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Ministry Word and Sacraments

This is a word for word excerpt on Pastor Rhode's teaching on the Last Judgement at [38:41] from this audio file. He states: "If God did not become incarnate in Christ, there would be no mercy. There would just be a judgement. God the Father has life in Him, but that life isn't for transgressors. In the day you transgress, you shall surely die. That is, you are cut off from the One who is life. You die. So the entire incarnation is couched here as purest gospel. That He becomes man, receives life from the Father within Himself. And then, as the Son of Man is given judgement over the world. What's the gospel there? The gospel point is that He who is man has life now to give to men. There is salvation in Him, whereas if there was no incarnation, there would be no hope of salvation. There would be no judgement of men by a Man, and there would be no life for men had life not been given to Christ, the man. ---- The reflection would be that had the incarnation and of course, by extension, the cross not happened, there would just be the judgement and no life."

In this session, Pastor Rhode finishes the section on Prayer. Questions discussed are: Should we pray to the Saints? Are priests to marry? How are we to view the gift of celibacy?

True prayer is not restricted by time or place, but is accessible to all believers in Christ. While designated times and places can aid in fostering discipline and consistency in prayer, they are not prerequisites for acceptable prayer. There is a distinction between genuine Christian prayer and the practices of heathens and Papists. Heathens and infidels pray to false gods or unknown deities, while Papists introduce mediation through saints and rely on rituals and merit-based prayers, which deviate from true Christian piety. Sincere prayer is rooted in faith in Christ, where believers approach God in faith, seeking His grace and mercy. This understanding aligns with the teachings of the New Testament, emphasizing the centrality of Christ in prayer and the importance of a genuine relationship with God. Pastor answers a question at [26:15] regarding the meaning of the term "ex opere operato". This is followed by a discussion of the question at [29:30], "Should one pray to saint who have died"?

Key points in this teaching regarding prayer are:
1. Command from God: Prayer is not just a spiritual exercise but a command from God. Neglecting prayer is considered a sin.
2. Response to Life's Trials: Prayer is a response to recognizing our inability to handle life's trials and burdens on our own.
3. Common to All Believers: Prayer is common to all members of Christ, signifying a connection to God as their Father.
4. Training for Piety: Prayer serves as training for all piety, nourishing and preserving spiritual gifts like repentance, faith, patience, comfort, and hope. Persistent prayer increases these gifts, while ceasing prayer leads to their gradual diminishment.
5. Benefits of Devout Prayer: Devout prayer has boundless benefits and abundant fruits. It is approached with intentionality and often involves bodily expressions like kneeling, folding hands, bowing the head, and closing the eyes.
6. Trinitarian Involvement: God the Father embraces believers with love in Christ, making it pleasing and acceptable to approach Him in prayer. Christ acts as the mediator, interceding for believers before the Father, while the Holy Spirit kindles zeal for prayer and intercedes for believers.
7. Defense Against Temptation: Neglecting prayer opens the door to various temptations. Regular prayer serves as a spiritual defense against sin and temptation.
8. Encouragement to Persevere: Despite challenges or feelings of unworthiness, believers are encouraged to pray without ceasing, relying on God's promises and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Overall, prayer is portrayed as a vital aspect of the Christian life, essential for spiritual growth, communion with God, and defense against temptation.

This teaching emphasizes the centrality of prayer in the Christian life, mentioning the benefits of praying aloud. Various forms of prayer are given in some detail. Sincere, repentant, and faithful prayers are contrasted with wordy and eloquent prayers. Praying to God the Father, through the Son, is compared to praying directly to either the Son or to the Holy Spirit. Persevering in prayer, despite our limitations and weaknesses, is a significant takeaway.