Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Human nature cannot fear and trust in God...

All of these things are the reason why we made mention of concupiscense in our description of original sin, and why we deny to human nature the ability to fear and trust in God.  We wanted to show that original sin contains these diseases: ignorance of God, not having fear and trust in God, the inability to love God. These are the chief faults of human nature because they conflict with the First Table of the Ten Commandments.
~BOC, AP, II(I), 14

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

With God's grace, misery can heighten longing for the Lord's Supper and its gifts...

With God's grace, you may feel your misery more and become hungrier for the Sacrament [the Lord's Supper], especially since the devil doubles his force against you. He lies in wait for you without resting so that he can seize and destroy you, soul and body. You are not safe from him for one hour. How soon he can have you brought suddenly into misery and distress when you least expect it!
~BOC, LC, V, 84

Friday, February 24, 2012

Faith relies not on our contrition, love, or other virtues...

In the same way, also, in justification before God, faith relies neither on contrition nor on love or other virtues. Faith relies on Christ alone and on His complete obedience by which He has fulfilled the Law for us. This obedience is credited to believers for righteousness.
~BOC, FSD, III, 30

Thursday, February 23, 2012

We receive the mercy promised in Him by faith...

It is certain that sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ as our Atoning Sacrifice, "whom God put forward as a propitiation" (Romans 3:25).  Furthermore, Paul adds, "by faith." Therefore, this atonement benefits us in this way: We receive the mercy promised in Him by faith and set it against God's wrath and judgement.
~BOC, AP, IV (II), 82

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The natural person does not accept the things of God...

It [human will] has no power, without the Holy Spirit, to work the righteousness of God, that is, spiritual righteousness. For the "natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:14). This righteousness is worked in the heart when the Holy Spirit is received through the Word.
~BOC, AC, XVIII, 1-3

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

It is far higher to honor than to love...

He does not simply command us to love our parents, but to honor them.  Regarding our brothers, sisters, and neighbors in general, He commands nothing more than that we love them.  In this way He separates and distinguishes father and mother from all persons upon earth and places them at His side.  For it is a far higher thing to honor someone than to love someone, because honor includes not only love, but also modesty, humility, and submission to a majesty hidden in them.
~BOC, LC, I, 105-106

Monday, February 20, 2012

Holy Spirit begins and daily increases holiness...

You see, all this is the Holy Spirit's office and work.  He begins and daily increases holiness upon earth through these two things:  the Christian Church and the forgiveness of sin.  But in our death He will accomplish it altogether in an instant and will forever preserve us therein by the last two parts [of the Creed].
~BOC, LC, II, 59

Friday, February 10, 2012

The One who makes holy...

For there are many kinds of spirits mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, such as the spirit of man, heavenly spirits, and evil spirits.  But God's Spirit alone is called the Holy Spirit, that is He who has sanctified and still sanctifies us.  For just as the Father is called "Creator" and the Son is called "Redeemer," so the Holy Spirit, from His work, must be called "Sanctifier," or "One who makes holy."
~BOC, LC, II, 36

Thursday, February 9, 2012

By faith alone...

Therefore, it is necessary that faith alone reconciles and justifies. We do not receive forgiveness of sins through other powers of the Law, or because of these: patience, chastity, obedience toward magistrates, and so on. (Nevertheless, these virtues ought to follow faith.) Therefore, we do not receive forgiveness of sins because of love for God, even though this must follow. Besides this way of speaking is well known. At times we use a word for something and use use the same word for the cause and effects of that thing (synecdoche). For example, in Luke 7:47, Christ says, "Her sins, which are many are forgiven--for she loved much." Christ Himself interprets this when He adds, " Your faith has saved you" (7:50). Christ did not mean that the woman had merited forgiveness of sins by that work of love That is why he adds, "Your faith has saved you." But faith is that which freely obtains God's mercy because of God's Word.
~BOC, AP, V (III), 30-32

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

All human holiness is just stench and filth beside the work of God's commandments...

Therefore, it is God's ultimate purpose that we let harm come to no one, but show him all good and love...But know now that the works of this commandment [you shall not murder] are the true, holy, and godly works. God rejoices in them with all the angels. In comparison with these works, all human holiness is just stench and filth. And besides, human holiness deserves nothing but wrath and damnation.
~BOC, LC, I, 193, 198

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Jesus Christ, eternal Truth and Wisdom itself and Almighty God...

[Jesus] is not a mere man or angel, neither is He just true, wise, and mighty, but He is the eternal Truth and Wisdom itself and Almighty God.  He knows very well what and how He is to speak.  He can powerfully effect and do everything that He says and promises.
~BOC, FSD, VII, 43

Monday, February 6, 2012

Absolution as an aid against sin and consolation for anguished sinners...


Absolution, or the Power of the Keys, is an aid against sin and a consolation for a bad conscience; it is ordained by Christ in the Gospel.  Therefore, Confession and Absolution should by no means be abolished in the Church.  This is especially for the sake of timid consciences and untrained young people, so they may be examined and instructed in Christian doctrine.

But the listing of sins should be free to everyone, as to what a person wishes to list or not to list.  For as long as we are in the flesh, we will not lie when we say, "I am a poor man, full of sin"; "I see in my members another law"; and such (Romans 7:23).  Since private Absolution originates in the Office of the Keys, it should not be despised, but greatly and highly esteemed, along with all other offices of the Christian Church.
~BOC, SA, III, VIII, 1-2

Friday, February 3, 2012

Righteousness not found in self-chosen practices and acts of worship...

Paul teaches everywhere that righteousness is not to be sought in self-chosen practices and acts of worship, devised by people. Righteousness comes by faith to those who believe that they are received by God into grace for Christ's sake.
~BOC, AC, XXVII, 37

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Christ's suffering, in His human nature, for us...

God's Son truly suffered for us.  However, He did so according to the attributes of the human nature, which He received into the unity of His divine person and made His own.  He did this so that He might be able to suffer and be our High Priest for our reconciliation with God....
~BOC, FE,VII, 14

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Original Sin cannot be understood by reason...

On the other hand, we believe, teach, and confess that original sin is not a minor corruption.  It is so deep a corruption of human nature that nothing healthy or uncorrupt remains in man's body or soul, in his inward or outward powers....This damage cannot be fully described. It cannot be understood by reason, but only from God's Word.
~BOC, FE, I, 8