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Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 3:9-20. St. Paul builds to his climax of preaching that all people are unrighteous. Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin; they are slaves bound to this terrible master. The Apostle strings together a rapid fire list of one Old Testament passage after another in order to make his point. He faithfully preaches these texts to his Roman and modern readers, as he highlights that all sins of thought, word, and deed trace their roots to idolatry. Self-justification lies at the heart of the matter. All people desire, in one way or another, to be righteous before others and before God. Yet all works of the Law fail to give such righteousness. Instead, the Law can only rightly leave us completely silent before God as He shows us the true depth of our sin and evil. Christian confession admits that what God has spoken about us in His Law is true and awaits the Word of absolution that comes in

Rev. Dr. Rick Marrs, associate professor of practical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and author of Making Christian Counseling More Christ Centered, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study the distinction between the old Adam and new Adam. In distinguishing the old Adam and new Adam, God’s Word lays out an important distinction that Christians daily experience. The old self is the corrupt sinful nature that each person has inherited from Adam. This fleshly nature rebels against God and His Word. The new self is a gift of God to Christians through the Gospel. In Christ, God makes us His new creation. The battle between the old and new self wages in Christians throughout life. Even St. Paul later in life recognized the evil that dwelt in him and his continued need for the righteousness of God that comes by grace through faith in Christ. In his Small and Large Catechisms, Martin Luther makes use of this distinction by calling Christians back to Baptism. There we rejoice that God has drowned the sinner

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study the proper distinction between Law and Gospel. The proper distinction between Law and Gospel is a glorious light that opens the Holy Scriptures to us; apart from this distinction, the Bible remains a closed book. The Law is the revealed will of God for His creation. In the Law, God commands what we must and must not do. These commands curb our sinful behavior, show us our sin, and instruct Christians in what a righteous life is. The Gospel is not what we must do, but what God has done for us in His Son Jesus Christ. This is God’s free gift to us for our salvation apart from any merit or worthiness in us. Both Law and Gospel are good because they are God’s two different ways to speak to us. They must be distinguished, lest we falsely believe we can use the Law to save ourselves or turn the free gift of salvation in Christ into another Law. This distinction comes from

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 3:1-8. As St. Paul preaches that all men are unrighteous, objections arise, but the Apostle will not let any of them stand. If all stand condemned by the Law, Jews questioned the importance of having been a part of God’s people under the covenant of circumcision. The advantage was not in the outward rites apart from faith, but the proclamation of the Word of God that is received in faith. Wherever that Word is proclaimed, God is at work for the forgiveness and salvation of His people. The unfaithfulness of some was not the fault of God, nor does it bring into question His faithfulness. Rather, it points to the need to let God be God and allow Him to judge our sins so that He can judge us innocent for the sake of Christ. Sinners still try to insert themselves into the equation, however, even going so far as to claim credit because their unrighteousness allows God the opportunity to show His righ

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 2:12-29. St. Paul continues to strip away from sinners all confidence apart from Christ. The problem is sin and death. Those who sin die, with or without the Law. The Law requires action, not only hearing, from both Gentiles and Jews alike. Though the Gentiles did not have the Law written down in the Ten Commandments, God’s Law still was written on their hearts. Their works according to the Law testify to that truth, as does their accusing conscience. The Jews, on the other hand, have found their confidence and identity in the Law. That confidence is nothing, however, unless the Jews do the Law. St. Paul rightly condemns them for their failure in this regard, which only leads to the blasphemy of God’s name. He takes them to a different starting point, the covenant of circumcision which the LORD gave as His promise. Yet as they break the Law, even their outward circumcision counts for nothing, becaus

Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 2:1-11. St. Paul’s “they” of Romans 1 becomes “you” in Romans 2. Those who have heard the proclamation of God’s wrath against the unrighteousness of man are left with no excuse. To pass judgment on “them” is to recognize the justice of judgment upon oneself. Comparison to another sinner will not justify anyone, nor will a presumption on the kindness and patience of God. God intends His kindness to lead us to repentance and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. If we misuse Christ as scapegoat as an excuse to keep sinning, we only store up God’s wrath. His judgment comes to us, not based on the judgments we have made of others, but based upon our own works as they stack up next to His standard of the Law. That is why eternal life will only come to those who have Christ through faith in the things of God; those who have sought only the things of man only have God’s wrath and fury. That is equall

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 1:18-32. Having proclaimed that the Gospel is God’s power to save, St. Paul begins to lay out why humanity needs salvation at all. God’s righteousness to save sinners goes hand-in-hand with His wrath against man’s unrighteousness. The unrighteousness of man expresses itself in the suppression of the true knowledge of God. Creation is witness to all people of the eternal power and divine nature of the Creator. Knowing this, however, men have denied it. In an attempt to be wise on their own, they have become foolish by replacing God with idols. Such idolatry is seen in the corruption of soul, mind, and body. God gives sinners over to their evil desires, letting them see firsthand what the devastating consequences of that idolatry truly are. Homosexuality and sins against God’s gift of marriage stand as Exhibit A of this truth, but St. Paul will not let anyone off the hook. In a tragic list of evil

