Efficacy In The Book Of Concord124
Augsburg
Confession
J-158
"Although the Church properly is the congregation
of saints and true believers, nevertheless, since in this life many hypocrites
and evil persons are mingled therewith, it is lawful to use Sacraments
administered by evil men, according to the saying of Christ: 'The Scribes and
the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, etc.' Matthew 23:2. Both the Sacraments and
Word are effectual by reason of the institution and commandment of Christ, notwithstanding
they be administered by evil men."
Augsburg Confession, VIII. What the Church Is, Concordia
Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 47. Matthew
23:2. Tappert, p. 33. Heiser, p. 13.
Apology of the
Augsburg Confession
J-159
"For Christ wishes to assure us, as was necessary, that we should
know that the Word delivered by men is efficacious, and that no other word from
heaven ought to be sought. 'He that heareth you heareth Me,' cannot be
understood of traditions. For Christ requires that they teach in such a way
that [by their mouth] He Himself be heard, because He says: 'He heareth Me.'
Therefore He wishes His own voice, His own Word, to be heard, not human
traditions."
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII. #18. Eccles. Power, Concordia
Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 449. Tappert, p.
284. Heiser, p. 134.
The Large
Catechism
J-160
"Besides, it is an exceedingly effectual help against the devil,
the world, and the flesh and all evil thoughts to be occupied with the Word of
God, and to speak of it, and meditate upon it, so that the First Psalm declares
those blessed who meditate upon the Law of God day and night. Undoubtedly, you
will not start a stronger incense or other fumigation against the devil than by
being engaged upon God's commandments and words, and speaking, singing, or
thinking of them. For this is indeed the true holy water and holy sign from
which he flees, and by which he may be driven away."
The
Large Catechism, Preface, #10, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia
Publishing House, 1921, p. 570f. Tappert, p. 359f. Heiser, p. 167.
J-161
"For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and
be already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the
devil, who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle
in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the
commandments. Therefore you must always have God’s Word in your heart, upon your
lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not
sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. On the other
hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously contemplated,
heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens
new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure
thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living
words."
The
Large Catechism, Third Commandment. #100. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 609. Tappert, p. 378f. Heiser, p.
175f.
J-162
"Thus it appears what a great, excellent thing Baptism is,
which delivers us from the jaws of the devil and makes us God's own, suppresses
and takes away sin, and then daily strengthens the new man; and is and remains
ever efficacious until we pass from this estate of misery to eternal
glory."
The
Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism.
#83. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921,
p. 751. Tappert, p. 446. Heiser, p. 209.
Formula of
Concord
J-163
"Therefore, before the conversion of man there are only two
efficient causes, namely, the Holy Ghost and the Word of God, as the instrument
of the Holy Ghost, by which He works conversion. This Word man is [indeed] to
hear; however, it is not by his own powers, but only through the grace and
working of the Holy Ghost that he can yield faith to it and accept it."
Formula of Concord, Epitome, II, Of the Free Will, #19, Concordia Triglotta,
St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 791. Tappert, p. 472. Heiser,
p. 219.
J-164
"And although God, according to His just, strict sentence, has
utterly cast away the fallen evil spirits forever, He has nevertheless, out of
special, pure mercy, willed that poor fallen human nature might again become
and be capable and participant of conversion, the grace of God and eternal
life; not from its own natural, active [or effective] skill, aptness, or
capacity (for the nature of man is obstinate enmity against God), but from pure
grace, through the gracious efficacious working of the Holy Ghost."
Luther, Psalm 90.
Formula of Concord, SD, II, #20. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 889. Tappert, p. 525. Heiser, p.
243.
J-165
"Thirdly, in this manner, too, the Holy
Scriptures ascribe conversion, faith in Christ, regeneration, renewal, and all
that belongs to their efficacious beginning and completion, not to the human
powers of the natural free will, neither entirely, nor half, nor in any, even
the least or most inconsiderable part, but in solidum, that is, entirely,
solely to the divine working and the Holy Ghost, as also the Apology
teaches."
Formula of Concord, SD II. #25. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 891. Tappert, p. 526. Heiser, p.
244.
J-166
"For this reason we shall now relate, furthermore, from God’s
Word how man is converted to God, how and through what means [namely, through
the oral Word and the holy Sacraments] the Holy Ghost wants to be efficacious
in us, and to work and bestow in our hearts true repentance, faith, and new spiritual
power and ability for good, and how we should conduct ourselves towards these
means, and [how we should] use them."
Formula of Concord SD II. #48. Free Will. Concordia
Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 901. Tappert, p.
530. Heiser, p. 246.
J-167
"Now, all who wish to be saved ought to hear this preaching [of
God’s Word]. For the preaching and hearing of God’s Word are instruments of the
Holy Ghost, by, with, and through which He desires to work efficaciously, and
to convert men to God, and to work in them both to will and to do. This Word
man can externally hear and read, even though he is not yet converted to God
and regenerate; for in these external things, as said above, man even since the
Fall has to a certain extent a free will, so that he can go to church and hear
or not hear the sermon."
Formula of Concord, SD, II, #52. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 901f. Tappert, p. 531. Heiser, p.
246.
J-168
"Now, although both, the planting and watering of the preacher,
and the running and willing of the hearer, would be in vain, and no conversion
would follow it if the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost were not added
thereto, who enlightens and converts the hearts through the Word preached and
heard, so that men believe this Word and assent thereto, still, neither
preacher nor hearer is to doubt this grace and efficacy of the Holy Ghost, but
should be certain that when the Word of God is preached purely and truly, according
to the command and will of God, and men listen attentively and earnestly and
meditate upon it, God is certainly present with His grace, and grants, as has
been said, what otherwise man can neither accept nor give from his own
powers."
