Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

As we are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, how does one receive the benefits of Christ’s work 2,000+ years ago? So that we may obtain faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted by the Lord. The Lord calls pastors to be giving the gifts...

Justification is often said to be “Just as if I did not sin.” Scripture is very clear that we are dead in our sin, when one is dead there is no hope for renewal. Our justification is not based on our works, but what we cannot do for ourselves, Christ has done for us. His cross, His tomb, His resurrection, and His ascension has done all the work, He has made satisfaction for our sins and by His gra...

We cover two important questions that require a correct answer: Who am I? Who is Jesus? Since the fall of Adam and Eve, all who are naturally born with sin and often can be described as the “addiction” to sin. The only way to overcome this addiction is through the cleansing, healing, and forgiving blood of Christ through Baptism. This Jesus, God and man, has come to bring that healing by His cross...

What does Scripture tell us about our Triune God? What does Scripture not tell us about the Triune God? We believe in only one God, who is at the same time three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). We do not separate the Trinity, but understand that this God is all powerful, omniscient, and all good. The heresies of those days are still alive and well: a denial of Christ’s divinity, God’s omni...

The Augsburg Confession points our attention to the Good News of Christ that the fullness of the Gospel to sinners. On June 25th, 1530 the Augsburg Confession was confessed to the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles the V, with the hope that Germany would be united as outside pressures mounted. Although the hope was a unified Germany for the sake of politics, yet, the Lord work through all t...

The Concordians were committed to the historic, Christian faith of all times and all places. The ancient creeds were not accepted because they are equal to Scripture, but because they confess the truth of Scripture. Each creed was written to respond to different issues of their day. The Apostles Creed confessed the truth of the Triune God in whom we are baptized. The Nicene Creed clearly confessed...

Clear teachings are important for the baptized and for those who are learning the Christian faith. The Concordians give clear teachings on the two natures of Christ, the real presence of the Lord’s Supper, the universal doctrines of the Christian church, and the importance of visitations. Not only do we profess what we believe, but also reject anything that is contrary to what Scripture says. The...

After the Augsburg Confession was presented to Emperor Charles the V at Augsburg in 1530 there arose many questions of “What is the authoritative text of the Augsburg Confession?” There were various variations and changes that were in distribution which brought much confusion over the belief of the Lord’s Supper. The confessors made very clear that the confession in 1530 correct and in accordance...

The formation of the Book of Concord is the result of 50+ years of the Protestant Reformation where the Church and State were deeply connected. The goal of the signers of this Preface was to proclaim the Truth and Light God’s Word in Christ and unite the nation around this Truth. The events leading up to 1580 was not a smooth ride, such as the failed Naumburg Conference of 1561. Yet, by God’s grac...

Every generation in the Church needs clarity in what we believe, teach, and confess. Not only do we battle the Old Adam and sinful desires, but the devil works tirelessly to subtly change a few words so that hearers will doubt the Gospel. The goal of the Book of Concord is that the Church and her schools would persevere in pure doctrine and that everything that we do is governed by God’s Word. We...

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked (Galatians 6:7).” Scripture calls us to examine ourselves before we receive the body and blood of Christ (I Corinthians 11:28). Understanding the serious of our sin and the need for repentance, Luther gave catechumens and all Christians a list of questions to help us examine our faith, trusting in His grace by the blood of Christ. These questions are a ble...

How am I to live as a baptized, redeemed by the blood of Christ child of God? Luther lays out the simple Scriptural passages that help us better understand how we are live as Christians in our daily vocations. Luther calls each office as holy orders and positions. As everything is about Christ, we serve in His holiness out of love for Him and love for others. “O Lord Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit s...

We boldly and confidently pray to our LORD with thanksgiving knowing that Christ intercedes for us (Romans 8:22-23; Galatians 4:6; Hebrews 7:25). Section 2 of Luther’s small catechism points us to the daily trust that the Lord hears and answers our prayers at all times (Philippians 4:4-7). Luther gives us basic instructions for prayer in the morning, evening, before and after a meal so that our wi...

