Confessional Lutheran Ministerium

Genesis 1:20-31; 2:1-7 NKJV

²⁰ Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” ²¹ So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

²⁴ Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. ²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

²⁹ And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. ³⁰ Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. ³¹ Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

In Luther’s Genesis commentary on days 5-7 of the first week, he invites us to marvel at the power, wisdom, and continuous action of God in creation. Reflecting on the reliability of Scripture and God’s promises, this emphasizes that the wonders of creation and God’s ongoing sustenance of all life remind us of His power and ability to fulfill His Word. This understanding reassures us of God’s faithfulness in our lives.

Here, we note the special place of humans in God’s plan, created in His image and with a unique purpose. We are encouraged to recognize our worth, live responsibly, and reflect God’s image in our daily lives. This understanding inspires a life that honors God’s deliberate and loving creation.

Also, these verses and our reflections on the image of God encourage us to acknowledge the depth of humanity’s fall and the profound loss due to sin. Yet, they also point to the hope of restoration through Christ. We are called to live in the knowledge of God’s original design for humanity and the promise of its full restoration.

Reflecting on God’s creation, rest, and ongoing governance, we are encouraged to trust in God’s ongoing work in the world. Observing Sabbath rest as a celebration of His completed creation fosters a life of gratitude, faith, and hope, anticipating the ultimate restoration of all creation in Christ.

This passage provides rich devotional insights, emphasizing the sanctification of the Sabbath, the primary purpose of human creation for the knowledge and worship of God, and the hope of eternal life. We are encouraged to observe the Sabbath with intentional worship, prayer, and reflection, grounding our lives in the sure hope of eternal life with God. This fosters a deep sense of purpose, gratitude, and hope, continually seeking to glorify God in all actions. Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Genesis 1:1-19 NKJV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

³ Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

⁶ Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” ⁷ Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. ⁸ And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

⁹ Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. ¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

¹¹ Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. ¹² And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ So the evening and the morning were the third day.

¹⁴ Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; ¹⁵ and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. ¹⁶ Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. ¹⁷ God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

In this passage, we see the majestic power of God’s Word bringing the universe into existence. Martin Luther, in his commentary on Genesis and the first four days of creation, urges us to interpret these verses literally, understanding the six days of creation as actual historical events. This approach encourages us to trust deeply in the clear and plain teachings of Scripture as the solid foundation of our faith and to approach these verses with humility, recognizing our limited understanding and marveling at the divine power that shaped the universe.

Here, we also note the Trinitarian nature of creation: The Father speaks, the Son is the Word, and the Holy Spirit hovers over the waters. This unity in creation deepens our worship and appreciation of the triune God, acknowledging their unified roles in creation and fostering a sense of awe for the mysterious and majestic work of the Trinity.

These verses highlight for us the sovereignty of God’s Word, which not only created the world but continues to sustain it. Trusting in God’s providence allows us to see His meticulous care in every aspect of life, to recognize the sustaining power of God’s Word in creation and in our daily lives, to find strength in His promises, and to rely on God’s care and provision, knowing that He governs all aspects of creation with wisdom.

Here, we do well to avoid speculative theology and instead encourage humility in accepting the mysteries of faith. Focusing on the clear teachings of Scripture helps us to embrace a simple, childlike, and direct faith and to accept the mysteries of faith with all humility, trusting in God’s perfect wisdom.

Reflecting on these verses reminds us to appreciate the beauty and order of creation as manifestations of God’s goodness. Recognizing His provision in the natural world inspires gratitude and living in harmony with His creation, as we reflect on its goodness and His abundant provision for humanity. Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 5:1-12 NKJV

To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David.

5 Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
² Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
³ My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

⁴ For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
⁵ The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
⁶ You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

⁷ But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
⁸ Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

⁹ For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰ Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

¹¹ But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
¹² For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 5 is a heartfelt prayer, a cry to the Lord from a soul deeply troubled by the presence of false teachers and divisive spirits. Martin Luther, in his “Summaries of the Psalms” (1531), offers a profound interpretation of this psalm. He identifies it as a strong denunciation of false teachings and malicious actions that masquerade under the guise of godliness, causing significant harm to the pure word of God and the true worship of God.

Luther asserts that Psalm 5 is a prayer for the righteous, that is, for the preservation and purity of God’s word and worship. The psalmist pleads with God to protect His name and His truth from being defiled by deceit and corruption. This psalm also holds a promise: such prayers will be heard, and those who propagate falsehoods will face condemnation.

