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| Graphic by Norma A. Boeckler |
Defective Doctrine Destroys All Good
8.
But tender mercy is to be shown only to Christians and only among Christians.
With the rejecters and persecutors of the Gospel we must deal differently. It
is not right that my charity be liberal enough to tolerate unsound doctrine. In
the case of false faith and doctrine there is neither love nor patience.
Against these it is my duty earnestly to contend and not to yield a hair’s breadth.
Otherwise — when faith is not imperiled — I must be unfailingly kind and
merciful to all notwithstanding the infirmities of their lives. I may not
censure, oppress nor drive; I must persuade, entreat and tolerate. A defective
life does not destroy Christianity; it exercises it. But defective doctrine —
false belief — destroys all good. So, then, toleration and mercy are not
permissible in the case of unsound doctrine; only anger, opposition and death
are in order, yet always in accordance with the Word of God.
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Love Is Not Extended to False Doctrine
11.
But the liberality of kindness is not to be extended to false doctrine.
Only relative to conduct and works is it to be exercised. As oft before stated, love with all its works and fruits has no place in the matter of unsound doctrine. I must love my neighbor and show him kindness whatever the imperfections of his life. But if he refuses to believe or to teach sound doctrine, I cannot, I dare not, love him or show him kindness. According to Paul (Galatians 1:8-9), I must hold him excommunicated and accursed, even though he be an angel from heaven. Thus remarkably do faith and love differ and are distinct. Love will be, must be, kind even to the bitterest enemy so long as he assails not faith and doctrine. But it will not, it cannot, tolerate the individual who does, be it father, mother or dearest friend. Deuteronomy 13:6-8. Love, then, must be exercised, not in relation to the doctrine and faith of our neighbor, but relative to his life and works. Faith, on the contrary, has to do, not with his works and life, but with his doctrine and belief.
Only relative to conduct and works is it to be exercised. As oft before stated, love with all its works and fruits has no place in the matter of unsound doctrine. I must love my neighbor and show him kindness whatever the imperfections of his life. But if he refuses to believe or to teach sound doctrine, I cannot, I dare not, love him or show him kindness. According to Paul (Galatians 1:8-9), I must hold him excommunicated and accursed, even though he be an angel from heaven. Thus remarkably do faith and love differ and are distinct. Love will be, must be, kind even to the bitterest enemy so long as he assails not faith and doctrine. But it will not, it cannot, tolerate the individual who does, be it father, mother or dearest friend. Deuteronomy 13:6-8. Love, then, must be exercised, not in relation to the doctrine and faith of our neighbor, but relative to his life and works. Faith, on the contrary, has to do, not with his works and life, but with his doctrine and belief.
Fifth
Sunday after Epiphany
Jewels of Spiritual Beauty
20.
From longsuffering and meekness the apostle distinguishes love and other jewels
of spiritual beauty whereof we have already heard, though all are comprehended
in love. As faith is the chief element of Christian character, so love is chief
of the fruits of the Spirit, the jewel of surpassing beauty. Therefore Paul
says, “Above all these things put on love.” Love transcends mercy, kindness,
meekness and humility. Paul calls it “the bond of perfectness” because it
unites human hearts; not a partial unity, based on similarity or close
relationship, but a complete unity among all men and in all relations. It makes
us of one mind, one heart, one desire. It permits no one to originate a
peculiar order of doctrine or faith. All who love are of the same belief.
Fifth
Sunday after Epiphany
When the Goal Is Falsified
3.
The goal is removed when the Word of God is falsified and creations of the
human mind are preached under the name of God’s Word. And these things readily
come about when we are not careful to keep the unity of the Spirit, when each
follows his own ideas and yields to no other, because he prefers his own
conceit.
Such must be the course of events where love is lacking. The strong and the learned desire to be looked upon as peculiarly commendable, while the weak in the faith are despised. Thus the devil has abundant opportunity to sow tares.
Such must be the course of events where love is lacking. The strong and the learned desire to be looked upon as peculiarly commendable, while the weak in the faith are despised. Thus the devil has abundant opportunity to sow tares.
Septuagesima
So Christ Is a Truly Insignificant Object in
the World
21.
