Why Use the Athanasian Creed?

Today is Trinity Sunday, a day in the church year devoted to reminding us who the true God of the Bible is, over against the many false concepts and ideas about God that have been held at various times and in various places.

The Athanasian Creed, which we use on Trinity Sunday each year, is a confession of the true Christian Faith against the errors of those who confounded or rejected the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity or of the Person of Jesus Christ.

Early in the fourth century, a north African pastor named Arius taught that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was not true God in the sense of being eternal and equal to the Father but that He was created or begotten by God the Father at some point before the foundation of the world. Thus, his followers in North Africa and elsewhere did not believe the Son to be eternal or coequal with the Father or that Jesus is true God in the same sense as the Father is God.

And, sad to say, the errors of Arius which troubled the true Christian Church in the fourth century and afterward continue to plague “churches” today, with some denying the Trinity outright and others introducing subtle errors which make the Son less than or inferior to the Father in some way and often denying entirely the Person of the Holy Spirit.

One common misconception of the Trinity often expressed today is the ancient heresy of Modal Monarchianism — that God is one God who comes to us and deals with us in three different ways: sometimes as a loving heavenly father, sometimes as a son of God and our brother, and other times as a gentle and guiding spirit. A common illustration used is that of water which sometimes is solid, sometimes liquid and sometimes steam or vapor. This view holds to the unity of God but denies the trinity of persons.

The early church responded to the Arian heresies decisively in AD 325 at the Council of Nicea (the first ecumenical council) with the Creed of Nicea and again at the Council of Constantinople (the second ecumenical council) in 381 with the Nicene Creed (a statement of faith we still use in our Sunday services today to confess that Jesus is, in fact, not only true man but also true God, with the Father).

Thus, in the Nicene Creed, we confess of the Son: “And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father, before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made, who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: whose kingdom shall have no end.”

In the Nicene Creed, we also confess of the Holy Spirit: “And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.”

And, toward the end of the fifth century, another creed was written that further defined the mystery of the Trinity revealed in the Bible. Though credited to Athanasius, a leading fourth-century opponent of Arius, the creed itself appears to have come later in the debate because it was written in Latin rather than Greek (the language of Athanasius) and doesn’t appear to have been used in the churches until well after the time of Athanasius.

The Athanasian Creed declares that its teachings concerning the Holy Trinity and our Lord’s incarnation are “the Catholic Faith.” In other words, this is what the true Church of all times and in all places has confessed. And, more than 15 centuries later, the true Church continues to confess these same Scriptural truths.

The creed also claims that one must hold to this true doctrine to be saved, adding also that those who reject these truths will be condemned eternally. For this reason, we count those who reject this doctrine to be outside the pale of Christianity.

And what does the Bible teach about the true God and who He is? Consider first what it says of the God who made us and all things.

“Who is the true God and our Maker?”

The Bible, which is God’s inspired Word, tells us: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

But who is this God of the Bible? Who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth? Who is the One who formed all of us in our mothers’ wombs and gave us life (Psalm 139:13-16)?

The Hebrew word Elohim in Genesis 1:1 is the plural form of God and is the name used to describe our Creator (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). He is also called by the name Jehovah or Yehovah (some pronounce the Hebrew name Yahweh), and it is often translated as LORD (with all uppercase letters) in our English Bibles.

“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God [Yehovah Elohim] made the earth and the heavens …” (Gen. 2:4).

The Bible further defines God, when it says: “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” (1 Cor. 8:6). Thus we see that all things were created by God the Father through Jesus Christ, who gave us life.

God’s creation account also tells us that, in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2). And so we see that the Holy Spirit, too, was active in the creation of all things.

The opening verses of St. John’s Gospel tell us: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4). We learn that the Word, Jesus Christ, identified in verse 14 as God Himself in the flesh and the only-begotten Son of the Father, already was in the beginning, that He was and is God, that He created all things and is the giver of life, both physical and spiritual.

In St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, the inspired Scriptures say of Christ Jesus, that He “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Col. 1:15-17).

So, who is the Creator? Who is the true God? It is God, the God the Scriptures identify for us as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Though God is one Being — “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD” (Deut. 6:4) — God is also three Persons — thus, Jesus’ command to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19). This is why the God of the Bible is often called the Triune (three/one) God; He is one God and yet three distinct Persons. The Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Yet, there are not three Gods, but one God.

