The Festival of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession
Posted on June 25, 2026 by under
Scripture: Galatians 2:16-21 (NKJV)
2:16 “…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Devotion
“Salvation unto us has come by God’s free grace and favor. Good works could not avert our doom; They help and save us never. Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone, Who did for all the world atone; He is our one Redeemer.” This first stanza of Paul Speratus’ hymn puts to song St. Paul’s teaching about justification, the foundational doctrine around which the Augsburg Confession was written. (There are nine more stanzas, which you are encouraged to take time to read, or maybe even sing.)
The doctrine of justification is the central teaching from which the Augsburg Confession flows. All that we as Lutherans believe, teach, and confess comes forth from the doctrine of justification by faith because every Christian doctrine flows from Christ, for it is in Him that we are justified.
The Augsburg Confession was presented by a number of German rulers and representatives of many free-cities in Germany to the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Bound by consciences that were captive to God’s Word, these men did not waver in confessing the truth that we are justified freely by God’s grace for Jesus’ sake.
Collect: Almighty God, Who, through the preaching of Thy servants, the blessed Reformers, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine forth: Grant, we beseech Thee, that, knowing its saving power, we may faithfully guard and defend it against all enemies, and joyfully proclaim it, to the salvation of souls and the glory of Thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Third Sunday after Trinity Sunday
O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without Whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy; that Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
