Reformation Day 2017

                      Reformation Day 2017

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The Festival of the Reformation (observed)

October 29, 2017

St. John 8:31-36

 Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 It is written, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

 Let us pray: Almighty God, 500 years you brought your teaching and practice of the forgiveness of sins by grace through faith in Jesus back to the center of the church.  You have also given the same to us.  Continue to keep this teaching central to this congregation but also to your whole church on earth; in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

 The 95 Theses were posted by a German monk 500 years ago.

 The first of those theses is this: “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said repent, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance” end of quote.

 No matter how bad you are, the eternal God desires your salvation. He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for you. All of you. Even if you are the worst sinner, the most vile, wretched, messed up, God-hating, neighbor-despising sinner ever, your evil deeds no longer need to damn you. Nothing you have thought, said, or done is beyond the redemption of Jesus’ blood. Now, that’s Good News! That no matter what sins you’ve committed, no matter how sinful you really are, Jesus died for you.

 But here’s some more good news:

 No matter how good you are, the eternal God desires your salvation through Jesus.  And this may come as a shock. And, in fact, this is the real awesome good news that Martin Luther and the Reformation brought to light. That’s good news because even if you can say the right words that you don’t earn your way to heaven by being good, our Old Adam still believes God will like you better if you’re good. If you’re well-behaved, God won’t let bad things happen to you. When you do nice things, that makes God happy with you.

 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let me say this as clear as possible. The Father forgives all your sins by grace through faith in Jesus. AND the Father forgives all your good works, too, by grace through faith in Jesus! He forgives you for thinking that when you do something good, that makes you a good person.

It all comes down to this. whether you are good or bad: are you in Christ or not? Outside of and apart from faith in Jesus, there is nothing in you but sin, death, and judgment. In Christ, where His Word has declared you forgiven, you are righteousness, innocent, and blessed.

 This is what the Jews who believed in Jesus didn’t get. And it’s the thing we miss too. They refused to believe they were slaves of sin. If you sin, you’re a slave of sin. Jesus sets you free. But sin isn’t just doing bad things. It’s also thinking your good things make you a good person. We tend to think of sin in terms of doing bad and evil and wicked things. True enough. But our real demonstration of unbelief is thinking that any good things we do balance out the bad. That thinking we’re not people who actually deserve eternal death and judgment. But Jesus tells them plainly. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. So He does. By your baptism into His death for you. By your faith in Jesus for you.  You want to know who’s really good? Jesus. Perfect even. Spotless and without blemish. Sinless. You want to know who’s bad? Really bad? Worst sinner ever? Jesus! Because your sins are His, carried to Calvary. Bled and died for. It is by that payment for sin and the defeat of death by rising on Easter that the Son sets you free from the slavery of sin. Slavery to sin means unbelief.  But now, in Christ, you are promised that the consequence of your unbelief is not eternal.  

 So how do you know whether you are in Christ? Well, we don’t believe our sins because those might lead us to conclude that we’re nothing but lost! On the other hand, we don’t believe our good works either. Those might persuade us that we’re pretty good people who don’t really actually need Jesus that much.

 So how do you know? How do you know that you are a child of God?  His promises. The promise made at the font by water and the Spirit. The promise made when the pastor absolves you. The promise made when He gives you His body and blood to eat. The promise of “for the forgiveness of your sins.” These gifts, water, word, body and blood—these gifts tell you what God has to say. Your goodness or badness is of no eternal consequence. What matters is Jesus. What He did. What He gives.

Therefore, let us end with the first of the 95 Theses: “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said repent, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance” for I declare unto you again this morning, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Nineteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity

Nineteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity

Nineteenth Sunday After Holy Trinity

Matthew 9:1-8

Title: Be of Good Cheer

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Savior Jesus Christ.  (Amen)

It is written: So Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Jesus a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”  

3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”  4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.

