A reading from the Book of Concord - 3 year series - October 25, 2015

[A Book of Concord Reading]

The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of
Concord is for the Hebrews 7:23-28 for the Pentecost 22, Proper
25, series B, October 25, 2015.

It is from Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article , page
203.

If we pray to saints for help we belittle Christ's mercy and His
promises.

The reading is formatted for the back of a standard CPH bulletin
at
http://lcmssermons.com/images/boc/CY2015/Proper%2025%20B,E.doc

Pastor Doug May
Socorro, New Mexico
dou...@fishers.net

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD - 3 YEAR SERIES
PENTECOST 22, PROPER 25, SERIES B
APOLOGY OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION
ARTICLE XXI, SAINTS

The adversaries not only require invocation in worshiping the
saints, but also apply the merits of the saints to others. They
make the saints not only intercessors, but also people who make
atonement. This cannot be tolerated. Here honor that belongs to
Christ alone is completely transferred to the saints. The
adversaries make them mediators and atonement makers. Although
they distinguish between mediators of intercession and mediators
of redemption, they plainly make the saints mediators of
redemption. Without the testimony of Scripture, they declare
that the saints are mediators of intercession. This, be it said
ever so reverently, still clouds over Christ's office and
transfers to the saints the confidence of mercy belonging to
Christ. People imagine that Christ is stricter and the saints
more easily appeased. They trust the saints' mercy rather than
Christ's mercy. They flee from Christ and seek the saints. So
they actually make the saints mediators of redemption.

By the Word of God we certainly know that God wants to listen to
those calling upon Christ, "Whatever you ask of the Father in My
name, He will give it to you" (John 16:23). We also have the
command to call upon Christ: "Come to Me, all who labor."
(Matthew 11:28) (paragraphs 14-15, 17-18)

Condensed from CONCORDIA: THE LUTHERAN CONFESSIONS, copyright
2005 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, visit
http://bocl.org/concordia or call 800-325-3040

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