The Word That Causes Lutherans to Fight

Pastor Sturzenbecher is back to talk about the one word that causes Lutherans to quarrel.

Host: Pastor Randy Sturzenbecher is the pastor at Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church in Black Hawk, SD. He also serves on the Higher Things Board of Directors.

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[soundimpact]

Truth. Thank you.
Trust Him and Obey Him.
We are not our own....

[zachbergey]

You know what I say
One down the rest up!

[ros]

A good video with actual good news. I would like to go to this church.

[ros]

As Paul explains in Romans, when we sin we don’t fall from grace, but into grace (Rom 5:20). This should not be seen as an invitation to see what you can get away with, but a reassurance of your security in Christ Jesus. The TRUE gospel will always be open to the accusations “shall we sin that grace may abound?” (Rom 6:1). Of course not, but if people aren’t asking these questions – if their flesh isn’t scandalized – then they’re hearing an inferior gospel. His grace is greater than your sin.

Here’s the test: A false gospel will emphasize what you’re doing (or not doing), while the true gospel will emphasize Christ’s finished work on the cross. A false gospel will make you introspective and anxious, while the true gospel will always make you Christ-conscious and grateful. Here’s the good news:

In him we have redemption through his blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. (Eph. 1:7)

[irsshill]

This is a big misunderstanding of Lutheranism. The issue is not obey, but trust. You need to trust the cross, in order to be heal. Not by works or merit but grace in his blood.

[Dilley_G]

Thanks. Lutheranism is biblical theology. No works needed...like outwards signs of inward experiences etc.

[deanschulze]

This reminds me of something I heard in the audiobook biography of Dietrich Boenhoeffer by Charles Marsh. Bonhoeffer lamented what he called 'The Lutheran tendancy to see faith as a refuge from obedience.' The context was Germany in the 1930s when nationalism trumped scripture.

We are saved by faith through grace, and not by anything we have done or can do. God did it all for us. But once we are saved God requires good works from us. The Bible says that God pre-ordained good works for us to do after we have His saving grace in our lives. What we do in this life is important to God. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

Christ has saved us, but He will ask us face to face what we did with his gift of grace in our lives. Think of the parable of the talents. That day won't be comfortable for any of us, but we will be saved regardless of how much we fall short of what Jesus expects of us.

Obedience is our response to Gods free gift of salvation to us.