Dear Gregory Jackson,
First, thank you. Perhaps my fears about you were misplaced.
I appreciate that you have taken the time to answer my questions. If I may be so bold to ask a few more for clarification sake. I do not wish to be led astray by anyone, not the WELS, ELS, LCMS, or any other denomination.
From your recent post:
GJ -If "Jesus took away the sin of the world" is taken to mean that God declared the world free of sin, the statement is completely wrong. Universal absolution is the basis for Universalism, even if it is the demi-semi-Universalism of UOJ. I believe Rydecki backed away from that after I published all the WELS UOJ essays."
Would it be proper to say that the sins of the world were forgiven, understanding that sin still exists in this world and that by living a life of sin, that is a life without faith, condemns one to hell?
"Jesus atoned for the sins of the world. Jesus paid for the sins of the world. Jesus redeemed the world. However, this grace comes to individuals only through the Means of Grace. To say they are "already forgiven" as Kokomo and the Brief Statement do, is fallacious and dangerous."
Clarification: People are only forgiven the moment they come to faith?
"To speak about justification apart from the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace is unBiblical."
My intention was never to be unScriptural. Justification means a person is pronounced not guilty of his sins. Correct?
If you would answer these questions, again, I would be thankful.
I wish you and your family well.
The Lord's blessings,
Sine Nomine
***
GJ - I tell the humorless that they were potty-trained at gunpoint and weaned on a pickle - and they give me a bad reputation. I appreciate it when people ask real questions instead of creating an excuse to repeat the synod grapevine talking points. I have repeated the questions in blue, to answer them individually.
Would it be proper to say that the sins of the world were forgiven, understanding that sin still exists in this world and that by living a life of sin, that is a life without faith, condemns one to hell?
Luther uses expressions like that to say that Christ is all forgiveness, etc. All those statements are reflections on the atonement. UOJ people merge that with justification to say the entire world is forgiven without faith. They take their extreme statements to additional lengths to prove how Waltherian or Wauwatosan or Norwegian they are, as if deriding faith is good. Everyone continues to sin, but believers are forgiven the moment they believe in Christ, and continuously forgiven through faith by abiding in Christ. Not believing in Christ means condemning oneself to Hell. Falling away from the faith has the same consequences, but worse in that apostates are far more blinded and hardened against the Word than the typical unbeliever.
Clarification: People are only forgiven the moment they come to faith?
God declares us forgiven only through faith receiving the Gospel treasure, which is distributed through the Holy Spirit in the Means of Grace. The treasure, which is the atonement, lies in one heap, as Luther wrote, until the Word and Sacraments are employed by the church.
My intention was never to be unScriptural. Justification means a person is pronounced not guilty of his sins. Correct?
I did not think you were being unScriptural, but many church leaders are. Sadly, the Lutheran leaders cannot speak "Lutheran" anymore. They are obsessed with maintaining the errors of the recent past, so they build additional manure piles on top of the old ones. The Brief Statement of 1932 is just one more man-made document. People pretend it is the final, ultimate statement of Lutheran doctrine, so any departure from it (forget the Book of Concord or John's Gospel) is treated as heresy. I am glad these knuckleheads call me a heretic, because I do believe something other than the Enthusiasm which blinds them.
Justification is a judicial act (forensic) - that God has pronounced an individual innocent of all sins. That happens with each and every one of the Means of Grace, but never apart from the Instruments (Means) of God's grace.
