Bloghardt's Reflector


“If now I seek the forgiveness of sins, I do not run to the cross, for I will not find it given there… But I will find in the sacrament or Gospel the word which distributes, presents, offers, and gives to me that forgiveness which was won on the Cross.” (AE 40, 214)

Pinned Articles:
05/26 - Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) on Dell XPS m1330 by Bloghardt, 34 comments.
07/09 - "My Little Bump-on-a-Log" by Bloghardt, 10 comments.
09/01 - Dr. Nagel - St. Matthew 6:25-34 by Bloghardt.
05/12 - Sophia's Reflection by Bloghardt, 3 comments.

September 24th, 2008

“Luther the Lutheran”

Posted At: 3:20pm by Bloghardt

In the name of Jesus. Amen. Luther wasn't a big fan of the name “Lutheran.” Do you blame him? I can't think of a more frightening nightmare than having a bunch of Borghardtians running around!

The name “Lutheran” was actually given to us by the Roman Catholics. It was a term of insult based upon the church’s long-standing practice of labeling all the heresies after the name of the heretic. And since the Roman Church had labeled the young monk, Luther, a “heretic” and excommunicated him, it seemed reasonable to them to call those who confessed the same faith as him, “Luther-ans.”

What confession is that? What supposedly “heretical” confession makes a “Lutheran” a “Lutheran?” It is the confession that a man stands before God, not by what he or she has done, has not done, thinks, or feels, but solely by the grace of God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:28). It is the confession that God will not treat us as our sins deserve or harbor His anger forever (Ps. 103:10). No, the Father has taken all our sins, all His anger, all His punishment and put all that we deserve upon on His Son on the Cross.

Lutherans believe that we are saved not by what we do, but by what Christ did on the Cross for us. God's only begotten Son kept the Law and its requirements perfectly for us and in our place and suffered the punishment in our place. Faith receives what Jesus did for us in the Word preached or read, the waters of our Baptism, and in the Lord's Body and Blood given to us to eat and drink in the Sacrament of the Altar.

To be a Lutheran is to confess that you cannot save yourself by what you do. No, what we do is what damns us! So, we place our hope for salvation solely in Christ and not in ourselves.

That's Christ alone (solo Christo), and not me. Grace alone (sola gratia), not what I do. Received by faith alone (sola fide) and flowing from Scripture alone (sola scriptura).

If being a “Lutheran” means that Jesus saves me by His Cross alone, then I'm fine with being a Lutheran. Luther was too! Because that's what it means to be a Christian, isn't it? Yes, it is!

Lutherans have always worn that tag proudly. If the name is an insult, embrace it!

So, the next time someone asks you what your religion is, tell them that you are a Lutheran. If they don't know what that means, tell them! “It means that I'm saved solely by what Christ did for me, not by works,” (Eph. 2:8-9). In the name of Jesus. Amen.
[ Printer Friendly Version ]
<< Previous Article Next Article >>


Comment on entry entitled "“Luther the Lutheran” "
Name: 
E-mail Address: 
Web Site: 
Subject: 

Notify me of replies to this comment.
Auth Code
Please type the letters in the image above:

E-mail Article
Send to:
From:

Username:

Password:


[Remember Me]
Search this Blog:
Subscribe to Blog:
Name:

E-mail:

Blogs...

Blood & Water
Cwirla's Blogosphere
Lemon's Confessions
Little Loci
Lutheran Logomaniac
Madre's Missives
Necessary Roughness

Lutheran Links

Higher Things Reflections
Issues Etc
Lutherans in God's Word
St. Mark Lutheran Church
The Historic Lectionary Online Project
The Lutheran Hymnal Project

Sports

LSU Sports
NY Mets Official Website
RSS Feed
Atom Feed

This blog sponsored by:


The views represented on this blog are not necessarily those of Higher Things, nor does Higher Things necessarily endorse them.
Copyright © 2012 Higher Things, Inc.