Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Genesis 4:3–5

Be careful that you do not expect God to favor you on the merits of your offerings or works or religious activity. God only has regard for such things when they are done with faith in him.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Hebrews 11:17-18

Works must always flow from a heart of faith. Abraham did not make an offering of his only son, Isaac, as a mere work. Nor did he expect that God would honor the work itself.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Psalm 130:1-8

There is nothing worthy of forgiveness and the resurrection of the body to everlasting life, save the work of Christ. Imagining otherwise does great damage to Scripture and to troubled hearts and minds.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 9:30-32a

Why did the gentiles come to a state of righteousness when the Jews worked hard at it but never arrived? Why did the gentiles attain righteousness when they did not even try?

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Luke 17:7-10

We are indentured servants, slaves to sin and death, and we can never earn our freedom. Either the master sets us free—and death and the devil are not going to do that—or someone pays our debt and sets free.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: James 4:6–10

The old nature believes that if one loves enough, is joyous all the time, at peace, patient and kind toward others, is good, faithful, and self-controlled, that person will have earned God’s grace.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

If a man was swimming in the ocean and began to drown, he would be quite correct to not trust his own efforts to save himself. But he would yell with his last breath to the lifeguard.


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