What Do We Believe as Lutherans?
The Augsburg Confession Explained
Bold passages are taken from the Augsburg Confession
~subheadIndex-links
ARTICLE I. GOD
In America, more and more people are claiming to be atheists. In other words, they believe that there is no god. To be honest with themselves they are really placing their faith in themselves. In other words, they have created god in their own image.
In America, some consider themselves agnostics when it comes to understanding ‘God.’ An agnostic believes that there is a ‘god,’ however, they have no idea who he/she/it is.
Then there are those of countless different faiths who believe in a so-called ‘god’ that has been created in the minds of man. These different faiths deny the God that has been revealed in Sacred Scriptures, a.k.a. the Bible.
So what do Lutheran believe or what does the Sacred Word of God teach?
1 Our Lutheran churches teach with common consent that the decree of the Council of Nicaea about the unity of the divine essence and concerning the three persons is true. It is to be believed without any doubt. God is one divine essence who is eternal, without a body, without parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. He is the maker and preserver of all things, visible and invisible (Nehemiah 9:6). 3 Yet there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). These three persons are of the same essence and power.
In short, we believe, teach, and confess that God, as He revealed Himself in the Bible, is one, yet three distinct persons. So we baptize people of all ages in the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As Jesus said that if you deny that He is God, then you deny the One who sent Him, namely God the Father. In rejecting Jesus as God, you reject His saving work in paying for your sin when He shed His blood on the cross. Furthermore, it is the Holy Spirit who brings and keeps one in true faith in God.
ARTICLE II. ORIGINAL SIN
Before we get to original sin, let us first define ‘sin.’ Sin is any action that goes against the will of God.
I defined God as revealed in the Bible yesterday. namely God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, The One God, three persons. God who is our Creator. Sin is any action that goes against the will of God, active or passive failure to do the will of God. An example of active sin would be to throw someone into floodwaters, an example of passive sin would be to not reach out to someone who is within reach and drowning.
Now, what is original sin?
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that since the fall of Adam (Romans 5:12), all who are naturally born are born with sin (Psalm 51:3), that is, they are without fear of God, without trust in God, and with the inclination to sin, called concupiscence. 2 Concupiscence is a disease and original vice that is truly sin. It damns and brings eternal death on those who are not born anew through Baptism and the Holy Spirit (John 3:5).
The Scriptures teach that original sin is the absence of original righteousness and the root cause of all sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. The wages of sin, according to the Sacred Word of God, is death. The apostle Paul put it this way: “I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Romans 7:23). Sin corrupts the whole of a person and has not only temporal consequences, but it also has what is referred to as a second death consequences, total, complete and everlasting separation from God and His love.
This is horrible news, the good news comes tomorrow with the article of faith regarding the Son of God. In Jesus Christ, God removes the condemnation of all sin, including the inclination to sin. Praise God for Jesus our Savior!
ARTICLE III. THE SON OF GOD
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that the Word, that is, [Jesus] the Son of God (John 1:14), assumed the human nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 2 So there are two natures — the divine and the human — inseparably joined in one person. There is one Christ, true God and true man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. 3 He did this to reconcile the Father to us and be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for all actual sins of mankind (John 1:29). 4 He also descended into hell, and truly rose again on the third day. Afterward, He ascended into heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father. There He forever reigns and has dominion over all creatures. He sanctifies those who believe in Him, by sending the Holy Spirit into their hearts 5 to rule, comfort, and make alive. He defends them against the devil and the power of sin. 6 The same Christ will openly come again to judge the living and the dead, and so forth, according to the Apostles’ Creed.
On our altars, in Lutheran churches, we have two candles. They represent that Jesus Christ is both true God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. Christ, a title of Jesus that means ‘Anointed One’, suffered and died to reconcile us born rebels to God the Father.
Jesus is, and remains, for all eternity the God-man, the One who appeased God’s wrath against our sin and won for us everlasting life. Without Jesus, you would have no way to be reconciled with your Creator. You would remain lost and overwhelmed by your sin, original sin as we learned yesterday ~ that we inherited all the way back to Adam and Eve. Tomorrow we learn how one is justified or declared not guilty based on Holy Scriptures.
ARTICLE IV. JUSTIFICATION
This article of faith is the very heart of the Gospel and the most important teaching in the Holy Scriptures. To justify means “to be declared righteous” or ‘not guilty’. God’s sure and certain declaration that we are righteous in His eyes is possible only because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through His life, Jesus satisfied God’s demand for perfect obedience. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus endured God’s just wrath and atoned for the sins of the world.
