A Sermon for Abraham's funeral

AELW 4:312-313

"At that time this rest was called the bosom of Abraham; and from the beginning, before Abraham, it was called the bosom of Adam. For the saints who believed the promise concerning Christ died in such a manner that after they had been called away from the troubles and hardships of this life, they entered their chamber, slept there, and rested in peace. This is true and clear. It is in agreement with Scripture and the statement of Christ (Matt. 22:32) that God is not God of the dead but of the living.

But now another question arises. Since it is certain that the souls are living and are in peace, what kind of life or rest is this? But this question is too lofty and too difficult for us to be able to define it. For God did not want us to know this in this life. Thus it is enough for us to know that souls do not go out of their bodies into the danger of tortures and punishments of hell, but that there is ready for them a chamber in which they may sleep in peace.

Nevertheless, there is a difference between the sleep or rest of this life and that of the future life. For toward night a person who has become exhausted by his daily labor in this life enters into his chamber in peace, as it were, to sleep there; and during this night he enjoys rest and has no knowledge whatever of any evil caused either by fire or by murder. But the soul does not sleep in the same manner. It is awake. It experiences visions and the discourses of the angels and of God. Therefore the sleep in the future life is deeper than it is in this life. Nevertheless, the soul lives before God. With this analogy, which I have from the sleep of a living person, I am satisfied; for in him there is peace and quiet. He thinks that he has slept barely one or two hours, and yet he sees that the soul sleeps in such a manner that it also is awake.

Thus after death the soul enters its chamber and is at peace; and while it sleeps, it is not aware of its sleep. Nevertheless, God preserves the waking soul. Thus God is able to awaken Elijah, Moses, etc., and so to control them that they live. But how? We do not know. The resemblance to physical sleep—namely, that God declares that there is sleep, rest, and peace—is enough. He who sleeps a natural sleep has no knowledge of the things that are happening in his neighbor’s house. Nevertheless, he is alive, even though, contrary to the nature of life, he feels nothing in his sleep. The same thing will happen in that life, but in a different and better way.

Just as a mother brings an infant into the bedchamber and puts it into a cradle—not that it may die, but that it may have a pleasant sleep and rest—so before the coming of Christ and much more after the coming of Christ all the souls of believers have entered and are entering the bosom of Christ."

The death of the righteous....

AELW 4:309

"In the eyes of the world the righteous are despised, spurned, and thrust aside. Their death seems exceedingly sad. But they are sleeping a most pleasant sleep. When they lie down in their beds and breathe their last, they die just as if sleep were gradually falling upon their limbs and senses. For previously they have been humbled by various trials, and they have become peaceful and quiet, so that they say: “Lord God, I shall die gladly if this seems best to Thee.” They do not dread death as do the ungodly, who tremble and are horribly afraid. This they do to awaken us, in order that we may learn to obey God when He calls us out of this wretched state and may be able to say: “I do not want one hour to be added to my life, Lord Jesus Christ. Come when Thou wilt.” In this way Abraham dies full of days, when he was well content."

Abraham's (& Luther's) Last Testament

It is my understanding, please correct me if I'm wrong, that Luther did not follow the advice that he offers below. Not only a contradiction to his own advice, but even more ironic given the fact that he was at one time training to be an attorney and knew what was at stake according to civil law...

AELW 4:307-308

Genesis 25:5. Abraham gave all he had to Isaac.

"The saintly father now bids the world farewell and makes his testament with a cheerful and serene heart, for to him death and life are alike. This example teaches us that we should take care diligently that our passing out of this life is serene and in peace, lest opportunities and seeds for disputes, quarrels, and disagreements about our fortune and possessions be left behind. But while the father is still living, the children or heirs should be informed how much will be coming to each one according to the wish of the testator or according to the laws."

Procrastination is a hidden evil...

AELW 4:297

"...daily experience teaches that those who delay never acquire riches and resources. Therefore they will never be learned or great men in the church. For even though it was a poet who said: “He who is not ready today will be less ready tomorrow,” his words apply everywhere. I have learned from my own experience that whenever it was necessary to pray, to read, or to partake of the Lord’s Supper, the longer I delayed, the more disinclined I was. Then I felt least fit.