Rev. Paul Pater, pastor at Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church in North Ridgeville, OH and Hope Lutheran Church in Sheffield Village, OH, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 1:8-17. Rome was known in the wider world for many political and economic reasons, but none of those are the reason for Paul’s thanksgiving in this epistle. He gives thanks for the faith the Roman Christians had in Jesus Christ. Though he had never visited this congregation previously, he still prayed for them regularly and longed to visit them in person. His longing to see them was bound under the will of God for his ministry. Paul desired to be with them in order that they could share the mutual consolation and conversation of the brethren in the Gospel. He had a joyful obligation to preach this good news concerning Jesus to all people. Paul lays out that Gospel as the theme for his entire epistle. Though the preaching of the crucified and risen Savior seemed foolish and weak to the world, Paul was not ashamed. He knew that

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 1:1-7. St. Paul’s epistle to the Romans lays out the fullness of the Christian faith centered around the truth of justification by grace through faith in Christ. Paul identifies himself both as a child of God bound only to Christ and as an apostle sent to preach the Gospel of God. That Gospel was announced already in God’s promises through the Old Testament prophets. That Gospel centers in Jesus Christ our Lord. He is true man, our Brother, the Christ from the line of David. He is true God, declared to the world in His resurrection from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. These are more than empty historical facts. Jesus has accomplished this for sinners, to give us His grace and give us a new identity underneath the hearing of His Word. This is what the Romans have received as those loved by God and made holy by Him. Because of Jesus, grace and peace are theirs and ours still today. “The Righ

“The Righteousness of God for You” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Human righteousness cannot save, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Only the righteousness of God can bring life and forgiveness to sinners. This is the righteousness that He has fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the righteousness that is revealed in the Gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is the righteousness that is not earned, but is freely given by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where yo

Rev. Ned Moerbe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 28:11-20. Jesus’ resurrection is a reality, just as He said. That didn’t stop His enemies from making one final attempt to defeat Him and His Word. They pay the guards to spread the lie that Jesus’ stole His body while the guards were sleeping. The soldiers’ love of mammon and the chief priests’ hypocrisy show just how far unbelief will go to deny the truth. They had not believed Jesus’ Word, and so they refused to believe even when Jesus had been raised from the dead. Yet Jesus gets the last Word. Jesus’ appearance to His disciples in Galilee highlights the authority of His Word as He fulfills the promise He had made to them before His suffering and death. The final words of Jesus that St. Matthew records build on that truth. Our Brother has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, and He uses that authority to reign for the good of His people. He commissions His disciples by His autho

Rev. Richard Mittwede, pastor at University Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 28:1-10. The women went to Jesus’ tomb on the first day of the week just as the light was dawning, though they did not yet realize just how bright that light would be. The reality became apparent soon enough. As an earthquake accompanied Jesus’ death, so another earthquake accompanied Jesus’ resurrection as God’s own creation announced the new creation. God sent His angel to roll the stone away from Jesus’ tomb to reveal that it was already empty. The guards became like dead men in their fear, but they were the only dead ones there. The angel announced the good news to the women. Jesus’ resurrection takes away all fear. It is the central event of all history and of the Christian faith, giving us hope not only for this life, but for eternal life. As the women went in fear and great joy to tell the news to the disciples, Jesus met them with His greetings. In worship, they took hold of His f

Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hannover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 27:57-66. Although Jesus’ burial is sometimes neglected in preaching, it is a key event in the Lord’s work for our salvation. Jesus’ burial shows that He is, in fact, dead, and His third day resurrection is not a farce. Jesus’ burial fulfills Scripture, an important theme in the Gospel of Matthew. Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man who is a disciple of Jesus, shows kindness to the Lord by providing for His burial. He is given the burial of a rich man in a new tomb, preaching the importance of Jesus’ death for sinners. Matthew anticipates Jesus’ resurrection already, as the women stand by as witnesses to the events of Good Friday. On the next day, the Sabbath, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and chief priests is shown. Though they should have been at rest, they are at work before Pilate yet again, attempting to thwart Jesus yet again. They know what He ha

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 27:45-56. St. Matthew has been building to the point of Jesus’ death. As the moment approaches, all creation responds to the Day of Judgment that is being poured out upon Jesus. Darkness covers the land as Jesus, true God and true man, is forsaken by His Father. Here Jesus suffers in our place, bearing the fullness of God’s wrath that sinners deserve. The bystanders continue to misinterpret. As they rejected John as the Elijah who was to come, so they rejected Jesus as He dies on the cross. Jesus willingly gives His life in place of sinners according to the eternal will of God. This event causes several end times events to occur immediately. The temple curtain is torn in two, a sign that preaches both Law and Gospel. The earth shakes; the rocks split. Saints who had fallen asleep receive life at Jesus’ death. The centurion and soldiers who had overseen Jesus’ crucifixion are brought to faith

