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The Bible Study, God’s Grace & Forgiveness in Christ Alone – Our readings for Wednesday, April 17 are Exodus 34:29 – 35:21 & Luke 7:36-50. Moses’ face becomes radiant after meeting with the Lord. Regulations for Sabbath worship are given at the same time as instructions for provision of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. It is in the Tabernacle that the Ark of the Covenant will be kept. It will hold the tablets of the Ten Commandments. On the Day of Atonement, the blood of a sacrifice would be sprinkled on the cover of the Ark. This cover, God called the ‘Mercy Seat.’ The blood of the sacrifice covered the housing of the Commandments. The blood of Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, covers our transgressions. Jesus kept the Commandments perfectly in our place. His sacrifice alone paid for the sins of the world. We receive this precious gift of forgiveness through faith worked within us by the Holy Spirit using the means of grace: God’s Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Faith and salvation are God’s work, not our own. In our Gospel passage, a Pharisee invites Jesus to a meal at his house. The self-righteousness of the Pharisee is revealed when a prostitute kneels before Jesus, weeping and anointing His feet with oil. She is seeking forgiveness. Knowing the Pharisee’s thoughts that condemn both Him and the woman, Jesus gives this ‘teacher’ of the Law a lesson in God’s forgiveness. The woman has heard of Jesus, perhaps been present when He spoke. She’s repented of her sins, and receives Christ’s grace and forgiveness. The Pharisee responds with judgment and hardness of heart. Our Lord tells the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” We are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ alone. Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto http://christlutherantoronto.org/sermons/bible-verses-showing-justification-by-faith-alone