Downward Trends for Synodical Sinecures

bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Learn Stewardship from the Wisconsin Synod":

Here's the new trend in de-bloating synod administrations due to fiscal tightening: selling off campus ministry chapels, a trend that might have Rev. Trapp of the Madison "bat cave" student chapel a little nervous:

Uproar about the Future of the U of Minnesota Chapel, by Pr. Rossow
http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=14557

http://ulcmn.org/Files/Pages/SaveULC.html

Love Shack for sale:
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2011/03/lookee-here-they-are-selling-love-shack.html

Madison student chapel next?:
http://www.wlchapel.org/about-us/staff/

Sausage Factory Alert - Ignore the Justification by Faith Quotations.The Faculty Says They Are Misleading

Shun the UOJer or the justification-by-faith teacher?
Experiences vary.


Below are identical sets of quotations from various catechisms and the Book of Concord.

Until the Kuske Catechism, WELS and Missouri taught justification by faith to the little ones.

Papenfuss, the Torquemada of Kokomo, admitted that he never heard of UOJ until he reached the sacred grounds of The Sausage Factory.

Now everyone seems to be utterly brainwashed in UOJ, endlessly repeating the talking points.

Universal salvation is mindlessly taught--and yet denied--by DP Buchholz.

Too bad these old catechisms cannot be shredded and forgotten. The copies remain here and there. Some people even crack open the Book of Concord, which is packed with misleading quotations about justification by faith. So is Romans.

No wonder the star graduates of Mequon steal their sermons, even their emails, from such nitwits as Hybels, Groeschel, Driscoll, and Stanley. If these WELS heroes post their "sermons" on the Net, people laugh at the obvious plagiarism.

Leaders like Deputy Doug Englebrecht offer this defense - "Many of our pastors copy from others."

This is a grand admission of failure:

1. Failure to study and preach the Word of God.
   
2. Failure to abide by the call contract.
   
3. Failure to obey the civil laws against plagiarism and dishonesty.
   
4. Failure to be honest with the congregation.

If a layman reports obvious plagiarism by a WELS pastor, he is blasted by the very official entrusted with supervision.

Catechism Quotations Without Extra Code

3rd Article—The Forgiveness of Sins

Gausewitz—KJV edition
256. Which is the most precious gift that the Holy Ghost bestows on the Church by the Gospel? The forgiveness of sins, or the righteousness of God. (Justification) Rom. 4:7,8 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Rom. 1:17 In the Gospel is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
257. Why is this a needful and precious gift? Because by our sins we are lost and condemned creatures. But where there is forgiveness of sins, there is life and salvation. (Comp. Q164, 165, 183 and 192)
258. Why do even the saints still need forgiveness of sins? Because we daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment. Rom. 7:18-25; Ps. 143:2; Phil. 3:12; Rom. 7:18.
259. But what may we according to the Word of God confess with the Christian Church in the Third Article? I believe in the forgiveness of sins. Ps. 103; Exod. 34:5-7; Micah 7:18,19.
260. What do you confess with these words? I believe that the Holy Ghost in the Christian Church on earth daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers. Lament. 3:22,23; Rom. 5:20 Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Is. 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Ps. 103:2,3 Bless the Lord, O my soul; who forgiveth all thine iniquities. Micah 7:18,19 Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us, He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
261. What does that mean that God forgives your sins? God does no more look upon my sins, but justifies me; that is, He acquits me from all guilt and punishment. (Comp. Q183 and 184) Luke 18:9-14; Rom. 5; Rom. 8:33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Rom. 8:1; Eph. 1:7; Rom. 3:24; Rom. 4:8; Col. 2:13,14 He hath forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us. (Comp. Rom. 3:25; Rom. 5:18)
262. Why do we say that the HOLY GHOST forgives our sins, whereas we are justified before God through the redemption of Christ? The Holy Ghost by the Gospel awards the righteousness of Christ to us, and gives our faith assurance thereof. 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:19; Acts 2:38; Is. 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness; but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back. (Comp. Is. 40:1,2; Is. 61:1,2; Luke 24:47; John 20:21-23; Matt. 9:2,6; Matt. 26:28; Is. 61:10.)
263. To whom does God forgive sins? To me and all believers. “Our works are all rejected, all claims of merit pass for naught.” Luke 18:9-14; Matt. 18:23-27; Rom. 3:21-28; Rom. 4 and 5. Acts 10:43 To Jesus give all the prophets witness that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. Rom. 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law. Rom. 10:4; Rom. 4:5,6; Is. 53:11; John 3:18,36; Mark 16:16.
264. Where are sins forgiven? In the Christian Church on earth.
265. Why do we say, In the Christian Church on earth? Because Christ gave the Gospel to His Church on earth: in the Gospel we have the forgiveness of sins. (Ministry of the Keys) Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; 1 Pet. 2:9; Luke 10:16; 2 Cor. 5:19; Luke 24:47; Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:18; John 20:22,23; Eph. 4:10-12; Luke 5:18-26.

