THE PRESENTATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION
24 June Anno + Domini 2009 (Observed)
"On the Basis of the Divine Holy Scriptureâ€
John 15:1-11 (Isaiah 55:6-11; Romans 10:5-17)
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.. Amen.
Tonight, we commemorate one of the most significant events in all of church history, the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. It was on June 25, 1530, that a courageous Lutheran layman, Chancellor Dr. Christian Beyer, stood before Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire and a host of political and religious officials, including ambassadors for the pope himself, and read aloud in German the chief Lutheran confession of faith known as the Augsburg Confession. Dr. Beyer read the Augsburg Confession before this grand assembly so distinctly and loudly that even those who were gathered in the spacious courtyard of the palace could hear every word. And when Dr. Beyer had finished reading all twenty-eight articles of this grand Christian confession of faith, he concluded, "In keeping with the summons, we have desired to present the above articles as a declaration of our confession and the teaching of our preachers. If anyone should consider that it is lacking in some respect, we are ready to present further information on the basis of the divine Holy Scripture.â€
That last phrase, "on the basis of the divine Holy Scripture,†sums things up nicely. This is, after all, the defining characteristic of the Augsburg Confession, indeed, of all the Lutheran Confessions. "On the basis of the divine Holy Scripture†- not on the basis of tradition, not on the basis of human reason, not on the basis of feeling or emotion, not on the basis of political correctness or popular opinion - "On the basis of the divine Holy Scripture.â€
Our Lutheran forefathers recognized the truth that all Christian doctrine and practice must be based solely upon the Word of God. They further recognized, on the basis of that Word, that we are justified (that is, declared righteous, or saved) by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. They saw how far the Church had strayed from the Word of the Lord, and earnestly desired to call her back to the truth of the Word. It was not their intent to start a new Church, but rather to reform the Church; to return the Church back to being the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church - the Church which based everything about its existence upon the divine Holy Scripture.
It was all about the Word of God for our Lutheran forefathers. And, for all those who follow in their footsteps, who not only pay lip service to the Lutheran Confessions, but actually subscribe unconditionally to them as a correct exposition of the Holy Scripture, it still is all about the Word of God.
The readings for this occasion bring this out nicely, don't they? In the Old Testament reading from Isaiah, we're reminded that the Lord's thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways, which is a warning to us not to rely upon our own thoughts and ways, but to cling steadfastly to the Lord's thoughts and ways, which He Himself reveals to us in His Word - the very same Word which goes out with power and will not return to Him void, as He promises. Then, in the Epistle from St. Paul's letter to the Romans, we're told why it is so important that preachers be sent to proclaim the Word of the Lord, for faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ. And, finally, in the Holy Gospel according to St. John, our Lord Himself tells us that we are clean because of the Word He has spoken to us, and exhorts us to abide in Him, for He is the Word-made-Flesh, come down from heaven to live and die for our salvation.
It's all about the Word of God - the Inscripturated Word, which reveals the thoughts and ways of the Lord; the Preached Word, which goes forth with power to create and sustain faith; and the Incarnate Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the True Vine in whom we branches are to abide.
That the Church had departed from the Word occasioned our Lutheran forefathers to courageously step forward and make the good confession. Unfortunately, the Roman Church wouldn't listen. Even more unfortunate, many others used the occasion of the Lutheran Reformation to abandon the Word of God in various other ways, which has led to the sad reality we face today with thousands of different Christian denominations or independent fellowships. Many try to blame all of this on our Lutheran forefathers, claiming that if they had not been so bold with their attempts at reform, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in today. But, that's simply absurd. That Rome would not heed the call to reform and abide in the Word, and that others chose to abandon the Word to follow their own sinful human reason, is not the fault of the Lutheran reformers, whose sole intent was to abide in the Word of the Lord.
And, besides, the Reformation was a great success. You know how I know? Because here we sit, nearly five hundred years later, still clinging to the Word, still making the same confession as our Lutheran forefathers, still refusing to allow anything else to take the place, or get in the way, of the Word.
Dear friends in Christ, let us remember our Lutheran heritage, not with arrogant pride, but with humble thanks. And, let us do as our fathers in the faith did - confess the truth and defend it from all error. But, mostly, let us heed our Savior's words and abide in Him. Here, at the Table He sets, is where we abide in Him, and He in us, more than any other place. Let us, therefore, partake of the Bread of Life and the True Vine, that is, Christ's very Body and Blood, that we branches might not wither and die, but remain strong and vital, ready always to live for our Lord and for others. In Jesus' Holy and Precious Name. Amen.
Now the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, unto life everlasting. Amen.