Procrastination is a hidden evil, but it is horribly injurious. The Holy Spirit does not bestow His gifts on procrastinators; He bestows them on those who are prompt, ready, and alert, as the psalmist says: “I am ready, or I have hastened, and have not delayed, have not put off to keep Thy commandments” (cf. Ps. 119:60). Thus in the case of Rebecca the Holy Spirit has commended her speed: “She quickly let down her jar” (Gen. 24:18), and “she ran to tell her mother’s household” (Gen. 24:28)."

On Call Night..

let thy Holy Angel watch over me that the evil foe may have no power over me...

AELW 4:254

"Because I am being called to the office of pastor or teacher, I shall do what I can. An angel will be at hand to direct everything. Peace, security, and joy of spirit follow this faith in any trial whatever, because I am sure that even if many evils beset me, angels nevertheless watch over and guard me. Therefore let them provide for a happy outcome and for my deliverance."

The true definition of marriage

AELW 4:244

"this is the true definition: Marriage is the divinely instituted and lawful union of a man and a woman in the hope of offspring, or at least for the sake of avoiding fornication and sin, to the glory of God. Its ultimate purpose is to obey God and to be a remedy for sin; to call upon God; to desire, love, and bring up children to the glory of God; to live with one’s wife in the fear of the Lord; and to bear one’s cross."

The Seed crushes the serpent's head

AELW 4:241

"those who have been justified and have the forgiveness of sins are sinners, because they complain that they cannot do what they want. They fight, and they resist concupiscence and the inherent sickness; they crucify the flesh. Nevertheless, they cannot be completely set free, as Paul explains (Rom. 7:24): “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

The antinomians will obscure this doctrine, and they will stress grace so much that they will blot it out and bring people under the wrath of God, because they will make people altogether unconcerned about God’s wrath and judgment, as though no sin remained and no fear of death and hell.

Accordingly, sin clings to the saints, and grace contends against it most vigorously. The struggle between the spirit and the flesh, between the serpent and the Seed, continues as long as this life lasts. The Seed crushes the head of the serpent, but the serpent lies in wait for the Seed and bites His heel (Gen. 3:15)."

An eternal possession beyond this Promised Land.

AELW 4:206-207

"...how empty and transitory it is to glory and take pride in the goods and riches of this world, since no human being can be sure of his life for a single moment! Thus we all feel, see, and realize that we carry about with us a body that is half like a corpse and dead. Nevertheless, very many have the conviction that this life is the best and will last forever. Their shameless eagerness and insatiable desire to grab by fair means or by foul makes it clear that this is what they think. Why do they do this? Doubtless because they are in the devil’s exile, are going astray, and are entangled in the cares and anxieties of this life.

Therefore the faith and patience of Abraham is praised. He is looking for another possession—an eternal possession beyond this Promised Land. He wants Sarah to be buried in this land in order that she may be raised with Christ when He rises from the dead. Meanwhile he himself sojourns in his own land as in a foreign country. God does not grant him a footbreadth, not even a grave; but he buys a place from the inhabitants for a price. Therefore he was not afflicted with that shameful greed to accumulate riches as though he had to remain in this life forever. But with his whole heart he was intent on the promised Christ. Him he beheld in the promise, and he waited joyfully for His coming to this earth."

Sarah's Funeral Sermon

Genesis 23:1-2

AELW 4:189-192

"But these facts do not concern Sarah, who is already dead, as much as they concern us, who are still alive. For it is a very great comfort to hear that the departure and death of that most saintly matriarch and of all the fathers, in comparison with whom we are nothing, differs in no wise from our own death but was just as odious and ignominious as our own is. Their bodies were buried, consumed by worms, and hidden in the earth on account of their stench, not otherwise than if they had not been the corpses of saints; yet they were most saintly people, and, although departed, they are actually alive in Christ.

Accordingly, these things are written for our sakes, in order that we may know that the most saintly fathers and mothers underwent the same experiences we are wont to undergo. Nevertheless, it is certain about them that in the eyes of God they live; and I believe that they — namely, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Adam, etc. — rose with Christ.

And this seems to have been the reason why Abraham went to so much trouble about the burial, lest his dead Sarah be buried in a foreign land. Later we shall hear the same thing about Isaac. Thus Jacob and Joseph wanted to be buried in the land of Canaan, not in Egypt.