Gausewitz—1984 NIV edition
254. Which is the most precious gift of the Holy Spirit by the gospel to the church? The most precious gift is the forgiveness of sins of the righteousness of Christ by which we are justified before God. (Justification.) Romans 4:7,8; Romans 1:16,17.
255. Why is the forgiveness of sins the most precious gift? It is the most precious gift because without the forgiveness of sins we are lost and condemned creatures, but with it we have life and salvation. Romans 3:23,24; Romans 8:1.
256. Why do we, the saints, still need forgiveness of sins? We need forgiveness of sins because we daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment. Romans 7:18-25; Psalm 143:2; Romans 7:18.
257. But what may we according to the Word of God confess with the Christian church regarding our sins? I believe in the forgiveness of sins.
258. What do you confess with these words? I believe that in the Christian church on earth the Holy Spirit daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers in Christ.
259. What do you mean by saying that God forgives your sins? God no longer looks upon my sins but justifies me; that is, he declares me free from all guilt and punishment. Luke 18:9-14; Romans 5.
260. Why do we say that the Holy Spirit forgives sins, whereas we are made righteous before God through the redemption of Christ? The Holy Spirit brings the righteousness of Christ to us by the gospel and gives us the faith to believe it. 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Acts 2:38.
261. To whom does God forgive sins? God forgives sins to me and all believers. Luke 18:9-14; Matthew 18:23-27; Romans 3:21-28; Romans 4 and 5; Acts 10:43; Romans 3:28; Romans 10:4.
262. Where are sins forgiven? Sins are forgiven in the Christian church on earth. (Use of the Keys.)
263. Why do we say, “In the Christian church on earth”? We say this because Christ has given the gospel to his church on earth; in the gospel we have the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Luke 24:47.


CPH 1943/1965—KJV edition
187. Why do you say, I believe in the forgiveness of sins? The Bible assures me that God daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers. Ps. 103:1,2; Ps. 130:3,4.
188. How does God forgive your sins? God no longer charges, or imputes, my sins to me, but declares me righteous. (Justification.) 2 Cor. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 8:33; Rom. 4:5; Matt. 18:23-35.
189. What induces God to forgive your sins? God forgives my sins, not because of any merit or worthiness in me, but because of His grace, for Christ’s sake. Rom. 3:22-24; Eph. 1:7; Luke 18:9-14.
190. For whom has this forgiveness been obtained? Forgiveness of sins has been obtained for all, because Christ has fully atoned for the sins of all mankind. 1 John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:19.
191. Where does God offer you the forgiveness of sins? God offers me the forgiveness in the Gospel. Luke 24:47; 2 Cor. 5:19.
192. How do you accept this forgiveness of sins? I accept this forgiveness by believing the Gospel. Rom. 3:28; Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:5.
193. Why can and should every believer be certain of the forgiveness of his sins and of his salvation? Every believer can and should be certain of the forgiveness of his sins and of his salvation, because God’s promise is sure. 2 Tim. 1:12; Rom. 8:38,39.
194. Why must we ever firmly maintain the doctrine of justification by grace, for Christ’s sake, through faith? We must ever firmly maintain this doctrine—A. Because it is the chief doctrine of the Christian religion (Acts 10:43; Acts 4:12); B. Because it distinguishes the Christian religion from false religions, all of which teach salvation by works (Gal. 5:4,5; Micah 7:18-20); C. Because this doctrine gives enduring comfort to penitent sinners (Acts 16:30,31,34; Matt. 9:2); D. Because this doctrine gives all glory to God (Rev. 1:5,6).


Fehlauer—1981 NIV edition
Course One, Lesson 49:
Summary: Jesus earned forgiveness of sins for all people (Ephesians 1:7). God declares all people righteous for Jesus’ sake (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through the Gospel God offers forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to believe the Gospel (Ephesians 2:8).
How do we receive forgiveness of sins? We receive forgiveness through faith in the Gospel.
What This Means to Me: In the Bible God tells me that all my sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. He is my holy and righteous Savior. God looks upon Jesus’ righteousness as my righteousness, and therefore He declares me just and holy (justified).
Course Two, Lesson 28:
Summary: All people are born in sin and sin daily (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23). Sin separates people from God (Isaiah 59:2). All people need forgiveness of sins to be saved. Jesus earned forgiveness of sins for all people. God declared all people righteous for Jesus’ sake. This is the good news or Gospel. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to believe the Gospel.
How, then, do we receive forgiveness of sins? The Holy Spirit gives us forgiveness of sins through faith in the Gospel.
What This Means to Me: I was born in sin, and I daily sin in thought, word, and deed. I cannot save myself. God’s Son suffered and died to save me. God put all my sins on Jesus and declared me righteous in His sight. The Gospel tells me this good news, and the Holy Spirit gives me faith to believe that all my sins are forgiven. Forgiveness of sins is the greatest gift of God. I pray that the Holy Spirit will move many people to accept this wonderful gift.


