Seventh Sunday after Trinity – Friday

If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. – John 8:31-32.

There are so many denominations on earth, with various doctrines and various creeds! To which of these denominations is a Christian to belong? To the one which has, teaches, confesses, and practices the entire doctrine of the Word of God in all its purity, and in which the Sacraments are administered as instituted by Christ. It is quite clear that such is the Lord’s will. The Lord said to His disciples, and He says it to all Christians: “If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed.”

True disciples of Jesus should have, and should desire to have, nothing but Jesus’ Word, Jesus’ doctrine, and no other. Only if they know His Word, do they then know the truth, which Christ has brought from heaven for the salvation of poor sinners. And, this truth shall make them free from the slavery and condemnation of sin, because it delivers them from the darkness of error and unbelief, in which they were by nature, and gives them the true knowledge of all that they possess in Jesus, and makes them partakers of all this through faith.

When, therefore, our Lord gave His disciples that great commission to go and make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching them, He said: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Always, to the end of the world, the disciples of Jesus are to keep, and to adhere to, what Jesus commanded His first disciples, what He taught them.

Be very careful, my dear Christian, to belong to and adhere to a denomination which has, teaches, confesses, and practices all the doctrines of the Word of Christ in unalloyed purity. Then, you can and should be most certain that you have the truth, which saves and makes you free.

PRAYER – My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I desire to continue to be Thy true disciple. I desire to continue to have and to hear Thy Word only, no word or doctrine of man. O Lord, I implore Thee, continue to preserve for me and for my loved ones a place where Thy Word is taught and preached in its truth and purity. Let the fullness of Thy truth shine forth on earth, that the darkness of error may not prevail. Amen.

In these last days of sore distress,

grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness;

that pure we keep, till life is spent,

Thy holy Word and Sacrament.

—

A trusty weapon is Thy Word

Thy Church’s buckler, shield, and sword;

oh, let us in its power confide,

that we may seek no other guide.

(Hymn 292, st. 2 and 8; TLH)