The Jesuit-Lutherans Are Zwinglians

If you like Barth-Kirschbaum, you'll love Zwingi, who created  the rationalistic foundation for Calvinism.

Conclusion - Apology of the Book of Concord - Chemnitz

I decided to begin at the conclusion. The analogy is funny and perfectly fits Lutherdom today. What if all the tenants told the owners of residential housing that the only way to have peace would be to let the renters decided all issues.

The Lutherans - as we call ourselves today (for no apparent reason) - started the Reformation. Jealous Zwingli and his successor Calvin worked tirelessly to establish a rationalistic alternative to Biblical Christianity.

The Zwinglian-Calvinistic Objective Justification salesmen work from their foundation in Enthusiasm, separating the Word from the Holy Spirit.

The Church Shrinkers promote the same toxic dogma and tell us that the Zwinglians have all the answers.

They want power and money.

 We used to joke about this, but WELS and others have done it. When did you first suspect that your denomination was led by alcoholics?

Oh, Jay - Did You Ever Read This During Your Years at Ft. Wayne and the Online ELCA Seminary?

Jon-Boy, "Oh, Jay - I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.."
Jay - "Like a giant death ray?"
Jon-Boy: "No! Worse - they are reading Luther's Sermons!"

But, because the remission of sins is communicated through the Word, which, as has been frequently said, was entrusted by our Lord to the Church and her ministers, yea, unto all Christians, that it should be preached, it follows that this remission of sin must be believed, and that there is no way of obtaining it, except by faith. The doctrine of justification by faith alone is the very foundation of our creed. The word of Christ, which He gave to His disciples, can certainly not be seized with the hands nor by any self-imposed works, such as fasting, prayers, giving of alms and the like; faith alone can appropriate it, and the heart alone is the proper receptacle for it. It is evident and certain that we are justified only through faith, because remission of sins comes through the Word, and the Word can be received only by faith.

From Luther. House Postil Volume 1. “First Sunday After Easter. (Quasimodogeniti.) John 20:19-31. 

This Message Has Been Approved by a Reader, But It Remains a Mystery to Rolf Preus

A Reader:
In one of your books you included the quote from Luther that unbelief is the foundational sin:

"Therefore it follows that unbelief is the right and true sin; other sins flow out of unbelief and are the fruit from this root".

I think this lack of trust in God is the reason we are where we are today (as a Church and a country). 

Thanks and have a Happy Reformation Day.

***

GJ - Thank you, reader.

This is the key to the ministry of the Gospel, the work of the Spirit as taught by Jesus Himself.
Graphic by Norma A. Boeckler

Sadly, most Lutheran pastors do not believe - or know this passage:

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. 

8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 
9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me; 
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Norma A. Boeckler

Luther's Large Catechism - Free E-Book

Download the E-book

PDF

MOBI (Kindle)

EPUB (Apple, Kobo)

“The popular edition, here offered, fulfills the hope of the editor from the very beginning, to have the Confessions published at such price that they may he scattered broadcast throughout all English-speaking lands. . . Such edition will serve an important office in deepening and strengthening the faith of our people in drawing them together in the bonds of a common fellowship, and in enabling them to appreciate all the more highly their heritage.

“While in many other religious bodies confessional lines have vanished and confessional obligations weakened, a standard is here raised around which millions in this western world will rally. The attentive reader . . . will see that the matters here treated are not antiquated or obsolescent, but enter most deeply into the issues of the hour.

“We send forth this volume with gratitude for the privilege of having been called to edit it . . . and in the full confidence that it will be a blessing to our Church in America, and, through it, in advancing the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name these confessions were written.

– Henry Eyster Jacobs, From the Preface.

Luther from the Large Catechism

“Oh, what mad, senseless fools are we, that while we must ever live and dwell among such mighty enemies as devils, we nevertheless despise our armor and defense, and are too indolent to look for, or think of them!

