Good morning, and a most blessed Thursday morning to you!

I pray you are staying safe and warm, and that this time together in God’s Word would be wrapped in the warmth of God's love and mercy.

I was thinking about the warmth of God's Word. I was trying to think of a verse that captures the warmth that we have in the Lord.  At the same time I’m reading a book on Christian dogmatics. And so I'm kind of putting the two together. So I'm going to first share the sentence from the Christian dogmatics book, and then we're going to turn to God's Word.

So in this Christian dogmatics book the author is writing on the essence of true religion. He writes, “True religion is communion with the true God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is nothing more, and nothing less.”

I really love how it boils down to that simplicity of communion with God (with the true God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) through faith in Jesus Christ… Faith is believing that Jesus Christ indeed died on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected, and lives today, now,and forever.  He has secured for us forgiveness of our sins, salvation, and life eternal with the true God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Now, turning to God’s Word for a verse that has that same warmth and basic simplicity. This verse is part of our Sunday worship liturgy following the absolution announcing forgiveness of sins. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:13

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

It seems so simple, and indeed it is. But I want to break down this verse phrase by phrase, and see how we can be drawn closer to God, and be warmed by His Word. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ… what is meant by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? 

Jesus Christ lived his perfect, righteous life.  On the cross he took our sin upon himself, and in exchange, clothed us with his righteousness. We did nothing to deserve this. It was totally out of his goodness, mercy, grace and love that our sins are removed and we have received his righteousness. Out of Grace he took our sin upon himself.  Out of grace he gave us his righteousness.  Out of his own grace and mercy he rose triumphantly over the grave for you and me.   

The love of God be with all of you. What is the love of God, but that while we were dead in our trespasses he sent His only Son to die for us. This was the plan of salvation that was set before the foundations of this world. Before creation, out of God's love, He knew that Jesus Christ would enter into humanity and die upon the cross for our sins. Out of His love for us he made this the way of Salvation. Again, nothing that we have done, or will ever do can earn God's love.  But in His mercy, and His love He made it so that we would be with Him forever.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. What is the communion of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the one who calls, gathers, and enlightens the church. He is the one who lets us know that Christ died on the cross, and rose triumphant over our sin, death, and the devil. Holy Spirit stirs in our hearts, opens our ears, opens our hearts to receive this good news of the Gospel.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and  the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. 

I hope that this is a Word of Grace for you. I hope that you are warmed today knowing this truth. I hope that these words of hope and assurance are a message of good news you can share with someone else.  

Let’s pray. Lord, we thank you so much for calling us through your Holy Spirit to be in perfect communion with you; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We thank you that by your Spirit our ears have been opened, our hearts have been opened, and we have come to know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Lord, we thank you that by your love you sent your only Son to die for us. Thank you Jesus, that because of your love, you came to save us, enduring the cross for us, suffering death so that we will not have to suffer eternal death, but we will live in true communion with you for all of eternity.  Lord, we ask that you would use us as as your instruments of love and mercy, to share this good news, and through us draw those who do not yet know of your grace.  Lord, we thank you for your love. We thank you for your mercy. We thank you that we are promised eternal communion with you now and forever; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We lift this to you praising you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I am so excited to get to worship with you this Sunday, worship our true God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

God bless.

Pastor Malinak