Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

God is the giver of order, and because of this, we are to live in an orderly way. In His wisdom, He established the office of the Ministry to steward His mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1). This Ministry is centered and grounded in Christ and the Word and Sacrament. To add more to the requirements for “good order” such as relics, canonical ordination, sacrifice of the mass, or a perfect structure leads consciences away from the full sufficiency of Christ. “O Lord, help us to keep order in Christ for the sake of the building up of your kingdom. Lord have mercy. Amen.”Rev. Scott Adle, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial, Nebraska, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Order in the Church.Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

How many Sacraments do we have? It depends on who you ask! The Reformers were focused on the reception of God’s gracious gift of forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ. The Roman Catholic Church focused on the authority of the Pope and traditions, but as we know, traditions and the Pope can err. Yet, Jesus and His Word do not err and give what He promises: the forgiveness of sins. A Sacrament is defined as a physical element with the promise of forgiveness attached to it (Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and sometimes Absolution). To quibble over exact numbers is unproductive when the focus needs to be on Christ and His gifts. “O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky: We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.” LSB 523, st. 1Rev. Paul Cain, senior pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Sheridan, Wyoming, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study the number of Sacraments.Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

True repentance bears good fruit: prayer, thanksgiving, confessing Christ, teaching the faith, honoring authorities, and being faithful to one’s calling. This good fruit is not intended to diminish years of punishment in purgatory, rather, it is produced with thanksgiving to the Lord and for the good of one’s neighbor. Believers can take comfort in the Office of the Keys— the command to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, which always leads one back to Christ instead of our need to do more. “Baptismal waters cover me; Christ’s wounded hand has set me free. Held in my Father’s strong embrace, With joy I praise Him for His grace.” LSB 616, st. 5Rev. Brian Kachelmeier, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to continue our study of Confession and Satisfaction.

The Reformers understood that punishment is a necessary aspect of repentance. Punishment, they believed, is one when feels contrition over sin. The Roman Church at the time was determined to prescribe certain punishments to pay for certain sins. These punishments, according to the Church, could be satisfied by works performed in this life and in purgatory. However, punishment does not come because of a particular sin (take Job for example). Punishment is when contrition is felt, as we understand the weight of our sin and God’s wrath. Troubles are not meant to prompt a desperate search to determine our sins but rather are intended to bring us back to God as our strength (2 Cor. 12:9). Christ has had the final victory (1 Cor. 15:57) and our works are meant for His glory.Rev. Jonathan Buescher, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Pulaski, IL, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to confess the truth on the topic of Confession and SatisfactionFind your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

How easy it is to misuse Scripture! Jesus says, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Mark 1:15). Just as we learned that repentance is contrition combined with faith, we also understand that the LORD bears fruit through repentance. The Holy Spirit works through us to bear this fruit— it is not a requirement of our salvation. Christ has made full satisfaction for sin so that we can serve our neighbors in freedom and for their sake! We need not add the Law or human traditions to obtain a clear conscience. “The King of Love my shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am His And He is mine forever.” LSB 709, st. 1Rev. Peter Schmidt, pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Waukesha, WI, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to discuss Confession and Satisfaction.Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Don’t put a question mark where God in Christ puts an exclamation point! Private confession and absolution are vital to the spiritual health of the believer, as it is in these that we can hear the voice of the Gospel— forgiving sins and comforting consciences. When one receives absolution, sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake— not due to works preceding or following, not in part, but in whole. “He lives— oh, the bliss of this glorious thought; My sin, not in part, but the whole, Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! LSB 763, st. 3Rev. David Juhl, pastor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Arlington, WI, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to discuss the Scriptural truth surrounding Confession and Satisfaction.Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

Repentance is turning from sin and being brought to faith in Christ— all by God’s grace. Repentance is the Law terrifying a sinner which, in turn, leads them to the forgiveness merited by faith in the works of Christ alone. It may be tempting to rely on our own works to find hope, yet these leave our conscience without comfort. One’s works of love can never overcome the wrath of God. The Reformers understood the need for the whole life to be about repentance, but they clarified that this turning is a receiving hand of Christ’s full satisfaction. “My hope is built on nothing less. Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; No merit of my own I claim, But wholly lean on Jesus' name." LSB #575, st. 1Rev. Dennis McFadden, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to conclude our study on the Scriptural truth of Repentance. Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.

A clear conscience is only provided through the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Christ. Outward deeds are a fruit of faith, yet repentance is never separated from faith in Christ. Forgiveness in Christ brings the final healing. The Roman Catholic Church agreed that forgiveness is part of repentance, but the conditions of forgiveness were centered on the contributions of the person and not on the full satisfaction found in Christ. By the payment of the indulgence through God in Christ, we repent and receive the free forgiveness of sins. Rev. Keith Brustuen, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Montevideo, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to continue our study on the Scriptural truth of Repentance. 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.

Repentance has two parts: contrition and faith. Melanchthon speaks of God’s “strange work” of terrifying consciences by the proclamation of the Law. This is deemed to be strange as to be brought to angst over sin does not feel like a loving action, but in God’s wisdom and grace, we are brought low and He makes us alive to make the Gospel even sweeter. This Absolution is known to be the “proper work” of God as He makes us right with Him by the blood of Christ. These two parts assure all of us that we are never separated from the love of Christ (Romans 8:39). “I rest my soul on Jesus, This weary soul of mine; His right hand me embraces; I on His breast recline. I love the name of Jesus, Immanuel, Christ, the Lord; Like fragrance on the breezes His name abroad is poured.” LSB #606, st. 3 Rev. Christopher Lieske, Trinity Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to continue our study on the Scriptural truth on Repentance. 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.

God’s law brings contrition. The Gospel creates faith which trusts that God forgives our sins for the sake of Christ. Although repentance is turning from sin it is not separated from faith in Christ. The focus is not on the external act, demanding that individuals repent in a certain manner, or works that satisfy but on the proclamation of Law & Gospel. When does the conscience find peace? In Christ’s forgiveness! Thanks be to God. “I look to Christ upon the tree, His body broken there for me; I lay before Him all my sin, My darkest secrets from within.” LSB #616 st. 2Rev. Dr. Jason Lane, Associate Professor of Theology at Concordia University Wisconsin, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to confess the Scriptural truth on Repentance.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.