The following sermon was preached by my grandfather, who was a pastor, seminary professor and president of Concordia Theological Seminary. He died on…

With the eyes of faith and the Word of God we are given this morning to see what the apostle sees.  Like Moses standing atop Mt. Nebo we gaze in one direction and we see mighty Israel gathered for war.  12,000 from each tribe.  144,000 from the 12 tribes; Christ’s mighty Church symbolically portrayed as an army arrayed for battle, the Church militant.  Clothed with the whole armor of God they wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12 ESV).   Theirs is a righteous battle, a just war, a good fight for whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,  (Phi 4:8 ESV).

Four hundred ninety nine years ago when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church doors in Wittenberg he wasn’t just making a statement.  He wasn’t just stating an opinion or putting forth some pious idea about how things should be in the church.  No!  Luther was making an assertion the first of which read, “when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, ‘repent’ He willed that the whole life of the Christian be one of repentance.”   He was following the Savior’s pattern.  For when Jesus said, “If you abide in my Word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”  Jesus made an assertion.  That’s what truth does. That’s what truth is.  Truth is an assertion of reality in the face of its denial.  Jesus was asserting the truth of His Word and the power of the gospel to set captives free and He was asserting that truth in the face of those who would justify themselves.