A mother's calling

God directs our earthly life by assigning to each of us our own tasks and our own station. Giving birth to children, caring for them and rearing them, is a noble task. God has given children a precious gift, in giving them a loving mother.

In order to accomplish important and demanding tasks we have to deny ourselves and be willing to make sacrifices. This may cause pain and sorrow, but it gives also plenty of satisfaction.

This is certainly true in the case of mothers. She forgets herself and thinks of her children; strives hard in their behalf. The Bible values a mother's love so highly that it uses it to illustrate Paul's courageous preaching and pastoral activity. "But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the Gospel but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us" (1 Thess. 2:7,8).

Although a mother's calling is a highly esteemed earthly calling, it cannot save her. Salvation is by grace, through faith in Jesus. It is not of works. This does not contradict what Paul says of a wife: She "shall be saved through the bearing of children if (she) continues in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint" (1 Tim. 2:15). The Apostle does not state that giving birth to a child earns salvation, but rather describes a wife's station in life, in which she fights the good fight of faith. The same truth is stated in a more general way in Acts: "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

A believing mother is a precious treasure to her children. She not only gives them her own love, but also teaches her children to know the love with which God has loved us in Christ Jesus. Timothy's mother, Eunice and grandmother, Lois, are good examples of this (2 Tim. 1:5). They taught Timothy, already in his early childhood, to know the holy Scriptures. May God continue to give children mothers like this.

Who is a Saint?

Lutheran Christians observe All Saints Day for the purpose of remembering those saints who have departed from this life and joined the Church triumphant. Heaven and earth, strife and victory, are in our thoughts as we sing:

"For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confest,
Thy name, o Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine,
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!" L.H. 463:1,4

Who are these saints? Are they a rare class of people, extraordinarily blameless, whose good works the world applauds? They may be a rare group, for there is little faith to be found. Among them may be exemplary people, who with God?given strength aspired to do good. But the world very rarely thanks such people. Many benevolent people, who have been highly esteemed by the world, have been self?righteous and have denied God's Son.

What then is it, that makes a person a saint?

Paul addresses the recipients of his epistle to the Corinthians as "the church of God which is at Corinth, those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling" (1 Cor. 1:2). In the eyes of men they were often despised. Many of them were slaves. There weren't many people of noble birth in the congregations at that time. Their past life was of such a nature that it caused them shame after they came to faith. Even as believers their nature had its flaws, and there was much about them that had to be tolerated and forgiven, even though they no longer were of the world.

Yet despite all this, they were saints. As baptized believers in Jesus Christ they possessed His holiness. The blood of Jesus, God's Son cleansed them from all sin.

So we too, although corrupt by nature, are holy in God's sight and acceptable to Him through faith being baptized into Christ.

Faith in Jesus produces good works that are acceptable to God. These good works are not extraordinary works such as pilgrimages, or contributions given to some charity to appease the conscience. Faith in Jesus results in a life continually lived in conformity to our faith, during the week as well as on Sunday, at work or when relaxing, as husband and wife, child and parent, as long as each one sanctifies all this with faith and prayer.

Love your wife

The Apostle Paul beautifully describes a mother's calling: "Women shall be saved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint" (1 Tim. 2:15).

Giving birth to a child does not merit eternal salvation. It is a mother's role in life, like a path she has to walk through. A Christian mother accepts it as her calling from God. She joins the Psalmist in saying: "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Ps. 127:3). Despite a mother's joy, her calling is not an easy one. She must give up her own comfort, freedom, and sometimes even her health. Many a mother has given her life in bringing a new life into the world.

In fulfilling her life's calling a mother can talk to God and say: "You have given me this role in life. Thus, I have a good conscience serving as a wife and mother. Grant me strength to remain patient also in difficult times."

Many of us have had a Christian mother or grandmother. We remember how conscientiously and diligently they took care of their earthly responsibilities, without forgetting the spiritual. Present day mothers may also trust in God's grace. The Apostle Paul refers to this when he says that a believing wife will be saved. This life lasts only a short while; so too its tribulation. On the Last Day Christ will save His own from wrath and grant them eternal joy. Mothers will also be saved because of Christ. Salvation is by grace, not by works. It cannot be earned by works, but it can be lost by works of unbelief and impenitence. For this reason the Apostle says: She "shall be saved... if she continues in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint".

