A note from Pastor regarding his sermon:

Most Christian denominations join with us in waiting with anticipation for the return of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We often pray, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.” But sometimes, we emphasize the glory of Jesus’ return in a way that completely obscures what Jesus has come to save us from. Some imagine that He will return to bring all people into His new creation, and that there is therefore nothing at all to fear for believers and non-believers alike. Others have tried to live a life of good works in this world, expecting that their mostly faithful (or occasionally faithful) life will demonstrate their worthiness to be allowed into everlasting paradise.

But in our familiar Lutheran terminology, these expectations are examples of Gospel without the Law. The prophet Amos reminds us this week of the seriousness of God’s judgment, and the terror it should strike in the hearts of people who have abandoned and ignored God, or who have come to trust in their own judgment or righteousness to satisfy God’s expectations. God demands righteousness, and God will bring justice to this world. This should frighten us… but God is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. And when we pay attention to the Law as Amos describes it, we can come to properly understand and appreciate the Gospel that God also sends to us!