Life!

On Facebook, a Pro-life Virtual Protest runs all day on 22 January. If you have a Facebook account, I encourage you to participate with a pro-life status message and, if you wish, a pro-life profile picture.

If you are looking for life resources or if you’re wondering if or why you should be pro-life, please visit one or more of the online resources dedicated to ending abortion, euthanasia, and other assaults against God’s first great gift to mankind. These sites include Lutherans for Life, the Vitae Foundation, National Right to Life, Blogs4Life, and Pro-Life Blogs.

If you’d like to use this image, please feel free to do so. I created it to share with others.

May God bless the message and the messengers.

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Levels of Heaven and Hell

Q: Are there different levels to heaven or hell? If so, what are they?

A. Regarding hell, unbelievers will suffer condemnation and eternal separation from God in both body and soul (see Matthew 18:8; 25:46; Mark 9:43; John 3:36; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Jude 13; Revalation 14:11). While the damned will experience indescribable torment, varying degrees may be determined by the nature of the sins to be punished (Matthew 11:20-24; 23:15; Luke 12:47-48).

As for what some term the “degrees of glory” in heaven, the Scriptures depict eternal life as a state of never-ending “blessedness.” This means that Christians will live forever in perfect freedom from sin, death, the devil, and every evil (Isaiah 25:8; 49:10; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 55-57; Revelation 2:7, 11; 20:14; 21:4). They will also enjoy the never-ending joy of being with God in the new heavens and new earth (e.g., Revelation 21-22; Psalm 16:11). Falling away from God will be impossible.

This blessedness includes the joy of being in eternal communion with our fellow believers. Matthew 17:3 hints that we may well recognize them when we are translated to glory. While all the saints will enjoy unlimited happiness and blessed peace, there will be degrees of glory corresponding to differences of deeds and faithfulness while on earth. This will result in even greater praise to God but will provoke no envy among the saved (see 2 Corinthians 9:6; Matthew 20:23).

Article reposted to answer a question on the Facebook Ask the Pastor group page.

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Walter Snyder is a Lutheran pastor, conference speaker, author of the book What Do Lutherans Believe, and writer of numerous published devotions, prayers, and sermons.

Epiphany

Q: Is Epiphany an important part of the Church calendar?

A: Epiphany is both a specific day celebrated in the Church and the season which follows. Literally meaning “appearance, manifestation, showing,” the day celebrates the visit of the wise men recorded in Matthew 2:1-12. In most of Christianity, 6 January is the date that The Epiphany of Our Lord is observed.

The Sunday after Epiphany Day traditionally remembers His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17). Subsequent Sundays show how the Christ was manifested through preaching and miracles. For example, Saint John concludes his account of the miracle at Cana, by telling, “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (2:11)” See Aardvark Alley for an excursis on this miracle and general comments about wine in Scripture.

Many churches conclude the Epiphany season with Jesus’ last great pre-suffering manifestation, His Transfiguration on the mountaintop before Peter, James, and John (see Matthew 17:1-13). One clearly important part of Epiphany is that Jesus shows Himself to be Savior not only of the Jews but also of the Gentiles.

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version™, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

Send email to Ask the Pastor.

Walter Snyder is a Lutheran pastor, conference speaker, author of the book What Do Lutherans Believe, and writer of numerous published devotions, prayers, and sermons.

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Epiphany Hymn

I posted a copy of my hymn The Wise Men Traveled from Afar at Happenings. Feel free to use in accordance with the requests listed.

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