Lesson 5

Ascension Lutheran Church

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Lesson 5

Conversion and Free Will

August 11, 2024

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Human reason says that people have free will--the ability to make their own decisions, but what does the Bible say on this matter? Of particular importance, what powers (or lack thereof) does God assign to the human will in spiritual matters such as believing in Jesus and choosing the good things of the Lord? We'll explore what Luther taught from Scripture about conversion (that is the moment we come to faith in Jesus) and human will.

Lesson 1

The Declaration of Independence says that we should each be free to pursue happiness. But we Christians are called to a higher expression of liberty--not a freedom that allows me to do whatever I want (for myself) but the freedom of patiently seeking the good of others above our own. This was a core principle of the Reformation that still needs to guide the church today!

Lesson 2

July 21, 2024

It may surprise you to know that Martin Luther was voted TIME magazine's most influential person of the last millennium. There are many reasons why Luther received such notoriety, but high among them is his influence on education. Luther maintained that it was in the best interest of the state and the eternal interest of saving souls for both boys and girls to be basically educated so that they could read and understand the Scriptures and apply and share them for themselves.

Lesson 3

July 28, 2024

The Roman Catholic Church of Luther's Day (and still today) teaches that sinners work together with God's grace to merit salvation. This necessarily means that there must be certain moral requirements that we must fulfill. In contrast, Luther found in Scripture the comforting message that Jesus has fulfilled all of God's commands, and therefore none of them earn our salvation. That does not mean that we jettison the Old Testament Law, but rather we see it in its proper light and original purpose.