Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius of Antioch (c.35-110) was an apostolic church father. He was a student of John the Apostle and was known to talks, write, and emphasizes like John. He frequently quoted Matthew. He was martyred by being fed to wild animals (probably lions).

The Lord's Supper

Cyprian of Carthage

Cyprian of Carthage (Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) (c.200-Sep 14, 258) was classically trained and converted to Christianity in his middle age. He was influenced by Tertullian (who coined the terms "trinity" and "three persons with one substance") and eventually died a martyr. He was one of the Latin Church fathers and taught that there was no salvation outside of the Church.

The Lord's Supper

John the Baptizer

John was a forerunner of Christ, as we hear frequently, but why? Why did Jesus need a forerunner? Jesus himself says that John was the fulfillment of the old testament prophets (Matthew 3:4), by pointing directly to the Messiah, rather than forward to Him. Mark 1:3 explains how John was the "voice of one crying in the wilderness" prophesied in Isaiah 40:3. He was a kind of Elijah (Malachi 4:5) before Lord.

But, why and how did John prepare the way? John was like a triage diagnosis before seeing the doctor. Jesus brings medicine, but people need to know they are sick.

Also, John preaches and practices baptism, repentance, forgiveness of sins, just like in our liturgy. The whole ministry of John is essentially reproduced at beginning of service, followed by the service of the Holy Communion, just like Jesus dying and shedding his body and blood after John. At the end of John's ministry he states that he must decrease so that Jesus can increase. This is just like the Pastor's vestments, which covers him and why he stands behind a pulpit when preaching the gospel.

Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo (Nov 13, 354 - Aug 28, 430) is a church father who was one of the four great Latin fathers, so one of the eight doctors of the church. He is best known for writing his Confessions and City of God. He also helped to start the idea of Just War Theory and documented the doctrine of original sin, total depravity, and predestination for the first time.  He was influenced by Ambrose, mother Monica.

Original Sin

Sola Gratia

The Lord's Supper

Irenaeus of Lyons

Irenaeus of Lyons (?-c.202) was the earliest of the non-apostolic church fathers. He was a disciple of Polycarp (who was a student of John). He was best known for his book Against Heresies, in which he argues against Gnosticism.

Sola Fide

The Lord's Super

Cyril of Alexandria

Cyril of Alexandria (c.378–444) was a church father and a prominent figure during the council of Ephesus in 431(the fourth ecumenical council) His early arguments were against Arians and in support of Nicaea, but he is best known for his vehement disagreement with and arguments/writings against Nestorius.

Original Sin

Sola Fide

Justification by Faith is the Key to Understand Scripture and Distinguish Between Law & Gospel

The Lord's Super

Maundy Thursday

In Genesis 14:18, we read, "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."  Jesus is compared to Melchizedek in Hebrews 7:11-28. Melchizedek and his actions were a "type" and a foreshadowing of Jesus.

At the Lord's command, the Israelites celebrated their first Passover on the night before their exodus from Egypt. Lambs without blemish were killed and prepared. With the lamb, the Israelites ate unleavened bread. The blood of the lamb, which was painted on the doorposts, was the sign that would spare the Israelites from the tenth plague to come upon Egypt, namely the death of the firstborn (Exodus 12).

The similarities between the Passover meal and Holy Communion are quite apparent: both are meals of commemoration in which bread is an indispensable component. The cup of wine which is drunk at the end of the Passover meal symbolizes the joy resulting from the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian captivity. The blood of the Passover lamb effected deliverance for the firstborn of the Israelites. This is a reference to Jesus Christ as the "Lamb of God" who was sacrificed: "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1: 29, 1 Peter 1: 19).

Bread is a symbol for human sustenance. Twelve loaves of the "Bread of the Presence" were placed on a table in front of the veil to the Most Holly Place. Each Sabbath, they were eaten by the priests and replaced. (Exodus 25:30). Bread proclaimed the actual presence of God, but this was before his incarnation.

"The life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. -Leviticus 17:11-14

In Israel, wine was also a symbol of joy and of future salvation (Isaiah 55:1)

For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup

    with foaming wine, well mixed,

and he pours out from it,

    and all the wicked of the earth

    shall drain it down to the dregs. -Psalm 75:8

Your words were found, and I ate them, -Jeremiah 15:16

Jesus is the word made flesh (John 1:1)

Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.  They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them.” -Jeremiah 25:15-16

"[Jesus said], "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

"The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.  As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.

"When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”  But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?... After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him." -John 6:48-57, 60-61, 66

This also fulfilled the prophecy in Jeremiah 9:17, "Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women." Bread and wine, the elements of the Lords Supper in the new covenant which was established through Jesus blood of the covenant (mentioned earlier in 9:11), give joy (among other feelings) to Gods people, reminding them that the price has been paid for their sins. This is right after the prophecy that was fulfilled in Palm Sunday.

