Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church is a member of Lutheran Church -- Canada. Located in Victoria, B.C., our worship services are Sunday mornings at 10:30am with Pastor Adam Chandler. All are welcome to join us. 

Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church

Revisiting the third trial of the man born blind, we see that the man's defense of Jesus doing God's work is good. The defense is simple but good. The Jews trying him do not like it because it is a good defense, so they remove him rather than attempting to refute it. 
 
The man born blind is not more educated than anyone else, yet he was able to talk to his peers and the Pharisees in defense of Jesus. We may not be especially equipped for a defense of the faith, but we can also witness Jesus with simple arguments. People may not accept these arguments, but it is not our work to change hearts. The Holy Spirit converts people and He does this through the Gospel. Therefore, we should preach the Gospel. To make it meaningful, we should preach our experience in the Gospel and the Gospel directed to the person to whom we are preaching. We may be rejected but if we continue in a relationship with them, the Spirit will continue to work. 
 
Other topics we touch on include: showing the Gospel in our actions (living out the hope that is within us that people might experience this hope) and cooperation in matters of faith in reception of grace (we are completely passive in reception of grace, but we cooperate in that we do not hinder or reject the grace of God).

Revisiting the third trial of the man born blind, we see that the man's defense of Jesus doing God's work is good. The defense is simple but good. The Jews trying him do not like it because it is a good defense, so they remove him rather than attempting to refute it.

The man born blind is not more educated than anyone else, yet he was able to talk to his peers and the Pharisees in defense of Jesus. We may not be especially equipped for a defense of the faith, but we can also witness Jesus with simple arguments. People may not accept these arguments, but it is not our work to change hearts. The Holy Spirit converts people and He does this through the Gospel. Therefore, we should preach the Gospel. To make it meaningful, we should preach our experience in the Gospel and the Gospel directed to the person to whom we are preaching. We may be rejected but if we continue in a relationship with them, the Spirit will continue to work.

Other topics we touch on include: showing the Gospel in ou

John study 45 (Defending Faith, Receiving Spirit; John 9:30-33)

The grammar of Hebrew reveals that this is a small passage between two larger stretches of text. The High Priest of Israel is to give a daily offering of grain, grilled into a loaf, mixed with oil, and broken up to be burned completely on the altar. It symbolizes the High Priest as coming before God as a poor beggar, offering the daily bread the Lord gives to him, and representing the entire nation of Israel as poor also. This points forward to Christ as the Great High Priest whose body is the entire Church of believers. We are all those who depend on God for our daily bread, and we recognize our need for the Lord. The offering in the Old Testament was given once a day, but Christ's offering of himself to God was once for all. We are daily receiving the blessings of Christ's sacrifice.

Leviticus 6:19-23 High Priest's Offering

Jesus uses a material element and a command to give the man born blind his sight. The promise of healing is attached to the command but the fulfilment of the healing is on account of the man's works. Hints in the Greek and the parallel text of Jesus washing the disciples' feet (John 13) suggest that, although the man is performing the act of washing, he is not the prime mover in washing. Jesus is doing something to him through the washing. Therefore, we have a physical element (clay and spit; Pool of Siloam), Jesus' promise (healing through faith), and the command of Jesus (go, be washed). This is similar to a sacrament which has a physical element, promise of forgiveness/salvation, and the command of Christ for all Christians to do. As a sacrament is not our work but God's work for us where He promises to be, the blindman is not performing a work to be healed but healing through faith.

John Study 39 (John 9:6-7 Sacramental Theology)

God turns to Job's friends and tells them to offer a sacrifice for their sins with Job as their intercessor. Unlike Job who was looking at the facts of the world and desiring to come before God to speak, the friends were basing their words on a worldly philosophy. They took faith out of the relationship with God and focused on your works. But faith is about receiving God's own life through Christ, therefore we cannot focus on our works without understanding they must flow from God first. We should not focus on the works but on God first. Job had always been looking to God, so he can act as a priest here. He "saw" God in the whirlwind, is part of humanity, and conveys forgiveness to the friends with the blood of beasts. This makes Job a Christ figure, but Christ is God, he is man, and he forgives through his own blood.