The Bible tells us, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (1 John 5:7).

Though beyond our ability to comprehend, this is how God has revealed Himself to us — it is His account and His word. And it is this God who has created all things and has given us life. This is the God Bible-believing Christians worship and serve. It is the God confessed in the ancient creeds of the church — the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.

And any who do not worship and serve this true God (the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit) through faith in the Son do not worship and serve the true God who created us and gave us life, who redeemed us in the Son and who gives eternal life to all who believe in His name (cf. 1 John 5:11-12).

Jesus said in John 5:23: “All men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”

Jesus also said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by” Him (John 14:6; cf. Act 4:12).

And, Who provided for our salvation?

And who is our Savior? We see from our Gospel today (John 3:1-17) that the Triune God was at work in accomplishing our salvation.

The Father sent the Son to redeem us. We read in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The Son took on human flesh and blood and was lifted up for us. John 3:14-15 says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Or, in 1 John 2:1-2: “And 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.”

The Spirit works through Word and Sacrament to regenerate us and bring us to faith and preserve us in faith in Christ Jesus.

In John 3:3-8, we read: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

And, Baptism is called a “washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26) and a “washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Tit. 3:5-7).

Therefore, it is the LORD God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — who has both created us and provided for us eternal salvation in the Son. He is the God in whom we and all believers place our trust. He is the God we worship and serve. And, He is the God we confess and profess today!

O LORD God, our Creator and Redeemer, one God, yet three Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — we give You thanks for revealing Yourself and all You have done for us and our salvation in Your Word. Grant that we trust in You and honor You through faith in the Son and His innocent sufferings and death for us upon the cross. Amen.

Athanasian Creed

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic [TRUE CHRISTIAN] faith, which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the Catholic [TRUE CHRISTIAN] faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son: and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal. As there are not three uncreated, nor three incomprehensibles: but one uncreated and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty: and the Holy Ghost almighty. And yet they are not three almighties: but one almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods: but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord: and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords: but one Lord.

For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the Catholic [CHRISTIAN] Religion: to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.

And in this Trinity none is before, or after other: none is greater, or less than another; but the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess: that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance of the Father begotten before the worlds: and Man of the Substance of his mother, born in the world; perfect God, and perfect Man: of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead: and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood. Who although he be God and Man: yet he is not two, but one Christ; one; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh: but by taking the manhood into God; one altogether; not by confusion of Substance: but by Unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man: so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation: descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven; he sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty: from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming, all men shall rise again with their bodies: and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting: and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

This is the Catholic [TRUE CHRISTIAN] faith: which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

God the Father, be our Stay

1 God the Father, be our Stay;
Oh, let us perish never!
Cleanse us from our sins, we pray,
And grant us life forever.
Keep us from the Evil One;
Uphold our faith most holy,
Grant us to trust Thee solely
With humble hearts and lowly.
Let us put God’s armor on,
With all true Christian running
Our heav’nly race and shunning
The devil’s wiles and cunning.
Amen, amen, this be done;
So sing we, Hallelujah!

2 Jesus Christ, be Thou our Stay;
Oh, let us perish never!
Cleanse us from our sins, we pray,
And grant us life forever.
Keep us from the Evil One;
Uphold our faith most holy,
Grant us to trust Thee solely
With humble hearts and lowly.
Let us put God’s armor on,
With all true Christian running
Our heav’nly race and shunning
The devil’s wiles and cunning.
Amen, amen, this be done;
So sing we, Hallelujah!

3 Holy Ghost, be Thou our Stay;
Oh, let us perish never!
Cleanse us from our sins, we pray,
And grant us life forever.
Keep us from the Evil One;
Uphold our faith most holy,
Grant us to trust Thee solely
With humble hearts and lowly.
Let us put God’s armor on,
With all true Christian running
Our heav’nly race and shunning
The devil’s wiles and cunning.
Amen, amen, this be done;
So sing we, Hallelujah! Amen.

