# Eph 2:8  #Ps 103:1-4

(An excerpt of a speech to the pelagians.)

For it is by grace you have been saved, and this not out of yourselves, it is the gift of GOD. Maybe you might say: What does he want, that he says this so often. Over and over again the same, seldom he starts without saying this. -Oh that I wouldn’t be saying this in vain. Because there are people that are ungrateful towards this grace, and they trust more in that needy, wounded human nature and it’s power. True is: The man as he was created, received great strengths of a free will, that he lost through sin. He declined death, turned weak and was left lying half dead on the side of the road by robbers.

The passing by Samaritan took him on his animal and brought him to a lodging. There he is further being cured. Yet -one says- it’s enough, that I received forgiveness of all sins in the baptism. Yes that’s true. But is through the erasure of sins the neediness taken away? I have, the answer is, received the forgiveness of all sins. Yes that’s true. All sins are erased, all sins in words, works and thoughts, are all erased.

But here it talks about an pouring of oil and of wine on the wounds, still on the roadside. Think about: this guy beaten up by robbers, left lying half dead at the side of the road, was being refreshed through the oil and wine on his wounds. His abberation has been forgiven, but at the same time his neediness is being healed in the refuge inn/hostel. And the hostel is the church, a passing residence; but the home from that where we will never leave, we will have reached then when we as healed arrive in heaven. Right now we want to receive healing here in this hostel and in our present weakness not bragging about a health, and miss restoration because of pride.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! Tell your soul: You are still in this life; you still carry that fragile body; still burdens that frail body our soul; and still you receive after the healing of forgiveness the remedy of prayer; and you still can ask until you wounds have been healed: “Forgive all our iniquities.” So say this to your soul, not with your head held high, but down in the valley of humbleness. Tell your soul: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” What benefits? Oh say it, talk it, yell it. What benefits? Who forgiveth all thine iniquities.

This happened on the cross. And what is happening now: “who healeth all thy diseases”. –This happens now: I recognise it. But, as long as I am here, this frail body burdens my soul. So also be saying the following: “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction.” What remains after the redemption from destruction. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,” then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting?you search for him but you cannot find him.

Where is the sting of death? You search for him and he isn’t anywhere. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  These are the words of the apostle, not mine. Then it will be: Death, where is your sting? Nowhere there will be sin, whether such that bounds you, or that looks at you, or that frightens your conscience. Then it will not anymore be said: “Forgive us our iniquities!” But one will say: “Lord our GOD give us peace for you have already given us all.”