In sum:
1 Our Lutheran churches also teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith 2 when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. 3 God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3:21-26; 4:5).
Praise God for His mercy and grace! The Holy Spirit, through the means of grace, Word and Sacraments, works in us saving faith, which personally receives what Christ has done for us. Our justification before God, therefore, is brought about by the One who lived, suffered, and died for our salvation. We cannot merit God's favor through our obedience; we cannot offer sacrifices to pay for our sins. But what we cannot do for ourselves, Christ has done for us. He is the solid Rock on which God builds His Church. On Him, and Him alone, we stand forgiven.
ARTICLE V: THE MINISTRY
The previous article of faith was on Justification. How can Christ's justifying work that took place nearly two thousand years ago ~ through His life, death, and resurrection ~ become a blessing to us today? It is through the office of the Holy Ministry, summed up here:
1 So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments was instituted. 2 Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given (John 20:22). He works faith, when and where it pleases God (John 3:8), in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ’s sake.
God established the Office of the Holy Ministry precisely to distribute Christ's good gifts. He sends shepherds, whom we refer to today using the Latin term 'pastors', whom the Holy Spirit appoints as overseers, to care for His flock. Some of the main duties of pastors is the preaching and the teaching of God's Sacred Word. A pastor is called to preach sermons and to teach solely based on the Sacred Word of God. In other words, not adding to or taking away from what God has revealed through Holy Scriptures.
In addition, an under-shepherd is to be like John the Baptist and to point one to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. At times, a pastor applies the demands of a loving God found in the Law to those who are content in their sin. At other times, he applies the comforting good news to those who are troubled by their sin and seek God's mercy and forgiveness. Tomorrow we will focus our attention on the article of faith called New Obedience.
ARTICLE VI. NEW OBEDIENCE
Lutherans are sometimes accused of denying that Christians should do good works. The article on new obedience follows on the heels of the articles of faith on justification and the ministry, that I spoke about over the past two days. Now here is the summary of the article of faith entitled New Obedience:
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that this faith is bound to bring forth good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). It is necessary to do the good works commanded by God (Ephesians 2:10), because of God’s will. We should not rely on those works to merit justification before God. The forgiveness of sins and justification are received by faith. The voice of Christ testifies, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10). 3 The [Church] Fathers teach the same thing. Ambrose says, “It is ordained of God that he who believes in Christ is saved, freely receiving forgiveness of sins, without works, through faith alone.”
This article clearly states that Lutherans do insist on good works. The faith given by the Holy Spirit is a living and active power in our lives, bearing the fruit of good works. We must do good works. God commands them. However, they do not save us. They are always the result of saving faith.
Faith makes the distinction between the worthy and the unworthy because everlasting life has been promised to the justified. If hope would rely upon works, then it would be uncertain, because the works of sinners cannot quiet the conscience. When a person is part of the equation in one's salvation then the saving work of Jesus is rejected as not being enough. However, faith in Jesus as Savior produces sure hope, because it relies upon God's Word and command. The outcome of faith in Jesus is no doubt good works as God's Spirit is active in such a believer.
ARTICLE VII. THE CHURCH
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that one holy Church is to remain forever. The Church is the congregations of saints (Psalm 149:1) in which the Gospel is purely taught and the Sacraments are correctly administered. 2 For the true unity of the Church it is enough about the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. 3 It is not necessary that human traditions, that is, rites or ceremonies instituted by men, should be the same everywhere. 4 As Paul says, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians. 4:5-6).
Outward unity in the church is shaped, defined, and normed by biblical truth (teaching), not the other way around. Church fellowship is the common participation in the saving treasures of the Church: Christ's gifts, His Gospel, and His blessed Sacraments. Not any [so-called] "Gospel" will do, but only that Gospel which is purely taught alongside correctly administered Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Put another way, the Church is primarily the gathering of God's people around Christ's Word and Sacraments. God's people are referred to in the Sacred Word of God as saints ~ 'holy ones' based on God's gift of faith in Jesus. The gathering together or congregating of saints on earth are blessed with the same Gospel or doctrine/teaching and the same Holy Spirit, who renews, sanctifies, and governs their hearts.
A word of warning, there are ungodly preachers/teachers found in churches. Christ warned: "Beware of false prophets" (Matthew 7:15). The apostle Paul says, "If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:9). They speak what sinful ears want to hear and lead people away from God, from His love, and from everlasting life.
