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True Confession A Higher Things Bible Study Spring 2013 Introduction: Dr. Phillips’ article gives a brief history of the events leading up to the presentation of the Augsburg Confession. The Augsburg Confession was a document which declared, on the basis of the Bible, what the Lutherans believed and taught. It was a “confession,” that is, a declaration of belief that was read before the Emperor and the representatives of the Pope. It publicly declared the faith of the Reformers. If possible, review the article and the main historical points. Perhaps invite your pastor to tell the story of the Augsburg Confession briefly. 1. We think of “confession” as being something you do with your sins. But “confession” also has another meaning. What does “confess” mean in Matthew 10:32-34. What does such a confession bring? The word “confess” literally means “to say the same thing as” (from the Latin; Greek is homologeo, to ‘say the same.) When we confess our sins, we are saying what God says about them: that we have them and need forgiveness. When we confess the faith, we are saying what God’s Word says about what we believe: about who God is, what Christ has done for us, and how we receive His gifts in the church. Thus the Augsburg Confession is a document saying what we believe as the Bible teaches. When one gets serious about confessing this truth, the result is division and conflict. The world hates Christ and doesn’t want us to take His Word seriously. Thus those who presented the Augsburg Confession were attacked and thought to be heretics. Just like standing up for the Word of God today leads to mockery and even persecution. 2. Article IV of the Augsburg Confession reads: Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strengths, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight. Why do you think this has been called “the article upon which the church stands or falls?” Over and over the Augsburg Confession speaks and declares Christ: Who He is and what He has done for us. If Christ’s death and resurrection for sinners, and the free bestowal of that forgiveness upon us in the Word and Sacraments is not the center, the entire faith collapses. When Christ is no longer the center, when salvation is no longer a gift, then there is nothing that distinguishes the Christian faith from any other religion teaching steps for us to reach God. But the distinct and unique center of the Christian faith is Christ, who freely forgives sinners on account of His death and resurrection, giving His salvation as a gift.
