LPC has left a new comment on your post "Book of Concord Study":
What I wrote to Rev. Rydecki just recently...
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Pr. Paul,
Can we be confident that you are the official and proper expositor of UOJ/OJ?
If so, why do you think you have the proper handle on this?
Would Becker, Beckman, Walther, Pieper agree with you?
I am not trying to be disrespectful, I am just questioning you on this because these posts remind me a lot of things when I was in Calvinism.
When I was in Calvinism, there was a question of who was the "real Calvinist". So much so there was a joke asking for the "real Calvinist" to stand up.
Also this reminds me of damage control in Calvinism. Some tried to do a sales job on the bluntness for example of Limited Atonement and Sovereignty of God. They wanted to retain the label and redefine what it means so that the rugged edges are smoothened.
Also in history, Calvin tried to be the via-media between Zwingli and Luther on the Supper. Did he succeed? Nope, he failed.
I think you are trying to be the via-media also, but my best wishes for your efforts. Lessons from history has not been encouraging on via-media folk.
Lastly on the concept of Jesus winning justification for all sinner. Jesus did win the victory for all sinners by his death and resurrection. Atonement has gifts and benefits attached to that wonderful sacrifice. That is a fact.
However, your insisting to call this "objective justification" (if I am correct) IMHO is at best misguided if not problematic. Why? Because justification in the Bible is always connected with faith. This labeling allows one to stretch like a rubber band the semantic meaning of justification which the Scripture does not allow for. Let me illustrate. If one calls the fact that Jesus won justification for all as objective justification, one can easily also make the slide to saying that everyone has been forgiven automatically by what Jesus has won. This is exactly what has been happening. Why? Because the word objective and justification has that usual meaning and you are redefining its usual meaning and putting the label in the wrong spot.
WELS TWB IV 1, 1. We believe that God has justified all sinners, that is, he has declared them righteous for the sake of Christ. This is the central message of Scripture upon which the very existence of the church depends. It is a message relevant to people of all times and places, of all races and social levels, for "the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men" (Romans 5:18). All need forgiveness of sins before God, and Scripture proclaims that all have been justified, for "the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men" (Romans 5:18).
Do you believe this is an accurate reflection of what the Bible teaches?
My answer: NO, what is yours?
LS-MS Brief Statement...17 Scripture teaches that God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in Christ, Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Rom. 4:25; that therefore not for the sake of their good works,
Do you believe this is an accurate reflection of what the Bible teaches?
My answer: NO, what is yours?
Mt 5:37
LPC