If the bread and wine are truly the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ AND we receive full forgiveness of sins, life and salvation, how is this even possible and who is even worthy to receive it? The Sacrament of the Altar gives exactly what Jesus says: Forgiveness of sins. The Sacrament of the Altar is for exactly those who Jesus welcomes: sinners. In faith, receive and go in peace! Rev. Dr....

Christ’s body and blood are in, with, and under the bread and wine, but what difference does that make? Luther makes it very clear that the purpose of Jesus’ institution is to give forgiveness, life, and salvation to sinners. This supper connects us to the deliverance during the Passover that our Lord saved His people from slavery. Although not slaves in a foreign land, we are freed from the slave...

Christ’s words are simple. Is means is. He institutes this supper to bring all the benefits from His cross to us today. We confess that it is the true body and blood because He is truly there. The same Jesus on the cross we receive in that bread and wine. If Christ is truly there and we believe His words, we receive what He promises: forgiveness, life, and salvation.    Rev. Keith Lingsch, pastor...

The Church’s authority is only based on God’s Word. By God’s wisdom He gave the Office of the Keys to the Church for the sake of forgiving and binding sins. The Church has the difficult task of call sinners to repentance and sadly, there will be times where people do not turn back to the Lord. We pray that people repent, by the work of the Holy Spirit, so that the keys are used to open up the gift...

Martin Luther made sure that we do not only talk about confession, but that we do it! He provides a short form for the seared-conscience Christian to faithfully confess their sins and to faithfully receive the full forgiveness of sins on account of Christ. In this short form we clearly reminded of our many failures toward God and our neighbor (causing hurt or harm, spoken evil, stolen, lack of lov...

Scripture speaks of the importance of confession & forgiveness (Psalm 32; Psalm 51; I John 1:8-9; James 5:16; 2 Samuel 12:13). We confess our sins to the Lord with full confidence that, as Christ has died for our sins and has risen from the tomb, we know that by His grace He will graciously forgive us. We look to God’s Word to see our sins, namely the 10 commandments, but our confession is not to...

The clear and concise teaching of Baptism from Scripture brings great comfort. Yet, questions continuously arise. We address the most common questions asked concerning Baptism according to the Word: Is someone actually saved when baptized? How can a baby have faith? Can a baptized person walk away from Christ? What happens to a person who dies before they are baptized? Is baptism a work? What do I...

The Old Adam needs to die. Each of us do not need a lifeguard in this Christian life or a life raft on the lazy river, but we need a complete resurrection. In Christ, through Holy Baptism, we receive the gifts that God gives us in Baptism (forgiveness, a new creation, the robes of His righteousness, washing of rebirth, and renewal by the Holy Spirit). We are to come before our LORD in repentance e...

Holy Baptism gives us the promise of Christ’s work on the cross for us. The water is life-giving by God’s Word done to us. Baptism gives us rebirth, renewal by the Holy Spirit, an inheritance, hope, and eternal life in Christ. It may not make sense, but neither does it make sense that God could make a man out of dust or a woman from a rib. God has chosen something as simple as water, that by His W...

Holy Baptism was not only an event in the past but showers us with grace throughout our lives. We are united with Him by the water and the Word, wrapped in forgiveness & eternal salvation. He provides us with a new identity, dying to sin and rising to new life as His new creation (Romans 6 & Colossians 2). This baptismal identity reminds us that as the LORD came to us in the water, He never leaves...

Baptism is simple: Water and the Word bringing salvation to all ages. God gives us the assurance of our salvation through Jesus through a physical means to keep us from desiring to add to our salvation. Our identity does not stop the moment we are baptized into the Triune name of our Lord, but it is a lifelong hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. “God’s own child I gladly say it, I am baptized into Chri...

Evil surrounds us every day. Our conscience is attacked by the evil one so that we are confused over our relationship with our LORD in Christ. We stand before our Father as forgiven in Christ, but in this life our Old Adam will be troubled and devil does everything he can to pull away from our gracious God. Who will save us from this body of life? “Thanks be to God for the victory who gives us the...