Title: God, the Father, Be Our Stay
German Title: Gott der Vater wohn’ uns bei
Translator: Richard Massie (1854, alt.)
Author: Unknown (c. 1400)

GOSPEL: John 3:1-15
THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him. How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee. We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen: and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Notes and History

Origen (185-254) answers Modalism with Persons in the Godhead but with degrees of divinity (i.e., Christ was God but less divine than the Father, and the Holy Spirit less divine than the Son — perhaps influenced by gnostic philosophy about emanations or reflections of God becoming less and less pure as one moves away from the center, which would be God the Father ).

Arius (256-336), a preacher and bishop from Libya, rejected degrees of divinity, saying one is either God or not God, Creator or Creature. Arius taught that the Father is 100% God and the Creator. But Arius said the Son was begotten or created by the Father before the heavens and earth were created and that the Father then created the heavens and earth by means of the Son. He denied that the Son of God was uncreated or eternal. The Holy Spirit was viewed more as the means by which God worked rather than a person in the Godhead (bearing many similarities with Jehovah’s Witnesses today). And the Arian heresy spread because of civil rulers (“Christian” emperors) who supported the views of Arius.

Athanasius (296-373), bishop of Alexandria, led in the fight against Arianism, arguing that Christ is “homoousious” (of the same essence or substance) with the Father. He had on his tombstone: “Athanasius contra mundum” or “Athanasius against the world.” He was exiled and in hiding numerous times because of his profession to the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity.

At the Council of Nicea in 325 (the first ecumenical council — of believers from all the inhabited earth), the Creed of Nicea (not the Nicene Creed) was adopted which asserted that the Son was of the same substance with the Father, a statement Arius could not accept because he did not believe the Son was equal and of the same divine essence as the Father. But even though Arius was rebuked for his error and defrocked, he continued to defend his false beliefs and was supported in his views by rulers.

The controversy was resolved at the Council of Constantinople in 381 (the second ecumenical council) made possible by Emperor Theodosius. It was at this council that the Nicene Creed was formulated and adopted. The Nicene Creed is an expansion of the Creed of Nicea and the Cappadocian Fathers — Basil of Caesarea (330-379), Gregory of Nyssa (335-394) and Gregory of Nazianzus (330-390) — built upon the work of Athanasius to use ousia of the divine nature and hypostasis to speak of the reality of the divine Persons in the Godhead.

Filioque (“and from the Son”) was added by the Western Church in the Latin form of the Creed to reject Arianism in the late sixth century. This was used as a reason for the split between the churches of the East and the churches of the West in 1094.

The Athanasian Creed (often attributed to Athanasius) was likely formulated in the fifth century or later, based on a lack of references or usage prior to the fifth century and written in Latin rather than Greek (the language of Athanasius). It answers not only the Arian errors but the later errors of the monophysitism (which reduced the Person of Christ to one nature, a God-man nature which was neither purely divine nor purely human) and Nestorianism (which tried to maintain the two natures but taught that Christ was two persons, one human and one divine). Both of these heresies were clearly condemned at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 where it was stated that Jesus Christ is true God and true man and that the two natures existed in one Person without mixing, confusing, separating or dividing the two natures.

The Athanasian Creed reaffirms the statements and distinctions made at Chalcedon and affirms that Christ is fully God and fully man and that all three Persons of the Trinity are uncreated and eternal and that they are each God and yet only one God. Also affirmed is the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and from the Son.

So, why do we confess the Nicene and the Athanasian Creeds? Isn’t the Apostles’ Creed good enough?

The Apostles’ Creed (based on the teaching of the apostles as recorded in the New Testament but probably not formulated until later) doesn’t specifically address the heresies which tore apart the church in the third through the fifth centuries. It appears to have been used in connection with baptisms and the instruction of new converts (as we do today in our catechetical studies).

Why do we teach Unity and Trinity of God?

Unity — Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4; Psalm 50:1; Isa. 37:16; 44:8

Trinity — Matt. 20:19; Gen. 1:1ff.; John 1:1ff.; Numbers 6:24ff.; 2 Cor. 13:14; Isa. 48:16f.; 1 Peter 1:3-5

Jesus Divine and human — John 1:1ff.; Matthew 1:18ff.; Luke 2:1-11; John 8:58; 10:30-33; 20:24-29; Rom. 1:3-4; Heb. 1:1ff.; Psalm 2; Psalm 110; Jer. 23:1ff.; 1 Tim. 2:5; Gal. 4:4ff.; Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Col. 1:15-16; 2:9; Tit. 2:13-14;

Why is this important?

