Our topic is the Third Article of the Creed, particularly, one holy Christian Church. In his answer to what this means, Martin Luther wrote, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.[ii]
In the Large Catechism, Luther
wrote, “If you are asked: What do you mean by the words: I believe in the Holy
Ghost? you can answer: I believe that the Holy Ghost makes me holy, as His name
implies.” The Holy Ghost accomplishes
this by the Christian Church …He has a peculiar congregation in the world,
which is the mother that begets and bears every Christian through the Word of
God, which He reveals and preaches, [and through which] He illumines and
enkindles hearts, that they understand, accept it, cling to it, and persevere
in it.”[iii]
In a sermon on our Gospel, the good
doctor summarized, “that Christ alone is the good shepherd. [The gospel]
teaches us the power and fruit of the preaching of the Gospel and its ministry
and distinguishes it from the office of Moses and the preaching of the Law.
Christ names only two who keep and feed the sheep, the true shepherd and the
hireling. For the wolf is but a murderer, who works only injury and havoc; to
resist him shepherds are necessary. But if the shepherd and the hireling are
compared, it becomes manifest that Christ alone is the shepherd, who lays down
his life for the sheep. Neither Moses nor any other preacher of the Law does
this.
For this reason, he justly calls
himself alone the good, that is, the comforting and helpful, shepherd. For,
although Moses, the prophets and all other preachers of the Law preach and
teach, they are not able to lay down their lives for the sheep and to save
them. They all had to die for themselves, and were not able thereby to save
either themselves or others. But Christ says: It is I alone who lay down my
life for the sheep. Only death brings salvation to the sheep. Because I am such
a one, I found this new doctrine and a new flock and people.
In this way, he refers the true
shepherd's office. … This office … comprises the whole preaching of the Gospel,
wherever, whenever and by whomsoever it is done. These preachers are also
named, after Christ shepherds; not for themselves, for that honor belongs to
Christ alone, but because they are in the office which is Christ's and which he
exercises through them.”[iv]
Elsewhere, Luther stated, “This is a
comforting Gospel, which so beautifully portrays the Lord Jesus and teaches us
what manner of person he is, what kind of works he does, and how he is disposed
toward men. There is no better way to understand it than to contrast light and
darkness and day and night; that is, the good shepherd with the wicked one, as
the Lord himself does.”[v]
This evening, before you retire, take a minute to reflect on
the voices that call you. Satan calls you. Sinners call you. Society calls you.
So-called friends call you. Self calls you. Christ calls you. To which of these
will you respond? To which of these did you respond today?
Were you tempted to sin blatantly? Called to participate in
gossip and ridicule? Did talk radio or the evening news call you to sympathize
with a cause that opposes Christ’s Gospel? Did your ego demand selfishness? To
which did you respond?
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and the one holy Christian
Church to remain true to the Trinity. For this, pray. … In Jesus’ Holy Name, we
pray. Amen.
[i]
John 10:11-16; 27-30
[ii] http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#creed
[iii] http://bookofconcord.org/lc-4-creed.php
[iv] http://www.orlutheran.com/html/mlsermjo1016-3.html
[v] http://www.orlutheran.com/html/mlsejo10.html
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