“And what else are such supercilious, presumptuous saints, who are unwilling to read and study the Catechism daily, doing, but esteeming themselves much more learned than God himself with all his saints, angels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and all Christians?

“For inasmuch as God himself is not ashamed to teach the same daily, since he knows nothing better to teach, and always keeps teaching the same thing, and does not take up anything new or different, and all the saints know nothing better to learn, or different, and cannot learn this perfectly, are we not wonderful men to imagine, if we have once read or heard it, that we know it all, and have no farther need to read and learn, but can learn perfectly in one hour what God himself cannot finish teaching, since he continues teaching it from the beginning to the end of the world, and all prophets, together with all saints, have been occupied with learning it but in part, and are still pupils, and must remain such?

Download the E-book

Download the E-book

PDF

MOBI (Kindle)

EPUB (Apple, Kobo)

“For Reformation Sunday I talked a little about the Large Catechism, which I owned as a separate paperback (Augsburg Press, ALC). I read it all the time for years, because it also serves as another way to read Luther’s Sermons, but using the Catechism as an outline. When I wanted to show how the efficacy of the Word was basic to the Bible, Luther, and Lutheran doctrine, I used the Large Catechism.”

– Pastor Greg Jackson, Bethany Lutheran Church, from the post Martin Luther’s Large Catechism - A Great Theology Book for Pastors and Laity

Creation Garden - Busy All Winter Doing Nothing

Books by Norma A. Boeckler

My mother lived upstairs when we were in New Ulm. She asked, "Why are the sunflower stalks sticking up through the snow? I thought you would clean them up?"

I said, "The birds love to perch on them and look for food. Insect larvae are on them or in them. Besides that, the roots will rot into the soil all winter - and be mostly gone in the spring."

We are far behind the North in facing winter. The Reformation picnic was 70 degrees on Saturday. The leaves are on the trees and mostly green. But the signs of winter are evident.

 Beautyberries are striking in the fall, when they set themselves up to feed  the birds as food sources decline.

The Crepe Myrtle has shed most of the leaves, leaving sprigs full of seeds for winter feeding. The Comfrey and cousin Borage are still in bloom for pollinators. The Beautyberry bush has fresh berries and Poke has dried berries for the birds.

 Rugosa roses boast bright red hips, full of Vitamin C,
which is why roses are considered herbs.

How can God's creating Word have no power when each plant goes through seasonal cycles to feed the soil creatures, insects, and birds? Temperature and sunlight trigger different reactions for each plant. Yesterday provided one rose in bloom for the entire garden. The roses are nodding off into their winter sleep. The remaining flowers will turn into Vitamin C-potent hips for bird snacks. I have one Rugosa rose, known for its big hips in the fall and modest flowers in the spring.


The Carbon Cowboys taught me about the value of roots, especially those deep roots that contribute so much to the soil's fertility and absorption of rain. Most of the soil's fertility comes from roots, which create miles of swap-meets where fungus can trade nutrition and water for the carbon they need to grow.

All winter, those roots will be busy establishing a better foundation for spring:

• Roses
• Spirea bushes
• Joe Pye
• Mountain Mint
• Cat Mint
• Daisies
• Monarda
• Poke
• Garlic
• Dandelion
• Crepe Myrtle.

Everyone enjoys the burst of growth in the spring, from the melting snow and rain, but all winter the soil was being prepared for the display, billions of creatures playing their roles. Each one is perfectly created, engineered, and managed to carry out specific functions that fit into one vast plan.

 "I've been for a walk on a winter's day -
California Dreamin, on such a winter's day."

Martin Luther's Large Catechism - A Great Theology Book for Pastors and Laity

 I had to make a graphic of this because the Quia Marias did not know their Large Catechism. They accused me of slander when I addressed their false doctrine. Their quia subscription to the Book of Concord did not include reading it!

