Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 14, Number 21, DeMotte, Jasper County, 7 April 1944 — THE PASTOR’S COLUMN [ARTICLE]

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

by REV. GEO. GOTSCH

Pastor of the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Union Township

Romans 8:33, 34|a is our sermon text for Easter Sunday. What a joyful song of triumph and words of defiance, cast into the teeth of our enemies, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth!” The Apostle hereby tells you, “Ye elect of God the Most High, assert yourselves and make use of your victory over your enemies, the devil, world, and flesh, and over sin, death, and hell. Dare them to open their mouth and accuse and condemn you. “It is God that justifieth!” Marvelous! We pool’ creatures are so easily inclined to look upon God as our accuser and judge greatly to be feared; and now we are told that He is on our side, that He, as a righteous judge acquits us and pronounces us free from sin and its guilt and punishment! Ought we not assert ourselves over against our enemies and defiantly demand, ‘Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” “It is God that justifieth!” But how can the holy and righteous God and judge suffer unworthy and damnable sinners to go unpunished and scotfree? Even declare them to be holy and righteous ? The Apostle gives us the very valid reason: “It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again.’ As though He would say, “The justice of God is satisfied through the death of His Son. By His death already you are justified, and in addition God has raised Him up again from the dead and thus made your justification more sure to you.” For thereby God has factually justified Christ, and in and with Him the world of sinners. He has thereby virtually put into our mouths the Song of Victory and Triumph of our text. Yes, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the glorious justification of Christ and of our own justification. That is the topic of our Easter sermon. Preparatory service at 10:00, Communion service at 10:30 a.m.