Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after the Fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Romans 1:16-32 (NKJV)

1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Devotion

The words, “I am not ashamed of the gospel…,” is a great understatement. St. Paul boasts about the Gospel! He is always preaching the message of forgiveness. He loves the good news about Jesus Christ! In another place Paul says, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). There are others who spend all their time speaking about the law (Gal. 6:12), or about genealogies (Titus 3:9), or about myths (1 Tim. 1:4). Those are the ones who are ashamed of the message of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. The reason for which St. Paul is so crazy about speaking the Gospel is because He knows what the Gospel is. The promise of the forgiveness of sins is not just a story, but the message which God uses to create faith and thus convert people.

All of the Holy Scripture can be divided into the Law and the Gospel. In the Law “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…” “The righteous judgment of God [is] that those who practice such things are deserving of death.” However, the Gospel is the place where God is powerfully working to create faith and work salvation. Through faith in Christ the righteousness of God is revealed and given out.

We pray: Heavenly Father, when Your Law reveals that by my sin I deserve death, comfort me with the Gospel message of forgiveness of sins and the gift of Christ’s righteousness. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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