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The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of Concord is for the Gospel, Luke 24:44-53 for the Ascension of Our Lord, May 17, 2012. It is from Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV, pages 90-91. As Christ prepares to ascend to heaven He directs His apostles to bring His eternal blessings to all nations. Pastor Doug May
Christ, in the last chapter of Luke, commands "that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name" (24:47). The Gospel convicts all people that they are subject to eternal wrath and death. It offers, for Christ's sake, forgiveness of sin and justification, which is received through faith. The preaching of repentance (which accuses us) terrifies consciences. In these matters, hearts ought to receive consolation. This happens if they believe Christ's promise, that for His sake we have forgiveness of sins. This faith, encouraging and consoling in these fears, receives forgiveness of sins, justifies, and gives life. This consolation is a new ‹birth› and spiritual life. The adversaries cannot say how the Holy Spirit is given. We speak of the kind of faith that liberates from death and produces a new life in hearts. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. As long as faith is present, it produces good fruits. They imagine that people merit [conversion] through works. They do not teach that it is received through the Word. [But] justification happens through the Word, just as Paul says in Romans 1:16, "[The Gospel] is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." Likewise, he says, "Faith comes from hearing." Faith justifies. If justification happens only through the Word, and the Word is understood only by faith, it follows that faith justifies. (paragraphs 62-64, 66-67)
These are excerpts from the Book of Concord.
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