To worship the true God who has revealed Himself to us in the Bible and not an image or concept of God of our own making (Ex. 20:2ff.)

Necessary for Christ to be true man, the Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15; Gal 4:4-6; Heb. 2:14ff.) to take our place under the Law and redeem us.

Necessary for Him to be true God for His sacrifice to be sufficient to make atonement for all our sins (Psalm 49:7f.)

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

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
Affiliated with ELDoNA
(Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America)
“Holding Forth the Word of Life”
2305 S. Dixieland Road/P.O. Box 2335
Rogers, AR 72757
479-310-5289

www.goodshepherdrogers.org
www.bible-byte.net

Pentecost — Whitsunday

May 23, 2021

Order of Matins

V. O LORD, open Thou my lips. And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
V. Make haste, O God, to deliver me. Make haste to help me, O Lord.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Hallelujah.

V. O come, let us worship the Lord. For He is our Maker.

Venite
O COME, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving: and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God: and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Hymn: “Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord!” by Martin Luther (1524)

1 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!
Be all Thy graces now outpoured
On each believer’s mind and heart;
Thy fervent love to them impart.
Lord, by the brightness of Thy light,
Thou in the faith dost men unite
Of every land and every tongue;
This to Thy praise, O Lord, our God, be sung.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

2 Thou holy Light, Guide Divine,
Oh, cause the Word of Life to shine!
Teach us to know our God aright
And call Him Father with delight.
From every error keep us free;
Let none but Christ our Master be
That we in living faith abide,
In Him, our Lord, with all our might confide.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

3 Thou holy Fire, Comfort true,
Grant us the will Thy work to do
And in Thy service to abide;
Let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by Thy power, prepare each heart
And to our weakness strength impart
That bravely here we may contend,
Through life and death to Thee, our Lord, ascend.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Epistle: Acts 2:1-13
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another. What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

Gospel: John 14:23-31
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Sermon: “Peter’s Pentecost Sermon” — Acts 2:14-47

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

We’ve heard what happened on the day of Pentecost when Jerusalem was filled with people come to celebrate the feast and when Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit upon His apostles, but I would like you to consider not my sermon but the sermon of the Apostle Peter which he preached on that feast of Pentecost following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. I read it to you from Acts 2:14ff.

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Peter pointed out to the people that what was happening, what they were seeing and hearing in their own native languages, was prophesied in the Old Testament by the prophet Joel (in Joel 2.) And then, using both the miracles of Jesus and His mighty workings, along with the testimony of God’s Word, Peter bore witness to the fact that Jesus — the same Jesus whom the rulers of the Jews had rejected and crucified — is none other than the Son of God, the promised Messiah and Savior of Israel, who is now risen from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God the Father in heaven and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

And, when the people realized that they had rejected and crucified the Lord’s Christ, the promised Messiah, they were troubled in their hearts and asked Peter and the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

We too need to consider Peter’s message, and we too need to be pricked and troubled in our hearts because we too have crucified the Lord’s Christ! It was for our sins that Jesus was scourged and beaten. It was for our sins that He was nailed to the cross. And it was for our sins that He was forsaken and condemned by God the Father and cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46).

Consider the words of Isaiah 53:4-6: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

And what was the Apostle Peter’s answer to the people? In Acts 2:38-39, we read: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

What does this mean? What did Peter tell the people to do? What does he tell us to do? To repent of our sinful and rebellious ways, to repent of our rejection and opposition to Christ, and to be baptized in His name, to put on Christ and let His blood cover us. Instead of rejecting the Lord’s Christ and opposing Christ and His Word, Peter calls upon us to turn from our erring ways and come to Christ and be baptized into Christ, which, of course, means to come to Christ in faith and to be baptized into Christ believing that He won for us and all mankind forgiveness of sins and eternal life by His innocent sufferings and death, by His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world!

And what does Peter promise His hearers? What does he promise to us today when we repent and are baptized into Jesus’ name according to His command in Matthew 28:19? “The remission of sins” and … the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Peter’s message is the same message as Ananias spoke to the Apostle Paul, as recorded in Acts 22:16: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” When we repent and are baptized in Jesus’ name, God washes away our sins in Jesus’ blood and accepts us as His own dear children.

St. Paul writes 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.”

