God has presented Christ with the promise that, because of this Mediator, and not because of our righteousness, He wishes to be gracious to us. But these men hold that God is reconciled and gracious because of the traditions, not because of Christ. Therefore, they take the honor of Mediator away from Christ. So far as this matter is concerned, there is not any difference between our traditions and Moses' ceremonies. Paul condemns Moses' ceremonies (Galations 3:10-12), just as he condemns traditions, because they were regarded as works that merit righteousness before God. So the office of Christ and the righteousness of faith were clouded over. With the Law and traditions removed, he argues that the forgiveness of sins has been promised not because of our works, but freely, because of Christ, if only we receive it through faith. For the promise is not received except through faith. Since we receive the forgiveness of sins through faith, since we have a merciful God for Christ's sake by faith, it is an error and sin to declare that we merit the forgiveness of sins because of these observances. - Apology of the Augsburg Confession XV: 10-11.
Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. 1st edition. St. Louis: Concordia, 2005
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