Jesus said, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” – John 14:6

We never want to lose sight of Easter. Because every Sunday is a celebration of The Resurrection. Because Christ lives, He is the way, truth and life.

Your life in Christ is always in the present. In light of Easter Jesus is our only way to the Father. After all, what other man has ever returned from the dead?

Only when we do the Jesus truth, in the Jesus way, do we get the Jesus life.

For without the way. There is no going. Without the truth. There is no knowing. Without the life. There is no living.

Without the way. There is no going. Hold onto this promise. "I am the way." Jesus won't let you down now. 'I am the Way.' In Him you see the Father. In Him you will meet God. His teachings will guide your feet. His presence will sustain your spirit. In all the twists and turns your future path may take, hold fast to Jesus, He is the Way.

"In my Father's house are many dwelling places."- John14:2 Jesus said, “I am the Way.”

"I go to prepare a place for you." -John14:3 Jesus said, “I am the Way.”

"I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also," –John 14:3 Jesus said, “I am the Way.”

"If you know me, you will know my Father also." -John14:7 Jesus said, “I am the Way.”

"From now on you do know him and have seen him." -John14:7 Jesus said, “I am the Way.”

"Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." -John14:9 Jesus said, “I am the Way.”

Jesus is the Way. He is the truth. Without the truth. There is no knowing.

Jesus is the way for those who dwell in an abyss of misery, futility and pain. Jesus is the way for those going through the motions. Jesus is the way for those who fear their questions are too basic. So bring your questions. Even your hardest questions to the God Jesus makes known.

For this God can handle them. Indeed, this God wants them. And when you are next to your wits end. When your hearts are troubled. And your blood pressure is racing with anxiety -- look to Jesus, the one who preached God's mercy and taught God's love. Who healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, and made the lame to walk. And then conquered death so that even the grave can no longer claim you. Because what you see in Jesus...this is what God looks like. This is who and what God is. Love, perfect love, for you, for all of us, and the whole world.

Jesus is the Way. He is the truth. He is the life. Without the life. There is no living.

The life you live is not your own. The life you live is rooted in Christ. "You are, for the sake of Christ, loved and treasured and of value in this world. Apart from your perception. Another's evaluation. Or your own feelings or failures. It’s a reality that comes from outside of you, hanging there on the cross."[2]

This does not mean that we are free from suffering, failure or loss. We often fail and fail miserably. The stuff of self identity is the difference between the words "do" and "done". In the words of John the Baptizer, "I must decrease. He must increase." The life you live is not your own. The life you live finds its identity in Jesus Christ.

St. Paul reminds us, "And since Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you." - Romans 8:10-11.

The life you live is not your own. The life you live finds its identity in Jesus Christ

O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[3]

[2] Pr. James Wetzstein, Chapel of the Resurrection, Valparaiso, IN 29 March 2014