Grace Notes 2024-07-03

This week we will close up our consideration of the Table of Duties as the Youth, Widows, and Everyone in General are addressed.

First, we consider the responsibilities To Youth:

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. (1 Peter 5:5-6)

Next, the duties addressed To Widows:

She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. (1 Timothy 5:5-6)

And finally, To Everyone:

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people… (1 Timothy 2:1)

Now the strength of the Table of Duties is also its weakness. They are succinct. Many more passages could be marshalled, and commentary would help. But we need to remember that Luther’s Small Catechism provides a framework. It is easily given to memorization. It is overly broad. Thankfully, we no longer have masters and slaves. There are many different forms of government and civil authorities. Widowers exist along with widows. The list goes on.

The general point is that baptized believers are not clueless in learning God’s will for our lives. It begins from the time we are children in the home, and it continues in the home, the community, and the Church. In every instance it is to fear, love, and trust God above all else; and then to love our neighbor as ourselves. And we are to turn to God’s Word for guidance.

Since You Asked…

What is the Christian’s Hope?

In a word, it is the resurrection of the body to life everlasting in the world to come. This is more accurate and complete than just saying “life after death.” It is also more helpful than saying “going to heaven.” When Jesus returns at the end of the age to judge the living and the dead, baptized believers will be raised bodily! They will share in a resurrection similar to Jesus’ resurrection. And being in his presence on that day and for all eternity is not just a matter of escaping to heaven, but living in his presence in the new heaven and earth. The Lord intends to renew and restore his creation. So our central hope is the resurrection of the dead, with believers inheriting the Kingdom.