8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Let us pray: Creator Father, Your Son tells a paralytic to be of good cheer by forgiving his sins, which is much harder than healing his paralysis.  O Lord, forgive our sins so that we may be of similar good cheer regardless of our physical fitness or fraility; in the name of Jesus.  (Amen)

Jesus had most recently cured a demon possessed man in the country of the Gergesenes.  It was that vivid scene when Jesus command a legion of demons to depart from the man and go into a herd of pigs.  And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.

So Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city, because many people witness Jesus cast out many unclean spirits from one man.  Jesus cast those unclean spirits into a herd of unclean animal; pigs to be exact.  Those pigs ran off a cliff and died.  Those people, who witnessed this exorcism, begged Jesus to leave their town.  So Jesus left.

Then behold, some men brought to Jesus a paralytic lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw the faith of those men, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”  A few men believed in Jesus.  What did they do?  Those faithful ones brought their unbelieving friend to Jesus.  The unbelieving one happened to be paralyzed, too.

This morning the Holy Spirit has brought us to Jesus.  It is the Holy Spirit who gathers sinners before Jesus.  The Holy Spirit trusts Jesus to give you a clean conscience so that you may be of good cheer.  You are baptized from unclean spirits by the Holy Spirit.  You believe in Jesus so you don’t send Jesus away from you.  Rather, faith clings to Jesus.  Baptism and faith give you a clean conscience.  

To use a rough example.  Imagine if the windows of your house were smeared with mud.  You wouldn’t know if the sun was shining or if it was overcast.  Day after day, that would be depressing.  But, with clean windows you can see the sunshine and you can also feel the sun’s warmth on your face.

To press a rough example, so it is with your conscience.  Muddied with unbelief, you have a dirty conscience.  You cannot see that the Son of God loves you.  You cannot receive His grace and mercy.  Why? Because you have a dirty conscience.

Only God can forgive your unbelief.

Only God can give you a clean conscience.

Only God can forgive you your sin.

Which makes the next verse understandable to us.  It is written: 3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”  

It is an accusation heard in this congregation from time to time.  At the beginning of the service, some people hear me say, “I forgive you all your sins” and are offended.  Only God can forgive sins.  How can that pastor say, “I forgive you.” Even, how can anyone say, “I forgive you” when we all know that only God can forgive sins?

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then Jesus said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And the man arose and departed to his house.

The forgiveness of sins is key to a good conscience.  Martin Luther, the Christian reformer, made a helpful distinction about the forgiveness of sins.  It helps to know what God promises to do but also how He invites pastors and people into His work.  Luther writes:

28...“The forgiveness of sins is of two kinds: The first is to drive sin from the heart and fill the heart with grace; this is the work of God alone.  The second kind is the declaration of the forgiveness of sin; this you can do to those around you.  But in this passage Jesus Christ does both. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit into the heart of the paralytic and externally Jesus declares forgiveness with the word, which is a declaration and public preaching of the internal forgiveness.  29 All men who are Christians and have been baptized, have this power (to declare forgiveness).  For with this they praise Christ, and the word is put into their mouth, so that they may and are able to say, if they wish, and as often as it is necessary: Behold! God offers you His grace, forgives you all your sins; be comforted, your sins are forgiven; only believe and you will surely have forgiveness.  This word of consolation shall not cease among Christians until the last day: Your sins are forgiven, be of good cheer.”  Such language a Christian always uses and openly declares the forgiveness of sins.  For this reason and in this manner a Christian has power to forgive sins.”  30 Therefore, if I say to you, Your sins are forgiven, then believe it as if God Himself had said it to you.”  So far Luther.

Where does God give Christians this power to forgive sins?  Jesus promises in Matthew 18, “I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Where does God give Christian pastors this power to forgive sins?  Jesus commands His apostles in John 20, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

31 Now if there were no man on earth to forgive sins, and there were only law and works what a weak and miserable thing a poor troubled conscience would be.  But now when God adequately instructs everyone, so that you are able to say to others: Your sins are forgiven you, then..”

The mud is removed from the window to your conscience.  Then you can trust God’s Son, Jesus.  Then you can receive the grace and mercy of God Himself.  What a beautiful day today becomes!

