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The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of Concord is for the LSB series A Epistle, Romans 15:4-13 for the Advent 2, series A, December 5, 2010. It is from Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV, pages 89-90. Those who know and trust God's promises will be blessed with a joyous hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Click here for the reading formatted for the back of a standard CPH bulletin. Pastor Doug May
Even though the Law does not teach the free forgiveness of sins, the Old Testament Fathers knew the promise about Christ, that Christ would be the price for our sins. They knew that our works are not a price for so great a matter. So they received mercy and forgiveness of sins by faith, just as the saints in the New Testament. To this point belong those frequent repetitions about mercy and faith that appear in the Psalms and the Prophets. For example, Psalm 130:3 says, "If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" Here David confesses his sins and does not list his merits. He adds, "But with You there is forgiveness" (v. 4). Here he comforts himself by his trust in God's mercy, and he refers to the promise, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope" (v. 5). This means, "Because You have promised the forgiveness of sins, I am sustained by Your promise." Therefore, the Fathers also were justified, not by the Law, but by the promise and faith. It is amazing that the adversaries diminish faith, even though they see that it is everywhere praised as a great service. For example, Psalm 50:15 says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you." God wants Himself to be known so that we receive benefits from Him and receive them because of His mercy, not because of our merits. This is the richest consolation in all afflictions. (paragraphs 57-60)
These are excerpts from the Book of Concord.
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