Therefore our concern now must be to be grateful to the Father of all mercy and consolation and to see to it that our faith henceforth does not consist in words but in power. For St. Paul says in I Corinthians 3 [4:20], “The kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” Our ability to speak or write eloquently about it is not sufficient; rather must our lives and our deeds testify to the truth, as we demonstrate our love and bestow our works of kindness on friend and foe. (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.68)
Art. XII Das wahre Büß bestehe in rew und leyd über die sünde und Glauben an Christum.
“To preserve penance is contrition and sorrow for sin and faith in Christ.”
Mar. 1, v. 13 ; “And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.”
Luc. 24, v. 47 ; “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]