When, by the grace of God, we trust in Christ as our Savior and are baptized in His name, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. He takes up residence in our hearts, He teaches us of Jesus from God’s Word, and He strengthens and keeps us in the true and saving faith.

In the Gospel appointed for today, in John 14:26, Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

And in Titus 3:4-7, we read: “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

When we repent and are baptized in Jesus’ name, we receive, through faith in God’s mercy, forgiveness for all our sins, and we receive the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, teaches us from God’s Word, reveals our sinfulness but also comforts us with the Gospel promises of forgiveness and life through faith in Christ Jesus, and preserves us in the true faith through Word and Sacrament unto life everlasting.

Paul wrote to the Philippians in Philippians 1:6, that He who has “begun a good work” in us will dwell in us and “perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

And, what was the result of Peter’s Pentecost sermon? We see the answer to that in Acts 2:41-42: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” A great many of Peter’s hearers were convicted in their hearts and repented of their sinful ways, being baptized in Jesus’ name and according to His command (in Matthew 28:19) for the remission of sins. And, they continued steadfastly in the doctrine and teaching of the apostles of our Lord Jesus. They practiced fellowship with those who held to the teaching of Christ’s apostles, they took Holy Communion with them and they joined together with them in prayer and praises. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (v. 47).

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we thank Thee for bringing us to see and repent of our sinful ways, for bringing us to trust in Thee and to be baptized in Thy name, and for granting to us the gift of the Holy Ghost that we might be kept and preserved in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting. For the sake of Thy bitter sufferings and death in our stead, and Thy glorious resurrection and ascension, we pray. Amen.

The Canticle — Te Deum Laudamus
We praise Thee, O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father everlasting. To Thee all Angels cry aloud, the heavens, and all the powers therein. To Thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy Glory. The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise Thee. The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge Thee; the Father of an infinite Majesty; Thine adorable, true and only Son; also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man, Thou didst humble Thyself to be born of a Virgin. When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine heritage. Govern them and lift them up for ever. Day by day we magnify Thee; and we worship Thy Name ever, world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us as our trust is in Thee. O Lord, in Thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded.

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven; Hallowed by Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect
O GOD, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Collect for Grace
O LORD, our Heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with Thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings, being ordered by Thy governance, may be righteous in Thy sight; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

V. Bless we the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.

Benediction
THE Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Members desiring the Lord’s Supper but not comfortable attending services during the COVID-19 pandemic may call Pastor Moll at 479-233-0081 or email him at pastor@goodshepherdrogers.org and he will arrange a time to bring the Sacrament to them.

Online Services will continue each week via Facebook Live and with recorded YouTube videos posted on the church website after the service when we are back in the church building. The bulletin is posted and made available online. In addition, devotionals and sermon summaries are also available on the church website: https://goodshepherdrogers.org.

Midweek Bible Study will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday via Google Meet. We continue our study of the Book of Acts.

A Voter’s Assembly meeting will be held today, May 23, via Google Meet. In addition to other items, the congregation will consider adopting an amended Constitution and Bylaws.

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:1-14

1. Who is the author of Acts of the Apostles? Why do we say so? Cf. Acts 1:1ff.; Luke 1:1ff. What ties these two books together?

2. What does the Bible tell us of Luke? See Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24. Who penned the largest part of the New Testament?

3. How are the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles like a two-volume set giving us the history of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and a partial history of the work of the apostles after Jesus’ death and resurrection? How does this fit together with the epistles of the Apostle Paul and of James?

4. Who is Theophilus? What does the name mean? What does Luke’s address in his Gospel, “Most excellent Theophilus,” imply?

5. What does Luke say is covered in his first treatise? Where does he continue in the Book of Acts?

6. To whom did Jesus appear over a period of 40 days following His resurrection? Did Jesus provide undeniable proof of His resurrection? What are some examples? Why is this important? Cf. Mark 16 and 1 Corinthians 15; John 20 and 21; Luke 24, etc.

7. About what did Jesus speak to His chosen apostles during those 40 days? Why?

8. What command had Jesus given to His apostles? Why? What did He promise?

9. With what did John baptize? With what would Jesus baptize His apostles? Cf. Acts 2:38-39. How do we partake of this promise?

10. When pastors baptize with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, with what does Jesus baptize and cleanse our hearts and souls? Explain. Cf. John 3:3-6; Titus 3:3-7; Acts 22:16.

