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Loren Keplinger | The Voice of Zion February 2023 -- Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. – Psalm 57:1–3,10,11 David, the writer of this psalm, found himself in a precarious place. As a young boy, he had been appointed by Samuel as King Saul’s successor. He had killed Goliath and was well known in the land. His best friend was Jonathan and his wife was Michal, both of whom were King Saul’s children. And now, due to jealousy, Saul wanted to kill his son-in-law David. Saul had already attempted to take David’s life, so David fled the palace and hid in a cave. Saul’s army was now close by. They were sleeping, unaware, in the same cave as David and his supporters. David was in an extremely difficult situation. He had to continue to flee for his life. In desperation, he prayed to God. We experience trials. Some are a minor interruption to our day. Others require more attention. Perhaps you have experienced trials, like David, when all other cares of life must be put aside. You are in such distress that you turn to God for help. In a very stressful moment in your life, you may be able to relate to David’s situation. We know that God knows our lives intimately, and He blesses us with much. He also allows trials in our life, for His purposes. With our human minds, we don’t understand why this is so. But we do know that in great difficulty, when human help is unattainable or futile, we turn to God for help. Though we pray in these moments, we may struggle with trusting God. We may ask, how did God allow this trial in my life? We may recall times in our life when we were unthankful or disobedient to God and in this moment of penitence we may feel unworthy of the help we are requesting and desperately need. After the difficult moment has passed, we may recognize why God has allowed this trial in our life. We may realize we needed a reminder of how small and weak we are as children in God’s kingdom. Remember, dear traveler, that God is merciful and He cares for you. He hears the prayers of one in difficulty. The prophet Joel reminds us to turn to God in times of distress. “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil” (Joel 2:12,13). David too was able to overcome his trials. Eventually he was made king of Israel, succeeding Saul. God blessed David’s life greatly. You may have also experienced that God has been merciful to you in trials, that He has allowed the time of difficulty to pass and continues to bless your life. We see in our text which is David’s prayer that he put his complete trust in God in his time of despair. “In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” We know that God promises to care for us in the world He created. We can, like David, be confident that God “shall send from heaven” the help we need in times of distress. We are also reminded by the Apostle James, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Though we don’t feel righteous, as believers we trust and believe that God’s Spirit which lives in our hearts makes us righteous. Remember to pray, dear friend, thanking God daily for all the goodness in your life. Also remember the important prayer that God would continue to keep us as His children in His kingdom of children. In time of deep trial, have full confidence in God as David did in prayer. Remember that God has promised to care for you as well, as a parent cares for his or her children, even when the child is undeserving.

Swen Sorvala | The Voice of Zion February 2023 -- Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. – James 2:17 What is faith? A familiar portion from Hebrews tells us: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (11:1). The very first verse of the Bible speaks of visible substance. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). John also writes, “All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (1:3). In the world we inhabit, we have physical evidence of God’s creation. We have faith that our God, unseen by us, has created all, knows all and is all-powerful. The writer to Hebrews affirms this: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (11:3). Despite being Lord over the vast and majestic universe He has created, God can see us individually and we also know He knows us better than we know ourselves. We were born with original sin. We are unable to approach Him by our own strength (Rom. 3:11). Despite this, through faith a believer’s ultimate goal is heaven, to be with our Creator for eternity when temporal life ends. Knowledge of our Creator is written into each human’s heart. Each person innately knows or senses there is a God – a single, living, real God (Eph. 4:6). When God created all things, He didn’t forget His human creations. “When I consider thy heavens, the works of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Ps. 8:3,4). God sent a Redeemer to save us from our sins. Sin, otherwise, would bring death (James 1:15). If we are not able to approach God and we are burdened with original sin, how can we get to heaven? We cannot get to heaven by our own strength, by our own merits or works, nor through our own diligence in trying to please God. This would be impossible! But God calls His own. His voice sounds forth to His creation. He has called you, dear reader and listener! God is gracious and merciful; He looks favorably upon you. He is so merciful that you do not have to suffer for your sins. He sent His only Son, the perfect sacrifice that suffered death and endured hell in our stead. Ultimately, Jesus rose victoriously and paid the price for the sin of all humankind. Herein lies our faith. It is clear that faith is a gift; it is not self-created or earned by any accomplishments (Eph. 2:8,9). We have nothing to boast of before God or fellow humans. And yet our text, “Faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone,” speaks of works in connection with faith. How can this be? James speaks not of our accomplishments or merits or our perfect endeavor. Rather the “works” refer to fruits of one’s faith. Faith in the heart shows in different forms. Some help their loved ones and neighbors. Others serve at services and camps in various capacities. Some use their words to comfort a struggling one. Others with a tender conscience are quick to care for matters. Such actions speak of what is in one’s heart (Deut. 11:18). These actions are as fruit springing forth from one’s heart. Jesus said we shall know people by their fruits (Matt. 7:15–20). These fruits are the actions, or works, that follow from faith or unbelief. This is a beautiful message: it is faith that bears fruit, and not our works! Jesus emphasized the condition of the heart and the fruit thereof when He spoke of His second coming: “[They] shall come forth, they that have done good, onto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, onto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29).

