Sad to say, many people flit from one congregation to another as if they are free to leave one church and join another at the slightest whim – perhaps they don’t like something the pastor said in a sermon, or they find a church doctrine or practice too restrictive. It might even be that the church holds too closely to a literal interpretation and application of the Bible’s teaching. And, it often happens when a pastor rebukes a sin in their life that they just leave and go somewhere else where their sins and evil are tolerated and accepted.

Perhaps even more shameful is the fact that other churches welcome them and take them in without rebuking their sins or even enquiring of their previous congregations in regard to their reasons for leaving.

This sad state of affairs calls for a reminder of the truth from God’s Word. And, in cases where people leave churches that are faithfully preaching and teaching God’s Word and rightly administering the Sacraments, a rebuke and call for repentance.

Christians are called upon by Scripture to leave congregations and church bodies that are unfaithful to the Bible in doctrine or practice, but resignation from a church that faithfully teaches and preaches God’s Word and practices according to it, unless it is to join another orthodox and faithful congregation, is in itself sinful. It is separating one’s self from the body of Christ in that place!

If one’s church errs in doctrine or practice, the first duty of a member is to point out the sin or error and seek to restore the church to the truth of God’s Word, leaving only after all such attempts fail (Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:1-16; Matt. 18:15-18; Acts 18:24-26).

To leave an orthodox church to join a heterodox church is sinful because it is disobedient to God’s Word, which tells us to beware of false prophets and teachers and withdraw from them (Matt. 7:15ff.; 1 Tim. 6:3-5). And, to leave a church to escape being held accountable for sin is impenitence and leads to eternal destruction.

The Bible teaches that the Church is to be subject to Christ “in everything,” and Jesus commanded that we teach “all things” He has commanded (Eph. 5:23-24; Matt. 28:20; Acts 2:42).

This means that we, as Christ’s Church in this place, are commanded to teach all that the Bible teaches, neither adding to God’s Word nor taking anything from it (cf. Deut. 4:2). We are not permitted to add our own views or the prevailing views of the world to God’s Word, nor are we permitted to soften or take away from that which God’s Word teaches. To be anything less than faithful to Christ and His Word would make us heterodox and unfaithful.

As a reminder that this is nothing new, I cite some questions and answers from “A Short Exposition of Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism” (prepared by the Synodical Conference and published by Concordia Publishing House in1912):

192. Who do we call the true visible Church? The whole number of those who have, teach, and confess the entire doctrine of the Word of God in all its purity, and among whom the Sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s institution.

366) Matt. 28:20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

193. When do we properly use this doctrine of the Church? When we take heed to be and remain members of the invisible Church; when we, to this end, adhere to the Church of the pure Word and confession, contribute toward its maintenance and extension according to our ability, and avoid all false churches.

367) 2 Cor. 13:5. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

368) John 8:31-32. If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

369) 1 Cor. 9:14. The Lord hath ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.

370) Matt. 28:19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

371) Matt. 7:15. Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

372) 1 John 4:1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

373) Rom. 16:17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2 Cor. 6:14-18. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Cod, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

For those using “A Short Explanation of Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism” (published by CPH in 1943), see Qu. 186.

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29

Though Adam and Eve were created as children of God, knowing God and His holy will, truly loving Him, trusting Him, and fearing and honoring Him with their lives (cf. Gen. 1:26-27; Luke 3:38), Adam and Eve lost their right to be God’s children when they doubted God’s Word and disobeyed Him. They sought to be like God, knowing good and evil, but became children of the devil, enslaved by evil (Gen. 3).

As a result, all of us are born “children of disobedience” and “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:1-3). We are, by nature, sinners deserving of God’s everlasting punishment!

But, through the promise of His Son to be our Savior, God again gave the right and privilege of sonship to His elect, from Adam through Noah and Abraham to the present. Those who place their faith in Christ Jesus – who was to come and now has come – are called the sons of God (cf. Gen. 6:1ff.; Hos. 1:10; John 1:12-13; 1 John 3:1-2). Those who do not trust in Jesus as the Son of God and their Savior are of their “father, the devil,” (John 8:44) and continue in his evil ways. Like the judgment of God which came upon the children of men in the days of Noah, so God’s fiery wrath and judgment will come upon the children of men on the Last Day.

How do we become children of God? God’s Word tells us: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27; cf. Mark 16:16).

We do not deserve the right of sonship, nor can we earn it; for we are sinners. But Christ has won it for us by His holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead.

The Bible tells us that “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). Because Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again, the right and privilege of sonship are ours through faith – simply by believing the truth that God will forgive our sins and accept us as His own dear children for Jesus’ sake when we place our faith in Him and His blood shed upon the cross (Eph. 1:6-7; John 1:12-13).