11. What did the apostles ask Jesus in verse 6? How did Jesus answer? Did they yet fully understand the Scriptures at this point? Cf. Luke 24:44ff. Did Jesus come to establish an earthly kingdom in Israel or a heavenly kingdom made up of believers from all over the earth? Cf. Daniel 2:34-35,44-45.

12. What did Jesus promise His apostles in verse 8? Compare this to Jesus’ great commission in Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-16; Luke 24:44-49; John 20:19-23. How were Jesus’ disciples to be witnesses? What did Jesus commission them to do? Who is called to carry on this work today? Cf. Ephesians 4:10-16.

13. In whose power were the apostles to carry out this great work? See verse 8. Cf. Matthew 10:19-20; Mark 13:11; John 14:26; 15:26-27.

14. What happened after Jesus had spoken these things to His apostles? See verse 9. Cf. Luke 24:50-53; Mark 16:19-20; Ephesians 1:15-23; Philippians 2:9-11.

15. Who appeared to Jesus’ disciples as they stood gazing up into heaven? What did they say? See verses 10-11. How will Jesus’ return? See Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:25-28; Mark 13:24-27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.

16. From which mountain did Jesus ascend? See verse 12. How far was this from Jerusalem? Cf. Joshua 3:4. What does the Bible say in Zechariah 14:4?

17. Where were the disciples staying in Jerusalem? Who was there in Jerusalem? See verse 13.

18. What does verse 14 tell us about the activity of the apostles between Jesus’s ascension on the 40th day after Easter and the Day of Pentecost, the 50th day after Jesus’ resurrection? Who all was participating in this? Cf. Acts 2:41ff. How did the church meet in Jerusalem?

When the Comforter Comes

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
Affiliated with ELDoNA
(Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America)
“Holding Forth the Word of Life”
2305 S. Dixieland Road/P.O. Box 2335
Rogers, AR 72757
479-310-5289

www.goodshepherdrogers.org
www.bible-byte.net

Sunday After Ascension — Exaudi
May 16, 2021

Order of Matins

V. O LORD, open Thou my lips. And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
V. Make haste, O God, to deliver me. Make haste to help me, O Lord.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Hallelujah.

V. O come, let us worship the Lord. For He is our Maker.

Venite
O COME, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving: and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God: and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Hymn: “If God Were Not Upon Our Side” by Martin Luther (1524)

1 If God were not upon our side
When round us foes are raging,
Were not Himself our help and guide
When bitter war they’re waging,
Were He not Israel’s mighty shield,
To whom their utmost craft must yield,
We surely must have perished.

2 But now no human wit or might
His chosen people frighteth,
God sitteth in the highest height,
And He their counsels blighteth;
When craftiest snares and nets they lay,
God goes to work another way,
And makes a path before us.

3 Against our souls they rage and mock,
Exciting great commotion:
As billows meet with angry shock
Out on the stormy ocean,
So they our lives with fury seek;
But God hath pity on the weak,
And Him they have forgotten.

4 They call us heretics, and aye
Their Christian name are flaunting;
They seek to spill our blood, while they
Their fear of God are vaunting.
Ah, God! that precious name of Thine
O’er many a wicked deed must shine,
But Thou wilt once avenge it.

5 They open wide their ravenous jaws,
And threaten to devour us,
But thanks to God, who rules our cause,
They shall not overpower us;
Their snares He yet will bring to naught,
And overthrow what they have taught;
God is too mighty for them.

6 How richly He consoleth those
Whom no one else befriendeth!
The door of grace doth never close;
Sense cannot comprehend it,
How this may be, and deems all lost,
When through this very cross a host
Of champions God is raising.

7 Our foes, O God, are in Thy hand,
Thou knowest their endeavor;
But only give us strength to stand,
And let us waver never,
Though reason strives with faith, and still
It fears to wholly trust Thy will,
And sees not Thy salvation.

8 But heaven and earth, O Lord, are Thine,
For Thou alone hast made them;
Thy light let on Thy people shine,
And in their sorrows aid them;
Kindle our hearts to love and faith
That shall be steadfast e’en to death,
Howe’er the world may murmur!