Russell Roiko | The Voice of Zion March 2023 -- A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. — John 13:34 Jesus gives to His disciples and us a new commandment. He uses this powerful wording to emphasize the importance of the matter. By giving a new precept He wants His own to comprehend and keep in their hearts the faith that they have been given. He uses the term for love that indicates a love beyond that of friendship, philia in Greek. The Greek term for spiritual love is agape. In other words, Jesus tells His own to love each other with a heavenly love, in the same way as He has loved His own, even unto His death on the cross. He also instructs about the greatest commandment: “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:36–40). A Spiritual Love In giving this response, Jesus uses the same form of love. One must love God with a heavenly or spiritual love that will embody all of a person’s heart, soul and mind. In addition, one must love his or her neighbor with such a spiritual love, loving the neighbor’s soul to help them get to heaven. The requirements are set so high that it forces each of us to find ourselves incapable of fulfilling such a commandment. No one is capable of loving God with such a love. We are all too sin-corrupt. We are all selfish, greedy, envious and self-loving. The only way to be able to love in the Spirit is by believing. Preached by sinful people who have been gifted faith, the gospel Word contains the power of God onto salvation. It is the only power that closes the gates of hell and opens the door to heaven. The access to this power of God is only given to those who believe. No one can get it by research, by study, by doing good or by praying. Faith is a gift from God. John wrote of it: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12–13). Fruits Flow from the Heart The fruits that flow from your heart, dear believing sister and brother, are those that the Holy Spirit inspires. They never accrue to be a merit. The Apostle Paul writes of these fruits in his letter to the Galatian believers. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22–25). This list of the fruits of the Spirit can also leave us feeling like it is another impossibility to measure up to. We find ourselves as the Apostle Paul, who wrote of himself: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” (Rom. 7:18–20, see also 2 Cor. 12:7–10). We are just as weak. We are sin-corrupt. We cannot get rid of that old portion. It will never become holy and sinless. The only recourse is to trust in the gospel of Christ and His grace. There a weak and failing sinner can dip from the wells of salvation and find refreshment as often as needed. The gospel heals all the wounds and restores love that has been broken by offenses or neglect. Power of God unto Salvation We all can remain in the fellowship of the congregation by loving with a spiritual love, by believing. No one needs to be ashamed of their desire to hear the gospel for it is the power of God onto salvation. In this congregation, sinners are judged with grace and forgiveness. No one is ever told to go away, that you are too sinful. Rather, all sins are always preached forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. In this congregation of God, we have felt and still can feel that righteousness, peace and joy which are the essence of the kingdom of God. We experience that foretaste of heaven as the disciples did. John wrote: “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20). It is the audible preaching of that gospel that contains the power of God unto salvation. It is our source of strength for our endeavor. Continue believing, dear friend, and trusting in the grace of God. He has begun the good work in us and will continue it until He takes us home to heaven.

The Voice of Zion March 2023 -- This writing is an excerpt from Miten minä uskon (How I Believe), edited by Ari-Pekka Palola and published by SRK in 2020. The writings are not attributed to a certain author since they are compiled from a variety of texts originally published in Christ is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever: Writings on the Basics of Faith and Doctrine (LLC 2022), which was translated from the original Finnish version published in 2018. Installment 3 of 19 The origin and existence of everything are great questions to which humans have sought an answer throughout time. No one has been observing or documenting the creation of the world. We only have God’s revelation of it. The Triune God – Creator of the World To Christians, the Bible’s creation stories are unrelinquishable, stories that explain the existence of everything (Gen. 1:1–2:3; 2:4–25). They are not read as scientific reports or detailed accounts, but rather as sacred revelations describing the beginning of time. The focus of these creation stories is in God, the Creator and Prime Mover of all, and not in the details of how the creation process itself has happened. According to the Bible’s revelation, God is the Creator and Prime Mover of all that exists. He has created everything from nothing. God is above and beyond human comprehension and beyond our grasp of time and place. Before the moment of creation there was nothing except God in His greatness. The Bible tells that God created everything through the power of His Word (Heb. 11:3). Meanwhile, the Bible doesn’t tell how God did His creation work or how long the days of creation were. No one has sources of information on the basis of which one could clarify these matters. The Bible’s revelation is limited to the original cause of everything, God’s will and might as its basis. Faith and science examine the creation of the world from their own perspectives. Through the Bible’s creation stories, a viewpoint opens to faith of how God is the origin and Creator of everything. Science on the other hand tells us something about what kinds of processes may have taken place in connection with creation. God’s creation work was not confined only to when the world was born, but He continuously creates new things. All new life is the result of God’s creation work. Human Beings – the Image of God Humans are part of God’s creation. The creation story describes how God first created the conditions for life and ultimately formed man from the dust of the earth. God created humans in His image and likeness and breathed into their nostrils the breath of life. This is how humans became living souls. Humans are the only creatures in the world that can hear God’s voice, rely on Him and love and serve Him. The most important matter in life is to know God and our Savior Jesus Christ and become a child of God. On a cosmic scale, humans are negligibly small. The length of human life compared to eternity is like the width of a palm or like nothing. Nevertheless, God cares for humans (Ps. 8:3,4). Humans Live in Fellowship with Their Neighbors The relationship with one’s neighbors is the other important relationship into which God has placed humans. The closest and most complex connection is between a man and a woman, who become one in marriage (Gen. 2:24). God created humans as sexual beings. He established marriage between a man and a woman as the correct place to practice sexuality. In married life the spouses can become partakers of God’s power to create something new. Each child is the result of God’s creation work, a gift from the Lord (Ps. 127:3; 139:13–16). For this reason both family planning and abortion are transgressions against God’s will: children have the right to be born and to live as ones that are loved and protected (Matt. 18:5,6). The Great Commandment expresses humans’ role and their duty in relationship to God and fellow humans: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like the first: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:37–39). Because it is impossible for people in and of themselves to love God, the true relationship with God is faith, which we receive through His grace. Through faith is born true love for God as well as for one’s neighbor and oneself. People’s Duty Is to Cultivate and Protect Since humans were created in God’s image, they have, to a certain degree, power over and responsibility for the world. God gave humans a responsible task to cultivate and protect all creation (Gen. 2:15). However, as a result of the fall into sin, humans have not been successful in that duty in the way God intended. In the Christian tradition, humans’ role in relation to creation is seen as that of a steward to whom the master has entrusted his property. The steward must take as good care of it as possible. Each generation must find ways of living in which the tasks of cultivating and protecting are in balance. It is important for each generation to bear its responsibility for this. The Fall into Sin and Human’s Responsibility When humans were created in God’s image, they were given responsibility for their actions. Humans, however, were not able to bear this responsibility, and they fell into sin. The first pages of the Bible contain the story of the fall into sin (Gen. 3:1–19). As with the creation story, the story about the fall into sin should not be read from a historical perspective but rather the main point is its message. The story shows how sin progresses even today. Deceived by the enemy of souls, a person becomes uncertain about what God’s will is. The fall into sin then happens when the person turns to hear and believe the temptations of the enemy of souls. This results in the person going against God’s will through his or her actions. Because of the fall into sin, humans had to carry inherited sin, a permanent burden of corruption. People in and of themselves are unable to be acceptable to God. Human reason and will are corrupted by sin (Rom. 3:10–12). Based solely on human understanding, a person is unable to serve and love God and fulfill the tasks He gives in a way that would be acceptable to Him.

