John 5:24

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

God’s Word is the Scriptures – the Law and the Gospel. The Law tells a person what to do and what not to do. Through the Law he becomes conscious of his sin, that he has not kept God’s law. He “has transgressed against it when his corrupt nature, thoughts, words, and works fight against it. Therefore, he is under God’s wrath, death, and all temporal calamities, and the punishment of hell fire. The Gospel is properly a doctrine that teaches what a person should believe, so that he receives forgiveness of sins with God. In other words, it teaches that God’s Son, our Lord Christ, has taken upon Himself and borne the Law’s curse and has atoned and paid for all our sins. Through Him alone we again enter into favor with God, receive forgiveness of sins through faith and are delivered from death and all the punishments of sins, and are eternally saved” (FC SD VI. 20)

In the past – the time before Christ – God spoke to His people through the prophets. Now, the Almighty speaks to us through His Son. And His Son speaks to us through the Word, i.e. the Scriptures. These Scriptures are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
We heard on Sunday the Father say on the Mount of Transfiguration: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." Jesus said in our verse above that whoever hears His Word and believes has eternal life! God will not deal with him according to his sins. He will not be condemned. He will live, even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in Christ, will never die!

Dear friends, let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing. Encourage one another to come to hear the Word of God and receive from Him the good gifts he gives to us in His Son! Christ’s Word and His Sacraments are the center, the heart and life, of our congregation. When we hear and believe his Word and in believing hearts receive Holy Communion, we live…forever.

“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” Amen. Psalm 94:19