Friday, October 16, 2009
Romans 6:1-4 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
PARTICULAR GRACE MAKES DESPERATE
Those who hold that God is not willing to favor everybody with salvation become either desperate or secure, godless people who spend their lives as cattle and think: After all, it is already decreed whether I am to be saved or not. Why, then, should I be inclined to take great pains in the matter?
No, this is not the way to think. You have the command to hear God's Word and to believe that Christ is your Savior and has paid for your sin. See to it that you carry out this command. If you find yourself unbelieving or weak, pray God for His Holy Spirit, and do not doubt that Christ is your Savior and that you are to be saved through Him if you believe in Him, that is, comfort yourself with Him.
Our dear Lord Jesus Christ grant this to us all. Amen.
--Martin Luther
By grace to timid heart that tremble,
In tribulation's furnace tried,
By grace, in spite of fear and trouble,
The Father's heart is open wide.
Where could I help and strength secure
If grace were not my anchor sure?
(Lutheran Service Book, 566:5)
