They threaten us with death.  If they were as smart as they are stupid, they would threaten us with life. It is a shame and disgrace to try to threaten and terrify Christ and his Christians with death for, after all, they are lords and victors over death. It is just like trying to frighten a man by bridling and saddling his horse and bidding him to ride on it.

However, they do not believe that Christ rose from the dead and is a Lord over life and death. For them he is still in the grave, yes, in hell. But we are happy and confident because we know that Christ rose and that death is no more than the end of sin and the end of itself. For the life in this flesh still cleaves to us and is still lived in sin; this life cannot be without sin by reason of the flesh. And that prompts the incipient spirit in us to cry: Come, death and Judgment Day, and put an end both to sin and death. Amen. [That is the meaning of] St. Paul’s words in Romans 7 [:18–19] and 8 [:22–23].  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.63)

 Picture:  The First Article (Der Erst Artickel) 
Wir Glauben Das Gott einig im wesen dreÿfach in der Persö seÿ.
“We believe that God is united in the essence of three persons.”
Deut. 6, v. 4 ; “Hear, O Israel : The Lord our God is one Lord.”
I John 5, v. 7 :  “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost : and these three are one.”

[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.]

Therefore we are not concerned with our woes, but with the wretchedness of our persecutors; for we ourselves are well provided for. We are certain that they cannot detract from that; rather, the more they rage against us, the more they destroy themselves and prosper us, as St. Paul states in Philippians 1 [:18]. “Who can harm us since we have a Lord who holds the death and life of all our adversaries in his hand” [Rom. 14:9], and who addresses our heart so comfortingly in John 16 [:33] saying, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.63)

Picture:  Left:  The Augsburg Confession; Right: The everlasting Gospel

[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.]

However, this thirst not only is not slaked by its speaking, it is also made worse with gall and vinegar, as was the thirst which Christ experienced on the cross [John 19:29]. St. Paul felt such a thirst, Acts 26 [:29], when he wished that everyone were as he himself—except for his chains. [In] Romans 11 [9:3] he wished to be cut off from Christ for the sake of his brethren, the Jews.

See here, you too have been given such a thirst for the salvation of your brethren, which is a reliable sign of a genuine faith.  It is only the gall and the vinegar that still awaits you, that is, the vilification, the shame, and the persecution for the sake of your thirsty speech. Wherever Christ is, Judas, Pilate, Herod, Caiaphas, and Annas will inevitably be also, so also his cross. If not, he is not the true Christ.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.62-63)

Picture:  Each of the seven rays are designated with a few words and a Scripture verse:
To comfort – Romans 15:12, “Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
To satisfy – Romans 14:7, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”
To sanctify – Romans 1:4, “…and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
To strengthen – Ephesians 3:16, “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,”
To enlighten – 1 Corinthians 12, “v.1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:…”
To receive eternal life – Romans 5:16, “And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.”
To ignite – Romans 12:11, “…not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”

[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.]