Roger's Postings

Saturday, March 31, 2018


Acts 10:34-43.                    Risen to be judge???                                      1/4/18



34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”



He is risen! He is risen indeed!



Yes, the Jesus who died on the cross has now been raised from the dead. This is absolutely amazing news for us here in this world of ours. It gives us a sure and certain hope in the midst of a world that has lost its way. When we are becoming more and more cynical with the realities of life, we have here today again news that gives us a sure and certain hope.



Jesus’ rising from the dead now gives us the assurance that there is something that can lift us beyond the troubles, misery and death of life in this world. Because this is a certainty and not just some concocted story we have here that which gives us a whole new way to face life.



There are many, many, proofs that this really did happen. Jesus did rise from the dead just as he said he would. Some years ago, an unbelieving lawyer set out to examine the evidence for the reality of this event. He came to the conclusion that even today if it as brought before the courts it would have to be accepted that it did happen. Even after all these years, the evidence is clearly there for us to be sure that this is not a made-up story.



Even though it is beyond the realms of what science would say is possible, Jesus rose from the dead after three days. Even though our world today does not want to recognise that it did happen and would prefer to simply think of it as a myth; here we have news that turns life upside down.



As well, we have promises that were given by God and written down hundreds and hundreds of years before this event, here in Jesus and his death and resurrection they are being fulfilled. On Good Friday was a clear example of this in the reading from Isaiah depicting very clearly what would and did happen to Jesus all those years later. Archaeology clearly shows that these writings were written hundreds of years before and so are not some concocted story.



So again, here is a lot more proof to this reality of Jesus death and his resurrection. So, we can be absolutely sure that this is all for real. Jesus’ ‘it is finished’ of Good Friday now means that forgiveness of sins, life and salvation is absolutely guaranteed for us. Jesus has done everything necessary for our salvation and life. He also was raised from the dead so that we can be absolutely sure that this is all for real.



Here God has stepped in and done the impossible. Here God wants us to know for sure that he has done something truly remarkable for us. He is for real, and he has that which gives us what we need in order to get through this life and into the next. Jesus rising from the dead has extraordinary ramifications for each and every one of us.



The message here is that God has now made it possible for us to be lifted beyond the realities of our day to day world. A world that lets us down over and over again. In so many ways our world promises us so much; but fails to deliver over and over again. The more it focusses on great achievements, the more the failures are even more tragic. We see this happening all around us, and it leaves us sad, disillusioned and finally hope-less.



This last week we have had an event that exemplifies this so clearly. Even though cricket is just a game, it portrays quite clearly the problem of life in our world, and also in many ways the message of Easter. Here I would to read to you our Bishop Altus’ message to our state this weekend.



Betrayal, denial, blame, condemnation, shame, public humiliation, the demand for heads to roll…..

Last weekend all that and more was being said about the Australian cricket team.

This weekend those same words describe what happened to Jesus Christ.

He had done nothing wrong. His life had been marked by selfless love and integrity. Yet Jesus was the one cheated on, publicly shamed, humiliated, and hung out to dry on a cross in a field for all to mock. Even his friends ducked for cover.



At stake on Good Friday was more than a game; or saving face for the Aussie public before the eyes of the world. At stake was the saving of humanity in the eyes of God.



What happened last weekend and what we remember this weekend have connections we might reflect on, not by pointing the finger at others from the hill of our high moral ground; but seeing in the mirror our own self-centredness and where it can lead.



If we are honest it is not just our cricket team who have “crossed the line” when it comes to attitude and behaviour. Who hasn’t sought the advantage in a relationship, put self-first, sacrificed integrity for expediency, attempted to get ahead dishonestly, cheated the tax man or even their life-partner, or attempted to lie and cover up something? Have we always spoken out, stepped in or stepped up when we should have? The damage our own actions or inaction causes is at least as hurtful to people around us as the consequences of tampering with a ball during a game have been to us.



Good Friday is about seeing Jesus hanging his head on the cross, taking our guilt and shame away from us in the eyes of God. Easter is discovering the joy and freedom of God’s forgiveness, and the new beginning and life.



Now we can get on with life with confidence and certainty. Now we can be absolutely sure that we are loved and accepted. Now we are able to be a part of God’s family for all eternity. We have been made holy so that we can now seek to live this holy life, both here and in heaven. All guaranteed by Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection.



As a result of that now we can live hopefully, in the midst of a world that has lost its way. Instead of being selfish and self-centred we can now look upward and outward. We can with God’s help now live in accord with what is good, right and helpful. We no longer need to follow the world and its ego-centric living.