...31 On this account we are defiant against unbelief and boastful against sin, so that we can say to our anxious and distressed brothers and sisters on account of their sins: Be of good cheer.  Your sins are forgiven.  Although I cannot give you the Holy Spirit and faith in Jesus (which only God can give), I can still declare them to you.  And trusting this God given declaration, you have both the Holy Spirit and faith.  Therefore those who believe these Words praise and glorify God, even as they do here in the Gospel.  For...

8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes understanding, guard and keep you in body and soul with a clean conscience so that you may be of good cheer; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.  (Amen)

Service Video - Sunday, October 16

Our Savior Lutheran Church - LCMS 2611 Lucas Street Muscatine, Iowa 52761 oslcp@machlink.com www.oursaviormuscatine.org

Eighteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity

Matthew 22:34-46

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

It is written: 34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 † Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. The Holy Bible: King James Version., electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), Mt 22:34–46.

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees are two groups of religious leaders.  The main difference that we need to know about from this passage is that the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection from the dead whereas the Pharisees did believe and teach a resurrection from the dead.  Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence.  Jesus showed the Sadducees that they do not know the Scriptures.  God is the God of the living not the dead.  

The Pharisees delighted that the Sadducees were defeated in public.  One enemy down.  Only Jesus is left.

35 Then one of the Pharisees, which was an expert in the Holy Scriptures, asked Jesus a question, tempting Jesus, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Satan uses this kind of questioning.  Get someone to question the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God, and let sin carry the day.  False teachers use the same kind of questioning.  Get someone to question whether the Holy Scriptures are God’s Word and then let sin carry the day...in the name of the Lord.  But the Lord answers the Pharisees...

37 † Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The expert in the Holy Scriptures does not argue.  The Pharisees accept Jesus’ answer.  

In catechism class this last Wednesday, we briefly discussed a Lawless Christianity and Legalistic Christianity.  

This morning, the Sadducees are an example of Lawless Christianity.  God’s Law is good to make daily living better.  No need to fear sin.  Life is short, today, we eat and drink and be merry; and tomorrow we die.  The Sadducees teach a salvation from sin by means of the Gospel alone.  Believe in God but don’t worry about sin.  Don’t wrestle with the Ten Commandments.  This is Lawless Christianity.

The Pharisees are an example of Legalistic Christianity.  God’s Law must be followed in order to extinguish sin before the resurrection.  Sin is a problem.  Sin must be fought.  The Pharisees teach a salvation from sin by means of the Law alone.  This is Legalistic Christianity.

But, Jesus is neither Lawless nor Legalistic.  The Holy Scripture had two sermons in it.  Jesus distinguishes between these two sermons but holds both of them important.  The first sermon is the Law Sermon.  The Law of God will never go away.  It is an eternal Law.  It is the order of creation.  The second sermon is the Gospel sermon.  The Gospel of God is the promise of God.  He promises to restore creation by through the Christ.  So, this Christ, who is Jesus, asks the Pharisees a question in return…

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is He?  They say unto him, The Son of David. Before we get back to the Sadducees and Pharisees, what do you think of the Christ? Is your Christ the Christ that is promised in the Scriptures?  

For those of you who are more the emotional type, you will be tempted to believe in a Christ that makes you feel good regardless of what is written.  You might say, “God loves me no matter what!” Although there is more than a kernel of truth in your claim, Holy Scripture has more to say.  Scripture says that God loves you through Christ, the crucified One - no matter what.  So, what do you think of this crucified Jesus?  Are you saying the same thing as Holy Scripture or are you practicing a Lawless Christianity like the Sadducees - whom Jesus needed to correct?

For those of you who are more the thinking type, you will be tempted to believe in a Jesus that makes sense to you regardless of what is written.  You might read the Holy Scripture diligently and say, “God loves me because I practice what He has written!”  Although there is also a kernel of truth in your claim, Holy Scripture has more to say.  Holy Scripture says that God loves you through the Christ.  So, what do you think of the crucified Jesus?  Are you saying you follow Holy Scripture while downplaying Jesus Christ?  Are you practicing a Legalistic Christianity like the Pharisees?  If so, then you need to hear what Jesus says next.