This wish is proof that God implanted this sentiment in them, so that they desired and wanted to be buried in this land, which had been promised to them, with the sure hope that they would be raised with Christ. They wanted their burial place to be there, in order that they might repose not far from the Seed that would come; for Hebron is two or three miles distant from Jerusalem. Hence they undoubtedly rose with Christ for our comfort, lest we fear death when we see the horrible shape of our bodies after death.

Those who have no hope of the future resurrection (1 Thess. 4:13) are not at all concerned about the future life. Nor do they think about it. But these things were written for us in order that we may remember how from the beginning of the world all the saints died and were reduced to the same stench and ashes, as Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:43: “It is sown in dishonor.” They underwent the same corruption and dishonor notwithstanding the fact that they were saintly in the flesh and in the spirit.

For thus it has pleased God to raise up from worms, from corruption, from the earth, which is totally putrid and full of stench, a body more beautiful than any flower, than balsam, than the sun itself and the stars.

I am mentioning these things in order that the examples of these saints may influence us; for those who are weak in faith are affected more and are drawn more pleasantly, as it were, to comfort by these less important examples than by the example of Christ. Because Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Sarah die in this way, the godly heart, though still weak, thinks: “Why should I object to or shudder at the lot common to all the saints?”

For it is not so much their own weakness that catches the eyes of the weak as that horrible appearance of dead bodies. Therefore they think: “If I had such a body as Christ had, which death could not corrupt or worms consume, I would await the Last Day with greater courage.” When the death of Christ is set before them as an example, it somehow does not seem to be a death, because He rose again on the third day. Hence the weak are affected and strengthened more when they see that the corruption of the bodies of the patriarchs is like our own corruption.

But those who are stronger in their faith simply despise death and proudly scoff at and make sport of it. They say: “What is death? What is hell? Christ, God’s Son, died and was put under the Law. He overcame death by dying, and He restored life to us.”

If we were so strong and could believe without any doubt that Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justification and life (Rom. 4:25), no terror or fear would cling to us; for the death of Christ is a sort of sacrament which assures us that our death is nothing. But the weak are affected more by examples than by a sacrament, for because of the greatness of the Person of Christ it does not penetrate hearts so easily and persuade them to despise death.

Therefore we cling to examples that are analogous, just as I myself sometimes take more pleasure in the example of Sarah than in that of Christ. The reason is the weakness of my faith. Sarah’s death has greater appeal and more comfort for me, since I know that she was a most saintly woman. Nevertheless, I hear that she dies, is buried, and is forgotten in such a shameful manner, as though she had been snatched from the sight not only of men but also of God and the angels. If this happened to her, I shall not be disturbed, even though the same thing happens to me.

But those who have greater strength of heart and faith cherish this sacrament; and because they believe that the Son of God died for them, they scoff at death and regard Satan and hell as a jest, in accordance with 1 Cor. 15:55: “O death, where is thy sting?” and Col. 2:15: “He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in Himself.” Here Paul is speaking very mockingly and disdainfully about death.

The reason is that for Paul Christ is not only an example but also a sacrament, which is richer and far more sublime than an example. For the sacrament supplies in manifold ways and without limit whatever is lacking in the example. Sarah did not die for me; nor can she bestow life on me. But it is the majesty and importance of the sacrament that it has life-giving power which will restore life to me in the resurrection of the dead."

We die and become alive

AELW 4:188

"And human life as a whole is actually such that because of the extraordinary change of all things one can call it “lives”; for we die as often as a new trial arises, and we become alive in turn when we are buoyed up and receive comfort.

Observe, I beg you, how great a variety and difference there is in the life of each person. The first age is that of a seven-year-old boy. When this has come to an end, another period of seven years follows, just as philosophers and physicians, too, point out when they discuss the climacteric years during which striking changes take place. And Paul says about himself in 1 Cor. 13:11: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” Such changes are part of the lives of the human race. For this reason that entire sequence of ages in each human being is justly called lives, because during any period of seven years we are changed into a different appearance, disposition, and understanding. In short, we die and become alive."

And more thoughts on Isaac

AELW 4:119-120

"Let us have the same thoughts about our dead and about our bodies. This food of worms will not remain dust; but it will live again, because we hear Scripture saying that in the eyes of God death is some childish sport and is also such for all Christians, who believe in the God who gives life to the dead (Rom. 4:17) and regards the deceased as living.

