Paul appeals, rather than orders, Philemon to take Onesimus back as his brother in Christ. This gives Philemon a chance to truly forgive Onesimus for what he did. Very cool on Paul’s part, and an interesting way to act as a Christian when one is a superior.

404 is quite contemporary in age, only 12 years old, and yet the lyrics discuss baptism and Jesus’s duty on Earth. I especially like the last verse, where the cross is traced over us in baptism, counting us as righteous. Great gospel there.

After the Kretzmann commentary there is an overtime segment.

Text: © 1999 Stephen P. Starke; admin. Concordia Publishing House
Tune: © 1978 Augsburg Fortress
Podcast under OneLicense.Net A-718131.
Setting from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.

Jesus, Once with Sinners Numbered

1. Jesus, once with sinners numbered,
   Had no blemish of His own;
   In the waters of the Jordan
   His true worth and work were shown:
   Heaven opened and the Spirit
   There descended like a dove,
   As the Father’s voice resounded,
   “Hear My Son, the One I love.”
2. John confessed Him as the Savior–
   “Look, the sinless Lamb of God!”
   Yet he dared not loose the sandals
   Of the One God’s love had shod.
   Oh, how fair the feet of Jesus,
   Bringing news of peace to us,
   Christ, the herald of salvation,
   Preaching mercy from the cross:
3. This the baptism that our Savior
   Greatly longed to undergo:
   This the crimson cleansing needed
   So the world God’s love might now;
   This the mission of Messiah
   As He stepped from Jordan’s stream,
   He, the chosen and anointed,
   Son of God, sent to redeem.
4. Jesus, once with sinners numbered,
   Full obedience was Your path;
   You, by death, have consecrated
   Water in this saving bath:
   Dying to the sin of Adam,
   Rising to a life of grace;
   We are counted with the righteous,
   Over us the cross You trace.

This podcast not only contains the episode from Pirate Christian Radio and the Kretzmann commentary, but there is also an “Overtime” with submissions from listeners celebrating my birthday and podcast #75.

Amos 8 would have been a good chapter to read also:

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD,
“when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the LORD.”

Amos 9, though, contains both Law and Gospel. The booth/shelter of David, God’s people will be repaired and raised up, never to be uprooted again.

The hymn for today is Martin Luther’s catechism hymn for the Apostles’ Creed and definitely worth your time to replay and commit to memory. There are not many hymns that teach the faith as much as Luther’s catechism hymns and perhaps the Te Deum laudamus.

Setting from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.

We All Believe in One True God

1. We all believe in one true God,
   Who created earth and heaven,
   The Father, who to us in love
   Has the right of children given.
   He in soul and body feeds us;
   All we need His hand provides us;
   Through all snares and perils leads us,
   Watching that no harm betide us.
   He cares for us by day and night,
   All things are governed by His might.
2. We all believe in Jesus Christ,
   His own Son, our Lord, possessing
   An equal Godhead, throne, and might,
   Source of every grace and blessing.
   Born of Mary, virgin mother,
   By the power of the Spirit,
   Word made flesh, our elder brother,
   That the lost might life inherit.
   Was crucified for all our sin
   And raised by God to life again.
3. We all confess the Holy Ghost,
   Who, in highest heaven dwelling
   With God the Father and the Son,
   Comforts us beyond all telling;
   Who the Church, His own creation,
   Keeps in unity of spirit.
   Here forgiveness and salvation
   Daily come through Jesus’ merit.
   All flesh shall rise, and we shall be
   In bliss with God eternally.
   Amen, amen.