Malagasy Lutheran Church Song & Gospel Sunday I after Easter, April 16th-22nd 2023 « God is the Redeemer of His people » *

The message: « God is the Redeemer of His people » means that there is no other name that can save them. It also means jealousy of God, as He is « the Redeemer and Lord of His people », since He said to the Israelites in the following terms: « But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine » Isa 43:1. And He added: « To whom will you liken me and make me equal and compare me, as though we were alike? » Isa 46:5. That is why He gave them the following command: « You shall have no other gods before me » Ex 20:3. And He showed that He is the One God and Redeemer of His people against their
enemies, when He says to Pharaoh who had oppressed the children of Israel in Egypt: « For this time I will send all my plagues upon you yourself, your officials, and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth » Ex 9:14. This means that it is God who is the origin of His people and the reason for their existence; for if God begot him, He also created them so that they would live for Himself, and that they would accept Him as their reason for living, namely that His people « live for God their Redeemer » who does them endure (Ps 91:16). The Apostle Paul puts it this way: « For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain » Phil 1:21. He is truly a Redeemer who makes common cause with His people
and He says to them: « Even to your old age I am he; even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save » Isa 46:4. David praised Him in this way: « Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God » Ps 31:5. Jesus indeed says to us: « I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep » Jn 10:11.

Monday, 17th: God is the Redeemer of His people.
« For I know that my Redeemer lives » Job 19:25a.
Reading 1: Ps 73:21-28. Reading 2: Job 19:7-25. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Job 19:25.
Introduction: We need a Redeemer because we are sinners. Indeed, we are dead and lost because of sin, being born in sin, descendants of sinners and unable to save ourselves. The Apostle Paul tells us: « Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? » Rom 7:24. The Gospel of God, on the other hand, gives the sinner a great guarantee of salvation, for « They are now justified
by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus » Rom 3:24. Indeed, « What is impossible for mortals is possible for God » Lk 18:27.

Tuesday, 18th: Repentance is the path to redemption.
« Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out […] » Acts 3:19.
Reading 1: Ezek 18:23-32. Reading 2: Acts 3:12-21. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Acts 3:19.
Introduction: Truly, Jesus has already done His work of redemption for us sinners, but it is our duty to receive it. We can do it by means of repentance, namely the confession of our faults to receive forgiveness (1 Jn 1:9), as well as the return to God to be reconciled again with Him, like the prodigal son returned to his father (Lk 15:17-21). Jesus said when He began to preach: « Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near » Mt 4:17.

Wednesday, 19th: Jesus Christ, Sign of redemption of the sinner.
« Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish » Jn 21:13.
Reading 1: 1 Cor 15:1-8. Reading 2: Jn 21:1-14. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 21:13-14.
Introduction: The place of a « sign » is very important, because God makes it a witness to the veracity of His words and actions. Jesus Christ has done a great work of redemption for us sinners, in that He bore all our transgressions in His flesh (Isa.53:8) and endured the judgment of God for the forgiveness of our faults (Eph.1:7). For that, it is written: « He said to Thomas: ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe’ » Jn 20:27. Receive Jesus and believe in the
work of redemption that He has done.

Thursday, 20th: Jesus Christ, the guarantee of redemption for the sinner.
« In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace » Eph 1:7.
Reading 1: Mt 26:26-29. Reading 2: Eph 1:1-7. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Eph 1:7.
Introduction: It is written: « Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins » Heb 9:22b. Jesus Christ is indeed the sacrifice offered to take away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29). Therefore, He says, « For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins » Mt 26:28.

Friday, 21st: Believe in the redemption of God.
« They are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus » Rom 3:24.
Reading 1: Mk 5:25-34. Reading 2: Rom 3:21-26. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Rom 3:23-24.
Introduction: The work of our redemption has indeed been carried out, in accordance with what is written: « God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us » Rom.5:8 and, in this, « he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world » 1 Jn 2:2.

Saturday, 22nd: God gives eternal redemption.
« He entered once for all into the Holy Place, […] thus obtaining eternal redemption » Heb 9:12b.
Reading 1: Jn 4:4-14. Reading 2: Heb 9:6-14. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Heb 9:11-12.
Introduction: God has carried out a work of eternal redemption in that He designates an eternal priestly work and makes a covenant which cannot be taken away, in accordance with what is written: « He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name » Ps 111:9. This was done by Jesus Christ, of whom He made Faithful High Priest, who intercedes for us at the Father’s right (Rom 8:34). He declares, « I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand » Jn 10:28. Thanks to the Lord!

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