Valde Palola, Chairman of SRK Board of Directors, Translation: Sam Roiko | The Voice of Zion March 2023 -- Opening remarks at SRK Speakers’ Meeting on January 7, 2023 God has blessed the work of His kingdom and work opportunities have continued to increase. The blessing of the pandemic has been that the gospel has been able to be proclaimed more widely than ever before. Sermons have been broadcast via the internet and social media channels all over the world. For example, the Loppi Summer Services were listened to in more than 90 different countries. There were about 80,000 service guests on site. During 2022, many local services were also held. Special mention should be made of the large increase in number of days spent at SRK camps, which is partly due to the fact that the new Hankasalmi camp was opened for use last August. During the past fall, there have also been personnel changes both in SRK’s administration and in the office. Due to illness, Matti Taskila asked to resign from the duties of chairman of the board, and the board reorganized in the fall and elected a new chairman and Work Committee. When Juha Kaarivaara retired, Arto Tölli began in the position of Executive Secretary. The board and Work Committee have, among many other matters, had numerous discussions on current issues in Christianity. Above all, the discussions have rejoiced in the success of the work of God’s kingdom. The gospel will soon be proclaimed on all continents. Cooperation with Sister Organizations Continues Current matters have also centrally included discussions with sister organizations LLC and SFC. It has been customary for the cooperative work meetings of the sister organizations to take place every two years, alternating between Finland, Sweden and the United States. After a long pause, we were able to meet face to face last September here in Finland. Part of the meeting was also attended by the entire SRK Board of Directors. In recent years, communication especially with the LLC has been abundant via remote connections. On these occasions, LLC brothers have shared openly about the issues they have encountered amid American Christianity for many years. They have shared that questions related to doctrine and faith have again and again been brought up by some for critical examination. The content of the discussions has been extensive. Topics have included justification, the office of the Holy Spirit, the relationship between God’s Word and the congregation, the essence and role of the congregation, the forgiveness of sins, confession, and the role of servants of the congregation. On these topics as well, we have had opportunity to have discussions with LLC brothers, and time and again we have found that we have a mutual understanding of faith on these matters. Of course we are collectively aware that “excesses” have occurred in certain cases, but the people in question have been able to and can care for these excesses with the gospel and, so doing, love is restored between the parties involved. Discussion Is Necessary It is good and even necessary to discuss doctrinal questions. However, the situation becomes worrisome when these discussions begin to divide the flock of Christians and break united and mutual love. LLC brothers have shared that in their midst one question among others that has been raised asks which is higher, the Word of God or the congregation. It has also been asked whether God’s revelation has ended or whether it continues in the congregation. From a doctrinal point of view, these questions are very important. We all certainly affirm what, for example, is stated in the church order of our national church [Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland] about the position of the Word of God, which is “The church considers the principles of the confessional writings as its highest instruction, that all doctrine in the church must be studied and evaluated according to the holy Word of God.” At this point, we can ask where the authority is when we talk about the interpretation of God’s Word. God’s Word and the Congregation Belong Together From the point of view of our understanding of faith, the question of which is higher, the Word of God or the congregation, can be partly considered strange, because the congregation of God always adheres to the aforewritten Word of God. God’s Word and the congregation cannot be separated. God’s congregation never abandons God’s Word and God never abandons His congregation. The congregation is the body of Christ, and we remember that Christ is the head of this congregation. According to the Apostle, the church is the pillar and ground of truth (1 Tim. 3:15). According to the Psalmist, “God stands in the congregation of God” (Ps. 82:1 [direct translation from Finnish Biblia 1776]). Where, then, is the authority when it comes to interpreting God’s Word? Isn’t the answer that it is God’s congregation, where the Holy Spirit opens the unchanging and infallible Word of God? Thus, the congregation cannot err on any point of doctrine either. Martin Luther also takes a strong stand on this issue in his book “Bondage of the Will.” Referring to the position of God’s congregation, he states thus: “This, I say, we know, because our creed says this: I believe in a holy, universal congregation. It is therefore impossible for the congregation to err in even the smallest point of faith.” According to Luther, this congregation has been preserved and will be preserved on earth despite various deceptions. Only Faith Opens Understanding The doctrine of the congregation of God can be received with the faith of a child. Human reason cannot comprehend the mutual understanding of faith and love that prevails in the congregation enlightened by the Holy Spirit. It is not without reason that Jesus said in His greetings to the servants of the Asia Minor congregations that he who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev. 2,3). God resolves even difficult matters in His congregation, if only we show obedience to His voice. The Holy Spirit in the heart of a child of God always answers “amen” to biblical teaching. This is what happened in the Jerusalem meeting during the early church. The congregation gathered to discuss and study the scriptures. When the Holy Spirit then clarified the correct side of matters, the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of believers then responded with “amen.” There is also a familiar saying in the Christianity of this time: “this seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us.” In this we encounter a great mystery that our reason cannot comprehend. Only through faith can we understand this. The Cause of Heresy Is Always Sin We have received sorrowful communication about the situation that prevailed within American Christianity. In a continent-wide meeting of American believers already in 2021 it was stated that Christianity is divided and cannot continue as two flocks. Based on discussion at the 2022 [LLC] Annual Meeting, the assembled delegates, based on [LLC] bylaws, ultimately removed two member congregations from the central organization. In preparing this opening speech, I read Juhani Uljas’s introduction on the topic “Heresies of Christianity.” In particular, my attention was drawn to the part of the text titled “What Is a Heresy?” Juhani Uljas writes thus: “Heresies always contain two phases. It grows within the congregation. There comes a fracture in the love among God’s children. The internal unity of faith and spirit breaks. The reason is always sin, sin that is not cared for. We cannot any longer say what has been the sin at the time, which gave birth to the previous heresies, but we see the effects (Matt. 7:16). When the living connection breaks, in the mutual love there forms an ‘inner circle’ or ‘clique’ whose members feel a strong connection to each other but begin to separate from the unity of the entire congregation of God. Understandings of faith and teaching also change. The wholesome Word of God receives strange emphases. From the foundation of the righteousness of faith one falls, without realizing it, under the law. From the freedom of the children of God, one drifts into the bondage of traditions, the letter of the law, and rules. In this way, the bad fruit of heresy ripens. Heresy does not only separate itself from the love of the children of God, but also battles against it. The altered understanding of faith and doctrine raises war against the congregation of God. We come to the situation which the Old Testament depicts: “Cast out the bondwoman and her son” (Gen. 21:10). The heresy that has internally separated from the unity of the children of God also separates outwardly.” The Comforting Message Is Yet Heard We, the SRK, have had numerous discussions with LLC brothers. They have with a sorrowful mind recounted the issues that have been difficulties amidst American Christianity. Meanwhile they have wished to hear with humble hearts our views on the questions that have arisen. They have approached these difficulties with a mind of prayer that God would restore unity among them. We have also received many messages and emails expressing a different view of the current situation. These messages have strongly criticized the actions of the LLC board, although conclusions about the current situation have been made in the large meetings in American Christianity. We have also been invited there to discuss with various parties. In response we have noted that both here in Finland and in America there exists the congregation of God which the Holy Spirit leads and cares for. As sister organizations we have had discussions and affirmed that we have the same spirit of faith. In contrast, we have found the messages from the other party to be different. The actual formation of the current division in American Christianity is mainly associated with the two congregations removed from the organizational membership of the LLC. In this context, however, it is important to note that it is not a question of collectively binding the members of these two churches, but rather to everyone who wishes to endeavor in unity with God’s congregation sounds the Good Shepherd’s comforting message that sins and even the sin of heresy can be forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood. This article was originally published in Finnish in the January 25, 2023, issue of Päivämies. Translated and published with permission.

