Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Isaiah 53:4–6

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Isaiah 53:4–6 

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning Good Works 

Here we could cite infinite testimonies from Scripture and from the Fathers, but we have said enough on this subject. There is no need of more testimonies for one who knows why Christ has been given to us, who knows that Christ is the propitiation for our sins. Isaiah says, “The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). The adversaries, on the other hand, teach that God lays our iniquities on our works instead of on Christ. We are not disposed to mention here the sort of works that they teach.

Pulling It Together: The Father’s purpose in sending his Son into the world was so that the Christ would bear our sins. God’s plan has never been that we should bear our own iniquities. It was for these very iniquities that his hands, feet, side, and head were pierced. His blood covers our sins, satisfying God’s prescribed penalty for sin. That punishment is death (Rom 6:23). Our sins are not and can not be covered in any other way—not by penance or good works, by pilgrimages or prayers, by offerings or any other acts. Our sins are only covered and borne by Christ. How could we save ourselves? We are the sheep who have gone astray. 

Prayer: Blessed are you, Father, for sending your Son. Amen.

This booklet provides a suggested list of Bible verses, prayers, and familiar worship texts assigned to various age levels, recommended for use along with Sola Publishing’s Sunday Schoolhouse curriculum series. The order of texts matches the suggested grade levels in Luther’s Small Cat Series: elementary-aged curriculum on Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, also available from Sola Publishing. 


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