We know that he who raised Christ from the dead and placed him at his right hand is strong and faithful enough to be a Lord over all things, without a doubt also over sin, death, devil, and hell, to say nothing of the papistic swine’s bladders with their threatening, noisy snapping.⁹ They will not quell this boast in us. And as long as that remains our boast, we will gleefully scorn them and see whether they can gobble up this Christ as easily as they think and replace him with another about whom the Father knows nothing. Therefore I hope that Christ will not only rectify matters again for us—even if they should subsequently devise something worse—but let these redound to our benefit and growth, in accord with the abundant riches of his wisdom and goodness, especially if you too assist with your intercession and your trust.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.65-66)

Picture: Art. V  Das Gott durche wort und Sacramenta den Glaube in uns wircket. 
“That God says through the Word and Sacraments faith works in us.”
Rom. 10, v. 17 ; So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Tit. 3. v. 5 ; Not by woks of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

[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.]

But be that as it may, whether we sinned or did right, we must for all of that be undaunted and unafraid. For just as we do not boast of our good deeds, neither do we despond in our sins. Bather do we thank God that our faith transcends both good deeds and sins. For the Father of all mercy has granted us faith, not in a wooden but in a living Christ, who is Lord over sin and over innocence, who can support and preserve us even if we fell into many thousands of sins every hour. Of this I have not the slightest doubt. And even if Satan would tempt us still more sorely and severely, he will not weary us, unless he succeeds in tearing Christ from the right hand of God. But so long as Christ remains enthroned there, we will also remain lords and masters over sin, death, devil, and everything. Nothing can undo that.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.65)

Picture:  Art. IIII  Das wir ohne unser verdinst durch den glaubë Gerechfertiget werdë. 
“That without our merit, through faith we are justified.”
Rom.  3, v. 24 ; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Gal. 2, v. 16 ; Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law : for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

[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.]