LutheranLectionary.org

Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:08	hello today
0:10	let’s talk about God’s forgiveness
0:14	John’s gospel records a number of the
0:17	savior’s post-resurrection appearances
0:20	nestled in about the center of those
0:22	appearances Jesus speaks a striking word
0:26	John 20 23.
0:29	if you forgive the sins of any their
0:32	sins have been forgiven them
0:34	if you retain the sins of any they have
0:37	been retained
0:39	lest we lose our Focus
0:41	or somehow forget God’s purpose for the
0:44	sending of his son and for the gruesome
0:47	crucifixion of Our Lord it was in large
0:50	measure for the Forgiveness of our sins
0:54	he was pierced through for our
0:57	transgressions he was crushed for our
1:00	iniquities
1:02	the chastening for our well-being fell
1:05	upon him and by his scourging we are
1:08	healed so says the prophet Isaiah the
1:11	53rd chapter
1:13	or as John the Baptist declared Behold
1:16	the Lamb of God who takes away the sin
1:19	of the world
1:21	sin is the sickness the Cross of Christ
1:24	is the antidote
1:27	the cross
1:28	is God’s instrument that provides
1:31	forgiveness of sins for all those who
1:34	believe
1:35	and where there is forgiveness of sins
1:39	there is life and salvation so says our
1:42	small catechism
1:44	our sin
1:46	is a primary reason that Jesus came and
1:50	was nailed to the cross
1:52	we can distance ourselves from the
1:55	brutality of the crucifixion
1:57	but the bottom line is this
2:00	the holy and righteous God required
2:04	that we keep his Commandments
2:07	we failed
2:09	the penalty and punishment for our sin
2:11	is death
2:13	Jesus has received our punishment for us
2:18	we have received his forgiveness
2:21	by grace through faith
2:24	in the gospel passage of John 20 23.
2:28	Jesus gives to his disciples and by
2:30	inference gives to the whole Christian
2:32	Church
2:33	the authority to declare his forgiveness
2:37	the loosing of sins to those who believe
2:40	and to declare The Binding of sins to
2:44	those who do not believe
2:46	there are at least three things that we
2:49	should know about the savior’s
2:50	forgiveness first
2:53	we receive forgiveness because Jesus has
2:56	chosen to be our substitute
2:59	Jesus has chosen this
3:01	that is to say Jesus determined to make
3:05	this sacrifice
3:06	this was his plan before the foundation
3:09	of the world
3:10	he did it because he loves us
3:13	we did not earn this or Merit it in any
3:16	way
3:17	how could we we were dead in our sins
3:20	and incapable of responding to God’s
3:22	love
3:24	while we were yet yet helpless
3:27	while we were yet sinners while we were
3:31	still God’s enemies Romans chapter 5.
3:35	Christ died for the ungodly that is to
3:39	say us
3:41	he has chosen to be our substitute
3:44	he took our place in order to give us
3:48	his place
3:49	Jesus our substitute performed what
3:52	Luther called the happy Exchange
3:55	our sins were imputed to him his
3:58	forgiveness was imputed to us
4:01	our punishment was imputed to him his
4:04	righteousness was imputed to us
4:07	our death was imputed to him his eternal
4:10	life was imputed to us
4:13	by grace through faith
4:16	second
4:17	Jesus provided a complete sacrifice in
4:20	order to give us complete forgiveness
4:25	the crucifixion of Jesus
4:27	is an all-sufficient sacrifice
4:30	in the scales of balance all the sins of
4:34	all the world are on one side but on the
4:37	other side is the Monstrous weight of
4:40	his perfect sacrifice Greater by far
4:43	than our sin
4:45	there is no additional sacrifice needed
4:48	no further Act of atonement necessary in
4:52	fact
4:54	it is the height of our misjudgment and
4:57	even arrogance
4:59	to think that we could add anything to
5:02	his atoning sacrifice
5:05	the wages of sin is death
5:10	Jesus Paid that price completely
5:14	all of our punishment has fallen upon
5:17	him
5:18	all of our sin has been canceled all of
5:22	your sin
5:24	has been charged to Christ and in the
5:27	mercy of his cross his righteousness and
5:30	his innocence
5:31	have been credited to you
5:35	by grace through faith
5:38	your forgiveness is complete
5:40	because his act of sacrifice
5:43	is complete
5:46	and number three Jesus provides several
5:49	means or instruments through which he
5:51	can lavish his grace and forgiveness
5:54	upon Humanity
5:57	forgiveness is given through his written
5:59	and his preached word God’s written and
6:03	preached word actively perform his will
6:07	conficting us of our sin by his law and
6:10	delivering to us his merciful
6:12	forgiveness by his gospel
6:15	forgiveness is also given when
6:18	confession of our sins is met with God’s
6:21	wonderful word of absolution
6:24	the word of Christ’s forgiveness is
6:27	applied specifically and individually to
6:30	those who confess
6:31	when Jesus uses the mouth of a minister
6:34	to speak his Divine word of forgiveness
6:38	his Mercy his love and his eternal life
6:42	are for you
6:46	forgiveness is also given when his word
6:48	is joined with baptismal Waters
6:52	in holy baptism God forgave you all of
6:56	your sins
6:57	cut away your sin nature
7:00	killed you in a death like his and
7:02	raised you up to New Life like his
7:06	the Bible teaches that Holy baptism
7:09	fills you with the Holy Spirit and saves
7:13	you
7:15	forgiveness
7:16	also is given when his word is joined
7:19	with the elements of bread and wine
7:22	Holy Communion feeds you with the true
7:25	body and the True Blood of Christ for
7:27	the Forgiveness of your sins
7:30	and the promise of eternal life
7:35	truth be told
7:37	our Natural Instincts tell us that we
7:40	are too sick to receive Christ’s
7:43	forgiveness
7:44	but the real truth is
7:47	that his mercy and his medicine are
7:50	stronger than our sickness
7:52	his word of forgiveness is more powerful
7:55	than your sin
7:58	in many ways and by various means of
8:00	Grace Jesus comes to you today even now
8:05	saying that his cross and his
8:07	forgiveness
8:09	are for you
8:12	amen