Comments on: Sermon B: 7 S of Easter: 1 John 4:13 http://www.lawgospel.com/2006/05/23/sermon-b-7-s-of-easter-1-john-413/ Theological distinctions between Law & Gospel Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:52:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: David http://www.lawgospel.com/2006/05/23/sermon-b-7-s-of-easter-1-john-413/comment-page-1/#comment-402 David Sun, 28 May 2006 16:42:00 +0000 http://www.lawgospel.com/2006/05/23/sermon-b-7-s-of-easter-1-john-413/#comment-402 Dear Pastor Baker,<br/><br/>Thanks for giving me your answer over the airwaves. The reason I wanted your feedback on the passage in Matthew is because of all the horrific misapplications of that particular text that I've heard in past in sermons from some of the most prominent evangelical leaders. One of the most popular misapplications is when the text is being used as an example of how to ward off temptation. 'If we can only quote the scriptures with enough faith' these people say like it's some magical mantra, 'then Satan will flee from us and we'll be victorious over the temptations'. Now it's taught in Romans that the Law hardens us and can do nothing to help us to overcome temptations. In retrospect to what I said in my previous email and from what I've learned from the Lutheran perspective. It is not our active quoting of the Law that is the ultimate refuge from our temptation, but, rather it is the passive receiving of the Gospel through Word and Sacrament that will indeed bring us to overcome our temptations. Let me add that even if we are to quote Gospel promises to our situation of temptation, I've come to learn that it is not 'our quoting' of such passages that will bring us to overcome the temptations but rather it is the promises themselves that bring us first, the comfort that no one can snatch us out of the Master's hands, and ultimately because of such a wonderful truth, we then rejoice and spontaneously respond and often overcome temptation without even being aware of it. Until I started listening to KFUO, I was under the delusional that it was my lack of faith that brought me to such despair and that I had to somehow muster up enough faith to be able to quote such passages and ultimately ward off temptation. But thanks to KFUO, and especially Law & Gospel, I've learned that the same Gospel that created faith in me will nurture that faith to the end as I am in Him. <br/><br/>David,<br/>North Bergen, NJ<br/>(Hebrews 12:2)<br/><br/>P.S. My new man hopes you will read this on the air for the sake of others who might have gone through the same despair that I have. As for my old Adam...well...let's just say he speak for himself. Dear Pastor Baker,

Thanks for giving me your answer over the airwaves. The reason I wanted your feedback on the passage in Matthew is because of all the horrific misapplications of that particular text that I’ve heard in past in sermons from some of the most prominent evangelical leaders. One of the most popular misapplications is when the text is being used as an example of how to ward off temptation. ‘If we can only quote the scriptures with enough faith’ these people say like it’s some magical mantra, ‘then Satan will flee from us and we’ll be victorious over the temptations’. Now it’s taught in Romans that the Law hardens us and can do nothing to help us to overcome temptations. In retrospect to what I said in my previous email and from what I’ve learned from the Lutheran perspective. It is not our active quoting of the Law that is the ultimate refuge from our temptation, but, rather it is the passive receiving of the Gospel through Word and Sacrament that will indeed bring us to overcome our temptations. Let me add that even if we are to quote Gospel promises to our situation of temptation, I’ve come to learn that it is not ‘our quoting’ of such passages that will bring us to overcome the temptations but rather it is the promises themselves that bring us first, the comfort that no one can snatch us out of the Master’s hands, and ultimately because of such a wonderful truth, we then rejoice and spontaneously respond and often overcome temptation without even being aware of it. Until I started listening to KFUO, I was under the delusional that it was my lack of faith that brought me to such despair and that I had to somehow muster up enough faith to be able to quote such passages and ultimately ward off temptation. But thanks to KFUO, and especially Law & Gospel, I’ve learned that the same Gospel that created faith in me will nurture that faith to the end as I am in Him.

David,
North Bergen, NJ
(Hebrews 12:2)

P.S. My new man hopes you will read this on the air for the sake of others who might have gone through the same despair that I have. As for my old Adam…well…let’s just say he speak for himself.

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