Three Men

When Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.

One God in three persons has bound Himself to us in the flesh of Christ Jesus, who, after making atonement for the sin of the world on the tree of the cross, rose again from the dead, bringing a new creation to bear upon all that is fallen and dying before our eyes.

The life and benefits of this Christ are distributed widely and concretely in those places where His Word rings out clearly and truly. He is the Christ born of the virgin Mary, whose flesh also was, in time, derived from that of Eve and of Sarah, to whom the LORD spoke as He speaks to all in His everlasting, unchanging Word.

He is the Living Christ who abides in and with His people throughout time and eternity.
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Together Heirs in Christ

I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones shall inherit it, and My servants will dwell there. –Isaiah 65:9

The promise of salvation through the merits and righteousness of Christ Jesus goes from general to specific because the promise is both comprehensive and individually brought to bear through His living flesh. He, together with His Church, is the offspring of Jacob. Names are named in this business of salvation.

This salvation springs up in the midst of a people whose heart is continually inclined toward evil; who even go so far as to relish in graves, self-indulgence, and self-righteousness.

The Heir of The Mountains from Judah is Christ Jesus first who received honor and glory after making perfect atonement for the sin of the world and being from the dead as proof of His righteousness on your behalf, and then also you as a son who partakes of Him by faith.

In order to guard and keep you He has placed his garment of righteousness upon you in Holy Baptism, and how places Word of Absolution and His flesh into your ears and mouth.

He speaks to you with great clarity that His righteousness was procured on your behalf, and is lavishly applied by His will and promise.

It is the nature of an inheritance that it is of great benefit and unearned. To have the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life bestowed apart from and merit or worthiness is of great benefit. It is cause for constant rejoicing, even in the midst of death and sin, because this forgiveness of sins originates from the One who has authority of all of creation.

It is He who declares to you this day and always: “All things are yours.”
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Tears No More

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." – Revelation 21:1-4

The visions of St. John’s revelation span all of eternal history, showing in dramatic form what is the essence of the entire purpose and will of the Creator. This same eternal history and plan is brought to bear in simple form as the children of this age are sundered from the grip of sin, death, and the devil through Holy Baptism.

Here we see frail flesh brought into the new heaven and the new earth prepared from the foundation of the world. We hear a quiet voice through which the Word is spoken while joined to water, for today there is a sea of washing that must needs apply to those who are forgiven of all sin and brought to everlasting life. In the age to come there will be no such sea.

The basis for this forgiveness is nothing other than the merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ, The Alpha and the Omega, Whose atoning sacrifice on the cross was sufficient for all people for all time; Whose righteousness is brought to bear in precisely this way: that He calls you by name, washes you in Holy Baptism, and thereby dwells with you to the extent you are delivered from all evil.

To be sure, there are at present tears, death, mourning, crying, and pain. They are enmeshed in the flesh inherited from the first Adam. All of these belong to you, yet also to Christ Jesus in this age, even as His Love endures such things on your behalf. The Good Shepherd and Bridegroom goes with you, and ahead of you, to bring you into everlasting joy.
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