A mother's faith and the fruits of this faith - love and a chaste way of life - win the respect of her husband and the love of her children. These virtues have been instrumental in leading many husbands to repentance and faith. Mothers have been excellent instructors of future, teachers, theologians, professors, missionaries and pastors.

If a woman desires to accomplish great things in the Kingdom of God by His power and wisdom, let her pray: "Lord, make me a good wife and loving mother entrusted with the knowledge of Christ, with your wisdom, grace and love."

A mother gives much to the home. On Mother's Day it would be well also to remind us husbands of our responsibilities. The Bible says: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Eph. 5:25). Genuine love is willing to make sacrifices; it is not selfish.

Being the head of the family does not mean reigning as a tyrant. The Bible gives this advice to married couples: "You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow-heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered" (1 Pet. 3:7).

An understanding husband takes into account the fact that a wife is called upon to bear the results of wedded life in an altogether different way than the husband. The home is meant to be an oasis in the midst of life's desert. It cannot be such an oasis through the efforts of the wife alone. The husband must be aware of his responsibility. He must understand that husband and wife are not alike, but different. This understanding results in an attitude of gentleness and respect for his spouse. This is easier when husband and wife have a common faith. Having such a common faith, they can strengthen one another as co-heirs of eternal life.

Responsibility

We live in an age of rapid development in the fields of industry and technology. The term "old-fashioned" is often applied where it doesn't belong: to the order of creation, to Christian doctrine and to morality. It is easily forgotten that we are building on the work of hundreds of generations, without which the development taking place today would not be possible. We are also responsible for the way in which we use this heritage, and for the condition in which we leave it to future generations. We are responsible for this in the sight of that Creator from whom we have received our cultural task (Gen. 2:15).

The Fourth Commandment

"1But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy" (2 Tim. 3:1,2). This prediction of the Apostle has come true in the present restlessness of our age. The Fourth Commandment gives parents the authority and responsibility to demand obedience from their children. If someone has been granted some authority, it is a sin not to fulfill the responsibilities it entails or to let it slip into hands that cannot be controlled. If children do not learn at home to respect commands and prohibitions, arrangements and agreements as well as their parents, it is difficult for them to learn to adjust when they are away from home.

What is behind the restlessness?

There are certain goals associated with the restlessness of our day that are by nature idealistic, such as promoting the cause of the needy and demanding equality and tolerance for everyone. But the same people who speak of these matters have a desire to rise up against all divine basic values. According to the Bible the devil puts on the armor of light so that his activity will seem to be morally acceptable. Behind such armor it is easier to bring about the destruction of the basic values, the foundation of human life. Behind this mask of idealism it is easier to reach youth in particular, for youth seeks ideals, if not noble ones, then at least distorted ones.

When youth lacks experience and discernment, it can easily be led astry by half-truths.

The restless and pacifism

Certain radicals have adopted pacifism as part of their program. They oppose military service, thinking that by doing so, they can oppose war. According to the Bible God has given the sword to the civil government and at the same time has given it the authority to command its citizens to use it. The Christian faith does not include the idea that arms and military service are in themselves evil. Christian indeed want to live in peace with all people. But that is another matter. God has given the civil government the sword to use in this evil world so that with its help He can prevent the coarse outbreak of evil. God wants the sword held by the civil government to be directed against evildoers for the benefit of the citizens. Defending one's country is also using the sword of the civil government. An anarchy would soon arise if a State had no army, police, laws or punishments. Man's corruption is the reason for all this. Wars are not caused by armies and arms but by people. According to the Bible there will never be a kingdom made up only of believers on this earth. On the contrary the great majority will be unbelievers. Experience also indicates that we cannot always even rely on the peaceful aspirations of Christians because every Christian still is corrupt by nature. Peter used the sword by his own authority against the civil government. Jesus told him: "Put your sword back into its place" (Matt. 26:52). The question has often been left unasked: By whose sword would have the rebellious Peter perished? By the sword of the government, of course. Thus Jesus placed His Apostle as a human being and member of society under the authority of the civil government, even under the sword of the government! (Compare this to the Catholic Church's demand for power). Jesus did not take away the sword from the civil government, but rather

The Church and the faults of society

In our day the Christian Church is viewed as a sector of society and even as a group for pressuring society. This can be explained by the fact that the methods of operation used by the unbelieving world are being brought into the churches. The Apostles knew how to separate the spiritual from the earthly. The Apostolic Church was not a pressure group or a sector of society. This is apparent, for instance, from the Apostles' attitude toward slavery. Paul writes: "Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that" (1 Cor.7:21). According to the Bible the task of the Christian Church is not correcting the faults of society. The Church merely exhorts its members to act properly and expects this of them.

