Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 John 8–9
• Index
Click for audio of today's lesson.
From the Word: 2 John 8–9
From the Confessions: The Large Catechism, Introduction
What are these arrogant, shameless saints who are unwilling to read and study the Catechism daily? They clearly consider themselves more learned than God himself with all his saints, the angels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and all Christians.
Pulling It Together: It is too easy to become a heretic. It is easier to stop believing. Perhaps the easiest thing is to be lazy. Church membership rolls are filled with all three, but probably more of the third class. Every new pastorate requires becoming acquainted with scores of people who are so lazy that they cannot get to worship on the Lord’s Day. They will tell you that they believe, but something keeps them from the Lord’s Sunday blessings.
If you do not abide in the teaching of Christ, you are likely to end up as one of those three types of church members. If you are not living in the doctrine of Jesus, you can eventually, die in false teaching. Soon enough, you may find yourself not believing at all. Or, without the vitality of the Word of Christ Jesus, you will languish in spiritual sloth.
Prayer: Give me a hunger and thirst, Lord Jesus, for righteousness. Amen.
Winning, Losing, Loving: The Gospel in the Old Testament is an overview of Old Testament Scripture, tracing themes of chosenness, sin, and grace throughout the early books of the Bible. These cycles of sin and redemption point forward toward God's ultimate act of Redemption in Jesus Christ.
Share this post
Author
Rev. Mark E. Ryman serves as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Previously, Pastor Ryman has served other congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
Click Here For Content Archives