For Reformation Sunday I talked a little about the Large Catechism, which I owned as a separate paperback (Augsburg Press, ALC). I read it all the time for years, because it also serves as another way to read Luther's Sermons, but using the Catechism as an outline.

Here is the Lutheran Library Large Catechism - free.

When I wanted to show how the efficacy of the Word was basic to the Bible, Luther, and Lutheran doctrine, I used the Large Catechism.

Norma Boeckler's books

What DPs, Pastors, and Lay Leaders Must Learn

Book of Concord, Large Catechism, Introduction

9] Therefore I beg such lazy paunches or presumptuous saints to be persuaded and believe for God's sake that they are verily, verily! not so learned or such great doctors as they imagine; and never to presume that they have finished learning this [the parts of the Catechism], or know it well enough in all points, even though they think that they know it ever so well. For though they should know and understand it perfectly (which, however, is impossible in this life), yet there are manifold benefits and fruits still to be obtained, if it be daily read and practised in thought and speech; namely, that the Holy Ghost is present in such reading and repetition and meditation, and bestows ever new and more light and devoutness, so that it is daily relished and appreciated better, as Christ promises, Matt. 18:20: Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

10] 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.

11] Now, for this reason alone you ought gladly to read, speak, think and treat of these things, if you had no other profit and fruit from them than that by doing so you can drive away the devil and evil thoughts. For he cannot hear or endure God's Word; and God's Word is not like some other silly prattle, as that about Dietrich of Berne, etc., but as St. Paul says, Rom. 1:16, the power of God. Yea, indeed, the power of God which gives the devil burning pain, and strengthens, comforts, and helps us beyond measure.

12] And what need is there of many words? If I were to recount all the profit and fruit which God's Word produces, whence would I get enough paper and time? The devil is called the master of a thousand arts. But what shall we call God's Word, which drives away and brings to naught this master of a thousand arts with all his arts and power? It must indeed be the master of more than a hundred thousand arts. 13] And shall we frivolously despise such power, profit, strength, and fruit-we, especially, who claim to be pastors and preachers? If so, we should not only have nothing given us to eat, but be driven out, being baited with dogs, and pelted with dung, because we not only need all this every day as we need our daily bread, but must also daily use it against the daily and unabated attacks and lurking of the devil, the master of a thousand arts.

 Norma Boeckler's books

Third Commandment

100] 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. 101] 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. 102] And even though no other interest or necessity impel us, yet this ought to urge every one thereunto, because thereby the devil is put to right and driven away, and, besides, this commandment is fulfilled, and [this exercise in the Word] is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant.

Spiderman Asks

 Let the reader understand. At least Spidey wore red.

I hope you can provide some insight into this question: What is the rationale that church-growthers use when they claim that we must water-down/dumb-down Christian doctrine and practice to attract new members? (Spidey)

Answer - The reason is just the opposite of why we use the traditional liturgy, great Christian hymns, the Creeds, and Holy Communion with a Biblical sermon based on the text. We believe in the efficacy of the Word - and also its power in faithful hymns, the historic liturgy, and the Creeds.

The Church Shrinkers and Attritionals carry out their program because they do not believe in the efficacy of God's Word. They are Enthusiasts who despise the Word but adore their own.

5] All this is the old devil and old serpent, who also converted Adam and Eve into Enthusiasts, and led them from the outward Word of God to spiritualizing and self-conceit, and nevertheless he accomplished this through other outward words. 6] Just as also our enthusiasts [at the present day] condemn the outward Word, and nevertheless they themselves are not silent, but they fill the world with their pratings and writings, as though, indeed, the Spirit could not come through the writings and spoken word of the apostles, but [first] through their writings and words he must come. Why [then] do not they also omit their own sermons and writings, until the Spirit Himself come to men, without their writings and before them, as they boast that He has come into them without the preaching of the Scriptures? But of these matters there is not time now to dispute at greater length; we have elsewhere sufficiently urged this subject. 

