Concerning the Invocation of Saints – part 36
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 14:17–19
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Click for a recording of today’s lesson.
From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession
The adversaries, by ignoring these abuses when they required us to assent to the Confutation, have not acted frankly. If they cared for the interests of the Church, especially on this topic, they would take this opportunity to ask our most excellent Emperor to take measures for the correction of abuses. For it is clear that he greatly desires the healing and improvement of the Church. But the adversaries act so as to crush us in every way instead of assisting the most honorable and most holy will of the Emperor.
Pulling It Together
The promise of the gospel is righteousness, peace, and joy — not religious and dietary laws. More rules and laws provide none of these benefits. If you work harder so that you may become righteous, you will never become righteous, for a person’s righteousness only comes through faith in Christ. So, never knowing if you have become righteous enough to appease the god you are trying to appease, you will try even harder to become righteous — but continue to fail. This provides a fleeting peace that is only sensed when you imagine you have done well. Yet even that peace is false. What joy is there in such religion?
Christ is the righteousness we pursue — instead of a self-righteousness. Therefore, we are at peace, being confident that Christ has done all things necessary for our justification and salvation. The Holy Spirit reminds us daily that he has done so, and this brings joy upon joy. This is the needed message of the Church and for the world, for it is the gospel, and that makes for peace and the mutual building up of one another in the faith.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for making me acceptable to you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen
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Author
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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