This is the Life!

“I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.” The

Nicene Creed

“This Is the Life” was a successful dramatic television series produced by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod which aired through the 1950s and on into the 80s. These brief presentations on the Christian life of faith continue to be available online for viewing enjoyment to this day. At St. John we have even made use of some episodes for Bible class gatherings! However, the experience of God’s people while living their faith is no mere dramatic presentation. Because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,

his life becomes our own. Our Lord and Savior is the very source of our life in faith day to day. And so, we might say of his gift given to us, this is the life!

The Nicene Creed has been professed by God’s church for nearly two millennia. At St. John we profess it week to week before the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. In its final portion the Creed reminds us that we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. The resurrection of the dead as professed here is a reference to the future resurrection of God’s people. This resurrection will be the fruit of our Lord’s resurrection which he experienced on our behalf, that first Easter day.

Easter life began when on that first day the Lord arose in recreating power, promising a new and eternal day to come for all God’s own! And so, our rising in body and soul on the last day will be the beginning of an eternal day of joy in his life. As people of Easter, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection as we look toward the goodness and grace of the Lord in that land of the living! As we profess our faith week to week we live it day to day. The Creed concludes with the word “Amen.” This means, yes, so be it, it is so! As we live out life’s little Easter season we rejoice in anticipation of that eternal day and the life of the world to come. For this is the life!

Pastor