Smalcald Articles, Book of Concord

Their thinking is crippled by their pan-religious Universalism, called Objective Justification, which shreds all Biblical doctrine.

That is why our little congregation emphasizes education in the Scriptures, Greek, and Lutheran doctrine. The Gospel of John is a perfect antidote to all this WEL-ELS-ELCA-LCMS nonsense, but what use is the Fourth Gospel if no one reads it through and uses its clear content to refute error?

 Norma Boeckler's books

Reformation Rebuttal of Rolf Preus' Here I Misunderstand Lectures in North Dakota

 ELDONA Bishop James Heiser said, "None of the Preus children are known for their theological acumen."

From WM:

Brethren: These Scriptural passages are presented by Pastor Rolf Preus in the first part of his conference essay [Here I Misunderstand, North Dakota Lectures] on Universal Objective Justification which he linked to a recent post in the LutherQuest forum.

Pastor Jackson has already commented on a few of these passages in Ichabod with specific reference to the Preus essay, but of course Pastor Jackson has already dealt with these passages many times before.

I wanted to try to respond to the use of these passages to teach UOJ, and I humbly request your feedback to determine if I am correctly understanding them.  This is no "exegetical study," just my personal response to how these passages are used to teach UOJ.

1. John 1:29: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world."

My response: There is no reference to OJ here, rather, a clear reference to the Universal Atonement of Christ.

2. Matt. 26:28: "For this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for remission of sins."

My response: Once again, there is no reference to OJ here, rather, a clear reference to the Universal Atonement of Christ.

3. Rom. 4:5: "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

My response: There is nothing but the teaching of Justification by Faith here.Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Means of Grace bring us to personal FAITH  in Christ, Who has provided justification for those who personally receive that justification by FAITH through the Gospel.

4. Rom. 4:24-25: "But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our LORD from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification."

My response: Again, I see nothing but the teaching of Justification by Faith here.  "IF WE BELIEVE..." settles that!

"Delivered for our sins" and "raised again for our justification" speak of the Universal Atonement and Justification by Faith, whether "for" is translated as "for" or as "because of."  Notice here, please, that the imputation of justification is LINKED TO FAITH IN CHRIST.  We shall meet with that word "impute" again in another passage.

5. Rom. 5:8-10: "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

My response: Although the chapters and verses in Scripture were not in the original text, context remains an important tool in the correct understanding of Scripture, which can be abused by "proof-text" passages "untimely ripped" (to quote MACBETH, Act V, Scene 8) from both their immediate/specific as well as their general context.  Therefore, anything in this passage MUST be considered within both the immediate/specific as well as the general context of Rom. 5:1: "Therefore, being JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ," because 5:1 clearly begins this new section of Paul's Epistle in which 5:8-10 is located by God the Holy Spirit, through the Scripture's property of plenary verbal inspiration and inerrancy.

Therefore this passage MUST be understood in the LIGHT ("Thy WORD is a lamp unto my feet, and a LIGHT unto my path," Ps. 119:105) of the clear teaching of Justification by Faith.

"But God commendeth His LOVE toward us"--cf. John 3:16--Justification by Faith.

"In that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"--the Universal Atonement.

"Much more then, being now justified by His Blood"--Context requires the understanding "Much more then, being now justified by [faith in Jesus Christ, who in His atoning death upon the Cross shed for all mankind] His Blood."

"We shall be saved from wrath through Him."--Through Justification by Faith the holy God's wrath against our sins is appeased, because the benefits of Christ's Universal Atonement are individually applied to us in the Gospel we have received by faith alone, and we become precious in the sight of God.

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son"--Context requires the understanding "For if, when were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" [the benefits of whose atoning sacrifice for all mankind we have individually received by faith in His Son.]


"Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."--The context requires the understanding "Much more, being reconciled [to God by faith in His Son Jesus Christ,] we shall be saved by His life" [being RECONCILED to God by faith in His Son, we are also SAVED by faith in God's Son, whose perfect LIFE of Active and Passive Righteousness for us preceded His atoning DEATH, as well as, after His RESURRECTION, His eternal Intercession for us before the throne of His Father in heaven.] (cf. Rom. 8:34: "Who is he that condemeth?  It is Christ that DIED, yea rather, that is RISEN AGAIN, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also MAKETH INTERCESSION for us.")

Cited and quoted in  Justification and Rome, by Robert Preus, a book curiously omitted by his son in his Here I Misunderstand lectures.

6. Rom. 5:18-19: "Therefore as by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous."

My response: First of all, we must check the contents to see if we have left the section which began with Rom. 5:1, which included the previous passage, vss. 8-10.

I would assert that we are still in the same section of the Epistle which began with 5:1 and the clear statement of Justification by Faith, and that the next section of the Epistle begins with 6:1, moving from a primarily doctrinal section to a section about the application of doctrine in the Christian life: Rom. 6:1: "What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"

Therefore I believe that the correct understanding of the current passage is determined by the context of the doctrinal statement at the beginning of this section of the Epistle, Rom. 5:1: "Therefore, being JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ," the clear teaching of Justification by Faith.

"Therefore as by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation"--Adam's (Original) sin brought condemnation upon the whole human race.

"Even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."--The context requires the understanding "Even so by the righteousness of One the free gift [of God's forgiveness of sins received by faith was made available by the Gospel so that it] came upon all men [through the Gospel which creates saving faith] unto justification of life [our life in Christ."] (cf. Col. 3:3-4: "For ye are dead, [to this world of sin and death] and YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.  When Christ, WHO IS OUR LIFE, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.")  And don't forget: to be possessed and used, A "GIFT" MUST BE PERSONALLY RECEIVED!

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners"--Once again, Adam's (Original) sin brought condemnation upon the whole human race.

"So by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous."--The context requires the understanding "So by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous" [justified by faith in the obedient One, the Lord Jesus Christ.]

7. 2 Cor. 5:18-19: "And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

My response: This passage, of course, is the "sedes proof-text" for Objective Justification.  I'm not exactly sure why, as it doesn't mention "Justification" at all, but rather how the "Word of Reconciliation" (the Gospel) saves the lost and how those who have been reconciled to God are mandates to share that same "Word of Reconciliation" with others so that they also may be reconciled to God.

"And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"--Again, let's check the context. Look at the previous verse, vs. 17: "Therefore IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." --With the "therefore" a new section begins which is clearly talking about God's relationship with those who are "in Christ," those who, by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Means of Grace, have been brought to faith in Jesus Christ by the Gospel.  Those who are "in Christ" have been reconciled by God by Christ through the Gospel, the "Word of reconciliation," and in turn they are given the mandate to share the same Gospel of reconciliation with the unsaved by which they themselves were reconciled to God through Christ, so that the unsaved can themselves be reconciled to God and be saved.

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation."--

God "in Christ" has by Christ's Universal Atonement provided the basis for the world's ongoing, continuous reconciliation to Him through the "Word of reconciliation," the  Gospel of Christ by which we are brought to faith in Christ and therefore reconciled to God, and in turn we who have been brought to faith in Christ by the Gospel, and therefore reconciled to God, are in turn commissioned by God to use the same "Word of reconciliation," the same Gospel of Christ, to lead others to also be reconciled to God by faith in Christ through the Gospel.  Thereby we who are "in Christ"--who have been brought to personal faith in Christ by the Gospel and "reconciled" to God--carry the "Word of reconciliation" to others so that they also are able to be "in Christ," because the ONLY way to be "in Christ" is through the work of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel--the "Word of reconciliation"--to bring us to faith in Christ.

