Introduction In the previous lessons we have considered how we ought to deal with other people in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We use our Christian freedom to respect life, relationships, and property of ourselves and others, and to use them according to God’s design. To this list we now add respect … Continue reading Freedom to love the Truth (LD 43)
Tag: love
Freedom to love others (LD 40)
Introduction We have now discussed the first five of the Ten Commandments. Before we look at commandments six through ten, I’d like to briefly review what these commandments mean for us, Christians. The Ten Commandments are often called “universal moral law”, which means that they state principles of right and wrong that apply to everybody, … Continue reading Freedom to love others (LD 40)
Freedom to love the one, true God (LD 34, q&a 94-95)
Introduction “I am the LORD, your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” So begin the “Ten Words” or “Ten Commandments”. After our God presented himself as Yahweh, the God who brought the Israelite slaves into freedom, he put their claim … Continue reading Freedom to love the one, true God (LD 34, q&a 94-95)
The law of freedom (LD 34, q&a 92-93)
Introduction In LD 34 and following, the catechism embarks on a discussion of the law. At first glance, you might think that it teaches about the Ten Commandments. Indeed, the Ten Commandments are the organizational principle of this part of the catechism. It is like a coat rack with ten pegs. But what is hanging … Continue reading The law of freedom (LD 34, q&a 92-93)
Welcome to your new self (LD 33, q&a 90-91)
Introduction The old self must go! That is what we learned last time about true conversion. Being a Christian is not something extra, on top of the life you would normally live. If you are a real Christian, who is (as the catechism says) grafted in Christ by true faith, there are parts of you … Continue reading Welcome to your new self (LD 33, q&a 90-91)
The law of love (LD 2, q&a 3-5)
Introduction “What do you need in order to know to live and to die in the joy of the comfort that you belong to Jesus?” The catechism asked this in q&a 2. Its answer was: “First, how great my sins and misery are.” Only if we know how miserable we would be without Jesus, can … Continue reading The law of love (LD 2, q&a 3-5)