Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Jeremiah 23:6
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From the Word: In his days, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: The Lord is our righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:6)
From the Confessions: The Small Catechism
The Sixth Petition
And lead us not into temptation.
What does this mean?
God indeed tempts no one to sin, but we pray in this petition that God would guard and protect us from this, that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or lead us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins, but pray that when we are tempted in these ways, we may finally prevail and gain the victory.
Pulling It Together: Do not be tempted to believe the claims others make about what you need to do in order to be saved. Instead, hang on with faith in what Christ did for you. Hold fast to the Head (Col 2:19), not to things a small part of the body performs. You have “fullness of life” (Col 2:10 RSV) in Christ, not in yourself. Your faith is in him. You were buried with him in baptism, so how can that dead flesh of yours do anything that merits life? The legalistic demands of small-hearted brethren have been “nailed to the cross” (Col 2:14 RSV) along with all your sins.
So, do not be anxious about what others say you must do. Usually, that happens when one is overly concerned with someone’s opinion of you. Do not seek to be acknowledged for what you do. Rather, be known by what the Lord has done. Gladly share his reputation, his name. You are a Christian. The Lord is your righteousness—not you.
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for giving me your righteousness. Amen.
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God is constantly speaking to us to communicate his love, comfort us in our affliction, guide us in our personal affairs, and lead us into more effective service. Even though God is always communicating with us, we are often deaf to his voice. Hearing God, by Pastor Kent Groethe, helps the reader become more aware of the divine voice and more curious about hearing it on a regular basis.
Author
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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