a Lutheran’s Confessions

     “Invocavit” is Latin for “he calls,” and is taken from the Introit for the day, “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will rescue him and honor him.” (Psalm 91:5)
     “He” is Christ, who calls upon God to deliver him from temptation. The “he” is also you, who call upon God through faith in Jesus Christ. God delivers you from the threatening peril of your sins.
     In a world containing so many dangers, the greatest danger you face is the temptation to sin. The greatest threat to your well-being is spiritual, not physical, and the greatest gift you are given is not monetary or temporal, but spiritual and eternal—the gift of forgiveness, life and salvation through Jesus Christ.
     In our gospel lesson for today, we see Christ overcoming temptation, remaining faithful to God, and earning for us a place in heaven. His righteousness is yours through faith in Him. God rescues you! Rejoice in your deliverance from death and hell!

     In his book of that title, Herman Sasse wrote that “the Reformation was the renovation of the church brought about by the renewed proclamation of the pure doctrine of the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins.”

     Renovation, not innovation. Lutherans saw themselves as members of the catholic or universal church in the strictest sense of the term. We belong to the same visible church to which Thomas Aquinas, Bernard of Clairvaux, Augustine, Athanasius and Ireneaus once belonged. Lutherans saw themselves as the legitimate continuation of the true catholic faith.

     Ironically, it was the church of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) which was innovative, for it rejected the pure Gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ and it condemned to hell anyone who believes this pure Gospel. This condemnation of us still remains in force today and has never been withdrawn.

     With the church of all ages, we glory in that which men despise and condemn, and we proclaim the pure Gospel of Christ at every opportunity, seeking the lost and encouraging the faithful, preparing all people for the day of our Lord’s visitation. Join us in this joyful task!