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We are Beggars. This is True

October 13, 2017 - 1 minute read


Bible sculpture of metal with a bible verse on it.

Luther wrote many things during his career.

His final word was a short note in which he wrote briefly about the riches of Holy Scripture. “Let nobody suppose that he has tasted the Holy Scriptures sufficiently unless he has ruled over the churches with the prophets for a hundred years” (AE 54:76). Having himself translated the Bible into German, taught numerous classes, preached many sermons, and written volumes expositing the Word of God, this was his conclusion. He had not tasted the Word sufficiently. There were still more riches and blessings to be discovered.

This final humility before the Word of God reflects what the Holy Spirit had revealed to him. Everything we receive is a gracious gift of God. The Scriptures are a gracious gift. God’s blessings are new to us each day as He richly provides for His children what they can never deserve. And, above all, the new life and salvation that is ours through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a pure gift of grace. “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Luther reflects all of this in his final sentence on that note. “We are beggars, this is true.”

God’s blessings are new to us each day as He richly provides for His children what they can never deserve.

Indeed it is. Thank God it is. We can offer nothing but our sin and brokenness. We are desperate beggars before God in all matters. But God is our gracious Father who provides all our needs from His abundance. Therefore we can joyfully add our assent to Luther’s words, knowing that they reveal the glory of God in providing what we could never deserve.

We are beggars. This is true.

-SM

Always Reforming

Reflections on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation

by Steven P. Mueller

The brief essays in this volume explore various aspects of Reformation theology and its implications. They were written by faculty of Concordia University Irvine in commemoration of the Reformation's 500th anniversary.

Available on Amazon
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