Do not deceive yourself

Join us in this episode of "In All Our Doings" as we consider Cranmer's fourth homily, which explores the distinction between living faith and idle belief.

It is short and simple - just confession, Cranmer, a creed and collects.

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TRANSCRIPT

Hello and Welcome to “In All Our Doings”                                                                                                  

Simply confession, Cranmer, creed and collects brought to you daily by Anglican Futures. 

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But first, we begin with Confession

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen

 

Hear the Word of God to all who truly turn to him.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Our reading from Cranmer’s fourth homily considers the danger of fooling ourselves

You've heard in the second part of this sermon that no man should think that he has that lively faith which Scripture commands when he lives not obediently to God's laws - for all good works spring out of that faith. And also it has been declared to you by examples that faith makes men steadfast, quiet, and patient in all afflictions. Now as concerning the same matter, you shall hear the following:

A man may soon deceive himself and think in his own fantasy that he by faith knows God, loves him, fears him, and belongs to him, when in very deed he does nothing less. The trial of all these things is a very godly and Christian life. He that feels his heart set to seek God’s honour and studies to know the will and commands of God, and to frame himself to that and leads not his life after the desires of his own flesh, to serve the devil by sin, but sets his mind to serve God for God's own sake, and for his sake also to love all his neighbours, whether they be friends or adversaries, doing good to every man as opportunity serves, and willingly hurting no man -  such a man may well rejoice in God, perceiving by the trade of his life that he unfeignedly has the right knowledge of God, a lively faith, a steadfast hope, a true, and unfeigned love and fear of God.

So our bible reading today is from Philippians chapter 1, beginning at verse 8

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

This is the word of the Lord

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Let us pray

Our Father in heaven

Hallowed be your name

Your kingdom come

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

Give us today our daily bread

And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from the evil one

For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever Amen

The Collects for today

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Go before us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favour, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, through your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Final Words

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

 

Credits

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Bible readings are taken from the English Standard Version with permission from Crossway.  The liturgy comes from the ACNA Book of Common Prayer 2019.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.