Talks with Dad Rod

28/10/2024

16/10/2024

As we gather 1517's Here We Still Stand conference this week, and Dad can not join us for the first time, I hope you will consider enjoying some of his work from years past. Dad worked hard his whole life long, and I'm so glad he can now rest in glory with so many of his favorite people. Such is another great gift of Christ, Who is He that shepherds us through the valley of the shadow of death. For Jesus does so to bring us to His great party. What great rest there is in Him!

Dr. Rod Rosenbladt teaches on the book by Martin Chemnitz "The Two Natures in Christ" at the Faith Lutheran Church "Adult Bible Study Hour" Lesson # 1

26/09/2024

From the Lutheran Treasury of Daily Prayer

24/09/2024

Did you ever listen to Dad on The White Horse Inn radio program? Did you notice when the subject came up about sanctification or ‘the Christian life’, he would get more quiet? He wasn’t interested in it. I’m thinking about that today, as I see repeated posts across social media that have to do with ‘good works’ and things we need to do as Christian believers, usually with a sense of “You better, or else!”, as though you are already a failure and a slackard and need to repent and quit it. (And of course, I AM a failure and a slackard even AS I DO the works. Those things are not mutually exclusive.)

When God tells us:
“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10..can we?

Try being still and ONLY trusting in Him. (Of course, not cynically ‘testing the Lord our God’ and seeing if He’ll send Door Dash with food if I don’t open the app and place the order myself. Such testing is of the devil.)

Dad wrote this a while back (purely a rhetorical device, NOT intended to be a replacement for Scripture at all!), and I think more and more about how that image Dad sculpted is what we sinners have inside. When we are driven by “I have to DO SOMETHING!”, we get in the weeds and often are paradoxically failing to help our neighbors.

https://www.1517.org/articles/gift-an-imaginary-dialogue-on-the-gift-of-grace

What if, when I am appropriately focused on Christ and His sufficient work to save me, chief of sinners, I do end up doing MORE and BETTER good works for my neighbor, rather than when I’m focused on the idol of, “I need to make sure I do my good works today, or else!”?

What if we took time to stop, breathe, and do nothing but know that God is God? Imagine just taking that moment. Be still and consider Jesus Christ and His perfect shed blood FOR YOU. Because Jesus Christ is sufficient to save you, and is sufficient for you. Our internal Old Adams and Old Eves have a real hard time with that one.

Sinner: I see. I see for the first time. It’s clear to me. You died for me and for my sin. You took my verdict. God: I did.

20/09/2024

“Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:5-7

He loves YOU so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for YOUR sins, and rise on the third day for YOUR justification, by name. He is FOR YOU. Rest and know that He did all the perfect work necessary for you to be safe with Him forever.

18/09/2024

Seeing this great corporate confession and absolution in writing always makes me think of Dad railing against adverbs as the enemy of the Gospel. What if it were worded like this: "But I am somewhat sorry for them and barely repent of them...", looking at it from the perspective of a child who only says "sorry" after being caught, but mostly out of obligation, heavily mixed with frustration for having been caught at all, and with a spirit of, "And I would've gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for you meddling kids!!" (Scooby Doo)

“It was the great Norman Nagel, the great BLESSED Norman Nagel, who talked about adverbs being the great enemy of the Gospel. ‘I deeply repent’ and ‘I’m heartily sorry’... Bah! I repent in a half-assed way at best, and I’m sorry sorta... but it’s really split up and corroded. That’s all we can do! Even our confession sucks! And the gracious God in Jesus Christ says ‘Be of good cheer, my son, your sins are forgiven! Peace be unto you!’ And all of it based on Christ, not us.”
– Rod Rosenbladt

17/09/2024

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

Too many Christians are taught, even by implication, that at some point in their lives, they will improve and overcome their sinful condition (much of which is inherited), and this passage will no longer apply to him or her.

The Gospel is for Christian believers, too.

“Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”” – Mark 9:24

12/09/2024

“To a conscience acknowledging sin and confounded by the law, the Gospel reveals Christ. It’s a promise of grace. Or the forgiveness of sins, through Christ’s substitutionary death for me and for my sin. The Gospel is defined in one of our confessions as such a doctrine as teaches what man who has not observed the law, and therefore is condemned by the law, is to believe. The content? That Christ has expiated and made satisfaction for all sins, and has obtained and acquired for this law-breaker and all others, without any merit of his or theirs, forgiveness of sins, righteousness that avails before the holy God, and eternal life. The law demands perfect obedience of us in every way—thought, word, and deed—condemns all who are disobedient, the Gospel demands absolutely nothing. It freely offers to all sinners grace, life, and salvation for Christ’s sake.

I have to tell my students here, “For Christ’s sake”... is a really pregnant Biblical phrase. What it means is the basis of our being able to be given, for free, eternal life is for the sake of what Christ did. It is a very important phrase.