And, through Christian Baptism, God offers, gives, and conveys to us this forgiveness of sins, right of sonship, and eternal life which Jesus won for us on Calvary. In our Baptism, He graciously washes away our sins, and His Holy Spirit regenerates us and gives us faith and assurance that we are indeed forgiven children of our heavenly Father (Acts 22:16; 2:38-39; Tit. 3:5-6). In our Baptism, our sins are cleansed and washed away, and we are clothed with the perfect and holy righteousness of Christ – making us blameless and acceptable in God’s eyes (cf. Eph. 5:25-27). This is true, regardless of our race, status, or sex; through faith in Jesus, we are God’s children and a part of Christ’s family, the Church.

“If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:29) If we are children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, then we are the promised offspring of Abraham (Gen. 15:5-6; 17:4-8; 22:17-18; Rom. 4:13-25) and shall inherit the blessings promised to Abraham and his seed.

We have “a lively hope” because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven” for us (1 Pet. 1:3ff.). When we die, the angels will carry our soul to the bosom of Abraham (Luke 16:22; 23:42-43); and on the Last Day, our bodies will be raised up and changed into glorious and heavenly bodies like that of our Lord Jesus, and we will ever be with the Lord (cf. 1 John 3:2; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17)!

Dear Father in heaven, we thank Thee for the privilege of being Thy children through faith in our Savior. Dear Christ Jesus, we thank Thee for winning for us the right and privilege of sonship by Thy holy life and innocent sufferings and death. Dear Holy Spirit, we thank Thee for bringing us to faith in Christ Jesus and making us children of our heavenly Father. Graciously keep us in the true faith until we receive the promised inheritance – eternal life with Thee, the Son, and the Father, and all our fellow believers. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” Luke 2:21

Today, we remember what took place on the eighth day after Jesus’ birth, His circumcision and naming. And, while today’s Gospel reading is only a single verse, often overlooked, it is of great meaning and importance to you and me today – in fact, without the events of this day, Jesus could not have taken our place under the law and provided for us the “plenteous redemption” promised in Psalm 130:7-8.

Remember also what St. Paul wrote to the Galatians (Gal. 4:4-5): “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” It was necessary that Jesus be under the law in order that He might fulfill it for us and then redeem us from the curse and condemnation of the law by being made a curse for us (cf. Gal. 3:10-13). If Christ had not done that for us, we could not be adopted as God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus (cf. Gal. 3:26-29).

Why circumcision, a cutting away of the flesh of the foreskin? God commanded Abraham, who was already justified by faith in God’s promises (cf. Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4), to be circumcised in Genesis 17:7-14: “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.”

It is for this reason that all who shared in the faith of Abraham were to be circumcised and sealed, by the cutting away of the flesh, as God’s own children through faith in the promised Seed of Abraham who would make atonement for the sins of all people. Circumcision was the sign and seal of the Old Covenant, and no one could be a part of spiritual Israel or partake of the Passover sacrifice unless he was circumcised and under the Covenant (cf. Ex. 12:43ff.).

(This remains one of the reasons we only allow those who are baptized and have made a public profession of the true faith to partake of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus – of His body and blood which were given and shed for us on the cross to make atonement for our sins and are offered and given to us in His Supper.)

Thus, Jesus’ circumcision is important for us because He took our place under the covenant of God and under the law that He might fulfill all the demands of God’s law for us and then make atonement for our sins by being offered upon the cross as “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18ff.; cf. John 1:29). Indeed, the shedding of Christ’s blood at His circumcision points ahead to the blood He would, some 33 years later, shed upon the cross for the sins of all.

And, it is also on this day that He was named Jesus – Jehoshua (meaning Jehovah saves) – for He would save His people from their sins, as the angel of the Lord had told Joseph (Matt. 1:20-21). As the name of Joshua was changed from Oshea, the son of Nun, to Jehoshua (Num. 13:16), indicating that it is the LORD God who saves His people, so Jesus was given a name indicating He was and is Jehovah God Himself come into this world to be our Savior and redeem us from sin and death and lead us into the promised land – something we could not accomplish under the law.

Though many are still circumcised today for health reasons, Old Testament circumcision has been replaced by Christian baptism, which the Apostle Paul calls “the circumcision made without hands” in Colossians 2:11 (cf. v. 11-15).

We are no longer circumcised that we may be under the Old Covenant (or Testament) and the worship laws which pointed ahead to Christ. Rather, we are joined to Christ in our baptisms that we might be under the New Covenant in which we have forgiveness for all our sins and life everlasting through faith in Christ’s death on the cross in our stead and His glorious resurrection (cf. Col. 2:11-15; Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:7-13).

