Does the Lord really want to tear us down so He can build us back up again? Does He want to injure us so that He can come mend our wounds?
Yes, but God does not desire to damage or destroy us because He hates us. God tears us to pieces to save us from hell. He cares for us that much.
How can a righteous God have anything to do with an unrighteous people? The answer is simple. He must destroy the part of us that is unrighteous. And the part of us that is unrighteous is all of us. We do not have a problem with sin. Everything we do is sin! Our heavenly Father must first soften our hardened hearts with the hammer of the Law before He can place in us the pure, sweet Gospel.
We have no need for the Gospel without first hearing the Law. Why would we need a Savior if we don’t need to be saved? The purpose of the Law is to drive us to the one solution to our sin – Christ crucified.
In Luther’s day, the Baptism rite contained an exorcism. By the water and the Word, God cast out the evil spirits within and replaced them with the Holy Spirit. Evil was destroyed. Holiness was granted.
Through Word and Sacrament we are constantly reminded of God’s righteousness freely given through Christ. We are baptized through Water and the Word. He tears us down and then builds us back up again. We confess our sins and are absolved. We partake in the Lord’s Supper. Our sinful lives are bound up with Christ’s burial garments.
We are healed by our Lord’s injuries. His Son is God’s answer to the sin of His people. God destroys us and then makes us alive with His Words.
“Your hand, O Lord, in days of old, was strong to heal and save; It triumphed over ills and death, all darkness and the grave. To you they came, the blind, the dumb, the palsied, and the lame, The lepers in their misery, The sick with fevered frame. Your touch, then, Lord, brought life and health, grave speech and strength and sight; And youth renewed and frenzy calmed revealed You, Lord of light. And now, O Lord, be near to bless, Almighty as before, In crowded street, by beds of pain, as by Gennesret’s shore.” (LW #399)
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11b
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