The above-mentioned exhortation of Paul to slaves provides much room for thought because the lines of demarcation between the spiritual and earthly spheres are jumbled in the minds of people today. The members of the early Church obeyed the civil authorities. Without pressuring the masters of slaves or urging the slaves to rebel against their masters, the Christian Church, as is generally known, was in time instrumental in abolishing slavery, even though the abolition of slavery was not a part of its program. One wonders just how great a blessing would ensue, if in Christendom today the spiritual and earthly matters were kept separate from each other.

Accusations

From that perspective accusations against society are made. It is accused of practicing bureaucracy and government by police force, of being slow to act and promoting class distinction and racial segregation. Something of this nature can indeed occur at times in certain areas among certain people. But it does not occur because everything old is bad, and the matter cannot be corrected by rejecting basic values. There are many acceptable ways of improving our society. Mature citizens, especially Christians, should also have patience. A sinless society cannot be created from sinful people.

What are the goals of the restless?

The agitators among the restless see modern day society as the root of all evil. For this reason they believe that society must be renewed by corrupting and destroying the old or opposing it in some other way. What sort of society they want is often unclear to them. By destroying the old they envisualize a better society, the nature of which cannot as yet be determined. There is even one school of thought which maintains that there is nothing permanent to strive for. Goals, the way of life and morals may change continually. Today its representatives may be of one opinion, tomorrow of another.

According to God's Word, however, there are certain institutions that have a divine right of existence, and which cannot be rebelled against without incurring God's wrath.

Institutions of this type are:

• the home, family and marriage 
• civil government, civil law, society, the State and Fatherland 
• God's Word and the Christian Church 

Of these the first two belong to the sphere of earthly life, the third, to the sphere of spiritual life.

In present-day youth's desire to destroy the old, the question is not really one of renewal, which is constantly needed in the face of changing times and circumstances, but the question is of the destruction of the above mentioned institutions or rebellion against God.

The by-passing of the Law

To the Christian, who knows the Bible, it is apparent that by-passing the Law and rebelling against it, is against God's will and His Word. "Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves... Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience sake" (Rom. 13:2,5).

The Bible, it's true, recognizes exceptional circumstances in which one "must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). But during the time of the Apostles circumstances of this type did not even include slavery. The Apostles were permitted to act contrary to the civil authorities when the authorities forbade them to proclaim God's Word, so too the Egyptian midwives (Ex. 1:15-21), when they were commanded to kill the male children of the Hebrews. In many countries, through the influence of the atheistic philosophy of life, certain changes have been made in the laws, which do not protect the development of life. But restless youth does not take note of this. When we compare the faults of society, which today's youth is attacking, to the faults at the time of the Apostles, for instance slavery, we can readily see that circumstances today are not exceptional to such a degree that the law can be by?passed.

The lack of experience and knowledge

Youth seeks ideals. It has a proclivity for idealism, and often at the same time is full of enthusiasm, eager for action and seeking a way to put its ideals into practice. In such an attitude there is not yet anything moral, either good or bad. Whether we approve or disapprove of youth's attitude depends on the deals and the way in which they are pursued and carried out. Are the ideals right or wrong? And are the ways in which they are pursued and carried out morally acceptable? In one of our songs for youth we sing: "Here your zeal is appropriate and your cheerful songs are of help."

Youth of a necessity lacks experience. Young people do not know how improvement can be achieved, and often do not even know which means of improvement are right and already in existence. The lack of experience is also partly to blame for the superficial understanding of man's corruption and the childish belief that the world can be improved instantly and changes brought about in matters whose roots had their beginning centuries ago. Disappointment gives rise to bitterness and the disappointed one doesn't understand its cause. Christian young people also often do not understand what means God has provided for holding in check fallen mankind and the world, which lies in "the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19), so that man cannot commit all the evil he

The Bible and the restless youth of our day

Among the youth of our day there is an effort to bring about changes in our society through certain means of pressure and coercion, by attacking matters straight on and by-passing the methods presupposed by our nation's laws, decrees and good proven customs. Those involved in this effort do not represent all of our youth - perhaps only a small minority. They are influential largely because of the media, which seem to have difficulty in presenting matters from a realistic perspective. This method (the direct approach), which has been learned from the world, has also been used in the Christian churches. The task of the Church has been construed to include not only curing the ills of society, but also curing them by unconventional methods

