The message: « God makes sinners righteous », because the unrighteous have no part in God and will never inherit eternal life. For the Lord said: « I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death » Rev 21:6b,c-8. And it is written: « The eyes of the Lord are on
the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers – Ps 34:12-16a » 1 Pet 3:12. Truly, unrighteousness is inseparable from sinners, as the Psalmist says: « They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil » Ps 36:4. And the Apostle Paul emphasizes this as he wrote: « There is no one who is righteous, not even one; there is no one who has understanding, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, there is not even one – Ps 14:1-3” Rom 3:10-12. But God is Love (1 Jn 4:16b) and covers sins (Ex 10:12b) and never tires of forgiving (Isa 55:7b). So, « where sin increased, grace abounded all the more » Rom 5:20b. For Christ « was
handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification » Rom 4:25. He still exhorts sinners to receive His redemption, since « those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified » Rom 8:30. He has empowered them to become children of God who overcome sin (1 Jn 3:9) and to be « vessels of glory » (2 Tim 2:20). He said: « To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne […] » Rev 3:21.
Monday, 12th: God justifies sinners who repent.
« Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven » Mt 9:2b.
Reading 1: Lk 1:67-79. Reading 2: Mt 9:1-8. Preaching 1 optional). Preaching 2: Mt 9:2.
Introduction: God does not reject anyone who comes to Him with a sincere heart. « Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away » Jn 6:37b,
Jesus said. And He forgives those who sincerely ask His pardon: « If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness » said the Apostle John (1 Jn 1:9). The tax collector was forgiven because of his sincere confession, as the
Lord Jesus said of him: « this man went down to his home justified rather than the other » Lk 18:14a.
Tuesday, 13th: By faith we receive God’s justification.
« The one who is righteous will live by faith » Rom 1:17b.
Reading 1: Ps 119:9-16. Reading 2: Rom 1:1-17. Preaching 1 (optional). Preaching 2: Rom 1:17.
Introduction: Those who believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized will be saved (Mk 16:16a). God’s salvation and justification of sinners, and their
reconciliation with Him, depend on faith alone (sola fide as Martin Luther puts it) and grace alone (sola gratia), which means faith in God’s free
forgiveness in Jesus Christ. In fact, the Apostle Paul wrote: « Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ » Rom 5:1.
Wednesday, 14th: Faith followed by works will justify sinners.
« So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead » Jas 2:17.
Reading 1: Heb 11:1-6. Reading 2: Jas 2:8-17. Preaching 1 (optional). Preaching 2: Jas 2:15-17.
Introduction: Faith without works is « senseless, » « useless », says the Apostle James (Jas 2:14-26). The righteous works resulting from faith are the
« sacrifice of the believer », according to how the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews explains Abel’s offering: « By faith Abel offered to God a more
acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through
his faith he still speaks » Heb 11:4. Summing it up, the Apostle John wrote: « Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and
action » 1 Jn 3:18. So believe and work!
Thursday, 15th: God justifies those who hold on to the truth.
« Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ » Mt 5:37a.
Reading 1: 2 Sam 22:21-29. Reading 2: Mt 5:27-37. Preaching 1 (optional). Preaching 2: Mt 5:37.
Introduction: Those who have clean hands and a pure heart will dwell with God in his house and receive blessings and righteousness from Him
(Ps 24:3-4). God really wants His saved people — all those who believe in His free forgiveness through Jesus Christ by His grace — to appreciate
Him, keep His word, and honor Him. The psalmist said: « How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you […]. I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you » Ps 119:9-10a,11. Persevere in faith, for
« the one who endures to the end will be saved » Mt 24:13.
Friday, 16th: God justifies those who honor Him.
« You shall have no other gods before me » Ex 20:3.
Reading 1: Lk 16:9-13. Reading 2: Ex 20:1-17. Preaching 1 (optional). Preaching 2: Ex 20:3.
Introduction: God truly blesses and rewards those who believe, honor, and sanctify Him as Lord, not those who despise Him; and this is according
to His warning tto Eli the priest as his two sons had trampled on the burnt offerings and grain offerings that the people of Israel had offered to the
Lord, and because he had honored his sons more than God: « For those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be treated with
contempt » 1 Sam 2:30d.
Saturday, 16th: God justifies sinners who love Him.
« Her sins, which were many, have been forgiven » Lk 7:47a.
Reading 1: Ps 91:9-16. Reading 2: Lk 7:36-50. Preaching 1 (optional). Preaching 2: Lk 7:47.
Introduction: The fulfillment of the law is Love (Rom 13:10b) because the commandment to love God and to love neighbor is the greatest and it
sums up all the commandments (Mar 12:30-31). The writer of Proverbs puts it this way: “love covers all offenses » Pr 10:12b. Jesus also said about
the woman who anointed His feet with precious ointment out of love for Him: « Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the
whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her » Mt 26:13.
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