43 Jesus saith unto the Pharisees, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer Jesus a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Jesus any more questions.

The Pharisees get confused when faced with Holy Scripture.  They cannot answer Jesus’ question.  The Sadducees have a great opportunity to win a few points against their clerical opponents.  But, the Sadducees also get confused when faced with Holy Scripture.  In fact, no one was able to answer Jesus.  No one is able to answer God.

Jesus is quoting Psalms 2 and 110 from the Old Testament.  The Lord who created David will also become the Lord born from David’s descendant - the virgin Mary.  “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:14.  Jesus is the Word.  Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is the Christ who proclaims, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” John 14:6.

28. But what shall we do to get rid of our bad conscience? Here follows now the other part of this Gospel, namely, who Christ is and what we can expect of him. From him we must receive and secure freedom from a wicked conscience, or we shall remain in our sins eternally, because for this purpose is Christ made known and given by the Father, in order that he might deliver us from sin, death, from a wicked conscience, and from the law.

31. Now this is accomplished in the following manner: Christ has through his death secured for us the Holy Spirit; and he fulfills the law in us, and not we. For that Spirit, whom God sends into your heart for the sake of his Son, makes an entirely new man out of you, who does with joy and love from the heart everything the law requires, which before would have been impossible for you to do. This new man despises the present life, and desires to die, rejoices in all adversity, and submits himself wholly and entirely to the will of God. Whatever God does with him, is well pleasing to him. This Spirit you cannot merit yourself, but Christ has secured and merited it. When I believe from the heart that Christ did this for me, I receive also the same Holy Spirit that makes me an entirely new man. Then everything God commands is sweet, lovely and agreeable, and I do everything he desires of me; not in my own strength, but by the strength of him that is in me, as Paul says in Philippians, 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.”

32. But you must take heed, that you do not undertake to secure this faith in Jesus Christ by your own works or power, or that you think lightly about this matter; for it is impossible for the natural man; but the Holy Spirit must do it. Therefore beware of the preachers of self-righteousness, who simply blabber and say: We must do good works in order to be saved.

But we say that faith alone is sufficient to this end. Our good works are for another purpose, namely, to prove our faith, as you have already frequently heard; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Eighteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity

          Eighteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity

Our Savior Lutheran Church - LCMS 2611 Lucas Street Muscatine, Iowa 52761 oslcp@machlink.com www.oursaviormuscatine.org

Eighteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity

Matthew 22:34-46

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

It is written: 34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 † Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. The Holy Bible: King James Version., electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), Mt 22:34–46.

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees are two groups of religious leaders.  The main difference that we need to know about from this passage is that the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection from the dead whereas the Pharisees did believe and teach a resurrection from the dead.  Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence.  Jesus showed the Sadducees that they do not know the Scriptures.  God is the God of the living not the dead.  

The Pharisees delighted that the Sadducees were defeated in public.  One enemy down.  Only Jesus is left.

35 Then one of the Pharisees, which was an expert in the Holy Scriptures, asked Jesus a question, tempting Jesus, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Satan uses this kind of questioning.  Get someone to question the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God, and let sin carry the day.  False teachers use the same kind of questioning.  Get someone to question whether the Holy Scriptures are God’s Word and then let sin carry the day...in the name of the Lord.  But the Lord answers the Pharisees...

37 † Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The expert in the Holy Scriptures does not argue.  The Pharisees accept Jesus’ answer.  

In catechism class this last Wednesday, we briefly discussed a Lawless Christianity and Legalistic Christianity.  

This morning, the Sadducees are an example of Lawless Christianity.  God’s Law is good to make daily living better.  No need to fear sin.  Life is short, today, we eat and drink and be merry; and tomorrow we die.  The Sadducees teach a salvation from sin by means of the Gospel alone.  Believe in God but don’t worry about sin.  Don’t wrestle with the Ten Commandments.  This is Lawless Christianity.

