Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 74
Scripture Text: Matthew 6:9-15
The promise of forgiveness is bound to repentance. They are inseparable. “Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations.”
Sola Devotions Posted in June 2023
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 73
Scripture Text: Exodus 20:1-6
We should have no other gods before the Lord (Exod 20:3). He alone is God (Deut 6:4). We think that in the churches today, idols are a thing of the past.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 72
Scripture Text: Matthew 19:16-22
The rich man wanted to know what good deed he as yet lacked so that he could earn eternal life. Having boasted that he had kept all the commandments, he nonetheless felt that he still lacked some fine deed.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 71
Scripture Text: Romans 4:22-5:2
The preaching of the law must have its rightful place among us. The law sets necessary boundaries in society so that we might enjoy a measure of order and civility in society.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 70
Scripture Text: Psalm 136:23-26
You may work all day and night, trying to prove yourself worthy to God, only to discover at the break of day that you do not believe he finds you worthy.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 69
Scripture Text: Matthew 6:9-15
Consider this teaching from the Lord’s Prayer: Forgive, and you will be forgiven. The first part in this doctrine demands amendment of life and good works, while the second part adds the promise.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 68
Scripture Text: Romans 5:15-16
So let us reject the entire squabble as not only a misunderstanding of the text, but a mistranslation as well. May we understand the gospel instead, for there is nothing uncertain in Christ.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 67
Scripture Text: Ezekiel 18:21-22
Daniel does not simply demand certain kingly works such as alms giving. He demands faith by saying, “Break off your sins by righteousness.”
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 66
Scripture Text: Daniel 4:24-27
Even the prophets of old required faith since they too conveyed the promises of God. Promises require faith because they involve trust in the one making the promise.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 65
Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 4:6-10
The law is used by God to achieve certain results. It exhorts us to look out for “number two,” or to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31).
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 64
Scripture Text: Matthew 18:23-35
As the parable indicates, we are indebted to the King. Our sin-debt should cost us our lives (Rom 6:23) but God is merciful, forgiving us and making us into new persons.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 63
Scripture Text: Isaiah 45:22-25
God commands us through the prophets to do good. Yet, through those same prophets, he makes it clear that our righteousness does not come from the works worked.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 62
Scripture Text: Hebrews 10:17-22
The law must be preached. Yet, it must also be taught that the keeping of the law does not bring new birth. Only God can regenerate the dead, which we most certainly were.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 61
Scripture Text: Matthew 5:3-12
Those who have been justified through faith in Christ are expected to act righteously. They are not, however, forgiven of their sins because they act in accordance with God’s will.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 60
Scripture Text: John 15:4-5
Any keeping of the law requires God’s help. Before we can ever keep the law in a way that God finds acceptable, we must have faith in Christ.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 59
Scripture Text: James 1:21-22
Again, James is referring to those works that should follow faith. So, it is well said that the one who has faith and good works is righteous. Righteousness is not earned through the works...
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 58
Scripture Text: Romans 8:8–11
One cannot create faith by deciding to believe in the historical Jesus, but then, going on to live the same old, natural life. This is the sort of dead faith to which James refers.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 57
Scripture Text: James 1:17-18
Every good gift comes from the Father—most notably, the gift of new birth in Christ. Salvation is a gift. Forgiveness of sins and justification are not things that can be earned.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 56
Scripture Text: Romans 16:25-27
The old real estate expression, “Location, location, location,” might be modified when it comes to reading. “Context, context, context,” is crucial when interpreting a text.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 55
Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 1:3-5
Propitiation means appeasement of God. The argument the Lutherans were making is simply this: Christ alone is the satisfaction for our sins. What God has worked into us, we are now to work out...
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 54
Scripture Text: James 2:17-26
James reinforces what kind of faith he has been referring to in this passage. Faith is not mere assent, such as you hear from people today when they say things like, “I believe in God,” or “I am a Christian,” or “I go to church.”
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 53
Scripture Text: Proverbs 19:11–12
Presidential pardons, bestowed by outgoing US presidents, are received with gratitude but also sometimes, with irritation by those who disagree with a president’s choices.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 52
Scripture Text: Proverbs 10:9–12
Think of how often the smallest spark of some perceived offense in a congregation is fanned into flame by someone who chooses to make the matter personal.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 51
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 2:4–6
We must be careful not to build a doctrine of righteousness and salvation upon anything that we do. Such a house would surely fall, since it is founded on the limited and human instead of upon the infinite and divine.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 50
Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:31–32
We should not worry ourselves over the actions of others toward us. Instead, we should be devoted to the gospel. This means that we will love those who hate and hurt us.
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