The Voice of Zion April 2023 -- We cannot serve God directly with our actions. Only by our faith can we show love to God and serve Him. God’s Word tells us that to serve Him, we must serve others here on earth. Put simply, in God’s stead, we are to serve our neighbors (Gal. 5:13,14). Many times we have heard testimony from those that have served others that in serving, they found that they were served. They gained much more than they gave. The return on investment was great. Serving others is a concrete manifestation of the love we are called to show to our neighbors. Serving fosters joy, and when we serve others in love, the joy is increased manyfold. Congregations may pray for the mutual mind to increase opportunities for all to serve. Serving is ministering, or administering, to people’s needs, to their physical and spiritual needs. This happens in many ways in God’s kingdom. It can be formalized as diaconal work on a committee level within a congregation. It can happen in larger gatherings, and it can happen on an individual level. There are many ways we can share of our time and our service to those in need. We can help others in their everyday lives. We can do chores or labor for those who are unable. We can sit alongside and listen to those who mourn or otherwise suffer. We can encourage our fellow travelers in their walk of faith. We can pray for near ones and even those we don’t know. And we can forgive another’s sins. God has given each of us gifts, many kinds of gifts. And yet He adds to them in this way: He can show us many ways to use the gifts He has given us to serve, to alleviate another’s burdens. even to alleviate our own burdens. The best way to use these gifts is to support others on the journey to heaven. What do we gain from serving? We gain a sense of fulfillment for having found a way to show love and gratitude toward others, and ultimately to our heavenly Father. We all need ways to express our connection with God and with God’s kingdom, and serving in God’s kingdom is a direct way to express this. We serve because we also need to be served, and even in serving we are served. A God-given desire to serve does not stem from a desire to do good works, to increase our chance of salvation. Rather, the desire to do these works is a fruit of the spirit, which comes from owning faith in a clean conscience. It is good in God’s kingdom to offer opportunities to all to serve others. Opportunities to serve open ways in our midst for many to feel a sense of belonging, to reduce loneliness and isolation, and to increase the sense of community and unity. All gifts are needed, and it is important that all, especially our youth, could see where their gifts fit, where there would be a use for what they have to offer. Of course we are free to serve as asked even if we cannot see that we would have gifts for that duty. Often others can help us notice our gifts. Serving in God’s kingdom brings great blessings to us in this life, and serving can help strengthen our faith and thus help carry us to the life that is to come. May we hear on the threshold of heaven those words that Christ foretold, that we ministered to the hungry, thirsty, poor, weak and lonely (Matt. 25:35–45), not through our own merit but through the power of the Spirit. In heaven, all our needs will be met in blessed rest.

Dean Simonson | The Voice of Zion April 2023 -- The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord: This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:15–24 Throughout Psalm 118, we are drawn to the voice of the Psalmist, who is thought to be King David. We picture the king and his armies going out to battle against enemies. The battle was fierce, but the king prayed for God’s protection and trusted that God would help him. God blessed the king and his army with victory over their enemies. Praise to God for Protection Upon his return to his home city, this narrator of the psalm is greeted with rejoicing by the people. They join with the Psalmist in exclaiming the power and might of the right hand of God. God used His power to protect His people. The writer here, as one who was saved, declares that he has been saved to speak of the works of God. Even though he had been through much suffering, God preserved his life. So he commands, open up to me the gates of righteousness. He desires to enter into God’s house, so that he can give thanks and praise unto God. Perhaps the Psalmist is being prophetic when he refers to the stone which the builders refused. Certainly we know that Jesus would not be accepted by His own people, but rather would be looked down upon and even rejected by them. Lastly, in our text, the Psalmist shows his joy and thankfulness for God’s love and protection. What God has done for him and his people is marvelous in their eyes. God has blessed this time in their lives, for which they will rejoice and give thanks unto Him. God does not forget His own, but He gives them strength to face the enemy and to do battle with them. Voice of Rejoicing This psalm is also a clear reference to our Lord and Savior Jesus. The words of the writer certainly served as a hymn of thankfulness and a realization of his place in God’s creation. It would also seem that when the message so closely ties to the sacrificial work of Jesus, that the author and the congregation of that time believed in that same message. The writer notes how the “voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous.” When God’s children were able to gather, with comprehension and understanding that Jesus had died according to God’s plan, and that His death meant their sins had been paid for, they were able to rejoice and be glad. At Easter time, when God’s children gather to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection, we feel joy and the mood is festive. This is because we are celebrating the fact that we can believe that our sins are forgiven and washed away through the shed blood of our Lord and Savior. The “voice of rejoicing” is sung in the hymns of Easter and the voice of salvation is spoken in the sermons that remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice. The Right Hand of the Lord Is Exalted When Jesus was cross-examined by the chief of priests and the scribes, He told them, “Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God” (Luke 22:69). Peter and the other apostles, in defense of their continued preaching of God’s Word in Jerusalem, said, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). Jesus, when He was raised up into heaven, was placed at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19), a position of power and might. From this position He is empowered to carry out God’s judgment on all people. The Psalmist marvels at the power and the wonderful works of God: “the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly” (or as the NIV states, “the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”). He continues, marveling at the fact that “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” When a person is able to understand that his or her sins are forgiven, it is a joyful matter. The power of sin is no longer a worry. Now the person can rejoice that he or she is heaven acceptable. With this joy in one’s heart, the desire is to proclaim of God’s goodness and share the message of the gospel with others. What then is the cause for such happiness? “The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.” The Word of God had rebuked him; his conscience was troubled over sin. Perhaps, in his troubled state, he had felt despair, seeing only the fires of hell in his future. But what relief is felt when he realizes that God has not allowed him to travel down that path, but rather, he has been pulled away from it and can now travel on the way of life. Our Sins Are Washed Away The Psalmist requests that the “gates of righteousness” be opened so that he may enter in and “praise the Lord.” When sins have been washed away in the blood of Christ, one wishes to give thanks to God. This is keenly felt by those who have entered God’s kingdom from unbelief. The desire to give thanks and rejoice is close, because God has washed away faults and sins and given them hope of heaven. All the joy and hope that we have as sinners come about because of the merit works of Jesus. He came into the world to save humankind from sin, but many of the people of His time could not see Him for who He was. It is the same today. “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner” (v. 22). Jesus is the foundation upon which our faith is built. For this wonderful gift of faith, and for the joyous hope of heaven through having one’s sins forgiven, we can be glad and give thanks unto God. We join in the words of the writer: “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Loren Keplinger | The Voice of Zion May 2019 -- This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck. —1 Timothy 1:18–19 Apostle Paul gave this advice to a new preacher, Timothy. Paul had much experience and had many words of support for the younger Timothy, who was endeavoring in his new duty. We have also perhaps heard those words from fellow believers, “keep faith and a good conscience.” This loving advice from one weary traveler to another encourages us in our spiritual battle. Faith is the gift that we most preciously treasure. We pray that God will preserve us in faith until we breathe our last breath on earth. Have you, though, ever paused to think about these words of advice? Why are you advised to “keep faith and a good conscience?" Why not just “keep faith”? The Conscience Detects Temptation How important to our faith is a good conscience? Let us pause first to consider what the duty of the conscience is. We inherently know its duty. The conscience has the role of detecting when sin and temptation approach us and it provides a warning system to avoid that temptation. When we fall into sin, the conscience also has the duty to remind us that we have erred. It continues to remind us of that until matters are cared for. We can liken our conscience to a body’s nervous system—our senses. Our senses are crucial to our well-being, our safety and our life. Our eyes, ears, mouth, nose and skin tell our brain when we are safe or in danger, or whether a nearby object is a threat to our safety. If our nerves or senses become deadened, we may not be able to detect a danger that we face. Just as our bodily senses are integral to our safety and survival, so is our conscience integral to our faith. If an accident occurs or if we are harmed in some way, our nerves continuously send our brain the message that we need help and care. If we fall into sin, our conscience continuously reminds us to take care of the matter. In both cases, pain encourages us to act. However, if our conscience becomes deadened, our faith may be in grave danger. There are various conditions that may cause damage to our bodily senses, such as an injury or loss of blood. But how does a conscience become deadened? How does its effectiveness become diminished? This may be a difficult question to answer. As humans, we are tempted by sin. Humans throughout time have struggled with desire to be wealthy, popular and influential. We humans are especially tempted by sensual desires. We feel such urges within us. Our conscience reminds us when temptations approach, no matter which form they take. The Conscience Can Lose Its Sensitivity But when we are tempted, we may take a little step…just to test the waters. Perhaps we are tempted to use an expletive while telling a story at school or work. Maybe we find ourselves listening to a worldly tune. Maybe we innocently open a link in an email or text message, not realizing that the content we’re about to view may bring our mind to a place not appropriate or healthy for a believer. If in these situations we fall into sin and ignore the warnings of our conscience, it may begin to lose its sensitivity. This is dangerous to our faith life. Ultimately, unforgiven sin makes the conscience become hardened. The voice of the Holy Spirit is no longer heard there. The Apostle James reminds us, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (1:14–15). The devil knows our weaknesses. He may lure us into sin with a small temptation, but soon we may be engulfed in a place of sin we never intended to be in. We want to remember that our faith is a gift given to us by God. This gift must be watched over and cared for. Apostle Paul reminded the Thessalonian believers, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thess. 5:6). We want to keep our conscience clean so that our faith does not become shipwrecked. We Need to Care for Our Faith None of us believers are perfect. Paul reminds the Romans that “There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (3:12). We all need to care for our faith through the power of the gospel. We continue to take care of sin as it besets us or when sin remains on our heart and troubles our conscience. This is part of the endeavor of faith. We may grow weary in our daily battle, struggling against the threefold enemy. Dear brother and sister, be encouraged today! We have a great gift in God’s kingdom. We can use the gospel that takes care of our matters. What better salve for our tired, sin-sick souls than Jesus’ precious blood that He shed for your sins and mine. The gospel of the forgiveness of sins has the power to heal our ailing conscience and to strengthen our weary faith. We can be thankful today that God has brought us up to this moment. He has promised to carry us to our last day on this earth.