Kuske—1982 NIV edition
251. How does God forgive sins? God forgives sins like a judge in a courtroom who tells a criminal that there is no longer any charge against him and so declares him innocent or not guilty. Romans 4:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Psalm 51:9; Psalm 85:2,3; Jeremiah 31:34; 1 John 1:9; Romans 8:33.
252. On what basis did God declare guilty sinners to be righteous? God declared guilty sinners to be righteous because Jesus served as their substitute and paid for their sins in full. Isaiah 53:5,6; 2 Corinthians 5:19,21; Romans 3:23-26.
253. How many people did God declare righteous? God declared all people righteous (Objective justification). 1 Timothy 2:3,4; Mark 16:15; John 3:17; Romans 5:18; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 John 2:2; John 1:29.
254. How do many people reject this perfect righteousness which Jesus obtained for them? Many people reject this perfect righteousness by trying to earn righteousness before God by their own works (Self-righteousness, work-righteousness). Luke 14:16-24; Romans 10:3; Romans 4:6; Galatians 5:4; Romans 11:6; Titus 3:5.
255. Why is it important, then, that the Holy Ghost work faith in me? It is important that the Holy Ghost work faith in me so that I do not trust in my own works but only in the righteousness God gives me by grace in Christ (Subjective justification). Philippians 3:7-11; Ephesians 2:8,9; Galatians 3:26,27; Romans 3:22,28; Romans 4:5; Romans 1:17.
256. Why can I as a believer be certain of God’s forgiveness? I can be certain of God’s forgiveness because it does not depend on anything I do but completely on what Christ has done for me. Romans 4:16; Philippians 3:8,9, Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 3:12.
257. Why is this certainty a great blessing to me? This certainty is a great blessing to me because I need the assurance of God’s forgiveness every day (Romans 7:14-25; Psalm 32:1-5; Matthew 11:28,29; Lamentations 3:22,23), and because I have the assurance that I am an heir of eternal life (Romans 5:20,21; Titus 3:7; Ephesians 1:13,14).


Book of Concord—1580
Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III:
54] We further believe that in this Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin, which is wrought through the holy Sacraments and Absolution, moreover, through all manner of consolatory promises of the entire Gospel. Therefore, whatever is to be preached concerning the Sacraments belongs here, and, in short, the whole Gospel and all the offices of Christianity, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. For although the grace of God is secured through Christ, and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Ghost through the Word of God in the unity of the Christian Church, yet on account of our flesh which we bear about with us we are never without sin.
55] Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sins, the [grace of the] Holy Ghost does not allow them to injure us, because we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but [continuous, uninterrupted] forgiveness of sin, both in that God forgives us, and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other.
56] But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness [sanctification]. Therefore all who seek and wish to merit holiness [sanctification], not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves [from this Church].
57] Meanwhile, however, while sanctification has begun and is growing daily, we expect that our flesh will be destroyed and buried with all its uncleanness, and will come forth gloriously, and arise to entire and perfect holiness in a new eternal life. 58] For now we are only half pure and holy, so that the Holy Ghost has ever [some reason why] to continue His work in us through the Word, and daily to dispense forgiveness, until we attain to that life where there will be no more forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of godliness and righteousness, removed and free from sin, death, and all evil, in a new, immortal, and glorified body.
59] Behold, all this is to be the office and work of the Holy Ghost, that He begin and daily increase holiness upon earth by means of these two things, the Christian Church and the forgiveness of sin. But in our dissolution He will accomplish it altogether in an instant, and will forever preserve us therein by the last two parts.

