“A Word of Truth” from Immanuel Lutheran Church of Mankato…
A Word of Truth #046
Jesus gave the commission to “preach the Gospel” to all of His disciples of all time when He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…teaching them…” (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus gave all of His believers the authority to use the Word of God to forgive or not forgive sins when He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any they are retained” (John 20:22-23).
For the orderly functioning of the ministry within a Christian congregation, individuals are called to serve as pastors, teachers, and in other offices. However, every believer has the privilege and authority of making use of the Gospel. “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
A Word of Truth #047
Religious people are motivated by different things. Some people are motivated by fear. They are afraid that if they do not do what their church tells them, they will go to hell. Others are motivated by false belief. They think that if they blow themselves up with their enemies, they will go to heaven.
God wants His believing children to be motivated by the Gospel, that is, the good news of His love for them in Jesus. He wants them to respond to His love by living a life of holiness in love, both for Himself and for others. St. John puts it this way, “God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him….Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:8-9,11).
This has been “A Word of Truth” from Immanuel Lutheran Church of Mankato.
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