Remember how in Rom. 4:24-25 it was demonstrated that God's imputation of righteousness is LINKED TO FAITH IN CHRIST?  So here again, in 2 Cor. 5:19, when we read of God "not imputing their trespasses unto them," God's non-imputation of trespasses to sinners is LINKED to their being "in Christ" (vs. 17)--"IF any man be IN CHRIST"-- to their being brought to faith in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Means of Grace in the Gospel of Christ. --Warren

The Festival of the Reformation, 2018. Biblical Doctrine Caused the Reformation

Books by Norma A. Boeckler

The Festival of the Reformation, 2018

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time - 

Daylight Savings Is Over Next Sunday

Hymn # 262      A Mighty Fortress         

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Hymn #387:5-10     Dear Christians One and All            

Biblical Doctrine Caused the Reformation

The Communion Hymn #267   If God Had Not Been on Our Side                    

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 261  Lord Keep Us Steadfast 

           

KJV Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

KJV Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Collect

O almighty, eternal God: We confess that we are poor sinners and cannot answer one of a thousand, when Thou contendest with us; but with all our hearts we thank Thee, that Thou hast taken all our guilt from us and laid it upon Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and made Him to atone for it: We pray Thee graciously to sustain us in faith, and so to govern us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may live according to Thy will, in neighborly love, service, and helpfulness, and not give way to wrath or revenge, that we may not incur Thy wrath, but always find in Thee a gracious Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

 

Martin Luther - by Norma A. Boeckler

Background for Sermon

Beginnings - Encouragement
The supervisor of the Augustinian order, Staupitz, encouraged Luther to pursue his emphasis upon Biblical teaching and made him earn a doctorate in Biblical studies in order to teach it.

Authority - Our Choice Changes Everything
Luther made the Scriptures - as God's only revelation - the authority for all Christian teaching. At the time, Rome made the papacy the ultimate authority for everything, secular and religious. The secular rulers were the absolute authority in their realms.

By unhitching the authority of popes and kings, Luther set the stage for America's freedoms as a religious right.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That, to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

John 1:29. Romans 4:25, etc.

The Scriptures Are One Truth - Not a Claw Vending Machine

Luther reversed the tendency to treat the Bible as a claw-crane vending machine, where individual verses are grabbed to support a pre-existing dogma. When the false teachers of today say "Romans 4:25!" or "John 1:29!" they are returning to the Roman error still practiced by the Vatican, making the false prophets little Antichrists serving the Antichrist.

Historic Christianity treats the Bible as one infallible, inerrant harmonious Truth, so anyone who departs from this standard is already playing games with God's revelation. Luther revived this approach by teaching the Scripture against any error rather than making the human teachers our filters for God's revelation.

Divine Efficacy Includes the Holy Spirit in Every Word of the Bible
When people fall away from God's truth, they pretend the Holy Spirit is NOT united with the Word. This error of Enthusiasm  turns the Bible into Bartlett's Familiar Quotations. Luther has been used the same way, including a Luther Insult website. How juvenile!

God only acts and speaks through His Scriptures, so we take comfort in the Spirit bringing all blessings, forgiveness, Jesus Himself, even the thunderings of the Law, through the Word. Thus when the Word of God is preached and taught faithfully, God Himself acts according to His gracious will. The weakest, frailest, most timid person is as powerful as the Word. The greatest human sorrows are comforted by the Gospel Word. The terrors of the conscience are soothed by the guidance of the Spirit, who brings the grace of Jesus to us through the Means of Grace, the Word and Sacraments.

God's Time, Not Ours
God may act while we are asleep, or He may take centuries.

Faithfulness Is Success
Echoing Paul, Luther trusted the power of the Word to accomplish God's will in God's time. Reform means returning to the Word.

Clarity of the Word
The Word of God is so plain and clear that anyone can grasp the basic lessons. At the same time, there is so much truth to be mined that one can spend a lifetime of study and never obtain more than a fraction of the spiritual wisdom within the Bible.

A Very Long Sermon about Jesus
So many threads of discussion are started by so many people over the ages, but Luther summarized the Bible as "a very long sermon about the Man Jesus Christ."

