Thesis 1

When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent" (Matthew 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.

In Matthew 4:17 Jesus begins his ministry proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus calls us all to a life of repentance and does not give us a hint of forgiveness. This is a warning of coming wrath and destruction. Luther starts his discussion with a Jesus of wrath.

Luther also starts on a note of Repentance connecting his message with Christ but also with John the Baptist. John the Baptist gives us a Baptism of Repentance. But John the Baptist also gives us a great image of Jesus. Matthew 4:12 "His pitch fork in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." This has to remind you have someone with horns, a pitch fork, and a pointed Tail. But this is the call to repentance.

The people should have their entire life modeled after this. They should constantly place before their eyes death and hell. They should see Jesus carrying his pitch fork and ready to Judge us. When our life is consumed by repentance we find ourselves like Luther. Luther was a great man who was very self aware of his own sins. He would constantly go to confession before the priest recounting all his sins.

Jesus calls the passive people who trust in their piety or knowledge rather than in God for the truth. Luther does not want people to think through mere outward acts that one can have their sins forgiven. But One must spend their entire life hating themselves for standing in opposition to God. Thank you.

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