Newsletter
Newsletter
Archive for downloading
February 2012
Dear Friends,
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14
But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou
to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered Him. 16 And Jesus,
when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens
were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and
lighting upon Him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:13-17
As we journey through the season of Epiphany, we celebrate the many ways God has
made Himself known to us through His Son, Jesus. One of these manifestations
takes place at the baptism of Jesus. But since John the Baptist came preaching a
baptism of repentance, it seems fitting to ask “Why does Jesus need to be
baptized?” And when John expresses his reluctance, Jesus explains that His
baptism is fitting “to fulfill all righteousness.” But what righteousness is
lacking in God’s Messiah?
The answer becomes clear when we see the baptism of Jesus from the right
perspective. Jesus had no need to be baptized for His own sake, He was baptized
for us! In the baptism of Jesus, God unites His Son with the human race. Christ
takes our sin upon Himself and in turn gives us His righteousness. Martin Luther
refers to this as the great exchange: “This is that mystery which is rich in
divine grace to sinners: wherein by a wonderful exchange our sins are no longer
ours but Christ’s, and the righteousness of Christ not Christ’s but ours. He has
emptied Himself of His righteousness that He might clothe us with it and fill us
with it; and He has taken our evils upon Himself that He might deliver us from
them.” Christ has granted us mercy that we did not deserve and has taken the
punishment that we truly did deserve. As the prophet Isaiah has said, “All we
like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the
LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
Christ has paid the price for our sin by suffering and dying on the cross, so
that we might be forgiven through His blood. In exchange, Christ has clothed us
with His righteousness, so that we might stand before Him holy and perfect.
Because we are joined to Christ, God in turn also declares to us that we are His
beloved children, in whom He is well pleased. May God grant us grace to
celebrate the gift that He has given us in His Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord.
“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians 5:21
Yours in Christ.
Pastor Chuck Bylkas
Donations received…
In memory of Joyce Magner
from Joan E. Ostapenko
In memory of Darlene Heikka
from Kenneth Heikka
In memory of Wayne & Gertrude Rautio
from Clifton & Faye Rautio
In memory of Sam & Randy Munter
from Jack & Ruby Munter
In memory of Glenn Tapio
from Lillian Maunu
In memory of Vieno Stalo
from Donna M. Flaherty
In honor of Ruth Peltomaa’s 90th Birthday
from Stuart & Evelyn Olson
Seminary Service Schedule - 7 p.m.
February
12th – Nick Kandoll@ Seminary
19th – Ray Stenersen @ Laurium
26th – Charles Jousma @ South Range
March
4th – Nick Kandoll @ Zion
11th – Ray Stenersen @ Alston
18th – Charles Jousma @ Painesdale
25th – Nick Kandoll @ South Range
April
1st – Ray Stenersen @ Seminary
8th – EASTER (no service)
15th – Josh Bergstedt @ Alston
22nd – Ryan Kandoll @ Laurium
THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS
As a reminder, the Thrivent Choice program is a charitable grant program that
allows members to help choose where some of its charitable outreach funds go by
directing Choice Dollars. Choice Dollars can be directed to Lutheran
organizations you prefer nationwide.
To be eligible for Choice Dollars, you must be a benefit member age 16 or older.
Individual eligibility is also based on:
· Holding a Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership position or…
· Having $800 or more in annual premiums of qualifying insurance products or…
· Having $20,000 or more in contract value of qualifying products.
If you are an eligible member and would like additional information, please
contact Thrivent at 1-800-847-4836.
Thank you for considering the Inter-Lutheran Seminary as your charitable
organization of choice.
**PLEASE NOTE**
If you are receiving this newsletter in error or would prefer to be taken off
the mailing list, please complete the form below and mail to: P.O. Box 449,
Hancock, MI 49930.
Or call 906-482-3337 or email: cilseminary@ilseminary.com. Thank you!
Date:_________________
Name:_______________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________
I wish to be removed from the Inter-Lutheran Seminary’s mailing list.
Inter-Lutheran
Theological Seminary
James Weidner, President
P.O. Box 449
Hancock, MI 49930
administrator@ilseminary.org
Phone: 906-482-3337
FAX: 906-482-0694