10 Commandments

[Donsfreespirit]

Could someone please tell me what the correct teachings are related to the 10 Commandments in the Lutheran Church Today?

I have been told different views from different Lutheran Pastors, that they no longer apply to the Christians of today, for that matter Lutheran in general.

While others have told me that Confessional Lutherans apply them to their lives as guilded by the Holy Spirit, and that we try to follow them out of Love of God and our fellow man.

So, I would like to know what is the True Confessional Teachings regarding them and how Luther look at them, and how they really apply to Lutherans today!

Look forward to hearing from you. Also looking forward to reference to the Book of Concord, and how the Lutheran Church Fathers wanted it taught. What was Christ teaching on the issue of the 10 Commandments?

Regards,


Confused Confessional Lutheran! Trying to sort out real Lutheran Doctrine and Theology!



Don

 

[dinkime]

Do you have a Small Catechism nearby? that is a pretty good explanation for each of the commandments

 

[DaRev]

Could someone please tell me what the correct teachings are related to the 10 Commandments in the Lutheran Church Today?

I have been told different views from different Lutheran Pastors, that they no longer apply to the Christians of today, for that matter Lutheran in general.

Not sure who told you that, but it is not at all what Confessional Lutherans teach regarding the 10 Commandments.

While others have told me that Confessional Lutherans apply them to their lives as guilded by the Holy Spirit, and that we try to follow them out of Love of God and our fellow man.

So, I would like to know what is the True Confessional Teachings regarding them and how Luther look at them, and how they really apply to Lutherans today!

The Law accuses and condemns us. It shows us our sin and our need for a Savior. This is what Luther called "The Second Use of the Law." The Law is also a guide for our life as Christians, what some call "The Third Use of the Law." (The "First Use" is basically the Law of God in the civil realm.)

Look forward to hearing from you. Also looking forward to reference to the Book of Concord, and how the Lutheran Church Fathers wanted it taught. What was Christ teaching on the issue of the 10 Commandments?

Click here: Luther's Small Catechism

 

[Anoetos]

As the others here have already noted, Luther himself took very seriously the ten commandments. In fact the majority of the Small Catechism is taken up with their exposition. At least he spends more time on them than on any other single catechetical category.

The law cannot justify us, but in Christ we are set free to do the works of the law out of love. If we do them for any other reason we do them wrongly. If we cannot do them out of love, but must always think of garnering merit, I do not say that they condemn us, but we certainly have not really grasped the length and breadth and depth of the mercy of God in Christ.

 

[Donsfreespirit]

What is met by Justification? What does it mean when we say, we are both saint and sinner?

Does this mean that we as a Christian can do as we please?

What is the Third use of the Law? I understand that the Third use wasn't used by Luther, or that he approved of it.

How are we to use the 10 Commandments?

Yes, God's Grace is beyound all human understanding. Yet, I fear that day. I can't even imagine what it will be like. I know the I have great fear about the Judgement, and very concern about it.

I know that my past life hasn't been what God would even consider holy, or even come close it. I can't even imagine or conceive his Glory.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[LutherNut]

What is met by Justification? What does it mean when we say, we are both saint and sinner?

"Justification" means that we are declared righteous by God because of the atoning work of Jesus Christ. "Justification" and "salvation" are synonomous. We are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone. This is the doctrine upon which the Church stands or falls.

Saint and sinner (in Latin it is simul iustus et peccator) means that we are made holy (saint) through Christ, yet at the same time we are still sinful human beings in need of His forgiveness and mercy.

Does this mean that we as a Christian can do as we please?

No. St. Paul writes in Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"

This doesn't mean that we never sin again, but that God through Christ has forgiven our sin.

What is the Third use of the Law? I understand that the Third use wasn't used by Luther, or that he approved of it.

The 3rd use of the Law is using the commands of God as a guide to live God pleasing lives. Because we are saved by grace through faith, which is a free gift of God, we are enabled to do good works as Ephesians 2:10 states.
The term "3rd Use of the Law" is found in the Formula of Concord written by Martin Chemnitz and is one of the Confessions of the Lutheran Church.

How are we to use the 10 Commandments?

The First use of the Law is as a guideline for civil laws, basically saying "If you do good, you get rewarded. If you do bad, you get punished."
Second use (the most important use for Christians) shows us our sinfulness and our need for a Savior.
Third use is as a guide for Christian living because we have been justified by grace through faith in Christ.

Yes, God's Grace is beyound all human understanding. Yet, I fear that day. I can't even imagine what it will be like. I know the I have great fear about the Judgement, and very concern about it.

I know that my past life hasn't been what God would even consider holy, or even come close it. I can't even imagine or conceive his Glory.

The fact that you are asking these things speaks volumes. I would be more concerned if you weren't worried about it. Continue in the faith and seek God's forgiveness. Your sins have been paid for. Jesus loves you

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Seek true and ernest repentance and contrition and ask forgiveness and then God in His mercy and grace will take those sins and seperate them from him "as far as the east is from the west". They are no more. As he told the woman at the well " now go and sin no more".

In your love for God's justification then you will want to uphold his commandments and even if you stumble you are forgiven. Jesus's death on the cross guaranteed that.

Knowing all this should be a big relief for you and lift a large burden off your shoulders Donsfreespirit.

Just ask some of us how really BAD we were and the life of sin we lead before we realized this.

 

[Donsfreespirit]

Thank to you all for the come backs on this question and others, and for the encouragement.

Peace to all! You all have a Blessed Thanksgiving, and be safe if your traveling. Watch out for those other drivers!

:} Don

 

[Zecryphon]

"If we cannot do them out of love, but must always think of garnering merit, I do not say that they condemn us, but we certainly have not really grasped the length and breadth and depth of the mercy of God in Christ."

Are you saying that The Ten Commandments do not condemn us?

 

[sempete]

Don,
For another window into Luther's thoughts on the 10 Commandments, you might want to see Luther's hymn "Here Is the Tenfold Sure Command" (Lutheran Worship 331 or Lutheran Service Book 581). Verses 11 and 12 show how Luther views the "uses" of the law seen above, and the other verses talk about the commands individually. I hope this is helpful!

Pete