Christ Alone

Augsburg Confession Article XIX

Here is the link to Article XIX: https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/cause-of-sin/

This brief article makes a very important point — namely, that God is not to be blamed for our sins. God is the creator and preserver of nature and all things that exist. However, sin has its origins in the devil and in our own will, which (apart from God’s help) turns away from God.

Genesis 1:31: “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” (ESV)

1 John 1:5: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (ESV)

1 John 3:8: “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (ESV)

James 1:13: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” (ESV)

Christ Alone

Augsburg Confession Article XVII:

Here is the link to Article XVII:

https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-christs-return-to-judgment/

Paragraph 1 deals with what we affirm as Lutherans. We affirm that Christ will return and will judge the world. All of the dead will be raised and judged according to their deeds. As Jesus says in John 5:29 “those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned” (NIV). (See also Matthew 25).

There is no contradiction here with the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone. Simply put, those who had saving faith in Christ will be counted as righteous, and God will reward all their good deeds. (It’s also worth noting that saving faith leads people to doing good deeds, as James teaches most clearly). By contrast, those who don’t have faith cannot be counted as good in the sight of God. Although they may have done works of civil righteousness, “everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23 NIV).

Paragraph 2 condemns the false teaching known as annihilationism. It is important to warn unbelievers that the torments of hell won’t come to an end (see Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:9). “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16 NIV).

Finally, in paragraph 3, the confessors condemn the view that when Jesus returns, he will establish a temporal kingdom, in which the godly will rule alongside him for a time before the final resurrection. Most Lutherans understand this statement to be a condemnation of millennialism (otherwise known as “chiliasm”). Others hold that this article condemns only the post-millennial view. The Lutheran Brethren holds a non-dogmatic stance on the millennium.

(See our church’s position paper on Last Things: https://cdn.subsplash.com/documents/T9C94H/_source/5c186efc-8c95-4f59-9b5b-1c331c8444ac/document.pdf)

Christ Alone

Augsburg Confession Article XVI

Here’s the link to Article XVI: https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-civil-affairs/

This article was necessary because some of the radical reformers (particularly among the Anabaptists) were teaching that Christians must be entirely separate from the world: in their view, it was immoral for Christians to hold civil offices. On the basis of verses such as Matthew 5:37 and James 5:12, some taught that a Christian must never take an oath.

However, the Lutheran confessors recognized that civil governments have a God-given authority to restrain evil and punish evildoers. Let me explore a few examples.

While it is always a sin for a private citizen to take life, a lawfully-installed magistrate has the right and responsibility to sentence criminals to imprisonment (or, where there is a legal basis for it, even death for severe crimes). This authority goes back to Genesis 9:6. Likewise, a soldier who serves under lawful authority is not guilty of murder when fighting in a war (this presupposes that the authorities are engaged in just war– a topic too complex to cover here).

In daily life, it is inappropriate and unnecessary for Christians to take oaths. A simple “yes” or “no” will suffice. However, when required to take an oath by the proper authorities, we may do so with a clear conscience, provided we are sincere and honest (see Deuteronomy 6:13).

Furthermore, Christians may hold office in secular governments. In the Old Testament, we have examples of saints such as Joseph, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, who held high positions within the governments of pagan rulers. In Romans 16:23, Paul delivers greetings from Erastus, “the city’s director of public works” (NIV).

Romans 13 is crystal clear that Christians are to respect those in authority and submit to them as far as possible. The only exception is when the authorities command something that is contrary to God’s law. In such cases, Acts 5:29 applies.

Christ Alone

Augsburg Confession Article XI

Here is Article XI: https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-confession/

Many Protestants believe that confession is simply “between me and God” and that there is no need to confess to another person. The idea of confessing sins to a priest is often dismissed as a Roman innovation.

But Lutherans have always maintained that Private Confession should be retained in our churches. To be sure, we can confess our sins privately to God and He will forgive (1 John 1:9). Further, we often make a general confession of sins during corporate worship. Yet the scripture also urges us to “confess our sins to one another” (James 5:16).

