PRESENTATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION

PRESENTATION

OF THE

AUGSBURG CONFESSION

For the complete text of the Augsburg Confession as well as many other Lutheran documents, please visit Project Wittenburg

There's Power in the Word

June 25, 2006

AS WE GATHER

Today is unique in the calendar of the church. This is the day that celebrates he reading of the document, the Augsburg Confession. The Reformation was not yet twenty years old as the new church began to establish itself. It lacked credibility and support from the emperor, Charles V. The Augsburg meeting was a watershed event for Lutheranism. It provided a forum for a public confession of the faith. The celebration of this event reminds us of our responsibility to continue to make a clear public confession of the faith that we hold.

The year was 1530. The day was June 25. The location was the imperial city of Augsburg in southern Germany. The occasion was a visit by the Holy Roman emperor, Charles V, who had summoned representatives of the "protesting" churches to appear and give a defense of their teaching.

What a contrast to a similar gathering before the emperor in the city of Worms in 1521. On that occasion, Martin Luther was called before the emperor not to defend his teachings but to retract them. The charge was that his new teachings were leading pious Christians straight to hell. But in the face of extraordinary pressure, Luther was immovable: "Here I stand. I can do none other."

Nine years later the situation was much different. No longer was it a lowly monk who stood alone in the imposing presence of the emperor. On this occasion, it was the German princes who risked everything to defend the faith. More significantly, in those intervening years, the Lutheran reformation had taken hold---much of the Bible had been translated into German; new hymns and catechisms were written; pastors were being trained in the truths of Holy Scripture.

The gathering in Augsburg in 1530 was a watershed event for Lutheranism, for it provided a forum for a public confession of the faith. "Our churches teach with great unanimity..."---these are the bold and confident words that began the Augsburg Confession. The words of the psalmist took on new meaning: "I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be put to shame" (Ps.119:46, NKJV). And ever since, the Lutheran Church has recognized the necessity of confessing the true faith.

But why commemorate an event that took place so long ago? Precisely because the true faith still needs to be confessed. The Word of God and its faithful interpretation are under attack from every side. Increasingly our culture tries to convince us that truth is relative and changing. In the face of such opposition, we can find encouragement from the example of those confessors at Augsburg. They were willing to risk everything rather than deny the truth. Thus we set aside June 25 to find encouragement in confessing the truth.

Opening Hymn – LW 298 A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the † communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

People: Amen.

Leader: Just as all Christians can look to the Day of Pentecost as the birthday of the whole Christian Church, we Lutheran Christians regard June 25 as the anniversary of the beginning of the Church of the Reformation. On that day in 1530 the statement of faith called the Augsburg Confession, which had been drafted by Philip Melanchthon and endorsed by Luther, was read aloud to the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V, and his Diet (assembly) of Princes at Augsburg. This symbol (confession or creed) of the Christian faith, for Lutherans, takes its place after the great creeds of Christendom, Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian, as a “pure exposition of the Word of God.” Thus we begin this commemorative service by turning to the Word of God which is the source and norm of all that we believe, teach, and confess.

† WORD †

Reader: A reading from St. Paul's letter to the Romans.

EPISTLE Romans 10:5-17 (The message of salvation to all)

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Reader: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fifteenth chapter.

People: Glory to You, O Lord.

GOSPEL John 15:1-11 (I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.)

Reader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to You, O Christ.

INTRODUCTION TO “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” by Ed Raack.

HYMN “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” LW 334

Pastor: On June 25, 1530 the Augsburg Confession was read aloud. The reformers desired that all should hear their affirmation of the orthodox Christian faith. On this day, we too read aloud some excerpts from the Confession. We do so to remember the past. But more importantly, we do so as a sign of our faith. While we do not face the tempest of the reformation and the tests that Luther and his followers experienced; nonetheless, we need the encouragement that comes from confessing together "a summary of our teachers' doctrine."

AUGSBURG CONFESSION ON CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS OF SIN

Article 2 "Original Sin"

Reader 1: "Our churches teach that since the fall of Adam, all who are naturally born are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God, and with the inclination to sin, called concupiscence. Concupiscence is a disease and original vice that is truly sin. It damns and brings eternal death on those who are not born anew through Baptism and the Holy Spirit."

Article 12 "Repentance"

Reader 2: "Our churches teach that there is forgiveness of sins for those who have fallen after Baptism whenever they are converted. The Church ought to impart Absolution to those who return to repentance. Now, strictly speaking, repentance consists of two parts. One part is contrition, that is, terrors striking the conscience through the knowledge of sin. The other part is faith, which is born of the Gospel or the Absolution and believes that for Christ's sake, sins are forgiven. It comforts the conscience and delivers from terror. Then good works are bound to follow, which are the fruit of repentance."

