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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” ~1 Peter 1:3
The Apostle Peter provides a wonderful model for us the Book of 1st Peter. In his short letter to the recent converts in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), written probably sometime between 49 A.D. (the Jerusalem Council) and 68 A.D. (when he was martyred by Emperor Vespasian), Peter begins by explaining who Christ is and what we receive through Christ. He says that God has given us a new birth (Baptism) in which we have a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Purely out of the Father’s mercy (not anything we’ve done), He has given us everything. The message of the Gospel is pure and simple: Jesus died and rose again from the dead, and He did it to save us. You, dear brothers and sisters of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, who believe in Jesus and what He has done for you, actually receive His promises of forgiveness and eternal life through faith.
And you are guaranteed His promises apply to you, in your Baptism.
Peace to you in Jesus’ name,
Pastor Nickel