Luther never neglected the main focus of the Scriptures - God becoming flesh so that His true, gracious nature could be taught to man in a way no one could miss - and that mankind would be warned against lack of faith in the Promises.

Biblical Doctrine Caused the Reformation

KJV Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Luther's life did not cause the Reformation. History informs us, at least when it is not filling us with illusions and fantasies. Most of history is lost to us, which is probably good. However, one aspect of our culture has been preserved intact since the beginning - The Word of God.

Bibles were available, but they were still rare - as all hand-copied books were. The Church of Rome, the only church in Europe, kept literacy alive, so the higher levels of clergy could read. But what was important?

1. Aristotle - because his work was in harmony with the Bible (?).
2. Aquinas - because he loved Aristotle and taught the Medieval dogmas of the papacy.
3. The Sentences of Lombard - because everyone said so.

If someone occupied himself in these areas, there was scant time to learn and appreciate the Scriptures. However, Luther wanted to know what God's Word taught. In earning a doctorate so he could teach (seldom done in WELS-ELS), Luther immersed himself in the Word. There was plenty of training in memorizing the Psalms, but this went far beyond monkish training.

Luther had an even more significant training - facing the issues of the times. There is no better way to learn the Scriptures and helpful (or toxic) books than to look for answers that are faithful to God's Word. The most deadly poison in the Lutheran Church today is the refusal to discuss doctrine with any level of seriousness. 

The St. Louis Seminary cried "Eighth Commandment" when two districts insisted on teaching the Biblical doctrine of Creation, which is directly related to the power and efficacy of the Word.

The Wisconsin Sect kicked a pastor out during discussions of Justification by Faith, in spite of public promises to continue the discussion at the next pastor conference.

ELCA is so sure of its dogma that they gladly let people leave as long as the members leave the endowments and buildings behind. WELS does one better by stealing the building and endowment back.

A Very Long Sermon

The trouble with most approaches to the Bible is that dignitaries start with their claims and seek to prove their verities with appropriate or inappropriate snippets from the Word.

Therefore, the key element is missed - the Bible exists to teach us about God becoming man, about faith in Him, about listening to His teaching so we see in Jesus and hear in His Words the true nature of God.

The Gospel of John is the key to God's communication through the Word. The language is so basic and simple that any foreign language - even Greek - can be learned from reading the Fourth Gospel. And yet, the Gospel is so profound it its teaching that one can study it repeatedly and still marvel at how much it reveals through the Spirit about God.

John's Gospel is key in its emphasis upon the Son and Father teaching and willing the same. No one can imagine that God the Father is ferocious and vindictive when we see the Father through the Son, witnessed by the Holy Spirit.

The message is God's love, a love so profound that the Son willingly laid down His life to die for the sins of the world. This is the great paradox. The unbelieving world hated and rejected Christ, but God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son.

Although most people would say they enjoy the passages of the Fourth Gospel we all know so well, such as the Little Gospel in 3:16 and the I AM sermons, the Spirit's clearest witness is attacked on all sides.

Worldly Wise Scholars
The worldly wise "scholars" have found hundreds of reasons - all bad - to move John's Gospel into centuries so late that they have little to do with Jesus, even less to do with the facts and the teaching of Christ. This has relegated St. John to a secondary place in the Bible for these great thinkers.

Clever Unbelievers - UOJ
The "Gospel protectors" of UOJ have misused John 1:29 to deny Justification by Faith and to make people feel guilty about faith. The less one believes, they imagine, the closer they are to the real Gospel, the Gospel of universal forgiveness and salvation without the Word, without faith.

Not Works, But Trust in the Works of Christ
No Gospel is clearer that believing in Jesus is forgiveness and salvation. We know from Paul's writing that salvation is either from works or from faith in Jesus.

