The Apostles’ Creed, part 1
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Mark 9:24
...Our word “creed” comes from the Latin “credo,” which means “I believe.” When we say a creed, we are concisely confessing what we believe.
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The Apostles’ Creed, part 2
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Deuteronomy 6:4
The Shema (meaning “hear” or “obey”) states that God is one God: “Hear, O Israel, the LORD, The LORD is one.” (Deut 6:4) However, the English translation obscures much in this verse.
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The Apostles’ Creed, part 3
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 7:7–11
Though the Apostles Creed was not written by the Apostles, we consider it apostolic because it teaches their chief doctrines, often doing so with the very words of Scripture. It begins with the doctrine of “God the Father"...
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“Maker of Heaven and Earth”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Genesis 1:1–31
Here, the Apostles Creed echoes the opening words of Scripture. All things were created by the word of God. There is nothing that has been made apart from his word. Genesis tells us creation was spoken into existence...
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“And in Jesus Christ”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 10:22–39
The conjunction “and” is important. It is not used for word flow alone; nor is it used as merely an “also,” as if to say: Additionally, we believe in Jesus Christ. It is an intensifier.
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“His Only Son”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 4:9–15
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only one who is “eternally begotten of the Father,” as we profess in the Nicene Creed. He is “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,” yet at the same time man. He is God in the flesh.
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“Our Lord”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:14–17
A lord is one with authority over another. He has the power to exert his authority, and likely will do so. He is master and absolute ruler of all under his dominion. In one sense, this is the meaning of “our Lord.”
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“Conceived by the Holy Spirit”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 6:54–63
Even in the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary we see that human works had no play. Mary did nothing. Joseph surely did nothing. The poor man was very likely stunned at the news...
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The Apostles' Creed
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 1:18–25
The divinity of Jesus is seen in the Spirit of God causing Mary to be pregnant. He came over her and overshadowed her. There was nothing physical in the act...
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“Suffered Under Pontius Pilate”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 26:24–31
The trial, a sham, complete with trumped up charges, an all-too-literal whipping boy, and a villain set free, would see Jesus spit upon, humiliated, scourged, a crown of thorns pressed into his scalp, and finally crucified...
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“Was Crucified”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 19:16–27
All of Jesus' ministry looks toward the crucifixion. He tells his disciples over and over that this is why he came to earth. Sometimes it is a veiled announcement...
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“He Descended Into Hell”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:1–10
We should, however, find great comfort and hope that Jesus descended into hell. We celebrate the Ascension; we should observe the “Descension” too.
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“He Rose Again”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Genesis 45:25–28
Like Jacob, who simply believed the report of his son being still alive, we confess that on the third day Christ Jesus rose from the dead and lives.
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“He Ascended”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
From the Confessions: “He ascended into heaven." Christ was not raised from the dead and ascended to the Father so that he would escape from death and this earth...
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“He Will Come Again”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 4:1–7
We confess that Jesus ascended to his Father and that as Lord of of heaven and earth, he is appointed to be the judge of both the living and the dead.
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“I Believe in the Holy Spirit”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 1:1–14
Christians believe that the Lord our God is one God yet three persons, or Trinity. We have named the first two persons of the Trinity who is God.
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“The Holy Catholic Church”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 16:13–20
From the Confessions: “The holy catholic Church.” We confess three things in this phrase. Let us consider them in reverse order. First, we confess that God has constructed himself a Church. Jesus told Peter...
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“The Communion of Saints”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Hebrews 11:1–12:2
From the Confessions: “The communion of saints" Community is not a solo event. It takes many saints to make a communion...
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“The Forgiveness of Sin”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 1:5–10
The forgiveness of sins is available because we admit our condition, the need of a Savior, and the truth that the Father sent his Son into the world to accomplish this very thing once and for all (Heb 10:10).
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“Resurrection of the Body”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Christ has redeemed everything we might consider corrupt, so the flesh, though it undergo decay or be consumed by fire, will be raised by the power of God.