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 27:27-44. The mockery that Jesus faced in the midst of His trial before Pilate teaches an important truth for our salvation. Precisely through His suffering and death, Jesus reigns as King. Though the soldiers did not realize the truth of their actions in crowning Jesus with thorns, this truly was Jesus’ coronation as the King who reigns with forgiveness. Contrary to the natural expectation of sinners, the cross is Jesus’ glory. Matthew records the actual crucifixion with such simplicity to highlight all the events around it that teach us the great importance of the cross. As those looking on mock Jesus on the cross, the irony is stark. If Jesus saves Himself, He cannot save anyone. If Jesus comes down from the cross, He’s not worthy of any faith. Here the grace and glory of God are truly seen. Jesus does not come down from the cross, nor does He save Himself, in order to save sinners through fa

Rev. Joel Haak, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 27:11-26. As Jesus goes on trial before Pontius Pilate, the question of who is to blame for Jesus’ death takes center stage. As governor, Pilate recognizes that Jesus has committed no crime, yet he releases the guilty Barabbas in place of the Innocent One. Though Pilate washes his hands in an attempt to ease his conscience, his guilt remains. The chief priests and elders act only out of envy, persuading the crowd to join them in their demand for Jesus’ crucifixion. They proclaim a willingness to accept responsibility for Jesus’ death. Ultimately, the blame lies not just with Pilate or Jesus’ generation; all sinners bear the responsibility. In this fact, the gracious truth of what Jesus is doing shines forth. Jesus has come to die for all sinners. He reigns as King precisely by allowing Himself to be declared guilty, so that sinners can be declared innocent. He directs events toward the shedding

Rev. Hans Fiene, pastor at River of Life Lutheran Church in Channahon, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 27:1-10. The morning of Good Friday started with the darkness of the Sanhedrin’s attempt to legitimize their sin of the previous night. They turn to the Roman authorities to do the dirty work of executing Jesus. None of these attempts to escape judgment succeed, however. The Passion narrative calls all sinners to recognize their guilt in sending Jesus to His death, even as God’s Word also reveals His grace in working out of His plan of salvation for sinners by delivering Jesus into death. The account of Judas within this narrative is tragic. No sinner should think himself above falling into sin just as Judas. When he changed his mind and saw what was about to happen to Jesus, however, he only tried to shift the blame to the chief priests. The chief priests utterly failed to direct Judas to the forgiveness to be found in the sacrifice Jesus was about to make; they left Judas to die in desp

Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of worship for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and chaplain for the International Center, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:69-75. Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, Peter has been bold in word and deed, leading him into both great faithfulness and great failure. His God-given confession of Christ was followed by serving as the mouthpiece of Satan previously. Now, during Jesus’ Passion, his bold declaration that he would die with Jesus is followed by his threefold denial of the Lord. Even when Peter faces seemingly small temptations and is asked for seemingly small confessions of his connection to Jesus, Peter fails miserably. He even falls into sin against the 2nd Commandment, misusing God’s name to back up a damnable lie. The rooster’s crow brought to Peter’s remembrance Jesus’ words, leading Peter into repentance. His bitter weeping was part of his godly grief over his sin that culminated not in despair, but faith in Christ. Peter’s example of restoration to f

Rev. Sean Smith, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wine Hill, IL and Immanuel Lutheran Church in West Point, IL and host of Concord Matters, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:57-68. As Jesus is put on trial before the Sanhedrin, two opposing worldviews clash. Jesus is focused on the things of God, while His opponents only think the things of man. As the high priest, Caiaphas should have known the Scriptures and recognized Jesus as the true temple. Instead, he leads a sham trial with a predetermined verdict. Two witnesses finally recall words Jesus spoke about the destruction and restoration of the Temple. Though Jesus had spoken about His death and resurrection, the Sanhedrin once again only considers the worldly perspective. The high priest’s charge leads to Jesus’ confession of the truth that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and the Son of Man who will stand as their Judge. Though the high priest believes Jesus has convicted Himself, it is the high priest who convicts himself by unlawf

Rev. Roy Askins, managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:36-56. Jesus continues to fulfill the Scriptures and His own Words as He goes willingly into His Passion. As Jesus revealed Himself as God to Peter, James, and John in the glory of His transfiguration, now Jesus reveals Himself as God to the same three in the weakness of Gethsemane. Jesus’ prayer to the Father in both trembling and resolution brings us to marvel and rejoice at the mystery of the personal union of the divine and human natures in Christ. His three closest disciples fail to stay awake and pray, even as Jesus continues to fulfill the will of God for the salvation of sinners. Judas transforms the sign of friendship as the sign of betrayal, which Jesus receives willingly. He will not have His disciples prevent this with the sword, for His kingdom must come through the Word, not with force or violence. As Jesus continues forward in fulfillment of God’s Word, He does so deserted by His discipl