Luther - Be Sure of the True, Simple Meaning of the Word

From Luther's Church Postil, Gospels, Second Sunday After Trinity.

[1] Here in this Gospel lesson, as everywhere in the Scriptures, we are to be careful that we grasp, as well as we can, the true, simple meaning, as we have often heard, and establish our hearts and consciences in that meaning. For whoever will contend with Satan, dare not waver and sway hither and thither, but must be convinced of his cause and be armed with clear sure written documents, for if the devil gets him on his fork through his unsettled notions, he will then toss him here and there as the wind does the dry leaf.

Luther's Household Sermons - Our Next Publication

 Jesus declared the true nature of God - exegesis - John 1.
The wealthy omnivores only want wealth and food in abundance.

From the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry -
Just read the following in Luther’s House Postil for Epiphany. In the earlier sections of the sermon, Luther compares Herod with spiritual leaders who emphasize the Law and believe that their following of that Law makes faith superfluous and unnecessary.

Do you see any parallels with Lutheranism and/or modern Evangelicalism today?

[Emphasis added]

[135] Human works and doctrines at all times yield much revenue and carnal gain, while the doctrines of God and the work of Christ bring the cross, poverty, ignominy, and all kinds of calamity, which the holiness of Herod can not endure. Thus it happens always, that they who have ensnared and oppressed the poor with an erring conscience and with human doctrines, do not like to hear that poor, miserable consciences receive instruction, attain a right understanding, and seek the simple, pure Word of God and faith. Many say that they want a new king, and have seen his star; for thus the pope, bishops, holy fathers and lords could not indulge their carnal desires.

[136] Therefore, it is not at all agreeable nor serviceable to the reign of Herod that the wise men, the learned, the laity, who know nothing, should begin to speak of the light of the Gospel, and to inquire about another matter in the midst of Jerusalem, paying no attention to spiritual pomp of the rulers. This must indeed have frightened Herod and his associates because it concerned their purses and their belly. Yes, it also frightened all Jerusalem; for many pious people, though they hated the reign of Herod and wished that it were not thus, also were afraid that the truth might be brought to light at an unpropitious time, that through it a tumult and confusion might be caused in the world, that the government might be attacked, and that perhaps this tumult could not without great detriment, be suppressed. Therefore they thought that it might be better to withhold the truth for a time, or to bring it forth in such a manner as not to frighten Herod, and arouse him to some desperate action.

 Cat: "Cute, but I need a fire."

From the House Postils by Luther - Not One of Your UOJ Fans at All

Luther doesn’t seem to go along with the 21st Century Lutherans who eschew the words, “Justification by FAITH”, always replacing them with, “Justification BY GRACE (through faith).”

“Thy faith hath made thee whole,” He says to the Samaritan who had been a leper. He does not give honor to Himself, else He would have said, I have helped thee; but He gives faith the praise.

Thereby He wishes to induce us, according to this example, to have full confidence in God, and to be sure that We shall obtain in Christ Jesus what we believe. If we believe that we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Christ, we shall have it. If we believe that God will be gracious and merciful unto us for Christ’s sake, He will be gracious and merciful unto us.

Therefore all shall be ascribed to faith, not unto God, though upon Him everything depends. And we all should perceive, that if we do not obtain that which we desire and need, it is not the fault of God that we do not obtain it, but the fault of our unbelief; for if we were strong in faith, we surely should obtain it.

Quote from: Luther, Martin. House Postil, or, Sermons on the Gospels for the Sundays and Principal Festivals of the Church Year, Volume III. “Fourteenth Sunday After Trinity. Luke 17:11-19.”

 Agreed, and WELS-ELS-LCMS-ELCA teach the false gospel of UOJ.

Consolation - Faith in the Death and Resurrection of Christ

Artwork by Norma A. Boeckler

This consolation we find in the words of Christ: “He shall testify of me,” for outside of this testimony of the Holy Spirit concerning Christ there is no sure and abiding consolation. The words “of me” ought therefore to be written in large letters and well remembered. They teach us that the Holy Spirit, when He comes to console, preaches no other doctrine, not the law, nor anything else but Christ, since it is impossible to comfort the troubled hearts except by preaching Christ’s death and resurrection.

Luther. House Postil Vol. 2. “Sunday After Ascension. (Exaudi.) John 15.26-16:4.”

