"Since all divisions within Christendom appeal to Scriptures . . . who all say that their doctine is based on the Scriptures, . . . the mere confession that one believes what is in Scripture is not a confession that clearly distringuishes the confessor from the false believer."
C.F.W. Walther, 1858. (See "House of Our Fathers, " p. 126)
Posted by a blessed friend: Rev. Terry Hoese
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
WHAT IS JUSTIFYING FAITH?
The faith that justifies … is no mere historical knowledge, but the firm acceptance of God’s offer promising forgiveness of sins and justification. To avoid the impression that it is merely knowledge, we add that to have faith means to want and to accept the promised offer of forgiveness of sins and justification.
It is easy to determine the difference between this faith and the righteousness of the law. Faith is that worship which receives God’s offered blessing; the righteousness of the law is that worship which offers God our own merits. It is by faith that God wants to be worshiped, namely, that we receive from him what he promises and offers.
In speaking of justifying faith, therefore, we must remember that these three elements always belong together: the promise itself, the fact that the promise is free, and the merits of Christ as the price and propitiation. The promise is accepted by faith; the fact that it is free excludes our merits and shows that the blessing is offered only by mercy; the merits of Christ are the price because there must be a certain propitiation for our sins. Scripture contains many pleas for mercy, and the holy Fathers often say that we are saved by mercy. And so at every mention of mercy we must remember that this requires faith, which accepts the promise of mercy. Similarly, at every mention of faith we are also thinking of its object, the promised mercy. For faith does not justify or save because it is a good work in itself, but only because it accepts the promised mercy.
Apology fo the Augsburg Confession Art. IV 48-49, 53-56.
Tappert, Theodore G.: The Book of Concord : The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Philadelphia : Fortress Press, 2000, c1959, S. 113
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
WHERE IS YOUR SIN LYING?
"Either sin is lying on your shoulders,
or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God.
Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost;
but if it is resting on Christ, you are free."
- Martin Luther
or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God.
Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost;
but if it is resting on Christ, you are free."
- Martin Luther
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Transfiguration - God's Dwelling Place For Us
Peter wants to build a tent or booth for the glory to dwell in –
Almost as if to say – dwell in our dwellings – so that we might have the glory we as your people had long ago –
But the Father cuts Peter off –
And by His words, the Father tells Peter that he and the rest of us can have need of something better than a tent, we need an eternal house in which His glory dwells (2Cor.5).
What is this house that God would have us find this glory? The Father has shown them by the transfiguration of His Son, and then tells us, as He told Peter, James and John on the mount:
THIS IS MY BELOVED SON – LISTEN TO HIM.
Jesus is the house, the eternal house come to earth, where the this glory dwells.
How can we be sure this glory which dwells in Christ is for us? We need only go to the cross where we find the Father hiding us in Christ, that His greatest glory might be our glory.
Though this glory is hidden to the human eye, it may be readily accessed through faith according to the Father's bidding, LISTEN TO HIM. To access that glory, on need only the doors of the sacred Scriptures and there will we receive this glory, even as it received through the water with the Word in Baptism, even as it received through the bread and the wine with the Word in the Lord's Supper.
Lord, I have ears to hear, let me hear, let me listen. Amen.
Almost as if to say – dwell in our dwellings – so that we might have the glory we as your people had long ago –
But the Father cuts Peter off –
And by His words, the Father tells Peter that he and the rest of us can have need of something better than a tent, we need an eternal house in which His glory dwells (2Cor.5).
What is this house that God would have us find this glory? The Father has shown them by the transfiguration of His Son, and then tells us, as He told Peter, James and John on the mount:
THIS IS MY BELOVED SON – LISTEN TO HIM.
Jesus is the house, the eternal house come to earth, where the this glory dwells.
How can we be sure this glory which dwells in Christ is for us? We need only go to the cross where we find the Father hiding us in Christ, that His greatest glory might be our glory.
Though this glory is hidden to the human eye, it may be readily accessed through faith according to the Father's bidding, LISTEN TO HIM. To access that glory, on need only the doors of the sacred Scriptures and there will we receive this glory, even as it received through the water with the Word in Baptism, even as it received through the bread and the wine with the Word in the Lord's Supper.
