# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S293
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

II. THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS­­—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

293

not satisfy the Law itself, it takes comfort that He fulfills
it and gives and imparts to the heart His fullness and
strength. In this way He always remains our righteousness, redemption, holiness, etc. [cf. 1 Cor 1:30]. 2

Concluding Discussion
1. How does Jesus answer the man’s questions about salvation and the requirements of the Law? Or, to ask it another
way, how does Jesus teach the lawyer that he is asking the
wrong questions?

He Is Our Righteousness
Participant ’s Guide

Session 4:
“Go and Do Likewise”

We let Luther have the final word among us:

Luke 10:37

This is our chief article, the doctrine of faith, which tells
us that we cannot help ourselves, nor can any works
or teaching of the Law, but He must begin it in us. He
does not drive us with the Law if we perceive our sins
and misery (for that belongs to the secure spirits such
as this scribe, who do not want to be called sinners), but
He sincerely takes pity on us, befriends and comforts us
through His Word, Himself binds up the wounded, puts
us on His animal, nurses and tends to us. He Himself had
to carry out our redemption by Himself, take our place,
and bear on His body our sins and need. He Himself also
proclaims this to us and gives us the comforting words
through which we are bandaged and healed.1

1. Rather than a single act of neighborliness, what does
Jesus’ command require?

2. Two common misunderstandings about justification are:
(1) “Whether it’s my works or my faith, it doesn’t matter
— in the end, the deciding factor in my salvation is still
me”; and (2) “Because I’m saved by grace, I don’t have to
do anything for anybody. I have no neighbor but Jesus, and
I know He always loves me.” How does the parable of the
Good Samaritan challenge these two misunderstandings?
(The two concluding Luther quotes should help here.)

And again:
Look, this is the teaching and power of the Gospel and
the treasure by which we are saved. It brings us to the
point of also beginning to fulfill the Law. Where the
great, unfathomable love and kindness of Christ are
known and believed, love both for God and for our
neighbor also flows from it. Through such knowledge
and consolation the Holy Spirit moves the heart to be
friendly to God, gladly to praise and thank Him as we
should, to guard against sin and disobedience, and
willingly to submit to serving and helping everyone.
Wherever it still feels its weakness, it fights against its
flesh and the devil by calling upon God, etc. Thus the
heart always lifts itself up to Christ in faith; if it does

2. Read 1 John 4:13–21. What connections do you see
between our parable and this passage from 1 John?

1

Participant’s Guide |

3

Participant’s Guide |

5

LW 79:62 §40. Cf. Luther 53 §40.

3. How does the message of the parable as presented here
impact the way you read the following passage, the story
about Martha and Mary? Read Luke 10:38–42. Does that
episode raise similar questions about the relationship
2

LW 79:63 §43. Cf. Luther 54 §43.

4 | He Is Our Righteousness | Session 4

between serving God and being served by Him? How do
the two passages teach mutually reinforcing messages about
the “one thing necessary”?

4. What have you learned about the doctrine of justification
by grace through faith from this study?

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2019 Convention Workbook