Sola Devotions

Concerning Confession – part 3

Scripture Text: Acts 2:42–43

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Acts 2:42–43

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning Confession 

With respect to the time, certainly most of the people in our churches use the Sacraments, absolution and the Lord’s Supper, many times a year. Our teachers speak about the worth and fruits of the Sacraments in such a way as to invite the people to use them frequently. Our theologians have written many things on this subject in such a manner that the adversaries, if they are good men, will undoubtedly approve and praise. We also excommunicate the openly wicked and despisers of the Sacraments. These things are done both according to the gospel and the old canons. 

Pulling It Together

As Christ is known to us in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:25), the early Church assembled to know Christ in his Supper, the Apostles’ teaching, prayer, and fellowship. We encourage our people to break bread, to receive the grace of God through Christ’s body and blood, on each Lord’s Day (Acts 20:7) but there is no rule among us as to frequency. When Christians come to understand the great value of Holy Communion, they will desire it more and more, as is happening in many of our churches today.

The earliest Lutherans also put people out of the church when they despised the Sacraments by their open wickedness. Those who lived in obvious vices, fornication, adultery, and so forth, deride and make a mockery of God’s grace. So they were denied the fellowship of grace according to ancient and biblical practice (1 Cor 5:11-13).

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, order my priorities and my days according to your word. Amen.

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