While our world around seeks to cheat, deny, blame and all the rest in order to get on in life, we now can set about seeking to do what is good and right; even when everything is going wrong. Even if the world and life seems to be against us, we now know that everything will work out for good, for sure. So, we can do our utmost to live in accord with the fact that we have been made holy by our Lord Jesus Christ.



We can in the face of it all recognise our own weaknesses and failures and readily admit them. We repent of our sin and readily seek forgiveness from our Lord and others. Knowing that he has died for our sinfulness and has forgiven us, we readily turn to him so that we too might be forgiving of others. We recognise that this side of death we are still sinful human beings.



This however does not mean that we condone sin or disregard it as not worth being concerned about. It does not mean that we live as we please because we are forgiven. For we know that unless we live according to his commandments we will be only bringing more hurt and harm to ourselves and others around us. So, we now will ever seek to live as he tells us in his Word. We will constantly seek his help and guidance to live as he would have us.



But even more importantly we will be witnessing to the world around us of that which is good and helpful for us all. We acknowledge our sinfulness and our assurance of the love, forgiveness and salvation that has been won for us by our Lord, Jesus Christ. As we ourselves are so amazed and overwhelmed by what Jesus has done for us through his death and resurrection, it will be seen by others. Then we pray that they too might seek to know and be a part of the wonderful Good News that we have been reminded of again this weekend.



Yes, we now know for sure that because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead after three days, this is all for real and is essential for us. We can be absolutely sure then that all this that we have been reminded of this weekend about Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection is for real. It is all vitally important for us and for our salvation. So now we can go forward with confidence and certainty in the midst of a world that has lost its way.



Our Lord Jesus Christ has done it all for us. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. Amen.

He is risen! His risen indeed!



Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, March 17, 2018


Jeremiah 31:31-34.          We live under a new way/covenant??                    18/3/18



31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
 and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
 I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds
 and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.



The days are here, not coming, where we have a new way to live in God’s presence. God has made it possible for us live in his presence with a sure and certain hope and confidence. But sadly, it would seem again, as though many just do not want to be a part of it. God gives us all that we need so that we can have life in all of its fullness, and we all too readily turn our backs on it. How sad indeed!



Sure, many in the church have not been a good witness to Jesus Christ and the sure hope that we have. In fact, there have been far too many cases of people doing horrible things that have turned people away. But even that should surely not turn people away from this great hope and future that we have. Surely, we would be wanting to do what our God wants because of who he is and what he has done for us.



At the same time though, we have many who are preaching and teaching a message that is not this new covenant message but one that is very akin to the old covenant. That old covenant and the message of many today is that we have to do our part, if we want God’s approval. We have to keep our side of the bargain and live a good life. And the Old Testament is full of examples of God’s people failing to do what God wanted them to do.



Today is no different; when the focus is on us and what we have to do, there will be a never-ending list of our failures. We don’t come anywhere near good enough to be acceptable. Yet we are far too often persistently having the focus put on ourselves and what we must do. The message is far too often centred on me, myself and I, and God is simply there to help me on my way.



Now of course there is element of truth to it. But unlike the Old Testament that is not the expectation of God toward us. Nor is it to be the centre and focus of our faith either. If there is any expectation of our having to measure up by our own deeds we will never be certain of our salvation; and in the end, we will fail.



Along with that we have the message and attitude that it doesn’t really matter all that much what we think and do. Because after all God is a loving God so we will be okay. So what if we don’t go to church much or take the Bible as God’s inspired, inerrant Word, as long as we are loving and tolerant, that is all that matters.



Here however we are reminded that God already way back in Old Testament times promised that he would provide another new covenant for his people. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
 No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.



In other words, God himself will give us all that we need in order for us to be his people. He will do everything in order for us to have salvation and eternal life. He will give and make available to us all what we need in order to get through this life and to be with him in heaven. He gives us the law that we need in order for life to go well for us, in our relationship with God and with one another.



However, being a holy and just God, he has to deal with our failures and sin; our rebellion against him and our insisting on doing our own thing. He said death was to be the punishment of our disobedience, so he has to bring that punishment to bear. He has to be true to himself and his Word.



Again, he has written the hearts of each and every one of us, the knowledge of what is right and wrong. We know that we don’t measure up to his expectations. We are told here that his law is now written this on everyone’s hearts. Also, we know that there is a God and that he is a just God. It is as plain as the nose on your face. It is there. We know that this punishment then is what we deserve.

In many ways these people do not need you and me to tell them this. They know it. They just need us to remind them of it all. To put it under their noses so that they can smell the stench of what they and we have all done and are doing. They don’t need us to tell them that God is there; and that he is a great and awesome God: and that he will be judge of all. But again, God is using us to bring it to the forefront of their thinking.



However, that is a very challenging thought for many of them and for us also. We don’t want to hear these things. We want to ignore and push this thinking far into the background of our lives. There are also many who are actively and boldly saying there is no God. They are desperately trying deceive themselves and others that God is simply a figment of pre-historic man’s imaginations, and not relevant to their lives today. Yet God makes it quite plain, that they know. They will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. So, it is even more damnable for them.



But sadly, for so, so many today, they know but have sought to ignore and block out this knowledge of God and his law. Their pride and arrogance means that they do not want to face up to the fact that they don’t measure and they don’t want to change or do anything about their predicament. They would prefer to simply live as they please and hope in the end that somehow, they will be ‘up there somewhere’ because they have been a reasonable good person.



But again. we have no excuses because we all have sinned and fallen short of what God has said is acceptable. We all, far too often, ignore God and do not give him much thought at all. We all simply want to do our own thing and live our own lives. So, the penalty of punishment and death hangs over our heads.



But even here God does what is necessary for us. He himself comes into our world; takes our humanity and then our sin on himself and allows himself to be punished in our place. There on the cross he takes on himself what we deserve. God’s holiness and justice is served. The payment for the sin of us all is taken on himself, so that God does not punish us for our sin.



There he reminds us again and again that: I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. As far as the east is from the west he removes the punishment for our sin from us. He does what is necessary so that every single one of us can be released from the guilt of our sin - from the least of them to the greatest.



There on the cross then we have that which turns everything upside down and gives us all that we need in order to go forward with hope and confidence. There is no need for us to perform in order be acceptable. Now however we seek to do what his law commands because we are loved and accepted.



Now all that is required is that we trust that he has done everything for us. He has not only put his knowledge of the law on our hearts and minds. He not only has put in minds that there is God out there. But now he has shown to us that he loved us and has done everything necessary for us to be a part of his family for all eternity. We are forgiven and assured of eternal life with him. His Spirit has even given us this faith and trust that is needed.



So, all of us now freely have the opportunity to be with God now and forever. In connection with him we now can be absolutely sure that life will work out for us and that eternal life is assured for us in heaven. We can know that we are loved and cared for, even in the midst of the mess of life that we human beings have made for ourselves. He is there using it all now for good, Maybe, to keep us or others looking to him and seeking his help and presence. We can have a sure and certain hope that it will all work out in the end.



However, the sad thing is that so many just do not want it. They still don’t want God and all that he has to offer. They turn their backs on him and reject all that he has made available. Yes, they want the ‘goodies’ but not the relationship with God that goes with it. They went everything to go well for them but don’t want to listen and follow our Lord. As a result, they do not receive eternal life in heaven.



Their unbelief and failure to look to and trust in Jesus Christ means that they will not receive all the goodness that God has extended to us. The one unforgivable sin is rejection and unbelief. Instead of heaven there is hell.



But for us we can rest easy with the full assurance that God has done everything necessary for us to have forgiveness of sins and life forever more. We can look to and trust that in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross God has won it all for us. So now out of praise and thankfulness for this love that he has extended to us, we will seek to live under his Lordship and seek to live according to his law – with his help.



So, to him then be all glory and honour, now and forever. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, March 10, 2018


John 3:14-21.                      Lift our eyes and live!!                                                    11/3/18



(14)  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, {15} that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. {16} "For 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. {17} For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. {18} Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. {19} This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. {20} Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. {21} But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."



Here in the midst of Lent we again have a message that puts a very clear point and challenge to each and every one of us. The implications are far reaching and profound: God’s approval or condemnation; living in light or darkness; eternal life or eternal death. Serious implications indeed! So, we need to listen carefully here to what God himself has to say.



Here we are pointed to the great and glorious hope that we have as Christians. John 3:16 would have to be one of the most well-known verses in Scripture. "For 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. It is God’s Good News to us in a nutshell.



Here, this Good News is placed right into the very heart of the rough and tumble of life: the darkness, death and hell that is all around us. In our mixed up and troubled life we are pointed to the one sure hope that there is. In contrast to the consequences of a sinful, selfish world, we are reminded of the glorious salvation there is there for us. If only we would not ignore or close our eyes to it.



