A reading from the Book of Concord - 3 year series - March 8, 2015

[A Book of Concord Reading]

The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of
Concord is for the John 2:13-22 for the Lent 3, series B, March
8, 2015.

It is from Apology, Article V, pages 123-124.

Signs do not create faith. Faith is created by God's word.
Signs are a reassurance for those who believe.

The reading is formatted for the back of a standard CPH bulletin
at http://lcmssermons.com/images/boc/CY2015/Lent%203%20B,G.doc
.. a reading formatted for a 14" Premium Bulletin is available
by contacting us.

Pastor Doug May
Socorro, New Mexico
dou...@bookofconcord.org

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD - 3 YEAR SERIES
LENT 3, SERIES B
APOLOGY
ARTICLE V: LOVE AND FULFILLING THE LAW

This is the Gospel, namely, that for Christ's sake, and not for
the sake of our works, we obtain the forgiveness of sins through
faith. Our adversaries work to suppress this Gospel by means of
distorted passages, which contain the doctrine of the Law or of
works. Christ often connects the promise of the forgiveness of
sins to good works, yet not because He means that good works are
an atoning sacrifice. Christ makes this connection for two
reasons. One is because good fruit must necessarily follow. He
reminds us that if good fruit do not follow, the repentance is
hypocritical and fake. The other reason is that we have need of
outward signs of so great a promise. A conscience full of fear
has need of much consolation. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are
signs that continually remind, cheer, and encourage despairing
minds that their sins are forgiven. The same promise is
portrayed in good works, in order that these works may remind us
to believe more firmly. Those who produce no good works are not
encourage to believe, but despise these promises. On the other
hand, the godly embrace them and rejoice that they have the
signs and testimonies of so great a promise. So they exercise
themselves in these signs and testimonies. Therefore, just as
the Lord's Supper does not justify us by the outward act without
faith, so alms do not justify us by the outward act without
faith. (paragraphs 153-155)

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

View online at http://lcmssermons.com/boc.php?d=2015-03-08