This is the Christian doctrine and the wisdom of God, the science of the saints, the sublime knowledge beyond the comprehension of the world: “Death, where is your sting? Where is your victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55.) In the midst of death we are in life. “I shall not die” (Ps. 118:17). Let him who has this skill give thanks to God. But we must take pains that we not only speak of it theoretically but cling to it in fact and with our whole heart."

A very nice passage...

As stated before in this blog, Luther often refers to the hymn, "In the midst of life." Here Luther makes a nice twist, to "In the midst of death we are in life." How comforting this proclamation of Gospel would be at a funeral of one who died in the faith...

AELW 4:115-116

"the victory of Abraham, Isaac, and all the saints is faith. He who has faith overcomes the fear of death and conquers and triumphs eternally. About this 2 Cor. 1:9 says: “We have set our hope on the living God who raises the dead.” Indeed, we have scarcely a single trace of this faith. For we believe so long as we do not feel death; but when death makes its appearance, fear and horror follow at once.

Therefore it is something wonderful and impossible for reason to believe that God can, and wants to, do away with death and change it into life. But it is far more astonishing that Abraham and Isaac were convinced that this entire action was sport and not death. Anyone readily believes that for God indeed death is sport; but if I am to maintain the same conviction for myself and in the case of my body—that death is not death—no physician, no philosopher, and no lawyer will ever convince me of this.

For who will associate and reconcile these statements: Death is not death; it is life? Moses himself asserts the opposite. For if you listen to the Law, it will tell you: In the midst of life we are in death, according to that ancient and pious hymn in the church. But this has reference to the Law alone. The Gospel, however, and faith invert this hymn and sing thus: “In the midst of death we are in life. Thee we praise as our Redeemer. Thou hast raised us from death and hast saved us.” For the Gospel teaches that in death itself there is life, something which is unknown to and impossible for the Law and reason. Hence Paul exults in Col. 2:15: “He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them.” Likewise in 2 Cor. 6:9: “As dying, and behold we live.” This is the power of faith, which mediates in this way between death and life, and changes death into life and immortality, which, as faith knows, has been bestowed through Christ."

Not by my own reason or strength...

AELW 4:113

"Thus it was the father’s address to his son which reconciled these two contradictory propositions: Isaac will be the seed and father of kings and of peoples; Isaac will die and will not be the father of peoples. Those contradictory statements cannot be reconciled by any human reason or philosophy. But the Word reconciles these two, namely, that he who is dead lives, and he who lives dies. Thus we live, and yet we die; for even though we are now living, we are reckoned as dead because of sin, and though we have died, we are reckoned as living. On this occasion these statements were treated and discussed between the father and the son, and they were believed not only by Abraham but also by Isaac. For Isaac dies in faith in the promise that he will be a father. Therefore Isaac dies and lives; he becomes ashes and the father of peoples."

An interesting point

Dropping back a tad, note that Luther highlights the distance of Abraham and Isaac's trip to Mt. Moriah which is about three days, (See Gen. 22:4.)

AELW 4:98

"The Lord even designates a definite place away from his home, in the land of Moriah. Furthermore, Moriah is approximately 10 German miles distant from Beer-sheba, unless the cosmographers are mistaken. This is a journey of about three days, for he had a donkey along to carry wood and food. Consequently, their progress was rather slow."

and continuing...

AELW 4:110

Genesis 22:4 "On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off."

"It is my opinion that the place of the sacrifice was not more than a quarter of a mile distant from the place Abraham ordered his servants to halt. Jerusalem, or Mt. Moriah, even though it was a rather high place, nevertheless could not be seen from a distance, because the region round about it was mountainous. I am truly surprised that the father did not die from that bitter and persistent grief, for he had to make a journey of three days. If that struggle had lasted one or two hours, he would have prevailed rather easily. Therefore this delay makes his obedience greater. Meanwhile he thought: “Behold, I am walking along with my son, who is my greatest hope and a young man; he has to die.” During these three days he endured this kind of torture of his flesh and at the same time the darts of Satan. Nevertheless, he had to endure it in silence because of the command, and since he relied on this, he was strengthened and preserved."

Thus is Abraham's three day journey to give up his son. One can only wonder where it was that Abraham camped that third day for he could see Mt. Moriah in the distance. Genesis chapter 21:35, states, Abraham "sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines." So does this mean that Abraham was approaching Mt. Moriah from the West?

Thus Abraham traveled three days to offer his son as a sacrifice. Christ approached Mt. Moriah, and offered Himself as a sacrifice not for one but for all, and His three day journey gives the promise eternal life to all who would believe in Him.