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“The Life Everlasting”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 14:1–4
We spend our lives waiting on things to happen. As children, we were known to ask, “Are we there yet?” We could not wait for birthdays, Christmas, and vacations. They seemed never to arrive...
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The Nicene Creed
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 14:8–11
The Nicene Creed originated from a need to confront a certain false teaching, or heresy, head-on by concisely and correctly teaching what the Scripture says about Jesus Christ.
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“Things Visible and Invisible”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 8:4–6
In the Nicene Creed, we confess one more thing about the Father than we do in the Apostles' Creed. We already profess that the Father is Maker of heaven and earth but now we say more specifically that he is Creator of all things—those things both visible and invisible, the things we know about and those we do not.
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“Begotten of the Father Before All Worlds”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 1:1–4, 14–18
In other words, the Son is eternal, as John testifies in his Gospel. The Son of God is not a created being, even one of a higher nature than man, but instead is himself the Creator.
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“God of God”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Philippians 2:5–11
Jesus is God, as the Father and the Spirit are God, and they are together God. He is the very essence of what it is to be God. He is the pith of divinity.
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“Light of Light”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Revelation 21:22–25
Jesus is not a reflection of this light. He is the light. He is the “true light.” (John 1:9) He is that “joyous light of glory” whom we confess as God. As he is by definition, “God of God,” he is by description, “Light of Light.”
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“Very God of Very God”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 5:15-18
These days, we say, “true God of true God,” and rightly so, since “very” used to be used as truly or true. The Latin word from which we derive the English word “very” is verus which means “true.” We still think this way, even if we do not realize we do so.
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“Begotten”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Colossians 1:15–20
Here we see a straightforward denial of the Arian heresy: Jesus is “not made.” If there was any uncertainty about the definition of the word begotten, here is the clarification: “not made.” The Son of God is not a created being, like angels or humans.
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“Whose Kingdom Shall Have No End”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Isaiah 9:2–7
Since God himself is eternal, his kingdom also remains forever. Within any kingdom, including God's heavenly kingdom, are its citizens, the king's subjects. The citizens of the kingdom of heaven are both angelic and human.
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“Lord and Giver of Life”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 3:12–18
The Holy Spirit is too often thought of as impersonal, a power, rather that the relational third person of the Trinity who is God.
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“Proceeds”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 15:26–27
The Spirit was not birthed, but proceeds from the Father and the Son in eternity, even as Jesus comes from the Father in eternity. Though one proceeds from another, they are undivided in their essence; they are inseparably one.
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“Together”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Genesis 1:26–28
The Creed helps the uncomprehending to confess and believe the Scriptures so that they may come to understand the incomprehensible.
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“One Church”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 6:11–18
We believe in the Church established by God, not a church established by Luther. Nor do we believe in the churches or denominations begun by any other parties.
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“One Baptism”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:1–6
The “one baptism” into which we are baptized is Christ's baptism. His baptism is our own; it is why he was baptized: to fulfill all righteousness — even ours.
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“I look for the resurrection of the dead.”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 15:12–19
The confession of resurrection is as important as that of the divinity of Christ or of creation or of any other item in our creed. Without resurrection, the rest of the creed falls apart.
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“The World to Come”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 5:10–13
Everlasting life is a free gift from God. Jesus was sent by his Father so that we might not perish but by believing in what Jesus has done for us, live with him forever.
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The Athanasian Creed
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Luke 24:44–45
The whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal, so that in all things, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped.
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“Whole and Inviolable”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 20:24–29
The latest theological craze attracts the spiritually distracted like deer to headlights. The more glaring and wilder, the better. What difference does it make, since they will likely be chasing a new idea within the month?
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“Trinity in Unity”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 14:6–13
Now this is the catholic faith: we worship one God in trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being.
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“Compulsion”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 11:33–36
How can it be that there are three Persons but only one God? We try to make sense of it through human and earthly analogies but, of course, all of them fall short of the glory who is God.
