Pieper, 1968. "Religion in General"

Chapter A2 “Religion in General”

What does “religion” mean? Pieper distinguishes between the “heathen” who view it as man’s effort to appease a deity and a Christian view that in Christ God is reconciled due to the substitutionary atonement. For this reason, historic Christianity has not allowed for man’s contribution to his own salvation. Salvation by faith and salvation by works are diametrically opposed to one another.

Bridges, 2008. Chapter 7, "God's Sovereignty and Our Responsibility"

Chapter 7, “God’s Sovereignty and Our Responsibility” pp. 113-124

Bridges has cautioned us about discounting God’s wisdom or love. In this chapter he reminds us that God’s sovereignty does not function alone. We have a responsibility to live a prudent life. God uses means to accomplish his will.

One of the chief responsibilities we have is that of prayer. We may know and trust God’s sovereignty over conditions, but we don’t always know his plan for the future. This explains the prayers of people in the Bible. For instance, in Acts 4:24ff, the disciples pray that God will intervene so they can do what they believe to be God’s will. Trusting God encourages us to ask for his intervention.

Along with prayer, we use the legitimate means available to accomplish what is right. David fled from Saul. Paul worked to guard lives in Acts 27 even after he had a vision that everyone would survive. Nehemiah prayed and had his workers prepare to defend themselves. Prayer, counsel, and effort are often God’s means of showing his grace to his people.

Who is the one to accomplish everything? Psalm 127:1 says God is the one who builds the house. But he nowhere suggests that we stop doing our duty. We are finally dependent on God. Sometimes that dependence is more obvious, sometimes less obvious. But it is always there.

What about when we fail? God will still accomplish his purpose (Esther 4) but may do it without using us. We are responsible. God is sovereign. He works out the relationship between the two for his glory and his people’s good.

Pieper, 1968. Chapter A1, "Our Position"

This rather large volume is divided into some large sections and then subdivided into numbered chapters. Because of the length and because I need to work through the book in a relatively short period of time, I’ll be posting a summary of the small numbered chapters but more frequently than I normally would on any one work. The copy I have is a Kindle book. It does not have actual page numbers.

Part A - Prolegomena: The Nature and Character of Theology

Chapter A1 “Our Position”

The Scripture alone is God’s infallible word. It alone is normative and the source of doctrine.  This position has been disputed since about 1750 in Protestant theology. Modern Protestant theology is like Rome in assigning normative power elsewhere than Scripture.

Making our own opinion the judge is rebellion against God. Christ, the apostles, and Luther agreed that the Scripture was the norm, no matter what others might think.

Modern theology might rather trust a “Christian consciousness.” Meanwhile, conservative theology trusts that the Bible informs and norms our conscience. This biblical norm is a reality, as opposed to our attempts to seek the truth within ourselves.

The theologian needs to separate himself from his won opinions, seeking to find the Bible’s opinions. This act of being bound to Christ is freedom, as Jesus says in John 8:31-32.

The retreat from Scripture has led many to deny the vicarious atonement of Christ, which then strips the Christian message of its power and hope. It also leads to disunity of doctrine. The resulting chaos is only reversed by restoring the Bible as our foundation.

Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics

Francis Pieper. Christian Dogmatics: Volume 1. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1968

Tillich, 1948. Chapter 14, "Doing the Truth"

Chapter 14, “Doing the Truth” pp. 114-117

John 3:17-21

We know the truth, but how do we do the truth? If truth is simply a theory, even one we can act in accord with, Jesus’ statement that he is the truth makes no sense.

Are theory and practice actually divided? No, if something actually works in theory it does work in practice. God’s truth, in fact, always does work. It overcomes, transforms practice. here, doing the truth is nothing less than living the gospel. This living out of Christianity is how the truth is found.

There is no distinction in Christ between theory and practice. Those who believe live out their faith.

Bridges, 2008. Chapter 6, "God's Power over Nature"

Chapter 6, “God’s Power over Nature” pp. 99-111

God is sovereignly in charge of nature. We often seem to think that natural forces merely happen. But although there are physical laws, they operate according to God’s will.

How do we respond to God’s care for the weather? On p. 103 Bridges observes that our complaints are complaints against God. We also deprive ourselves of peace by thinking our opinion is better than God’s plan. Most of the time God uses his natural power as an expression of his blessing for his people. At other times he shows his power in a striking way. Occasionally a severe condition may be a judgment against sin.

What of natural disasters? While we wrestle with the tragic events in our world we are not to make our judgment against God. Rather we often are moved to compassion and loving service to our neighbors. In Isaiah 45:7 we read that God takes responsibility for all disaster.

God’s power in nature is also seen in illness and physical affliction. God shows his glory and providence through all our suffering. All suffering can be traced back to the Fall. But God still rules over all creation. Again, Bridges shows, God’s care includes childbearing and childlessness. We remember that no matter the situation God is also perfectly loving.

Sermon for 1/5/14 "Where Will We Find Jesus?" Luke 2

Sermon:“Where will we find Jesus?”

Where’s Elizabeth?  uh-oh

distress

panic

fear for future

Where was Jesus?

 temple

 asking questions

 answering questions

 receiving from God’s word

 perfectly safe

Maybe we’re missing something other than Jesus?

 Solomon - needs wisdom to guide the people

 Ephesians - need to find their confidence to live for God in this life

What’s the answer?

 God in His Word, revealed in the place and through the means he has appointed, gives us all we need.

1) in His Word

2) where He promises - OT place of sacrifice - NT in the place where Christ crucified for sinners is proclaimed (Word preached and sacraments administered)

This is why I fight the weather to go to church - aside from the fact that I work here and live across the street.

This is why for many years we considered it worth the half hour drive, more in bad weather, to attend a church where the Word of God was preached rightly.

 life is rough - for what is important we will get ourselves up and try to receive what we need

 maybe sometimes we have to receive through other means

   shut-ins - never be afraid to call on the pastor to bring you the Gospel

   illness - the pastor isn’t afraid of your illness, good to call for help

   weather emergencies - don’t endanger yourself to attend worship, but be ready to push yourself

Where are we going to find Jesus?

 Joseph and Mary doubtless had other things that they planned to do when they arrived home

 Everything else is cancelled when we go to find our Savior

   we need what he has

   we need what he does

   we need what he gives

As we move into the season of Epiphany, starting tomorrow, the season of realization of what Jesus is really like and how he has come to save us, we begin by receiving his gifts - forgiveness, life, and salvation. We’ll be gathering, week by week, in all our opportunities, to experience sitting with Jesus, learning from him, being gathered into him, and trusting that he is still there for us. We find him where he has promised to be.