Christ has been typified by various signs and objects in the Old Testament, and
the rock is one of them. Note first, the material rock spoken of had place
independently of man’s labor and far from man’s domain, in the wilderness, in
desolate solitude. So Christ is a truly insignificant object in the world,
disregarded, unnoticed; nor is he indebted to human labor.
Septuagesima
Vainglory in the Minister
4.
The main point of this lesson is that in a preacher or a teacher no vice is
more injurious and venomous than vainglory. It is true, however, that avarice
also is an evil characteristic of false teachers, being found hand in hand with
vainglory. For the sake of profit, for the purpose of gain, the false teachers
aspire to prominence, to honor and position. With them, nothing but current
coin will pass, and what does not pay dividend is unprofitable. Any other vice
is more endurable in a preacher than these two, though none is compatible with
goodness, blamelessness and perfection being required in the ministry according
to Paul, Titus 1:7. This is not surprising, for the two vices under
consideration are essentially and directly opposed to the nature of the
ministry. The ministry is ordained to have as its aim the glory of God and its
promotion.
Sexagesima
Avarice in the Minister
5.
Avarice, too, is, according to its very nature, opposed to the interests of the
ministry. Just as the ministry is to be devoted to God’s honor at the expense
of our own, so is it to be devoted to the interests of our neighbor and not to
our own. Otherwise it is an injury rather than a benefit. With the false
teacher seeking only his own good, it is impossible for him to preach the
truth. He is compelled to speak what is pleasing to men in order to gratify his
appetites.
Sexagesima
The Character of False Teachers
9.
Note the master hand wherewith Paul portrays the character of false teachers,
showing how they betray their avarice and ambition. First, they permit true
teachers to lay the foundation and perform the labor; then they come and desire
to do the work over, to reap the honors and the benefits. They bring about that
the name and the work of the true teachers receive no regard and credit; what
they themselves have brought — that is the thing. They make the poor,
simple-minded people to stare open-mouthed while they win them with flowery
words and seduce them with fair speeches, as mentioned in Romans 16:18. These
are the idle drones that consume the honey they will not and cannot make. That
this was the condition of affairs at Corinth is very clear from this epistle —
indeed, from both epistles. Paul continually refers to others having followed
him and built upon the foundation he has laid. Messengers of the devil, he
terms them.
Sexagesima.
Note the following paragraphs - through 15 - false teachers.
Weak and Strong
28.
It is a strange sort of strength which is weak and by its weakness grows
stronger. Who ever heard of weak strength? or more absurd still, that strength
is increased by weakness? Paul would here make a distinction between human
strength and divine. Human strength increases with enhancement and decreases
with enfeeblement. But God’s power — his Word in us — rises in proportion to
the pressure it receives. It is characteristic of God the Creator that he
creates all things from naught, and again reduces to naught all created things.
Human power cannot do this. The power of God is the true palm-wood which buoys
itself in proportion as it is burdened and weighted.
Sexagesima
Strength in Affliction
29.
Note here, “weakness” is not to be understood in a spiritual sense, as on a
previous occasion, but externally; as not illness alone, but every sort of
evil, misfortune, suffering and persecution calculated to buffet and humble the
body. The power of Christ, in connection with which spiritual weakness cannot
exist, is invoked against this weakness likewise. He says, “Most gladly will I
glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” And his
weaknesses he immediately explains as infirmities, injuries, necessities,
persecutions and distresses. The thought, then, is: Christ is not mighty within
us, his word and his faith are not strong in us, unless our bodies suffer
affliction. The false apostles, however, take excellent care to escape
suffering.
Sexagesima
Justification Precedes Love
13.
The false reasoning of the sophists will not stand when they maliciously deduct
from this text the theory that the Christian faith is not effectual to blot out
sin and to justify. They say that before faith can justify it must be garnished
with love; but justification and its distinctive qualities as well are beyond
their ken. Justification of necessity precedes love. One does not love until he
has become godly and righteous. Love does not make us godly, but when one has
become godly, love is the result. Faith, the Spirit and justification have love
as effect and fruitage, and not as mere ornament and supplement. We maintain
that faith alone justifies and saves. But that we may not deceive ourselves and
put our trust in a false faith, God requires love from us as the evidence of
our faith, so that we may be sure of our faith being real faith.
Quinquagesima
Preachers and the Word
2.