Jesus promised us his life. The life is in the blood. The way to get his life in us is by drinking his blood.  Bread is the symbol for all we need and what sustains us.  What better way to give us his body than through the bread. Isn't it awesome that he found a way to give us his body and blood in, with, and under bread and wine so that we are not cannibals?

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? -1 Corinthians 10:16 

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the Antichrist. -2 John 1:7

There are three physical advents of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The first is when baby Jesus was born. The second is in the Eucharist. The third is when he will come again to judge the living and the dead.  Note that the last two verses use the present tense.The current advent is in the flesh.

Palm Sunday

Jesus' Triumphal Entry is the fulfillment of prophecy from  Zechariah 9:9-13 - The Coming of the King of Zion

9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." -- Fulfilled by Jesus during the Triumphal Entry.

9:10: "I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth." -- Jesus established the covenant of grace which is available for Jews and Gentiles alike; the church has expanded from sea to sea, and the gospel has been preached all over the world. (This verse is very close to Psalm 72:8, which is about the Lords Anointed King, which is fulfilled by Jesus.)

9:11: "As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit." -- Through the sacrifice of Christ and the atonement provided through His blood (as He mentioned at the Last Supper), God has liberated those who were trapped in the pit of sin and guiltiness.

9:12: "Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double." -- Jesus will compensate His martyrs and confessors for their losses and hardships. He calls all those persecuted for the sake of the gospel to maintain their hope and faith in God, the ever-present refuge.

9:13 "For I have bent Judah as my bow; I have made Ephraim its arrow. I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and wield you like a warrior's sword." -- God used the Jews to bring salvation to all people in the entire world.

The Baptism of Our Lord

A common question is why Jesus was baptized since he was sinless and already had the holy spirit. To understand this, it is important to understand what Jesus really came to do and who he was and what baptism is. For this we must begin in the old testament.

After sprinkling blood over the tabernacle and its furnishings to cleanse and consecrate it, a goat was brought to Aaron. He laid his hands on its head and confessed all the sins of the people. Thus he was anointed to die for sins that were not his own. The goat was then led out to the wilderness and left to die, bearing the sins of the people. Thus it was called the scapegoat. 

This looks forward to Jesus work, but also his baptism. Holy Baptism washes away sins and actually gives you the Holy Spirit. Since Jesus was perfect and sinless and already had the Holy Spirit, he had no need. And yet he fulfilled all of the law, from circumcision, to baptism for us. Only by fulfilling all righteousness could he be the scapegoat. In our baptism, the water that washed away our sin, and became dirty with it, was used to baptize Jesus. Having no sins of His own, in his baptism, he was soaked with all the sins of the world. John anoints Jesus to die for our sins.  And like the type before Him, Jesus is led out into the wilderness. He is led out to be tempted by the devil, to be accused and slandered for your sin. But, having overcome the devil, Jesus is again cast out into the wilderness to die. And He does, bearing your sin.

At Jesus’ baptism the descent of the Spirit and the voice of the Father, the Christian sacrament of baptism is instituted, and it shows us the trinity in who's name we are to be baptized.  This also fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 42:1: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”, proving Jesus to be the messiah. Once Jesus is anointed to die and identified as the messiah, he begins his ministry.  The descent of the spirit also allowed him to use more of his divinity and perform miracles.

The Naming and Circumcision of Our Lord

In Matthew 1:21, the Angel who visited Joseph told him to name his son, Jesus, "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Because Abraham was given a name with his circumcision, Israel gained the custom of naming their children at the circumcision.  So, when Jesus was eight days old, being the Seed of Abraham, he was given the name Jesus at his circumcision, thus fulfilling the law and the prophecies about him.

Why Circumcision?

Circumcision was a way that God wrote his covenant permanently onto the bodies of his people. Into the very organ which made him as a son, was the sign that he was a son of the Father. Circumcision also showed to man that his flesh was sinful and that every child born from his union with a woman was born in sin, as David confessed in Psalm 51. Bodies matter to God. Today, when baby boys and girls are little, they are “circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, in which they are also raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised Jesus from the dead,” (Colossians 2:11-12). No longer is one tiny part of the body cut away, but the liquid blade of baptism cuts away the old sinful nature. For if anyone is in Christ, he is reborn righteous and a new creation. It is no longer we who lives, but Christ who lives in us, and we who live in Christ.

Why the name of Jesus?

Jesus has three offices: prophet, priest, and king. People with equivalent names to Jesus in the Old Testament were a prophet, a priest, and a king, being types for the coming one who would fulfill all three roles perfectly.

In His public ministry Jesus was a prophet urging Israel to repent and being rejected just like the old testament prophets (John 1:11). The Lord Himself affirmed that Hosea was a man of symbol. He instructed the prophet that his wife's desertion of her family for a life of whoredom pictured Israel's unfaithfulness to Jehovah. Just as Hosea bought his wife back from prostitution (Hos. 3:1-3), so Jesus paid the price to redeem His people from bondage to sin.