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“Addressing Heresies”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18–21
As Paul says, repetition is good for us. We need to hear the difficult teachings many times before we begin to understand. So we hear again that each of the three Persons of the Trinity are uncreated.
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“Equal and Subordinate”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Colossians 2:8–15
The issue of the Athanasian Creed is not only that we rightly understand the Trinity of God but that we correctly understand the dual nature of Jesus Christ.
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“One Christ”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1–6
He is not two beings, a god and a man somehow in a kind of symbiosis. Nor is he some kind of compound or complex organism, made by the joining of two beings, but no longer quite human or divine as a the result.
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“Likewise”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 2:1–6
The Small Catechism also, even though teaching from the Apostles' Creed that does not deal explicitly with the dual nature, teaches us that the ascended Christ is “true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary.”
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Standing On Your Own Feet
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Revelation 20:11–15
At first blush, it might seem to some that a salvation of works is being advocated. That interpretation would contradict the rest of the creed.
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A Preface Toward Unity
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 3:13-17
Christians ought to hope for unity, beginning to do so by considering how they agree on matters of the faith. After all, they are called to fellowship together in Jesus Christ our Lord (1Cor 1:9-10). Christians are also to be ready to defend the faith (1Per 3:15), even if it is in confessing it to one another.
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Of Original Sin
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:21-27
The Lutherans of old wanted to make it clear at Augsburg that they were sinners. Indeed, they wished it understood that they believed all people since Adam (Rom 5:12) were in this condition from the very beginning of their lives.
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Of the Son of God
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 20:30-31
To be as certain as they could be that the Church in Rome understood that the Lutherans were orthodox, they continued to confess key doctrines at Augsburg. So far, there are none where they would disagree.
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Of Justification
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 3:21-31
It sounds as though a sixteenth century Lutheran wrote the words but they were penned by the Apostle Paul and inspired by the Holy Spirit in the first century. “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Rom 3:28) There is no mingling of the two.
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Of the Ministry
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 10:5–17
Real faith does not happen because one decides to believe, because one disciplines herself to be a holy person, or as the result of any other personal or religious preparation.
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Of New Obedience
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 5:18–25
The Lutherans also wished it to be known that justification by faith did not negate the command of God for his people to do good works. However, these acts of charity and obedience are a result of faith—not a requirement of justification.
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Concerning the Church
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 5:25–27
Building on the confession of “the communion of saints” in the creed, and that God imputes righteousness through faith, Melancthon is emboldened to state that the Church is a “congregation of saints.”
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What the Church Is
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 23:1–10
Just as God does not need, nor does he use, a person's virtues to bring her to saving faith, he does not require so-called good men to deliver his grace or make it valid in a congregation.
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Of Baptism
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 3:18–22
As there is no way to receive God's grace without baptism, strictly speaking from Scripture, they condemned the idea that children—or anyone else—could receive grace without baptism.
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Of the Lord's Supper
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 6:50–59
For now, in the tenth article, the Lutherans only and plainly confess that Christ's body and blood are truly present in his supper. His body and blood are also conveyed as true food and true drink to those who receive the sacrament.
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Of Confession
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: James 5:13-20
Confession can be good for the soul. Generally, this is the case when a particular, perhaps difficult sin needs to be confronted squarely so that one might be healed.
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Of Repentance
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Colossians 1:9-14
We confess that God's grace is freely available to sinners both before and after baptism, and should be just as freely declared to all repentant persons.
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Of the Use of the Sacraments
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
The gift of Christ's Body and Blood may only be received in faith. It is not mere religious observance. Instead, it is God working through his Supper to enliven and establish our faith through continued grace.
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Of Ecclesiastical Order
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:11-16
God does not call all to these responsibilities, as some of the more radical wings of the Reformation taught. He calls “some”...
