Concerning the Number and Use of the Sacraments – part 6
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 2:9–10
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
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From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession
Accordingly, people are not justified because of any other sacrifices, but because of this one sacrifice of Christ — if they believe that they have been redeemed by this sacrifice. Therefore, priests are not called to make any sacrifices for the people so that they may merit remission of sins with those sacrifices as in the law but, because they are called to teach the gospel and administer the sacraments to the people. We do not have a priesthood like the Levitical, as the Epistle to the Hebrews sufficiently teaches.
Pulling It Together: Every Christian is a priest before God. Each Christian’s faith in God’s grace is representative of the old priesthood. It is faith itself that is is the duty of the new priesthood — not ceremonies. Therefore, those who have faith in God’s grace, forgiveness, justification, and eternal life, are the ones who parallel the old Levitical priesthood. It was the tribe of Levi who were set aside to be priests under the Old Covenant. In the New Testament, it is the tribe or the family of Jesus, “the people of God”(1 Peter 2:10 KJV)—those who have been adopted through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5)—who are priests before God.
Prayer: Thank you for choosing me, Lord, to be in your family. Amen
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Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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