A Faith We Can Trust

A common phenomenon in nature is “the path of least resistance.” Electricity moving through a circuit will always travel where it has the “easiest” route. Cars are developed aerodynamically so there will be minimal wind resistance. Rivers always travel around a mountain because it is easier than going through one.

Frequently people are like that, too. It is easier to sit in front of the T.V. than to care for a neighbor’s needs. It is easier to get angry at your mate and let that anger diminish (or smolder) over the course of time rather than sitting down and working the problem through. Thumbing through a Reader’s Digest is much easier than a time of personal Bible study. And so we find that we humans are prone to take the “path of least resistance.”

But there is one difference between ourselves and electricity or a river. They will never have to give an account of what they have done. We will. Thus, perhaps we should incline ourselves to take the path of greatest persistence.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

When I was in my mid-20s, I gave myself to the study of the Scriptures. I committed to reading the Old and New Testaments in their entirety each year. I didn’t make a big deal of it. There was no promise of either reward or recognition from others or elevation in status by my pastor. I simply wanted the Word of God to be “a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path,” and I recognized that goal could not take place if I had no knowledge of that Word.

As I read the Bible then, and think back on that reading today, one thing that is clear to me is that God’s people didn’t always sit “on the sunny side of the street.” In fact, as often as they experienced what we would call “blessings” – having a lot of material wealth, or promotions, or other such things that most people desire, they also experienced difficulties – whether it was the disappointment of childlessness, alienation from family, exile from home, conflict with those whom they sought only to serve, or other such things as we, in general, try to avoid. Be they priest, prophet, king, queen, prophetess, or even prostitute – the words of the singer Jerry Butler rang true: “Into every life, a little rain must fall.” Above all those things, however, I learned that God’s promise that He would always be their God proved, over and over again, to be true. No matter the immediate circumstances, God’s purpose concerning them would be accomplished, and they would experience the joy of His salvation.

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

People talk today about the meaning of being a Christian, but many times say things that are entirely divorced from anything pertaining to Scripture. They may take a phrase here or there and use it as scaffolding for their pet position, but they are inconsistent in their relating of God’s Word to God’s people in terms of how we live out our relationship with God as His Beloved Children.

To tell the truth, I don’t have to look outside the Church to see this. If anything, I see the painful evidence as much inside the church as outside, if not more. I say that because “they do not know what they are doing,” but we do! We know God’s Law, and yet we try to lower the standard so that we can get in without much effort. We don’t love our neighbor as ourselves – in fact, we tend to see our neighbor as an opponent, who either has something that we want, or who is trying to take advantage of us if we lower our guards in the slightest. We claim the status of “victim” when things don’t go just the way we want it to go, even though, in theory, we understand that this is earth, not heaven, and that “into every life, a little rain must fall!”

Viewing life through our goggles of embraced victim-hood and disappointment, we even murmur against God for allowing disappointments to come our way. “He saved others – why won’t He save me? Others have wonderful marriages, why am I single, or wishing that I were? Money is rescuing others, why isn’t large money coming to me? God – WHY AREN’T YOU TAKING CARE OF ME?!?! Worse, when things are going nicely, we don’t see it as God showing us mercy, and giving us a respite from the attacks of the devil. We think we deserve every bit of material good that we “possess.” We see the cross, and we might even talk about how it reaches both upward and outward, but we decide that it isn’t for us; it is for others.

In this epistle, the Apostle Peter, living out the Theology of the Cross, shares what God has revealed regarding our vertical relationship in Christ and how it directs our horizontal relationships with our brothers and sisters in Adam as well as in Christ, while we are in this world.

A relationship of mercy

A relationship of permanence

A relationship of engagement

Theologia Crucis - Life Under the Shadow of the Cross

Acts 5:27–32 ESV

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Relationship of Mercy

“I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary, To view the cross, where Jesus died for me How marvelous, His grace that caught my falling soul He Looked beyond my faults and saw my need.” - Dottie Rambo (1970)

In mercy, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to “save His people from their sins” (). Later, Jesus said to His disciples, “As my Father has sent me, so I am sending you” (). Still later, Paul, the “Apostle to the Gentiles, wrote to Timothy, “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” ().

We pass on and share two things - Doctrine and Practice. Doctrine is what we “believe, teach and confess.” Practice is what we do, both in and out of church - the way we live out what we are taught. Both are birthed out of the Gospel’s life-giving impact upon us, as God pours out His Spirit, giving us faith and power - both ability and authority, to trust and live in the power of His Word. Both must be passed on, because those who will come after us will be exposed to trials, and they need to know that their life experiences are not unique to their generation. We need to pass them on together, so that it can be seen that they go together. “"Lex orandi, lex credendi" - the law for prayer is the law for faith.” In so doing, we see the fulfillment of the promise of Christ: “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.”

Relationship of Permanence

2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever () is the foundation upon whom our faith is built. As Jesus said in , “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” As God sees the relationship between a bride and groom as the image of the relationship between Christ and the Church (), and says that the marriage relationship is to be permanent one ( ), we understand that our relationship with God is intended to be permanent, knowing that God will never do anything in infidelity to end that relationship.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

We don’t need to have a paramour - a “god on the side,” because God is all that we need. says, “5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

(ESV)

what can man do to me?”

6 So we can confidently say,

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

There are going to be days when you could almost wonder “why be confessional?” Why not just join the crowd of “believer’s baptizers,” “holiness hounds,” and “shoutin’ Johns?” The devil loves to get you going down that road, to get you questioning your Confessional Lutheran teaching. You look around you and see a sea of non-Lutheran churches, and you wonder whether you backed the wrong horse?

what can man do to me?”

Relationship of Engagement

Acts 5:40–42 ESV

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Success in the Mission of God is not defined by focus groups, fan clubs, or Federal financial support. If you never get a grant, if they never write a headline that pats you on the back, if you never make it onto People Magazine, they haven’t determined your success in doing the will of God. Your success is determined by your willingness to trust God to keep His Word.

1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

The world thinks that you make an impact by doing things that others can see. The Scriptures teach us the truth: The Church does the most damage to the Kingdoms of darkness when she looks powerless. When Christians help those who have no power or prestige, when Christians quietly love their neighbors for Christ’s sake, when Christians are willing , not only to care for the least of these, but to BE the least of these, we give God the opportunity to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ask or think! 2000 years ago, the enemies of Christ thought that they had killed Him, today, they think that they have neutralized Him and His Bride. It was the preaching of the Gospel then, and it is the preaching of the Gospel now, that reveals to a world in the same grip of sin, that God is still on the throne. He still has power to give life to those who trust in Him, and the same way He fulfilled His promise to come back out of the tomb, He will fulfill His promise to come back for His Church.

1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

“So you're having problems, you don't think you'll make it through the day; you tried everything you know and nothing seems to go your way.

As you go to the Lord in prayer, remember this simple groove; leave all your burdens there, get up, step back... Watch God move, watch Him make a way for you.”