 Artwork by Norma A. Boeckler

Luther on Reproving the World for Its Unbelief

 Norma A. Boeckler

We can therefore very appropriately describe the world as a crowd of men on earth who do not believe in Christ, but abuse and despise His Word, who internally and externally, with thoughts, words and deeds, kill, steal, rob, and practice all manner of wickedness, often abusing for this purpose the blessings and merciful gifts of God.

Christ in our text instructs His apostles, and all ministers of His Word, to battle against such iniquity, powerfully to reprove the world of sin by telling it unceasingly, as long as time lasts, that it has no part in the kingdom of Christ, because it does not believe in Him, but is assuredly the devil's property, not so much on account of outward, gross sins as on account of the source of all sin, unbelief. We cannot remedy this by becoming monks, nor by many good works, for as long as unbelief remains in our hearts we are accursed sinners beyond all hope of redemption. The only remedy in this our desperate condition is to thrust aside our unbelief, to have faith in Christ, and in Him alone to find consolation against sin and death.

From Luther. House Postil vol. 2. "Fourth Sunday After Easter. (Cantate.) John 16:5-15."

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. 

Let Us Make Good Use of the Resurrection

 Books by Norma A. Boeckler

From Luther's House Postil, "Second Easter Sermon. On The 28th Chapter Of St. Matthew."

 

 

...let us make good use of the resurrection of Christ, coming unto Him as to our brother, in whom we have all confidence, fully believing that His life is the guarantee of our salvation and our defense from all wrath to come. If we were firm in this belief no misfortune could disturb us; for amid all suffering which may fall to our lot, we know that Christ liveth and that we shall live with Him.

 

Why should the fact of our earthly sufferings distress us, when we are sure of eternal happiness in Christ; or why should we entertain enmity toward those who abuse us? We ought rather to pity them, since by their hatred and envy toward us they clearly show that they are not of this brotherhood and can have no part in the eternal inheritance.

 

For you have heard above that this new birth takes place in no other way than through the "sound," that is, the Word.

Such is the case to this day with respect to the true brazen serpent, the Lord Jesus Christ. All men are of the opinion that if they are to be helped, it must not be done by "looking" or faith. Whoever does good works and commits no sin, has all the more advantage before God. Therefore no matter what one may preach, it is of no avail. One resorts to this, another to that; "for all men have not faith." They thus want to find another way to health than by "looking," that is, faith in Christ. But learn this: It is decided, that the devil has so poisoned you through sin, that death has you by the throat, and you cannot escape, but must absolutely submit. But if you are to be saved from this poison and death, by all means don't think of any other medicine than this "looking"; namely, that you rightly look upon Christ on the cross as the One who died for you, offered up His life, atoned for your sins with His death, and thus has reconciled you to God. If you believe this and are baptized, then you are truly born again through the Holy Ghost unto the kingdom of God; and do not doubt it in the least. For you have heard above that this new birth takes place in no other way than through the "sound," that is, the Word. Cling to this and believe what it tells you, that it is yea and Amen.

From Luther's House Postil. Sermon for the Second Sunday After Trinity.

Luther Break - House Postil

from House Postil, vol 2, “Eleventh Passion Sermon. Christ’s Prayer On The Cross. – The Malefactor On The Right. (Translated by Isensee) Luke 23:32-43.”

The knowledge and confession of Christ which proceeded from the malefactor on the cross, is the very same knowledge and confession by which God preserves the Christian Church today. Though everything else should fail, and emperors, kings, popes and bishops cease to be, God will still retain a small company that shall have His Spirit and that shall confess His name before the world. When the disciples, and others who are closely allied to the Lord Jesus, refuse to confess and believe, and deny the Lord through fear, and are offended in Him and desert Him, then some malefactor or murderer must appear, to confess this Christ, to preach concerning Him, and to teach others what they should think of Him and why they should be comforted in Him. The Lord our God is determined not to leave Christ without followers who confess Him, even if He must have recourse to the thief upon the gallows, or the murderer upon the wheel.

Upcoming Projects in Publishing

The Gospel of Faith: From the Disciple Jesus Loved, illustrated by Norma A. Boeckler - I am revising this after getting useful comments from many people.

Luther's House Postils, Volume 1 - This is completed and illustrated by Norma A Boeckler. I am finishing it with an editorial look-over by Virginia Roberts. Two more volumes will follow.

Calvin Ruined the Protestant Faith - This is being planned. The basics are outlined.

Ichabod Lutheran Dictionary - This has been started.