A Reading from the Book of Concord 3 year series August 26, 2012 - Pentecost 13, Proper 16, series B

The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of Concord is for the Old Testament, Isaiah 29:11-19 for the Pentecost 13, Proper 16, series B, August 26, 2012.

It is from Smalcald Articles, Part III, Article I, pages 270-271.

None of us ever understood how blind and ignorant we were until our merciful Lord made barren Lebanon into a fruitful field, the deaf to hear, the blind to see and the meek to obtain fresh joy in the Lord.

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	PENTECOST 13, PROPER 16, SERIES B
SMALCALD ARTICLES	SMALCALD ARTICLES, PART III, ARTICLE I, SIN

Paul says in Romans 5:12, that sin originated from one man, Adam. By his disobedience, all people were made sinners and became subject to death and the devil. This is called original or the chief sin.

The fruit of sin are the evil deeds that are forbidden in the Ten Commandments. These include unbelief, false faith, idolatry, being without the fear of God, pride, despair, utter blindness, and not knowing or regarding God. Also lying, abusing God's name, not praying, not calling on God, not regarding God's Word, being disobedient to parents, murdering, being unchaste, stealing, deceiving, and such.

This hereditary sin is such a deep corruption of nature that no reason can understand it. Rather, it must be believed from the revelation of Scripture. It is nothing but error and blindness that the scholastic doctors have taught:

A person has a free will to do good and not to do evil, and, on the other hand, to not do good and do evil. A person can observe and keep all God's commands. A person can love God above all things and love his neighbors as himself.

These and many similar ideas have arisen from lack of understanding and ignorance, both about sin and about Christ, our Savior. They are truly heathen teachings that we cannot endure. For if such teaching were true, then Christ has died in vain. A human being would have no defect or sin for which He would have died. (paragraphs 1-3, 5-7, 11)

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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