Lectio Concordia

Being Reconciled to God – Friday

preparing for The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Series: Lectio Concordia

• Online jigsaw puzzle of today's reading • Index

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• Collect: Strengthen my faith, Lord, that I might always believe righteousness looks down from heaven, not up from me—that I may know that I am righteous in your goodness and holiness alone, not my own. Amen.

• Psalm 31:1–24

• Romans 5:1–5

• Sin terrifies consciences through the Law by showing the wrath of God against sin. However, we gain the victory through Christ when we comfort ourselves by confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake. Thus, we prove the minor proposition. The wrath of God cannot be appeased if we set against it our own works, because Christ has been set forth as a Propitiator, so that for his sake, the Father may become reconciled to us. But Christ is not apprehended as a Mediator except by faith. Therefore, by faith alone we obtain forgiveness of sins, when we comfort our hearts with confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake. Likewise Paul says, “Through him we have also obtained access” and adds “by faith” (Romans 5:2). Thus, therefore, we are reconciled to the Father, and receive forgiveness of sins when we are comforted with confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake. [The Defenese of the Augsburg Confession, Justification]

• “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” Isaac Watts

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an off’ring far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

• Benediction: May your eyes ever be on Jesus, your heart be settled in his grace, and your confidence be in his cross so that your soul is anchored in God reconciled to you through Christ. Amen.

• Memory Verse: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

• Memory Verse Aid: FOS HMHTBS WKNS, STIHWMB TROG. (2C521)