Pastors, Christ's under-shepherds, act in Christ's place and do not represent their own persons, according to Luke, "The one who hears you hears Me" (10:16). Through the faithful pastors, Christ continues to speak the good news of the forgiveness of sins. Where there is the forgiveness of sin through faith in Jesus there is also life and salvation!
ARTICLE VIII. WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
Defining "Church" was one of the most controversial topics during the time of the Lutheran Reformation.
1 Properly speaking, the church is the assembly of saints and true believers.
The Church is primarily the gathering of God's people around Christ's Word and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. In the wide sense, the visible church includes all who are seen to gather around the Sacred Word of God and the Sacraments. This, of course, includes hypocrites and evil persons who mingle with believers, including some pastors and leaders of the church organization.
In the narrow sense, the invisible church includes all who genuinely have faith in Christ, an aspect of the Church that cannot be seen. Fellowship around, in, and through the Word and Sacraments define unity in the faith.
The apostle Paul writes regarding Christ's work in the making of the saints of the Church, by grace alone in his letter to the saints, the faithful believers in Christ of the Church at Ephesus: Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [Ephesians 5:25b–27]
ARTICLE IX. [BAPTISM]
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that Baptism is necessary for salvation, that the grace of God is offered through Baptism, 2 and that children should be baptized, for being offered to God through Baptism they are received into his grace.
Christ's kingdom exists only with the proclamation of God's Sacred Word and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. It is necessary and a blessing from above to baptize children of all ages, due to the inheritance of sin from one's sinful parents and so that the blessed hope and promise of salvation may be applied to them, according to Christ's command.
18 And Jesus came and said to [the eleven disciples], “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” [Matthew 28:18–20a (ESV)]
Jesus did not qualify making disciples of all nations, with 'except infants.' All nations includes all people of all ages. Holy Baptism works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit and by the grace of God is found even in the child inside his mother's womb, as in the case of John the Baptist who has been filled with the Holy Spirit, leaped for joy at the sound of the mother of Jesus' voice.
ARTICLE X. LORD’S SUPPER
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that the body and blood of Christ are truly present and are distributed to those who eat in the Supper of the Lord.
Listen to the very words of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of St. Matthew the 26th chapter: 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” [Matthew 26:26–28 (ESV)]
Based on these words, we Lutherans believe, teach, and confess that of the bread, it is what Christ said it is, namely "This is My body," and of the wine, "This is My blood." These are given and shed "for the forgiveness of sins."
So in the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine, one receives the very body and blood of Jesus. These are given so that those who receive them in faith, also are assured of the forgiveness of their sins. Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. But anyone who does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unfit. For the words, "for you" require hearts that truly believe. Don't forget to 'truly believe' is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
ARTICLE XI. CONFESSION
By the time of the Lutheran Reformation, the practice of confessing sins privately and confidentially to a pastor had been a well-accepted church practice for over a thousand years. Private Confession and Absolution was never something Lutherans wanted to get rid of. As time went on, the practice fell into disuse, but clearly, at the time of the Lutheran Reformation, the Lutheran Church assumed that private confession would continue to take place.
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that private absolution should be retained in the churches. However, in confession an enumeration of all sins is not necessary, 2 for this is not possible according to the Psalm, “Who can discern his errors?” [Psalm 19:12]
So what exactly is Confession from a Lutheran perspective? Confession has two parts: the one is that we confess our sins; the other is that we receive Absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor, as from God Himself, and in no way doubt, but firmly believe that our sins are forgiven before God in heaven by this.
What sins should we confess? Before God, we should plead guilty of all sins, even of those that we do not know, as we do in the Lord's Prayer. But before the confessor, we should confess only those sins that we know and feel in our hearts.
James offers these words of instruction regarding confession: "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." James 5:16 (ESV)]
ARTICLE XII. REPENTANCE
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that those who have fallen after Baptism can receive forgiveness of sins whenever they are converted, 2 and that the church ought to impart absolution to those who return to repentance. 3 Properly speaking, repentance consists of these two parts: 4 one is contrition, that is, terror smiting the conscience with a knowledge of sin, 5 and the other is faith, which is born of the Gospel, or of absolution, believes that sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, comforts the conscience, and delivers it from terror. 6 Then good works, which are the fruits of repentance, are bound to follow.