Formula
of Concord SD II. #55-56. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis:
Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 903. Tappert, p. 531f. Heiser, p. 246.
J-169
"The other eating of the body of Christ is oral
or sacramental, when the true, essential body and blood of Christ are also
orally received and partaken of in the Holy Supper, by all who eat and drink
the consecrated bread and wine in the Supper—by the believing as a certain
pledge and assurance that their sins are surely forgiven them, and Christ dwells
and is efficacious in them, but by the unbelieving for the judgment and
condemnation, as the words of the institution by Christ expressly
declare..."
Formula of Concord, SD, VII. #63. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 995. Tappert, p. 581. Heiser, p.
270.
J-170
"For the true and almighty words of Jesus Christ which He spake
at the first institution were efficacious not only at the first Supper, but
they endure, are valid, operate, and are still efficacious [their force, power,
and efficacy endure and avail even to the present], so that in all places where
the Supper is celebrated according to the institution of Christ, and His words
are used, the body and blood of Christ are truly present, distributed, and
received, because of the power and efficacy of the words which Christ spake at
the first Supper. For where His institution is observed and His words are
spoken over the bread and cup [wine], and the consecrated bread and cup [wine]
are distributed, Christ Himself, through the spoken words, is still efficacious
by virtue of the first institution, through His word, which He wishes to be
there repeated."
Formula of Concord, SD VII, #75. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 999. Tappert, p. 583. Heiser, p.
270f.
J-171
"Also, Tom. III, Jena, Fol. 446: 'Thus here also, even though I
should pronounce over all the words: This is Christ's body, nothing, of course,
would result therefrom; but when in the Supper we say, according to His
institution and command: 'This is My body,' it is His body, not on account of
our speaking or word uttered [because these words, when uttered, have this
efficacy], but because of His command—that He has commanded us thus to speak
and to do, and has united His command and act with our speaking."
Formula of Concord, SD VII, #78. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1001. Tappert, p. 583. Heiser, p.
271.
J-172
"Now, it is not our faith that makes the Sacrament, but only the
true word and institution of our almighty God and Savior Jesus Christ, which
always is and remains efficacious in the Christian Church, and is not
invalidated or rendered inefficacious by the worthiness or unworthiness of the
minister, nor by the unbelief of the one who receives it."
Formula of Concord, SD VII, #89. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1003. Tappert, p. 585. Heiser, p.
272.
J-173
"1. That the human race is truly redeemed and reconciled with God
through Christ, who, by His faultless [innocence] obedience, suffering, and
death, has merited for us the righteousness which avails before God, and
eternal life. 2. That such merit and benefits of Christ shall be presented,
offered, and distributed to us through His Word and Sacraments. 3. That by His
Holy Ghost, through the Word, when it is preached, heard, and pondered, He will
be efficacious and active in us, convert hearts to true repentance, and
preserve them in the true faith. 4. That He will justify all those who in true
repentance receive Christ by a true faith, and will receive them into grace,
the adoption of sons, and the inheritance of eternal life." ..."God
in His purpose and counsel ordained [decreed]:
Formula of Concord, SD, XI. #15. Of God's Eternal
Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House,
1921, p. 1069. 2 Corinthians 5:19ff. Tappert, p. 619. Heiser, p. 288.
J-174
"And this call of God, which is made through the
preaching of the Word, we should not regard as jugglery, but know that thereby
God reveals His will, that in those whom He thus calls He will work through the
Word, that they may be enlightened, converted, and saved. For the Word, whereby
we are called, is a ministration of the Spirit, that gives the Spirit, or
whereby the Spirit is given, 2 Corinthians 3:8, and a power of God unto
salvation, Romans 1:16. And since the Holy Ghost wishes to be efficacious
through the Word, and to strengthen and give power and ability, it is God's
will that we should receive the Word, believe and obey it."
Formula of Concord, SD XI. #29. Election. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1073. 2 Corinthians 3:8; Romans
1:16. Tappert, p. 621. Heiser, p. 289.
J-175
"For few receive the Word and follow it; the greatest number
despise the Word, and will not come to the wedding, Matthew 22:3ff. The cause
for this contempt for the Word is not God's foreknowledge [or predestination],
but the perverse will of man, which rejects or perverts the means and
instrument of the Holy Ghost, which God offers him through the call, and
resists the Holy Ghost, who wishes to be efficacious, and works through the
Word, as Christ says, 'How often would I have gathered you together, and ye
would not!' Matthew 23:37."
Formula of Concord, SD XI. #41. Election. Concordia Triglotta, St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1077. Matthew 22:3ff.; 23:37.
Tappert, p. 623. Heiser, p. 290.
J-176
"Moreover, the declaration, John 6:44, that no
one can come to Christ except the Father draw him, is right and true. However,
the Father will not do this without means, but has ordained for this purpose
His Word and Sacraments as ordinary means and instruments; and it is the will
neither of the Father nor of the Son that a man should not hear or should
despise the preaching of His Word, and wait for the drawing of the Father
without the Word and Sacraments. For the Father draws indeed by the power of
His Holy Ghost, however, according to His usual order [the order decreed and
instituted by Himself], by the hearing of His holy, divine Word, as with a net,
by which the elect are plucked from the jaws of the devil. Every poor sinner should
therefore repair thereto [to holy preaching], hear it attentively, and not
doubt the drawing of the Father. For the Holy Ghost will be with His Word in
His power, and work by it..."
Formula of Concord, SD XI. #76-77. Election. Concordia
Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1089. John 6:44.
Tappert, p. 629. Heiser, p. 293.
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