Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

Do we have free will, and to what extent? The Concordians made a distinction between freedom in worldly things and freedom in spiritual things. A person can display worldly righteousness, or even civil righteousness to a certain extent, but we are fully unable to be righteous before God by anything we do (Galatians 3:2-6). Thanks be to Him that our hope is never on ourselves, but on the full suffi...

Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. The Concordians and the Roman Church both agreed with the clear words of Holy Scripture. Christ will come for judgement at a time we cannot predict (Matthew 24:43-44). The godly will have eternal life and eternal joys (2 Timothy 4:8) and the ungodly endless punishment (Matthew 25:46). Lord have mercy! “O Jesus Christ, do not delay, But has...

Political order is a necessary and holy state. Christian perfection is not found by withholding property ownership. We are to be subject to our governing authorities (Romans 13:1). Although there is often much sin where the public office is concerned, we trust in the Lord’s promise to work through these authorities for good order and peace in our society. Land ownership can also cause sinful behav...

Traditions and ceremonies are necessary— not necessary for salvation, but for good order. Nobody can institute them with the claim that they justify outside of faith in Christ. At the same time, to deny ceremonies that do not contradict the Word can be equally problematic. Human works could easily be perceived as the way to receive a perfect and spiritual life. Yet, it is only by the Gospel that o...

Tradition is helpful to the church in promoting good order and peace. Yet tradition is not to hinder the free and gracious salvation we receive for Christ’s sake through faith. The Roman Church and the Reformers agreed on the benefits of tradition but were diametrically opposed in their understanding of its role in salvation. The issue is found in our hearts, not specifically in the traditions, an...

God is the giver of order, and because of this, we are to live in an orderly way. In His wisdom, He established the office of the Ministry to steward His mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1). This Ministry is centered and grounded in Christ and the Word and Sacrament. To add more to the requirements for “good order” such as relics, canonical ordination, sacrifice of the mass, or a perfect structure leads...

How many Sacraments do we have? It depends on who you ask! The Reformers were focused on the reception of God’s gracious gift of forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ. The Roman Catholic Church focused on the authority of the Pope and traditions, but as we know, traditions and the Pope can err. Yet, Jesus and His Word do not err and give what He promises: the forgiveness of sins. A Sacrament...

True repentance bears good fruit: prayer, thanksgiving, confessing Christ, teaching the faith, honoring authorities, and being faithful to one’s calling. This good fruit is not intended to diminish years of punishment in purgatory, rather, it is produced with thanksgiving to the Lord and for the good of one’s neighbor. Believers can take comfort in the Office of the Keys— the command to forgive th...

The Reformers understood that punishment is a necessary aspect of repentance. Punishment, they believed, is one when feels contrition over sin. The Roman Church at the time was determined to prescribe certain punishments to pay for certain sins. These punishments, according to the Church, could be satisfied by works performed in this life and in purgatory. However, punishment does not come because...

How easy it is to misuse Scripture! Jesus says, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Mark 1:15). Just as we learned that repentance is contrition combined with faith, we also understand that the LORD bears fruit through repentance. The Holy Spirit works through us to bear this fruit— it is not a requirement of our salvation. Christ has made full satisfaction for sin so that we can serve our ne...

Don’t put a question mark where God in Christ puts an exclamation point! Private confession and absolution are vital to the spiritual health of the believer, as it is in these that we can hear the voice of the Gospel— forgiving sins and comforting consciences. When one receives absolution, sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake— not due to works preceding or following, not in part, but in whole. “He...

Repentance is turning from sin and being brought to faith in Christ— all by God’s grace. Repentance is the Law terrifying a sinner which, in turn, leads them to the forgiveness merited by faith in the works of Christ alone. It may be tempting to rely on our own works to find hope, yet these leave our conscience without comfort. One’s works of love can never overcome the wrath of God. The Reformers...

A clear conscience is only provided through the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Christ.  Outward deeds are a fruit of faith, yet repentance is never separated from faith in Christ.  Forgiveness in Christ brings the final healing. The Roman Catholic Church agreed that forgiveness is part of repentance, but the conditions of forgiveness were centered on the contributions of the person and not on...

