Repenters and Believers

A Word From Our Pastor

When discussing the gift of the forgiveness of sins, I think one of the early things we need to be clear about is that this is an ongoing need throughout our lives, even as believing and confessing Christians!

When we read in 1 John 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,” this is not just referring to the time before we came to Christ. As is abundantly clear all our lives, we continue to sin, even when we have walked with the Lord for years. This does not mean that no growth takes place. Indeed it does. Or at least it better take place! But it does mean that we never quite arrive at perfection this side of the grave.

I remember early on in seminary learning about the verb tenses in the Greek language, and therefore, in the Greek New Testament. The present tense in Greek not only indicates actions taking place at the moment, but it also indicates ongoing action. There is something called the aorist tense that describes snapshot, single actions. And wouldn’t you know it, the words repent and believe often appear in the present tense. So when we are invited to repent and believe, we are invited to be ‘repenters’ and ‘believers’ the rest of our lives.

Perhaps it can be said even more simply. We need to continue to repent and receive forgiveness because we continue to sin, even though we are to wage a heroic battle against sin.

Another early consideration to take to heart is that our Lord has located where we might encounter Him and His gift of forgiveness He won on the Cross. We encounter Him, His gifts, and His promises in the gathering of believers around Word and Sacrament! He entrusted the pronouncement of His forgiveness (the absolution) by appointed ambassadors speaking on His behalf, and He works through His Church to appoint such official ambassadors.

Since You Asked…

What is a Paschal Candle?

The Paschal Candle is a massive candle, two or three inches in diameter and three or four feet in length, used during Easter to represent the presence of the risen Christ among his people. It is therefore accordingly used also at baptisms and funerals as a sign of the dying and rising with Christ that we are joined to by faith. (from “Manual on the Liturgy” companion to the LBW, from Augsburg Pub.)

The use of candles in connection with worship goes back at least to the lamp of the Lord kept lit in the tabernacle, and then later in the temple. This lamp is often pictured as multiple candles mounted on a candle stand.