In many ways, the problem is that we don’t want to see the depth and extent of the problem that is before and all around us. ‘They are minor flaws that can be overcome with a few more dollars and a little more human technology. If we become more open and tolerant we will do away with fights and squabbles, sickness and death. If we work at it we will be able to evolve into a better future.’



However, the reality is otherwise. Humanity right from the fall of Adam has been trying to insert its independence from God and build its own utopia. All along the way however, our selfishness and sin has continually brought our endeavours to nought. No matter what we do or how hard we try, it always has and always will come unstuck. No matter how good the idea, selfishness and sin will always bring our best efforts to nothing.



So, darkness is continually hovering over humanity. We grope around in the darkness hoping against hope that we will get through life safely. We want to see and make a way through for ourselves. We want to hope that the next bit of research and a few dollars will make the difference. But any realistic look will point to the opposite.



God in his Word makes it quite clear to us that no matter how hard we try and whatever we attempt, our sinfulness always messes it up. He tells us again and again that we cannot and will not ever achieve for ourselves the utopia that we long for. Above all he tells us that these endeavours of ours are deadly. They are not minor problems and difficulties but have huge and deadly consequences. Especially eternal death in hell and separation from God.



But he reminds us also, that as we look to Him, then there is a light and a way through it all. As we look to him we are told there is a way through and the certainty of eternal life in heaven with our Lord. In him there is a light at the end of the tunnel; and it even helps us here and now in the midst of this troublesome world. There is meaning and purpose to our lives here and now.



However, so many today do not want to see or be a part of this Good News. One so often wonders why it is that many don’t want to see and take advantage of this one sure hope that there is. Why is it that they don’t want to live in the light of a good and glorious way of life? Well here in this reading God is very clear as to their reasoning?



This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. They don’t want to listen to or know God’s Word, because they don’t want to know that what they are thinking and doing is wrong. They want to do their own thing irrespective.







But again, they don’t want to know how serious the implications are. Darkness, condemnation and an eternity in hell is there for all who turn their backs on God. ‘Surely it is not that bad. After all I am a reasonably good bloke.’ Here today God uses the image of the snake on the pole that Moses was commanded to use when many, many people were being bitten by deadly snakes and were dying as a result.



For the people of that day the situation was quite clear. They knew that if they were bitten they were dead. There was none of this thinking that ‘it won’t hurt me: I’m okay Jack’. This was life and death. The results were right there in front of them on a daily basis.



But God gave them a way out: Moses put a snake on a pole and whenever anyone was bitten they were to look to that pole and they would be healed. And it worked! Even though it would have seemed stupid to human reason, it happened just as God said it would. So, they learnt a valuable lesson: look up to the snake – look up to God and you will be saved. God alone could get them through. To those who trusted him they lived. To those who considered it and God stupid they died. Clear and simple.



 So, Jesus uses that as an illustration to the people of his day and to us today as well. First of all, to remind us of how deadly a game we are playing when we think that we can ignore God and seek to live by and for ourselves. But then to point us again to the miraculous and wonderful Good News that he extends to us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.



Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. So again, the point is made with regard to the absolute necessity for Jesus Christ to die on the cross There alone do we find that which saves us from impending doom and hell. There we hear in the clearest possible way what is vital for us all.



"For 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. God gives his own Son to die so that all who look up to him and believe in him will live. Trust him and eternal life in God’s family is assured. There is acceptance by God instead of condemnation. His Son takes the punishment so that we might be freely and fully forgiven.



For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. God has come in Jesus Christ to deal with the problem of our sin. He takes the punishment that we deserve on himself so that we might be forgiven. Look to him and believe in him and salvation is guaranteed. We are freed to live for ever in God’s presence. How wonderful. How amazing. To him be all glory and honour forever.



However, let us not forget what he says immediately after saying those words.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. The consequences of not looking up to Jesus Christ and trusting in him is deadly. Eternally deadly!



This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."



Yes, the Light has come into our darkened word. Now we can see the problem and the way that God has provided through it for us all. God has done a truly marvellous thing for us. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."



Now we can go forward boldly and confidently looking up to and trusting in our great God and all that he has done for us. He has given us, all that we need in order to face up to our selfishness and sin; to be brought back into God’s presence and light; and also given us what we need in order to now live in a way that is good and helpful for us in the midst of the serious problems of this sinful world.



So, this Lenten season let us endeavour to continually turn to him and look up and live. Let us hold closely to this promise from our Lord:

 "For 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.  

To him be all glory and honour now and forever. AMEN.



Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish