Lessons in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther: For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General Use — John Shaqi
Lessons in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther: For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General UseLuther, Martin
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Lessons in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther: For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General Use
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Catechisms
7. _We should not lie or deceive by God's name._ Lying by God's name
means telling a lie and using God's name and Word in order to make the
lie seem to be the truth. So the _false prophets_ use God's name and
Word in order to hide their false doctrines and make them appear as
God's truth. _"Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that
use their tongues and say, He saith." _Jer. 23,31, The hypocrites
deceive by God's name. They use God's name, they talk about God and His
Word in order to hide their evil life. _"Not every one that saith unto
Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that
doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven."_ Matt. 7,21. Think of
Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5.
8. To take God's name in vain is a _grievous sin._ God is greatly
displeased with it. How can we, who fear and love God, grieve Him by
taking His holy name in vain? _And God has threatened to punish all that
misuse His name. "The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His
name in vain."_ Ex. 20,7.4
9. God has revealed His name to us in order to _bless and save us._ He
wants us to use His holy name _in the right way. "We should call upon it
in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks."_ That is the right use
of our Lord's name.--He wants us to _call_ on Him, to beg for His
help, especially in all our troubles; for He alone can help us in all
our needs. God says: _"Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will
deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me."_ Ps. 50,15.--We should
_pray_ in His name; for in every true prayer we use His name aright. He
wants us to come to Him daily and speak with Him, as a child speaks to
his father.--We should use His name in _praising_ and _thanking_ Him
for His manifold goodness, for all His benefits, all the great things He
does for us. If He has delivered or helped us, we should glorify Him.
_"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy
name."_ Ps. 103,1. _"O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good;
because His mercy endureth forever."_ Ps. 118,1. If we rightly use the
name of our God, we shall be blessed by it. _"The name of the Lord is a
strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe."_ Prov. 18,10.
REMEMBER:--
_1. God has given us His holy name that we may be blessed and saved by
it._
_2. He forbids us to take in vain and misuse His sacred name by cursing,
swearing, using witchcraft, lying, or deceiving, or by thoughtlessly
speaking it._
_3. He commands us to use it aright by calling upon it in all our needs,
by praying, praising, and giving of thanks. We should fear and love God
and so use His blessed name._
MEMORIZE:--
_I say unto you, Swear not at all, but let your communication be, Yea,
yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."_ [tr.
note: sic on quotation mark] Matt. 5,34.37.
_Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their
tongues and say, He saith._ Jer. 23,31.
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