July 23

I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Romans 8:38. 39.

We must be sure that we shall enter into eternal life. We cannot live on probabilities. In order that we may live without fear and die in peace, our faith must be a certainty, or it is nothing. We therefore say: "I believe that God will give unto me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true." Ours is a certain hope. And why can we be so sure of this? Because according to the Scriptures we are firmly to believe that, as God has in time called us by the Gospel, enlightened, sanctified, and kept us in the true faith, even so He has from eternity chosen us unto the adoption of children and unto life everlasting, and no man shall pluck us out of His hand.

Did God not love us when He gave His Son for the world? Did He not mean you and me when He commanded the Gospel to be preached to every creature? Did He not kindle the light of faith in our hearts through the means of grace, the Word and the Sacraments? This is briefly what God has wrought in us. He has called us by the Gospel, enlightened and sanctified us, and kept us in the true faith.

And now listen! What God thus has done to us in time He had planned to do already from eternity. Ephesians 1:4: "He hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world." 2 Timothy 1:9: "God hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

2 Thessalonians 2:13: "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." Acts 13:48: "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed." Be glad then, O ye believers in Christ, because your names are written in the book of life.

Prayer.

Almighty, everlasting God, who without any merit on our part, according to Thy abundant mercy, hast made us to be Thy children by faith in Thy dear Son, having begotten us again unto a lively hope, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us: let us never depart from the way that leadeth to eternal peace and joy. Sanctify us wholly and confirm us unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, having overcome all in faith, patience, and hope, we may in Thy presence be crowned with everlasting joy; for the sake of Thy Son, our blessed Redeemer, in whom Thou hast chosen us before the foundation of the world. Amen.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!