Grace Lutheran Church Presentation of the Augsburg Confession, June 25, 2006

The Rev. Evan Gaertner
Commemoration of the Augsburg Confession "What do you believe?"
June 25, 2006 Zephaniah 3:14-17

The text for today's preaching of the good news is from the Old Testament prophet Zephaniah. Zephaniah is a prophet who writes in the midst of a disastrous captivity by the Babylonians. But instead of writing with despair he is clearly happy and blessed. Because he has faith in the kingdom of God that shall spread throughout the world. He writes confidently and joyously so that the people in locked in bondage may not despair but rejoice in the grace of God and his promise to send the Savior, Christ.

So sing, Daughter Zion! Raise the rafters, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem, be happy! celebrate! GOD has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, GOD is Israel's king, in charge at the center. There's nothing to fear from evil ever again!

Jerusalem will be told: "Don't be afraid. Dear Zion, don't despair. Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.

Though we daily find ourselves surrounded by sin in ourselves and in this world we rejoice along with Zephaniah that we can sing and shout for joy that God has sent us his son Jesus Christ to be our savior, redeemer, deliverer.

As a Lutheran church we are here in this place and at this time to give the key that unlocks the kingdom of God.

An expression of how great and glorious is the kingdom of God revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ is found in the Augsburg Confession.

In your bulletins you can find a handout that explains about the Augsburg Confession. Today we remember the presentation of the Augsburg Confession which took place on June 25, 1530. Three o'clock in the afternoon, Dr. Christian Beyer stood, walked toward the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V. In a loud and distinct voice he read the Augsburg Confession. Through the open windows a hushed crowd listened to every word. When he was done reading this confession of faith, a copy in German and Latin was handed to the emperor with these words, "Most gracious Emperor, this is a Confession that will even prevail against the gates of hell, with the grace and help of God."

In many ways the date June 25 is as important to the beginnings of the Lutheran church as the more well known date of October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed the 95 thesis to the church doors in Wittenberg.

A little background for you about what brought these men to Augsburg, Germany, June 25, 1530.

In 1521 Martin Luther had been declared a criminal and a heretic. He was excommunicated and sentenced to death. But because Martin Luther's prince sided with him, Luther did not need to fear this punishment as long as he stayed within the territories of princes that agreed with him.

In 1526 the Reformation spread to the point that the Lutheran princes were able to force a resolution that gave each of them the right to arrange religious matters in their territories. The next few years most of Northern Germany became Lutheran, along with many cities in Southern Germany. But in 1529, princes loyal to the emperor were able to reverse the resolution that gave each prince the right to arrange religious matters in their territories. The princes loyal to the Lutheran Reformation fiercely protested this decision; therefore they became labeled as Protestants.

In 1530, the emperor called all rulers within his empire to Augsburg to settle once and for all the controversies in the churches throughout his Germany. He wanted a united Germany because he was facing the threat of a Turkish invasion from the East.

The Lutheran princes loyal to the Reformation were not purposely trying to cause dissension in the empire. But they also were not going to compromise their faith.

If someone asked you, "What do you believe?" How would you answer?

We stand upon the Word of God and the Augsburg Confession is a correct interpretation of the Word. It is not a radical document. It is intentionally written to show that the Lutheran Reformation is not a departure from Scripture or the church. The Augsburg Confession teaches the historical, biblical doctrine of God, sin, Christ, and justification.

It was not written to start a new church. The Lutheran Reformation was not about starting a new denomination, but rather to reform the church so that it once again would be standing firm upon Jesus Christ and his righteousness. Even now the Lutheran church seeks unity with other churches based on agreement in doctrine and practice. We do not desire to be a separate church but a united church built on Christ the Savior.

If false doctrine hides or blocks your view to the gospel then we must speak up and stand for Christ and Christ alone. Christ is the key that unlocks the kingdom of God.

Consider how important it is to have the proper key in a time of emergency. Soccer's World Cup is currently going on in Germany and even though the United States has been knocked out I will be watching every game I can. Soccer has a long history and unfortunately part of that history includes tragedy. “One of Nigeria’s top players, Sam Okwarji collapsed and died of a heart attack during a World Cup Qualifying match against Angola in 1989. His death wasn’t the only tragedy during the match. Seven fans also died of suffocation because 100,000 people had crowded into a stadium designed to hold 80,000. Okwarji and the seven fans may have been saved, but the key to the locker containing CPR and other first aid equipment could not be found.” (Soccer’s Most Wanted, p. 184)

The key could not be found and so though the equipment was at the stadium people died. I want you to think about the number of people that are dead in their sin right now because they do not know the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that Jesus Christ freely offers through his sacrifice on the cross. People are locked in bondage to their guilt and sin because they do not have faith in Jesus Christ as their redeemer. They are locked, but the tools to unbind them from their captivity and give them the gloriously good news of forgiveness of sins and eternal life is right here in our hands. The Bible shows us that Jesus Christ is the key that unlocks the kingdom of God for all who believe.

The Augsburg Confession was written to blow the dust off the unused key of Christ. It was not written to form a new key. Consider with me that the desire of our church is very basic. We proclaim Jesus Christ and him crucified. We do not have to rewrite scripture to restore and strengthen people in their lives. To bring to people comfort and hope does not demand that we modify scripture to make people comfortable. The Presbyterian Church (USA) this week voted to allow their congregations to use alternate forms of the Trinity, including "Mother, Child Womb" and "Rock, Redeemer, and Friend" because they were concerned that the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit was sexist in its language. It disappoints me greatly when I here about the Holy Scriptures being compromised in the name of making people feel comfortable. In the Word of God we find revealed the desire of God for sinners to repent and receive the good news of forgiveness.

It is when Scripture becomes obscured, blocked, hidden, or avoided, that we must speak up and say, "This is what we believe, teach, confess." And if anyone wants to know how the Lutheran church interprets scripture it is not a mystery. On June 25, 1530, in both German and Latin the Augsburg Confession was presented so that all could know what the Lutheran Reformation stands for. In closing I will read for you the fourth article of the Augsburg Confession, "Furthermore, it is taught that we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God through our merit, work, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God out of grace for Christ's sake through faith when we believe that Christ has suffered for us and that for his sake our sin is forgiven an righteousness and eternal life are given to us. For God will regard and reckon this faith as righteousness in his sight, as St. Paul says in Romans 3."

I want you to consider that this is not radical, but the very gospel revealed in Scripture. Listen again to the prophet Zephaniah, "So sing, Daughter Zion! Raise the rafters, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem, be happy! celebrate! GOD has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, GOD is Israel's king, in charge at the center. There's nothing to fear from evil ever again!"

Amen. Nothing to fear from evil again!

Soli Deo Gloria

Grace Lutheran Church

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