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.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 49
Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:1–3
God is able to do far more with the Church than we could possibly imagine (Eph 3:20). Knowing therefore, not only what God is capable of doing but is actually accomplishing in spite of us.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 48
Scripture Text: Romans 15:1–6
During a committee meeting, a brother suddenly spoke strong words against his pastor. There was silence in the room. People did not know how to respond.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 47
Scripture Text: John 15:12–13
Having understood that Christ alone is the satisfaction for our sins, we see love in a new light. “We love because he first loved us," not because we expect special favor from God.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 46
Scripture Text: Colossians 3:12–14
Paul consistently teaches that we are accepted on account of Christ and not on account of our love, or our works, or because we keep the law. For no one perfectly fulfills the law.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 45
Scripture Text: Romans 1:16–17
The wisdom of the world concludes that effort makes the difference. So, some believe that human righteousness makes the difference with God.
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 44
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 3:12–18
It makes sense that doing good deeds and being religious would cause God to love us and forgive us for our efforts. If God commands it, then there should be the reward of his favor. Yet, “The wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.”
Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law – part 43
Scripture Text: Acts 16:30–31
God does not say, “Do this thing and you will be saved.” He could have said something like, “Do a cartwheel and you will be saved.” Of course, he said nothing so absurd...