Unity of the Faith
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Ephesians 4:11–13
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Unity of the Faith
The Lutheran Confessions say that in order that we may obtain this faith (being freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith), the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. God knows that we cannot minister to ourselves. He knows that we need to hear his Law to show us our sin and then to be rescued by the preaching of the cross of Christ and his resurrection. It is only by the blood of Jesus that we are saved. There is no other name. So he sends servants into your life. He could have devised a different plan that might have included angels or other heavenly avenues of grace, but instead he picked apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors. He picked sinful men to bring the sweet medicine of immortality to sinners. The medicine is still for sinners. The cure is still Jesus' suffering and death. The reason is still because he loves you. He wants to build you up in the faith. He wants to strengthen the body of Christ. He desires you to be filled with Jesus.
Ephesians 4:11–13
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Unity of the Faith
The Lutheran Confessions say that in order that we may obtain this faith (being freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith), the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. God knows that we cannot minister to ourselves. He knows that we need to hear his Law to show us our sin and then to be rescued by the preaching of the cross of Christ and his resurrection. It is only by the blood of Jesus that we are saved. There is no other name. So he sends servants into your life. He could have devised a different plan that might have included angels or other heavenly avenues of grace, but instead he picked apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors. He picked sinful men to bring the sweet medicine of immortality to sinners. The medicine is still for sinners. The cure is still Jesus' suffering and death. The reason is still because he loves you. He wants to build you up in the faith. He wants to strengthen the body of Christ. He desires you to be filled with Jesus.
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Faith Comes By HearingAll Day LongThe Lord Keeps for HimselfSalvation Has ComeGrafted InStand Fast By FaithKindness and SeverityThe MysteryMercy on AllUnsearchableLiving SacrificesGiftsGenuine LoveThe Meaning of LifeGod EstablishedThe Summary of the Law is LoveThe Armor of LightMade to StandLiving to the LordEvery Knee Shall BowStumbling BlockTrue FreedomServant of the ChurchOur ExampleFellow WorkersAbound in HopeA Good TeacherGod’s WorkTravel PlansThe Fullness of His BlessingStrive TogetherWelcomeGreet One AnotherWatch Out
February
GreetingsAble to StrengthenAuthorityBlessed BeRedemption in His BloodSpiritual BlessingsGive ThanksDead Men WalkingBy GraceImmeasurable RichesBy GraceGod's WorkmanshipSeparatedBrought NearNo More HostilityTotal AccessFellow CitizensFor This ReasonMystery RevealedLeast of AllEternal PurposeFaith in HimSpiritual StrengthAbundant GiftWalk in LoveChrist's MeasureGifts to MenUnity of the FaithTo and Fro
March
Truth in LoveWalking a New PathA New SelfPut Away FalsehoodNew LifeImitators of GodSons of DisobedienceChildren of LightThe Will of the LordOne FleshFilled with the SpiritThe Church SubmitsChrist LovesProfound MysteryChildren of PromiseBring Them UpBondservants of ChristYour MasterStrong in the LordThe Whole Armor of GodStand FirmLove IncorruptibleGrace and PeaceHope Laid UpRedemptionThe Fullness of GodReconciledThe Hope of GloryToilGreat StruggleRooted in Christ