June 26 2022
June 25th-26th 2022 Holy Cross and St. Paul Presentation of the Augsburg Confession
Old Testament: 1st Kings 19:9b-21
Psalm: Psalm 119:41-48
Epistle: Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33
Sermon Text: Matthew 10:24-33 and Psalm 119:46
Sermon Title: “I Will Speak of Your Testimonies”
Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Have no fear”; “Do not fear”, “Fear not”. (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31) These are Jesus’ words to His disciples in Matthew’s Gospel, when speaking to them about persecution. “Have no fear (because) nothing is covered that will not be revealed”. (Matthew 10:26) “Do not fear those who can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul”. (Matthew 10:28) “Fear not, for even the hairs of your head are numbered”. (Matthew 10:30-31a)
The reformers who gathered before the Emperor Charles V, 492 years ago today, were likely experiencing a bit of fear and trepidation as they made their bold confession of faith in the words of the Augsburg Confession. This was the same Charles who had earlier declared Luther a heretic, deserving of death. Perhaps the confessors were reminded of these words of Jesus, and what He said afterwards, “everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father in heaven”. (Matthew 10:32-33)
Their confession of faith, the Augsburg Confession, which was read in its entirety that day, was rejected by the emperor and they were given one year to become obedient once again to the Pope. But to Charles’ surprise, when this happened, they bared their necks and told him, you might as well kill us now, because we are not going to recant our confession of faith. They would rather have died right then and there, than to abandon the truth of God’s Word; the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. These men were not some fanatics or radicals, they were simply faithful Christians who were trying to reform the Chirstian church which had gone off the rails in many ways.
They did what the psalmist had spoken of long ago; “I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and shall not be put to shame”. (Psalm 119:46) They confessed their faith in the one true God; they acknowledged Jesus before men, despite whatever fears they were experiencing in the moment; confident/knowing that the Word of God, “shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it”. (Isaiah 55:11b) As the Apostle Paul declared, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ”. (Romans 10:17) Being faithful to Christ and to His Word is the most important thing in this world; because “there is salvation in no one else”; than Jesus. (Acts 4:12)
The Augsburg Confession is the first of the documents in our confessions; the Book of Concord. As such, it is a faithful exposition/explanation of the Holy Scriptures. At their ordination, all Lutheran pastors are required to pledge their faithfulness to what is taught in them; again, because they are faithful to the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures.
These truths do not change and so, we will fight for our faith; we will not bow the knee to anyone who orders us to deny these truths of Holy Scripture. Whether president, king or dictator; whether pastor or pope, whether teacher, professor, or pop culture icon, singer, athlete or movie star; we will not surrender God’s Word, we will confess the truth of the Gospel and we will “bare our necks if it is required of us”. We will not be ashamed of the Gospel, knowing “it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe”. (Romans 1:16)
Of course, this confession is never easy to do. Those who made their confession at Augsburg could easily have lost their heads as St. Paul and St. Peter did. Or been fed to the lions or burned at the stake as heretics as happened to many Christians throughout history, including many in Luther’s day. We do not know exactly what we will face as we make our confession of faith in our own increasingly dangerous times. We do not know the exact circumstances we will face, but we do know in advance what our confession will consist of; it will be the same as the reformers of the 16th century.
We will continue to confess/bear witness to the Gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone; that He died to atone for the sins of the whole world, that has risen bodily from the dead, and lives and reigns to all eternity. We will confess the truth and reliability of God’s Holy Scriptures over and above any other authority in this fallen world. Again, all of this and more is in the Augsburg Confession; which is a correct exposition of the Bible.
The confession itself consists of 28 articles of faith; a few of which the Roman church agreed with, but most dealing with issues in great need of reform. In remembrance of this day, I will briefly review a few of these articles of faith; which the reformers were willing to risk their lives for;
Article I, Concerning God; “We unanimously hold and teach in accordance with the Council of Nicaea … there is one divine essence which is called and is God; yet there are three persons, co eternal and of the same essence and power … the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”.
Article II, Concerning Original Sin; “it is taught among us that since the fall of Adam, all who are born according to the course of nature are conceived and born in sin … unable by nature to have true fear of God and true faith in God … this same original sin … condemns to the eternal wrath of God, all who are not born again through baptism and the Holy Spirit”.
Article III, Concerning the Son of God; “Our churches also teach that the Word, that is the Son of God, took on man’s nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. SO, there are two natures, divine and human, inseparably united in one person … God the Son … was born, suffered, was crucified, died and was buried, in order to be a sacrifice for all sins and to appease God’s wrath … this same Christ rose from the dead … ascended into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of God … the same Lord Christ will come in full view of all to judge the living and the dead”.
Article IV, Concerning Justification; “we teach that human beings cannot be justified before God by their own powers, merits or works; but they are justified as a gift … when we believe that Christ has suffered for us and that for His sake, our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us”.
Article V, Concerning the Office of Preaching Ministry; that we may obtain this faith (in Christ), the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments was instituted. For through the Word of God and the sacraments, as through instruments, He gives the Holy Spirit who produces faith when and where He wills in those who hear the Gospel”.
Article VI, Concerning New Obedience; we teach that this faith is bound to yield good fruits and that a person must do such good works as God commanded … but not to place our trust in them, as if to earn grace before God”.
Article VII, Concerning the Church; we teach that the one holy Christian church will last forever. The church is the assembly of saints in which the Gospel is taught purely and the sacraments administered rightly … both Word and Sacrament are efficacious (effective) because of the command of Christ, even when offered by evil people”
Article XII, Concerning Repentance we teach … proper repentance consists of two parts; one is to have contrition and sorrow (terror … on account of sin … and yet at the same time to believe the Gospel and absolution, that sin has been forgiven and grace obtained through Christ … then good works which are the fruit of repentance should follow”.
Article XIV, Concerning Church Order it is taught among us that no one should publicly teach or preach, or administer the sacraments in the church without a proper call”.
Other articles in the Augsburg Confession include baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Confession, Church Rites, Civil Affairs, The Return of Christ, Free Will, The Cult of Saints, the Marriage of Priests; the Mass, and many others. They conclude by writing; “We have introduced nothing either in doctrine or in ceremonies, that is contrary to Holy Scripture or the universal Christian Church.
Since there is nothing in any of these articles that is contrary to Holy Scripture; and since there is a constant need to defend it; we will by the grace and mercy of God, continue to confess these truths and reject whatever is contrary to God’s Word. As the Psalmist declared “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. (Psalm 119:105) Therefore, “do not be ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”. (Romans 1:16) Amen.