Sermon Tone Analysis

Presentation of the Augsburg Confession

June 25, 2006

Text: Isaiah 55:6–11

*‘There’s Power in the Word!”***[i]**

            Today we commemorate what many consider the birthday of the Lutheran Church.

In 1530, Emperor Charles V convened an official gathering (or “diet”) in Augsburg to resolve religious differences in the empire.

Charles opposed Luther’s doctrinal reforms and had branded him an outlaw in 1521.

Up to 1530, however, other pressing matters in the empire had kept Charles from taking decisive action to address the Reformation more broadly.

That would change at Augsburg.

At the Diet of Augsburg, various groups were summoned to give an account of their faith before the emperor.

Luther’s outlaw status prevented him from attending, but through letters he communicated regularly with his colleague Philip Melanchthon, who had primary responsibility in Augsburg for preparing the Lutherans’ statement, or confession of faith.

On June 25, 1530, their statement—the Augsburg Confession—was read aloud before the emperor.

In a series of twenty-eight articles, the confessors presented a clear summary of the biblical, Lutheran faith.

At the end of the diet, Charles ordered the Lutherans to return to Roman Catholicism.

They did not, and the Lutheran Church was born.

The readings for this day emphasize the Reformation theme—drawn from the Word alone—that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone.

In the Old Testament Reading, we are assured that we can have confidence in the power of God’s Word to accomplish the purpose for which it is sent.

Through the Word of the Gospel, faith is created, and it is through this gift of faith in Christ that we are saved (the Epistle).

Faith unites us to Christ, the source of our life, and it is only through him that we bear fruit; he is the Vine, and we are the branches (the Gospel).

Introduction: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . .

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. . . .

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (Jn 1:1, 14a, 16).

Every year, we set aside a day to celebrate this magnificent miracle, the Word becoming flesh.

We call it Christmas, the eternal Word incarnate as a baby.

Today we also celebrate a miracle of the Word.

On this day, Lutheran churches around the world commemorate the miracle God worked through the courageous confession of the Gospel on June 25, 1530, by a group of Lutheran laymen.

The results of that confession have been nothing short of miraculous.

In a wonderful way, they demonstrate how powerfully God accomplished—and still accomplishes—his purposes through his Word, which is, above all, the Word that became flesh.

The Word that became flesh for you did not return empty, but accomplished the purpose for which he was sent (Is 55:11).

Jesus is God’s Word for you.

As a person’s words are a window into his or her thoughts, so also God’s Word reveals his purposes, plans, and promises.

The perfect revelation of God and his gracious will is Jesus Christ.

That’s why we can say that Jesus not only spoke God’s Word, but actually is the Word of God in the flesh.

Jesus accomplished the purpose for which he was sent.

As the water and snow come down from the heavens to bring life to the earth, the Word came down from heaven to bring life to the barren fields of hearts enslaved by sin (vv 10–11).

The Word became flesh for us so that he could die in the flesh for us.

In his death as our substitute, Christ paid the price for our sins and accomplished our redemption.

Pardon and peace were won for us.

It was finished.

In his resurrection, Jesus publicly demonstrated that he had succeeded in his life-giving mission.

The Word made flesh accomplished the purpose for which he was sent.

Now all that Christ won for you—the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation—is delivered to you personally in his spoken and written Word, and in the visible words of the Sacraments.

Because these words of grace are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, you can be assured that:           The Word that now comes to you does not return empty, but accomplishes the purpose for which it is sent.

When you hear or read the good news that your sins are forgiven, you can trust that word of promise.

When you recall God’s promise that in Baptism he made you his very own child, you can take him at his word.

When you hear Christ’s words, “This is my body, which is given for you” and “This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” those words are as good as gold.

These Gospel words accomplish their purpose because they bring to us Christ Jesus and all his benefits.

The promises of the Gospel sometimes seem too good to be true.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are the Lord’s ways higher than our ways and his thoughts than our thoughts.

The way of man is to think you must do something to earn God’s approval.

The way of the Lord is to assure you that you already have his approval because of what Christ has done for you.

The Gospel brings to you personally all that Christ has already won for you.

In, with, and under the Word and Sacraments is Christ himself, giving you all that is his—himself, his life, and his righteousness.

The power of Christ’s Word is Christ himself, who comes to us in his Word.

This Word does not fail because Christ does not fail.

For the same reason—because it is Christ that gives the Word its power—you also can have full confidence that:

            The Word of Christ that now goes out through you does not return empty, but accomplishes the purpose for which it is sent (v 11).

The same Word that brought us new life now goes out through us, for the life of the world.

How will they believe in him of whom they have not heard (Rom 10:14)?

Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ (Rom 10:17).

No matter who delivers the Gospel, the Gospel delivers Christ.

Each of us has opportunities in our daily lives to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel has life-giving power whether it is shared by an adult or child, man or woman, pastor or layman.

Today we remember with gratitude the Lutheran laymen who stood before the emperor on June 25, 1530, and so boldly confessed the Gospel in the words of the Augsburg Confession.

Another incident at the Diet of Augsburg also provides a window into the courage and faithfulness of those confessors.

The emperor ordered that there be no Lutheran preaching at Augsburg, and he called on the Lutherans there to join him in the rites of the Catholic Church.

One of the Lutheran princes, Margrave George of Brandenburg, responded to the emperor with these words: “Rather than deny my God and suffer the Word of God to be taken from me, I will kneel down and have my head struck off”[ii]

            Now that was quite a confession!

And that is also your confession.

When you were confirmed, you were asked: “Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?”

And you answered, “I do so intend with the help of God” (LW, p. 206).

It was only “with the help of God” that Margrave George took his stand on the Word of God, and it is by the grace of God that you, too, are kept steadfast in the faith.

Conclusion: This was the opportunity seized by the Lutheran confessors at Augsburg on this day back in 1530, and consider what it has accomplished.

As a result, countless millions—including all of us here today—have heard the pure, life-giving Word of the Gospel proclaimed in the Lutheran Church.

Through this Word, countless millions have been brought into God’s kingdom and received everlasting life.

It just goes to show what God can accomplish as his Word goes out through the mouths of his people—as it now goes out through you!

            God’s Word is powerful.

In his Word to you, God has given you new life.

By his Word that goes out through you, God brings life to the world.

All of this is true because the Word of life became flesh for you in Jesus Christ.

He will accomplish His purpose, as it was accomplished in the beginning, as it is accomplished now, and as it will be accomplished forever and ever, world without end.

The Lord keep you steadfast in his Word.

Amen.

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[i] /after Rev. Aaron A. Stinnett, PhD, pastor, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Polson, Montana, and Zion Lutheran Church, St. Ignatius, Montana/

 

[ii] /(F.

Bente, Historical Introductions to the Book of Concord [St.

Louis: Concordia, 1965], 23)./