For Confessional Lutherans, Psalm 5 is a call to vigilance and faithfulness in upholding the sanctity of God’s word and worship. It reminds us of our responsibility to honor the second and third commandments, which direct us to keep God’s name and word holy. Moreover, it echoes the first and second petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, where we ask that God’s name be hallowed and His kingdom come.

In our daily lives, we turn to God with the same earnestness as the psalmist, seeking His guidance and protection against the influences that threaten our faith. We can take comfort in the assurance that God hears our prayers and will shield us with His favor. As we strive to maintain the purity of our worship and doctrine, we can rejoice in the knowledge that God is our defender, and His blessings will surround the righteous like a shield. Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 150:1-6 NKJV

150 Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

² Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

³ Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
⁴ Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
⁵ Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

This psalm begins and ends with three words in English, “Praise the LORD.” Those three words are one word in Hebrew, “Hallelujah.” Hallelu means “praise.” “Jah” (pronounced “Yah”) is the abbreviated form of Yahweh, the personal name of God. Most English versions translate Yahweh as “the LORD.” The entire psalm, like the four that precede it, is a summons to praise Yahweh, the God Israel, who revealed Himself fully in the New Testament as being one divine essence of three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is to be praised in His sanctuary, which lies far above the mighty firmament of the heavens (1). “Everything that has breath” (6) is praise Him “for His mighty acts” and “His excellent greatness” (2).

On the sixth day of the world “the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen 2:7). All Adam’s descendants have breath of life and are called upon to praise the LORD as creatures of God. But Adam’s descendants also have sin, since Adam corrupted his nature through disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Adam’s sin is passed to all His descendants born of man and woman, so everything that has breath is corrupted by sin and dies, as “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23).

But God, in His excellent greatness, provided His Son, Jesus Christ, to be “the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2), so that all who believe in Him receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The work of Christ is the chief of “His mighty acts” for which the LORD is to be praised.

Believers—forgiven of his sins each day and blessed with everlasting life—cannot help but use the breath God gives them to “continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of their lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb 13:15). Nor can they help but glorify God with their bodies and behavior, so that the entire life of believers is a Hallelujah for His mighty acts and His excellent greatness demonstrated in the gospel. 

Let us pray: Fill our hearts with the knowledge of Your mighty acts and excellent greatness, O LORD, so that we use the breath You give us to praise You now and forevermore. Amen.

Jude 1:14-25 NKJV

¹⁴ Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, ¹⁵ to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

¹⁶ These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. ¹⁷ But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁸ how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹ These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

²² And on some have compassion, making a distinction; ²³ but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

²⁴ Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
²⁵ To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Jude continues by calling on the testimony of the pre-flood patriarch Enoch. He quotes 1 Enoch 1:9, in which Enoch prophesied about these ungodly distorters of doctrine. This doesn’t make the book of 1 Enoch canonical, no more than the seventy elders’ prophesying in Numbers 11:25-26 or Saul’s in 1 Samuel 10:10-13 Holy Scripture. In fact, Jude does not say, “As it is written” as the New Testament authors do when citing Scripture, so that we understand Enoch’s words as factual but not canonical, that is, worthy to be included in Holy Scripture.

Nor do Enoch’s words say anything different from what the Lord says throughout the Old and New Testaments. Christ and the apostles tell us “there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts” (18). Christ also tells us that He will judge all people when He returns in glory—“those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (Jn 5:29).

Jude exhorts us to build ourselves up in our most holy faith, to pray in the Holy Spirit, and to keep ourselves in the love of God, so that we are always “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (21). We know that when Christ returns, we will experience His mercy when He raises us from the dead and says to us at the Final Judgment, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34). Jude wants us to remain in faith, to exercise ourselves in prayer, and live with God’s promised mercy and final salvation in mind.

As our final salvation approaches, we have compassion on those who repent of their sins and keep the most holy faith. Those who refuse repentance we are to “save with fear,” that is, by preaching God’s judgment to them as Enoch, the apostles, and Christ did. If they repent of their wickedness, and experience God’s mercy and be gathered with the believing rather than convicted and condemned with the unbelieving. Let us pray: Build us up in the most holy faith and prayer, O Lord, so that we keep ourselves in God’s love and mercy. Amen.

