The Forgiven "Crosstian"

Faith is not for snoring.

Bryan Wolfmueller

Mar 03, 2023

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/ Much Sin, Much Forgiveness, Much Love (Luke 7:47-48)

“Therefore I tell you, her sins,
which are many,
are forgiven—
for she loved much.

But he who is forgiven little,
loves little.”

And He said to her,
“Your sins are forgiven.”

/ The Christian is a “Crosstian”

Here are some fantastic Luther quotations from yesterday’s Worldwide Bible Class:

We have said above that this must be emphasized against all those bold and rash persons who say: “If I have the promise, I will have what is promised, even though I do nothing.” Such thoughts must be rejected and condemned on the basis of this example of Jacob, who listens to his mother and flees, even though he has the promise. He does not say: “I have the promise. Therefore I will be safe and sound, even if I do not follow the advice of my mother.”
For promises are not given for the purpose of snoring, loafing, and sleeping, or for doing what is in conflict with the promise. No, they are given for working, being watchful, and bearing fruit. Thus I am not baptized, do not partake of the Lord’s Supper, and am not absolved for the purpose of sleeping and snoring at home in idleness. But if you have the promise, Baptism, and absolution, remember that you have been called to be watchful and to be anxiously concerned about the things that pertain to your faith and calling. “How can we who died to sin still live in it?” says Paul (Rom. 6:2).
We are not absolved from sins in order that we may live for them and serve them, but in order that we may fight against them and stoutly persevere in the promise, in order that I may chastise and mortify my flesh and bear it with a calm mind when God imposes a cross, in order that we may be purged and bring forth richer fruit. “By this,” says Christ, “My heavenly Father is glorified, if you become My disciples,” (cf. John 15:8); that is, if you suffer as I did, and if you become like Me. For he who is not a “Crosstian,” so to speak, is not a Christian; for he is not like Christ, his Teacher. (273-274)

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/ Public Domain Small Catechism

This is a good resource to bookmark:

https://thesmallcatechism.org/?s=09

/ On the Universal Benevolence of God

God loves the world.

I’ve been thinking about this, how the Lord not only loves all people, but also arranged the salvation of all people (through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and also through the work of the Holy Spirit).

Here are a few helpful excerpts from The Doctrinal Theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

§ 30. Benevolence of God.

The gracious will of God, to deliver fallen men from their ruined condition, is the first thing we have to consider, for it is this that originates the sending of the Son, who accomplishes the redemption, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, who applies it to individual persons. This, His gracious will, God at once announced in His promise (recorded in Gen. 3:15). But God did not then, for the first time, form this purpose of redeeming man; for, as He foresaw from eternity that he would fall, He determined at the same time both to create and to redeem him.

This purpose of God, however, will, in time, be accomplished only in the case of those who fulfill the condition upon which redemption is to be applied. Therefore we distinguish this gracious will of God into general and special benevolence. I. The gracious will of God is called the universal or general will (benevolence) when it is considered in itself, as it refers to all men alike miserable, and it is exhibited in preparing the means of redemption for all, and effectually offering the same to them, without for the present considering the manner in which men treat the grace thus offered to them.

HOLL. (586): “The universal benevolence of God is that act of divine grace by which God, having witnessed the common misery of fallen men, is moved not only earnestly to desire the salvation of them all, but also to give Christ as Mediator for its accomplishment, and to appoint appropriate and efficacious means with the intention that all men should use them, attain through them true faith in Christ, and possess and enjoy eternal salvation, procured through Him, to the praise of the divine goodness.” This will is also called antecedent, inasmuch as, in the nature of the case, it antedates all question as to the manner in which man may treat the offered grace.

It refers to all men alike (universally to all, without a single exception. John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; Rom. 11:32; Acts 17:30, 31; Tit. 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:9; Ezek 33:11), depends alone upon God’s compassion for the wretched condition of man, and has in no sense been called forth by any merit or worthiness of man. This will of God, moreover, earnestly and sincerely proposes that all men obtain salvation through Christ, and God offers unto all the necessary means, and is ready to render these available for them.

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