Audio: iTunes | Spotify | Download
Magi from the East arrived at Jerusalem saying, “Where is the King of the Jews who’s been born?”
᛭ INI ᛭
The first and chief article is this:
[1] Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24–25).
[2] He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
[4] This is necessary to believe… This faith alone justifies us. As St. Paul says: For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3: 28)
The arrival of the Magi teaches us that
[5] Nothing of this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth and everything else falls [Mark 13:31]. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) And with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
(Smalcald Articles, Part I, Article I, § 1–2, 4–5)
The Magi teach us this, because:
WHATEVER BRINGS YOU TO CHRIST IS OF GOD; WHATEVER DOESN’T ISN’T.
(I.) That’s the entire Christian faith in a nutshell.
That’s the entire Christian faith in a nutshell, because true Christianity is different form every other religion in the world. It’s all about Christ FOR YOU and NOT you for Christ. “I desire steadfast love [for you] and not sacrifice [from you,] [faith in] God more than burnt offerings [for God]” (Hos 6:6; cf. 1 Tim 2:4) And because only Jesus saves you: whatever brings you to Him is of God; whatever doesn’t isn’t.
So, the Magi come. They come because of the promised star. “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” (Num 22) Yet it isn’t just the star. For creation can only bring you to a nameless, faceless Creator, in whom there is no salvation. Or worse…Herod! No, they only come face to face with toddler Jesus because they hear the Scripture. (The star only miraculously moves after the Lord speaks “through the Prophet.”)
There’s salvation only in Jesus. For He’s the true King. Born but also crucified and died as King of the Jews. Resurrected, He’s “King of kings”—“all authority has been given to Me.” (Mt 28) Scripture leads to King Jesus. He also bends creation to that purpose. Both Jesus’ physical miracles and His preaching brought people to Him. Jesus still works among us, as we’re brought to Him through Scripture (His speaking) and Sacrament (His physical miracles).
Many things lead us away from Jesus us to Himself through Scripture and Sacrament. Many things kept the Scribes away from toddler Jesus. They read but do not go to Bethlehem. All false teachings and teachers lead us away from Christ. Might be big, might be small, but either way:
WHATEVER BRINGS YOU TO CHRIST IS OF GOD; WHATEVER DOESN’T ISN’T.
So we can say of any so-called Christian teaching or religious opinion that’s not true: “That’s not Jesus. That’s not about Jesus. That leads away from Jesus. That’s not of Jesus.” So, anything that keeps us away from Jesus, hearing His Word and receiving His Sacraments, is not from God. It’s from the devil, from the world, or from your own sinful nature. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, what the teaching is, how big or little it is—if it takes away Jesus it’s demonic, it’s worldly, it’s selfish and self-serving, it’s hell-worthy.
Such false teachings abound! You’ve need good works to be saved. You need to feel a certain way, or have a certain personal experience or testimony. Any principle or path or process that magnifies you, your ability or capacity, is not Christ or of Christ. Whatever honors anyone besides Christ, whatever makes us not pray to Christ or the Father through Christ isn’t of Christ, doesn’t lead to Christ. Anything that denies Jesus’ promises in the Sacraments of Baptism, Absolution, or the Lord’s Supper isn’t of Christ. Any fellowship or family or favorite pastime that isn’t Christ or doesn’t lead to Christ isn’t of Christ. “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Same with sin and evil desires! Living for self isn’t of Christ. Herod’s power, prosperity, and pleasures of life kept him far away from Christ. (Made him want to murder Christ.) Same goes with promoting sin, or saying certain behaviors or actions or lifestyles are no longer sinful, or offering blessings to behaviors that aren’t actually blessed in God’s Word. That doesn’t just disregard God’s Law, (Whoever does that shall be called least in the Kingdom. (Mt 5)) It also gets them to walk away from Jesus who’s the Lamb of God who takes away that sin.
WHATEVER BRINGS YOU TO CHRIST IS OF GOD; WHATEVER DOESN’T ISN’T.
(II. This is both warning and comfort.)
It really is that black and white. WHATEVER BRINGS YOU TO CHRIST IS OF GOD; WHATEVER DOESN’T ISN’T. If it leads on another path, or takes you to Christ the long way, a path that often leads through yourself in some way, that’s a crooked, broad path that leads to destruction. Instead, we judge everything (our behavior and daily life, talking about our faith, living it out), by this: “That’s Christ; this isn’t. This leads to Christ and that far away.”
Anything that keeps us from Christ is very dangerous. Whatever it is can’t be done without grave danger, without deadly consequences—for this life, and the life to come. For whatever doesn’t lead to Christ alone isn’t of God. It’s of the devil, or the world, or your own hearts. “Hell won’t happen to me.” Why? Our own arrogance and pride keep us from Christ.
But here’s great comfort: whatever does bring you to Christ and delivers Christ to you that’s of God. His almighty power’s behind it. His Word, the Bible, has His almighty power behind it. When His Word says the Christ’s in Bethlehem, even the stars align with His Word!
When Jesus promises “whoever remains in My Word, He remains in Me and I in Him,” (Jn 8) that’s what happens. When Jesus promises, “whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood, remains in Me and I in him. He has life and I’ll raise him to life” (Jn 6), that’s what happens, because “This is My body, this is My blood, for you for the forgiveness of sins.” When Jesus promises “whoever remains in Me and I in him, will bear much fruit,” (Jn 15) then you will. All Him not you. Humility, not arrogance. Only in Him and of Him will such things be. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Rom 11)
(Conclusion.)
The first and chief article is this:
[1] Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24–25).
[2] He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53:6). (SA I II § 1–2)
We judge all things by this Chief Article of our faith, for WHATEVER BRINGS YOU TO CHRIST IS OF GOD; WHATEVER DOESN’T ISN’T. For in Christ alone there is salvation. Apart from Him no one is saved. Whatever obligation, behavior, idea, or teaching that keeps us from Him and hearing His Word and receiving His Sacraments is not from God. It will only lead to the ruin of your soul.
But:
“I baptize you.” That is Christ and of Christ, for “baptism saves you.” (1 Pet 3:21)
“I forgive you.” That is Christ and of Christ, for, as He promise, “If you forgive they are forgiven.” (Jn 20)
“This is My Body and blood for you for the forgiveness of your sins.” That is Christ and of Christ. It brings Christ to you, and you to Christ.
Now with faith in Him, even crosses, sufferings, and death, can be of God, for now in Him, death is the gateway to life immortal.
Gracious Mercy Blog 