Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 11:26-12:12; Matthew 12:22-37

You come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:7-8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Lots of people have this idea of Judgment Day as a time where you have to stand before God on the Last Day and face the record of your sins, unveiled for all to see. Sure, you might get a pass because of Jesus, but you've still got to face everything you've done.

But Paul tells the Corinthians they will be blameless on the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. Blameless. Nothing to show. Nothing to pin on them. No sins to recount. No "permanent record" to go over. No waiting in line for your turn to "face the music" about everything you've ever said and done.

The One who makes this true is Jesus. He has covered your sin and wiped it out by His blood, shed on the Cross. He has made sure by His resurrection that your resurrection is not an awakening to a long list of stuff you've done wrong, but to an eternity, where you stand holy and spotless before God.

You are baptized. You are clothed with Christ's righteousness. God cannot see your sin. It is covered by Jesus. You are bodied and blooded by Jesus. He lives in you and therefore your sin cannot be exposed for all to see. God does not see it. You are blameless.

No matter how good the news of salvation in Christ is, there is a part of us—our Old Adam—who figures that somehow, somewhere, someday, we're going to have to own up to our sins and see them displayed in front of everyone. But that's not true. That's not why Jesus came. He came to take your sin away and He has done that.

On the "day of our Lord Jesus Christ," you don't have in store some embarrassing exposure in front of the whole world. You have the welcome of your Father who, for Jesus' sake, has already prepared a kingdom for you from before the foundation of the world. No judgment for you. Only the blamelessness that comes from being in Jesus Christ. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

My Savior paid the debt I owe And for my sin was smitten; Within the Book of Life I know My name has now been written. I will not doubt, for I am free, And Satan cannot threaten me; There is no condemnation! ("The Day Is Surely Drawing Near" LSB 508, st. 5)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch