Today, the 29th of September, is Michaelmas, from Michael’s Mass, a feast day celebrated in the Western Church since the mid-fifth century when a basilica near Rome was dedicated in honour of Michael the archangel on Sept. 30, with celebrations beginning on the eve of that day, Sept. 29. The feast is now kept in honour of Michael and all angels in some Western churches.

And, if you paid close attention, you will have noted that all our Scripture readings today make reference to the angels or to Michael himself. We see the angels protecting believers in Psalm 91 and young believers in Matthew 18. And Michael’s work in resisting Satan and his forces in the world is mentioned in Daniel 10 and 12, with Revelation 12 describing Michael’s battle with Satan and Satan being cast out of heaven and onto the earth until Judgment Day, when Satan and his evil angels will be cast into the eternal fires of hell (cf. Matthew 25:41).

There are all kinds of false beliefs out there concerning the angels. Some even suggest that good people will become angels when they die. But, to learn the truth, we need to look to the Scriptures and to what God Himself tells us about the angels.

The Bible teaches that the LORD God, when He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1-2), also created a great number of angels to carry out His commands and do His will. The Bible says that God “maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire” (Psalm 104:4; cf. Nehemiah 9:6; Exodus 20:11; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 103:20-21; Daniel 7:9-10).

It describes the angels as spirits of great power and strength when it says: “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure” (Psalm 103:20-21; cf. 2 Kings 19:35).

According to the Bible, a large number of these angels sinned and fell away from the LORD God shortly after the creation (cf. Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:9). The Bible speaks of the devil (or Satan) and the other evil angels who fell away with him being reserved unto the judgment of eternal torment in hell (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Matthew 25:41).

The Bible also warns us that, until the last day, these evil spirits continue to oppose God and His will and seek the destruction of God’s works, especially seeking to lead believers away from God and back into sin and unbelief. It tells believers to ”be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8; cf. Genesis 3:1ff.; Revelation 12; John 8:44; Job 1-2; Matthew 4:1-11). It cautions followers of Christ to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11-12).

The great number of angels who remained faithful to the LORD God are now, according to the statements of God’s Word, confirmed in their holy estate and continue to carry out God’s commands and serve the needs of Christians. God tells us in His Word that His angels are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). Jesus says in regard to the angels who watch over little children who believe that “in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10; cf. 25:31). And, the Bible assures us that God “shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12; cf. 103:20-21).

All of this teaches us of the great spiritual battle taking place — a battle we can’t even see with our eyes. Satan and his evil angels are working through nations and rulers to silence the preaching of God’s Word and to persecute and destroy the true visible church in this world that people would not hear of their lost and sinful condition and would never learn of God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Satan and his cohorts are at work through false doctrine and temptations to lead people away from Christ and the salvation He won for all when He died on the cross and rose again.

That is why the Bible enjoins us in Ephesians 6:10-13: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand….”

And God’s good angels are watching over us and protecting us from Satan’s assaults by withholding nations and rulers, by keeping us from harm, by watching over us and protecting us that we are not swallowed up by Satan and his schemes.

We who trust in Christ alone for our salvation have the assurance of God’s Word in Psalm 91:9-12: “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” And we are assured that in heaven, our “angels do always behold the face the Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

“I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray Thee that Thou wouldst keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please Thee. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.” — Luther’s Small Catechism.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah 5:30-31

The prophet Jeremiah warned God’s people of the coming judgment and called upon them all to repent of their sins and return to the LORD God for mercy and forgiveness, right up to the end of the southern kingdom when the Babylonian armies executed God’s judgments upon Judah and Jerusalem and carried away those who survived as captives. God had even offered to spare Jerusalem for the sake of one righteous man, but none was found (Jer. 5:1).

Jeremiah’s prophecy in chapter five concludes with these words: “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jer. 5:30-31).

The unbelievable and horrible thing which had happened in Jerusalem and Judah was that the prophets had departed from speaking the words of the LORD and prophesied falsely, telling the people that God was pleased with them and would not execute judgment against them. And the priests ruled the people by their own means and authority rather than in accord with God’s Word and calling, and the people loved to have it so.

The chapter ends with a question: “And what will ye do in the end thereof?” What would the people do when God’s judgment comes and they had continued on in impenitence and unfaithfulness to the LORD God who created them and redeemed them?

Sad to say Jeremiah’s words apply equally well in our day, to our churches and to spiritual leaders and to our land.

