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The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of Concord is for the Epistle, 1 Corinthians 1:18-32 for the Lent 3, series B, March 11, 2012. It is from Smalcald Articles, Part 3, Article XIII, page 283. God wants his children to fight against the sinful nature so that God's Spirit will perform many good works through us. Click here for the reading formatted for the back of a standard CPH bulletin. Pastor Doug May
HOW ONE IS JUSTIFIED AND DOES GOOD WORKS I do not know how to change in the least what I have previously and constantly taught about justification. Namely, that through faith, as St. Peter says, we have a new and clean heart [Acts 15:9-11], and God will and does account us entirely righteous and holy for the sake of Christ, our Mediator [1 Timothy 2:5]. Although sin in the flesh has not yet been completely removed or become dead [Romans 7:18], yet He will not punish or remember it. Such faith, renewal, and forgiveness of sins are followed by good works [Ephesians 2:8-9]. What is still sinful or imperfect in them will not be counted as sin or defect, for Christ's sake [Romans 4:7-8]. The entire individual, both his person and his works, is declared to be righteous and holy from pure grace and mercy, shed upon us and spread over us in Christ. Therefore, we cannot boast of many merits and works, if they are viewed apart from grace and mercy. God chose what is low and despised in the world… so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus… As it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:28-31); namely, that he has a gracious God. For with that, all is well. We say, besides, that if good works do not follow, the faith is false and not true. (paragraphs 1-4)
These are excerpts from the Book of Concord.
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