Christian baptism is the sign and seal of the New Covenant in which we obtain forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. That is why the Apostle Paul, after he met Christ on the road to Damascus, was told by Ananias, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

By means of baptism, we become children of God. St. Paul wrote to the Galatians (3:26-29): “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

It doesn’t matter whether one is a Jew or a Greek, a slave or free, a male or a female. We all become children of God and a part of Christ’s holy Church in the same way, by believing the Gospel promises offering forgiveness and life for Christ’s sake and being baptized into Christ (cf. Mark 16:15-16), signifying that we are no longer trusting in our own righteousness or our own works of the flesh under the law, but we are trusting in Christ Jesus’ holy life in our stead and in His innocent sufferings and death on the cross for the sins of all and in His glorious and victorious resurrection on the third day.

As Abraham believed God and was counted righteous through faith and received the sign and seal of God that he was a child of God under the Old Covenant, so we through Spirit-wrought faith in the promises of God are made partakers of the New Covenant in and through our baptisms and are given the blessings won for us by Christ Jesus, our Savior! Being joined to Christ in baptism, our sins are washed away in His shed blood and we are raised up with Him to new life as children of God in Christ’s eternal kingdom; and, as God’s adopted children, we inherit with Abraham and the believers of all time the eternal joys of heaven!

O Christ, Son of God made man that You might fulfill all righteousness in my stead and bear on the cross the full and just punishment for all my sins, grant that I, through baptism, may be joined to You in Your death and be raised up with You unto life eternal through faith in Your glorious resurrection. Keep me in the true and saving faith and grant that I live as a child of God until that day when You come again to grant to me the eternal inheritance promised to all who look to You in faith and become Yours in Holy Baptism. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

1 BLESSED is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Have you ever considered what a blessing it is to have forgiveness of God? What a blessing to have the LORD not hold our sins and iniquities against us? To have the LORD’s forgiveness removes all fear of wrath and condemnation and gives us peace with God. To have forgiveness for all our sins gives us the assurance of life everlasting. Indeed, the one who admits his sin to the LORD instead of attempting to hide and cover up his sins is blessed because in the LORD, for the sake of Jesus’ holy life and innocent sufferings and death, he has forgiveness of God. Cf. 1 John 1:5 – 2:2.

What about you? Do you have God’s forgiveness, or are you attempting to hide and cover up your sins? Are you justified by God, or trying to justify yourself? Are you self-deceived and attempting to fool others in regard to your sinfulness, or do you admit your utter sinfulness and look to God for mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus?

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

What happens when we keep silent about our sins? When we are unwilling to admit our sinfulness and look to the LORD for forgiveness? When we are unwilling to give up our sins? God’s hand is heavy upon us. We grow old and weary through our groaning and sighing all day long as we feel the guilt and weight of our sins. Our moisture, our vitality, our joy, is turned into the drought of summer; it is evaporated away.

5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

To confess our sins is to say and agree with what God says of us and our sin (cf. 1 John 1:9). Confession makes no excuses for sin, but acknowledges sin as sin and deserving of God’s eternal wrath and punishment! When we acknowledge our sin unto the LORD and quit attempting to hide it and cover it up, when we confess our transgression of God’s commandments unto the LORD, He graciously forgives our sins for Jesus’ sake. “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

For God’s forgiveness, everyone that is godly will pray now, before it’s too late! “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t put off repentance! Don’t wait another day. Acknowledge and confess your sins now and receive God’s forgiveness. Tomorrow may be too late for you. You may never have the opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness again. If you turn to the LORD now, God will have mercy upon you and save you from the judgment to come!

The Bible says, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5).

7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

When we turn to the LORD for forgiveness, He also will protect and preserve us from evil and trouble. Cf. Psalm 91. That doesn’t mean that we will have an easy life here in this world. Quite the contrary is often true. But He will preserve us and bring us safely through the difficulties and sufferings of this evil world to himself in heaven.

8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

God desires to instruct and lead His children in His ways. He does this through His Word, which is “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). But, how often are we not like the horse or mule which must have a bit and bridle to get them to go in the right direction! How much easier it would be for us, and better too, to let God instruct and guide us through this life!

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

Just think about this word of God: “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.” The wicked, the impenitent, will have many sorrows. Not only will this life be full of sorrow, not knowing the forgiveness and peace of God; the life to come will be one of eternal suffering and sorrow for the wicked! On the other hand, God’s mercy and forgiveness shall surround and encompass the one who trusts in the LORD!

11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Indeed, those who have God’s pardon and forgiveness, those to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity and sin but counts them righteous and holy in His sight for Jesus’ sake, have cause to be glad in the LORD and rejoice. And, they can shout for joy; for they are blessed of the LORD forevermore!

In 1 John (1:8-9; 2:1-2), we read: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. … If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that you have no sin, that you are righteous by your own works and life. Agree with God and say what He says of you and your sins — that you are guilty and deserving of His eternal wrath and punishment.

But then look to Him in faith for mercy. Believe the promises of the Gospel, that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Look to God in faith for pardon and forgiveness for the sake of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for the sins of all. As God has promised: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Savior! Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]