Jude 1:1-13 NKJV

Jude writes to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Believers in Christ are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ (1). But men had crept into the church who turned God’s grace into license for lewdness. They mistook the forgiveness of sins as the freedom to continue to sin. But the gospel not only forgives sins. It also gives the Holy Spirit to transform believers into new men and women who die to sin every day and live to righteousness. To willfully continue in one’s sins after having received God’s grace is to believe in a different christ who is not the true Christ.

Jude reminds us that those who follow this course will be punished. He gives three examples. After being delivered from slavery to Pharaoh, many Israelites succumbed to this false belief and were destroyed. Although created holy, many angels rebelled against the Lord’s authority. Those who rebelled now await their eternal punishment. Although God revealed His will for human sexuality in nature, the men of Sodom and Gomorrah gave themselves over to sexual immorality and homosexuality and were punished, not only with physical destruction, but “the vengeance of eternal fire (7).  Like the idolaters of ancient Israel and the men of Sodom, the false teachers defiled the flesh by encouraging sexual immorality of all kinds. Like the rebellious angels, the false teachers reject authority and speak evil of earthly rulers. Even the example of the archangel Michael condemns them, for although an archangel, he refused to revile Satan himself, but implored the Lord to rebuke the devil. Those who change the gospel into license to sin are clouds without water, trees without fruit, and wandering stars that cannot guide others to everlasting life.

Only the gospel once delivered to the saints does that. The gospel brings the forgiveness of sins. It also brings the Holy Spirit so that we might forsake our sins and begin to live new lives and look forward to the next life in which the Spirit will perfect us in righteousness and holiness.

Let us pray: Give us Your Holy Spirit, O Lord, that we may live in repentance for our sins, joyful confidence in Your forgiveness, and good works according to Your will. Amen.

3 John 1:1-14 NKJV

The Elder,

To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:

² Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. ³ For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

⁵ Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, ⁶ who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, ⁷ because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸ We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. ¹⁰ Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

¹¹ Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

¹² Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.

¹³ I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; ¹⁴ but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.

Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

John writes this brief epistle to a certain Gaius. John can address him as “beloved” because Gaius’ actions toward the brethren and strangers bears witness to his Christian love. The brethren and strangers were Christian ministers, some of whom Gaius had not previously met. Yet, his Christian love for the truth of the gospel compelled him to receive them into his home, showing them hospitality, and then sending them on their way “in a manner worthy of God” (6). His hospitality also made Gaius a fellow worker for the truth (7). Gaius’ example encourages Christians to show hospitality to those sent by God as God gives opportunity.

Then there is Diotrephes. He rejects John’s apostolic authority and speaks maliciously of the apostle. He does not welcome the brethren. In fact, he forbids those who wish to welcome the brethren, and puts them out of the church (10). Diotrephes behaves this way because he loves preeminence in the church. He loves to be first in honor and in authority, imagining that his opinion is the law. He exercises authority in the church in the same dictatorial manner as civil authorities.

This is not how ministers in the church rule. Ministers have authority as stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1). But they are not to love preeminence. Jesus tells the apostles, “He who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves” (Luke 22:26). Ministers must insist that the doctrine taught in the church be Christ’s doctrine. But they are not to insist on their own way in matters which Christ leaves free. To do so is to place the yoke of the law—the law of the preacher’s opinions—upon the neck of his hearers. Ministers must refuse to receive false teachers in the church (Rom 16:17; Ti 3:10-11). But they are not to refuse brethren who walk in the truth of the apostles’ doctrine for egotistical reasons. The example of Diotrephes warns ministers—and all Christians— against loving their own honor more than the truth and the brethren.

Let us pray: Give us grace, O God, to humble ourselves under Your almighty power, that we may walk in the truth and love and serve our neighbors in our callings. Amen.

2 John 1:1-13 NKJV

¹ The Elder,

To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, ² because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

³ Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

⁴ I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. ⁵ And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. ⁶ This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

⁷ For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ⁸ Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

⁹ Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; ¹¹ for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

¹² Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

¹³ The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

“And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another” (5). The apostle reminds the church—the elect lady and her children—to love one another. Because Christians still have the sinful flesh, the exhortation to love one another always needs to be heard. And lest the saints think of love as the world thinks of it, the apostle adds, “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments” (6). God’s commandments show us how we love God and how we love our neighbor. We love our neighbor by obeying lawful ordinances, protecting our neighbor in his body, his marriage, possessions, and his reputation. We love God by looking to Him for every good thing, fleeing to Him for refuge in distress, using His name to pray, praise, and give thanks to Him. We love Him by hearing His word and abiding in the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Love for neighbor also means setting boundaries against those who transgresses God’s word and refuse to abide in Christ’s doctrine. John writes, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (10-11). This boundary—like all godly boundaries—is established out of love. If a Christian transgresses, then defends his sin and continues to live in it, he denies the doctrine of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and the new life. Excommunication shows him the severity of his impenitence so that he hopefully repents of it, amends his ways, and is restored by the forgiveness of sins.

