The Lord Jesus Comforts Us with the Preaching of His Resurrection
“The God who . . . gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:24-25) wants all people to seek Him “that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him: (Acts 17:27). But in our sinful ignorance we humans instead to idols “formed by the art and imagination of man” (Acts 17:29). Therefore God appointed the Man of Righteousness, Jesus Christ, and “has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Because He lives, we also live (John 14:19) in His forgiveness, and thus we love Him and keep His commandments(John 14:15). While the risen Lord prepares us for His Ascension, He will not leave us “as orphans” (johen14:18), but gives “another Helper,” the Holy Spirit, to be with us forever (John 14:16). Because He “suffered once for sins, the righteousness” (IO Peter 3:18), we “regard Christ the Lord as holy” and are always “prepared to make defense to anyone who asks” for the reason for our hope (I Peter 3:15). Our Baptism “now saves” us “as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21).