Repentance, in other words, is not about "paying off" God or making some satisfaction for our sin. Repentance is recognizing the reality of our sin and turning to God in faith for His mercy. God reveals our sin through His Law; He forgives our sin and restores us to the right relationship with Him through His Gospel. While we affirm there is the fruit of repentance, the focus of the Gospel must be clear: our sins are forgiven only because of Christ. Our lives in Christ are lives of repentance, returning again and again to the fount and source of all mercy, our Savior.
Repentance should produce good fruit. These good fruit are what the commandments teach: prayer, thanksgiving, the confession of the Gospel, teaching the Gospel, obeying parents and rulers, and being faithful to one's calling. We should speak the truth. These fruit have God's command and should be produced for the sake of God's glory and command. They have their rewards also.
ARTICLE XIII. THE USE OF THE SACRAMENTS
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that the sacraments were instituted not merely to be marks of profession among men but especially to be signs and testimonies of the will of God toward us, intended to awaken and confirm faith in those who use them. 2 Consequently the sacraments should be so used that faith, which believes the promises that are set forth and offered, is added. 3 [Our churches therefore condemn those who teach that the sacraments justify by the outward act and who do not teach that faith, which believes that sins are forgiven, is required in the use of the sacraments.]6
The Bible reveals the key to the Sacraments is that they are means to distribute God's grace and promises. God attaches His Word of promise to the element of the Sacrament. The Latin word 'Sacrament' means 'mystery.' God's gifts are given in God's mysterious ways through water, wine, or bread. These ordinary items are connected to God's promises and strengthens the faith of those receiving them.
In the Lutheran understanding, a sacrament is a sacred act that was 1) instituted by God; 2) in which God Himself has joined His Sacred Word of promise to a visible element; 3) and by which He offers, gives, and seals the forgiveness of sins earned by Jesus Christ. So by the Lutheran definition, there are two sacraments: Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Sometimes Holy Absolution is counted as a third sacrament, even though it has no divinely instituted visible element. It does offer, gives, and seals the forgiveness of sins earned by Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE XIV. ECCLESIASTICAL ORDER OR ORDER IN THE CHURCH
Our Lutheran churches teach that nobody should preach publicly in the church or administer the sacraments unless he is regularly called.
Lutherism desires to maintain whatever best contributes to good order, peace, and harmony in the Church. Therefore, Lutherans insist on a rightly ordered call and ordination for those who will serve the Church as ministers, servants of Word and Sacrament.
These ministers or servants are often called pastors. The Latin word 'pastor' means 'shepherd.' Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd or Good Pastor. Jesus said, " I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." [John 10:14–15 (ESV)]
Pastors serve as called under-shepherds of The Shepherd, Jesus Christ. As an under-shepherd, a pastor is called by God to be like John the Baptist, unworthy even to untie the sandals of Jesus; but rather to point others to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Another way to describe the role of a pastor is to be an overseer, tending God's flock. The apostle Paul wrote these words regarding the qualifications for such an overseer: "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. [1st Timothy 3:1–2 (ESV)]
ARTICLE XV. CHURCH CEREMONIES
1 Our [Lutheran] churches teach that those rites should be observed which can be observed without sin and which contribute to peace and good order in the church. Such are certain holy days, festivals, and the like. 2 Nevertheless, men are admonished not to burden consciences with such things, as if observances of this kind were necessary for salvation. 3 They are also admonished that human traditions which are instituted to propitiate (or appease) God, merit grace, and make satisfaction for sins are opposed to the Gospel and the teaching about faith. 4 Wherefore vows and traditions about foods and days, etc., instituted to merit grace and make satisfaction for sins, are useless and contrary to the Gospel.
In our Lutheran Churches, we refer to Sunday morning worship as Divine Services. In other words, the focus is on God serving us and on those who gather to receive God's good gifts, served up totally by His grace. God is the One who places His name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the waters of Holy Baptism. God speaks His Word through the Sacred Scripture readings from the Old Testament, the Epistle or Second readings, as well as the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. God's chief service in a Lutheran Church is preaching the Gospel in the sermon.
God also announces the forgiveness of sins to those who humble themselves, offer up their rebellious ways, and seek God's strength to overcome temptation. God also gives the gift of His Son's very body and blood through the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper. Christ's body and blood are given and shed for the forgiveness of sins and received by all who believe His words and promises.
God gives good gifts in His houses of worship each and every Sunday and on special Holy Days and festivals. You are most welcome!
