Concerning Free Will – part 9
Scripture Text: Genesis 6:5
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Genesis 6:5
From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession
Concerning the Cause of Sin
The adversaries accept the Nineteenth Article where we confess that God alone has established all of nature and preserves all existing things. Yet the cause of sin is the will of the devil and of people turning away from God. For Christ has said of the devil, “When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature” (John 8:44).
Pulling It Together: God did not establish a world where sin existed. He created all good things and all things good. He did not create evil. Nevertheless, it is within his will that we may sin—otherwise, we could do no evil. Our human nature easily turns away from God when we resolve to not do good; and this is what we rightly call sin. As if we needed any assistance, we are further provoked to sin by the father of lies, the devil (John 8:44).
Prayer: Deliver me from evil, Lord. Amen.
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This is Most Certainly True! is a six-chapter mid-week, Lenten series that features dramatic monologues from Martin Luther, explaining what each part of the catechism means—ending it with the affirmation" "This is most certainly true!"
In addition to the monologues, there is a sample worship service outline, hymns suggestions for each monologue, and opening dialogues for worship based on the parts of the Small Catechism.
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Rev. Mark E. Ryman serves as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Previously, Pastor Ryman has served other congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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