Concerning Monastic Vows – part 45
Scripture Text: 1 John 2:25
Original image • Index of Scripture Graphics and posts by Scripture reference
Click for a recording of today's Sola Devotion.
1 John 2:25
From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession
Concerning Monastic Vows
They also cite 1 Timothy 5:11–12 about the widows who served the Church but were supported at the public expense, where it is said: “They desire to marry, and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge.” First, let us suppose that the Apostle is speaking here of vows. This passage will still not back up monastic vows that are made concerning godless worship, and with the opinion that they merit the forgiveness of sins and justification. For Paul clearly condemns all worship, all laws, all works, if they are observed in order to merit the forgiveness of sins or to obtain eternal life for us on account of them, instead of through mercy for Christ’s sake. So, the vows of widows, if there were any, must have been unlike monastic vows.
Pulling It Together: It is clear enough from the context that these widows whom Paul spoke of were simply women the Church supported unless they remarried. Then their husbands would support them. Yet, this is not the real issue here. Let us not conceal the actual subject of our concern—the concern of Paul and of all Scripture. We are forgiven, justified, and given eternal life because of Christ alone. We are not saved from death and damnation because of our vows. Rather, we are saved because we believe the promises of God in Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, promise of eternal life, train the eyes of my heart upon you. Amen.
Receive these daily Sola Devotions by email. Write mryman@solapublishing.com with "Subscribe" as your subject. To unsubscribe, send an email to the same address with "Unsubscribe" as your subject.
Moses and the Great Escape is an “all-in-one” teacher’s resource. The worksheets and handouts it contains may be reproduced according to local needs. Each book in the Versatile Budget Series focuses on a particular character from the Bible, bringing together several stories on a common theme. Resources and ideas are provided for gathering time, music, activities, games, and refreshments — allowing just a few adult leaders to host a week of Vacation Bible School.
The biblical focus in the five-session Moses and the Great Escape VBS book is found in the Old Testament book of Exodus. God has a grand plan for humankind—a plan he enacts through the Hebrew people. He created Moses to be instrumental in this plan.
All of Sola's VBS materials are here.
Author
Rev. Mark E. Ryman serves as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Previously, Pastor Ryman has served other congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
Click Here For Content Archives