Concerning Baptism – part 3
Scripture Text: Matthew 19:25-26
The universal grace and promise of the gospel is just that: universal. It is not applied to everyone except some persons.
Concerning Baptism – part 2
Scripture Text: Mark 10:13-16
The divine promises of grace and of the Holy Spirit do not belong to the old alone, as if Jesus, who loved little ones, would have them wait for his promises.
Concerning Baptism – part 1
Scripture Text: Acts 16:30-33
When a child, or anyone else in a household or family, is baptized, the will of God, the promise of God’s salvation is realized. The work of salvation continues through faith.
Concerning the Church – part 34
Scripture Text: Romans 13:1-7
It is important for us to distinguish between the two kingdoms—the kingdom of God and worldly kingdoms. Both Church and State are under God’s authority but they serve different ends.
Concerning the Church – part 33
Scripture Text: Matthew 28:18-20
Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions urge us to be not only wary of false teachers and ministers, but to have nothing to do with them.
Concerning the Church – part 32
Scripture Text: Mark 14:22-24
The words of Christ spoken over the bread and wine insure the promise of grace to those who believe. When we speak his word over the elements, he is truly present in them.
Concerning the Church – part 31
Scripture Text: Matthew 15:1-9
I like to sing the “Kyrie” in worship. For that matter, I love to sing the entire liturgy, including the intonation of the Psalm. Some of our churches do not sing the liturgy; they speak the words.
Concerning the Church – part 30
Scripture Text: Galatians 2:4-5
The truth of the gospel is that righteousness and salvation come through faith in Christ. This is the word that sets us free.
Concerning the Church – part 29
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
We may well suppose that if two Lutheran churches in the same county celebrated Easter on different Sundays that people would have something to say.
Concerning the Church – part 28
Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 4:1-5
There is nothing wrong with celibacy or fasting or many other disciplines. Even in marriage, abstinence can be a good thing, if the couple agrees together to abstain for some spiritual purpose.
Concerning the Church – part 27
Scripture Text: Romans 14:5-6
If others wish to abstain from certain foods on certain days, that is between those people and the Lord. Do not let them convince you that abstinence is a matter of righteousness.
Concerning the Church – part 26
Scripture Text: Revelation 1:1-3
“It is written.” This was a favorite saying of the prophets, the evangelists, the apostles, and Jesus. Sometimes it is phrased as a questions: “What is written?”
Concerning the Church – part 25
Scripture Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18
External is not eternal. These outward things will never secure everlasting life. Furthermore, they will never give us peace. The heart must be changed by God for these things to be ours.
Concerning the Church – part 24
Scripture Text: Colossians 2:16-23
How heartbreaking it would be to run in a race, and to run so swiftly that you won the race, only to find out that you had been disqualified because of a false start or a lane violation.
Concerning the Church – part 23
Scripture Text: Galatians 5:1-6
I have convictions but if I dare to make those things qualifications for your righteousness and salvation, please take me to task.
Concerning the Church – part 22
Scripture Text: John 20:24–26
The Church is that gathering of saints where the Gospel is correctly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.
Concerning the Church – part 21
Scripture Text: Mark 7:5-8
We are not big on excommunication these days. But we still do a pretty fair job of driving people out of our churches.
Concerning the Church – part 20
Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:4-6
If you believe these things, we agree that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God”—no matter the particular manner of our ceremonies.
Concerning the Church – part 19
Scripture Text: Mark 16:15-16
The effectiveness of the sacraments depends upon Christ. Were you baptized in a stream or at a font, at the hands of a priest or a pastor, by a saint or a sinner?
Concerning the Church – part 18
Scripture Text: Galatians 4:13-14
Every pastor who presides over Holy Communion is a sinner. Some are worse sinners than others. Some do not even believe in Christ or the Word of God.
Concerning the Church – part 17
Scripture Text: Romans 1:15-17
It is the duty of pastors to preach the gospel. It is each church’s obligation to make sure that they do. Yet, it is more than a duty; it is a joyful compulsion.
Concerning the Church – part 16
Scripture Text: Acts 2:32-36
The prophet Daniel presented the Antichrist along similar lines as this sarcastic paragraph from the Confessions. There is no ruler of rulers but Christ.
Concerning the Church – part 15
Scripture Text: Matthew 10:16-18
We should not expect everyone in a collar or alb to represent the kingdom of God. Every preacher in a pulpit does not necessarily proclaim the Word of God.
Concerning the Church – part 14
Scripture Text: John 6:28-29
We must not replace Christ with works, offices, masses, or anything else. These things do not save; Christ alone saves and justifies.
Concerning the Church – part 13
Scripture Text: Ephesians 2:19-21
You will find the church wherever two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus, that is, with faith in him, teaching the gospel, and administering the sacraments.
Click Here For Archives