Article 4 "Justification"

Reader 3: "Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight."

HYMN OF CONFESSION "Lord Jesus Think on Me" LW 231

PRAYER

Pastor: Let us pray ...

We give You thanks, almighty God, that You have heard our words of repentance and our pleas for mercy. In Your tender love towards us sinners You have given Your Son that, believing in Him, we might have forgiveness for all our sins.

People: Give us grace that we may cast off the works of darkness and live a new life, filled with a new Spirit, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

AUGSBURG CONFESSION ON THE CHURCH

(As reflected in the Entrance Rite for the Divine Service)

Article 7 "The Church"

Reader 4: "Our churches teach that the one holy Church is to remain forever. The Church is the congregation of saints in which the Gospel is purely taught and the Sacraments are correctly administered. For the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree about the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. It is not necessary that human traditions, that is rites and ceremonies instituted by men, should be the same everywhere. As Paul says, 'One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.'" Ephesians 4:5-6, ESV

Article 14 "Order in the Church"

Reader 5: "Our churches teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church, or administer the Sacraments, without a rightly ordered call."

HYMN OF THE CHURCH "The Church's One Foundation LW 289 Stanzas 1,4

PRAYER

Pastor: Let us pray ...

Creator God, our Father, shape us! Risen Christ, fill us! Enlivening Spirit, empower us! Holy Trinity, through Your Word lead us.

People: Receive our prayers into the loving embrace of Your arms. Let our praise adorn You. Amen.

AUGSBURG CONFESSION ON THE WORD

Article 5 "The Ministry"

Reader 6: "So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given. He works faith, when and where it pleases God, in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ's sake."

Article 18 "Free Will"

Reader 7: "Our churches teach that a person's will has some freedom to choose civil righteousness and to do things subject to reason. It has no power, without the Holy Spirit, to work the righteousness of God, that is, spiritual righteousness. For 'the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God.' This righteousness is worked in the heart when the Holy Spirit is received through the Word." 1 Corinthians 2:14, ESV

HYMN ON THE WORD "Lord Jesus Christ, Will You Not Stay"

PRAYER

Pastor: Let us pray

Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom which comes down from heaven that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ's holy people,

People: that in steadfast faith we may serve You and in the confession of Your name may abide to the end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

AUGSBURG CONFESSION ON THE SACRAMENTS

Article 9 "Baptism"

Reader 8: "Concerning Baptism, our churches teach that Baptism is necessary for salvation and that God's grace is offered through Baptism. They teach that children are to be baptized. Being offered to God through Baptism, they are received into God's grace."

Article 10 "The Lord's Supper"

Reader 9: "Our churches teach that the body and blood of Christ are truly present and distributed to those who eat the Lord's Supper. They reject those who teach otherwise."

Article 13 "The Use of the Sacraments"

Reader 10: "Our churches teach that the Sacraments were ordained, not only to be marks of profession among men, but even more, to be signs and testimonies of God's will toward us. They were instituted to awaken and confirm faith in those who use them. Therefore we must use the Sacraments in such a way that faith, which believes the promises offered and set forth through the Sacraments, is increased."

PRAYER

Pastor: Let us pray ...

Most gracious God, You have given to us the gift of the Holy Sacraments as a testimony of Your will for us. Through the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion You awaken and confirm faith in us.

People: Grant that we may use these precious means of grace in such a way that gives all honor and glory to You, for the sake of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

AUGSBURG CONFESSION ON THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD

(As reflected in the Dismissal in the Divine Service)

Article 6 "New Obedience"

Reader: "Our churches teach that this faith is bound to bring forth good fruit. It is necessary to do good works commanded by God because of God's will. We should not rely on those works to merit justification before God. The forgiveness of sins and justification is received through faith. The voice of Christ testified, 'So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" Luke 17:10 ESV

PRAYER

Pastor: Gracious God, we pray for ourselves. Fill us with all truth and peace.

People: Grant, that having been freed from sin and refreshed by Your Spirit, we may be renewed in a life of service to You and to the human family, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Pastor: The reading of the Augsburg Confession concluded with these words: "We have mentioned only those things we thought it was necessary to talk about so that it would be understood that in doctrine and ceremonies we have received nothing contrary to Scripture or the Church universal. It is clear that we have been very careful to make sure that no new ungodly doctrine creeps into our churches." May God keep us faithful in this confession.

People: Amen.

HYMN "Grant, Holy Ghost, that We Behold" LW 336