Abraham's obedience to lose his son, his only son

and Christ's obedience to give of Himself, God's son, His only son...

AELW 4:109

"It is a great and truly bitter sorrow to lose the son obtained by so many prayers and tears, and to lose the hope and glory through which he had hoped that he would be the father of the Blessed Seed. In this sorrow he nevertheless comforts himself and maintains that he will have descendants, if not within his lifetime yet after his death, just as Sarah comforted herself (ch. 16) when she thought: “I shall not be the mother of this Seed, for I have not been worthy. Therefore let another be the mother, namely, my slave woman Hagar. Only may the Lord give some offspring!” These are true mortifications. They do not happen in deserts, away from the society of human beings. No, they happen in the household itself and in the government, and from this one can surely form an opinion about Abraham’s extraordinary obedience, which extended to his innermost being."

A couple of points...

I have asked recently what was meant by Luther in his morning and evening prayers, "let your holy angel be with me..." e.g., does this point to Christ as the Holy Angel, or possibly the Holy Spirit making these trinitarian prayers, or a particular angel? I have looked in Triglotta at the Latin and German the "Angel" is indeed singular not plural, "angels." So this text was at least interesting with possible parallels to that prayer. If anyone has ideas as to this question I would be happy to hear them.... I have italicized the two sentences that, to me, sounded a bit like those morning and evening prayers.

The second point that I liked in this passage is Luther's point on the histories of men versus the sacred accounts of scripture.

AELW 4:107

"In Ps. 91:7, 11 it is stated: “A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. For He will give His angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.” He who holds firmly to this promise and meanwhile diligently does his duty in his place, which he knows has been assigned to him by God, even if some dangers or obstacles are put in his way, nevertheless has no doubt about a happy issue and favorable outcome but is convinced in his heart that all the angels will come flying from heaven to help and defend him rather than that any godly undertaking in accord with the Word of God should be in vain and useless. What you undertake on the strength of His Word must succeed, even though there were to be no angel remaining in heaven. In this the sacred accounts are therefore superior to the histories of the heathen; for in the former everything happens by God’s command, but in the latter it happens by chance and by the plans of men." (emphasis mine)

The joy based in the Word of God

AELW 4:105-106

Genesis 22:3 "So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac."

We have the command that applies to us all, namely, that we should love God and fear no one—not the devil, not the Turk, not the plague—when we walk in our ways, even if our life is in danger, in accordance with the passage (Ps. 27:14): “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage.” But who heeds this? Nobody. For nobody believes that God has commanded confidence and has condemned despair. Therefore this passage deserves careful consideration, in order that we may learn true obedience toward God and how important it is to have the assurance of a command from God and with what great confidence this fills the hearts of the godly. We assuredly should have sought for this in the remotest limits of the world, but there is no need of a long journey or of a painstaking search. Our home, body, and heart are full of commands of God; yet we do not believe. Therefore we feel no joy; nor do we have any light or understanding with regard to that spiritual pride and confidence that is based on the Word of God and His commands."

A Holy place

AELW 4:101

"Thus I gladly agree with those who believe that Moriah received its name from the Hebrew word which denotes “to fear, worship, and revere God,” as though one called it in German heyltgstat, a holy place, a house of God, because this place was the temple and house of God from the beginning of the world, was venerated by Adam and Noah, and was inhabited by the eminent patriarch Shem, just as today there is a Moriah which extends as far as the world, just as Jerusalem does; that is, God is adored and worshiped not only in one definite place but everywhere in the world, wherever there is a congregation of the godly."

The resurrection of the dead

AELW4:96

Genesis 22:1 "After these things God tested Abraham and said to him:
Abraham! And he said: Here am I."

"Accordingly, Abraham understood the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, and through it alone he resolved this contradiction, which otherwise cannot be resolved; and his faith deserves the praise it receives from the prophets and apostles. These were his thoughts: “Today I have a son; tomorrow I shall have nothing but ashes. I do not know how long they will lie scattered; but they will be brought to life again, whether this happens while I am still alive or a thousand years after my death. For the Word declares that I shall have descendants through this Isaac, even though he has been reduced to ashes.”

Hmm....

AELW 4:76

Genesis 21:22-23 "22. At that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham: God is with you in all that you do; 23. now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but as I have dealt loyally with you, you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.

