Crazy Theological Thoughts

The Apostle Creed and Nicene Creed both help to present a solid foundation concerning the Trinity and more importantly the Son of God. But in the Augsburg Confession there is one word which may be small and insignificant yet it set my hair on edge. It reads "and he will reign forever." Does this mean Christ is not reigning now? Or does it mean that Christ will continue to reign into eternity? Someone can have difficulty with both of these propositions. Christ ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father in order to rule and reign. Christ said the Kingdom of Heaven was near. So it was established by his rising from the Dead. Christ does reign now as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So thus we pray for his kingdom to come to us here and now. St Paul also tells us when Christ returns he will give all authority back to his Father. This could indicate an end to his reign and the reign of the Father. But this may be splitting hairs or even something finer. Either...

Note: What does it mean to obtain something? Receive? Or take control of something? But the real thing of importance is that one obtains Justification by the ministry of teaching the gospel and administrating the sacraments. This ministry was instituted by God. But is it one minsitry or two ministries? It could be one to teach concerning both the gospel and administration of the sacrments. This would mean the Church is given one ministry to make sure the gospel remains pure and the sacraments are administered properly. This could also be thought of as two separate ministries. One ministry is focused on preaching and teaching the Word of God or Gospel in its purity. The other ministry is to administer the sacraments. This would allow St Paul to say he was called to preach but not Baptize. But the other would follow the words of Jesus instruction to make disciples by both. But the Sacrament ndicated in both cases is Baptism. Just another thought. Thank you.

"For through the Word and the sacraments as through instruments the Holy Spirit is given, who effects faith where and when it pleases God in those who HEAR the gospel, that is to say, in those who HEAR that God ... justifies ..." The word used is not "wash" or "eat and drink" but HEAR. St Paul says "Faith comes by hearing." The confessors of the Augsburg Confession recognize the Importance of the Word of God. The means by which the Holy Spirit works faith in people is the word. Those who hear that Word of God's saving grace are those called. Those who hear Christ crucified proclaimed in body and blood in and under bread and wine are justified by faith. Those who hear water proclaiming Christ's death and resurrection are justified. It is Faith coming to us by Hearing the Word of God or the Good News of Jesus Christ proclaimed to them. Someone once asked if Faith comes by Hearing then why should I read my Bible? Other people should read the...

What is the Church of God? There is only one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. The unity of the Communion of saints is based on the agreement "concerning the teaching of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments." Many church bodies today disagree concerning the Administration of the Sacraments. Things range from open and closed communion to the Real Presence (or even the discription of the Real Presence). The differences concerning the Lord's Supper and Baptism still pale in comparison to the differences concerning the Gospel. Many Christian Church bodies claim some necessity of works (even if only a decision). Other church bodies deny the judgment or threats of God. These while rightly recognizing Christ died once for all deny the Law or Christ's call to repentance. Thus, the problem becomes a tension between no works yet not openly living a life of sin. St Paul walks this line by telling us to put off the deeds of darkness and yet all have fall...

"Concerning Church order they teach that no one should teach publicly in the church or administer the sacraments unless properly called." Many people talk about what it means to be properly called or rite vocatus but I think there is enough discussion about that. The one that concerns me is "teach publicly." This obviously does not mean out in the public square. This does not mean on an Individual basis. Therefore one could almost exclude any Evangelism method, because of the qualification "in the church." To teach in the church would indicate most directly Public preaching. But it could also include Bible Study, Sunday School, VBS, and other Public activities in the Church. Now before you think too pragmatic and start going into obserdity. Just think of the words and the teaching: "no one should teach publicly in the church or administer the sacraments unless properly called." Anytime someone is set to teach in the church they should be c...

The Confessors of the Augsburg Confession recognize another important lesson of which many easily lose sight. "They condemn the Pelagians and others who deny that the original fault is sin and who, in order to diminish the glory of Christ's merits and benefits, argue that human beings can be justified before God by their own powers of reason." Others may say by any use of their mental faculties or even their own decision. When you deny originl fault effects your reason or mental faculties you deny original fault or sin. If human beings claim any power for their own Justification they deny original sin or Fault. But our Human Reason is completely Corrupt. Therefore, St Paul can say mean's wisdom is foolishness to God. Therefore, Anyone who thinks they can make a decision for Christ is wrong. In other words their Reason is faulty. Human Reason leads to wild heretical thoughts whie God reveals the turth. Humans can rightly ask who can say what is right? But God s...

How often do we take the Confessions of the Lutheran Church seriously or literally? The Augsburg Confession Article II reminds us that "original fault is truly sin, which even now damns and brings eternal death to those who are not born again through baptism and the Holy Spirit." Those who are not baptized thus still are damned by original fault. But we talk about cases in which unbaptized persons can be saved. The Theif on the cross is our extrodaniery circumstance. But the Confession clearly states without being born again by the Water and the Spirit one can not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I think Jesus even says this. Thus, the confessors are correct. But are there exceptions to the rule? Original fault damns all human beings. Original fault corrupts all human powers and abilities. You are born with original fault or Sin and you need to be baptized for the removal of this fault and Sin. Thank You.

Many in Lutheran Circles say the chief Article of the Christian Faith is Justification (by grace alone through Faith). But the chief article for the formulators of the Augsburg Confession is the Trinity or Concerning God. Godis one divine being yet three distinct Persons. Is this not the chief article of the Christian Faith? Is this not what separates Christianity from all other Religions? This is what defines someone as being Christian? First you have to believe God is Father Son and Holy Spirit. God is eternal, incorporeal, indivisible, of immeasurable power, wisdom, and goodness, the creator and preserver of all things, visible and invisible. Before I can even talk about Justification doesn't there have to be a God. And who is that God? The Father Son and Holy Spirit is the One true and only God. This is the Chief Article of the Christian Faith. Now you can ask other Questions. Thank you.

There are many different numbers that are in the bible. But this will just cover a few of them. You have 1 which is the most basic number, but also reminds us that the Lord God is One. Then 3 is easily recognized as the number of God because he is three persons in one God. Some may say three is the number of the Holy Trinity, but what is the differnce. These people will say the number 7 is the number of God. But really the number 7 might be better seen as God in or with Creation. God acts in Creation by number 7. 7 Days of Creation. 70 years of Exile. 7 years for Jubilee. 3+4=7 God plus creation equals God with Creation. Oh, wait I have to tell you the number 4 represents Creation. 4 winds or 4 corners of creation. There are 4 rivers in the Garden of Eden. 4 ends to a standard compass (without the extra divisions of N, S, E and W). 3*4=12 God multiplied creation equals God's people. This should be simple to see 12 as the number for God's people. There are 12 Apost...

I was reading a book the other day and if that was not interesting enough. I came across this three tree idea. There are three key trees in the Bible. Now one of them is not really a tree persay but the bible still calls it a tree. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil reminds us of our desire to be like God and therefore sin. The Tree of Golgatha or the Cross of Christ reminds us of God becoming like us and being accursed for us. Then there is the Tree of Life which reminds us both of Life in the garden of Eden without sin and Life eternal with God without sin. I found this interesting because it brings us full circle. You go from the Tree of Life back to the Tree of Life. It reminds us the tree of Life is there and this is the plan of God for all of use to live with God. It is more that these other two trees become the path from one tree of Life to the other Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is therefore an example of living our life with God and as God has designed us. T...