forgiveness

Theology quiz

August 26, 2010

What do you think about the following statement? True or false? Those things which have been commanded [by God] are necessary as the fruits of righteousness, even if they are not necessary for righteousness itself which comes alone from faith. For it is not the freedom of the Gospel to be able to omit the [...]

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Trinity 22 sermon

November 8, 2009

Text: Matthew 18:21-35 Note: There was a Baptism at this Divine Service. Louis Armstrong once said, “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” The question Peter asks shows that he doesn’t know what forgiveness is. Forgiveness doesn’t ask, “How many times do I forgive?” Love keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus [...]

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"The Pelican Song"

November 7, 2009

As a favor to a parishioner, we are singing Aquinas’ great Eucharist hymn, Adoro Te Devote, tomorrow at Divine Service. It actually fits nicely with the Gospel appointed for the day (Trinity 22), the Parable of the Unforgiving Slave (Matthew 18:21-35), especially in this line: “Blood whereof a single drop has power to win All [...]

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Psalm 32

October 7, 2009

Psalm 32 Evening Prayer October 7, A+D 2009 Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Alexandria, VA Our sins are horrible. Often done in secret, even the recesses of our mind, we fear discovery. If it becomes known what we have done, what we have thought, who we truly are, we will be exposed as frauds, hypocrites. So we [...]

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The Cost of Forgiveness

March 21, 2008

“It is significant that the discovery of the suffering and death of Christ as a fearful reality went hand in hand with a new realization of the seriousness of sin and of its forgiveness. There is nothing to equal this in the ancient church. Much can be said against what was taught about sin and [...]

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Aman and Logizomai

June 13, 2007

What a fruitful morning, studying Genesis 15.6! Abraham “believes in the LORD,” as the NKJ has it, and it is accounted to him for righteousness. The word for “believes” is Aman, from which we get the word “Amen.” Abraham doesn’t suddenly convert from atheism at this moment, but he says “amen” to God’s Word. He [...]

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