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“If this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it.”

᛭ INI ᛭

Alleluia! ΙΗϹ Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Paul’s teacher Gamaliel spoke true and faithfully. He spoke according to his office and not according to his faith. He did not believe his own words. He’s an agnostic toward Peter’s preaching. This is, of course, before his prized student Saul, later known as Paul, followed after ΙΗϹ, the Christ.

Christ is no Theudas. He’ no Judas of Galilee who rose up in the days of the census. Both of their movements died with them. He’s no MLK or Ghandi or Lincoln or Kirk. Whose legacies live on or may not live on—only the crucible of time will tell. No, for all those men were slain, but only Christ was slain and is slain no more! As Peter preached, “The God of our fathers raised up ΙΗϹ whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

Christ’s forgiveness comes to you. Comes to you in the one place that will endure forever—in “the holy, Christian Church.” For Christ the King live and so His Kingdom, His Church endures. Christ is no Constantine whose Constantinople is now Istanbul. No, Christ’s kingdom, “holy Christendom,” (LC II) is not some place or nationstate, but the place where Christ dwells, where He is confessed as God and Lord, His Word is preached, and His Sacraments are administered. For Christ has built “[His] church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16) Here repentance is given, forgiveness is given—even to you. For here men bear His authority (Mt 9): “If you forgive anyone His sins they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them they are not forgiven.” (Jn 20)

“One holy Church is to remain forever.” (AC VII) Not because her members are anything but because Christ her Head has been exalted to the right hand of God, far above all earthly power and authority, and ever name that is named, that at the name of ΙΗϹ every knee should ow. He is Prince and Savior of His Bride, the Church, wher “the Gospel is taught and the Sacraments are administered.” (AC VII) “Through [these], as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given. He works faith, when and where it pleases God, in those who hear” (AC V), that you’re forgiven for Christ’s sake alone.

Christ has done all this for your good, even as He has done it for through the past two millennia! No one can get Christ back into the tomb, so no one can kill the Church either. Oh, you may suffer at their hand like Peter and the Apostles did. Be bold in the face of it. No need to fear. He’ll just raise you from the dead, even as He is risen from the dead. What to say? It won’t be you. Whatever you will speak will be given to you in that hour: “for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” But give Him some of His own Word to work with—put it in your noggin and heart! The Spirit first yours in Holy Baptism, and indeed, “the heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” (Lk 11)

“If this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it.” Gamaliel didn’t believe it of Christ, but it is true of Christ. “His kingdom shall be from sea to sea.” (Zech 9) He shall speak peace to the nation.” (Zech 9) “Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come, and let’s go up to the mountain of the LORD…He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4) The Bible you read, you sitting here are proof of it.

Peter and the Apostles kept preaching ΙΗϹ as the Christ. Christ’s name endures. It endures not only because He’s preached but because He endures—risen from the dead! So, His Word endures forever. His baptism endures. You’re baptized now and forever. Christ’s name yours is now and forever!

Gamaliel’s name barely endures. His grandson Gamaliel II had curses composed against those who celebrate the Sacrament, but it’s come to no avail! Christ’s body and blood still endure, endure for you. That you would receive forgiveness of sins. That you would remain in Christ and Christ in you. That you would receive the medicine of eternal life, to live forever in Christ ΙΗϹ.

So it’s “meet, right, and salutary” for us to give thanks to the Father in these supposedly accursed words: “As grain once scattered on the hillsides was in the broken bread made one, So from all lands the Church be gathered Into Thy Kingdom by Thy Son.” (LSB 652)

Even so, come soon Lord ΙΗϹ.

Alleluia! ΙΗϹ Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

᛭ INI ᛭