Lord, I have ears to hear, let me hear, let me listen. Amen.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
THE PREMISE OF DUALITY
An Atheist PROFESSOR of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .
PROFESSOR You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
STUDENT Yes, sir.
PROFESSOR So, you Believe in GOD ?
STUDENT Absolutely, sir.
PROFESSOR Is GOD Good ?
STUDENT Sure.
PROFESSOR Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
STUDENT (was silent )
PROFESSOR You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GOD Good?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR Is Satan good ?
STUDENT No.
PROFESSOR Where does Satan come from ?
STUDENT From .. . . GOD . .. .
PROFESSOR That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR So who created evil ?
STUDENT (did not answer)
PROFESSOR Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
STUDENT Yes, sir.
PROFESSOR So, who Created them ?
(STUDENT had no answer)
PROFESSOR Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
STUDENT No, sir.
PROFESSOR Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
STUDENT No , sir.
PROFESSOR Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
STUDENT No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
PROFESSOR Yet you still Believe in HIM?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist.. What do you say to that, son?
STUDENT Nothing. I only have my Faith.
PROFESSOR Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
STUDENT PROFESSOR , is there such a thing as Heat?
PROFESSOR Yes.
STUDENT And is there such a thing as Cold?
PROFESSOR Yes.
STUDENT No, sir. There isn't.
STUDENT Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as Cold. Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat. We cannot Measure Cold. Heat is Energy. Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
STUDENT What about Darkness, PROFESSOR ? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
PROFESSOR Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
STUDENT You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called Darkness, isn't it? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
PROFESSOR So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
STUDENT Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
PROFESSOR Flawed ? Can you explain how?
STUDENT Sir, you are working on the PREMISE OF DUALITY.
You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one..
To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your STUDENT s that they evolved from a Monkey?
PROFESSOR If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
STUDENT Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
STUDENT Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavor, Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
STUDENT Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the PROFESSOR 's Brain?
STUDENT Is there anyone here who has ever heard the PROFESSOR 's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . . No one appears to have done so. So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that You have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?
PROFESSOR I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
STUDENT That is it sir . . .. Exactly ! The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
PROFESSOR You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
STUDENT Yes, sir.
PROFESSOR So, you Believe in GOD ?
STUDENT Absolutely, sir.
PROFESSOR Is GOD Good ?
STUDENT Sure.
PROFESSOR Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
STUDENT (was silent )
PROFESSOR You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GOD Good?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR Is Satan good ?
STUDENT No.
PROFESSOR Where does Satan come from ?
STUDENT From .. . . GOD . .. .
PROFESSOR That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR So who created evil ?
STUDENT (did not answer)
PROFESSOR Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
STUDENT Yes, sir.
PROFESSOR So, who Created them ?
(STUDENT had no answer)
PROFESSOR Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
STUDENT No, sir.
PROFESSOR Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
STUDENT No , sir.
PROFESSOR Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
STUDENT No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
PROFESSOR Yet you still Believe in HIM?
STUDENT Yes.
PROFESSOR According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist.. What do you say to that, son?
STUDENT Nothing. I only have my Faith.
PROFESSOR Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
STUDENT PROFESSOR , is there such a thing as Heat?
PROFESSOR Yes.
STUDENT And is there such a thing as Cold?
PROFESSOR Yes.
STUDENT No, sir. There isn't.
STUDENT Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as Cold. Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat. We cannot Measure Cold. Heat is Energy. Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
STUDENT What about Darkness, PROFESSOR ? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
PROFESSOR Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
STUDENT You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called Darkness, isn't it? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
PROFESSOR So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
STUDENT Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
PROFESSOR Flawed ? Can you explain how?
STUDENT Sir, you are working on the PREMISE OF DUALITY.
You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one..
To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your STUDENT s that they evolved from a Monkey?
PROFESSOR If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
STUDENT Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
STUDENT Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavor, Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
STUDENT Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the PROFESSOR 's Brain?
STUDENT Is there anyone here who has ever heard the PROFESSOR 's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . . No one appears to have done so. So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that You have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?
PROFESSOR I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
STUDENT That is it sir . . .. Exactly ! The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
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