Christmas in July
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
LUKE 2:10-11
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Christmas in July
Christ takes our birth away from us and absorbs it into His birth, and gives us His, that in it we might become pure and new, as if it were our own, so that every Christian may rejoice and glory in Christ's birth as if he also, like Christ, had been born bodily of Mary. Whoever does not believe this, or doubts it, is no Christian. That is the great joy of which the angel speaks. This is the comfort and exceeding goodness of God that, if a man believes this, he can boast of the treasure that Mary is his true mother, Christ his Brother, and God his Father. For all these things are true and happen when we believe. This is the principal thing and the principal treasure in every Gospel, before any doctrine of good works can be taken out of it. Christ must above all things become our own, and we become His, before we can take hold of works. But this cannot occur except through the faith that teaches us rightly to understand the Gospel and properly to lay hold of it. This is knowing Christ correctly, so that the conscience is happy, free, and satisfied. Out of this grow love and praise to God, who in Christ has given us such superabundant gifts free of charge. This gives courage to do, avoid, and suffer everything as is well pleasing to God, whether in life or in death, as I have often said. This is what Isaiah means: "To us a Child is born, and to us a Son is given" (Isaiah 9:6)—to us, to us, to us is born, and to us is given. Therefore, see to it that you do not find pleasure in the Gospel only as a history, for that does not last long; also not only as an example, for that does not stick without faith. But see to it that you make this birth your own and trade places, so that you are freed from your birth and receive His. This happens when you believe.
From the Church Postil, sermon for Christmas Day on Luke 2:1-14 (Luther's Works 75:216)
LUKE 2:10-11
+
Christmas in July
Christ takes our birth away from us and absorbs it into His birth, and gives us His, that in it we might become pure and new, as if it were our own, so that every Christian may rejoice and glory in Christ's birth as if he also, like Christ, had been born bodily of Mary. Whoever does not believe this, or doubts it, is no Christian. That is the great joy of which the angel speaks. This is the comfort and exceeding goodness of God that, if a man believes this, he can boast of the treasure that Mary is his true mother, Christ his Brother, and God his Father. For all these things are true and happen when we believe. This is the principal thing and the principal treasure in every Gospel, before any doctrine of good works can be taken out of it. Christ must above all things become our own, and we become His, before we can take hold of works. But this cannot occur except through the faith that teaches us rightly to understand the Gospel and properly to lay hold of it. This is knowing Christ correctly, so that the conscience is happy, free, and satisfied. Out of this grow love and praise to God, who in Christ has given us such superabundant gifts free of charge. This gives courage to do, avoid, and suffer everything as is well pleasing to God, whether in life or in death, as I have often said. This is what Isaiah means: "To us a Child is born, and to us a Son is given" (Isaiah 9:6)—to us, to us, to us is born, and to us is given. Therefore, see to it that you do not find pleasure in the Gospel only as a history, for that does not last long; also not only as an example, for that does not stick without faith. But see to it that you make this birth your own and trade places, so that you are freed from your birth and receive His. This happens when you believe.
From the Church Postil, sermon for Christmas Day on Luke 2:1-14 (Luther's Works 75:216)
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