November 21, 2023
Be sure to note the calendar at the bottom – lots of things coming up!
Dear Friends,
Why doesn’t God erase the marks of sin? Once we hear the sure and certain word of forgiveness, why don’t we experience a great reset, as if it never happened? When we eat and drink the body and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, why don’t the clouds part and the sun shine down in the dawn of a brand new day? Why do we still suffer consequences for our sins if they are truly forgiven?
As I mentioned last week, it’s essential to start with this: forgiveness is truly forgiveness, and through the blood of Jesus our relationship to our heavenly Father is completely restored. We are no longer sons of the devil, but sons of God. There is no atonement yet to be made, no price to be paid – there are no conditions on God’s receiving us into his kingdom. “Come,” he says. And he means it.
But as any father knows, the same love that drives forgiveness also drives instruction and discipline. In fact, if a father forgives without also disciplining, he is not truly loving. “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him” (Prov. 13:24).
The goal is not simply writing off sin, but also giving instruction so that the same sin may be avoided in the future and so that the loving forgiveness of the father may be remembered.
This is a crucial distinction, and a place where many (all?) earthly fathers fail. If discipline is administered without forgiveness available or with the goal of exacting retribution, then it misses the mark. Fathers should avoid disciplining when they are furious. Instead, they should discipline because they are ready to forgive and they want their child to learn righteousness.
Let’s shift our frame back towards God now. He is our heavenly Father, and precisely because we are now his sons through faith in Jesus, he disciplines us in love. Apart from his forgiveness, we’re under his wrath and anything we suffer at his hand is judgment. But in Christ, all that we suffer at his hand is loving correction and rebuke. He allows sin to leave a mark and he himself often makes the mark because he loves us and wants to teach us to avoid sin and to cling to him for forgiveness.
I don’t know whether the marks in Jesus’ hands and feet are useful to him in some way, but they sure are useful to you and me. They remind us of the cost of our sins and the depths of God’s love, and that is a precious gift. That’s how it is for the marks that your sin leaves in your lives. God intends it for your good – to teach you repentance and faith!
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:11-13).
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, Nov. 22
6:00pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00pm – Thanksgiving Eve Service
Wednesday, Nov. 29
6:00pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00pm – Vespers
Saturday, Dec. 2 – Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction
Sunday, Dec. 3 – Advent Begins
Wednesday, Dec. 6
6:00pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00pm – First Midweek Advent Service
7:45pm – Choir Rehearsal