The Gospel is everything that offers grace, peace, and salvation to the sinner. When the law always judges, condemns, and reproves, the Gospel in its proper sense never judges, never condemns, never reproves. Note to self: any Christian group which believes that the law and the Gospel are really the same thing is a place where the Gospel has been lost and is gone.”

– Rod Rosenbladt, “Where in the Church is the Gospel?”

09/09/2024

HT: Steve Parks Thanks so much, Steve.

30/08/2024

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

The Lord Jesus Christ strengthens through His Gospel and His peace. His perfect voice removes all the other noise and lets us be free in Him. He lifts us up and uses us to help others. And we never need worry about our sinful flesh implicitly overcoming His cross and death and resurrection, for such is not possible. Nor do we need to fear the time He calls us home, when only He knows the work He does through us is finished.

Jesus brings us so much peace, and makes us so safe with Him, we sinners simply can’t believe it. It MUST be too good to be true. But, just as it is true that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, it is true that YOU ARE safe with Him. His word will not be overcome and He is FOR YOU. Period.

Breathe. Jesus Christ is sufficient to rescue and strengthen and uphold you, my fellow sinners.

29/08/2024

Sinners produce far more voluminous AND quality works for their neighbors in liberty than they do under tyranny

29/08/2024

“He was pierced for our offenses,
He was crushed for our wrongdoings;
The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.
All of us, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all
To fall on Him.” – Isaiah 53:5-6

Those sins you committed today, even as a believer? Yesterday? Last weekend? Last month? Throughout your whole life? What about the sins you will commit tomorrow? He drew ALL of them to Himself, as though He Himself committed those sins of yours.

Believe in Jesus Christ and be at rest. For He so loves YOU that He came to die and rise from the grave FOR YOU, by name, that you would have eternal life with Him.

“He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you”
– 2 Cor 12:9

26/08/2024

“And the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.”
– Deut 31:8-9

“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one is going to take your joy away from you.”
– John 16:22

“Come to me, all who are weary and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
– Matthew 11:28

“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor afraid.”
– John 14:27

“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?”
– Psalm 27:1

“Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will also help you,
I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
– Isaiah 41:10

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you”
– Isaiah 43:1-2

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
To all who call on Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry for help and save them.”
– Psalm 145:18-19

“Are two sparrows not sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.”
– Matthew 10:29-31

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
– 2 Cor 4:16-18

“...casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
– 1 Peter 5:7

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
– Deut 31:6

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
– Joshua 1:9

“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”
– Psalm 31:24

“he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?””
– Hebrews 13:5-6

“You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.”
– Psalm 32:7

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 8:38-39

“I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.”
– Psalm 116:1-2

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
– Romans 15:13

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
– Psalm 46:10

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
– Psalm 121:1-2

“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”
– Psalm 16:8

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”
– Psalm 62:1-2

“Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.”
– Psalm 119:76

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
– John 16:33

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
– Psalm 9:9-10

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
– Psalm 46:1-3

26/08/2024

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul.
– Psalm 94:19

07/08/2024

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Peter 5:6-11

Imagine what God calls us to do here, and what that evil roaring lion that God tells us about is trying to do. It’s the same lie as in the garden... “Did God really say...?”

Sinners are natural and incessant idolaters. More than ever I believe “resist him” in our day directly points to “cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.” I am increasingly convinced that the evil temptations of the father of lies, in part, tempt us to idolize our anxiety and cling to it like Golem did with the One Ring in “Lord of the Rings”. We trust our dark prognostications about what may come to pass (99.9% of which never do) far more than we trust Him Who saves and commands us NOT to do that, but to instead give HIM our anxieties.

The temptation these days to raise our anxieties and fears above Jesus Christ is at a peak, and a strong part of that idol is that we want to also believe we are very wise in our dark and anxious thoughts about our possible future.

We need to repent of that and do as the Father of Grace bids us, and give our anxieties to Him. Regarding such temptations to dark pessimism, including that we are tempted to think such thoughts and fears are wise and practical, I believe we are called to “be on the alert” and “resist him”. To resist his tyranny, including his tyranny of pessimism.

And what replaces that idol? Jesus Christ and His sufficiency to save. And that He frees us to be optimistic. In both the right and left kingdoms. For such is of light. Though rough and bad things will happen (talk to me about losing Dad here in 2024), yet we are called to the true Spirit of light, and not of darkness and fear.

I believe that wrestling toward a spirit of optimism and light—which is also for our neighbors’ good—is an important and relieving and faithful striving. For it is a striving TOWARD Christ and trust in Him. And in His perfect and sufficient sacrifice to save us, Jesus Christ IS that light of life Who never leaves us sinners, because He is FOR US. FOR YOU. So you can be at peace WHILE you strive, in His grace.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be at peace. Amen.

07/08/2024

Aslan is on the move!

07/08/2024

What a great gift when God sees fit to give us the rare fathers in the faith who deliver unceasing richness of grace on this earth, exuding an imperfect love and grace that crushes you with comfort and joy as it points us to Him Whose perfect grace saves us and gathers us to His great wedding feast forever, our Lord Jesus Christ. How I miss these rare and great men.