He calls the Corinthians co-workers, as in 1 Corinthians 3:9, where he puts it:
“We are God’s fellow workers; ye are God’s husbandry, God’s building.” That is,
we labor upon you with the external Word — teaching and admonishing; but God,
working inwardly through the Spirit, gives the blessing and the success. He
permits not our labor with the outward Word to be in vain. Therefore, God is
the true Master, performing inwardly the supreme work, while we aid outwardly,
serving him through the ministry. The apostle’s purpose in praising his
co-laborers is to prevent them from despising the external Word as something
inessential to them, or well enough known. For though God is able to effect
everything without the instrumentality of the outward Word, working inwardly by
his Spirit, this is by no means his purpose. He uses preachers as fellow workers,
or co-laborers, to accomplish his purpose through the Word when and where he
pleases. Now, since preachers have the office, name and honor of fellow workers
with God, no one may be considered learned enough or holy enough to ignore or
despise the most inferior preaching; especially since he knows not when the
hour may come wherein God will, through preachers, perform his work in him.
Invocavit
His Grace Is Not Intended To Cloak Our Shame
6.
True, they who sin through infirmity, who, conscious of their transgressions,
suffer themselves to be reproved, repenting at once — for these the kingdom of
Christ has ready pity and forbearance, commending them to acceptance and
toleration (Romans 15; Galatians 6:1; Corinthians 13:7); but that such vices be
regarded generally lawful and normal — this will not do! Paul declares, “This
is the will of God, even your sanctification.” And he speaks of “how ye ought
to... please God.” His
thought is: Some consider these sins a matter of little moment, treat them as
if the wind blew them away and God rather had pleasure in them as trivial
affairs. But this is not true. While God really bears with the fallen sinner, he
would have us perceive our errors and strive to mend our lives and to abound
more and more in righteousness. His grace is not intended to cloak our shame,
nor should the licentious abuse the kingdom of Christ as a shield for their
knavery. Paul commands (Galatians 5:13), “Use not your freedom for an occasion
to the flesh”; and Peter (1 Peter 2:16), “As free, and not using your freedom
for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.”
Reminiscere
A Contest, A Battle
7.
Likewise with covetousness: we are to understand that it is not to be named of
Christians. That is, should one be covetous, should one defraud another or
contend with him about temporal advantage, as evidently was true of the
Corinthians (1 Corinthians 6:1), the offense must not be suffered to go
unreproved and uncorrected. The Gospel must be carefully upheld and preserved
among the multitude, “that our ministration be not blamed.” 2 Corinthians 6:3. I
make this point for the sake of those who, so soon as they observe that all
Christians are not perfectly holy, but will occasionally stumble and fall,
imagine there is no such thing as a Christian and the Gospel is impotent and
fruitless. Just as if to be a Christian meant the mountain already climbed and
complete, triumphant victory over sin! The fact is, it is rather a contest, a
battle. Wherever there is a contest, or a battle, some of the combatants will
flee, some will be wounded, some will fall and some even be slain. For warfare
is not unaccompanied by disaster if it be real warfare.
Oculi
Wrath Follows Apostasy
19.
But we have additional light upon this subject, showing that because of such
practices the wrath of God comes upon the unbelieving. In Corinthians 10:18 are
cited numerous examples of punishment for the sin of fornication. See also
Numbers 25. Again, because of wantonness, covetousness and unchastity, the
entire world was destroyed by the flood. This is a severe utterance but true
and indubitable. “For because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the
sons of disobedience.” “Sons of disobedience” — in other words, they who have
fallen from the faith. Thus we see that he who does not show his faith by his
deeds, is accounted practically an infidel. In fact, he is worse than an
infidel; he is an apostate Christian, or an apostate from the faith. Therefore
comes the wrath of God upon such, even here on earth. This is why we Germans
must suffer so much famine, pestilence, war and bloodshed to come upon us.
Oculi
The Innocence of Christ
22.
To further emphasize and make effectual in us the example of Christ’s patience,
Peter proceeds to analyze it, to show it in its true colors, to mention the
details and make plain how it differs from any other example of suffering. He
has told us before that Christ did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.
