Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 10:23–30

Legalism demands that we keep as law even those things that were never intended to be law. Ancient customary matters of hair, dress, jewelry, food, drink, and other minutia become the focus for some people. “Do this! Don't do that!” preoccupies their attentions and energies

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Hebrews 10:19-25

The Large Catechism regards the Sabbath as “an entirely external matter, like the other regulations of the Old Testament associated with particular customs, persons, times, and places.”

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 11:1–6

It is perfectly fitting for a congregation to develop rules for how things are done in the church. And it is perfectly wrong to say that one earns God's grace by keeping those rules.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 3:1–9

There are some who sin by having faith in the things that they do. There are others who are not content with this but must have a following, leading others astray from a knowledge of the truth. This should not be a strange revelation...

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Matthew 15:10–20

The Church has no need of more rules and traditions. The law which is in place through the Scripture is more than sufficient to make people aware of their sinful condition. The grace...

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:1–3

No bishop or pastor should create any tradition that promises people God's grace. Nor should the people be threatened with God's disfavor when people do not obey these human inventions.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Mark 16:15–16

The power of the keys is as clear as the plain commissioning of the gospel. Preach! Inherent to the proclamation of the gospel is the administration of God's grace through his sacraments.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Luke 20:19–26

Put in plain terms, the Church has power in spiritual matters. The State is left to deal with all else. Both Church and State overreach when they enter into the affairs of the other.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: James 1:1–4

God's will is that we would perform our normal duties of life faithfully and sincerely. In other words, we must not run from life, hoping that a deal we make with God will somehow make us perfect.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Galatians 5:1–6

To say that one may do something—anything—that could earn God's grace is an insult to the gospel of our Lord. The Lutherans pointed out this fallacy in the monasticism practiced at the time of the Reformation.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Matthew 19:10–12

When the Apostle Paul was a grown man, able to make decisions as to whether or not to be married, he seems to have chosen to remain unmarried so that his time could be devoted to the kingdom of God.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Ecclesiastes 5:1–7

The practice of religion can be insincere and downright hypocritical. Even our devotion can be disingenuous when it is focused on self instead of God. So we should watch our step and guard our words.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 7:1–5

The Lutherans at Wittenberg allowed those under vows to marry. Some had been placed under monastic orders by their families, and others by their own ignorance

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Philippians 3:12–21

The Apostle Paul admits that he is not perfect, but struggling against his flesh. (Rom 7:15) He presses on toward the goal of completeness, in spite of his imperfect state.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24–27

The difference was, as it always was for the Lutherans, that they did not regard discipline of the flesh and other Church traditions as necessary for salvation.


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