It is a shocking and horrible thing, but it is true. Our land and our churches are filled with prophets and pastors who twist and reject the clear and plain words of God which are recorded in the Bible to make them less offensive to their hearers. Instead of speaking for God, they speak on their own authority and proclaim their own views and opinions. Instead of rebuking sin and calling upon people to repent and look in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross as the only hope for lost and condemned sinners, they make people comfortable in their sins.

And, of course, the people love to have it so. Instead of going to a church where the pastor points out and rebukes sin as sin (meriting God’s anger and judgment) and calls upon all to repent and look in faith to Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross to obtain God’s mercy and forgiveness, people choose to go to churches where their sins are accepted as the norm and where they will never be warned of God’s wrath and impending judgment upon sinners.

Instead of going to churches where the pastors speak for God and proclaim what God says in the Bible, they go to churches where the pastors speak their own opinions and hold forth the views of a “feel-good Christianity.”

God’s question in Jeremiah 5 still applies today: “And what will ye do in the end thereof?”

What will our people do who have not endured sound doctrine but, having itching ears, have heaped to themselves teachers who preach in accord with their own sinful ways and desires (2 Tim. 4:3)? What will they do when God’s judgment comes? Sad to say, many will hear Jesus say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:23).

And, what will you do? If you are following the false teaching of so many preachers of our day and feel comfortable in your sinful ways, if you think that God is happy with you and will not judge you, perhaps because of your good works and life, what will you do when God comes in judgment and you learn that He does not grade on a curve, that He does not wink at sin, that He demands a perfect score in regard to your love for Him and your obedience to all His commandments? Cf. Matt. 5:20, 48; Lev. 19:2; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 3:9ff.

There is only one good answer! And that answer is to repent of your sinful ways and look in faith to Jesus Christ! Jesus fulfilled all God’s commandments perfectly in your stead, and Jesus Christ suffered and died to bear the full punishment for your sins and the sins of all. His resurrection on the third day is proof that God accepted His sacrifice for the sins of the world. Cf. Gal. 3:13; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 3:21ff.; 4:23ff.

Those who look in faith to Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross have God’s mercy and forgiveness — they will not be condemned in the day of judgment (John 5:24). But those who do not repent and look to Christ in faith remain under the wrath and condemnation of God for eternity.

It is as John writes in his Gospel: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (3:36)!

Have mercy upon me, O God, for I have sinned and gone astray. Grant to me Your pardon and forgiveness for the sake of Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross for the sins of the world. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Gal. 5:16-18

We are not saved by our works under the Law of God but through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again on the third day. Through the preaching of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit has brought us to trust in Christ’s atoning sacrifice for the sins of all and thus has justified us and given us forgiveness for all our sins and eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wrote, earlier in his epistle to the Galatians (2:16): “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

But, as those justified by faith and regenerated by God’s Holy Spirit, we continue to walk by faith and by the power of God’s Holy Spirit and not in the power of our own sin-corrupted flesh; for, until we die and are raised up again on the Last Day, our sinful flesh continues in its rebellion against God and His Word. It does not submit to God’s will and would lead us into all sorts of sin and error.

In fact, there is a struggle going on within us right now. On the one hand, God’s Spirit, working through the Word and Sacraments, strengthens and keeps us in the faith and moves us to walk in accord with God’s perfect will which is revealed to us in His Word. But, on the other hand, the desires of our sinful flesh are contrary to God’s Word and His commandments. Our sinful flesh would lead us back into sin and disobedience to God and bring about our eternal ruin (cf. Gal. 5:17ff.; Rom. 6:23).

And look at God’s warning: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).

Indeed, to walk according to the desires of the flesh takes us right back into sin and the condemnation of God’s holy Law.

Rather, we who have come to faith in Christ by the Spirit’s gracious working through Word and Sacrament cannot continue in the power of our flesh but need to continue in the Spirit, making use of God’s Word and the Sacraments that the Holy Spirit might move us to continue in daily contrition and repentance and then preserve and strengthen our faith in the redemption accomplished for us by Christ Jesus when He fulfilled all righteousness for us and suffered and died on the cross to atone for our sins and failures to keep God’s commandments.

And, when we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the law and its condemnation. We have been redeemed from its curse and have God’s pardon, forgiveness and eternal life (Gal. 3:10,13).

And the Holy Spirit, working through God’s means, produces in us the fruits of faith — “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” ( Gal. 5:22-23).

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:24-25).

