Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Zechariah 14:5b–7

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From the Word: 5b Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 6 And on that day there will not be no light, cold, or frost; 7 but it will be a singular day that is known to the Lord—not day nor night. When the hour of evening comes, there will be light. (Zechariah 14:5b–7)

From the Confessions: The Small Catechism

The Third Article

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,* the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith. In the same way, he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and preserves it in unity with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church, he daily forgives abundantly all my sins and the sins of all believers; and at the last day, he will raise me and all the dead and will grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true!

*or “holy Christian Church” (“catholic” here refers to the fellowship of all believing Christians)

Pulling It Together: On the last day, the Lord will return. These lengthening days of darkness will be no more, for the Lamb will be our light (Rev 21:23). We will have no concern for the heat of day, or cold, nor any interest in weather at all. For the Lord will captivate us. We cannot conceive of his eternal light, as yet known only to God. But at last, the Lord will return to raise us from the dead (1 Thes 4:16), and grant us everlasting life in the brightness of eternal day. Then we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thes 4:17). This is what we confess. This is what we await. This is the certain truth in which, even now, we have begun to live.

Prayer: Turn my eyes, O Lamb of God, toward that brightness of eternal day which is you. Amen.

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