ARTICLE XVI. CIVIL GOVERNMENT
1 Our Lutheran]churches teach that lawful civil ordinances are good works of God 2 and that it is right for Christians to hold civil office, to sit as judges, to decide matters by the federal, state or local government and other existing laws, to award just punishments, to engage in just wars, to serve as soldiers, to make legal contracts, to hold property, to swear oaths when required by elected officials, to marry, to be given in marriage. 3 Our Lutheran churches condemn those who forbid Christians to engage in these civil functions. 4 They also condemn those who place the perfection of the Gospel not in the fear of God and in faith but in forsaking civil duties. The Gospel teaches an eternal righteousness of the heart, but it does not destroy the state government or the family. 5 On the contrary, it especially requires their preservation as ordinance of God and the exercise of love in these ordinance. 6 Therefore Christians are necessarily bound to obey their elected officials and laws except when commanded to sin, 7 for then they ought to obey God rather than men.
One insight of the Lutheran Reformation was to understand that there are two kingdoms or realms. There is the Spiritual kingdom of which Jesus is the Head of the church. And then there is the Realm of Government. God has established governments in order that you and I could live in peace and safety. Elected officials are placed in their position in order to ultimately serve God and the people under their authority. There are times also that one may serve his or her country in the armed forces in just wars.
A third state that is not addressed in this chief article would be that of family. Marriage is not listed as one of the first twenty-one chief articles of faith. Marriage was instituted by Creator God from the very beginning as He created a male and then a female in His image and united them as husband and wife for life.
Please pray for devout and faithful rulers, good government as we do in the Lord's Prayer as we petition God to 'Give us this day our daily bread.'
ARTICLE XVII. CHRIST'S RETURN FOR JUDGEMENT
1 Our Lutheran churches also teach that at the consummation [or final end] of the world Christ will appear for judgment and will raise up all the dead. 2 To the godly and elect he will give eternal life and endless joy, 3 but ungodly men and devils he will condemn to be tormented without end. 4 Our Lutheran churches condemn those who think that there will be an end to the punishments of condemned men and devils. 5 They also condemn others who are now spreading opinions to the effect that before the resurrection of the dead the godly will take possession of the kingdom of the world, the ungodly being suppressed everywhere.
The writer of the book of Hebrews began with these words: 'Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world' (Hebrews 1:1–2 ESV). The last days according to God's Sacred Word began in the first coming of Jesus. Jesus began His reign when He rose victoriously from the dead. Forty days later He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of His Father. The reference of 1,000 years reign symbolizes that Jesus reigns now until His one and only second coming.
When we pray in the Lord's Prayer these words: "Thy kingdom come." We are asking that God's kingdom would come to us, to others, to others through us. It comes to us, solely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
This petition "Thy kingdom come" has a fourth request: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
For the believer in Jesus, we can hardly wait for His glorious return. I pray that you are ready and waiting as well, you are when you believe in Jesus as your Savior!
ARTICLE XVIII. FREE WILL
Our Lutheran churches teach that man’s will has some liberty for the attainment of civil righteousness and for the choice of things subject to reason. 2 However, it does not have the power, without the Holy Spirit, to attain the righteousness of God — that is, spiritual righteousness — because natural man does not perceive the gifts of the Spirit of God (1st Corinthians. 2:14); 3 but this righteousness is wrought in the heart when the Holy Spirit is received through the Word.. . . 8 Our Lutheran churches condemn those who teach that without the Holy Spirit, by the power of nature alone, we are able to love God above all things, and can also keep the commandments of God in so far as the substance of the acts is concerned. 9 Although nature is able in some measure to perform the outward works for it can keep the hands from theft and murder, yet it cannot produce the inward motions, such as the fear of God, trust in God, chastity, patience, and so on.
Mankind has the free will in earthly matter, but not in spiritual matters. We are able to apply ourselves to temporal concerns, but not matters of divine revelation. Free will was lost in the fall into sin. Now our nature is totally deprived of even taking the first step to faith. The wages of sin is death [period]. We are like Jesus' friend Lazarus who died and was in the grave for four days prior to Jesus' coming. Lazarus’ dead body was totally helpless. Jesus spoke the words "Lazarus, come out!" Then Lazarus came out.
The apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) Whenever one thinks or believers that he or she can and must do something to merit salvation then first one is in doubt, that leads to despair as one wonders did I do enough. This is especially troubling when one realizes that he has once again sinned.
