So much Romans! It’s almost like this is an important part of Lutheran theology…

Romans 8:12-25

So then, brothers and sisters, we are obligated, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
— Romans 8:12-13 (NRSVue)

Verses 12 thru 13 together, like verses 1 and 4 last week, are quoted in Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 4: Justification (AP 4.143) in a section where Melanchthon is seeking to clarify the Lutheran reformers' position on the role of works for those who have been saved. Faith, he writes, "cannot exist in those who live according to the flesh, who take pleasure in their lusts, and who succumb to them" (AP 4.143), because being in Christ means walking "not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:4).

Verse 13 by itself is quoted twice in Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article 4: Good Works, but in reverse. The first quote (FC, SD 4.19) is of the second half of verse 13 to help make clear that any good work we do is not by our choice, but “by the Spirit,” that same Spirit through whom we are given faith. If we live by the Spirit, we will do good works, not by choice but by the Spirit.

The second quote (FC, SD 4.32) is of the first half of verse 13 to make clear that just because we have been given faith does not mean that we can follow the desires of the flesh and stay in the faith. Such and idea is here called a “harmful illusion” because of this verse. If we live by the flesh, we will die.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we in fact suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
— Romans 8:14-17 (NRSVue)

Verses 14 thru 17 are cited in Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article 11: Election (FC, SD 11.73) as the idea of being God’s children is unpacked. The gift of becoming aware of the movement of the Spirit in our lives, while it is for others, is also for us, that we might grow in confidence of God’s promises and our salvation so that we might more faithfully announce the good news of God in Christ.

Verse 14 by itself is quoted in Formula of Concord, Epitome, Article 6: Third Use of the Law (FC, Ep 6.6), along with Romans 7:23 and 8:1 (from last week), to show that while the fruits of the Spirit fulfill the law, they are not done to fulfill the law.

Verse 14 is also quoted by itself in Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article 2: Free Will (FC, SD 2.63) to make clear that any good work we do is only because the Holy Spirit has empowered us to do it.

Verse 15 is cited by itself in Formula of Concord, Epitome, Article 4: Good Works, Affirmative Thesis 7 (FC, Ep 12) to highlight the difference between acting out of fear of punishment and acting out of love. Good works cannot be done out of fear.

Verse 16 is cited through editorial insertion in Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 12: Repentance (AP 12.73) in a quote from a sermon from Bernard of Clairvaux who makes one of the main points of the Lutheran reformation—that we can trust God’s forgiveness is a free gift because of Christ and not something earned by our works.

Verse 16 is also quoted in Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article 11: Election (FC, SD 11.31) as a kind of conclusion that the Spirit does give us some signs in this life that the elect are God’s children.

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
— Romans 8:25 (NRSVue)

Verse 25 is cited the paragraph just before the second citation for verse 16 in Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article 11: Election (FC, SD 11.30) as a reminder that even the weakest faith is a source of strength as we wait for the fullness of God’s reign.

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Verses 24 thru 50 (not included here because that’s really long) are cited in a footnote of Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Articles 7 and 8: The Church (AP 7/8.49, n. 261) directing us to this parable. In this section, the concern is that misconduct and un-Christian behavior of the clergy and laity alike should not cause a split in the Church. The reason? Because there are many in this life who claim to be Christian and are even leaders of the institution of the church who are not, and their actions show this, but neither can we expect everyone who is Christian to be perfect all the time. And indeed, the reasoning behind splitting the Church might actually cause other sins. This is obviously from before Luther and Melanchthon gave up on not splitting the Catholic church.

…the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one…
— Matthew 13:38 (NRSVue)

Verse 38 is also quoted earlier in Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Articles 7 and 8: The Church (AP 7/8.19 to show biblical support of the idea of the institution of the church in this life is a mix of those who are saved and those who are condemned.

For the kingdom of Christ is always that which he makes alive by his Spirit, whether it has been revealed or is hidden under the cross, just as Christ is the same, whether now glorified or previously afflicted.
— Apology of the Augsburg Confession,
Articles 7 and 8: The Church,
Paragraph 18

TheoThru

A lovely move for a sermon this week. You can tell the children of God by their works, which are not their works but the Spirit working through them for the sake of others. What are those works? That which makes alive! The Spirit empowers us to live the resurrection now, and we especially see it when our works bring life to others. Such good news!