Here is the quotation in context, from the Apololgy (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession, IV:
103] Here and there among the Fathers similar testimonies are extant. For Ambrose says in his letter to a certain Irenaeus: Moreover, the world was subject to Him by the Law for the reason that, according to the command of the Law, all are indicted, and yet, by the works of the Law, no one is justified, i.e., because, by the Law, sin is perceived, but guilt is not discharged. The Law, which made all sinners, seemed to have done injury, but when the Lord Jesus Christ came, He forgave to all sin which no one could avoid, and, by the shedding of His own blood, blotted out the handwriting which was against us. This is what he says in Rom. 5:20: "The Law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Because after the whole world became subject, He took away the sin of the whole world, as he [John] testified, saying John 1:29: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." And on this account let no one boast of works, because no one is justified by his deeds. But he who is righteous has it given him because he was justified after the laver [of Baptism]. Faith, therefore, is that which frees through the blood of Christ, because he is blessed "whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered," Ps. 32:1,104] These are the words of Ambrose, which clearly favor our doctrine; he denies justification to works, and ascribes to faith that it sets us free 105] through the blood of Christ. Let all the Sententiarists, who are adorned with magnificent titles, be collected into one heap. For some are called angelic; others, subtile, and others irrefragable [that is, doctors who cannot err.] When all these have been read and reread, they will not be of as much aid for understanding Paul as is this one passage of Ambrose.
But Jay chooses to chop the quotation his way, to make Ambrose and Melanchthon appear to endorse his crazy-quilt UOJ opinion:
http://www.intrepidlutherans.com/2010/10/justification-discussion-continues.html#comments
- Recalling that forgiveness and justification are esentially synonymous concepts, the Book of Concord does in fact testify explicitly to the "objective" side of justification - and also to the "subjective" side of justification, with which it indissolubly coheres - by means of an approved quotation from St. Ambrose, in Ap IV:103: "But, when the Lord Jesus came he forgave all men the sin they could not escape, and canceled the decree against us by shedding his blood [Colossians 2:14]. This is what he says: 'By the Law sin abounded, but grace abounded by Jesus' [Romans 5:20], since after the whole world became subject he took away the sins of the whole world, as John bears witness, saying: 'Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' [John 1:29] Let no one glory, then, in his own works, since no one is justified by his deeds, but one who is just has received a gift, being justified by Baptism. It is faith, therefore, which sets us free by the blood of Christ, for he is blessed whose sin is forgiven and to whom pardon is granted [Psalm 32:1]."
- October 16, 2010 3:16 PM
- Rev. Paul A. Rydecki said...
- And on that helpful explanation by Pr. Webber, I think it's time (really, this time!) to close this thread here. We'll get back to talking about Justification. But the comment thread threatens to simply become an argument that perpetuates confusion. As I said in a previous comment, it is possible to overcomplicate the gospel message to the point that gospel comfort is lost. When we come back to this subject, we will try to lay out the simple gospel truth in as clear a way as possible, along with the dangers which we must guard against in this article of faith.
***
GJ - I remember Jay making fun of WELS' repeat-after-me training, calling Mequon - The Love Shack. He even described WELS as standing for Weaker Evangelical Lutheran Siblings.
Funny, I do not see his name on the list of the Intrepid Lutherans. I knew he was bulling his way onto the blog when he began contacting Douglas Lindee and whining about something to Lindee. In case you want to know how WELS/ELS pastors obey Matthew 18, that is how.
The Intrepids (sic) betrayed everyone when they failed to offer any witness to the truth at the Northern Wisconsin (Anything Goes Englebrecht) District meeting in June. They were utterly silent. One witness to their cowardice was completely disgusted. That person provided the information that the manly men were supposed to act upon.
The Intrepids (sic) could have published Englebrecht's letter, but they did not. They could have published the lawyer's 29 page indictment of Glende's conduct at St. Peter, Freedom - but they did not.
I have always enjoyed watching scaredy-cats at work. They hiss and fluff their fur, then run for the trees. Rydecki began with an excellent post on the pathetic synodical sermon, touching on its ridiculous perversion of justification. I believe he is also the one who posted about Luther directing people to the Word, an excellent post and a fine antidote for the poison coming from synodical leaders.
Overnight Rydecki became the expert on UOJ, then Webber's cheerleader for false doctrine and sophomoric argumentation.
In case anyone wonders, WELS pastors are famous for holding two contradictory opinions at the same time. No one double-talks more than they, probably from the years of abuse in the Wisconsin
Rydecki is simply the front-man for the whole group. Others are no different. They will knock UOJ in one email and defend it in the next.
I like what one old Thrivent salesman said, "If a man has two stories, he does not believe either one."
They are terrified of being accused of Ichabod influence, but they leak information to me to avoid any heat. Meanwhile, I am ordered, "Do not quote our blog."
I know the UOJ thugs began beating up people as soon as they listed their names with IL.
The big joke - IL could be called the Committee To Re-Elect the President. Yes, the idea behind IL was to counter the influence of Church and Change and to support Schroeder's re-election.
Once again, I have to ask - Where is the witness of this supposedly confessional Lutheran? Job security for false teachers is better than ever before. No false doctrine of any kind has been identified. That will never happen, because the Daddy Warbucks might be offended, and the relatives of the false teachers would be outraged.
