Salvation Belongs to Our God

Dear Saints,

Yes, this message is to you.  I know that sometimes people balk at being called “saints” but that is what we are because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  The word “saint” is our translation for a word that means, “holy ones.”  And we are indeed holy because God declares us holy; washed in Jesus’ blood and given new life in Him. 

This past Sunday was All Saints Sunday.  All Saints Day is actually November 1, and historically churches had services on the day to both commemorate the faithfully departed and celebrate that our God saves.  These days we move those emphases to the Sunday following All Saints Day, and hopefully they came through loud and clear. 

As we read the names of those who passed away in the prior year, we did so in anticipation of God’s resurrection and salvation.  I am certain that many other names came to mind, too.  I spoke of my Grandpa Tritten, who died before I was even born.  You may have thought of a parent, a sibling, or a child, too.  Times like this stir the grief in our hearts, reminding us that this world is not as it should be, and we are agents of eternal life sharing hope in a world where we all die.  This is why we prayed, “… we remember with thanksgiving those who loved and served You … who now rest from their labors.  Keep us in fellowship with all Your saints, and bring us at last to the joy of Your heavenly kingdom.” 

Tears are not a bad thing.  Grief is not evil.  They should not overcome us – at least not for long – for we live with the hope of resurrection.  As we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe … the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.”  And we teach, “On the Last Day [the Holy Spirit] will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.  This is most certainly true.”  (Small Catechism) 

In Christ, life dominates death.  The grave cannot hold hostage those who have received Christ’s life by faith, in Baptism, and in the Supper.  As Romans 6 says, we are baptized into Jesus’ death that we might have a resurrection like His as well. 

Revelation 7:9-17, our first reading on Sunday, gave us a picture of heaven.  It spoke of the great multitude gathered around God’s throne, from, “every nation, tribe, people and language,” singing and worshiping with angels, archangels and the whole company of heaven.  That holy gathering includes you and me, foreseeing our salvation and our praises ascending and proclaiming, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb [that is, Jesus].” 

We have been saved from sin and death.  We have also been saved for life – to live as God’s people revealing the Good News of what God has done and is doing in and for us.  We may yet be going through the “great tribulation” – I believe we are – but we do so knowing that death has no grip on us.  We live now and will live forever in Christ, as do all who have faith in Him. 

Questions to Ponder

-          Read Revelation 7:9-17.  Imagine the scene.  What does it look like?  How extensive is the effect of God’s salvation?  Where will the saved come from?

-          Take note of the songs in this reading – what the angels and people cry out.  What kinds of things do they praise God for?

-          What promises are given to you in v.15-17?

-          Look at v. 14.  I understand “the great tribulation” to be all of life in this world between Jesus’ ascension into heaven and His return on Judgment Day.  What, then, does this verse mean?  Who is this speaking of?

-          Can you imagine yourself as one of those in white robes?  Why or why not?  How can you be confident that you are in that multitude around the throne?

-          On Sunday, I asked, “Who is in your picture frame?”  In other words, who is someone you miss who has died and is with Jesus’ in glory?  How did that person impact your faith and life?