The Pharisees are an example of Legalistic Christianity.  God’s Law must be followed in order to extinguish sin before the resurrection.  Sin is a problem.  Sin must be fought.  The Pharisees teach a salvation from sin by means of the Law alone.  This is Legalistic Christianity.

But, Jesus is neither Lawless nor Legalistic.  The Holy Scripture had two sermons in it.  Jesus distinguishes between these two sermons but holds both of them important.  The first sermon is the Law Sermon.  The Law of God will never go away.  It is an eternal Law.  It is the order of creation.  The second sermon is the Gospel sermon.  The Gospel of God is the promise of God.  He promises to restore creation by through the Christ.  So, this Christ, who is Jesus, asks the Pharisees a question in return…

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is He?  They say unto him, The Son of David. Before we get back to the Sadducees and Pharisees, what do you think of the Christ? Is your Christ the Christ that is promised in the Scriptures?  

For those of you who are more the emotional type, you will be tempted to believe in a Christ that makes you feel good regardless of what is written.  You might say, “God loves me no matter what!” Although there is more than a kernel of truth in your claim, Holy Scripture has more to say.  Scripture says that God loves you through Christ, the crucified One - no matter what.  So, what do you think of this crucified Jesus?  Are you saying the same thing as Holy Scripture or are you practicing a Lawless Christianity like the Sadducees - whom Jesus needed to correct?

For those of you who are more the thinking type, you will be tempted to believe in a Jesus that makes sense to you regardless of what is written.  You might read the Holy Scripture diligently and say, “God loves me because I practice what He has written!”  Although there is also a kernel of truth in your claim, Holy Scripture has more to say.  Holy Scripture says that God loves you through the Christ.  So, what do you think of the crucified Jesus?  Are you saying you follow Holy Scripture while downplaying Jesus Christ?  Are you practicing a Legalistic Christianity like the Pharisees?  If so, then you need to hear what Jesus says next.

43 Jesus saith unto the Pharisees, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer Jesus a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Jesus any more questions.

The Pharisees get confused when faced with Holy Scripture.  They cannot answer Jesus’ question.  The Sadducees have a great opportunity to win a few points against their clerical opponents.  But, the Sadducees also get confused when faced with Holy Scripture.  In fact, no one was able to answer Jesus.  No one is able to answer God.

Jesus is quoting Psalms 2 and 110 from the Old Testament.  The Lord who created David will also become the Lord born from David’s descendant - the virgin Mary.  “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:14.  Jesus is the Word.  Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is the Christ who proclaims, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” John 14:6.

28. But what shall we do to get rid of our bad conscience? Here follows now the other part of this Gospel, namely, who Christ is and what we can expect of him. From him we must receive and secure freedom from a wicked conscience, or we shall remain in our sins eternally, because for this purpose is Christ made known and given by the Father, in order that he might deliver us from sin, death, from a wicked conscience, and from the law.

31. Now this is accomplished in the following manner: Christ has through his death secured for us the Holy Spirit; and he fulfills the law in us, and not we. For that Spirit, whom God sends into your heart for the sake of his Son, makes an entirely new man out of you, who does with joy and love from the heart everything the law requires, which before would have been impossible for you to do. This new man despises the present life, and desires to die, rejoices in all adversity, and submits himself wholly and entirely to the will of God. Whatever God does with him, is well pleasing to him. This Spirit you cannot merit yourself, but Christ has secured and merited it. When I believe from the heart that Christ did this for me, I receive also the same Holy Spirit that makes me an entirely new man. Then everything God commands is sweet, lovely and agreeable, and I do everything he desires of me; not in my own strength, but by the strength of him that is in me, as Paul says in Philippians, 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.”

32. But you must take heed, that you do not undertake to secure this faith in Jesus Christ by your own works or power, or that you think lightly about this matter; for it is impossible for the natural man; but the Holy Spirit must do it. Therefore beware of the preachers of self-righteousness, who simply blabber and say: We must do good works in order to be saved.

But we say that faith alone is sufficient to this end. Our good works are for another purpose, namely, to prove our faith, as you have already frequently heard; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.