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Concerning Church Traditions
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 4:8-11
The human heart must constantly be reminded that Christ is the end of the law (Rom 10:4). There are “profitable” things that we retain, such as fasting during Lent, but to make fasting during this season a law and obligation is contrary to the gospel.
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Concerning Civic Government
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 13:1-7
Scripture urges us to pray for those who rule over us. God has instituted good government. It is his servant for our good. The laws of the land, in so much as they agree with the Word of God, are to be obeyed.
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Concerning Christ's Return for Judgment
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
The theme of the Reformers in Wittenberg was faith. The standard of salvation and eternal life for Lutherans is always faith in God, not the lack of it nor of a reward for good works. On the Day of the Lord, Christ will return to judge...
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Free Will
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 2:14-16
Lutherans confess that they are entirely dependent upon God's grace from start to finish... We may be a good citizen of earth, but will never be fit for the kingdom of God until we become people of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
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The Cause of Sin
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 1:18-25
Yet, because of our human nature, we easily turn away from God, intent on having things our way. It is our wills that resolve to not do good; and this we call sin.
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Concerning Good Works - Part 1
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 5:14-16
The Lutheran emphasis on justification by faith alone was attacked by those who insisted on being cleared of their sins by religious acts alone. Those who insisted that God's favor was earned instead of freely given...
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Concerning Good Works - Part 2
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 14:1-6
Faith trusts in Christ alone for salvation. This must be preached in all the churches since it is the teaching of Scripture and because this doctrine consoles Christians. (Rom 5:1)
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Concerning Good Works - Part 3
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 15:5-11
The doctrine of justification by faith is not a Lutheran innovation. We are not alone in our understanding of the Scripture. Even in the earliest days of the Church, it was taught...
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Concerning Good Works - Part 4
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 15:8-13
When one tries to reconcile God through good works, the conscience still trembles. One must put aside trust in self, and trust in Christ alone for righteousness before God. Nowhere in Scripture does it tell us to turn to ourselves and find peace.
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Concerning Good Works - Part 5
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Philippians 3:1-11
Our works are always questionable. Does one do enough, for the right reason, and so forth? Therefore, the conscience cannot be consoled as it will debate with itself as to whether one has become good enough for God. However one may try, she will never be good enough.
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Concerning Good Works - Part 6
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 3:16-17
Lutherans teach that God loves all people. Indeed, he loves us so much that he sent his own Son to bring eternal life to everyone who believes in the Son. (John 3:16) His limitless love brings peace and comfort...
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Concerning Good Works – Part 7
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: James 2:14-22
Faith is completed or fulfilled in our good works. One may say that she believes in God but if she left her brother hungry or threadbare would anyone suspect she was a member of the family of God? This is not a living faith.
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Concerning Good Works - Part 8
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 15:1-5
The doctrine of justification by faith does not rule out doing good works. Rather, it shows us how we are able to do good works. Left to our own devices, we would not do those principal Christian works.
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Concerning the Worship of Saints
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 8:31-34
Lutherans encourage an old tradition: imitate those who imitate Christ. (1 Cor 4:16; 11:1) We hold up the lives of the saints as models of faith to be followed. But we do not venerate the saints or pray to them.
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Conclusion of Part One
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
Since it has been shown that the Church Fathers also agreed with their teachings, it must be noted that the Wittenbergers were also in accord with the whole Church.
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Corrected Abuses
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
But corruptions had begun to creep into the Church. Reform was badly needed so that people's hearts could again be comforted by the mercy of God in Christ.
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Concerning Both Kinds in the Sacrament
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 26:26-28
When we begin to change the plain meaning of God's Word or remove words that offend us, we offend God and are condemned by the very words we omit.
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Concerning the Marriage of Priests
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Genesis 2:18, 21-24
Then, he too took a wife, a former nun by the name of Katherine. She became everything God intended in marriage. She was in all ways Luther's helpmate and better half.
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Concerning the Mass - Part 1
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32
Lutherans celebrate Holy Communion often—many of our churches communing each Lord's Day. We do so with order and reverence, beginning with the acknowledgment that we all sin...
