Peace Lutheran Church Rio Rancho New Mexico

“Justification occurs in heaven. A poor person, mourning over his sins, often does not know he has already been justified. He may continue to cry tears of repentance on earth while in heaven all the angels are already rejoicing over him. However, justification does not remain without effect on a person. Its first fruit is that such an individual is born again. He receives a new heart and a new mind that no longer loves sin but instead loves God and His Word. He now wishes to live a godly life.” [CFW Walther]

“When (the Christian) performs his earthly business, he does so with a mind directed toward God. He can no longer be indifferent as evil thoughts go through his mind. If they arise, he sighs and prays against them. He is hostile toward every sin. If, out of rashness and weakness, he falls into sin, he does not persist in it. Instead, he is ashamed. He confesses his sin to God and prays for forgiveness. He lets his fall serve as a warning, and he becomes more humble and watchful over himself.” [CFW Walther]

“In justification, as that person is declared by the heavenly Father to be His child for the sake of Christ's atonement, the Holy Spirit begins the work of sanctification in his heart. It may begin very slowly, but the transformation is real. The person who is justified becomes a completely different person. He begins to live for Jesus instead of for himself. Concern for the salvation of his soul busies his heart endlessly.” [CFW Walther]

"These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word." [Isaiah 66:2 NIV]

Interesting... although unnecessary. "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" [John 17:17] "[If other scholars accept the discovery], then this will likely be acknowledged as the first contemporary proof of the Biblical figure of Moses."

The Ancient Alphabet That Might Prove the Biblical Exodus - GreekReporter.com Recent readings on inscriptions written in an ancient alphabet, the Proto-Sinaitic Script, may well provide proof of the Biblical Exodus.

All of Scripture is a relentless record of humankind's sins and flaws against God and man. Even his own people's sins and flaws. Do you still have any doubts that we are saved alone by God's grace in Christ Jesus through faith? [cf. Ephesians 2:8-10]

The “Visual Commentary on Scripture” is an online resource from King’s College London which combines theology, art history and Biblical scholarship to pair artwork from all across the stylistic and historical map with scripture.

religionunplugged.com

Let's not forget the importance of Christian art and stained-glass windows for the very young and illiterate! The disciples were not uneducated or illiterate (by most standards), "Given... the fact that Hebrew boys were required to memorize the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament) before the age of twelve."

What Was the Importance of Biblical Creeds to the Early Church? | TheCollector In an empire where literacy was low, the Christian Church formed statements of faith, called creeds, for easy memorization.

"A report from Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List revealed more Christians have been killed in Nigeria than in any other country in the last year. 72% of Christians killed last year were Nigerians." "[Stand] firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings" [1 Peter 5:9].

Christian Pastor Issues Defiant Statement After Islamic Militants Kill His Family Nigerian Christian Pastor Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo isn’t afraid after the Islamic Fulani militia killed nine of his family members and sent him a letter saying he’s next. “A few days ago, Fulani herdsmen sent a threatening letter to me and to members of my church … Its message was terrifying. Th...

Another reason to be thankful for our freedoms... and to pray for Christians around the globe! "Pastor Jin became a target of Chinese authorities not because he advocated for political revolution, but because he led one of the largest and most influential Protestant 'house church' movements in China. Jin insisted that his movement answer to Christ, not the government."

Family of Pastor Ezra Jin calls his release from Chinese prison ‘miracle’ In a statement, Jin’s family thanked Trump and recognized that Xi’s direct intervention was fundamental in his release.

"This is how people should do science... I mean, it's the job of theoretical physicists to explore everything that's possible, to get all the possibilities on the table." Indeed, "Everything that's possible" will no doubt include Colossians 1:15-17: "The Son is the image of the invisible God... For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

A Dark Dimension Could Link Two of the Universe’s Great Unknowns | Quanta Magazine Recent observations suggest that dark energy is changing over time. Theorists wonder if dark matter is, too.