The hirelings and the ear of-the sheep

The Bible gives Jesus the name, Chief Shepherd, and those who believe in Him are called His sheep. This is a beautiful illustration. The Good Shepherd takes care of His sheep and loves them. The sheep follow the Shepherd, need Him, and recognize their own Shepherd's voice from among the voices of strangers. Instruction in God's Word that is based on this illustration should be emphasized in our day, because that which is directly contrary to the teaching of the illustration is happening today. Many shepherds are hirelings. To them their own welfare and security are more important than the fate of their sheep. The sheep are not warned by them concerning the voices of strangers or false doctrine, but are rather urged to be faithful to all shepherds regardless of what they teach.

Jesus says: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27). Jesus' sheep listen intently to determine whether the voice they hear is that of their Shepherd or the voice of someone else. If it is all the same to a person what is proclaimed, just as long as something is proclaimed and a nice speech is given, then such a person is not one of Christ's sheep. If on the other hand a person has a desire to hear God's Law so that he will come to a knowledge of his sins, and at the same time has a desire to hear the Gospel in order to believe in the forgiveness of sins, he has the characteristics of a sheep of Jesus. A true Christian also longs to receive instruction that will offer him guidance for leading a Christian life. But what if something contrary to God's Word is taught? To one of Jesus' sheep this type of teaching should be like the howl of a wolf that quickly frightens him away.

A sheep does not trust his shepherd on the basis of sight. Sheep's clothing can deceive. The voice is the deciding factor. Preaching must be in agreement with God's Word. He who teaches contrary to God's Word is a false shepherd. "A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers" (John 10:5). It is the sacred responsibility of God's children to judge whether or not the preaching and teaching they hear is in accordance with God's Word. If it is, they must follow it. If not, they must go where Christ's voice is heard.

Our Reformer Martin Luther says of shepherds: "I am one of God's sheep. I want to have and accept His Word. If you will give me His word, I will regard you as my shepherds. But if you set up another doctrine, and do not offer me the pure Gospel, I do not wish to regard you as shepherds or to accept your voice. For the Ministry of which you boast does not extend any further than the Word does. If someone is a shepherd we must accept him; if he is not, we must depose him from office. For the sheep must judge the voice of the shepherds."

Some have at times advised false teachers to resign from the shepherd's office, but no one has followed such advice. Why not? Well, has anyone ever heard of a wolf, by his own initiative, leaving the sheep he holds captive? This does not happen. The sheep must flee from the wolves and true shepherds must keep the wolves away.

Many do not understand the significance of pure teaching. The ear has become numbed. But a true sheep, the older he becomes, is more and more attached to the voice of the Good Shepherd.

The Gospel has the aroma of life

Nature, bursting into its summer dress, is refreshing and pleasant to observe. It has the spirit of life and hope. The Bible compares Christian faith to this type of aroma of life (2 Cor. 2:14) that Jesus sent His disciples to spread.

Sin brought a deathly smell into the world, into our body and soul. But the Savior bore our sins and reconciled us to God. Now everyone who believes in Him has forgiveness of sins in His name. This is the sweet aroma of eternal life which springs from the Gospel. It brings summer into the midst of winter.

All people do not feel the need to have their sins forgiven by God. They think they can get along without forgiveness. God's Word places them under the Law. It demands that they obtain eternal life for themselves by keeping the Commandments. "He who practices them shall live by them" (Gal. 3:12). A good and respectable life in the eyes of society is not sufficient. The heart must be filled with pure love toward God and one's neighbor. This is impossible for everyone. Thus everyone who rejects God's grace is condemned by the Law. The condemnation of the Law is death. "The letter killeth," says Paul, referring to the Law's purpose (2 Cor. 3:6). For this reason, to those under the Law, God's Word has an aroma of death. They accuse Christians of condemning them and do not understand that they condemn themselves by rejecting God's pardon.

Paul had many different types of experiences while proclaiming the Gospel. He was privileged to observe how pagans, while listening to the preaching of the Gospel, "began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life, believed" (Acts 13:48). But he also observed that others hardened their hearts and blasphemed. This, however, did not cause him to lose heart, for he realized that this was part of his calling. He marveled and thanked God: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?" (2 Cor. 2:14-16).

Why don't you too, friend, join Christ's triumphant victory parade? Breathe the refreshing aroma of life and enjoy the bliss that God's children enjoy in Christ in all its fullness.

