Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

Christ alone is our righteousness (I Corinthians 1:30). Theologians attempted, and still do, to make additional explanations of how one becomes righteous. However, to add anything to our salvation besides Christ is nothing but vanity and a chasing after wind. A common mistake of the Old Adam is to believe that God does the first step, and the person completes justification through works of love. This equation sounds pious, but leads people to false belief, despair and other great shame and vice. Cling to the clear words of Scripture that we are saved by Christ alone, grace alone, and faith alone.

Rev. Adam Degroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Rancho, NM, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to continue our study of the righteousness of faith before God.

To learn more about Calvary Lutheran, visit calvarylcms.com.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].

We believe “by grace you have been saved through faith”. However, is faith in Christ the cause of our righteousness or the instrument by which we receive Christ’s righteousness? Is there a distinction between Christ’s divine and human nature when it comes to our righteousness? The Concordians were bold to teach the Truth that it is Christ alone who is our Righteousness (I Corinthians 1:30). While Christians have weaknesses and defects, we do not doubt our righteousness based on our actions; yet faith is never alone, but always bears fruit in love and hope (I Corinthians 13:13).

Rev. Adam DeGroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Rancho, NM, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study the righteousness of faith before God.

To learn more about Calvary in Rio Rancho, visit calvarylcms.com.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].

There are only two causes for a person’s conversion:

• The Holy Spirit
• God’s Word as the instrument of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture assures us that we are purely passive in our conversion. Although our natural instincts desire to have some kind of part in our conversion (after all, we have to work for everything else in life), we cling to the promises of God’s grace revealed to us by God’s Word.

“Lord help us to cling to Your full-sufficient salvation won for us by Christ’s cross and by the Holy Spirit. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Rick Serina, Associate Executive Director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, St. Louis, MO, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to continue our study of free will.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, humankind is completely blind in spiritual matters and an enemy of God (1 Corinthians 2:14 & Genesis 8:21). Our only hope is for the Holy Spirit to make us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5). In the 16th century, just like today, the Concordians battled against man’s inherent desire to have some credit for his salvation. Conversion occurs by means, the Word and Sacraments, and it is God’s will that ALL would hear the Word and believe (Psalm 95:8; Romans 10:17).

Rev. Dr. Rick Serina, Associate Executive Director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, St. Louis, MO, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study free will.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].

Original sin is not a minor blemish. We don’t possess even a spark of good. Even when sin is not public, the corruption of our nature remains. Like a terminal disease, original sin cannot be removed by human effort. We must carefully distinguish human nature from original sin without separating them. Original sin corrupts our nature, but it is not the essence of humanity; otherwise, God would be made the creator of sin. Christ came to redeem our corrupted nature, and the Holy Spirit works to heal that corruption. Yet original sin is not fully eliminated in this life. We await Christ’s return, when original sin will be destroyed once and for all.

Rev. Dr. Brian Kachelmeier, pastor of Crown of Life Lutheran Church, San Antonio, TX, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to continue our study of original sin.

To learn more about Crown of Life, visit crownoflifesa.org.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].

Jesus is NOT sin incarnate. God creates; Satan corrupts. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. When Christ took on our nature, He did so without sin. Although we are new creations in Christ, our corruption is not minor. Our corruption is so deep we need a perfect Savior with perfect blood to die an innocent death. This understanding is difficult to grasp according to reason, but it is a comfort to know that in this broken world, we can know with confidence that Christ has made us a new creation—one that awaits the perfect life in heaven at the final resurrection.

Rev. Dr. Brian Kachelmeier, pastor of Crown of Life Lutheran Church, San Antonio, TX, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to continue our study of original sin.

To learn more about Crown of Life, visit crownoflifesa.org.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].

Original sin is the deep and thorough corruption of our human nature which requires God Himself to overcome for our salvation. The Concordians were careful to teach that original sin was not the essence of a person; if that were the case, God would be the creator of sin. According to Scripture, we are God’s creation but inherit this corruption from Adam’s fall. This corruption is real, but even more real is God’s love revealed by the blood of Christ!

Rev. Dr. Brian Kachelmeier, pastor of Crown of Life Lutheran Church, San Antonio, TX, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study original sin.

To learn more about Crown of Life Lutheran, visit crownoflifesa.org.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].

The sole source of doctrine and hope for the Church is Scripture—and Scripture alone. Yet the Church has also received written symbols, not equal to Scripture, but given for faithful confession: to reject heresy and to present a clear proclamation of the orthodox, universal Christian faith. The Formula of Concord continues to preserve us in Christ, keeping the Church steadfast in pure doctrine and practice.

Rev. Andy Wright, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Topeka, KS, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to continue our introduction to the Formula of Concord.

To learn more about St. John in Topeka, visit stjohnlcmstopeka.org.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].

The theological controversies leading up to the signing of the Formula were not solved at one congregational meeting. Some of the controversies (e.g. The Antinomian Controversy) lasted almost 30 years. The LORD used these conflicts to help the Church gain clarity in the important doctrines of Holy Scripture (adiaphora, good works, synergism, and original sin). We learn from the Concordians how to confess the Truth in spite of the conflict that will come, for we are called to pay attention to doctrine as salvation is at stake.

Rev. Andy Wright, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Topeka, KS, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to discuss the controversies which led to the development of the Formula of Concord.

To learn more about St. John Lutheran, visit stjohnlcmstopeka.org.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].

The road to Concord was neither straight nor smooth. Although the Peace of Augsburg granted legal status to the faith confessed in the Augsburg Confession, doctrinal differences among the Reformers soon came to light. Many controversies took decades to resolve through patient study of the Word and faithful care by theologians such as Jakob Andrea, Martin Chemnitz, and David Chytraeus. Their work provides a faithful approach to any issue in the Church: identify the status of the controversy, clarify points of agreement, and address points of disagreement. By God’s grace, we see how He brought the Church to unity, and we seek His help to remain united in Christ and His Word.

Rev. Andy Wright, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Topeka, KS, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to discuss the development of the Formula of Concord.

To learn more about St. John in Topeka, visit stjohnlcmstopeka.org.

Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected].