LESSON: 1 John 1:1-4
He was in the beginning with God. John 1:2

These are statements on which our faith is based and to which we must cling. That there are three persons in the Godhead and that each person is completely the whole of the one God absolutely transcends all the powers of our reason. Moreover, there are not three Gods, but one God.

Our schoolmasters, with all sorts of fine-spun subtleties, explained it this and that way in an effort to make it comprehensible. But if you do not want to fall into the net of the evil foe, have nothing to do with their foolish refinements, conceits, and subtleties; take cover and remain in hiding like a hare in his stone crevice. If you go abroad and expose yourself to their human twaddle, the enemy will lead you on and finally trip you up so that you do not know where reason, faith, God, and you yourself eventually are.

Believe me, as one who has experienced this and struggled with it, I am not just talking rote. Scripture has not been given to us to no purpose. If reason could have given us correct guidance we would have no need for Scripture.

Let Arius and Sabellius* be warning examples. Had they been content to abide with the Scriptures and not sold out to reason they would not have been the cause of so much trouble. Our schoolmasters, too, would also have been Christian had they given up their tomfoolishness and subtleties and remained in the Scriptures.

SL.XI.164,26-27
AE 75, 284

*An ancient Unitarian

PRAYER: Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word;
Curb those who fain by craft or sword
Would wrest they kingdom from Thy Son
And set at naught all He has done. Amen.

LESSON: JOHN 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

“The Word was with God.” Where else could the Word be? Outside of God there was nothing. Moses also says this when he writes, “And God said, ‘Let there be light.’” Genesis 1:3. In order to speak, He had to have the Word with Him.

There is a clear distinction made here in the persons of the Godhead: the Word is a different person from the God with whom He was. This statement of John does not allow us to suppose that God was alone, because he states that something was with God, namely, His word.

If there has been only a single person there, why would he say, “The Word was with God”? To have something “with” Him is not being alone or by Himself. We should note particularly that the evangelist places special stress on the “with.” He repeats it (v.2) in order to give clear expression to the personal distinction in the Godhead and to counter the arguments of natural reason and future heretics.

Since natural reason more easily comprehends the fact that there is only one God and this doctrine is supported by many passages of Scripture and this doctrine is also true, natural reason still finds it very difficult to accept the fact that this same God is more than one person. The Son is a different person from the Father, but He is not a different God.
SL.XI.161,21
AE 75,277

PRAYER: Great indeed, O God, is the mystery of our religion. Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, the Word who was with you at the beginning and who is truly God, was manifested in the flesh to be our Savior and Redeemer. Thanks be to you, O God, for your inexpressible love! Amen.

LESSON: LUKE 2:15-20

They made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child. Luke 2:17

The faith of the shepherds produced action. St. Paul says, “The kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20. So also here. The shepherds do not only say, “Let us go and see!” but they actually went; indeed, they do more than they say. For the text says, “They went with haste.” This is more than just going as they had proposed to do. Faith and love always do more than they actually propose to do, and whatever they do is always something living, busy, active, and abundant.

A Christian must be a man of few words, rich in deeds. He proves himself such if he is a true Christian. If he does not prove his faith in deeds, he is not yet a true Christian.

The shepherds also confess and openly proclaim the word which was told them concerning this child. This is one of the most important duties in Christian life. One must risk body and life, property and honor. For the evil spirit does not launch such a heavy attack against correct belief and a good life in secret, but he will not abide it if we venture forth to spread the faith, confess, preach, and praise it for the sake of others. So Luke says here that the shepherds not only came to see something, but they also made known what they had heard on the field, not only before Mary and Joseph, but before all men.

SL.XI.149,18-19
AE 75,248

PRAYER: Grant us the joyful faith of the shepherds, O Lord, that we may go forth as witnesses, confessing you and your salvation to all our fellowmen. Amen.