"Today this will continue to increase the power of the priests. For while the princes hunt, feast, play, dance, and do not want to settle cases, discipline must eventually be in the care of the parish priests. But if they have been burdened with a variety of secular affairs, they of necessity put aside the Bible and the study of sacred matters; for they cannot serve the state and the church at the same time.

Meanwhile, to be sure, we diligently teach that those two offices, the civil and the ecclesiastical, should be kept separate; but we do so to no avail. Therefore the fact that priests are exalted and thrive is the fault not only of the ambitious bishops but also of the lazy magistrates, who indeed want to have glory and honor, as is proper, but do not want to work. Accordingly, when the very men who have been called for this purpose are unwilling to do their duty, and failures or diseases are perpetual in governments and require a physician, if the pastors of the churches then undertake the care of governmental affairs, they will eventually arrive at pontifical honor by this road."

God speaks to Hagar...

God speaks to us...

AELW 4:66

Genesis 21:18 "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast with your hand; for I will make him a great nation."

Accordingly, he (God) has now restored Christian liberty to the woman who previously had been excommunicated and had been made a prisoner, as it were. God could have spoken with her as He does on Mt. Sinai, but the woman who had already been frightened previously could not have borne the voice of His majesty.

God shows the same kindness toward us. He speaks with us through the ministry of men and in this manner conceals His majesty, which is dreadful and unbearable for us. But because the ministry is too lowly and familiar, the pastors themselves, in the first place, and then God Himself, are despised in the ministry and all but trodden underfoot. But there will come a time when God, who humbles Himself in this manner for the sake of our salvation, will display His majesty and crush the smug scorners. Therefore let us recognize His exceedingly great and incalculable gift: that He emptied Himself in this manner and took on human form. Let us not on this account despise the Word; but let us fall on our knees and honor and prize the holy ministry through which God deigns to speak to us."

The faith of a cobbler

AELW 4:56-57

"The following story is told about the hermit Anthony, who was the originator of the monastic way of life. He wanted to know with whom he would share his honor and glory in eternal life, for he was exceedingly pleased with himself because of this solitary kind of life. Accordingly, he hears in a dream that in Alexandria there is a certain cobbler or tanner who would share with him the same glory. Anthony is amazed at the comparison and goes to Alexandria with the intention of seeing the man who is his equal in sanctity. I do not know what grand things he promises himself from that cobbler; but when he came to him, he found that he gained his livelihood by working with his hands and in this manner supported himself, his wife, and his children. So he said: “Please, my dear cobbler, I know that you worship God faithfully and serve Him truly. Tell me, therefore, what you do, what you eat, what you drink, how or when you pray. You do not spend entire nights without sleep when you devote yourself to prayer, do you?” “Not at all,” said the cobbler. “In the morning and in the evening I give thanks to God for His faithful protection and guidance. I ask for forgiveness of all my sins for Christ’s sake, and I humbly pray that He would guide me with His Spirit and not lead me into temptation. After this prayer I get busy with my leather and provide sustenance for myself and those who are mine. Besides this I do nothing except to beware lest anywhere I do something against my conscience.”

When Anthony hears this, he is amazed, and he realizes that self-chosen forms of worship are no worship and that therefore no trust at all should be put in them. This blessing not only happened to Anthony himself but is also a warning to all posterity—a warning by which God wanted to help His church, lest it indulge in self-chosen forms of worship, which always bring with them this pernicious pest of self-reliance, which must be crushed.

Poor clothing, coarse food, fasts, long prayers, vigils, or any works cannot be of benefit to us for eternal life. Only trust in mercy, only the promise, saves"

The Church

AELW 4:34

"Therefore the true church of God is the one which does not misuse the name of God but hears and keeps the Word of Christ, that is, believes the promises. When I hear its name, I prostrate myself in true humility and worship it, for I am sure that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit dwell in it. But when those who do not keep the Word of Christ but persecute it and walk in their self-chosen forms of worship adorn themselves with the name “church,” then the word which by its nature has only one meaning becomes equivocal.

Therefore just as it would be folly to be afraid of a painting of a man drawing a sword, so it is folly to be frightened by the name “church” when it is used in a blasphemous manner; for it is merely the picture or mask of the church. But the true church is where Isaac, the son of the promise, is. There the name of God should be feared. There is our salvation and our strength, as the psalm says (Prov. 18:10): “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it.”

