The Apostles’ Creed—Article III
In this Article we confess that Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit. That is, He makes people holy. What better name, therefore, for Him to bear than “Holy” for only God’s Spirit alone is holy and can then make others holy. … The real question, then, is how is sanctification done? In short, He first leads us into the bosom of the Church and then through that Church preaches Christ crucified to us.
It is our confession of faith that we believe that we cannot believe. No one can come to the knowledge of the Gospel aside from the working of the Holy Spirit. And so He takes the victory of the cross, won in time and space by the Son, and He makes it known. Sanctifying, being made holy, is just another way of saying that He brings us to Christ so that we might receive the good gifts of the cross. And so, the Holy Spirit works through means, He works through the Word to bring the Word made flesh to you.
In the same way, if the Word is not proclaimed, if the Christ is not preached, then the Holy Spirit is not there, for He does not create, call, and gather the Christian Church apart from the preaching of the Gospel
This article then goes on to mention the “holy Christian Church” and the “communion of saints” which are really one and the same. So, in a sense, we can think about it as “a holy congregation, “a people made holy through the work of the Christ on the cross brought in time and space to you.” So “this group is called together by the Holy Spirit in one faith, one mind, and understanding, with many different gifts, yet agreeing in love, without sects or schisms.”
The forgiveness of sins is brought to the Church through the holy Sacraments and the Absolution, also through the words of comfort spoken in the Gospel of Christ crucified. And so everything within the Church should first and foremost be focused and ordered toward the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins. That way, even though we are still sinners in these fallen bodies and fallen world, we can know for certain that we are made holy in Christ. Outside of the Church where the Gospel is proclaimed there can be no forgiveness of sins and no true holiness.
And yet we are still both saint and sinner and therefore understand that this body of sin shall be brought to an end through death. But our sure and certain hope is that the Gospel does not end there. For we have the promise that in Christ our corruptible bodies will be raised again incorruptible, the mortal shall be swallowed up by the immortal. We will be free from sin, suffering, guilt, shame, and death.
All of this must be continuously preached and proclaimed among us and into the world. The preaching of the 10 Commandments, the preaching of the Law, only can make no Christian. For the forgiveness of sins in not included in the Law, but only in the Gospel of Christ crucified for you. But while He has been crucified for you, He has also been crucified for all. And so this is the Gospel that the Church proclaims until Christ comes again in glory.
All of this is the work of the Holy Spirit. None of it can be accomplished without Him and He does none of this apart from the Word. This is what we confess when we say, “I believe in the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.”
In Christ,
Rev. Eli Lietzau
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Something Worth Reading
[All books are available in our church’s library or may be borrowed from the pastor]
25 This Side of Glory: Celebrating 25 years of Higher Things
“The Feast for the Unworthy Sinner”—Eli Lietzau
Worthless beggars is all that we are, is all that we could ever be. Empty sacks are the only thing that we bring to the table. But our Lord wouldn’t have it any other way, for it is the sick who are in need of a physicians and who among us aren’t laden with that sinful disease that leads us to death? Grumbling bellies, that have for far too long gorged themselves on the flirt of that deadly tree, are the only things that we can offer to God. But such an offering is acceptable to Him, for it comes from a broken heart and an contrite spirit starving for the feast of forgiveness.
What We Believe—The Formula of Concord, Epitome
The Summary Content, Rule, and Norm
Note: What is the sole source of doctrine in the Church? The Bible and the Bible alone. God’s Word is the pure fountain and source of God’s truth. Church creeds and confessions, however, function as witnesses to that truth. As such, they are accepted standards by which we can discern between true and false teaching. Churches can, do, and should insist that called pastors and other Church workers pledge themselves unconditionally to the Church’s confession. In this way, the Church’s confession safeguards the pure teaching of God’s Word. Does this contradict the statement that the Bible alone is the source and norm of doctrine? No. Confessions are not the source of doctrine, but are a standard or norm by which preaching and teaching are evaluated, because they are based on God’s Word. This may be a fine nuance, but it is an important one. Today, in authentically Lutheran churches, pastors and other church workers pledge to faithfully teach and practice according to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, just as they have done for nearly five hundred years.
- We believe, teach, and confess that the only rule and norm according to which all teachings, together with <all> teachers, should be evaluated and judged [2 Timothy 3:15-17] are prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testament alone. For it is written in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” St. Paul has written, “even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).However, other writings by ancient or modern teachers—no matter whose name they bear—must not be regarded as equal to the Holy Scriptures [1 Corinthians 14:32]. Other writings should not be received in any other way or as anything more than witnesses that show how this <pure> doctrine of the prophets and apostles was preserved after the time of the apostles, and at what places.
- Right after the time of the apostles, and even while they were still living, false teachers and heretics arose [Titus 3:9-10]. Therefore, symbols (i.e., brief, concise confessions) were written against the heretics in the Early Church. These symbols were regarded as the unanimous, universal Christian faith and confession of the orthodox and true Church. They are the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. We pledge ourselves to these symbols, and in this way we reject all heresies and teachings that have been introduced into God’s Church against them.
- However, schisms in matters of faith have also happened in our time. Therefore, we regard as the unanimous consensus and declaration of our Christian faith and confession—especially against the papacy and its false worship, idolatry, superstition, and against other sects—the first, unaltered Augsburg Confession. It is the symbol of our time, and it was delivered to the Emperor, Charles V, at Augsburg in the year of 1530 in the great Diet. We hold to this confession along with its Apology and the Articles composed at Smalcald in the year 1537, which the chief theologians signed at that time.Such matters also concern the laity and the salvation of their souls. Therefore, we also confess Dr. Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms as they are included in Luther’s works. They are “the layman’s Bible” because everything necessary for a Christian know for salvation is included in them, which is handled more extensively in the Holy Scriptures.
As announced above, all teachings are to be conformed in this way. What is contrary to these confessions is to be rejected and condemned, as opposed to the unanimous declaration of our faith.
In this way the distinction between the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and all other writings is preserved. The holy Scriptures alone remain the judge, rule, and norm. According to them—as the only touchstone—all teachings shall and must be discerned and judged to see whether they are good or evil [1 Thessalonians 5:21-22], right or wrong.
The other symbols and writings mentioned above are not judges like the Holy Scriptures. They are only a testimony and declaration of the faith. They show how the Holy Scriptures have been understood and explained in regard to controversial articles in God’s Church by those living at that time. Also, they show how the opposite teaching was rejected and condemned <by what arguments the dogmas conflicting with the Holy Scriptures were rejected and condemned.>.
Bible Study
Join us for Bible Study every Sunday before Service. Beginning throughout the summer we will be studying “Why we do what we do?”. This is a great opportunity to come and be reminded (or learn for the first time) why we worship the way that we do and how the Divine Service is structured to grant to us God’s good gifts. …. You are also invited to Midweek Bible Study each Tuesday morning at 10:00am (starting again in August). Currently, we are studying the book of I Kings. If you have not had the chance to join us for Bible Study please use this opportunity to begin fresh as we delve into the Word of God together.
