"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours" the song says and indeed this glorious passage says the same. Easter sealed the deal. 

Palm Sunday

Freedom from the power of the law

Desiring God 

Our new reality as beievers has an enemy. We win when we yeilfd to our higher desires.

Alive to God

Yes, grace covers all sin no matter how big, and yes, that same grace frees me to love and serve God.

There are two men in the story of history, two camps, two destinies. Our man is Jesus.

There is no deeper pastoral concern that people have than “Am I at peace with God?” God has made peace with us, his enemies, yay!  Big word of the day: reconciliation.

How does the just God justify (make right) with the unjust sinner? Luther  rightly said: "This is the doctrine by which the church stands or falls." 

The law is designed to shut our mouths and drain us of any self-righteousness.  This is the last section of the law where God finally convinces us that none of us can stand before Him.  

Jew and Gentile alike are under the same scrutiny. And religion don't matter at all, if the religion is not in your heart.

We need the Good News because of the reality of life. All of nature and in particular us people have fallen and have turned on the design and the designer.  For that we need Good News.

It is good for us to be recommissioned. Personally, we are give away what has been given to us. 20 years ago also, out of a storm, God commissioned us in a particular way.

Life is suffering. From sickness to sin, we all suffer. This calling, the call to suffer, is one of the great ways we connect with Jesus.

Jesus calls back His birth to remind His people that He is indeed a King and more importantly for us, what kind of a King He is.

If you told a rich guy he was getting a nice expensive gift he'd smile and be thankful, but if you told someone who was poor who could never imagine themselves getting such a gift...

Jesus means God Saves. Even today painted under bridges everwhere is the joyful message: Jesus Saves