The anniversary of the presentation of the first Lutheran confession takes place on Saturday, June 25th. 492 years ago, in 1530, a group of German princes presented Emperor Charles V with the Augsburg Confession, a document that defined and defended the teachings of the Lutheran church. This date is often referred to as the birthday of the Lutheran church because of the bold unity expressed that day.
All of the Lutheran Confessions (including Luther’s Catechisms) were collected in the Book of Concord in 1580. We subscribe to these documents and hold to their doctrine not “insofar as” (Latin = quatenus) they agree with Scripture but “because” (Latin = quia) they agree with Scripure.
Quatenus is a “weasel” word!!
Consider…
Every church and pastor say they teach what the Bible says. But pay close attention to what they actually teach and the differences are profound.
Simply put, confession matters. Confessing the truth of God’s Word through confessions like the Apostles and Nicene Creeds, the Catechism, and the Augsburg Confession lets people know what the Bible says.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9,10)
For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34b)
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32,33)
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
All of the Lutheran Confessions (including Luther’s Catechisms) were collected in the Book of Concord in 1580. We subscribe to these documents and hold to their doctrine not “insofar as” (Latin = quatenus) they agree with Scripture but “because” (Latin = quia) they agree with Scripure.
Quatenus is a “weasel” word!!
Consider…
Every church and pastor say they teach what the Bible says. But pay close attention to what they actually teach and the differences are profound.
- Not everyone agrees that we are lost and condemned by our very sinful nature; but it’s what the Bible says
- Not everyone agrees that God does everything in regard to our salvation, that we must play at least a small part; but the Bible says God does it all
- Not everyone agrees that the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion have saving, forgiving power; but that’s what the Bible says.
Simply put, confession matters. Confessing the truth of God’s Word through confessions like the Apostles and Nicene Creeds, the Catechism, and the Augsburg Confession lets people know what the Bible says.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9,10)
For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34b)
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32,33)
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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