Dear friends in Christ,
A couple of weeks ago our Evangelism Board hung a number of flyers about Benediction with a copy of the Gospel of John on the front door of 250 homes in the area. The next day our confirmands made a presentation on the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. The second part of baptism in the Small Catechism asks, “What benefits does Baptism give? Martin Luther answers, “It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.” The brochure shared this hope that we have in Christ that our sins are forgiven, that Christ delivers His people from evil, and that He gives us a sure hope of everlasting life. It also had several illustrations of this from John’s Gospel. I would like to share the content of the brochure with you and also invite you to take the time to read John’s Gospel as He proclaims our hope in Christ.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Don Hougard
In Christ there is Hope of Forgiveness – Not one of us is perfect. In his first letter John writes, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8). None of us is any better than the Samaritan Woman (John 4), the woman caught in adultery (John 8), Judas who betrayed Jesus or Peter who denied Him.
Our sins have hurt others, and they bring guilt and remorse to our lives. There are things that we have done, which we sometimes still regret and are ashamed of many years later. When you feel that burden of guilt, Christ brings you the hope of the forgiveness of sins.
When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29) Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. After He had risen from the dead, He told His disciples that if they forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven in His name. (20:23) Faith in Christ gives you a wonderful, beautiful hope that in Him all of your sins are forgiven.
In Christ there is Hope of Deliverance – In addition to the trouble that we get ourselves into, there are all sorts of troubles that come our way in life. There is sickness, financial distress, and troubled relationships with our spouse, children, family, and friends. All sorts of things make us worry and fear.
But again Christ brings hope. He promises to be with us always and to bring His help in any time of need. In John’s Gospel you will read about His help in a relatively minor problem when a wedding ran out of wine (2:1-11) to the greatest of troubles when His friend Lazarus died (11:1-44). He gives us peace of heart and mind in any time of trouble as He says in 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” In any time of trouble remember that your Good Shepherd (Jn 10) has overcome the world. He will give you the help that you need as He says, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (16:33) There is hope in Christ, that He will be with you in every trouble and give you the help that you need.
In Christ there is Hope of Eternal Life – Our greatest enemy is death. It brings mourning when we lose a loved one, and it brings fear when we think about our last hour. Again Christ brings hope. He told Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (3:16) In John 11:27 He promises, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even though He dies.” In John 14:2 He gives a glimpse of what He is doing for us now in heaven. He says, “In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” If you are mourning, Christ brings hope that if your loved one died in faith in Christ, they are with Him in His glory in heaven forever. If you are dreading your own last hour, find hope in the everlasting life that He promises to you.