Luther neither removed the Apocrypha from the Bible nor discouraged its use. Rather, he received and preserved the ancient distinction inherited from the fathers: the Apocrypha is valuable, edifying, and worthy of reading, but it is not Holy Scripture and therefore cannot serve as the foundation of Christian doctrine.
The confessors at Augsburg remind us that every generation of Christians is called to bear witness to the gospel amid the challenges and pressures of its own age. As they confessed Christ before emperors and kingdoms, so the Church continues to confess Him before the world today.
When Jesus washes you with baptismal water, you can rest assured that the Lion of Judah is on the move.

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God has told us everything necessary for faith. However he has not told us everything there is to know.
Ultimately, Scripture does not confront fear with commands. It confronts fear with a promise.
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” That word isn't just for Israel; it's also for you.
Curiosity, while it might kill the cat, just might be one of the most needed virtues of our time.
Bitterness took root when he began approaching the Word merely as a burden he was called to carry rather than a balm that his soul needed, too.
Instead of offering more details or more information, he does something even better: he promises his very presence.
In grace, God chooses to love his people.
Below is an excerpt from the personal devotional included in this year’s 1517 Advent Resources.
This article is part of Stephen Paulson’s series on the Psalms.
You have real freedom through the gospel of Jesus Christ, a freedom that doesn’t rest on founders, votes, or power plays.
Five promises were seemingly all those apostles, staring into the sky, had to go on. Five promises that were more than enough.
It's easy to have courage when things go well.