Prev | Current Page 71 | Next

Stump, Joseph

"An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism"


LIE. The eighth commandment forbids lying in general; this commandment
forbids lying by God's name. It is broken by those who teach falsehood
and error and yet declare that they are teaching God's Word. [Gal. 1:8]
DECEIVE BY HIS NAME. This is done by those who assume Christ's name by
calling themselves Christians, and yet are hypocrites, and use religion
as a cloak. [II Tim. 3:5+, Matt. 15:8]
Sins against this Second Commandment are common, but not small sins. God
will not hold him guiltless who commits them.
II. WHAT IS COMMANDED.
We should
CALL UPON HIM. God has given us His name so that we might call upon Him
for His help and grace. [Ps. 145:18+]
IN EVERY TIME OF NEED. We should call upon God in every time of trouble,
danger or distress. [Ps. 50:15+] But if we call upon God only in times
of special need, and do not call upon His name at other times also, we
are not keeping this commandment.
AND WORSHIP HIM [Col. 3:16] in our hearts, in our homes and in church,
WITH PRAYER [Matt. 7:7+] for ourselves and for others, [I Tim.


Pages:
59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83