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Concerning the Mass - Part 2
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 2:4-7
The Mass, or Holy Communion, was being bought and sold in the days of the Reformation. It was thought that one could purchase a Mass to be said for himself as a way of earning some merit with God.
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Concerning the Mass - Part 3
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 8:18-23
It is bad enough when people who know better turn a blind eye to the truth. It is worse when they do so for financial reward. This was a leading problem facing the Church, not only at the time of the Reformation but for hundreds of years prior to the reform efforts of the Lutherans.
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Concerning the Mass - Part 4
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Hebrews 10:8-14
It was believed that the Mass was an additional sacrifice that atoned for people's sins—indeed, not just the sins of the living but the dead as well. Because the Church had come to accept that Christ's death only atoned for Original Sin...
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Concerning the Mass - Part 5
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Luke 22:14-20
When you approach the altar, you ought to ask, “What am I doing here?” The answer, of course, is that your Lord has called you to his table. You might think that you are unworthy to eat from his hand. Nevertheless, he has called you — commanded you. Take. Eat.
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Concerning the Mass - Part 6
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 11:33-34
Holy Communion is a benefit for those gathered. It is not to be served to those who are not present or to unbelievers or the dead. When the Church gathers for worship, Communion is celebrated with proper order. Communion is not a potluck that feeds the belly.
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Concerning Confession, Part 1
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 20:21-23
Both the Small and Large Catechisms of Luther provide instruction about how to make confession. We teach that people must confess their sins before receiving Holy Communion. And they must be forgiven.
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Concerning Confession, Part 2
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Psalm 19:12–13
No one can remember or even be aware of all of his sins, so that sort of confession that demands a litany of every last sin is hopeless. Trying to do so will produce a miserable person, overburdened under the weight of both his sins and the Church's demands.
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Concerning the Distinction of Meats, Part 1
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 14:14–19
The Lutherans insisted that they were under no such obligation to satisfy God since we are not forgiven by our works but instead for Christ's sake alone. Justification with God is through faith in Christ's work, never by religious deeds.
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Concerning the Distinction of Meats, Part 2
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 15:1–9
The kingdom of God is not in the doing of things but in believing what has been done. There is nothing wrong, of course, with following God's law and keeping his commandments. Christians keep God's commands but they do not believe that religious acts elicit God's mercy. God loves us with a perfect love.
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Concerning the Distinction of Meats, Part 3
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Micah 6:6–8
“They can't see the forest for the trees” is a saying that could easily be applied to the Church. What difference does it really make whether the Bible is carried into the sanctuary in just the right manner, so long as the Word of God is read?
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Concerning the Distinction of Meats, Part 4
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 11:1–6
The Lord insists that we teach his Word with patience and clarity. We must take a firm stand on matters of doctrine, for people's souls hang in the balance. Such was the case for the Lutherans in Wittenberg.
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Concerning the Distinction of Meats, Part 5
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 16:25–31
God's grace cannot be earned or increased by keeping Church customs. So, Lutherans confess that we are saved by the grace of Christ alone, as the Scriptures teach.
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Concerning the Distinction of Meats, Part 6
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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Concerning the Distinction of Meats, Part 7
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 1:8–14
Lutheran worship is well-known for being traditional, often in form but always in terms of those things that contribute to good order.
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Concerning Monastic Vows, Part 1
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 5:33–37
The idea that one could earn favor with God permeated the Church. Monastic vows was one more example of this doctrine of works.
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Concerning Monastic Vows, Part 2
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.
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Concerning Monastic Vows, Part 3
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
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Concerning Monastic Vows, Part 4
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.
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Concerning Monastic Vows, Part 5
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.
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Concerning Monastic Vows, Part 6
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 8:1–4
The Lutherans believed that marriages could not be annulled by monastic vows. Indeed, the opposite is the case: marriage vows annul monastic obligations.
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