4.8.2015 Easter Wednesday Hebrews 10:19-39 A call to Persevere
The proclamation if Christ’s cleansing
sacrifice relieves and strengthens our conscience to we see ourselves and the
certainty of God’s mercy clearly. “Where
the heart is not in a right relationship with God, or cannot take such
confidence, it will not dare to pray anymore.
Such as confident and joyful heart can spring from nothing else than the
certain knowledge of the forgiveness of sin.“ (Luther’s Large Catechism,
III,92)
Luther comments, “This old man consists of error, concupiscence, wrath, fear, apprehension,
despair, evil conscience, horror of death, etc. Those are characteristic of the
old, carnal man. They diminish, however in the new man, but they are not
extinguished until he himself is extinguished by death…Rather the process of
removal has begun and as a person increases in spiritual health, these evils
are removed. This spiritual health is nothing more than faith in or love in
Christ.” (American Edition 31:124)[2]
The writer to the Hebrews writes boldly
concerning the confidence we have as redeemed children of God. He reminds us,
we must come to God with a true heart, and with the confidence our faith gives
us. Our hearts have been sprinkled and made clean, so that we have no guilty
conscience. Our bodies have been washed with pure water. We must hold on firmly
to the hope we have in Christ. The one who gave us His promise can be
trusted. Thus we move forward, thinking
about how we can help each other to grow in love and faith. We must keep on
encouraging one another. The day of our Lord’s coming is near. Thus, we
continue to encourage each other.
Almighty God, by the
glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You destroyed death and
brought life and immortality to light. Grant that we who have been raised with
Him may abide in His presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through
the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen[3]
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