Theology Summary Bible Class, Pt. 1: Natural Knowledge

Class #1:  God wills to be known and to be worshiped(faith, prayer, proclamation). By the work of creation God teaches that He exists. By the conscience grafted into the hearts of all men, He teaches the difference between those things which are honorable and shameful. Due to our sinful nature, this natural knowledge of God is not able to quiet the terrors of the conscience, and thus leaves man unsettled and with horrible unending doubts about who God is and what He requires.

Only through the revealed knowledge of God’s Word is there confidence that we are received into salvation with the Triune God through faith in the atoning work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Handout: God wills to be known and worshiped

#37- The Benefit of Marriage for Society

The estate of marriage, however, redounds to the benefit not alone of the body, property, honor, and soul of an individual, but also to the benefit of whole cities and countries, in that they remain exempt from the plagues imposed by God. We know only too well that the most terrible plagues have befallen lands and people because of fornication. This was the sin cited as the reason why the world was drowned in the Deluge, Genesis 6[:1–13], and Sodom and Gomorrah were buried in flames, Genesis 19[:1–24]. Scripture also cites many other plagues, even in the case of holy men such as David [II Samuel 11–12], Solomon [I Kings 11:1–13], and Samson [Judg. 16:1–21]. We see before our very eyes that God even now sends more new plagues”  (Luther’s Works, v.45, p.44).

Galatians Bible Class, Pt. 61: Summary C

Class #61, Part C:  In this study, we bring to a close our study of the book of Galatians.  We saw how the Book of Concord uses Galatians 5:1-4, 5:17-24, and 6:6-7 as proof texts for various doctrines.

Overhead: Overheads for Class 61
References: Galatians Ch 5 and 6
Outline: Galatians Outline
Galatians Test: Galarians Test
Galatians Test Answers: Galatians Test Answers

#36- The High Cost of Fornication

“The first reason is that fornication destroys not only the soul but also body, property, honor, and family as well. For we see how a licentious and wicked life not only brings great disgrace but is also a spendthrift life, more costly than wedlock, and that illicit partners necessarily occasion greater suffering for one another than do married folk. Beyond that it consumes the body, corrupts flesh and blood, nature, and physical constitution. Through such a variety of evil consequences God takes a rigid position, as though he would actually drive people away from fornication and into marriage. However, few are thereby convinced or converted.

Some, however, have given the matter thought and so learned from their own experience that they have coined an excellent proverb, “Early to rise and early to wed; that should no one ever regret.” Why? Well because from that there come people who retain a sound body, a good conscience, property, and honor and family, all of which are so ruined and dissipated by fornication, that, once lost, it is well-nigh impossible to regain them—scarcely one in a hundred succeeds. This was the benefit cited by Paul in I Corinthians 7[:2], “To avoid immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband” (Luther’s Works, v.45 p.43-44).

Galatians Bible Class, Pt. 60: Summary-B

Class #60, Part B:  In this study, we examine chapters 3 and 4 of the Galatians outline.  We saw how the Book of Concord uses Galatians 3:22, 3:24, and 3:27 as proof texts for various doctrines.

Overhead: Overhead for Class 59 – 60
References: Galatians Law as Custodian
Outline: Galatians Outline

#35- The Advantages and Delights Implicit in Marriage

“Observe that thus far I have told you nothing of the estate of marriage except that which the world and reason in their blindness shrink from and sneer at as a mean, unhappy, troublesome mode of life. We have seen how all these shortcomings in fact comprise noble virtues and true delight if one but looks at God’s word and will, and thereby recognizes its true nature. I will not mention the other advantages and delights implicit in a marriage that goes well—that husband and wife cherish one another, become one, serve one another, and other attendant blessings—lest somebody shut me up by saying that I am speaking about something I have not experienced, and that there is more gall than honey in marriage. I base my remarks on Scripture, which to me is surer than all experience and cannot lie to me. He who finds still other good things in marriage profits all the more, and should give thanks to God. Whatever God calls good must of necessity always be good, unless men do not recognize it or perversely misuse it.

