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| John Lenker, graduate of Hamma Divinity School, editor. |
22. The Devil Directs His Main Attack Against Faith
Point fifteen: The
devil directs his main attack against faith. When that has been
overthrown he has won. The Sacrament of Repentance,[*] also,
of which mention was made before, is based upon this Sacrament.
No others receive forgiveness of sin but those who are baptized,
that is, those who have received the promise from God that their
sin shall be forgiven. The Sacrament of Repentance points back
to the Sacrament of Baptism and confirms it. It would be quite
in order for the minister to say when pronouncing absolution:
“Behold, God has now forgiven thy sin according to the promise
made before in Baptism, a forgiveness which I have been
empowered to pronounce by virtue of the office of the keys. Now
you are once more in possession of Baptism, its power and life.
If you believe, it is true in respect of you. If you do not
believe, you perish.” You will find, then, that sin will hinder
Baptism in working its appropriate effects: the forgiveness and
destruction of sin. Unbelief alone, however, with reference to
these effects will render Baptism absolutely destitute of all
power. Hence everything depends upon faith.
[*]: Now no longer
called and considered a Sacrament among Lutherans.
***
GJ - No one finds Lutheran classics the way Alec Satin does - The Lutheran Librarian.
