Epistle Sermons, Vol. 2: Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost
TRANSLATED WITH THE HELP OF OTHERS BY
AUTHOR OF LUTHERANS IN ALL LANDS, TRANSLATOR OF LUTHER'S WORKS INTO ENGLISH AND PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL LUTHERAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
THIRD THOUSAND
The Luther Press MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., U.S.A. 1909.
To All, Pastors and Laymen, who appreciate the true place of Luther's Writings in the Evangelization of Europe, and are interested in the Evangelization of the world, this volume of Easter and Pentecost Epistle Sermons of the English Luther is gratefully and prayerfully dedicated.
Copyright, 1909, by J. N. LENKER.
The Evangelization of the World is being accomplished more rapidly than we think. Three mighty movements are constantly at work—Reformation, Heathen Missions and Emigration or Colonization. By the Reformation Europe was evangelized; by Heathen Missions Asia and Africa are being evangelized and by Emigration or Colonization North and South America and Australia have been to a large extent evangelized. In Lutherans In All Lands, published in 1893, and in the introduction to the volume on St. Peter's Epistles of the English Luther, we emphasized the relation of the Evangelical-Lutheran church and of Luther's writings to the evangelization of the world through these three movements. In view of the recent marvelous growth in interest in Heathen Missions and the false ideas about Luther's relation to this theme, the following may be in place here in this volume of Easter and Pentecost sermons:
The Christian religion being preëminently missionary the Reformation of the Christian Church would necessarily be missionary. Protestant missions began with Protestantism.
Herzog's Encyclopedia says: Luther himself already seizes every opportunity offered by a text of the Divine Word in order to remind believers of the distress of the Heathen and Turks and earnestly urges them to pray in their behalf, and to send out missionaries to them. In accord with him all the prominent theologians and preachers of his day, and of the succeeding period inculcated the missionary duty of the Church. Many also of the Evangelical princes cherished the work with Christian love and zeal.
Martin Luther
LUTHER'S
EPISTLE SERMONS
EPIPHANY, EASTER AND PENTECOST
PROF. JOHN NICHOLAS LENKER, D.D.
VOL. II.
THE FRUITS OF FAITH.
OUR SPIRITUAL SERVICE.
SOBER THOUGHTS OF OURSELVES.
GIFTS AND WORKS OF CHRIST'S MEMBERS.
WE ARE BORN MEMBERS OF CHRIST.
EACH MEMBER CONTENT WITH ITS OWN POWERS.
EACH MEMBER SERVES ALL THE OTHERS.
EACH MEMBER SUFFERS AND REJOICES WITH ALL.
CHRISTIAN EQUALITY AND CHRISTIAN GIFTS.
THE WORKS OF CHRIST'S MEMBERS.
CHRISTIAN REVENGE.*
CHRISTIAN LOVE AND THE COMMAND TO LOVE.
LOVE FULFILS THE LAW.
ALL COMMANDMENTS SUMMED UP IN LOVE.
LOVE WORKS ONLY GOOD TO ITS NEIGHBOR.
THE GLORIOUS ADORNMENT OF CHRISTIANS.
THE CHRISTIAN RACE FOR THE PRIZE.
EXAMPLES FROM SCRIPTURE.
PAUL'S GLORY IN HIS LABOR AND SUFFERING.
PAUL'S DESCRIPTION OF FALSE TEACHERS.
PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH AND HUMILITY.
PAUL'S PRAISE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE.
LOVE THE SPIRIT'S FRUIT RECEIVED BY FAITH.
THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE.
THE GREATEST CHRISTIAN VIRTUE IS LOVE.
AN ENTREATY TO LIVE AS CHRISTIANS.
SALVATION WHEREVER THE GOSPEL IS SENT.
MARKS OF CHRISTIANS AS MINISTERS OF GOD.
THE ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
EXHORTATION TO HOLINESS.
EXHORTATION TO BE IMITATORS OF GOD.
SINS NOT TO BE NAMED AMONG CHRISTIANS.
FOOLISH TALKING AND JESTING.
FRUITLESS CHRISTIANS ARE HEATHEN.
DECEPTION BY EMPTY WORDS.
THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE.
CHRIST OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST.
CHRIST AN EXAMPLE OF LOVE.
SUMMER PART
EXHORTATION TO WALK AS CHRISTIANS.*
THE BLESSINGS OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
THE GOSPEL A DOCTRINE OF PEACE.
THE ARTICLE OF FAITH ON THE RESURRECTION.
THE WORD AND THE RESURRECTION.*
THE WORD OF SALVATION.
THE RESURRECTION AND FAITH.
OLD TESTAMENT TESTIMONY.
EXHORTATION TO TRULY GOOD WORKS.
HOW WE ARE RISEN WITH CHRIST.
SPIRITUAL AND CARNAL WORLDLINESS.
THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.
VICTORIOUS FAITH.
THE NEW BIRTH.
THE TWO KINGDOMS.
FAITH THE VICTOR.
THE SOURCE OF FAITH.
BAPTISM BY WATER AND BLOOD.
THE SPIRIT.
FAITH TO BE IMPLICIT.
PATIENCE UNDER TRIBULATION.
CHRIST OUR PATTERN.
CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE IN SUFFERING.
OUR CHRISTIAN DUTIES.
REMISSION AND MORTIFICATION DEFINED.
THE NATURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM.
CHRISTIAN USE OF THIS LIFE.
CHRISTIANS SUBJECTS OF TWO KINGDOMS.
HOW TO ESCAPE THE WORLD.
REASONS TO ABSTAIN FROM CARNAL LUST.
WHY MEN REJECT THE GOSPEL.
OUR BLESSINGS OUTWEIGH OUR ILLS.
OUR BLESSINGS IN CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
THE FUTURE LIFE OF BLESSEDNESS.
GOD'S CHILDREN BEGOTTEN BY THE WORD.
CHRISTIANS THE FIRST-FRUITS.
IMPATIENT ANGER FORBIDDEN.
MEEKNESS AND PATIENCE ENJOINED.
THE POWER OF THE WORD.
EXHORTATION TO CHRISTIAN LIVING.
EXHORTATION TO SOBERNESS.
NECESSITY FOR PRAYER.
TEMPERANCE IN ALL THINGS.
STEWARDS OF GOD'S GIFTS.
ASSURANCE OF PURE DOCTRINE ESSENTIAL.
ASSURANCE OF DIVINE EFFICIENCY ESSENTIAL.
THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
LITERAL LAW AND SPIRITUAL LAW.
THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
BELIEVERS MUST YET RESIST SIN.