In short, where the Word of Christ is and is kept—that is, believed—do not be in doubt about the church, even if he who either administers the sacraments or teaches is godless and a blasphemer. “For the Word of the Lord, like rain, does not return empty” (Is. 55:10–11)."

God's promise

AELW 4:29-30

"Such Christians need faithful teachers to remind them that God’s favor should not be gauged from things that will perish, such as wealth, power, and victories, but from eternal benefits. For to bestow kingdoms and the wealth of the world is a small token of the majesty of God. These things God gave for the use of all when He created the world, but that gift reveals the nature of the Divine Majesty when we shall rise from the dead and live in the new world, and forever at that. Therefore it serves no purpose to say: “God is granting kingdoms. He is granting wealth. Consequently, I have a propitious God.”

One should rather say: “God gives a promise, and it deals with eternal life."

Heirs of the promise

AELW 4:27

"Therefore Paul is right in stating that those are heirs who are of the promise, that is, who hear the promise and believe the promise, whether they were born of the flesh of Abraham or not. For the promise, which is the Word of God, is so effective and powerful that it eats into existence the things that do not exist (Rom. 4:17). Christ says (Matt. 3:9) that children are raised up for Abraham from stones.

This power the flesh or physical birth does not have. Only the Word has it, because it is omnipotent.

A little while ago, however, I stated that the promise is twofold: a passive one, which happens to us; and an active one, which we accept by faith. But it is the latter which makes us, too, who are by nature Gentiles, heirs of Abraham, yes, brothers and fellow heirs of Christ (Rom. 8:17)."

Apologies!

My Apologies. I have been on vacation and did not post. I will make a frantic move here to gain back the pages I have assigned myself for Volume 4....

Timely, Again....!

AELW 4:24

"Today we, too, do our duty and pray for the emperor and the other princes, who nevertheless hate our doctrine exceedingly. But we see that our prayers are in vain, inasmuch as the emperor and the princes do not want to be converted to the Word. Then our faith is put into practice, so that in the end we decide that if one or the other must perish, it is better that the world rather than God and the church of God should perish."

Comfort in the Word

AELW 4:7

"Therefore the prophet (Is. 45:15) calls Him “God who hides Himself.” For under the curse a blessing lies hidden; under the consciousness of sin, righteousness; under death, life; and under affliction, comfort. But one must look at the Word, for those who do not have the Word follow their own feeling and remain without comfort in their tears and sorrow."

The Noble Church

AELW 4:6

"The whole world has nothing better, more precious, or nobler than the church, in which the voice of God is heard and God is worshiped with true forms of worship, that is, with faith, invocation, patience, obedience, etc. Yet the church is so hidden from view by the cross, by afflictions, by dishonor, and by contempt that the world concludes that nothing is more detestable and baneful.

Indeed, look at Christ Himself. What is more wretched than He? “We saw Him full of scabs,” says Isaiah (cf. 53:2–3), “so that we turned our faces away from Him.” Yet He is the Son of God, the King of glory, and the salvation of all men. Why, then, is it strange if few are aware of the dignity of marriage and of the miracle of birth? For this is the source of those familiar sayings that a wife is a necessary evil and that she is an irksome blessing. But if we were mindful of the Word, we would judge differently. Now, since we are blinded by original sin, we pay no attention to the Word, and we take into account solely those things which we find offensive.

Therefore let us learn to look at the Word and the will of God; then we shall bear everything calmly, no matter how bitter it is."

Joy from the Word

AELW 4:4

"We cannot come close to feeling this joy; for the things which thus far had been invisible and impossible, which Abraham had believed, are now visible and altogether possible—an example for us, that we may learn that there is no real joy in this world except that which the Word brings when it is believed."

Volume 4

LUTHER’S
WORKS

VOLUME 4

LECTURES ON GENESIS

Chapters 21–25

Timely

AELW3:357

"Even among our own people there are today many who seize the income of the churches and defraud the godly clergy of their salary. "

Preaching the Gospel

AELW 3:340

"Today many say that they would embrace the Gospel if the kings themselves were to preach it, but that sensible people are repelled because most preachers are so wretched, poor, despised, and downright plebeian. But those who say this are lying, for the ungodly always disregard and despise the Word, whether angels teach it from heaven or kings teach it in the world."