Wrestling with Theology

''I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel (Galatians 1:6).'' Paul was astonished that the Galatians were forsaking the Gospel he had preached to them. Paul couldn't believe his ears. It was simply too amazing to believe. I wonder how astonished Paul would be in the Christians in America. I...

So you have, from God, both the command and the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ. Besides this, from yourself, you have your own distress, which is around your neck. Because of your distress this command, invitation, and promise are given. This ought to move you. For Christ Himself says, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick" [Matthew 9:12]. In other wor...

''[Christ] gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age (Galatians 1:4).'' Our world is definitely in an evil state. It was evil when Paul wrote to the Galatians. It was evil when Christ was born at Christmas. Then again, Jesus only came because the world was evil. Jesus came to deliver sinners from a sinful world. The world had been turned upside-down. Jesus c...

''[Christ] gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age (Galatians 1:4).'' Jesus gave Himself for our sins. He wasn't forced into it. No one else gave Him. He gave Himself. The Priest also became the Sacrifice (LSB #624.3). He sacrificed Himself to deliver you. This precious gift of His body and blood on the cross gives us the forgiveness of sins. It promis...

5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lio...

''Paul, an apostle--not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father (Galatians 1:1).'' People don't make other people Apostles or prophets or preachers or teachers. God gives them those offices (Ephesians 4:11). God gives these gifts to the Church. Paul was appointed an Apostle by the risen Lord Jesus. On the Damascus Road, Paul came face-to-face with...

Bugsy McGraw vs Tim Horner Iceman King Parsons vs Duane Gill Black Bart vs Jerry Lawler Round Robin Round 11: Iron Mike Sharpe vs Billy Gunn Non-Title Match: Brad Armstrong vs Cowboy Ron Bass Round Robin Round 11: Jesse James Armstrong vs Tully Blanchard Round Robin Round 11: ‘Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert vs ‘Fallen Angel’ Christopher Daniels Round Robin Round 11: Chris Candido vs Sting Round Robin Ro...

''Paul, an apostle--not from men nor through man (Galatians 1:1).'' Many false teachers in Galatia said that Paul made himself an Apostle. That he wasn't a true Apostle. But Paul says that his Apostleship is not '''FROM''' men. He didn't make himself an Apostle. His Apostleship is not '''THROUGH''' men. He didn't need some...

St. Paul calls himself an Apostle. Can he really be an Apostle? After all, the Bible lays out the qualifications for an Apostle. They disqualify Paul. When seeking Judas' replacement, Peter says, "Of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must bec...

Such people must learn that it is the highest art to know that our Sacrament does not depend upon our worthiness. We are not baptized because we are worthy and holy. Nor do we go to Confession because we are pure and without sin. On the contrary, we go because we are poor, miserable people. We go exactly because we are unworthy. This is true unless we are talking about someone who desires no grace...

As we begin a study of St. Paul's epistle to the churches in Galatia, we begin with the question: Who is Paul? Paul was raised in Tarsus in Cilicia. He was raised in a strict Jewish home. He went to Jerusalem as a youth to study at the feet of Gamaliel, the greatest rabbi among the Pharisees. As a strict Pharisee, Paul persecuted the Way (what Christians were originally called) and imprisoned...

1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne...

2 Cold Scorpio vs Cowboy Ron Bass Round Robin Round 10: Iron Mike Sharpe vs ‘Fallen Angel’ Christopher Daniels Dan Spivey vs Jerry Lawler Round Robin Round 10: ‘Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert vs Billy Gunn Round Robin Round 10: Chris Candido vs Tully Blanchard Fabulous Freebirds vs Brickhouse Brown & Billy Travis Round Robin Round 10: ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams vs Tully Blanchard Round Robin Round 1...

Now, what is the Sacrament of the Altar? Answer, "It is the true body adn blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in and under the bread and wine, which we Christians are commanded to eat and to drink." Just as we have said that Baptism is not simple water, so here also we say that though the Sacrament is bread and wine, it is not mere bread and wine, such as are ordinarily served at the table [...

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not...

United Center Tim Horner vs Rick McGraw Facade vs NWO Sting Iceman King Parsons vs Billy Travis Round Robin Round 9: Television Title Match: Iron Mike Sharpe vs Honky Tonk Man Round Robin Round 9: ‘Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert vs Chris Candido Round Robin Round 9: Illinois Heavyweight Title Match: Billy Gunn vs Brad Armstrong (c) Round Robin Round 9: ‘Fallen Angel’ Christopher Daniels vs Terry Gordy R...

What is the Sacrament of the Altar? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. Where is this written? The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the...

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will mak...

Fiserv Forum Badd Company vs Lightning Express Round Robin Round 8: Iron Mike Sharpe vs Chris Candido 2 Cold Scorpio vs Cactus Jack Sting vs Cowboy Ron Bass Round Robin Round 8: ‘Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert vs Honky Tonk Man Round Robin Round 8: Billy Gunn vs Terry Gordy Round Robin Round 8: Illinois Heavyweight Title Match: ‘Fallen Angel’ Christopher Daniels vs Brad Armstrong Round Robin Round 8: Je...

Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth. Genesis 11:9   Over the last couple of months, we went through the Table of Nations that descended from Noah’s sons. Now, we see how they went to settling throughout the world. When they wouldn’t go out on their own, God sent the...

Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech. Genesis 11:7   To remove the unity among the tower builders, God came down and confused their language. Making everyone think that his neighbor was babbling. Everyone wandered around, trying to find someone they understood. Have you ever been somewhere that you didn’t understand the lan...

When I urge you to go to Confession, I am doing nothing else than urging you to be a Christian. If I have brought you to the point of being a Christian, I have thereby also brought you to Confession. For those who really desire to be true Christians, to be rid of their sins, and to have a cheerful conscience already possess the true hunger and thirst. (Exhortation 32) Subscribe on Pocket Casts (ht...

And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.” Genesis 11:6   When people are united in one purpose, they seem to be unstoppable. When a football team’s offensive line is working together in unison, the quarterback can do whatever he wants in...

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:4   Names are important. They allow differentiation between things. You know the difference between an apple and an orange simply by their names. As human beings, we want to distinguish ourselves from...

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If yo...