We have many Biblical examples of this taking place. Here are a few:

  • Joseph’s brothers confess their sins to him and he forgives them (Genesis 50).
  • In Leviticus 5:5-6, certain sins were to be remedied by confession to the priest and the making of a sacrifice.
  • Numbers 5:6-7 required the Israelites to confess their sins to people they had wronged and make restitution; if that was not possible, they could confess to the priest.
  • In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan confronts David about his sins of adultery and murder. David then acknowledges his sin, and although there are consequences, Nathan announces to David that the Lord has forgiven him (2 Samuel 12:13)
  • In Matthew 3:6, we find people confessing their sins to John at the time of baptism.
  • When the paralytic is brought to Jesus, Jesus tells him “your sins are forgiven” (Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20).

Further, we find that Jesus gave the apostles authority to declare the forgiveness of sins:

  • In Matthew 16:19, Jesus establishes the Office of the Keys and gives this authority to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (ESV)
  • Later, he gives the same authority to all of the apostles: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:23 ESV)

So what happens when you go to confession? You make an appointment with your confessor. You confess the things that are on your mind: “I confess that I have sinned against God and my neighbor in this way…”

Luther’s Small Catechism offers some suggestions of how to make your confession: https://bookofconcord.org/small-catechism/how-christians-confess/

Your confessor should then announce the grace of God to you. Your confessor cannot forgive your sins — only God can do that. However, God’s promise through Christ is forgiveness for repentant sinners, and he has authorized his church to proclaim this truth. Therefore, your confessor can declare the word of God to you. Luther suggests the traditional formula: “by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ I forgive thee thy sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” (Source: https://bookofconcord.org/small-catechism/how-christians-confess/ ). This is a direct, effective, and personal application of the gospel. When absolution is pronounced, you can believe it!

So sure, you can confess your sins privately to God. But when your sins trouble you, the word of absolution will bring you great comfort.

Note that there is a difference between the way Lutherans and Roman Catholics have historically understood confession. In the Roman tradition, confession is required at least once a year, and should ideally include all the sins that you can remember.

In the Lutheran tradition, we see it as a gift rather than an obligation. You don’t have to wrack your brain and try to dredge up every sin you have ever committed. Admit that you are a sinner who sins in lots of ways, and then confess the specific things that are troubling you. Private confession to the pastor is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended whenever you are burdened. This can bring assurance, and it helps break the power that sin has over your life.

When you confess your sins to another Christian, the presumption is that you are sincere, and therefore, your confessor should pronounce the absolution. However, there could potentially be cases where the person confessing clearly intends to continue rebelling against God (e.g., “I’m having an ongoing affair that I don’t intend to quit… I’m going to leave my family”). In such a case, the confessor should withhold forgiveness and urge true repentance.

Technically, your confessor could be any Christian. However, there are distinct advantages to confessing to a pastor/priest — especially your own pastor. Obviously, trust is required, and some pastors have broken that trust. However, a good pastor:

  • Already prays for you and cares for your spiritual well-being.
  • Will know when to announce forgiveness and when to provide further instruction.
  • Will keep your confidence. (In some jurisdictions, priest-penitent communications are even subject to legal protections similar to that of an attorney and client).
  • Will not be shocked or judge you. He knows that people are sinners!
  • Will not bring up your past next time you see him. (Though if you have asked for advice about an ongoing struggle, he might ask how you’re doing currently).
Christ Alone

Augsburg Confession Article II

Let’s take a look at the second article of the Augsburg Confession: https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/original-sin/

This article deals with the issue of original sin.

The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin. However, they disobeyed God and brought death into the world. From that point on, they and all their descendants have had a propensity for doing wrong.

Note the careful wording of the article: “all men begotten in the natural way are born with sin.” Apart from Adam and Eve (who were created directly by God), there is only one person who was not “begotten in the natural way,” and that is Jesus (who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary). Being fully God as well as fully man, he was born without sin and lived a perfect life.

With the exception of Jesus, all of Adam’s descendants have been born into sin.

Psalm 51:5: “Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (NIV)

Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (NIV)

Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” (NIV)

Note, however that original sin is more than just a propensity to sin: it is sin, because it involves a lack of faith in God (see Romans 14:23). Hence, all people, even infants, need a saviour.