Taste

The Bible compares the acceptance of salvation to tasting. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews speaks of those who "have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come" (Heb. 6:4,5). The taste of food can be experienced only by those who actually taste it. Jesus says: "I am the living Bread that came down out of heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh" (John 6:51). Only he who has tasted can know Jesus as the good Bread of Life. In other words: only he, who believes that his sins have been forgiven because of Jesus' sacrifice, can understand that the Gospel is good news. Others are not competent to judge.

The Bible warns especially those, who have come to know that the Word of God is good, not to reject it intentionally. If someone, despite being convinced of the truth by the Holy Spirit, rejects salvation and blasphemes the Spirit of Grace, he can no longer be brought to a knowledge of the truth. The sin against the Holy Ghost is a sin to be feared. Often, however, those who have not committed it, fear that they have. If someone is troubled because he fears that he has committed this sin, he can be at peace and return to the Father in the manner of the prodigal son. Those who have committed this sin are not troubled because of it. They have once and for all driven away the Holy Spirit, so that He not longer convicts them of sin or convinces them that they need salvation.

If we have tasted the good Word of God, let us remain at God's table. "Like newborn babes,long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord" (1 Pet. 2:2,3). The devil would like to draw us away from God's table and have us join the celebrations of the unbelieving world. The devil offers fleeting pleasure and with it captivates short-sighted and ungrateful man. Such food is poison and it results in death. But of His own bread Jesus says: "If anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever."

Esau sold his birthright for some lentil stew. Judas betrayed his Savior for thirty pieces of silver. Many sell the salvation of their souls for money. The most unscrupulous use the cause of Christ to make money. To these self-indulgent people the Bible says: "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?" (Luke 12:20). Friend, do not measure the value of the Bread of Life with money, but rather taste and experience how good the Lord is.

Hearing

God has given us ears so that we, among other things, would gladly and diligently listen to the preaching of His Word. Contrary to God's will many people listen to evil talk and close their ears to God's Word. Jesus says: "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God" (John 8:47). Many refuse to go hear the preaching of God's Word. But with these words Jesus does not mean merely listening to preaching. He means accepting and believing the Word. And thanks to God, there are those who hear His Word in faith.

The Holy Spirit regenerates a person through certain means. They are called the means of grace. These means are the Word of the Gospel and the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. The same faith-strengthening power is in Holy Communion, which is meant for those who already believe.

Our sense organs are the receptors of God's Word. They cannot, however, as if with a power of their own, give us the blessings of the Gospel. The power to regenerate is in God's Word. "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me", says Jesus (John 6:45). Conversion and the ability to hear in the right way are not human accomplishments, but God's accomplishments.

Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ" (Rom.10:17).

In describing faith, God's Word uses illustrations related to perception through the senses, through hearing for instance. We would be mistaken, however, were we to say that God works only through the sense of hearing. When the Bible speaks of hearing God's Word, it does not only mean hearing vocally produced words.

When the rich man in hell asked Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers still living on earth, Abraham rejected the request saying: "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them." The rich man did not understand the matter, but kept on insisting: "No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent." But Abraham replied: "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead." In this account (Luke 16:22-31) hearing cannot mean hearing vocally produced words, for Moses and the Prophets were dead and Abraham rejected the request to send men from the dead to earth. Moses and the Prophets mean the written Word of God. The Holy Spirit works through this Word and we must hear it.

"These have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). We may accept God's grace directly from the Bible by reading it. But we cannot use such reading as an excuse to reject the means of grace and fellowship in a Christian congregation.

Sight

"I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ear, and all my members." This is how Lutheran Christians confess their faith. Healthy sense organs are wonderful gifts that God has given us. But how often do we remember to thank Him for them? If a blind person were to be given the gift of sight, he would be very thankful.

Spiritually we are all blind by nature because of original sin. With our natural sense organs we cannot understand the Gospel. "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9).

We need the Holy Spirit in order to be saved. "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him, but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel."

Jesus once told the self-righteous Pharisees: "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see; and that those who see may become blind". The Pharisees then asked Him: "We are not blind too, are we?" Jesus replied: "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say 'we see'; your sin remains" (John 9:39-41). A person who can see does not need someone to lead him. But no one can enter eternal life, unless Jesus leads him there.

The Holy Spirit grants spiritual vision to believers in Christ. "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life" (John 6:40).