But none of that is the Gospel, because God makes things happen with a Gospel or faith beginning. Believers do not know what they are starting or where it will go. They only have faith in the Savior and feel moved to do this or that. No one knows the end of teaching because its influence never ends. Some things start and then stop; the Gospel rain moves on because people are ungrateful when the Gospel is most abundant.

We had no rain, then good rain and even more rain. Everything holding rainwater overflowed because there was no reason to pour water on soaked plants. I began thinking, I could use more sunshine and warm weather. 

That is why those who have seen the most doctrinal turmoil are the most appreciative. Then comes along the temptation to keep everything placid and calm. So we can discern the history of abundance and want. If the abundance goes on long enough, apathy is almost impossible to address. However, false teachers are never content to let the Gospel take root, so they create conflict and a chance to separate the good from the bad, the healthy from the toxic.

God does not allow any evil to last, but uses the power of the Holy Spirit in the Word to make something good out of evil. I visited a jail and taught basic doctrine to them. One man got out and went to his old haunts and taught his friends, the ones who helped get him into trouble, about their need for repentance and faith in the Savior. I did not expect this, nor did the jailer, but the Gospel moved him to leave the City of Destruction (Pilgrim's Progress), warning the others.

The Gospel is all goodness and blessing, which is what God wants for us, no matter where we start. When faith takes root and grows, the power of constant - daily forgiveness energizes the individual. Instead of conflict eating up the person, peace takes over and moves the individual to increase the blessings for others. There is no boundary or limit for the blessings of the Gospel. They inhabit the believer and overflow into all areas of life.

 Books by Norma A. Boeckler

Background for the Reformation Service

Beginnings - Encouragement
The supervisor of the Augustinian order, Staupitz, encouraged Luther to pursue his emphasis upon Biblical teaching and made him earn a doctorate in Biblical studies in order to teach it.

Authority - Our Choice Changes Everything
Luther made the Scriptures - as God's only revelation - the authority for all Christian teaching. At the time, Rome made the papacy the ultimate authority for everything, secular and religious. The secular rulers were the absolute authority in their realms.

By unhitching the authority of popes and kings, Luther set the stage for America's freedoms as a religious right.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That, to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

The Scriptures Are One Truth - Not a Claw Vending Machine

Luther reversed the tendency to treat the Bible as a claw-crane vending machine, where individual verses are grabbed to support a pre-existing dogma. When the false teachers of today say "Romans 4:25!" or "John 1:29!" they are returning to the Roman error still practiced by the Vatican, making the false prophets little Antichrists serving the Antichrist.

Historic Christianity treats the Bible as one infallible, inerrant harmonious Truth, so anyone who departs from this standard is already playing games with God's revelation. Luther revived this approach by teaching the Scripture against any error rather than making the human teachers our filters for God's revelation.

Divine Efficacy Includes the Holy Spirit in Every Word of the Bible
When people fall away from God's truth, they pretend the Holy Spirit is NOT united with the Word. This error of Enthusiasm  turns the Bible into Bartlett's Familiar Quotations. Luther has been used the same way, including a Luther Insult website. How juvenile!

God only acts and speaks through His Scriptures, so we take comfort in the Spirit bringing all blessings, forgiveness, Jesus Himself, even the thunderings of the Law, through the Word. Thus when the Word of God is preached and taught faithfully, God Himself acts according to His gracious will. The weakest, frailest, most timid person is as powerful as the Word. The greatest human sorrows are comforted by the Gospel Word. The terrors of the conscience are soothed by the guidance of the Spirit, who brings the grace of Jesus to us through the Means of Grace, the Word and Sacraments.

God's Time, Not Ours
God may act while we are asleep, or He may take centuries.

Faithfulness Is Success
Echoing Paul, Luther trusted the power of the Word to accomplish God's will in God's time. Reform means returning to the Word.

Clarity of the Word
The Word of God is so plain and clear that anyone can grasp the basic lessons. At the same time, there is so much truth to be mined that one can spend a lifetime of study and never more than a fraction of the spiritual wisdom within the Bible.