Colossians 1:22-23a But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation -- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

1. The Gospel is not just there to convert us, for Christians it is the __________ we __________!

2. When our faith is under fire, two bad responses are toÉ

a. Create new __________ of protection;

b. __________ ______ to the __________.



3. When our faith is under fire, we need to __________ the __________!

Scripture Readings
Genesis 18:1-10a
Colossians 1:21-23
Luke 10:38-42

Take It With You!

Here we will offer thoughts and meditations on the message to help us as we contemplate and discuss and wrestle with what we are hearing.

Of Repentance [the Lutheran reformers] teach that for those who have fallen after Baptism there is remission of sins whenever they are converted and that the Church ought to impart absolution to those thus returning to repentance. Now, repentance consists properly of these two parts: One is contrition, that is, terrors smiting the conscience through the knowledge of sin; the other is faith, which is born of the Gospel, or of absolution, and believes that for Christ's sake, sins are forgiven, comforts the conscience, and delivers it from terrors. Then good works are bound to follow, which are the fruits of repentance.

They condemn the Anabaptists, who deny that those once justified can lose the Holy Ghost. Also those who contend that some may attain to such perfection in this life that they cannot sin.

The Novatians also are condemned, who would not absolve such as had fallen after Baptism, though they returned to repentance.

They also are rejected who do not teach that remission of sins comes through faith but command us to merit grace through satisfactions of our own.

The Augsburg Confession: Article XII Concerning Repentance