“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you–unless you believed in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
My husband says every good Lutheran sermon must contain both law and gospel: law so we recognize that we are sinners and the gospel message that through Christ’s atonement we are saved.
In our daily world, it’s easy to forget both of those things. Sin has become a bad word. We’re told it’s not healthy to feel guilt. We simply “made a mistake” or “used poor judgement.” It’s easy to make excuses for our behavior that lessen our responsibility. It’s easy to deny our faults and blame somebody else. That goes as far back as Adam, remember? He told God, “the woman you gave me, caused me to sin.”
But we’re made for God and without Him we feel incomplete, so no matter how hard we try, guilt creeps in. We doubt and despair. We try to feel good about ourselves, but the devil continually whispers to us that we’ll never be acceptable.
There’s only one cure: go to church, confess your sins really are sins and really are yours and then hear the gospel. My husband says that’s simple, too: Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for me.
Did you confess your sins today? Did you hear the gospel? If so, you may be a Lutheran.
Lutheran Ladies Connection 