The second consequence of thinking that must do his or her part is to deny Jesus of His saving work. In other words, it is to call Jesus a liar when he said: "It is finished!" Jesus was proclaiming the good news that the sin of all mankind had been paid in full by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
ARTICLE XIX. THE CAUSE OF SIN
Our Lutheran churches teach that although God creates and preserves nature, the cause of sin is the will of the wicked, that is, of the devil and ungodly men. If not aided by God, the will of the wicked turns away from God, as Christ says in John 8:44, “When the devil lies, he speaks according to his own nature.”
In other words, the cause of sin never had its source from God. God is holy and when the first male and the first female were created they too were holy. They were placed in a garden with all the blessings of food. They were naked and without shame.
God is not the source of evil. Nor does He have a dual personality, like yin and yang, half good and half evil. No the cause of sin is the will of the devil, who although created as one of God's messengers or angels, turned on God in an attempt to be equal or greater than God. The Sacred Word of God labels him as the 'father of lies.'
However, one can not simply blame the devil for his or her rebelling against God as Eve did. Or like the excuse that 'the devil made me do it.' People have the free will to turn away from God. This is the nature of mankind since Adam and Eve's fall into sin. At times it is referred to as original sin. A sinful man who fathers a child through the union with a sinful woman is not able to produce innocent or sinless offspring.
This doctrine of the Cause of Sin underlines the need for a Savior. Thank God for Jesus who was not conceived in the natural manner, but the Holy Spirit came upon virgin Mary and was born sin-free.
You do not need to look any farther than the one you see in the mirror for the cause of sin. You do not need to look any farther than in Jesus as the full payment for the forgiveness of your sin!
ARTICLE XX. GOOD WORKS
1 Our Lutheran churches are falsely accused of forbidding good works. . . Our [Lutheran] churches begin by teaching that our works cannot reconcile God or merit forgiveness of sins and grace but that we obtain forgiveness and grace only by faith when we believe that we are received into favor for Christ’s sake, who alone has been ordained to be the mediator and propitiation through whom the Father is reconciled. Consequently whoever trusts that he merits grace by works despises the merit and grace of Christ and seeks a way to God without Christ, by human strength, although Christ has said of himself, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). … 11 This teaching concerning faith is everywhere treated in Paul's epistles, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.' [Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) … 27 Our teachers teach in addition that it is necessary to do good works, not that we should trust to merit grace by them but because it is the will of God.
Note well: There is no place for good works in one saving oneself. One is declared saved through faith in Jesus alone, however, the one who has faith will naturally bear good fruit as the Spirit of God is abiding in his/her heart. This is made clear in verse 10 of Ephesians chapter 2: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
Another key Scripture passage comes from James, the second chapter: 'What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 'James 2:14–18 (ESV)
One is declared saved through faith in Jesus alone, however, the one who has faith will naturally bear good fruit as the Spirit of God is abiding in his/her heart.
ARTICLE XXI. WORSHIP OF THE SAINTS
1 Our Lutheran churches teach that the remembrance of saints may be commended to us so that we imitate their faith and good works according to our calling. . . . 2 However, the Scriptures do not teach us to pray to the saints or seek their help, for the only mediator, propitiation, High Priest, and intercessor whom the Scriptures set before us is Christ. 3 [Jesus] is to be prayed to, and he has promised to hear our prayers. Such worship Christ especially approves, namely, that in all afflictions he be called upon. “If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father,” etc. (1st John 2:1).
First, a definition of who is a saint. The apostle Paul wrote to the saints at the various Christian churches. Obviously he was not writing to those who had already died, rather he was writing to those who had been blessed with faith by the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ.
We are to honor the saints in three ways.. The first way is to thank God for saints because He has shown examples of His mercy, because He wishes to save people and because He has given teachers and other gifts to the Church. Thank God for saints!
The second way to honor those who have been blessed with faith is by being encouraged by them to believe all the more that grace truly superabounds over sin. What an encouragement to observe the faithful who attend weekly worship, who care for the sick, who open their homes and their hearts to those in need, and who keep the faith in spite of ridicule and persecution.
The third way to honor saints is through imitation, first of faith, and then of the other virtues. In other words, to heed the voice of Jesus, the good shepherd, and be like Him!
Jesus invites you to pray to Him and in His name, He is more than willing and able to intercede for you as your High Priest, seated on the right Hand of God His heavenly Father.
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