Viljo Juntunen | The Voice of Zion Mary 2019 -- Installment 5 of 20, translated from the book Christ Is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever: Writings on the Basics of Faith and Doctrine. (Ed. Ari-Pekka Palola, SRK, 2018) What is Sin? In essence, sin is the falling away of the heart from God, transgressing against God’s will and His holy law (Ps. 51:6; Jer. 3:25; Rom. 7:7,8). According to Luther, “sin is nothing else than what is not according to the Word of God.” (Refutation of Latomus). People are guilty before their Creator and responsible for their sins. If sins are not atoned, punishment will ensue. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). The New Testament believers’ understanding of sin differed greatly from the philosophy of the surrounding Greek culture and religion. In addition the word used for “sin” in Greek, hamartia, and its derivatives appear in the New Testament with a different meaning than in traditional language use. In the Greek and Hellenistic world, sin and evil were thought to be weakness or ignorance. The concept of guilt was rarely associated with sin. Sin was not considered to be a transgression against the gods’ will, because gods were also thought to perform morally questionable deeds. Worshipping gods and mystery religion rites did not usually include ethical obligations. Practicing virtues and avoiding evil were matters of the mind and had nothing to do with a person’s relationship with the gods. The Origin of Sin God created everything good, including humans (Gen. 1:26–27,31). In their original state, humans were sinless. They lived in unity with God and fulfilled the law God had put into their hearts. They were the image of God and partakers of eternal life. The Augsburg Confession and its Apology state that even though God has created the whole world and maintains all that exists, the origin of sin is nonetheless the will in the devil and in humans that turns away from God. The Bible’s creation narrative is immediately followed by the narrative of the fall into sin (Gen. 3). It describes where the evil that prevails among humans originates. Evil corrupted the perfection that God created. The creation narrative does not tell how evil came into the world. Elsewhere in the Bible there are allusions to the fall of the angels (e.g. Rev. 12:7–9). The Bible’s narrative of the fall into sin is not a historical document. It is to be understood as God’s revelation that looks backward in time. By faith we understand that the writers of the narrative were guided by God’s Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). In the fall of Adam and Eve, the first humans lost their original innocence. The devil, God’s adversary, approached them in the form of a serpent and enticed them to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, of which God had forbidden them to eat (Gen. 3:1–6). When Eve listened to the serpent, her mind changed and the fruits of the tree began to look desirable. It meant submitting to the will of the enemy of souls. The devil and sin became rulers of the human heart. Then God gave the promise of the One who would crush the head of the serpent, the One whose duty would be to destroy the work of the devil (Gen. 3:15; 1 John 3:8). The Inheritance of the Fall into Sin is Death and Original Sin The narrative of the fall into sin in and of itself indicates that all people became mortal as a result of the fall. God drove Adam and Eve out of Paradise so that they would not eat the fruit of the tree of life and live eternally (Gen. 2:22–24). The results of these first people’s fall have been inherited by all their descendants. Paul described how “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12). All people since Adam have inherited original sin. The psalmist expresses this thus: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Ps. 51:5). All Humankind Is Subject to Original Sin The idea that all humankind is sinful was foreign in the Greek world. Meanwhile, in ancient Mesopotamia, where Israel’s progenitor Abraham’s family originated, this was a familiar thought (Gen. 11:24–32). In Sumerian and Akkadian writings there are statements according to which all people are sinners from birth. This same premise also underlies the Old and New Testaments. Early Christians were of Jewish descent. Their teaching, however, differed from the Jewish way of thinking, by which the inclination to sin came from Adam’s fall, but guilt was not the result of Adam’s sin. On the other hand, there are examples in Jewish literature that are very close to Paul’s thoughts, for example. The first pages of the Bible relate how as humans began to multiply, their wickedness on earth also increased (Gen. 6–8). God saw that their thoughts and intentions were thoroughly evil. In the end God destroyed humankind because of sin, with the exception of Noah and his family. After that God promised that He would never again destroy humankind, even though people’s thoughts and deeds are evil from youth. Of the biblical authors, Paul has pondered the question of sin the most. He concluded on the basis of observation (Rom. 1:18–32, 2:17–24) as well as based on biblical testimony that all people are under the power of sin by nature (Rom. 3:9). Paul quoted Psalms 14 and 53, in which God looks down from heaven and sees that there are none who do good, not one. All have fallen away from God and all are unworthy (Rom. 3:10–12). Paul stated that Scripture has imprisoned everything under the control of sin (Gal. 3:22). When speaking of sin, Paul often used the singular. Thus sin is like a distinctive entity, which is behind all sin. For example Paul states that “Sin hath reigned unto death” (Rom. 5:21), “When ye were the servants of sin” (Rom. 6:20), “It is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” (Rom. 7:17), “Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me” (Rom. 7:11). This same thought appears in the first pages of the Bible: “Sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire” (Gen. 4:7). God has revealed His will to people in His law. The duty of the law is also to show people their sins (Rom. 3:20; 7:7–9). According to Luther, the knowledge of sin comes through the law, which makes justification possible (Lectures on Romans). Jesus also stated that had He not come and spoken, people would not have had sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin (John 15:22). What then is the responsibility of people who are unaware of God’s law and Jesus’ teachings? Can they also be made accountable for their sins? According to Paul, those who have sinned in ignorance of the law will perish despite the law. He justified holding heathens that do not know the law responsible for their sins with the thought that they may naturally do that which the law requires. Paul says that the demands of the law have been written into their hearts (Rom. 2:14–15). They that know the law and still commit sin shall be judged by the law (Rom. 2:12). Human Nature Is Entirely Corrupted by Original Sin The Bible reveals the depth of corruption, caused by original sin, in every person. Sin does not only consist of outwardly visible, individual deeds. The source of sin is much deeper. Paul portrayed human nature that is corrupted by individual sin with the term “flesh” (sarks in Greek). John also referred to the same thing when he spoke about “lust of the flesh” (1 John 2:16). In the Old Testament, “flesh” (bassaar in Hebrew) indicated humans’ sinfulness (Gen. 6:12,13; Deut. 5:26). At other times the term “flesh” appears in the Bible in a neutral sense, in which case it refers to humans as created and mortal beings (e.g. Job 10:4; 2 Cor. 5:16; 2 Cor. 11:18). The Apology of the Augsburg Confession teaches that after Adam’s fall, all people are conceived and born in sin and are from the mother’s womb full of evil lust and inclination. By nature they have no fear of God nor faith in God. Human nature is completely corrupted by sin from birth (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article II). Of the biblical authors, Paul in his letter to the Romans wrote most profoundly about humans’ corrupt nature and his own battle in its grip (7:14–25). Paul says he is “carnal, sold under sin.” He explained further, “what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” He concluded: “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Rom. 7:15–18). Paul’s description of his corrupt nature and his inability to do any good has caused disputes among theologians. Traditionally it has been considered a description of a Christian’s battle with his or her corrupt self, but others feel that Paul could not have described himself as a Christian so dismally. The end of the description (Rom. 7:22–25) clearly indicates, however, that Paul was indeed referring to his struggle as a Christian: “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind…O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” In the first letter to John there is similar tension to that found in Paul’s description. The writer describes on the one hand