Why, then, did the Jews persecute and crucify him — put him to death? Inquire
into his entire life history and you will find that no one could justly
impeach, nor could convict, him for any sin. He himself appealed to his enemies
to prove ought of sin in him. No one could show an injury he had ever done to
anyone, or a wrong he had ever taught or practiced. On the contrary, he had
gone about to bring to the Jewish nation the grace and salvation of God. He had
revealed God’s Word, opened the eyes of the blind, healed the sick, cast out
devils, fed great multitudes when hungry and lacking food. In short, in all his
life, there was nothing in word or act but truth, goodness, beneficence and a
disposition to aid. In return for the good he wrought, he was compelled to
receive the ungrateful reward of man’s hatred and condemnation.
Palm
Sunday
Purging the Old Leaven
10.
Warrant is given here likewise for censuring and restraining the rash
individuals who assert that men should not be terrified by the Law, nor
surrendered to Satan. No! It is our duty to teach men to purge out the old
leaven; we must tell them they are not Christians, but devoid of the faith,
when they yield to the wantonness of the flesh and willfully persevere in sin
against the warning of conscience. We should teach that such sins are so much
the more vicious and damnable when practiced under the name of the Gospel,
under cover of Christian liberty; for that is despising and blaspheming the
name of Christ and the Gospel: and therefore such conduct must be positively
renounced and purged out, as irreconcilable with faith and a good conscience.
Easter
Sunday
Saints
– Believers – Conscious of Their Sins
20.
The sins remaining in saints after conversion are various evil inclinations,
lusts and desires natural to man and contrary to the Law of God. The saints, as
well as others, are conscious of these sins, but with this difference: they do
not permit themselves to be overcome thereby so as to obey the sins, allowing
them free course; they do not yield to, but resist, such sins, and, as Paul
expresses it here, incessantly purge themselves therefrom. The sins of the
saints, according to him, are the very ones which they purge out. Those who
obey their lusts, however, do not do this, but give rein to the flesh, and sin
against the protest of their own consciences. They who resist their sinful
lusts retain faith and a good conscience, a thing impossible with those who
fail to resist sin and thus violate their conscience and overthrow their faith.
If you persist in that which is evil regardless of the voice of conscience, you
cannot say, nor believe, that you have God’s favor. So then, the Christian
necessarily must not yield to sinful lusts.
Easter
Sunday
Faith Receives the Preaching of the Gospel
16.
Further, Peter, citing the testimony of the prophets, indicates the nature of
Christ’s kingdom as not external power; not temporal dominion like that of
earthly lords, kings, and emperors; not dominion over countries or control of
people, property and temporal concerns; but a spiritual, eternal kingdom, a
kingdom in the hearts of men, an authority over, and power opposed to, sin,
everlasting death and hell, a power able to redeem us from those things and
bestow upon us salvation. Salvation is ours, Peter teaches, through the
preaching of the Gospel, and is received by faith. Faith is the obedience every
man must render unto the Lord. By faith he makes himself subject to Christ and
partaker of his grace and blessings. Paul also (Romans 1:5) uses the term “unto
obedience of faith.”
Easter
Monday
Strive After What Is Above
7.
In other words: Seek and strive after what is above — the things divine,
heavenly and eternal; not the terrestrial, perishable, worldly. Make manifest
the fact that you are now spiritually raised and by the same power will later
be raised bodily.
Easter
Wednesday
A Christian Is Born of God
13.
It requires something more than mere human wisdom and skill, more than human
power, to withstand and overcome an enemy so formidable as the devil. As said
before, the Christian must be fortified with the knowledge of how to guard
against his wiles and deceptions and how to withstand him. Hence a Christian is
called a person who is born of God. He must be different from an intelligent
heathen and a skillful worldling to rightly understand God’s Word and apprehend
Christ through faith, and must use such knowledge as weapons of offense and
defense in the conflict.
Quasimodo
Baptized into Suffering – The Cross
6.
Paul would say: “What will you do, beloved Christians? Will you live in the
world and not encounter any persecution because of your good deeds? Will you
rage at the wickedness of the world, and in your rage become wicked yourself
and commit evil? Understand, you are called to suffer persecutions; they are a
consequence of your baptism, your Christianity. For these you renounced the
devil and professed Christ. You are baptized unto the suffering of every sort
of misfortune, unto the enduring of the world and the devil.” You cannot escape
the smoke when compelled to live in the inn where the devil is host and the
whole house is filled with it. Again, if you would have fire, you must have
smoke as a consequence; if you would be a Christian and a child of God, you
must endure the resultant evils that befall you.
7. In short, the Christian, because he is a Christian, is subjected to the holy and precious cross. He must suffer at the hands of men and of the devil, who plague and provoke him; outwardly with misery, persecution, poverty and illness, or inwardly — in heart — with their poisonous darts. The cross is the Christian’s sign and watchword in his holy, precious, noble and happy calling unto eternal life. To such a calling must we render full dues and regard as good whatever it brings.
Misericordias
He Sustains Us through the Word and Sacraments
48.
Now, Christ our Lord is that faithful Guardian, that true Bishop, who above all
others is entitled to the name (with him office and name are identical), and
who bears it with due honor, to our eternal happiness. For, standing at the
right hand of God and showing his wounds, he unceasingly intercedes for us
before the Father; and moreover, on earth he rules, sustains, nourishes and
protects, through his Word, his sacraments and the efficacy of the Holy Spirit,
the little flock that believe in him. Were he not present with and watching
over us here, the devil would long ago have overthrown and destroyed us, and
also the Word of God and the name of Christ. And such is the case when God in
wrath turns away his eyes from the world to punish its ingratitude. Then
immediately everything falls into the devil’s power. Therefore, pure doctrine,
faith, confession and the use of the sacraments are dependent for their
perpetuity solely upon the vigilant guardianship of our beloved Shepherd and
Bishop.
Misericordias
Two Kinds of Armor Against the Devil
4.
These are the two kinds of armor, two weapons of defense, whereby the devil is
vanquished and of which he is afraid: First, diligence in hearing, learning and
practicing the Word of God, that instruction, comfort and strength may be
received; second, sincere petitioning upon the authority of that Word, a crying
and calling to God for help when temptations and conflicts arise. One or the
other of these weapons of defense must continually be in active exercise,
effecting perpetual intercourse between God and man — either God speaking to us
while we quietly listen, or God hearing our utterances to him and our petitions
concerning our needs. Whichever the weapon we wield, it is unendurable to the
devil; he cannot abide it. Christians need both equipment’s, that their hearts
may ever turn to God, cleave to his Word, and continually, with ceaseless
longing, pray a perpetual Lord’s Prayer. Truly, the Christian should learn from
the temptations and straits wherewith the devil, the world and the flesh
constantly oppress him, to be ever on his guard, watching for the enemy’s point
of attack; for the enemy sleeps not nor rests a single moment.
Exaudi
Intemperance – Living Like Swine
7.
Now, God having in his infinite goodness so richly shed upon us Germans in
these latter times the Gospel light, we ought, in honor and gratitude to him,
to try to reform ourselves in the matter of intemperance. We should fear lest
through this evil besides committing other sins we draw upon us the wrath and
punishment of God. For naught else can result from the pernicious life of
intemperance but false security, and contempt of God. Individuals continually
dead in drunkenness, buried in excesses, living like swine, cannot fear God,
cannot be occupied with divine things.
Exaudi
Embrace the True Word of God Revealed from
Heaven
51.
In the first place, therefore, it is necessary that both preachers and hearers
take heed to doctrine and have clear, unmistakable evidence that what they
embrace is really the true Word of God revealed from heaven; the doctrine given
to the holy and primitive fathers, prophets and apostles; the doctrine Christ
himself confirmed and commanded to be taught. We are not permitted to employ
the teaching dictated by any man’s pleasure or fancy. We may not adapt the Word
to mere human knowledge and reason. We are not to trifle with the Scriptures,
to juggle with the Word of God, as if it would admit of being explained to suit
the people; of being twisted, distended and patched to effect peace and
agreement among men. Otherwise, there would be no sure, permanent foundation
whereon the conscience might rely.
Exaudi
Office of the Holy Spirit
7.
Observe here, the Holy Spirit descends and fills the hearts of the disciples
sitting in fear and sorrow. He renders their tongues fiery and cloven, and
inflames them with love unto boldness in preaching Christ — unto free and
fearless utterance. Plainly, then, it is not the office of the Spirit to write
books or to institute laws. He writes in the hearts of men, creating a new
heart, so that man may rejoice before God, filled with love for him and ready,
in consequence, to serve his fellows gladly.
Pentecost
