A Reading from the Book of Concord 3 year series June 2, 2011 - Ascension of Our Lord

The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of Concord is for the LSB series ABC, Epistle, Ephesians 1:15-23 for the Ascension of Our Lord, June 2, 2011.

It is from Apology of the Augsburg confession, Articles VII and VIII, page 144.

The ascension of our Lord to assume all power and glory in heaven according to his human nature gives us hope and assurance that He will be with us in all circumstances. He calls the Church His body in which He resides and works through the Holy Spirit.

Click here for the reading formatted for the back of a standard CPH bulletin.

Pastor Doug May
Socorro, New Mexico

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD	ASCENSION OF OUR LORD
APOLOGY OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION	ARTICLES VII AND VIII: THE CHURCH

The Church is not only the fellowship of outward objects and rites, but at its core it is a fellowship of faith and of the Holy Spirit in hearts. This fellowship has outward marks so that it can be recognized. These marks are the pure doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments in accordance with the Gospel of Christ. This Church alone is called Christ's body, which Christ renews, sanctifies, and governs by His Spirit. Paul testifies about this when he says, "And gave Him as head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23). Those in whom Christ does not act are not the members of Christ. The adversaries admit this too. The wicked are "dead" members of the Church. We wonder why the adversaries have found fault with our description that speaks of living members. Neither have we said anything new. Paul has defined the Church precisely in the same way, that it should be cleansed in order to be holy. He adds the outward marks, the Word and Sacraments:

Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27) (paragraphs 5-7)

Condensed from CONCORDIA: THE LUTHERAN CONFESSIONS, copyright 2005,2006 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of CONCORDIA, call 800-325-3040.

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