Open our hearts. No we can't!
Don Whitbeck
A pastor indicated that each one of us must open our hearts to accept the Holy Spirit. In real Lutheran Doctrine, we cannot, we can do nothing, its all the work of the Holy Spirit.
Peace!
Don
Book of Concord!
531.54: (in context)
52] Now, all who wish to be saved ought to hear this preaching [of God's Word]. For the preaching and hearing of God's Word are instruments of the Holy Ghost, by, with, and through which He desires to work efficaciously, and to convert men to God, and to work in them both to will and to do.
53] This Word man can externally hear and read, even though he is not yet converted to God and regenerate; for in these external things, as said above, man even since the Fall has to a certain extent a free will, so that he can go to church and hear or not hear the sermon.
54] Through this means, namely, the preaching and hearing of His Word, God works, and breaks our hearts, and draws man, so that through the preaching of the Law he comes to know his sins and God's wrath, and experiences in his heart true terrors, contrition, and sorrow, and through the preaching and consideration of the holy Gospel concerning the gracious forgiveness of sins in Christ a spark of faith is kindled in him, which accepts the forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake, and comforts itself with the promise of the Gospel, and thus the Holy Ghost (who works all this) is sent into the heart, Gal. 4, 6.
55] Now, although both, the planting and watering of the preacher, and the running and willing of the hearer, would be in vain, and no conversion would follow it if the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost were not added thereto, who enlightens and converts the hearts through the Word preached and heard, so that men believe this Word and assent thereto, still, neither preacher nor hearer is to doubt this grace and efficacy of the Holy Ghost, but should be certain that when the Word of God is preached purely and truly, according to the command and will of God, and men listen attentively and earnestly and meditate upon it, God is certainly present with His grace, and grants, as has been said, what otherwise man can neither accept nor give from his own powers. 56] For concerning the presence, operation, and gifts of the Holy Ghost we should not and cannot always judge ex sensu [from feeling], as to how and when they are experienced in the heart; but because they are often covered and occur in great weakness, we should be certain from, and according to, the promise, that the Word of God preached and heard is [truly] an office and work of the Holy Ghost, by which He is certainly efficacious and works in our hearts, 2 Cor. 2, 14ff; 3, 5ff.
or howabout Part II, Art VIII. of the smalcald articles:9] In a word, enthusiasm inheres in Adam and his children from the beginning [from the first fall] to the end of the world, [its poison] having been implanted and infused into them by the old dragon, and is the origin, power [life], and strength of all heresy, especially of that of the Papacy and Mahomet. 10] Therefore we ought and must constantly maintain this point, that God does not wish to deal with us otherwise than through the spoken Word and the Sacraments. 11] It is the devil himself whatsoever is extolled as Spirit without the Word and Sacraments.
Greg M. Johnson
An appropriate context of what you are referring to would really help here.
For those who think that they can open their hearts to Christ on there own, show an incorrect teaching of the ELCA.
A pastor indicated that each one of us must open our hearts to accept the Holy Spirit. In real Lutheran Doctrine, we cannot, we can do nothing, its all the work of the Holy Spirit.
Peace!
Don
Book of Concord!
"Too many lifetimes are consumed by an irrational rebellion against the bullies of one's youth."
Greg M. Johnson
http://pterandon.blogspot.com
Don Whitbeck
I thought I gave you one. We could also say that anyone, who believes that they have a paert in their coversion is totally incorrect.
Thus, I gave a reference to and a copy of the correct teaching from the Book of Concord!
Regards!
Don
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 21:49:54 -0500
From: pter...@gmail.com
To: ELC...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [ELCA-G] Re: Open our hearts. No we can't!