Grace Notes 2024-07-24

This week I will continue in the same vein as recent weeks which has been the neglected topic of ‘Original Sin’. When we pay attention to this doctrine and are informed by it, we will better understand some of our practices.

For starters we will have a better sense for why some Christian Communions, including the Lutheran Church, practice Infant Baptism. It is not because we think a one-month-old has willfully defied God’s commandments and sinned. Although it is highly likely an infant has not volitionally committed a sin, it is only a question of time before he will do so.

We need to ask ourselves, are we sinners because we have sinned? Or do we sin because we are from birth sinners? It is because we believe that we were “brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did [our] mother conceive [us]” (Ps 51:5), that we understand ourselves as sinners from our conception, even before we sin in thought, word, or deed. The whole human race needs to be covered by the blood of Jesus in order to be cleansed from the disease and stain of sin.

Paying attention to the doctrine of ‘Original Sin’ will also help us to appreciate why each week in the Divine Service we begin with the Order of Confession and Absolution. We are to understand that in this life we will always be battling temptation. And we repeatedly fall short of loving God with our whole being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. As we are taught in 1 John 1:8 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

With this doctrine we will appreciate why mention of God’s mercy is so frequent in Scripture along with the supplicant pleading for God’s mercy. We will learn why our salvation depends on grace, and why even the faith to receive God’s grace is itself a gift! If salvation depended on us, we would be sunk.

Since You Asked…

What is an Alb? And why does our Pastor wear one?

Alb (from the Latin “white”): a white ankle-length vestment with sleeves, often gathered at the waist with a cincture, worn by all ranks of ministers, ordained and unordained. The classical tunic became a specific church vestment about the fifth century. One of the functions of an ordained minister in our tradition is for that person to represent Christ to the people. Christ is pictured in the Book of Revelation with a white robe. The white robe is also a symbol of his righteousness. For this reason, the alb is a proper covering for the presiding minister with the function of representing Christ to the people.  (from “Manual on the Liturgy” companion to the LBW, from Augsburg Pub.)