To Know God
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2 JOHN 9
+
To Know God
[The Turks, Jews, and all the heathen] imagine that He is a God who has neither a Son nor a Holy Spirit in His Godhead, and thus what they esteem and worship as God is nothing but an empty dream. Indeed, they extol lies and blasphemies as the knowledge of God because they presume, without divine revelation (that is, without the Holy Spirit), to know God and to come to Him without a mediator (which must be God's only Son). And thus, at bottom, they are without God. For, in truth, there is no other God than the one who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, both of whom reveal Themselves through the Holy Spirit to His Church and who work and rule in the hearts of the faithful. As 2 John 9 says, "Whoever does not believe and abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God." And Christ says in John 5:23: "Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father as well," or John 14:6: "No one comes to the Father except through Me."
From Four Sermons Preached at Eisleben (Luther's Works 58:414-15)
2 JOHN 9
+
To Know God
[The Turks, Jews, and all the heathen] imagine that He is a God who has neither a Son nor a Holy Spirit in His Godhead, and thus what they esteem and worship as God is nothing but an empty dream. Indeed, they extol lies and blasphemies as the knowledge of God because they presume, without divine revelation (that is, without the Holy Spirit), to know God and to come to Him without a mediator (which must be God's only Son). And thus, at bottom, they are without God. For, in truth, there is no other God than the one who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, both of whom reveal Themselves through the Holy Spirit to His Church and who work and rule in the hearts of the faithful. As 2 John 9 says, "Whoever does not believe and abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God." And Christ says in John 5:23: "Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father as well," or John 14:6: "No one comes to the Father except through Me."
From Four Sermons Preached at Eisleben (Luther's Works 58:414-15)
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2021
January
The Arm of GodSigns and PromisesThe Calling in Your HeartOur Active GodAmazing HelpThe Purpose of BaptismHave Courage to BelieveToo Soon ForgottenThe Unexpected ChangeSustained by TrustHe Who Bears All SinsA Wonderful VictoryWhen God SpeaksOur Faithful ShepherdThe Purpose of ScriptureOne Little WordThe Supreme ConsolationA Thorn in the FleshNever Doubt RedemptionThis Is the VictoryLet Your Faith Be FirmA Pure Dwelling PlaceBuilding an Eternal HouseGlorious PromisesNoble and Necessary ChastisementOur New MotivationGod Will Preserve His ChurchGod's Will, Christ's PurposeOur Savior DefinedFalse Saintliness
February
The True Center of SalvationThe Purpose of GovernmentWhat Is a Good Work?The Chief DoctrineA Simple ExplanationJoyful NewsHarmless NoiseIn God's HandsTreasure in Weak VesselsThe Pure, Clear WordWas It Better Before?Responsibility to OthersTrue EqualityA Broad InterpretationThe Flesh Is WeakWhen Pity Is WrongNo Sin AllowedTake the High RoadGod Is TrueSetting an ExampleThe Spirit Giveth LifeThe Christian LawBeware of False ShepherdsThe Lofty and the LowlyIn the Hour at HandLearning to CallWhen the Wicked SucceedTake up Your Cross
March
On Godly BehaviorThe Sheep of ChristThe Calm after the StormOn Becoming a ChristianEternal FoodConcerning Knowledge and PowerFight PowerfullyThe Yoke of ChristThe Obedient ChristThe Fulfillment of the LawDivine RighteousnessThe Gospel Is PublicTo Live as a ChristianThe Promise of GodlinessWhy Is Christ Punished?Blind Human NatureHave Faith Like ChildrenThe Spirit of TruthWaiting for GodTo Know GodThe Purpose of NeedWho Is an Apostle?When Salvation BeginsTrust in GodThe Time for RescueGod Is UnchangeableThere Is No Secret SalvationA Chosen RaceFeast of St. Michael and All AngelsWhat to Pray ForGod's Goodness