Dear friends, this theology sings in our hearts so wonderfully. Death has stolen into the garden and it stalks us every day. When that moment comes and you must stand before the judgment seat of God, do you want to be thinking of all the sins you committed against him every day? Every sin – even the thankless complaints we make every day – are acts of rebellion and punishable by death. Or do you want to hold on to petty acts of so-called righteousness that are garbage before God? All that will matter in that moment is if you know Christ and believe that he lived and died for you. This is what makes you right with God now and then, and which allows you not to live in fear every moment.
So what song would you like your family to sing at your funeral? There are so many which sing this theology well!
Your works, not mine, O Christ, Speak gladness to this heart.
They tell me all is done; They bid my fear depart.
To whom but you, Who can alone For sin atone,
Lord, shall I flee?
Your righteousness, O Christ, Alone can cover me;
No other righteousness Can set a sinner free. Refrain
These are the new songs that God’s people love to sing. And sing them we must – not only to comfort ourselves, but so that this theology will be heard in the world. That’s why we must sing not only German songs, but songs for every tribe and language and nation and people.
1. New songs are for every nation, tribe, language and people.
6Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” This text is often used for the lesson for Reformation, and many see Luther as the “angel” or “messenger” with the eternal gospel to preach. Certainly Luther fits the bill, and few have spoken this theology better than he. But the messenger with the eternal gospel to preach is EVERY Christian who proclaims the eternal gospel – in every age and in every place.
Notice that it is called the “eternal gospel.” The message never changes. It has not changed from Adam to Abraham to Paul to Luther to today. It is always the same wonderful good news. There have been antitheologians who have tried to distort this message and change it. The book of Revelations speaks of such things. It must have been wonderful for John to learn in this vision that God would make sure there were always those who proclaimed the gospel. It is wonderful for us to know this too. I know that my children and my children’s children will have some to proclaim the gospel to them.
Page 3 October 31, 2010
