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

[A Book of Concord Reading]

The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of
Concord is for the Acts 8:26-40 for the Easter 5, series B, May
3, 2015.

It is from Solid Declaration, Article XI, pages 605-606.

It should not surprise us that the Spirit would lead Philip to
share the Good News about Jesus with an Ethiopian in the early
days of the New Testament Church.

The reading is formatted for the back of a standard CPH bulletin
at
http://lcmssermons.com/images/boc/CY2015/r%20Easter%205%20B,F.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
EASTER 5, SERIES B
SOLID DECLARATION
ARTICLE XI, GOD担 ETERNAL ELECTION

We should listen to God's revealed will. For He has made "known
to us the mystery of His will" (Ephesians 1:9) and made it clear
through Christ so that it might be preached.

This is revealed to us in the way Paul says "those whom He
predestined [elected and foreordained] He also called" (Romans
8:30). God does not call without means, but through the Word.
For He has commanded "that repentance and forgiveness of sins
should be proclaimed in His name" [Luke 24:47]. St. Paul also
testifies in a similar way when he writes, "Therefore, we are
ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We
implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2
Corinthians 5:20). The King calls the guests that He wants to
have at His Son's wedding through the ministers He sends out
(Matthew 22:2-14). He sends some at the first and some at the
second, third, sixth, ninth, and even at the eleventh hour.

If we want to think about our eternal election to salvation
helpfully, we must hold strongly and firmly to this truth: just
as the preaching of repentance is universal, so also the promise
of the Gospel is universal, that is, it belongs to all people.
For this reason Christ has given these commands: Repentance and
forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all
nations. (Luke 24:47)
(paragraphs 26-28)

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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