The Righteous Man
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Genesis 6:8–10
Noah is called “just” because he first believed, then “perfect” (“upright”) because he walked in the fear of God and conscientiously avoided sins.
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Devotional Posted in July 2024
A Friend of Sinners
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 15:1–2
The religious people were enemies of Christ because of the people Jesus called his friends: sinners who wanted to follow him.
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Nothing To Do
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 14:23
When one senses his wretchedness, then is the time to believe in Jesus Christ. There are no other means to save you, save be baptized and believe.
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The Cares of the Church
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Psalm 46:1–3
"Christians have regard for God’s Word and believe that God cares for them. They commend all things to him and at his word go on with courage."
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The Cure for the Conscience
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: John 3:14–15
"Reason argues: You have sinned, you must also atone for your sin. The gospel of Christ says: You have sinned, another must atone for you."
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The Golden Age
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Genesis 7:1
We are in the golden age because we have the light of God’s Word and the sacraments are rightly administered in our churches.
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The Double Blessing
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 6:20–23
The service of righteousness in Christ has the double blessing of a clear conscience before God and the rich and incorruptible reward of eternal life.
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Proof of Faith
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: 1 John 3:13–16
Faith is not an inactive and lifeless thing. When there is faith in the heart, its power will be manifested toward God and one's neighbor.
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The Power of the Resurrection
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: John 20:26–29
It is by the power of the resurrection of Christ that Thomas, and us, who are so deep and obdurate in unbelief, are so suddenly changed.
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The Heavy Heart
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: John 20:24–25
The most religious person will be lost and condemned if he will not believe. For there is no forgiveness of sins, nor salvation, if one does not believe.
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Preference
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 14:15–18
We make excuses, preferring many things against the gospel, for we are no better than were the ancient Jews, who also rejected the gospel for the law.
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Every Christian
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: John 20:21–23
Jesus sends every Christian to instruct and teach his neighbor, that he may also come to Christ, a power not reserved for popes, bishops, and pastors.
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Being Acceptable to God
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 16:19–21
"Poverty and suffering make no one acceptable to God; but if he is already acceptable to God, his poverty and suffering are precious in God’s eyes."
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Dead and Alive
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 6:6–11
This old man must be crucified, executed, put out of the way, even here in this life. Were he remains in his strength, faith and spirit cannot be.
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Nagging Questions
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 11:33–34
If you wish to proceed wisely and truly apprehend God, you can do no better than to be interested in his Word where he has revealed himself.
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The Comfort of Communion
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 14:16–17
The preaching of Christ feeds his guests through holy baptism, comforting and strengthening them through the Sacrament of his body and blood.
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The Death that Brings Life
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 6:3–11
Through baptism, Christ dedicates us to himself — he decides for us, elects us — and imparts to us the power of his death and resurrection.
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The Need of a Savior
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: John 3:13–15
Before man may receive righteousness and eternal life, there must come One who has eternal righteousness and life, who appeases God’s wrath.
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The Overthrow of Nature
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: John 3:5–8
We must abandon the life of the flesh and enter into new life, dead to the old. There must be a real change and an overthrow of nature and feeling.
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One God, One Mind
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1–7
Knowing that you all embrace the one true God's Word, hold together in one faith and one mind, not disagreeing as though you had many gods.
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The Bread of Life
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: John 6:48–51
"In these words the soul finds a well prepared table, at which it satisfies all hunger; for it knows of a certainty that he who speaks cannot lie."
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God Forbid!
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 6:14–15
Sin is not forgiven so that we may sin all the more, taking God's grace for granted and taking advantage, but so that conscience is free to love God.
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True Faith
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Matthew 23:37
"Faith, if it is true faith, is of such a nature that it does not rely upon itself, but holds to Christ, and takes refuge under his righteousness."
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Losing Faith in Self
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: John 6:44
The preaching of the law shows us that our entire lives and characters, however holy and beautiful they may seem, are nothing before God.
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Resembling Cain
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Genesis 4:8
All people are in ancient Cain's very same condition, for unless our nature is helped by the Spirit of God, it cannot maintain itself.
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Temperance
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Ephesians 5:15–20
Because God has so richly shed upon us the gospel of light, we ought in honor and gratitude to him try to reform and temper ourselves.
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The Two Kingdoms
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Matthew 22:15–21
The two powers, God’s and Caesar’s, or spiritual and temporal kingdoms, must be kept apart, Christians especially rendering to each the honor due.
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The Death of Sin
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 6:1–4
Christ Jesus was buried that he might, through forgiveness, cover up, mortify, and destroy our sin, whether actually committed or inherent in us.
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Strong Medicine
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 5:20–21
God provides strong medicine to cure the sinful condition but this gives no license to make oneself ill so that more medicine may be received.
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Blessed Eyes
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 10:21–24
You are blessed if your have heard and seen with your heart the Lord Jesus Christ, for there are those who have heard and seen without perception.
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