 This boundary also protects others from being influenced by the impenitence of the excommunicated, lest they fall to the temptation to tolerate sin. That only weakens their own faith in God’s Word and their love for the neighbor according to God’s commandments. Supporting those who excuse and defend their sin is not loving. Love desires the sinner’s repentance and restoration by their return to the doctrine of Christ and the forgiveness of sins.

Let us pray: Grant, O Lord, that we abide in the doctrine of Christ and increase our love for You and the brethren. Amen.

  1 John 5:11-21 NKJV

¹¹ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

¹⁴ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. ¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

¹⁸ We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

²¹ Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

To know God’s Son—to believe in His name, His teaching, and His death for our sins—is to have eternal life. Having eternal life produces two things in us. The first is confidence toward God. Those who know God’s Son approach God the Father confidently in prayer. We know “that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (14). What is God’s will? Scripture teaches us God’s will is our repentance, salvation, and sanctification. When we pray for these things each day, we pray boldly, knowing that He will give us these things.

These are God’s will for all Christians, which is why we pray for our brother—our fellow Christian—whom we see committing sin not leading to death. Since “all unrighteousness is sin” (17), we pray for our fellow Christian who falls into sin, asking that God would give him repentance, renewed faith, and the Holy Spirit to fight that sin in the future. It is only when we see someone committing “sin leading to death” that John says, “I do not say that he should pray about that” (16). What is the sin leading to death? It is malicious apostasy—rejecting the truth of the gospel—which attacks the truth with blasphemy. This is the one whom St. Paul calls “a divisive man” in Titus 3:10-11 who refuses repentance after being admonished. Blaspheming the truth he previously confessed, he is “warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

Besides confidence in prayer, knowing God’s Son and having eternal life produces sanctification in us. “Whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him” (18). The believer is “of God.” As such, he lives in love toward God and neighbor, looking for opportunities to praise God and serve his neighbor. When he is tempted, he counters temptation with God’s word, just as Christ Jesus did when tempted by the devil. And if he falls to sin, he has an advocate with the Father, the same Jesus Christ, who is the atoning sacrifice for all sins (2:1).

Let us pray: Increase in us, O God, confidence to approach You boldly in prayer for those things You have promised in the gospel, especially that we continue to know Your Son and live in holiness as those who have received eternal life. Amen.

  Psalm 149:1-9 NKJV

149 Praise the Lord!

Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.

² Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
³ Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
⁴ For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.

⁵ Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
⁷ To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
⁸ To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
⁹ To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.

Praise the Lord!

“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand” (6). The saints of God praise Him continually because the Lord takes pleasure in them. The Lord is pleased with the saints because they love His Son, as Jesus says in John 14:21, “He who loves Me will be loved by My Father.” God loves those who humble themselves before Him and love His only begotten Son. He beautifies them with salvation. This is the chief reason the saints praise the Lord. He saves them from sin, eternal death, and the power of the devil.

The saints also have a two-edged sword in their hand “to execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples” (7). This is not a call to worldly warfare and physical violence against God’s enemies as some have imagined. The sword in the hand of the saints is not a literal sword, but what St. Paul calls “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17). Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God’s word is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb 4:12). One edge of the sword is the law which reveals and condemns all that is sin and contrary to God. The other is the gospel which reveals the salvation earned by Christ and received by faith.

Christians use the sword of the Spirit to cast down anything that sets itself against the knowledge of God. The law reveals the world’s sin and judges it so that the Christian avoids the world’s sins. The gospel reveals God’s salvation for the humble penitent and strikes down everything contrary to it as false and misleading so that we remain in the gospel with a pure conscience. In times of temptation and persecution, the saints use the double-edged sword of God’s word to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5) so that we do not fall to temptation or yield to the world’s pressure. With the praise of God on our lips for our salvation and the double-edged sword of God’s word in hand against our enemies, the saints will be victorious, not by their own strength, but by the strength of God who works in them through His Word.

Let us pray: Keep us ever mindful of Your Word, O God, that we always have Your praise on our lips and the sword of the Spirit in hand against all our foes. Amen.