Epistle: 1 Peter 4:7-11
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel: John 15:26 —16:4
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. 1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Sermon: “When the Comforter Comes” — John 15:26 — 16:4

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

In Revelation 22:17, God’s Word says: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

The Holy Spirit, through the witness and testimony of Christ’s Bride, the Church, to the truth of God’s Word, calls upon all to repent of their sins and come and partake of Christ and the blessings of forgiveness of sins and life eternal which He won for us when He suffered and died upon the cross and made full atonement for the sins of the entire world.

Similarly, in Isaiah 55:1-3,6-7 it says, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. … Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

And so, in the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27).

The Holy Spirit testifies of Christ, who He is and what He has done for fallen mankind; and, the apostles of the Lord Jesus, who were with Jesus throughout His ministry and were witnesses of His crucifixion and His resurrection, bear witness to the world concerning Jesus and what He has done for us.

And that commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature is still the task of Christ’s Church today. “The Spirit and the bride say, Come” (Rev. 22:17; cf. Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; John 3:14ff.). The Church, through its called ministers still calls upon all people in all places to repent of their sins and sinful ways and to look in faith to Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice upon the cross for the forgiveness of all their sins and for everlasting life.

But calling upon all to repent of their sinful ways and come to Christ for pardon and forgiveness will bring persecution. Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

And Jesus told His apostles in advance (John 16:1-4): “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.”

Therefore, we should not be surprised when the world and even those in the outward visible church in this world hate us, speak evil of us, excommunicate us or kill us for speaking the truth revealed to us by God’s Spirit in the Word. As Jesus explained in John 3:18-20, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

Dear brethren, we are lights in this dark and dying world when we trust in Christ and follow Him, and the people of this world, including many who count themselves Christians, would rather not have the light of God’s Word shine upon them, upon their doctrine or upon their lifestyles and reveal their wayward ways and sinfulness. Therefore, we can expect the world to try and snuff out the light and silence our witness to the truth. Why? Because they don’t know the Father (or the Son) or trust in Him.

But Jesus did not send His disciples out into the world alone and in their own strength; He told them to wait in Jerusalem until they were “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Jesus told His disciples: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). And consider the strength and boldness given to Jesus’ disciples on the day of Pentecost and afterward, as we read of their witness to Christ in the Book of Acts.

Nor does Jesus send us out into the world alone or in our own strength and power. He not only commissioned His church to disciple the nations (cf. Matt. 28:16ff.); he also promised, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).

And, in our Baptisms, He gives us His Holy Spirit, who creates faith in our hearts, washes away our sins in Christ’s shed blood, and regenerates us that we might love God and seek to live for Him in accord with God’s Word (cf. John 3:3-6).

St. Paul wrote to Titus, chapter 3, verses 3ff.: “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Therefore, in the strength of the Holy Spirit, and using the witness of the Spirit and of the apostles and prophets recorded in God’s Word, we hold fast in faith to Christ Jesus as our Savior and we bear witness to the world of Jesus, who He is and what He has done for our salvation.

We know the world will hate us and persecute us. We need not be surprised. Even those within the outward pale of the visible church will persecute us and may excommunicate us because they don’t know the Father whom they claim to worship and serve because they don’t know and trust in the Christ of the Bible who died for them and rose again.

We hold fast to Christ our Savior, and in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit, we bear witness to Christ and the truth of His Word in this dark and dying world.

Grant unto us Thy Holy Spirit, O Lord, that we may hear and believe Thy Word, trust in Thee for pardon and bear witness to the truth to all around us. Amen.

The Canticle — Te Deum Laudamus
We praise Thee, O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father everlasting. To Thee all Angels cry aloud, the heavens, and all the powers therein. To Thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy Glory. The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise Thee. The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge Thee; the Father of an infinite Majesty; Thine adorable, true and only Son; also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man, Thou didst humble Thyself to be born of a Virgin. When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine heritage. Govern them and lift them up for ever. Day by day we magnify Thee; and we worship Thy Name ever, world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us as our trust is in Thee. O Lord, in Thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded.

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven; Hallowed by Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect
ALMIGHTY, everlasting God, make us to have always a devout will towards Thee, and to serve Thy Majesty with a pure heart; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Collect for Grace
O LORD, our Heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with Thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings, being ordered by Thy governance, may be righteous in Thy sight; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

V. Bless we the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.

Benediction
THE Grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. +

[Scripture quoted from the KJV]

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Members desiring the Lord’s Supper but not comfortable attending services during the COVID-19 pandemic may call Pastor Moll at 479-233-0081 or email him at pastor@goodshepherdrogers.org and he will arrange a time to bring the Sacrament to them.

