tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post4189386334068574277..comments2023-11-03T04:50:42.128-05:00Comments on Confessional Gadfly: Evangelism Myth 8 - Study is really where it is atRev. Eric J Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-6234797886753913102010-07-22T17:44:50.177-05:002010-07-22T17:44:50.177-05:00Let's not go to far out on that limb.
The Co...Let's not go to far out on that limb. <br /><br />The Confessions clearly state that the Word is indeed a means of grace, even when read; that Faith may come from reading the Word; and that reading the Word is a means by which God sanctifies us. <br /><br />For example, the Formula of Concord -- II Of Free Will, or Human Powers, paragraphs 50 and 57 states:<br /><br />Therefore God, out of His immense goodness and mercy, has His divine eternal Law and His wonderful plan concerning our redemption, namely, the holy, alone-saving Gospel of His eternal Son, our only Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, publicly preached; and by this [preaching] collects an eternal Church for Himself from the human race, and works in the hearts of men true repentance and knowledge of sins, and true faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.<br /><br />And by this means, and in no other way, namely, through His holy Word, when men hear it preached or read it, and the holy Sacraments when they are used according to His Word, God desires to call men to eternal salvation, draw them to Himself, and convert, regenerate, and sanctify them.<br /><br />But if a man will not hear preaching nor read God's Word, but despises the Word and congregation of God, and thus dies and perishes in his sins, he neither can comfort himself with God's eternal election nor obtain His mercy; for Christ, in whom we are chosen, offers to all men His grace in the Word and holy Sacraments, and wishes earnestly that it be heard, and has promised that where two or three are gathered together in His name and are occupied<br />with His holy Word, He will be in their midst.<br /><br />This point too is made in the Large Catechism, Third Commandment, Paragraph 90:<br /> <br />"But God's Word is the treasure which sanctifies everything, and by which even all the saints themselves were sanctified. At whatever hour, then, God's Word is taught, preached, heard, read or meditated upon, there the person, day, and work are sanctified thereby, not because of the external work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all."<br /><br />Thus, sanctification comes through the teaching, preaching, hearing, and reading of and meditating on the Word. Not in only one form of the Word, but in all. Here, no form is given priority over another, but we are exhorted to employ all forms of the Word.<br /><br />[Of course one could also go to the A Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod:<br /><br />"Although God is present and operates everywhere throughout all creation and the whole earth is therefore full of the temporal bounties and blessings of God, Col. 1, 17; Acts 17, 28; 14:17, still we hold with Scripture that God offers and communicates to men the spiritual blessings purchased by Christ, namely, the forgiveness of sins and the treasures and gifts connected therewith, only through the external means of grace ordained by Him. These means of grace are the Word of the Gospel, in every form in which it is brought to man, and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and of the Lord's Supper. The Word of the Gospel promises and applies the grace of God, works faith and thus regenerates man, and gives the Holy Ghost..." Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, N.D.) [Adopted by the Synod in Convention in 1932]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com