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Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Colossians 3:16–17
All works are good, so long as they are done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for his glory, as directed by him rather than by one's own ability.
MorePeter's and Luther's doctrine of the priesthood of believers is central to Paul's teaching on honoring weaker members of the body of Christ.
MoreWhen there is but infinite day, we will require faith no more, nor hope. Love is the permanent thing, and therefore, the greatest of the three that now abide.
MoreCome to Christ because you are a sinner, not because you think he must have someone as great and pious as you. Come with faith in him, not in yourself.
MoreA Christian does not live life aimlessly. This life is a race to the prize, eternal life in Jesus Christ, and so, must be run with passion and purpose.
MoreSeek! Search! Look everywhere else. But you will never find Christ Jesus anywhere else but in the holy Scripture. The Spirit will reveal himself there.
MoreTake the Word of God "as it stands," as it is written, and be transformed by the Holy Spirit who works through that very Word in all his people.
MoreA Christian glories in the things of which other men are ashamed — in the cross and in his sufferings. For the world will not long endure the Word.
MoreAs much as you are able, live in peace with all; spend time with those of humble circumstance. Be a blessing to your neighbor.
MoreMarriage, because it is God's institution, will be a difficult work, as the flesh will resist and rebel, as it always does against doing God's will.
MoreLove desires the best for its neighbor, even when one's neighbor does not desire the best for you, so one must pray for them even when they are not neighborly.
MoreJesus allowed for believers and unbelievers alike in the church, so that both might be spared, believers from violent uprooting, and unbelievers an opportunity to believe.
MoreEach Christian has been given a calling, and with that calling a particular gift or gifts to fulfill the calling. These do not make her better or happier than another.
MoreMay we be content with the gospel, with what is written, for it contains all that God wants us to know about himself, all that we need to know.
MoreLove is virtue pure and precious. It neither utters, nor thinks any evil of its neighbor. It rather covers sin; not one sin, nor two, but a “multitude of sins.”
MoreOur worship and good works are to be done for Christ's sake, not because we think that we earn salvation through our deeds or piety.
MoreGood and bad happens to bad and so-called good people alike. The difference is how one responds, and why, and from where their peace comes.
MoreIf salvation in Christ's light is to be brought about, all other righteousness in ourselves, sought outside of Christ with works, must be rejected.
MoreChristians are not to be ruled by their feelings or reasoning, for these are matters of their will. But God's will revealed through his Word transforms them.
MoreSimeon was not impressed by appearances and so, could bless Christ Jesus. If appearances are our motivation, we will not bless Jesus.
MoreChristians are priests, each and every one of them, and as priests, are to offer acceptable sacrifices to God. That sacrifice is self for the honor God.
MoreWe must have faith in the Word, not in what our senses tell us. Feelings are secondary (at least) and are to be subordinated to "what is written."
MoreGod allows suffering to guard against presumption, as example to others to repent, and as preparation for finding Christ, and keeping him.
MoreThe sacrifices of the Old Testament are fulfilled in the one sacrifice of Christ Jesus so that we may offering the living sacrifice of faith in everyday life.
MoreHaving Christ's Spirit within us, we are to love our neighbors so fully through that it seems as though we are indebted to love our them.
MoreLove of neighbor does not justify us to God. Faith in God does however, compel us to love our neighbor, and this is evidence of faith, and love of God.
MoreThe light exposes the darkness of human reason, doctrine, and works, and displays our need of the grace and glory of he who is Light from Light, true God from true God.
MoreThe magi may not have known who the newborn king truly was, but you and I are called to attend to our vocations, then think only how we may know Christ.
MoreThe gospel is not the light but the expression of that eternal Light that has risen upon us.
MoreThis video was recorded in 2021, just as I was packing up my old study to move it to St. Paul's in Salisbury, NC.
MoreYour beliefs, especially doctrine about Christ, must come from the Scriptures. Rest your faith on Christ as found in the Word alone.
MoreJust as little as it lies in one’s power to be born and to receive natural existence, so little does it lie in his power to be without sin or to escape from it. He who created us must take it away.
MoreWe have received a mark, the sign of God's hand upon us. We are sealed with God's promise of salvation and eternal life through baptism and faith.
MoreYou can't wrap your mind around the Trinity. God is above the world and very different. We cannot imagine. So, God reveals himself and those with faith believe what he says about himself.
MoreYou can't wrap your mind around the Trinity. God is above the world and very different. We cannot imagine. So, God reveals himself and those with faith believe what he says about himself.
MoreBecause God is a righteous judge, things must be eventually different: the godly must have eternal good — and the wicked, on the other hand, must be punished forever. Otherwise, he would not be either righteous or God. So, we must keep faith in him despite wickedness and persecution and other troubles in this life.
More"Whoever believes the Word, does not care who the person is that speaks the Word, and neither will he honor the Word for the sake of the person; but on the contrary, he honors the person because of the Word, and always subordinates the person to the Word."
MoreHad you been in Bethlehem on that night, you would have paid as little attention to Christ as they did; but since it is now made known who Christ is, you profess to serve him, but you would hardly have done it before. If you do nothing for the needy now, you would not have done it for Jesus and his family then.
MoreJesus was a natural man in every respect just as we are — the only difference that he was without a sinful nature. It should be therefore, a great comfort to us that Jesus took upon himself our nature and flesh.
MoreWhat lovelier and more comforting message can be heard than that our sins are not ours any more, that they no more lie on us, but on the Lamb of God.
MoreWhat lovelier and more comforting message can be heard than that our sins are not ours any more, that they no more lie on us, but on the Lamb of God.
MoreThe gospel is the final message of God, that which clearly directs people to Christ. So should we, like John the Baptist, direct people to Christ.
More"Preparing the way" is a metaphor for confronting people who need to repent. Preparing the way is proclamation of the law so that people do not depend upon themselves and their religion but trust in Christ alone.
MoreWe must first tell the sinners how they can be liberated from their sins and perceive a merciful God. When they have been released from the power of an evil conscience, joy will naturally result.
MoreIt is not enough to put off the works of darkness. One must put on the armor of light by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.
MoreThe gospel has not the least in common with the self-righteous. They want to become rich in works, but the gospel wills that they are to become poor.
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