Christ as our sole Mediator, Atoning Sacrifice, High Priest, and Intercessor...

Our churches teach that the history of saints may be set before us so that we may follow the example for their faith and good words, according to our calling.  For example, the emperor may follow the example of David in making war to drive away the Turk from his country.  For both are kings.  But the Scriptures do not teach that we are to call on the saints to to ask the saints for help.  Scripture sets before us the one Christ as the Mediator, Atoning Sacrifice, High Priest, and Intercessor.  He is to be prayed to. He has promised that He will hear our prayer.  This is the worship that He approves above all other worship, that He be called upon in all afflictions.  "If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father" (I John 2:1).
~BOC, AC, XXI, 1-4

Absolution, a Sacrament of repentance...

Furthermore, the Power of the Keys administers and presents the Gospel through Absolution, which is the true voice of the Gospel.  We also include Absolution when we speak of faith, because "faith comes from hearing," as Paul says in Romans 10:17.  When the Gospel is heard and the Absolution is heard, the conscience is encouraged and receives comfort.  Because God truly brings a person to life through the Word, the Keys truly forgive sins before God.  According to Luke 10:16, "The one who hears you hears Me."  Therefore, the voice of the one absolving must be believed no differently than we would believe a voice from heaven.  Absolution can properly be called a Sacrament of repentance, as even the more learned scholastic theologians say.  Meanwhile, in temptations this faith is nourished in a variety of ways: through the declaration of the Gospel and the use of the Sacraments.  For these are signs of the New Testament, that is, signs of the forgiveness of sins.  They offer the forgiveness of sins as the words of the Lord's Supper clearly testify, "This is My body, which is given for you.  This is the cup of the New Testament," and so on.  So faith is conceived and strengthened through Absolution, through the hearing of the Gospel, through the use of the Sacraments, so that it may not give in to the terrors of sin and death while it struggles.  This method of repentance is plain and clear.  It increases the worth of the Power of the Keys and of the Sacraments. It illumines Christ's benefit and teaches us to make use of Christ as Mediator and the Atoning Sacrifice.

~BOC, AP, XII (V), 39-43

The worship and divine service of the Gospel is to receive gifts from God...

But because Christ's righteousness is given to us through faith, faith is righteousness credited to us.  In other words, it is that by which we are made acceptable to God on account of the credit and ordinance of God, as Paul says, "Faith is counted as righteousness" (Romans 4:3,5).  Although, because certain hard-to-please people, we must say technically:  Faith is truly righteousness, because it is obedience to the Gospel.  For it is clear that obedience to the command of a superior is truly a kind of distributive justice.  This obedience to the Gospel is credited for righteousness. So, only become of this--because we grasp Christ as the Atoning Sacrifice--are good works, or obedience to the Law, pleasing.  We do not satisfy the Law, but for Christ's sake this is forgiven us, as Paul says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). This faith gives God the honor, give God that which is His own.  By receiving the promises of God, it obeys Him.  Just as Paul also says, "No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God" (Romans 4:20).  So the worship and divine service of the Gospel is to receive gifts from God.  On the contrary, the worship of the Law is to offer and present our gifts to God.  However, we can offer nothing to God unless we have first been reconciled and born again. This passage, too, brings the greatest comfort, as the chief worship of the Gospel is to desire to receive the forgiveness of sins, grace, and righteousness.
~BOC, AP, V (III), 186-189

Christ, as victim, removed the right of the Law to accuse and condemn those who believe in Him...

This means that the Law condemns all people. But Christ--without sin--has borne the punishment of sin. He has been made a victim for us and has removed that right of the Law to accuse and condemn those who believe in Him. He Himself is the Atonement for them. For His sake they are now counted righteous.
~BOC, AP, V (III), 58

The Law is not kept without Christ...

Therefore, in all our praising of works and in the preaching of the Law, let us keep this rule: The Law is not kept without Christ.  As He Himself has said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).  Likewise, "Without faith it is impossible to please [God]" (Hebrews 11:6).  For it is very certain that the doctrine of the Law is not intended to remove the Gospel and to remove Christ as the Atoning Sacrifice.  Let the Pharisees, our adversaries, be cursed.  They interpret the Law to assign Christ's glory to works.  (In other words, they say works are an atoning sacrifice, that they merit the forgiveness of sins.)  Works are always rightly praised in this way: they are pleasing because of faith.  For works do not please without Christ as the Atoning Sacrifice. "Through Him we have also obtained access [to God]" (Romans 5:2), not by works without Christ as Mediator.  Therefore, when it is said in Matthew 19:17, "If you would enter life, keep the commandments," we must believe that without Christ the commandments are not kept and cannot please.
~BOC, AP, V(III), 148-149