A Chosen Race
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
MATTHEW 5:16
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A Chosen Race
What is this "holy adornment," these priestly garments that adorn the Christians so that they become His holy priesthood? Nothing else than the beautiful, divine, and various gifts of the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul (Ephesians 4:11, 12) and St. Peter (1 Peter 4:10) say, which were given to Christendom to advance the knowledge and the praise of God, a function which is carried out preeminently by the ministry of preaching the Gospel. For St. Paul says that these gifts exist "for the common good" of Christendom (1 Corinthians 12:7), which means that our preaching and confessing serve the purpose of bringing people to the knowledge of God so that He will be honored thereby. This is the reason why we are God's servants and are called priests. Whatever we do, our teaching and our life ought to shine like a beacon of light to the greater knowledge, honor, and praise of God, as Christ also says (Matthew 5:16). And St. Peter says (1 Peter 2:9): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
From Commentary on Psalm 110 (Luther's Works 13:294-95)
MATTHEW 5:16
+
A Chosen Race
What is this "holy adornment," these priestly garments that adorn the Christians so that they become His holy priesthood? Nothing else than the beautiful, divine, and various gifts of the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul (Ephesians 4:11, 12) and St. Peter (1 Peter 4:10) say, which were given to Christendom to advance the knowledge and the praise of God, a function which is carried out preeminently by the ministry of preaching the Gospel. For St. Paul says that these gifts exist "for the common good" of Christendom (1 Corinthians 12:7), which means that our preaching and confessing serve the purpose of bringing people to the knowledge of God so that He will be honored thereby. This is the reason why we are God's servants and are called priests. Whatever we do, our teaching and our life ought to shine like a beacon of light to the greater knowledge, honor, and praise of God, as Christ also says (Matthew 5:16). And St. Peter says (1 Peter 2:9): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
From Commentary on Psalm 110 (Luther's Works 13:294-95)
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