humans’ complete sinfulness: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). On the other hand the writer also describes complete sinlessness: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (3:9.) Luther expressed the same by stating that a Christian is simultaneously righteous and a sinner (simul iustus et peccator). The human is at once completely sinful and completely righteous (Refutation of Latomus). Actual Sins Are a Result of Original Sin The origin of actual sins is human nature—with its many lusts—corrupted by original sin. The New Testament contains about fifty different words pertaining to sin and eighteen lists of sins. Jesus taught that humans are defiled by that which comes from their hearts and corrupt nature, not by that which goes into their mouths. Jesus described how evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies come from the heart (Matt. 15:17–20). In another well-known Bible portion, Paul told how “the flesh lusteth against the spirit.” He describes “works of the flesh” as adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like (Gal. 5:17–21). The Bible teaches us that it is also a sin to neglect to do good deeds that arise from faith (Matt. 25:41–46). The Smalcald Articles state that actual sins are fruits of human nature that is corrupted by original sin (Smalcald Articles, section one). Jesus taught: “For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit” (Luke 6:43,44). The deeds or fruits reveal who is the ruler of the human heart. According to Luther, you can tell by the fruits who is Christian and who is not (Lectures on 1 John). Humans Can neither Avoid Sin nor Do Anything for Their Salvation The Jews thought that as a result of the fall into sin, a person inherited the inclination to sin but maintained the ability to choose between good and evil. A person could do good if he or she so desired. According to the Greek concept of human nature, a person was fundamentally good. As such, the biblical understanding of a person’s complete corruption and inability to avoid sin clearly differed from both the Jewish and Greek views on human nature. There is also a stark difference in the doctrines of the Catholic and Lutheran churches regarding a person’s role in becoming saved. The Catholic church took a stand on these issues in the Council of Trent during the years 1545–1563. The Council of Trent concluded that human nature is not totally sin-corrupt, but rather humans have free will in relation to God. The Council ratified a doctrine of justification that defines God’s decisive role and humans’ contributory role in becoming saved. Lutherans considered such thoughts to be contrary to the teachings of the Bible. These same questions were discussed in the 1990s when the Catholic church attempted to draft a joint declaration on justification with Lutheran churches. Despite attempts to compromise, the negotiations did not result in anything that satisfied both sides. As Lutherans we believe according to the teachings of the Bible and of Luther, i.e. that salvation is completely God’s work which occurs alone through grace, alone by faith alone for the sake of Christ. The power to decide these matters of salvation exists only in the hands of God (Bondage of the Will). The Results of Sin Jews thought that illnesses could be a result of sin: children, for example, could inherit punishment due to the sins of their parents. Jesus rejected this understanding. When the disciples asked Him whether a person was born blind because of his own sins or the sins of his parents, Jesus replied, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:1-3). By healing the blind person, God demonstrated His power to people. The Bible’s statements regarding how the ungodly will prosper and the righteous will suffer refutes the understanding that God would methodically punish sinners here on earth. The New Testament repeatedly warns that the loss of eternal life, replaced by eternal punishment instead, is the most severe result of sin (Matt. 25:46; 2 Thess. 1:6-9). No one can atone their sins and avoid eternal punishment by doing good works. Instead, God Himself has prepared atonement and redemption through His Son Jesus Christ because He loved sin-fallen humankind. The atonement covers humankind as broadly as the sin of Adam does: “He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The almighty God knew before the world was created that humans, which He created in His own image, would fall into sin. That was why He formed a plan and made a decision beforehand regarding justification of humans through His Son: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Eph. 1:4,5). For this reason every person born into this world is subject to original sin and is simultaneously a partaker of faith and the righteousness of Christ. Sins Unto Death John stated that there are sins unto death and sins not unto death (1 John 5:16,17). In this statement, death can mean either physical or spiritual death. In the Old Testament time, the Law of Moses was both a societal and spiritual law, which included the death penalty. The Law of Moses decrees physical death for many transgressions (Heb. 10:28, cf. Mark 14:61-64). According to Luther the main sin unto death is unbelief. He mentions other examples of sins unto death, including heretical Korah and his followers as well as impenitence (Lectures on 1 John). In the New Testament, severe transgressions of the Law of Moses were sins that signified spiritual death. The Old Testament background is partially evident: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15; 5:16). Adultery was also considered a sin unto death in a spiritual sense (1 Cor. 5:1-5). In this way the tradition of sins unto death in the Law of Moses could be applied in the form of spiritual death. Instead of physical death, the punishment of the impenitent one was excommunication from the congregation. A penitent one could, however, receive sins forgiven by proceeding according to the Church Law of Christ (Matt. 18:15–17). According to the teaching of the Bible, living in permissiveness of sin leads to losing faith and to spiritual death (Rom. 6:16). The letter to the Hebrews exhorts us to lay aside “every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Heb. 12:1). Paul encouraged Timothy to keep faith and a good conscience and referred to those who have rejected it and become shipwrecked in faith (1 Tim. 1:19). God nourishes and cares for His children who are sinful with grace and forgiveness, so that they would keep faith and a good conscience and would reach the rest of the righteous. Sin Today The Bible’s instruction on sin and on right and wrong is always current. Our societal laws are based on the Law of Ten Commandments. Our communal life is built on the values of God’s Word. The situation is deteriorating, however. In a secular society, people’s values are increasingly shaped by the objectives of sin-corrupt human nature. We often speak of sin solely from the viewpoint of an individual. Paul says, however, “The whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). We live in a time when every day our eyes and ears fill with global problems caused largely by humans. These include climate change, poverty, famine, refugees, terrorism, development of ever more efficient weapons of mass destruction and threats of using said weapons. Underlying these problems is the lifestyle of humans affected by original sin. Sin has broken the harmony between nature and humans. In this way the fruits of original sin cause suffering to millions of people every day. As Christians, we have been called to extend the invitation to God’s kingdom, to call others from sin to grace. It brings security and blessing to the life of a child of God even in the most difficult situations. In preaching God’s Word, it is important to take a clear stand, based on the Bible, on questions of right and wrong and on matters pertaining to people’s relationship with God. The Bible and the Holy Spirit reveal to the congregation and to a conscience cared for by God’s Word what is right and wrong in various life situations. Even amidst the evil in this world we can with a trusting mind await the fulfillment of God’s promise. Peter writes about this: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Pet. 3:13). Bibliography Luther Martin Augsburgin Confession. Apology of Augsburg Confession. Bondage of the Will. Original work “De servo arbitrio” 1525. Lectures on 1 John. Original work “Vorlesung über den 1. Johannisbrief ” 1527. Lectures on Romans. Original work “Epistola ad Romanos” 1514–. Refutation of Latomus. Original work “Rationis Latomianae confutatio” 1521. Smalcald Articles. Juntunen Viljo “Jumalasta syntynyt ei tee syntiä.” Suomen eksegeettisen seuran julkaisuja 68. 1997. Raamatun opetus synnistä. – Jumalan huoneen ihanuus. SRK:n vuosikirja 2002. Kuula Kari. Hyvä, paha ja synti. Kirjapaja 2004. Nurminen Hanna. Jumala vai minä? Kaksi käsitystä vanhurskauttamisesta 1970-luvun vanhoillislestadiolaisuudessa. Unigrafia 2016. Reinikainen Erkki. Usko ja teot. SRK 1999.

