Our Marvelous Christ

Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:12
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Our Marvelous Christ
Know that Christ is marvelous in His saints (see Psalm 68:35), and beware of judging or condemning anyone, unless you see and hear publicly that he speaks and believes against the Gospel. Whoever speaks or acts against [the Gospel], you may freely judge that he is apart from Christ, under the devil; pray for him and admonish him so that you convert him. Otherwise, if you find that he praises and honors the Gospel, then act according to the doctrine of St. Paul: “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? If he falls or stands, it is to his own lord that he stands or falls. And he may indeed be upheld, for God is able to make him stand" (Romans 14:4). Likewise: "Let whoever stands take heed, lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Christ wants to be at the same time secret and open, at the same time found and not found. For that reason, among the fruits of the Spirit in which we can know Him and improve in Him, He lets there be some weaknesses with which He conceals Himself and at which the wanton judges are offended.

From the Church Postil, sermon for Epiphany 5 on Colossians 3:12-17 (Luther's Works 76:296)
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