Our Lutheran churches teach that the body and blood of Christ are truly present and are distributed to those who eat in the Supper of the Lord.

Listen to the very words of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of St. Matthew the 26th chapter: Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” [Matthew 26:26–28 (ESV)]

Based on these words, we Lutherans believe, teach, and confess that of the bread, it is what Christ said it is, namely "This is My body," and of the wine, "This is My blood." These are given and shed "for the forgiveness of sins."

So in the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine, one receives the very body and blood of Jesus. These are given so that those who receive them in faith, also are assured of the forgiveness of their sins. Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. But anyone who does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unfit. For the words, "for you" require hearts that truly believe. Don't forget to 'truly believe' is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Defining "Church" was one of the most controversial topics during the time of the Lutheran Reformation.

Properly speaking, the church is the assembly of saints and true believers.

The Church is primarily the gathering of God's people around Christ's Word and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. In the wide sense, the visible church includes all who are seen to gather around the Sacred Word of God and the Sacraments. This, of course, includes hypocrites and evil persons who mingle with believers, including some pastors and leaders of the church organization.

In the narrow sense, the invisible church includes all who genuinely have faith in Christ, an aspect of the Church that cannot be seen. Fellowship around, in, and through the Word and Sacraments define unity in the faith.

The apostle Paul writes regarding Christ's work in the making of the saints of the Church, by grace alone in his letter to the saints, the faithful believers in Christ of the Church at Ephesus: Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [Ephesians 5:25b–27]

Our Lutheran churches teach that Baptism is necessary for salvation, that the grace of God is offered through Baptism, 2 and that children should be baptized, for being offered to God through Baptism they are received into his grace.

Christ's kingdom exists only with the proclamation of God's Sacred Word and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. It is necessary and a blessing from above to baptize children of all ages, due to the inheritance of sin from one's sinful parents and so that the blessed hope and promise of salvation may be applied to them, according to Christ's command.

And Jesus came and said to [the eleven disciples], “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” [Matthew 28:18–20a (ESV)]

Jesus did not qualify making disciples of all nations, with 'except infants.' All nations includes all people of all ages. Holy Baptism works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit and by the grace of God is found even in the child inside his mother's womb, as in the case of John the Baptist who has been filled with the Holy Spirit, leaped for joy at the sound of the mother of Jesus' voice.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Lutherans are sometimes accused of denying that Christians should do good works. The article on new obedience follows on the heels of the articles of faith on justification and the ministry, that I spoke about over the past two days. Now here is the summary of the article of faith entitled New Obedience:

Our Lutheran churches teach that this faith is bound to bring forth good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). It is necessary to do the good works commanded by God (Ephesians 2:10), because of God’s will. We should not rely on those works to merit justification before God. The forgiveness of sins and justification are received by faith. The voice of Christ testifies, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10). The [Church] Fathers teach the same thing. Ambrose says, “It is ordained of God that he who believes in Christ is saved, freely receiving forgiveness of sins, without works, through faith alone.”

This article clearly states that Lutherans do insist on good works. The faith given by the Holy Spirit is a living and active power in our lives, bearing the fruit of good works. We must do good works. God commands them. However, they do not save us. They are always the result of saving faith.

Faith makes the distinction between the worthy and the unworthy because everlasting life has been promised to the justified. If hope would rely upon works, then it would be uncertain, because the works of sinners cannot quiet the conscience. When a person is part of the equation in one's salvation then the saving work of Jesus is rejected as not being enough. However, faith in Jesus as Savior produces sure hope, because it relies upon God's Word and command. The outcome of faith in Jesus is no doubt good works as God's Spirit is active in such a believer.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

The previous article of faith was on Justification. How can Christ's justifying work that took place nearly two thousand years ago ~ through His life, death, and resurrection ~ become a blessing to us today? It is through the office of the Holy Ministry, summed up here:

So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given (John 20:22). He works faith, when and where it pleases God (John 3:8), in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ’s sake.

God established the Office of the Holy Ministry precisely to distribute Christ's good gifts. He sends shepherds, whom we refer to today using the Latin term 'pastors', whom the Holy Spirit appoints as overseers, to care for His flock. Some of the main duties of pastors is the preaching and the teaching of God's Sacred Word. A pastor is called to preach sermons and to teach solely based on the Sacred Word of God. In other words, not adding to or taking away from what God has revealed through Holy Scriptures.

In addition, an under-shepherd is to be like John the Baptist and to point one to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. At times, a pastor applies the demands of a loving God found in the Law to those who are content in their sin. At other times, he applies the comforting good news to those who are troubled by their sin and seek God's mercy and forgiveness. 

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,
 

This article of faith is the very heart of the Gospel and the most important teaching in the Holy Scriptures. To justify means “to be declared righteous” or ‘not guilty’. God’s sure and certain declaration that we are righteous in His eyes is possible only because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through His life, Jesus satisfied God’s demand for perfect obedience. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus endured God’s just wrath and atoned for the sins of the world.

In sum:

Our Lutheran churches also teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins.  God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3:21-26; 4:5).

Praise God for His mercy and grace! The Holy Spirit, through the means of grace, Word and Sacraments, works in us saving faith, which personally receives what Christ has done for us. Our justification before God, therefore, is brought about by the One who lived, suffered, and died for our salvation. We cannot merit God's favor through our obedience; we cannot offer sacrifices to pay for our sins. But what we cannot do for ourselves, Christ has done for us. He is the solid Rock on which God builds His Church. On Him, and Him alone, we stand forgiven.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Our Lutheran churches teach that the Word, that is, [Jesus] the Son of God (John 1:14),  assumed the human nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 2 So there are two natures — the divine and the human — inseparably joined in one person. There is one Christ, true God and true man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. 3 He did this to reconcile the Father to us and be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for all actual sins of mankind (John 1:29). 4 He also descended into hell, and truly rose again on the third day. Afterward, He ascended into heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father. There He forever reigns and has dominion over all creatures. He sanctifies those who believe in Him, by sending the Holy Spirit into their hearts 5 to rule, comfort, and make alive. He defends them against the devil and the power of sin. 6 The same Christ will openly come again to judge the living and the dead, and so forth, according to the Apostles’ Creed.

On our altars, in Lutheran churches, we have two candles. They represent that Jesus Christ is both true God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit.  Christ, a title of Jesus that means ‘Anointed One’, suffered and died to reconcile us born rebels to God the Father.

Jesus is, and remains, for all eternity the God-man, the One who appeased God’s wrath against our sin and won for us everlasting life. Without Jesus, you would have no way to be reconciled with your Creator. You would remain lost and overwhelmed by your sin, original sin as we learned yesterday ~ that we inherited all the way back to Adam and Eve. 

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,