For as soon as Christ says, "This is my Body," his body is present through the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. If the Word is not there, it is mere bread; but as soon as the words are added they bring with them that of which they speak. -- Blessed Martin Luther, AE 36:341
You have been very good over the years in emphasizing the power of the Word in the Sacrament. Some scholars in recent memory have tended to depotentiate the Word which introduces an element of uncertainty where Christ's words offer comfort and assurance of forgiveness and salvation.
ReplyDeleteYour father's book...it had and has great influence, Norman.
ReplyDeleteIt appears, too, that this is not just Dr. Luther's "pious opinion"; but the fathers, by citing a parallel passage in in FC SD, VII:78, have raised it to confessional status ?
ReplyDelete