God's promise, good works, and bishops shouldn't be secular authorities. Ah, the potpourri of the Lutheran Confessions.

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
— Genesis 15:1

Verse 1 is cited in Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 4: Justification (AP 4.58) as a direct quote showing how Abraham, in the midst of troubles, found comfort in God's promise—a model for us.

And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
— Genesis 15:6

Verse 6 is cited in Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article 3: Righteousness (FC, SD 3.33), as one piece of scriptural evidence showing that Abraham's renewal by the Spirit lead to good works. The same verse is cited again a bit later in the same article in a footnote (FC, SD 3.41 n. 119) that offers citations in Luther's Works providing the basis for the argument that good works come after faith, not before.

Philippians 3:17-4:1

But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
— Philippians 3:20

Verse 20 is cited in Augsburg Confession, Article 28: Bishops (AC 28.16) as one of several scriptural citations showing that bishops should not be secular authorities.

TheoThru

God's comforting promise may not always feel comforting, but that says more about us than God.

How do we reject God's promises?
Why are we doing the lenten discipline that we're doing?
How do we attend to our talking politics in church while keeping the church and state roles differentiated?