I therefore pass over the good or evil which experience offers, and confine myself to such good as Scripture and truth ascribe to marriage. It is no slight boon that in wedlock fornication and unchastity are checked and eliminated. This in itself is so great a good that it alone should be enough to induce men to marry forthwith, and for many reasons” (Luther’s Works, v.45 p.43).

Galatians Bible Class, Pt. 59: Summary-A

Class #59:  Now that we have finished a verse-by-verse look at the book of Galatians, we are getting the big picture by outlining the book.  We are also making note of the most quoted passages and the doctrines which these passages support.

References:  Galatians Outline

#34- Real Happiness in Marriage

“Small wonder that married folk for the most part experience little but bitterness and anguish. They have no knowledge of God’s word and will concerning their estate, and are therefore just as wretched as monks and nuns since both lack the comfort and assurance of God’s good pleasure. This is why it is impossible for them to endure outward bitterness and drudgery, for it is too much for a man to have to suffer both inward and outward bitterness. If they inwardly fail to realize that their estate is pleasing in the sight of God, bitterness is already there; if they then seek an outward pleasure therein, they fail to find it. Bitterness is joined with bitterness, and thence arises of necessity the loud outcry and the writings against women and the estate of marriage.

God’s work and ordinance must and will be accepted and borne on the strength of God’s word and assurance; otherwise they do damage and become unbearable. Therefore, St. Paul tempers his words nicely when he says, I Corinthians 7[:28], “Those who marry will have worldly troubles,” that is, outward bitterness. He is silent on the inner, spiritual delight, however, because outward bitterness is common to both believers and unbelievers; indeed, it is characteristic of the estate of marriage. No one can have real happiness in marriage who does not recognize in firm faith that this estate together with all its works, however insignificant, is pleasing to God and precious in his sight. These works are indeed insignificant and mean; yet it is from them that we all trace our origin, we have all had need of them. Without them no man would exist. For this reason they are pleasing to God who has so ordained them, and thereby graciously cares for us like a kind and loving mother.” (Luther’s Works, v.45 p.42-43).

Galatians Bible Class, Pt. 58: Galatians in the Book of Concord

Class #58:  The book of Galatians is quoted or referenced about 64 times in the Book of Concord.   The Formula of Concord, included in the Book of Concord, gives a glowing evaluation of Dr. Martin Luther’s Commentary on the Book of Galatians.  The Christian Questions with Their Answers for Those Who Intend To Go To The Sacrament, an appendix to the Small Catechism,  makes two references to the book of Galatians.  The importance of this book in supporting the Reformation’s teaching of justification by grace through faith cannot be overstated.

This study is a special pre-summary of our Galatians class.  There will be one more class summarizing the whole book of Galatians.

References: 64 times in book of Concord

#33- The Virgin Birth Served Us In Order To Provide a Pure Seed

“Now just take a look at the perverse lauders of the mother of God. If you ask them why they hold so strongly to the virginity of Mary, they truly could not say. These stupid idolators do nothing more than to glorify only the mother of God; they extol her for her virginity and practically make a false deity of her. But Scripture does not praise this virginity at all for the sake of the mother; neither was she saved on account of her virginity. Indeed, cursed be this and every other virginity if it exists for its own sake, and accomplishes nothing better than its own profit and praise.

The Spirit extols this virginity, however, because it was needful for the conceiving and bearing of this blessed fruit. Because of the corruption of our flesh, such blessed fruit could not come, except through a virgin. Thus this tender virginity existed in the service of others to the glory of God, not to its own glory. If it had been possible for him to have come from a [married] woman, he would not have selected a virgin for this, since virginity is contrary to the physical nature within us, was condemned of old in the law, and is extolled here solely because the flesh is tainted and its built-in physical nature cannot bestow her fruit except by means of an accursed act” (Luther’s Works, v.45 p.205).