I was talking to someone about The Sermons of Martin Luther being available for a bargain.
"But how many will read them?"
I said, "It does not matter how many. They have already made a difference with some, and there will be more in time."
The volumes are not actually sermons, but they could be. They are studies for those who want background for writing their own sermons. So any given "sermon" could easily be used for many sermons, so much Biblical content is there to use and so many insights are there to remember and use.
Luther's sermons are:
- Bible studies,
- Doctrinal statements, and
- Sermons.
His Galatians Lectures, the shorter and longer final version, are the same. Name a contemporary Biblical commentary that could be read as a sermon. Ha. Impossible. Not only are they sermons in themselves, they are highly commended by the Concord editors for further study of Justification by Faith. Do you see any evidence at all the the UOJists have cracked open the Galatians Lectures, let along studied them? No.
The Book of Concord, Formula of Concord, Article III, Solid Declaration,The Righteousness of Faith -
67] Concerning what is needful furthermore for the proper explanation of this profound and chief article of justification before God, upon which depends the salvation of our souls, we direct, and for the sake of brevity herewith refer, every one to Dr. Luther's beautiful and glorious exposition of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians.
Can you name one UOJist who has exhibited any knowledge of this beautiful and glorious book? Jay Webber mentioned it in the midst of his Emmaus effluence - and completely disregarded it. He showed more attention to the forgotten founder of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Quistorp, and another UOJ Pietist.
Calvin differs from Luther in having a thetical style, rather than a Biblical foundation derived from the efficacy of the Word. Calvin declares something to be true and cites Scriptures. If memory serves, Calvin had only a little training in theology but taught himself and staggered people with his Biblical knowledge. His training was in law and he never really left the style of that profession.
Walther came from a formal university system and rationalistic congregation - his father's - that borrowed a great deal from Calvin. The alternative to the official rationalism of the state church, which ordained Walther, was Pietism. He belonged to a Pietistic cell group (now called life, koinonia, share, care, affinity, and Bible study). Walther followed one abusive Pietistic guru then joined up with Martin Stephan, another abusive Pietistic guru. Lutheran Pietism blended was and is anti-confessional but seemed to offer more support for those who believed in the Bible.