Repentance has two parts: contrition and faith. Melanchthon speaks of God’s “strange work” of terrifying consciences by the proclamation of the Law.  This is deemed to be strange as to be brought to angst over sin does not feel like a loving action, but in God’s wisdom and grace, we are brought low and He makes us alive to make the Gospel even sweeter.  This Absolution is known to be the “proper w...

God’s law brings contrition. The Gospel creates faith which trusts that God forgives our sins for the sake of Christ. Although repentance is turning from sin it is not separated from faith in Christ. The focus is not on the external act, demanding that individuals repent in a certain manner, or works that satisfy but on the proclamation of Law & Gospel. When does the conscience find peace? In Chri...

The Reformers retained private confession & absolution. Although they kept confession, they did not agree that a confessor needs to have a prescribed number per year or attempt to confess all sins. The focus of confession was not to make sure the form was done perfectly, but the faith of the heart that trusts the full sufficiency of the cross for their forgiveness. The Lord has given the office of...

We let Jesus’ words be the final Word. “Take, eat; this is my body...this cup is the New Testament in My blood.” This gift is given apart from any merit of our own and our sincerity, but forgiveness, life, and salvation delivered to us and received by faith. The Roman Catholic Church had much in common with the Reformers, especially in comparison to other groups like Zwinglians and Calvinists. How...

Baptism is necessary for salvation. Baptism is for ALL ages. The Lord bears fruit by the proclamation of the pure Gospel through means, like water, for the soothing of their conscience with the Lord. The Anabaptists in their day, and many churches in our day, work to assure individuals that Baptism does nothing. The promises are clear in Scripture: forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the d...

The Church is one holy church, grounded on Christ and founded by the apostle’s teachings. The adversaries were more focused on the apostle’s “traditions.” The Church is not founded on right formulas for holy living or the holiness of the ministers, but on the Word and Christ. The Church needs order and formalities but not for the sake of necessity to be saved. In today’s world, we live under the g...

The definition of the Church is simple: Believers in the blood of Christ for their salvation join around the Gospel and rightly-administered sacraments according to God’s Word. The Concordians directly addressed the Roman Catholic Church’s view of papal authority, which led to many different opinions based on the pope’s thoughts. The Church is not based on the same traditions but centers on the Go...

The Church is best defined by the outward means of grace (Gospel and Sacraments) and those who are born again by the Holy Spirit. Although hypocrites might be in the church, the definition does not include unbelievers. The kingdom of Christ is the righteousness of the heart and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), the Pillar of the Truth (I Timothy 3:15), and cleansed by the washing of wate...

The Concordians were not arguing a small matter. The souls of many were being misled away from a clear conscience in the full sufficiency of the cross to trying to find hope in themselves. Everything the Christian does is not separated from faith: repentance, love, philosophy, works, worship, etc. The bigger issue is the purpose of the cross and empty tomb. If there was a chance that we could be s...

We are called to confess the Truth of God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:2). As KFUO Radio has confessed this Truth for 100 years, we keep everything simple for the sake of salvation for those who hear (1 Timothy 4:16). After Luther’s visitations throughout Germany, it was evident that the basics needed to be taught again (10 commandments, Creed, and Lord’s Prayer) and it is still needed today which is why w...

Words and their meaning are important. One can say faith, merit, mediator, reward, and gift but still be incorrect concerning salvation. Scripture is clear: without faith, good works do not please the Lord (Hebrews 11:6). However, faith in CHRIST as our Mediator is the key to our salvation and the fulfillment of good works. The rewards are many when one does good works, but those works are not rew...

The Christian never goes beyond saying, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty (Luke 17:10).” God’s mercy upon us in Christ is the confession of the Church. Without His mercy, His undeserved compassion toward us, we are unable to have a clear conscience, let alone do anything good. These works for the neighbor are pleasing to the Lord, not on account of the intentions of th...