Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 33
Scripture Text: Jeremiah 2:22
Scrub and scrub; scour as much as you like. Invent cleansing agents, potions, and rituals. You will still be unclean. The stain of your guilt will remain before the Lord.
Sola Devotions Posted in February 2024
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 32
Scripture Text: Colossians 2:9–10
Jesus Christ is so completely holy and meritorious before the Father that he is holy and worthy for me. God is so pleased with his Son that he is well-pleased with those who believe in him.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 31
Scripture Text: John 3:16–18
If one may buy off the need for the satisfaction, what then really, is the point—that if we have enough money, we may buy God’s remission of temporal punishments?
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 30
Scripture Text: John 3:16–17
When Scripture tells us to repent it is not speaking of something one may do beyond this life. All that goes with repentance is to be done in this life.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 29
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 5:6–7
Good works are mandatory. But they do not appease the wrath of God against sin. Repentance is required, as it is commanded by Christ (Matt 4:17).
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 28
Scripture Text: Romans 6:19–23
We are either slaves to the devil, sin, and death, or to God, righteousness, and life. Whichever we are bonded to will determine the fruit we get. The fruit or the wages of sin is death.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 27
Scripture Text: Romans 8:12–13
We are indebted to God in Christ to no longer live in the sin for which he died. This does not mean that we no longer sin, for as long as we are in this flesh, this mortal body, there is sin and death.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 26
Scripture Text: Philippians 4:5b–7
The only one who is able to heal you, restore your soul, and give you peace, is near you right now. He is “at hand.” So there is no need for anxiety.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 25
Scripture Text: John 14:27
Political and civil peace would be nice. Family peace would be a true blessing for many people. And of course, better finances and health would afford to many a certain peace of mind.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 24
Scripture Text: Matthew 14:28–33
When I was a boy, I learned to carry a full cup of coffee to my father. I walked through the kitchen, down the carpeted hallway, and in to the living room, then handed it to him without having spilled a drop.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 23
Scripture Text: Jude 20–23
People doubt from time to time. Jesus said, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41). It is unrealistic to think that everyone will always be strong in faith.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 22
Scripture Text: Matthew 24:9–14
Life is hard enough without those in authority leading people astray. Scripture teaches us to have faith in Christ for forgiveness and justification.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 21
Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 2:15–18
Misrepresentation of Holy Scripture will upset the faith of some, those who have itching ears, but also those who are unlearned. Such deception even leads people into lives of ungodliness.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 20
Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 4:1–4
It is important for us to keep the faith—both in the sense continuing to believe in God, and in remaining true to the Word of God.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 19
Scripture Text: Jeremiah 33:14–16
It has already been stated here, more than a few times, that genuine faith is shown in its works. This is an entirely different matter than saying that forgiveness happens because of those works.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 18
Scripture Text: Romans 5:6–8
Lutherans confess with Scripture that sinners are justified before God—that is, absolved of all sins and condemnation, without any worth or work of their own—through God’s pure grace.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 17
Scripture Text: Romans 8:3–5
In the worldly kingdom, there are many disciplines we might bring to bear in order to make things more civil and orderly. Requiring certain satisfactions can even make folks feel better for a time.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 16
Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1:19–21
We do well to appeal to the highest authority. The academics of scholastic theology turned to Peter Lombard, who wrote the standard medieval texts on theology, as their authority.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 15
Scripture Text: Zechariah 9:11–12
Guilt and punishment alike are borne by God in Christ alone. We are set free from all bondage—from waterless pits to the depths of hell—because God promised to do so.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 14
Scripture Text: 1 John 4:9–10
It bears repeating: our love, devotion, good works, and religious activities do not satisfy God’s justice. Only God’s Son propitiates, appeases, or satisfies God’s just demand for holiness.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 13
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
Recently, a car rental company called, wanting to know when I was going to pay the bill on a transaction from over a month ago. I let them know that the company had paid that bill, informing them of the transaction details
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 12
Scripture Text: Colossians 3:1–3
God’s justice requires the punishment of sin. We either take the punishment or pay the penalty. However, we cannot make restitution. We can neither keep from sinning, nor pay the penalty of that sin.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 11
Scripture Text: Isaiah 1:18
It doesn’t mater how far you have fallen, how respectable you are, or if you are downright notorious; God cleanses the worst of sinners.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 10
Scripture Text: Revelation 7:13–14
Your remorse does not merit God’s forgiveness. Being sorry—even though you go on at length about your specific regrets—does not repair your sinful condition or your broken fellowship with God.
Concerning Confession and Satisfaction - part 9
Scripture Text: Hosea 14:1
Luther, in particular, was tortured by guilt, and would therefore wear out his confessor with hours of specific lists of sins.
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