Job 42:7-9 Intercession in Faith

The concepts of death and life are interwoven in this chapter. A person guilty of sin must bring an animal to be slaughtered (in their place instead of dying in their sin) which must be offered in faith. The blood contains life and life belongs to God so priests must handle it and use it to cleanse the altar of sacrifice for use. The body of the animal is burned on the altar as a "pleasing aroma" where the smoke is representative of the person's penance and release from paying their own sins. This points towards Jesus. Jesus was the one slaughtered for our sins so we need not die unforgiven. His blood cleanses us from death to give everlasting life, something the blood of beasts could never do.

Leviticus 1:3-17 Burnt Offering Devotion

There have been many suggestions for what Behemoth could be over the centuries and it depends on how figurative the passage can be read. Since some of the descriptions suggest themselves as somewhat more literal, the most figurative suggestions (demon, concept of strength, pagan god, myth) should not be taken. A real life animal (elephant, hippo, dinosaur), possibly one we have not discovered fossils for (cryptid), seems to be a better reading. 
 
Whatever the behemoth might be, God's point is that it is a powerful creature and beyond humanity's ability to control. Yet, it still depends on God for nourishment and must humble itself before God. Job was made by God like the behemoth so Job, however important he may be in the order of creation, is dependent on God and should humble himself. The Lord has not forsaken Job (or us in our troubles) but will continue to care for us and deliver us from evil.

There have been many suggestions for what Behemoth could be over the centuries and it depends on how figurative the passage can be read. Since some of the descriptions suggest themselves as somewhat more literal, the most figurative suggestions (demon, concept of strength, pagan god, myth) should not be taken. A real life animal (elephant, hippo, dinosaur), possibly one we have not discovered fossils for (cryptid), seems to be a better reading. 

Whatever the behemoth might be, God's point is that it is a powerful creature and beyond humanity's ability to control. Yet, it still depends on God for nourishment and must humble itself before God. Job was made by God like the behemoth so Job, however important he may be in the order of creation, is dependent on God and should humble himself. The Lord has not forsaken Job (or us in our troubles) but will continue to care for us and deliver us from evil.

Job 41:15-24 The Behemoth and Job

God finishes off His first speech by talking about the hawk and eagle which are designed to fly, see at great distances, and live off carrion from battles (cleaning things up). We find that the whole universe is designed with a purpose, and everything in the universe (and in our bodies) is designed. When things seem chaotic, we know this is not from God. God is still at work within His creation, especially at work in history through our salvation in Christ, to sustain us. 
 
A universe which can support life has almost no chance of arising by chance. People try to explain this by saying if there are an infinite amount of universes, then ours would logically exist. But we have no evidence for any universe aside from our own and that still doesn't explain why everything seems to support everything else within it. Intelligent design by God is more feasible. 
 
Organisms within the universe (living beings) are said to be explained by chance mutations in evolution. But we have no evidence of evolution producing any complex organism. We do have tons of evidence of creatures losing genetic information in beneficial mutations, but almost no evidence of gaining genetic information necessary for creating entirely new creatures. All organisms seem to vary within their genus or species, nothing more complex than that.

God finishes off His first speech by talking about the hawk and eagle which are designed to fly, see at great distances, and live off carrion from battles (cleaning things up). We find that the whole universe is designed with a purpose, and everything in the universe (and in our bodies) is designed. When things seem chaotic, we know this is not from God. God is still at work within His creation, especially at work in history through our salvation in Christ, to sustain us.

A universe which can support life has almost no chance of arising by chance. People try to explain this by saying if there are an infinite amount of universes, then ours would logically exist. But we have no evidence for any universe aside from our own and that still doesn't explain why everything seems to support everything else within it. Intelligent design by God is more feasible.

Organisms within the universe (living beings) are said to be explained by chance mutations in evolution. But we have no evidence of ev

Job 39:26-30 The Teleological Argument

God continues His speech with the war horse. The horse is designed with strength and beauty, but God truly delights in how these things are used. God delights in us, giving us salvation in Christ so we may be His, and He also delights in how we live in the salvation of Christ. There is to be no sin in the creation, so God cleanses sin through sacrifices, through lawful judgments, and occasionally through war. Horses, historically, were used for war to bring about God's justice. We are not to want harm and evil to befall our enemies but that they stop their wickedness and repent. Even now, we are supposed to seek this purpose when in war.

