#Theologian

The phrase "Oratio, Meditatio, Tentatio" is a Latin maxim that outlines the life of a theologian according to Martin Luther, the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation. Here's what each term means:

- Oratio (Prayer): This is the starting point of a theologian's life, emphasizing the importance of prayer in seeking God's guidance and understanding.

- Meditatio (Meditation): This involves deep reflection and meditation on the Scriptures, going beyond surface reading to internalize and understand the deeper meanings of the biblical text.

- Tentatio (Testing or Trial): This refers to the trials and challenges that theologians face, which serve to test their faith and deepen their reliance on God and His Word¹.

Luther believed that these three elements were interconnected and cyclical, each one reinforcing and deepening the others, thus shaping the life and work of a theologian. This process is not just academic but deeply personal, involving the heart and soul as much as the mind.

nd preach law and gospel sermons because we are called to do so as ordained ministers of Jesus Christ in a divinely instituted of pastoral office.”

If one should speak about God’s law in a proper way, it is important to consult at first point the Book of Concord. Therefore, the researcher dealt with law and gospel by opening it from the Book of Concord.
Both the Law and the Gospel are God’s Word, with complete divine truth and authority. “Everything that rebukes sin is, and belongs to, the preaching of the Law.” (Formula of Concord, Epitome, V.4). “But the Gospel is properly the kind of teaching that shows what a person who has not kept the Law (and is therefore condemned by it) is to believe. It teaches that Christ has paid for and made satisfaction for all sins.” (Formula of Concord, Epitome, V.5).
The word “gospel” can be used in more than one way. In the specific and narrow sense, the Gospel is the promise of full forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and the gift of eternal life for Christ’s sake, even though we do not deserve such grace. In a broader, more general sense, the “Gospel” is the whole message of Christ, including the call to repentance and the judgment against sin. As both law and gospel are God’s divine word, people should hear both.
In another Lutheran teaching of law and gospel, Dobberstein explains that, both law and gospel are opposite to each other and both are universal in application. Both law and gospel deal with work, but the work of human and the work of God. The law speaks of human work, for instance; do this, do not do that. But the gospel speaks of God’s work for all people. Koehler states that the law is originally written in our hearts, yet partially known to us by nature (Rom. 2:14-15). The gospel is totally unknown to natural man (1 Cor. 2:6-12). The law tells us “You shall…You shall not.” The law gives us promise for everlasting life on the basis of absolute obedience. The law reveals the wrath of God. The law tells us we are sinners. But the gospel promises us salvation through faith in Christ. The gospel leads to Christ. The gospel has power to change the life. Lutherans believe that both law and gospel are to be used in the life of Christians. This is because believers have double nature. The law and gospel have laid concrete bases for many other Lutheran doctrines to be articulated.
The law always shows us that we are sinners and we deserve punishment for our sins and transgression. At the same time the Good News of God, the Gospel is centered around the message of salvation through the forgiveness of sins that comes to us because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross in our place. On the process of distinguishing law and gospel, Kinnaman states in the following way, “As Lutherans, we believe that properly distinguishing between Law and Gospel is vitally important for properly understanding Scripture. It expresses our worldview, gives us the means to study and interpret Scripture, and protects the use, study, and application of God’s Word from being hijacked by our own interests and demands.”
The distinction between the Law and the Gospel is to be kept in the Church with great diligence as a particularly brilliant light. According to Engelbrecht, the Lutherans believe, teach, and confess that the law is an appropriate divine doctrine (Rom. 7:12). It encourages and teaches what is right and pleasing to God, and it rebukes what is sin and contradicts with God’s word. So, according Lutheran belief everything that rebukes sin belongs to the preaching of the law. This reminds us that Lutheran teaching for Lutheran believers is very much helpful in order to encourage them abide to the right teachings that are based on scriptures. It also helps believers get ready to know God through scriptural teachings. In another word, law and gospel are inseparable. Distinguishing law and gospel does not mean that we detach them apart very much by removing them from each other. Rather they work together in a proper way and order: law first and then the gospel. In Lutheran teaching this is the principle by which the law and gospel are handled and treated in the church among believers. Eventually, Quill stated, “as preachers we prepare a

About life after death

On Judgment Day — we don’t know when — Jesus Christ is going to return. On that day, everyone who has died will be raised and those who are still alive will be bodily transformed. At that time, the fnal judgment will take place.Those who do not believe will go into eternal damnation in hell and all those who believe in Jesus as Savior will have eternal life in heaven.

About grace

Lutherans often refer to grace.While we deserved to pay the penalty for our sins, God had a different plan. Christ paid the debt and we receive forgiveness and eternal life from Him that is offered freely — out of unconditional love.That’s why it’s called grace — because it is truly undeserved.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God has provided tangible ways through which He delivers His grace to those who believe, assuring us that the sins we commit are forgiven for Jesus’ sake.These are called the “means of grace” and are God’s Word, holy Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion).Through these means, God makes Himself known to us in a very personal way: God’s Word reveals His faithfulness and love; Baptism is our rebirth and renewal in Jesus; the Lord’s Supper is our closest communion with Christ as we receive His body and blood.

About good works

Since there is nothing we can ever do to earn salvation, we do not do good works in order to be saved; good works are done out of praise and thanks because we are saved. Such good works include, but are certainly not limited to, serving and caring for the needs of others, honoring and giving respect to those in authority, honoring our vows and commitments, and generally doing what God considers to be good and right. It’s often said that Martin Luther expressed it this way: God doesn’t need our good works, but our neighbor does.