Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 5:1–5
Do not make the mistake of thinking that you need to do something special to conjure up the feeling of religious success.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Isaiah 1:12–17
He would have us do good and seek justice because he commands these righteous acts. However, the works themselves do not make us righteous
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Hebrews 7:18–19
Honest people should be able to admit that they do not keep even the one, greatest commandment (Deut 6:5), let alone all of God’s law.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 14:13–14
Imagining that extra works (supererogation) must be performed in payment for sin, casts aspersion on the character of Christ. Does Christ save — or not?
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Hosea 13:14
Melancthon seems to depend upon the Vulgate (the Latin translation) here. The Old Testament of the Luther Bibel would not be available for three more years.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 5:22–25
Do good works because God commands them to be done and because they bring him glory. But never hold the delusion that by doing good works, your sins will be forgiven or you will go to heaven.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 16:19
The commands of God’s Word are not negotiable. We are obliged to obey God. To disobey is to sin. After sinning, we are unable to work off those sins by either deeds or devotion.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Jeremiah 2:22
Scrub and scrub; scour as much as you like. Invent cleansing agents, potions, and rituals. You will still be unclean. The stain of your guilt will remain before the Lord.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Colossians 2:9–10
Jesus Christ is so completely holy and meritorious before the Father that he is holy and worthy for me. God is so pleased with his Son that he is well-pleased with those who believe in him.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 3:16–18
If one may buy off the need for the satisfaction, what then really, is the point—that if we have enough money, we may buy God’s remission of temporal punishments?
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 3:16–17
When Scripture tells us to repent it is not speaking of something one may do beyond this life. All that goes with repentance is to be done in this life.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 5:6–7
Good works are mandatory. But they do not appease the wrath of God against sin. Repentance is required, as it is commanded by Christ (Matt 4:17).
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 6:19–23
We are either slaves to the devil, sin, and death, or to God, righteousness, and life. Whichever we are bonded to will determine the fruit we get. The fruit or the wages of sin is death.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 8:12–13
We are indebted to God in Christ to no longer live in the sin for which he died. This does not mean that we no longer sin, for as long as we are in this flesh, this mortal body, there is sin and death.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Philippians 4:5b–7
The only one who is able to heal you, restore your soul, and give you peace, is near you right now. He is “at hand.” So there is no need for anxiety.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 14:27
Political and civil peace would be nice. Family peace would be a true blessing for many people. And of course, better finances and health would afford to many a certain peace of mind.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 14:28–33
When I was a boy, I learned to carry a full cup of coffee to my father. I walked through the kitchen, down the carpeted hallway, and in to the living room, then handed it to him without having spilled a drop.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Jude 20–23
People doubt from time to time. Jesus said, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41). It is unrealistic to think that everyone will always be strong in faith.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 24:9–14
Life is hard enough without those in authority leading people astray. Scripture teaches us to have faith in Christ for forgiveness and justification.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 2:15–18
Misrepresentation of Holy Scripture will upset the faith of some, those who have itching ears, but also those who are unlearned. Such deception even leads people into lives of ungodliness.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 4:1–4
It is important for us to keep the faith—both in the sense continuing to believe in God, and in remaining true to the Word of God.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Jeremiah 33:14–16
It has already been stated here, more than a few times, that genuine faith is shown in its works. This is an entirely different matter than saying that forgiveness happens because of those works.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 5:6–8
Lutherans confess with Scripture that sinners are justified before God—that is, absolved of all sins and condemnation, without any worth or work of their own—through God’s pure grace.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 8:3–5
In the worldly kingdom, there are many disciplines we might bring to bear in order to make things more civil and orderly. Requiring certain satisfactions can even make folks feel better for a time.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1:19–21
We do well to appeal to the highest authority. The academics of scholastic theology turned to Peter Lombard, who wrote the standard medieval texts on theology, as their authority.
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