Job 39:19-25 God's Desire in the War Horse and War

This section deals with the ox and the ostrich. Although Job has used many oxen, the wild ox is not his unquestioning servant. It has its own will. Job may care for it but the true master and provider is God, who cares for the creature out in the wild. The ostrich might seem to be ill-designed because its eggs cannot be placed out of harm's way like other birds, but God has endowed the ostrich with the means to defend itself and escape. While we may have vulnerabilities and limitations, God still provides for us like the rest of His creatures. He even goes beyond this by coming in the person of Jesus who made himself vulnerable that we may have salvation. We may point out weaknesses or needs God leaves us with, but He will never take away our salvation in Christ received through faith.

Job 39:9-18 Dominion, Independence, and Design

The Lord speaks to Job about the wild donkey who lives and thrives in a desert far from human beings. This seems rather out of place until we realize God is saying that He takes care of His creatures in all situations, no matter how desolate. It is a comfort for Job to know God still looks after him in his present condition. 
 
There is another theme present, though, which is God delighting in His creation as it exists independently of humans. All things were not created for human delight but for God to delight in them. There is value in animals, plants, and inanimate objects aside from humans will attribute to them. Even Adam and Eve were to take care of animals and plants in Eden at the beginning. Our original vocation is to take care of the creation. Therefore, we should care for animals, plants, and the environment not just for our benefit but for the benefit of everything else in creation.

The Lord speaks to Job about the wild donkey who lives and thrives in a desert far from human beings. This seems rather out of place until we realize God is saying that He takes care of His creatures in all situations, no matter how desolate. It is a comfort for Job to know God still looks after him in his present condition.

There is another theme present, though, which is God delighting in His creation as it exists independently of humans. All things were not created for human delight but for God to delight in them. There is value in animals, plants, and inanimate objects aside from humans will attribute to them. Even Adam and Eve were to take care of animals and plants in Eden at the beginning. Our original vocation is to take care of the creation. Therefore, we should care for animals, plants, and the environment not just for our benefit but for the benefit of everything else in creation.

Job 39:5-8 Vocation to the Creation

The Lord shifts from speaking about inanimate objects like the sea and land to animals living in creation. He regularly provides for them by giving food and allowing them to give birth. He does this to facilitate life. Even meat-eating animals (affected by sin by causing death to further their lives) are sustained by God. Animals will even be found on the new earth at the end of the age. And how much more valuable are humans who bear the Image of God? Although we may face trouble in this world, God still sustains our lives through His creation and He provides eternal life through Jesus. If God cares for animals, He cares for you more.

Job 38:39-39:4 God Caring within the Creation

God declares that He has made all things, the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. The whole of creation "sings" in harmony praising God by reflecting His blessings. Therefore, we should be able to demonstrate God exists from looking at the universe (which St Paul claims in Romans 1:20). 
 
Everything in this universe can be said to have a preceding cause. Books don't just happen, and neither do natural objects like rocks. They need to have a cause behind them, and causes behind those causes. We find that, looking at everything, there is a necessary cause of the universe. A naturalist explanation would have to posit a universe that operates apart from the natural laws of our universe (and we who are defined by this universe will therefore not be able to experience those other laws) without proof, meanwhile a Christian can claim a divine cause to the universe while pointing at a documented history of the Divinity at work within the universe in the Bible. There is more evidence for the God of the Bible and our salvation in Christ than a godless cause for our universe.

God declares that He has made all things, the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. The whole of creation "sings" in harmony praising God by reflecting His blessings. Therefore, we should be able to demonstrate God exists from looking at the universe (which St Paul claims in Romans 1:20).

Everything in this universe can be said to have a preceding cause. Books don't just happen, and neither do natural objects like rocks. They need to have a cause behind them, and causes behind those causes. We find that, looking at everything, there is a necessary cause of the universe. A naturalist explanation would have to posit a universe that operates apart from the natural laws of our universe (and we who are defined by this universe will therefore not be able to experience those other laws) without proof, meanwhile a Christian can claim a divine cause to the universe while pointing at a documented history of the Divinity at work within the universe in the Bible. There is more evidence f

Job 38:31-38 Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God

There are many places in scripture which show God using aspects of the creation for His purposes. Ps 104 also talks about God clothing Himself with the creation. A personal clothing with the creation is when God as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ. He also uses physical means to give us grace (Word and Sacrament). Elihu's description of God's providential mercy and judgment through storms shows how God can act toward us, but does not show us the Gospel. For this, we rely on where God promises to us He offers life and salvation: His Word and Sacrament.

