Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 9:30–33

Anyone who wants to achieve righteousness or justification with God through religious devotion, doing good deeds, or by other things they imagine gain them merit with God, will be dreadfully unsuccessful.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Deuteronomy 4:29–31

We are in bondage to sin, just as the ancient Israelites were enslaved to the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. We can no more free ourselves than they could.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Ephesians 5:25–33

Always interpret Scripture in the plainest sense, using the clear meaning of the words. If a parable is being used, we might allow our minds to wonder what Jesus meant — until he tells us plainly.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Acts 20:18–21

Of what use is repentance, if it is merely being sorry for sins and then doing something good? People will remain in guilt, knowing that they are never good enough to merit forgiveness.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Ezekiel 33:10–13

Should you try not to sin? Certainly; but your ability or inability has nothing to do with forgiveness. Should you be sorry when you sin, and seek to do better? Absolutely, yet again, this has nothing to do with forgiveness of sin.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 4:20–5:1

Faith must always be in the forefront because it makes us think of Christ. Even sorrow, though necessary but, because it naturally causes us to try to settle our own sins, must never be considered alone.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 10:8–11

It is not possible for someone to have a peaceful conscience, if they doubt that God is gracious toward them. No matter how hard they try to do right and be religious, they still question whether they have forgiveness of sins.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: James 1:6–8

James is speaking to the topic of receiving wisdom from God in this passage of Scripture. However, the same exhortation may be applied to anything one asked of God. Ask in faith. Believe!

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Hebrews 9:13–15

Cleansing from sins has always been necessary to God. Atonement has been required since the earliest days of Judaism. Even the first sin needed covering with death.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Matthew 5:13–16

If we believe that we must keep the law in order to be forgiven by God, then we are saying that justification, righteousness, and forgiveness are not matters over which Christ has any power.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:22–24

The law incarcerates; it does not free. Only faith in Christ frees us from captivity to sin and death. Yet thank God for the law, for without its accusations, we would never know our need for salvation and God’s grace.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 3:12–16

We cannot read the law with veiled hearts and expect to find the grace of God. All we sense is God’s displeasure. So, we cannot expect the law to come to our rescue.


Click Here For Archives