O gracious and merciful God, by Your Holy Spirit, grant that we hold fast to the promises of the Gospel and receive Your pardon and forgiveness for the sake of Your Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And grant that we do not walk in accord with our old sinful flesh but in the power of Your Spirit’s working in us through Word and Sacrament. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Lesson Four

The Ten Commandments

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.…” Exodus 20:1-3

1. What right does God have to give us His commandments?

Exodus 20:2: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

Isaiah 43:1: “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.’”

Ephesians 2:4-10: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

2 Corinthians 5:15: “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

God says, “I am the LORD your God.” He is JEHOVAH God, the Creator of all things. He is the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the only true God! He redeemed His people from bondage in Egypt. In fulfillment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God brought the people out of Egypt and was leading them to the land of Canaan, where He would fulfill His promise to send the Seed of Abraham – the promised Messiah and Savior – through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed (cf. Genesis 22:18). This is why God had the right to give these commandments to His people. He is the LORD God, their Maker and Redeemer! And this is also why the people should have listened to these commandments and gladly and willingly obeyed them.

God has every right to demand that we, too, obey His commandments; for He is the LORD God, our Maker and Redeemer – we belong to Him! He created and formed each of us in our mother’s womb (Cf. Psalm 139:13-16). He made us for Himself – to live for Him and serve Him. But instead of loving Him and serving Him, we love and serve ourselves. As fallen sinners, we do not and cannot keep God’s commandments as He requires. Because of His gracious love and mercy, the LORD God also redeemed us and won salvation for us by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to suffer and to die upon the cross for our sins and then rise again on the third day!

We are the LORD’s – and doubly so! He made us, and even though we have come far short of keeping His commandments, He paid the just penalty for our sins, redeemed us and made us His own again! He delivered us from our bondage under sin and is leading us to the promised land of heaven, which is ours, entirely as His gracious gift! Therefore, the LORD God has every right to give us His holy commandments and to expect obedience! And, as His redeemed children – having His pardon and forgiveness for all our sins and failures for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ, we have every reason to gladly and willingly obey Him!

2. What does God mean when He says, “You shall have no other gods before Me”?

The Hebrew literally means that we are to have no other gods before the LORD God’s face. He is present everywhere and sees all, so we are to have no other gods but Him! He is our Maker and Redeemer; there is no other god but Him.

3. What does this commandment forbid?

Isaiah 42:8: “I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images.”

Matthew 4:10: “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.”

John 5:23: “All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”

Dr. Martin Luther in his Small Catechism explains this commandment in this way: “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.”

4. What does it mean to fear God above all things?

Psalm 33:8: “Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”

Psalm 100:3: “Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

Genesis 17:1: “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.”

Proverbs 8:13: “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.”

Proverbs 14:16: “A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident.”

Read Genesis 39:1ff. (especially v. 9) and consider how Joseph’s respect for God kept him from sinning.

The LORD God is the only true God; and we should “fear, love, and trust in Him above all things” (Martin Luther’s SMALL CATECHISM). We should remember that God is the Almighty Creator, and honor Him as such! We should obey His commandments and avoid all that displeases Him.

5. What does it mean to love God above all things?

Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 10:12-13: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?”

Matthew 10:37: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

Read Luke 22:54-62 and John 21:15-17. Did Peter love Jesus above all things on the night when Jesus was arrested?

Because the LORD God is our Maker and also our Redeemer, we should love Him with all our heart, soul and mind, and gladly live our lives for Him (cf. Matthew 22:37; 2 Corinthians 5:15).

6. What does it mean to trust God above all things?

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Psalm 118:8: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

Psalm 56:3-4: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”

Read Psalm 91. What does it say about trust in the LORD?

Since God has so wonderfully made us and provides for all our needs, and since He has through Christ’s sufferings, death and resurrection redeemed us from our sins and the eternal punishment we so deserve, we should also trust in Him with all our heart and commit our entire lives to His care and keeping.

Consider Paul’s trust in the LORD Jesus (2 Timothy 4:18): “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

7. Have we done what God requires of us in this commandment?

We must all admit our utter failure; for we so often neglect Him and push Him out of our lives as though He did not exist. Every time we sin against any commandment of the LORD, we are also failing to fear, love and trust in God above all things. We place ourselves and other persons and things before the loving God who gave us life in our mother’s womb and everlasting life in Christ Jesus, our Savior; and we neglect to give to Him the glory and honor due unto His name!

LORD God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be merciful to us and forgive us for our many failures to honor You as the LORD God, our Maker and Redeemer. Enable and teach us to fear, love and trust in You above all else. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, God the Son and our Savior. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]