The Voice of Zion May 2019 -- Viewpoints on 2019 LLC Board Members Workshop Harri Vahajylkka, Phoenix It was touching to hear a few participants speak about their own experiences in understanding faith in God while they were in unbelief, and then later through the Holy Spirit after having received the grace of repentance. Many questions of faith and salvation did not open unto them at all without God’s Holy Spirit. One brother said the presentation would not have opened to him in his former state of unbelief. He was as if blind. Now, as a believer, his heart rejoiced over the heard word of God. In the presentation and in subsequent speeches it was emphasized how faith cannot be had by reading, understanding or drawing one’s own conclusions. Faith comes by hearing, as the Bible states. A person can never solve the mystery of faith. In childlike faith he or she receives the measure of understanding that God sees fit. That is sufficient. When we examine God’s Word in the light of the Holy Spirit, our souls are nourished and become full. If, on the other hand, we examine it through human reason or understanding, our heart does not become full, but rather questions we have are always followed by new questions. The Holy Spirit is the key to understanding Scripture, as Apostle Paul notes (1 Cor. 2:13–14). Wendy Simonson, Saskatoon Joy and hope mingle with trepidation and uncertainty as I arrive to the LLC Board Members Workshop. Joy stemming from the anticipation of gathering with fellow travelers in faith; uncertainty regarding how the day will unfold with current concerns in North American congregations. Hundreds of voices unite in song, and a shiver runs through me as beautiful singing fills the sanctuary. A whispered thought: “Be comforted, God is present here.” The familiar tidings of the beauty of God’s kingdom are heard in the opening devotion, welcome, and the presentation, “The Congregation of God and the Holy Spirit.” My thoughts turn to song 127, Holy Spirit, heav’nly treasure: “As the dew is shed each morning to revive the fields of green, when You shed Your gifts of healing, fruits of living faith are seen. Make us humble, swift to hear, slow to anger, and sincere. Let your love and pity bind us, let no bitter envy blind us.” The prayer in this song illustrates the hopes of those gathered at this meeting. After the presentation, speech after speech testify of the mysteries of living faith, revealed through the Holy Spirit. Humble speeches. Individuals young and old, from many walks of life, cultures and languages, sharing their experiences and the power of the gospel in their lives. The proclamation of the forgiveness of sins flows freely again and again, releasing from burdens. Heartfelt psalms, spoken by those who have left faith, then received the grace of repentance. In unbelief there were so many questions and doubts, lost understanding. God awakens, the gospel is yearned for and heard. Eyes are opened, questions disappear as snow melting in sunshine, understanding is renewed. The kingdom of heaven shines brightly, footsteps lighten, love returns. Yet, there is a voice, another voice, questioning, confusing. Prayers arise: Heavenly Father, continue to reveal the truth of Your Word to us all through the Holy Spirit. Protect us all so that not one would be lost. The meeting ends, to continue on another day. God will provide a way; we can trust in Him. Becky Randall, Elk River Two hundred and sixty-one voices proclaimed in song, “This song from heaven can be heard, from birds of Zion singing, when by the gracious gospel Word with joy their hearts are burning.” The words from SHZ 564 reflected the joy felt in individual hearts when the gospel was preached over and over again at the Board Members Workshop. Participants acknowledged the weariness felt during recent years in discussions over spiritual concerns. Yet, the joy of being a believer was evident. Doctrinal topics of confession, justification and righteousness were discussed, but through multiple speeches, God reminded that we can simply believe with child-like faith. When the first question is, “Can I believe,” difficult questions no longer remain. Understanding follows repentance. We left the workshop trusting in the words of the last verse of the song, “The Savior cares for all His own, His little sparrows knowing. He gives them food along the way, His bloody wounds He’s showing. From there His birds will find new strength and everlasting sustenance and life and peace unending.” Kofi Agbowada, Rockford Dear brothers and sisters, beloved ones, may the peace of God Almighty be with you. I thank the LLC for the effort it provided for this meeting. It was so wonderful to attend this workshop where again I found hope to continue believing as a child of God. At the end of the devotion and the presentations, my heart rejoiced and said Amen by the simple encouragement to believe all sins forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood. I'm so fortunate to be in the unity of this family of God. I can trust that the good Shepherd will always care for his flock. God’s peace. Jason Parks, Saskatoon I arrived at the workshop with feelings of weakness, doubts and fears, but my prayer was that God would be present and guide our time together. It was comforting to learn through the speeches that I wasn’t alone and that many others came to the workshop from a similar position. Many were the speeches that expressed how good it felt to be there. Many personal psalms and simple confessions of faith were shared. God was present through the Holy Spirit and we felt His guiding hand. We were reminded and assured that we can still believe as we always have: all sins and doubts forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. My heart rejoiced as the meeting concluded that God had preserved me and many other brothers and sisters in the simple faith that remains unchanged from yesterday, through today and forever. With love, I want to remember those who struggle, that they may yet hear the loving voice of the Holy Spirit. May God open their understanding that they—and all believers—could believe upon the age-old salvation message of God’s kingdom. Keith Waaraniemi, Minneapolis Throughout the long day, I felt the Holy Spirit was speaking through the servants gathered there. The workshop revealed how God’s children in North America are overall one in Spirit and understanding. I share the joy of so many over the opening devotion, the presentation and many comments made in the discussion period. According to His timetable, God is clarifying the questions and concerns of recent years. As I listened to the speeches, I was reminded of the need for servants to keep faith and good conscience and remain faithful to the Good Shepherd. While acknowledging the work of the enemy trying to divide the flock, I encourage fellow workers and all of God’s children to remain hopeful and trusting, remembering what we heard: “the battle is the Lord’s.” Related Article: April 2019 Board Members Workshop