The Lutheran church and our own congregation have been criticized for relying on Luther's Catechism too much for our beliefs. Those who criticize say that we don't focus on the Bible enough, that we follow Luther instead of God. Is this true?

This is most certainly not true. If you were to open up our Catechism, you would find nearly 1700 Bible passages. The doctrines laid out in the Catechism are there because of the Bible passages. What Luther wrote is from God's Word. It is a tool for us to use in order to learn what God has to say to each and every one of us.

It is God's Word and God's Word alone that we stand on. Nothing else. As the lesson before us says today, "Your Word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." We believe what God tells us in Scripture. We don't follow popular opinion. We don't follow our feelings. We don't even follow Luther. We follow God and His Word. It is eternal.

The message that God gives us in the Bible never changes. It doesn't evolve with time and culture. It doesn't loosen up because society wants to excuse its sins. It doesn't tighten up because some people want to earn their way to heaven. God's Word is eternal.

When we hear the passage, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect," we don't change those words to say, "Try your hardest and live a good life and God will smile on you." We also don't change the words to say that it is only figurative because God can't expect anybody to be perfect. We are to be perfect.

Likewise, God's Word tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Not one person has an excuse before God. The blame falls squarely on our shoulders no matter how hard we try to point the finger at others or shift the blame away from ourselves. We have all failed to meet the goal that God has set for us. Each of us is responsible for ourselves. We are the poor stewards of the time, talents, and treasures that God has given us. We are the ones who hold grudges against our neighbors. We are the ones who gossip and talk behind others backs. We are the ones who aren't loving each other as we should. We fall short of what God wants us to be. We are sinners.

And we warrant God's punishment for that sin. We deserve to be thrown into hell's fire for our disobedience. That is what we have earned. That is what God's Word tells us. That fact does not change no matter how badly we want it to. God's Word stands firm in the heavens.

Imagine though if God's Word stopped there. We are destined to go to hell for our sins. Imagine if the Holy Spirit fell silent from that point on. Praise be to our merciful and loving God that there is more! For God saw the condition of sinful mankind. Because He is eternal he knew what we were destined for and set forth his plan of salvation to free the world from the tyranny of sin, death, and the devil. In His almighty Word, God promised to send a Savior.

"And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." God, the Son, came to this earth and lived in absolute perfection. We couldn't do it. Jesus did it for us. The Christ, true God and true man, then sacrificed himself on the cross of Calvary. On that dark and dreadful day, it was our sin that was laid upon him. It was our guilt that he died for. Through his blood we are healed. By his death, we are forgiven. And by his resurrection from the dead we have eternal life in heaven.

Only through faith in Christ Jesus are we saved. That does not change. "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." We cannot rely on anything to save us but faith in Christ Jesus, which is given to us by the Holy Spirit, through the means of grace, God's Word and Sacraments. This simple truth of God's Word has not changed nor will it. "Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the Word of Christ."

God's Word is eternal. It stands firm in the heavens. Let us rejoice in this saving message. Let us live for Christ because we have been saved by Him. Let us continually go to that eternal word for strength and comfort.

The catechism is a device that we, as Christians, can use to learn the saving truths of the Bible. It is good to read it often. It is good to study the 6 chief parts that we are reciting in this service. If it has been a while since you picked up the Catechism, just do it. If you have never read the catechism, just do it. If you want to learn more, just ask.

Thank God that he has blessed us with his pure Word. Thank God that he has given us tools to study that Word. Thank God that he has provided faithful servants to teach His pure Word. Rejoice that God's Word is eternal. For through it we come to faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ.