The Mark of God
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 2:15–21
We 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.
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Reading the Word with Luther Posts
The Mark of God
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 2:15–21
We 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.
More
The Gift of God
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Ephesians 2:1-10
Just 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.
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He Is Written
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Hebrews 1:1–5
Your beliefs, especially doctrine about Christ, must come from the Scriptures. Rest your faith on Christ as found in the Word alone.
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Through Faith
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:23–29
This video was recorded in 2021, just as I was packing up my old study to move it to St. Paul's in Salisbury, NC.
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The Rising of the Light
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Isaiah 60:1–3
The gospel is not the light but the expression of that eternal Light that has risen upon us.
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To Know Christ
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Matthew 2:1–6
The 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.
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The Twofold Effect of the Gospel
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Isaiah 60:1
The 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.
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Evidence of Faith
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 13:8–10
Love 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.
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Indebted to Love
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 13:8
Having 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.
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Living Sacrifice
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 12:1–2
The 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.
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Kept in Humble Faith
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Luke 2:41–52
God allows suffering to guard against presumption, as example to others to repent, and as preparation for finding Christ, and keeping him.
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Faith in His Word
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Luke 2:25–33
We 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."
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Acceptable Sacrifice
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 2:2–5
Christians 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.
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Appearances
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Luke 2:33–35
Simeon was not impressed by appearances and so, could bless Christ Jesus. If appearances are our motivation, we will not bless Jesus.
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Christ Alone
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Luke 2:33–35
If salvation in Christ's light is to be brought about, all other righteousness in ourselves, sought outside of Christ with works, must be rejected.
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Transformed Thought
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Romans 12:1–3
Christians 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.
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Dealing with Trouble
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Luke 2:41–45
Good 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.
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Worship for Christ’s Sake
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Luke 2:36–38
Our 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.
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Love Is Not Vengeful
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Proverbs 10:12
Love 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.”
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Content with the Gospel
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Luke 2:50–52
May 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.
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Many Functions
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Romans 12:3–5
Each 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.
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Wheat and Weeds
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Matthew 13:26–30
Jesus 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.
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Love Your Neighbor
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Matthew 5:43–46
Love 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.
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The Marriage Will
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: John 2:1–2
Marriage, 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.
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Favor the Lowly
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: Romans 12:14–16
As much as you are able, live in peace with all; spend time with those of humble circumstance. Be a blessing to your neighbor.
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Proud of the Gospel
Scripture and a reading from Luther's sermons and devotional writings
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 11:21–23
A 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.
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Freely Given Gifts
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Matthew 8:5–10
Take 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.
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Look There
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 2:49–50
Seek! Search! Look everywhere else. But you will never find Christ Jesus anywhere else but in the holy Scripture. The Spirit will reveal himself there.
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Run to Win
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 9:23–27
A 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.
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True Faith
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Matthew 8:1–3
Come 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.
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The Greatest
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 13:12–13
When 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.
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Equality of Believers
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 12:20–25
Peter'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.
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Noticing the Heart of Jesus
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 18:31
Jesus came to earth to do his Father's will, to die for a world's sin. It was his passion, his Plan A; there was no Plan B.
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The Faith of Another
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Matthew 8:10–13
God can bring life and healing to the lives of others through your faith, as seen in biblical examples like the centurion who had faith for another.
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Entrusting
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 2:21–23
You just can't win sometimes. Trying to defend yourself does not work; you just get judged all the more. All you can do is entrust yourself to God.
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The Love of Neighbor
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 13:9
If you do not love your neighbor, your conscience will condemn you. Without trust in a forgiving Father, you will be overwhelmed with guilt.
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Owe Your Neighbor
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Romans 13:8
We are to owe no person anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law and commandments.
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The Mystery Revealed
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: Luke 18:31–34
"Reason, flesh and blood, cannot understand, nor grasp that the Scriptures should say how the Son of man must be crucified...to suffer for us."
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A Patient Lent
Reading the Word with Luther
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 2:21–23
Jesus was able to be patient with his accusers and attackers because he did not entrust himself to their judgment but to him who judges justly.
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