Concerning Repentance – part 14
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 4:4–5
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
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From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession
II. That we deserve grace because of attrition.
Pulling It Together
Although we should certainly “fear, love, and trust God” (Small Catechism), these things, including the fear of God (attrition), do not earn grace. Grace is freely conferred by God to those who are then expected to fear, love, and trust him. God’s freely given grace is not had by our works or by our state of mind or heart. We do not first give him our time, talents, money—or even our fear, love, and trust—and then receive his grace. That would be grace paid for services rendered. Instead, through no merit of our own, we are given his grace because of the merits of Christ alone. So we confess what is written, that though our works are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), if we believe in Christ, we are justified and our faith is credited to us as righteousness.
Prayer: Gracious Father, give me the heart of Abraham, so that I may trust in you alone for righteousness and salvation. 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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