In His death, after Israel had rejected Him, Jesus was the high priest offering His own body as a sacrifice for sin. Joshua, the Old Testament high priest was shown to be a forshadowing of the great high priest (Zechariah 6:11-13)

When He comes again, Jesus will be the King of kings. Moses couldn't lead the people into the Promised Land, because he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded, so Joshua took over for him.  Likewise, the beatings of the Law can’t bring us into the Promised Land. The Law that Moses gave can’t bring us into heaven. Against opposition from powerful enemies on all sides, this Joshua led the people of Israel into their promised land, the land of Canaan. So also, Jesus the King will someday lead all the redeemed into their promised land, the land of paradise. Only Joshua can lead us into the Promised Land; only Jesus can save us from the bondage of the Law.

Ambrose of Milan

Ambrose of Milan [c. 340 – 4 Apr 397] was one of the four great Latin church fathers, and so one of the Eight Doctors of the Church. He is widely considered the most influential theologian in the fourth century and is known for coining the term, “When in Rome”. He defended Christianity against Arianism.

Sola Fide

Sola Gratia

The Lord's Supper

Book Review/Summary - Ordering Our Days in His Peace (Heath Curtis)

This is a great book about the Church year!

• God made everything for the good of humanity.
• God made time.
• Time is for the good of humanity because it helps us make sense of and order God's creation.
• The Gospel is a story that takes place through time.
• The Church uses the church year calendar to keep time and tell the Gospel.
• Each part of the church year has something new to give us and a piece of the story to tell.
• The time of Christmas is about our Savior being promised and finally coming
• The time of Easter is the fulfillment of the Savior's work
• The time of the Church is about God working through the Church after the Savior comes
• God works through the church by the means of the Word and Sacraments.
• The Church year and Gospel are ordered through the Divine Service.
• The Divine service is ordered to give us all of the gifts God wants to give us (the Word and Sacraments)

God's Will (references)

Last Post I showed a diagram of God's Will and how everything comes in pairs. This post, I am showing my references, both to Bible verses and previous posts discussing the topics.

God's two types of will
Declarative [Genesis 1]
Prescriptive [Exodus 20]

God’s two categories of will

Hidden [Deuteronomy 29:29a]

Revealed [Deuteronomy 29:29b]

Two kinds of revelation

General [Jeremiah 33:25]

Specific (Scripture Alone) [1 Tim. 3:16, Hebrews 1:1-2]

Two kinds of general revelation

Knowledge of God and some about Him [Psalm 19:1-4]

Knowledge of Morality (Natural Law) [Romans 1:20]

Two doctrines in Scripture

Law [1 Tim. 1:8]

Gospel [John 3:16]

Two Tables/Commandments of the Law

Love God [Mark 12:30]

Love your neighbor [Mark 12:31]

Two Functions of the Law [convention]

Negative (Informed by general revelation)

Positive (Informs outcomes of subjective justification)

Two Negative Uses of the Law (God's Alien Work)

Curb (Informed by Natural Law) (1st use of the law) [Romans 1:28-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10]

Mirror(Informed by knowledge of God) (2nd use of the law) [1 John 1:8, John 3:20]

Two kinds of sin

Original [1 Cor. 2:14]

Specific [Galatians 5:19-21]

Two Positives of the Law

Ruler (3rd use of the law) [Psalms 1:1,2; 119:1,35,47,70,97]

Earned Righteousness (Merit) of God in Jesus only. Jesus is the law fulfilled [Hebrews 7:26-27]

Two sides of the Gospel

Mercy (Not getting what we deserve) [Psalm 123:3]

Grace (Getting what we don’t deserve) (God's Proper Work)  [2 Corinthians 12:8-9]

Two kinds of justification

Objective (through universal atonement from God’s grace and Jesus earned righteousness) [Colossians 1:21-22, Hebrews 10:10]

Subjective (applied individually, through the Holy Spirit) [Philippians 1:29, Titus 3:5-7]

Two Outcomes of Justification

Righteousness [Romans 3:21-22; 10:3]

Sanctification [2 Timothy 2:21]

Two kinds of righteousness

Vertical, Imputed [Romans 3:10-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30]

Horizontal, Incipient (Informed by the 3^rd use of the law) [Galatians 5:22-24]

Two kinds of Sanctification

Wide sense, being set apart as holy [Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 10:10,14; Hebrews 13:12]

Narrow sense, progressive (Informed by the 3rd use of the law) [1 Thessalonians 4:3]

Two Means of Grace

Word [Romans 10:17]

Sacraments [convention]

Two Sacraments with physical elements

Baptism [1 Peter 3:21]

Lord’s Supper [Matthew 26:28]