The two natures of Christ are so united that they have true communion with one another. They are not mingled but come together in one Person. Christ's two natures are not mixed into something new. It is correct to simply say that the Son of God has two natures. It wasn't a mere man that died for us. It was the God man, Christ. Each nature keeps its essence and properties.

Jesus Christ is both true God and true man -- one person. On the basis of Scripture, the Lutheran church has refused to accept the notion that in Christ there was merely a fusing of the two natures or that either nature was changed by virtue of the of the incarnation. Rather, with Luther, the confessors affirmed that in Christ there is one person with two natures. Jesus Christ is truly man and truly God; He is both fully human and fully divine, the one Savior. This is the position set forth in Article 8.

The First Commandment continues as the subject of this teaching. Luther states, "Whatever you set your heart on is truly your God." So is idolatry a problem in the current world? Yes, because the human heart is not willing to acknowledge that all good things come from God. Those who cling to God alone will receive God's blessing.

Martin Luther spends more time on the First Commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me", than on any other portion of the catechism. He explains how essential it is to know, trust, and believe in the true God and let nothing take His place. Luther was convinced that where this commandment was being kept, all other commandments would follow. A right relationship with God produces right relationships with fellow human beings.

In today's sermon, we delved into the profound significance of the Holy Supper as articulated in Article 7 of the Lutheran Confessions, emphasizing its essence as the very Gospel itself. We explored how Christ's act of separating His body and blood during the Last Supper inherently signifies a sacrifice--a sacrifice not made by us but by Christ on the cross, once and for all, for our redemption. This sacramental action, where bread and wine are consecrated and received, is not merely symbolic but a real participation in the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. It is crucial to recognize that the power of this sacrament lies not in the words or actions of the priest but solely in the Word of Christ and His command. This understanding preserves the sacrament from becoming a mere ritual and underscores its role as a means of grace, where Christ Himself promises and delivers forgiveness of sins through His body and blood, given and shed for us. Thus, the Holy Supper stands at the heart of our faith, encapsulating the Gospel's promise and ensuring that we continually live in the grace it offers.

The Large Catechism, written by Martin Luther, consist of key Christian canonical works, compiled and published in April 1529 that expand on the Small Catechism. Some of the text is re-edited from a group of sermons preached by Martin Luther. The Large Catechism was addressed particularly to clergymen to aid them in teaching their congregations. In this first session, Pastor Rhode gives the background and an overview of this important book. Note: The word catechism means to "sound back", hence the teaching in the Large Catechism is given in a question and answer format.