Concord Matters from KFUO Radio
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.
Episodes
July 20, 2024 • 57 mins
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 sa...
Mark as Played
July 13, 2024 • 57 mins
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 glorio...
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July 6, 2024 • 56 mins
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 ...
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June 29, 2024 • 57 mins
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 Chr...
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June 22, 2024 • 58 mins
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 wi...
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June 15, 2024 • 57 mins
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....
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June 8, 2024 • 59 mins
The Reformers retained private confession & absolution. Although they kept confession, they did not agree that a confessor needs to have a prescribed number per year or attempt to confess all sins. The focus of confession was not to make sure the form was done perfectly, but the faith of the heart that trusts the full sufficiency of the cross for their forgiveness. The Lord has given the office of the keys to the Church and calls p...
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June 1, 2024 • 57 mins
We let Jesus’ words be the final Word. “Take, eat; this is my body...this cup is the New Testament in My blood.” This gift is given apart from any merit of our own and our sincerity, but forgiveness, life, and salvation delivered to us and received by faith. The Roman Catholic Church had much in common with the Reformers, especially in comparison to other groups like Zwinglians and Calvinists. However, the Reformers were committed ...
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May 25, 2024 • 57 mins
Baptism is necessary for salvation. Baptism is for ALL ages. The Lord bears fruit by the proclamation of the pure Gospel through means, like water, for the soothing of their conscience with the Lord. The Anabaptists in their day, and many churches in our day, work to assure individuals that Baptism does nothing. The promises are clear in Scripture: forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and eternal salvation (Acts 2...
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May 18, 2024 • 56 mins
The Church is one holy church, grounded on Christ and founded by the apostle’s teachings. The adversaries were more focused on the apostle’s “traditions.” The Church is not founded on right formulas for holy living or the holiness of the ministers, but on the Word and Christ. The Church needs order and formalities but not for the sake of necessity to be saved. In today’s world, we live under the grace of Christ’s cross, to freely p...
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May 11, 2024 • 57 mins
The definition of the Church is simple: Believers in the blood of Christ for their salvation join around the Gospel and rightly-administered sacraments according to God’s Word. The Concordians directly addressed the Roman Catholic Church’s view of papal authority, which led to many different opinions based on the pope’s thoughts. The Church is not based on the same traditions but centers on the Gospel. The Church is the body of Chr...
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May 4, 2024 • 57 mins
The Church is best defined by the outward means of grace (Gospel and Sacraments) and those who are born again by the Holy Spirit. Although hypocrites might be in the church, the definition does not include unbelievers. The kingdom of Christ is the righteousness of the heart and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), the Pillar of the Truth (I Timothy 3:15), and cleansed by the washing of water with the word (Ephesians 5:25). “...
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April 27, 2024 • 56 mins
The Concordians were not arguing a small matter. The souls of many were being misled away from a clear conscience in the full sufficiency of the cross to trying to find hope in themselves. Everything the Christian does is not separated from faith: repentance, love, philosophy, works, worship, etc. The bigger issue is the purpose of the cross and empty tomb. If there was a chance that we could be saved by our own works, then why wou...
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April 20, 2024 • 57 mins
We are called to confess the Truth of God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:2). As KFUO Radio has confessed this Truth for 100 years, we keep everything simple for the sake of salvation for those who hear (1 Timothy 4:16). After Luther’s visitations throughout Germany, it was evident that the basics needed to be taught again (10 commandments, Creed, and Lord’s Prayer) and it is still needed today which is why we still confess/ teach/pray the Sma...
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April 13, 2024 • 57 mins
Words and their meaning are important. One can say faith, merit, mediator, reward, and gift but still be incorrect concerning salvation. Scripture is clear: without faith, good works do not please the Lord (Hebrews 11:6). However, faith in CHRIST as our Mediator is the key to our salvation and the fulfillment of good works. The rewards are many when one does good works, but those works are not rewarded with salvation. The way to sa...
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April 6, 2024 • 57 mins
The Christian never goes beyond saying, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty (Luke 17:10).” God’s mercy upon us in Christ is the confession of the Church. Without His mercy, His undeserved compassion toward us, we are unable to have a clear conscience, let alone do anything good. These works for the neighbor are pleasing to the Lord, not on account of the intentions of the work, but by faith in Christ. Goo...
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March 30, 2024 • 60 mins
Jesus is the only Mediator! Faith in Christ, the only Mediator, is the beginning of a clear conscience, and by the Holy Spirit, good works flow. Melancthon addresses the harmful results of the teaching: One is unable to keep the Law without Christ’s aid. By the mercy of Christ, the baptized Christian loves God and serves others without doubt. The conviction of the Concordians was to hold on to the teachings of the righteousness of ...
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March 23, 2024 • 57 mins
Clarity is key. Clarity gives a clear conscience. We clearly confess that good works are necessary for the Christian, but good works do not merit salvation. The Christian has been reconciled to the Father by the blood of Christ. This promise is true, and as His love is given to us, it then flows through us to the neighbor. Our call is to follow the One who has given us all things, He merited our salvation by the cross, and therefor...
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March 16, 2024 • 57 mins
The Law is fulfilled when a person does good works in faith. For the Christian, repentance and good works are never separated from faith in forgiveness won for them in Christ’s cross. Reason may tell people what good works are in society, but those works are not for the sake of salvation. Apart from Christ, nothing good comes from us (John 15:5), but with Him by His word and sacraments, we are comforted in the good works done becau...
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March 9, 2024 • 58 mins
To understand good works is to understand vocation. The first call of the Christian is to receive the gifts of our Lord by the Holy Spirit we give gifts in love to others. The charge is to love others with a good conscience. A good conscience only comes through faith in full satisfaction of Christ’s cross and empty tomb. The Epistle James provides a faithful model of how to understand and teach good works. He is very critical of la...
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