Hope says "Charge!"

send hope before to grasp it till hope be lost in sight

1/ Our Eager Hope (Galatians 5:5)

For we
through the Spirit
eagerly wait
for the hope
of righteousness
by faith.

2/ Hope is a Captain

Here is Martin Luther’s discussion of the difference between hope and faith from his Galatians 5:5 commentary.

Therefore faith and hope differ first in their subjects:
because faith is in the intellect and hope is in the will; yet they cannot be separated in fact, just as the two cherubim of the mercy seat cannot be separated (Ex. 25:19).

In the second place, they differ in their function:
for faith commands and directs the intellect, though not apart from the will, and teaches what must be believed. Therefore faith is teaching or knowledge. Hope is exhortation, because it arouses the mind to be brave and resolute, so that it dares, endures, and lasts in the midst of evils and looks for better things.

Furthermore, faith is a theologian and a judge, battling against errors and heresies, and judging spirits and doctrines. On the other hand, hope is a captain, battling against feelings such as tribulation, the cross, impatience, sadness, faintheartedness, despair, and blasphemy; and it battles with joy and courage, etc., in opposition to those great evils.

Finally, they differ in their objects:
as its object faith has truth, and it teaches us to cling to this surely and firmly; it looks to the word of the object, that is, to the promise. Hope has goodness as its object; and it looks to the object of the word, that is, to the thing promised or the things to be hoped for, which faith has ordered us to accept.

(Luther’s Works 27:22-23)

3/ Seeing the Church (and the World and Ourselves and Our Neighbors and Everything) with Spiritual Eyes

(or the Difference Between the Creator’s water and the Savior’s water)

We were studying Genesis 28:17 yesterday in the Worldwide Bible class. (Watch here if you missed it, click here to join us next week.)

We came across another passage where Luther sets the eyes of the flesh against the eyes of the spirit. This is an incredibly useful rubric for engaging the Scriptures and the world as a Christian.

I took a screenshot to capture the highlights. I copied the text in the first ever Wednesday What-Not appendix.

A while back I was collecting passages where Luther talked about seeing the world with Spiritual Eyes. You can dig into those here.

4/ Reading Kirkegaard with Dr Schulz

It was great to spend the March day with Dr. Schulz. He told me that he’s leading a discussion group on Kirkegaard’s Fear and Trembling every Monday on zoom. If you join his mailing list he’ll send you the information on how to join. (And you can find summaries of the discussions on his website here.) All these opportunities are free.

I talked about my thoughts on the March in this episode of the podcast.

5/ The Baptism of Pocahontas

I was very intrigued by this painting in the Capital. If anyone knows more about it (the painting or Pocahantis’ baptism), I’d love to hear it.

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Remember to go to your pastor's Bible Class this week and, read old theology books. (If you don't have a pastor or congregation, click here. If you don't have old theology books, click here.) 

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Thank you, again, for your time and attention, and for your prayers. Please keep in touch. 

Lord's Blessings, Pastor Wolfmueller

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

www.wolfmueller.co

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/ Appendix!

Here’s the text.

But the blindness and stupidity of our minds has been put before our eyes like a cloud, so that we do not see such great glory. It is great honor and majesty, however, when one says: “This is the Word of God.” I hear a man’s voice. I see human gestures. The bread and the wine in the Supper are physical things. At ordination the hands of carnal men are imposed. In Baptism water is water. For the flesh judges in no other way concerning all these matters. But if you look at that addition with spiritual eyes, namely, at whose Word it is that is spoken and heard there, not indeed the word of a man—for if it is the word of a man, then the devil is speaking—but the Word of God, then you will understand that it is the house of God and the gate of heaven. The wooden house or the land per se does not deserve this name; but the land where the Word resounds is the land of God, not of the Creator but of the Ruler of His church, who governs His saints in such a way that they enter into the kingdom of heaven. Thus the water that is poured in Baptism is not the water of the Creator; it is the water of God the Savior. (Luther on Genesis 28:17)

Also, if you’re playing chess with my son Isaac, you’ll need to be able to defend the Fried Liver Attack. Just sayin’.