# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1920_S2 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) . The Lutheran Pioneer. like Pharaoh who did not repent even after severe punishments had come upon him. It is furthermore but natural that such as will not submit to the judgment and condemnation of the Law should not long for nor appreciate the Gospel. They rather have an aversion to hearing the Word of the Cross, which is foolishness in their opinion. Celsus, the first heathen who made an elaborate attack on the Christian religion in the form of a writing, views the Gospel with proud contempt, because it is so simple and therefore appeals to the uneducated masses. One of his argu- ments is: If Jesus really would have been the Son of God, He would have appeared in His majesty here on earth, and would not have died on the igno- minious cross. What Christ said to the unbelieving Jews applies to all unbelievers: “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” Christians, however, delight in the divine Law according to their inner man. ‘They love to hear it, although, yea, even because, it is such a stern, hard teaching which exacts and demands absolute obedience at the peril of everlasting death. They know that they need to hear it again and again on account.of their flesh. Although it is bitter medi- cine, they appreciate it because of its, salutary, effi- cacious effect upon them, in that it makes them truly penitent. And being truly penitent at heart, they certainly long for, and enjoy listening to, the blessed Gospel of the grace of God in Christ, which proclaims, aye, imparts to them, forgiveness of sin, strengthens their faith, and causes them to lead a godly life, whereby they show that they are of God. They also love God’s Word because it points out to them which are the truly good works. It is sweeter to their mouth than honey and the honey- comb; it is dearer to them than much gold and silver. They hear and read it devoutly and regu- larly. Thus they show that they are of the truth. “Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” How blessed believers are! Another truth which is pointed out in our text is that they despise Satan. V. 4 we read: “Greater 1s He that is in you [Chris- tians] than he that ts in the world.” God Himself is in and with the Christians. He dwells in them by His Spirit. Therefore we read in the 46th Psalm: “God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in trouble.: God is in the midst of her [the Church]; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, and that right early. The Lord of hosts is f with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge” — Satan is in and with the world, his servant. calls the devil the prince, father, and god of this world. He and his angels are called the rulers of . the world. But God, who is in the Christians, is greater, stronger, and mightier than the prince of this world. When Aaron cast down his rod and it became a serpent, the magicians of Egypt did the same with their enchantments; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. When he brought forth lice from the dust, the magicians tried to do the same, but could not. Then they said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” God’s power over Satan was also demonstrated by Christ’s casting devils out of people. Read Luke 11, 21. 22 what Christ said on such an occasion. God being in every respect greater than Satan, Jesus despised the latter and by His example taught us to do the same. Referring to His suffering and death, He said: “Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out,” and again: “The prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in Me.” Luther learned from Christ to view Satan with contempt, to which he gives ex- pression in the following lines: — This world’s prinee may still Scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none, He's judged; the deed is done; One little word can fell him. A Jew intended to assassinate Luther, but some one sent the Reformer a portrait of the villain and so put Luther on his guard. We should often look at Satan’s portrait drawn in the Bible for us, in order that we may not underrate him; ‘for he is powerful and wily. Nor should we overrate him; for we may boldly despise him, and with him the world, his servant, through Christ, our Champion. * What a blessed thing it is to be of God! There is another reason for this fact; it is this: They that are of God overcome the world, yea, they have even now overcome the world with all its power and temptations, pomp, and sin. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: * because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world,” v.4. Our faith is the victory which has overcome the world. But only faith in Christ and Him Crucified is so victorious. St. Martin, as the legend relates, sat in his cell studying sacred liter- ature, when a stranger of lordly mien and splendid garment entered who claimed to be Christ. Cast- ing a searching look at him, the monk asked, “Where The Bible .