Gifts of the Cross

4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Heb 6:4–8
+
Gifts of the Cross
In the name of the Father and the + Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the gifts of the cross. God delivers his righteousness and forgiveness by order of his Word preached and his Sacraments given. He warns us not to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. To know the Holy Spirit and to look him in the eye and reject his work is falling into the hands of the living God. Thanks be to God that he comes to us. His Word is performative as he rips our sins from us and our unbelief and gives us faith and life instead. He gives us the spoils of the cross and he binds us up with the reward of the resurrection. Jesus’ work is applied to you. Rejoice that the Lord has granted you faith in his Son and has rescued you from the oven. In the name of + Jesus. Amen.