Job 36:27-37:12 God Working through the Creation

This is a transition into a new part of Elihu's argument. Elihu has admitted Job is suffering like a sinner while not accusing Job of sin. We are in the same boat in that we suffer in this world despite being completely forgiven by Christ. Therefore, Elihu points to faith/trust in God because He still works within creation. He daily moves all things in the creation and He has worked miracles. The greatest miracle of all is the salvation of the world through the death of Jesus. In Jesus, we know that the evils of this world will one day be destroyed and we will enter paradise.

Job 36:22-28 Looking to Salvation

Elihu spent some time when he first began speaking to Job to establish himself as someone Job can relate to. By claiming to be perfect in knowledge, it sounds like Elihu is trying to elevate himself over Job like the friends did when they dismissed Job's speeches. Any counseling and consoling must be from a position of care, so this is confusing. But what Elihu is really trying to say is that his knowledge is like Job's knowledge, without falsehood but not infinite. Job already knows the things of God, and now he must trust that God has already made Job perfect through faith and will deliver Job from hardship.

Job 36:1-4 Perfect Knowledge?

Elihu declares that Job's words have been empty since he lacks the knowledge he seeks: why he is suffering and why be righteous if you are going to suffer anyway? No one can obtain knowledge that is hidden by God, therefore, rather than get bogged down in trying to make ourselves worthy of God's grace, through faith we will receive God's grace and comfort. It is God's action for us, and He promises to be with us in the creation. Our righteousness is not a means to an end, but an outgrowth of the righteousness Christ gives to us. We should redirect our words away from empty speculations to praying to God in faith.

Job 35:8-16 Redirecting Empty Words

Elihu is closing his argument on God being unable to be judged with a hypothetical. A man says that he has suffered greatly without a known cause, and asks what must change for this to stop. Of course, this mirrors Job's situation. Elihu is raising the point that we don't know exactly why God does everything so rather than relying on sinful human beings to set the terms for justice, we should rely on God who is Himself justice and knows all things. At the end, Elihu quotes the friends who outright condemn Job as sinful but do so also because they do not know the specifics and try to justify judgment on their terms, not God's.

Job 34:31-37 On Whose Terms?

Elihu wraps up his hypothetical example of God saving a man from death through a mediator. This pictures Christ in how the mediator speaks to both God and man while offering a sufficient ransom (himself) for sinners. Salvation in Christ is continually offered to us through God's Word and Sacraments but Elihu says God only saves us twice or thrice. Well, Christ was offered only once for all and every time we find salvation secured in repeated participation in Word and Sacrament, we go back to the same sacrificial act of Christ. The point is that there are a limited times God makes great moves toward our salvation (e.g. conversion) but we participate in these same things every time we receive salvation.

Job 33:27-33 Constantly Justified

Elihu presents a second way God can talk to man: through disease and hardship. We do see this a lot in the Old Testament but the point of it all is to direct us toward the source of salvation, God. God blesses us with many things in this world (despite our sin) and He can restore us to a perfection of the paradise to come. In order to receive this, Elihu proposes a mediator between God and man to speak to both and be able to offer up a ransom worth a person's life. The fulfilment of this we find in Jesus Christ who is God and man, and therefore able to relate to both, and offers his life on the cross as a ransom for us. In him, we have the promise of the paradise to come free from evil.

Job 33:19-28 Mediator of Paradise

Elihu begins his actual arguments by paraphrasing what Job has said. He wants to be accurate in order to help Job, not just assume Job's thoughts like the friends. Elihu does get things correct, understanding Job is feeling persecuted by God unjustly, but thinks Job is wrong in thinking God does not answer us in our hardships. The question, "O God, why is this happening to me?" is common and we may not perceive an answer but God does give us answers through His Law and Gospel. One instance of the Law that Elihu gives is showing a prideful sinner the dangers of death and hell so they turn away from their sin and look to God.

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