Online Services will continue each week via Facebook Live and with recorded YouTube videos posted on the church website after the service when we are back in the church building. The bulletin is posted and made available online. In addition, devotionals and sermon summaries are also available on the church website: https://goodshepherdrogers.org.

Midweek Bible Study will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday via Google Meet. We will begin a study of the Book of Acts.

A Voter’s Assembly meeting will be held following our morning worship service on Sunday, May 23. In addition to other items, the congregation will consider adopting an amended Constitution and Bylaws.

Church Council will next meet via Google Meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18.

Psalm 68:18

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men …

Acts 1:1-11

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Meditation

Thursday, May 13, is Ascension Day, a Christian festival often forgotten by churches today. It is the day to remember Jesus’ ascension into heaven and the fact that He now rules over and fills all things (Eph. 1:17-23) and will soon return to judge the living and the dead and establish His everlasting kingdom. Today, we consider the words of the angels to Jesus’ disciples when Jesus was taken up into heaven.

This Word of God, which was spoken by angels to the disciples who had just witnessed Jesus’ ascension into heaven, teaches us that Jesus Christ will return visibly in the clouds of glory on the Last Day. The Bible also says this in Revelation 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

As Jesus ascended into heaven, so He shall also return on the Last Day, the Day of Judgment. He will come again in clouds of glory. Every eye will see Him! His return will be no secret rapture — both the believer and the unbeliever will see Him coming in glory!

In Matthew 24:29-31, we read: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

But, are you ready for His return and judgment? Are you prepared to meet Him?

Those who do not trust in Him for salvation will wail in sorrow at His return because they stand condemned for not trusting in the only begotten Son of God. In John 3:18, we read: “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Mark 16:16 says: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

And, in 2 Thess. 1:7-10, God’s Word says: “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

But those who do trust in Christ Jesus as their Savior — believing that they have pardon for their sins and peace with God for the sake of Christ’s innocent sufferings and death in their stead — will rejoice at His return because He comes to take them to be with Him forever in the mansions of heaven.

In John 14:1-3, Jesus says: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (Cf. Luke 21:27-28; Heb. 9:27-28; 1 Thess. 4:13-18.)

Do you acknowledge your sins and look to Christ and His cross for mercy and forgiveness? If not, the day of His return will be for you a day of sorrow and mourning as you face His eternal judgment and condemnation!

But, if you agree with God about your sins and trust in Christ and the atonement He made for the sins of the world when He died on the cross, that day will be a day of joy and gladness as you receive His mercy, His pardon, and life eternal in His glorious kingdom!

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, as You have ascended up into heaven to the right hand of God the Father, so come again and take us to be with You forever. Graciously keep us in the true faith so that, on that Day, we may greet You with joy and not with sorrow. Grant this to us for the sake of Your holy life and bitter sufferings and death upon the cross in our stead. Amen.

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

“A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing” (The Lutheran Hymnal, No. 212)

1 A hymn of glory let us sing;
New songs thro’out the world shall ring:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ, by a road before untrod.
Ascendeth to the throne of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2 The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
And with His followers they see
Jesus’ resplendent majesty.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3 To whom the angels, drawing nigh,
“Why stand and gaze upon the sky?
Alleluia! Alleluia!
This is the Savior,” thus they say;
“This is His noble triumph-day.”
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4 “Again shall ye behold Him so
As ye today have seen Him go.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
In glorious pomp ascending high
Up to the portals of the sky.”
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

5 Oh, grant us thitherward to tend
And with unwearied hearts ascend,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Unto Thy kingdom’s throne, where Thou,
As is our faith, art seated now.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

6 Be Thou our Joy and strong Defense,
Who art our future Recompense:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
So shall the light that springs from Thee
Be ours through all eternity.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

7 O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to Thee let earth accord,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Who art, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit One.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Amen.

Text Information
Title: A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing
Latin Title: Hymnum canamus gloriae
Translator: Benjamin Webb (1854, alt.)
Author: The Venerable Bede, d. 735

Tune Information
Name: LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Source: “Geistliche Kirchengesäng,” Cologne, 1623