Beholding the Son of God does not mean seeing a vision. We see Him in God's Word and the Sacraments, when we believe in Him as our Savior from sin. Only a person who has come to a knowledge of his sin can see Him in this way. Without such a knowledge a person does not feel the need for salvation, and any talk about forgiveness is just idle chatter to him. Man does not comprehend that he needs to be freed from God's wrath.

But in the heart of one who has experienced God's wrath, the Gospel gets a welcome reception. Such a person gladly directs his gaze to the cross and beholds the Savior, who atoned for his sins. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:14).

Once "we will see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2) and "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I will be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Ps. 17:15).

Behold the man!

"I'm at my wits' end, I can't go on", someone may cry out when life's skein seems to be hopelessly entangled. That which brought pleasure before has now led to despair and wretchedness. Others do not understand. They only say: "He has only himself to blame." But this causes further agony because it's true. He who has fallen is condemned by the people around him as well as by his own heart. At the same time he feels the pressure of God's wrath. There is no place to which he can escape. He is alone, but at the same time in God's presence - guilty. The words of the Psalmist are descriptive: "My sin is ever before me" (Ps. 51:5). "Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there" (Ps. 139:8). With a person like this in mind, we can repeat the words familiar to us from the Passion of Christ: "Behold, the man!" (John 19:5).

Jesus' suffering, however, was in some respects different. He indeed felt God's wrath deep in His soul. He too was alone: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46). But Jesus' suffering was different in the respect that He did not suffer because of His own sins. He Himself was innocent. Our sins had been charged to Him. This is why He could not lose confidence in the Father. Confidently He was able to say: "Father, into Thy hands I commit My Spirit" (Luke 23:46). With the same confidence He was able to comfort the repentant criminal and look beyond death to the blessed life of Paradise. Jesus' suffering comforted the criminal, and brings peace even now to every troubled soul who trusts in Jesus. God's Son has once suffered God's wrath in behalf of us all. In Him, in such an amazing way, God's everlasting love was revealed.

Of those who are troubled to the point of despair, we can with pity say: "Behold, the man!" But this will not help them. The New Testament instead says to the despairing: "Man, behold Jesus!" That is why God's Son came to earth, so that "He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). Committed sins remain committed and we must bear temporal consequences. But the forgiveness earned by Jesus solves the problem in God's sight. It grants peace to the conscience. It also gives us the desire and strength to do that which is right from now

The unique character of the Christian religion

There are many different religions in the world, but it is easy to divide them all into two groups.

The German-British scientist, Max Mueller, once said:

"In the discharge of my duties for forty years as professor of Sanskrit in the University of Oxford I have devoted as much time as any man living to the study of the sacred books of the East, and I found the one key-note - the one diapason, so to speak, of all these so-called sacred books, whether it be the Veda of the Brahmans, the Puranas of Siva and Vishnu, the Koran of the Mohammedans, the Zend-Avesta of the Parses, the Tripitaka of the Buddhists, - the one refrain through all - salvation by works. They all say that salvation must be purchased, must be bought with a price, and that the sole price, the sole purchase-money, must be our own works and deservings. Our own Holy Bible, our sacred Book of the East, is from beginning to end a protest against this doctrine. Good works are indeed enjoined upon us in that sacred Book of the East; but they are only the outcome of a grateful heart - they are only a thank offering, the fruits of our faith. They are never the ransom-money for the true disciples of Christ. Let us not shut our eyes to what is excellent and true and of good report in these sacred books, but let us teach Hindus, Buddhists, Mohammedans, that there is only one sacred Book of the East that can be their mainstay in that awful hour when they pass all alone into the unseen world. It is the sacred Book which contains that faithful saying, worthy to be received of all men, women and children, and not merely of us Christians, that Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

Thus spoke a scientist, who was thoroughly acquainted with the Bible as well as with other "sacred" books.

The Christian faith is a message that tells us of the salvation accomplished by God. The Christian faith is not an announcement of a bill that is due, but it can more properly be compared to a bill that has been stamped paid in our behalf. We have been redeemed with the precious blood and innocent suffering of Christ. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9).

The Christian faith is unique in this respect, that it brings us the grace of God as a free gift without our merit. As such a faith, the Christian faith, as it spread, made other faiths unnecessary without having to prove itself better than the pagan religions. Some accepted God's gift, others rejected it.

The Bible warns us about despising God's grace: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Hebr. 2:3). Everything has been done for our salvation. Christ's sacrifice is sufficient. "While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6).