Prepare the Way of the Lord
A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
ISAIAH 40:3
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Prepare the Way of the Lord
This, then, is the preparation of Christ's way and John's proper office. He is to humble all the world and proclaim that they are all sinners—lost, damned, poor, needy, miserable people; that there is no life, work, or estate (however holy, beautiful, and good it may appear) that is not damnable unless Christ our Lord dwells therein, unless he works, walks, lives, is, and does everything through faith in Him; that they all need Christ and should desire to share His grace. See, where it is preached that all people's work and life is nothing, that is the true voice of John in the wilderness and the pure and clear truth of Christian doctrine, as Paul says, "They are all sinners and lack the glory that they should have had toward God" (Romans 3:23). This is truly humbling and cutting out and destroying overconfidence. That is truly to prepare the way of the Lord, to give room, and to make way.
From the Church Postil, sermon for Advent 4 on John 1:19-28 (Luther's Works 75:179)
ISAIAH 40:3
+
Prepare the Way of the Lord
This, then, is the preparation of Christ's way and John's proper office. He is to humble all the world and proclaim that they are all sinners—lost, damned, poor, needy, miserable people; that there is no life, work, or estate (however holy, beautiful, and good it may appear) that is not damnable unless Christ our Lord dwells therein, unless he works, walks, lives, is, and does everything through faith in Him; that they all need Christ and should desire to share His grace. See, where it is preached that all people's work and life is nothing, that is the true voice of John in the wilderness and the pure and clear truth of Christian doctrine, as Paul says, "They are all sinners and lack the glory that they should have had toward God" (Romans 3:23). This is truly humbling and cutting out and destroying overconfidence. That is truly to prepare the way of the Lord, to give room, and to make way.
From the Church Postil, sermon for Advent 4 on John 1:19-28 (Luther's Works 75:179)
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