Smalcald Articles, Part III, Article XIII:
1] What I have hitherto and constantly taught concerning this I know not how to change in the least, namely, that by faith, as St. Peter says, we acquire a new and clean heart, and God will and does account us entirely righteous and holy for the sake of Christ, our Mediator. And although sin in the flesh has not yet been altogether removed or become dead, yet He will not punish or remember it.
Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Part III:
9] Concerning the righteousness of faith before God we believe, teach, and confess unanimously, in accordance with the comprehensive summary of our faith and confession presented above, that poor sinful man is justified before God, that is, absolved and declared free and exempt from all his sins, and from the sentence of well-deserved condemnation, and adopted into sonship and heirship of eternal life, without any merit or worth of our own, also without any preceding, present, or any subsequent works, out of pure grace, because of the sole merit, complete obedience, bitter suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Christ alone, whose obedience is reckoned to us for righteousness.
10] These treasures are offered us by the Holy Ghost in the promise of the holy Gospel; and faith alone is the only means by which we lay hold upon, accept, and apply, and appropriate them to ourselves. 11] This faith is a gift of God, by which we truly learn to know Christ, our Redeemer, in the Word of the Gospel, and trust in Him, that for the sake of His obedience alone we have the forgiveness of sins by grace, are regarded as godly and righteous by God the father, and are eternally saved. 12] Therefore it is considered and understood to be the same thing when Paul says that we are justified by faith, Rom. 3:28, or that faith is counted to us for righteousness, Rom. 4:5, and when he says that we are made righteous by the obedience of One, Rom. 5:19, or that by the righteousness of One justification of faith came to all men, Rom. 5:18. 13] For faith justifies, not for this cause and reason that it is so good a work and so fair a virtue, but because it lays hold of and accepts the merit of Christ in the promise of the holy Gospel; for this must be applied and appropriated to us by faith, if we are to be justified thereby. 14] Therefore the righteousness which is imputed to faith or to the believer out of pure grace is the obedience, suffering, and resurrection of Christ, since He has made satisfaction for us to the Law, and paid for [expiated] our sins. 15] For since Christ is not man alone, but God and man in one undivided person, He was as little subject to the Law, because He is the Lord of the Law, as He had to suffer and die as far as His person is concerned. For this reason, then, His obedience, not only in suffering and dying, but also in this, that He in our stead was voluntarily made under the Law, and fulfilled it by this obedience, is imputed to us for righteousness, so that, on account of this complete obedience, which He rendered His heavenly Father for us, by doing and suffering, in living and dying, God forgives our sins, regards us as godly and righteous, and eternally saves us. 16] This righteousness is offered us by the Holy Ghost through the Gospel and in the Sacraments, and is applied, appropriated, and received through faith, whence believers have reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sins, the grace of God, sonship, and heirship of eternal life.

Justification by Faith in the Catechisms - Documentary Evidence From a Source Without a Name or Number

Will the UOJ advocates charge Gausewitz with heresy?
He was the Wisconsin Synod President and the Synodical Conference President.

3^rd Article—The Forgiveness of Sins

Gausewitz—KJV edition

256.  Which is the most precious gift that the Holy Ghost bestows on the Church by the Gospel?  The forgiveness of sins, or the righteousness of God. (Justification)  Rom. 4:7,8 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.  Rom. 1:17 In the Gospel is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

257.  Why is this a needful and precious gift?  Because by our sins we are lost and condemned creatures.  But where there is forgiveness of sins, there is life and salvation.  (Comp. Q164, 165, 183 and 192)

258.  Why do even the saints still need forgiveness of sins?  Because we daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment.  Rom. 7:18-25; Ps. 143:2; Phil. 3:12; Rom. 7:18.

259.  But what may we according to the Word of God confess with the Christian Church in the Third Article?  I believe in the forgiveness of sins.  Ps. 103; Exod. 34:5-7; Micah 7:18,19.

260.  What do you confess with these words?  I believe that the Holy Ghost in the Christian Church on earth daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers.  Lament. 3:22,23; Rom. 5:20 Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.  Is. 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  Ps. 103:2,3 Bless the Lord, O my soul; who forgiveth all thine iniquities.  Micah 7:18,19 Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?  He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy.  He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us, He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

261.  What does that mean that God forgives your sins?  God does no more look upon my sins, but justifies me; that is, He acquits me from all guilt and punishment.  (Comp. Q183 and 184)  Luke 18:9-14; Rom. 5; Rom. 8:33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?  It is God that justifieth.  Rom. 8:1; Eph. 1:7; Rom. 3:24; Rom. 4:8; Col. 2:13,14 He hath forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us.  (Comp. Rom. 3:25; Rom. 5:18)

262.  Why do we say that the HOLY GHOST forgives our sins, whereas we are justified before God through the redemption of Christ?  The Holy Ghost by the Gospel awards the righteousness of Christ to us, and gives our faith assurance thereof.  1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:19; Acts 2:38; Is. 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness; but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.  (Comp. Is. 40:1,2; Is. 61:1,2; Luke 24:47; John 20:21-23; Matt. 9:2,6; Matt. 26:28; Is. 61:10.)

263.  To whom does God forgive sins?  To me and all believers.  “Our works are all rejected, all claims of merit pass for naught.”  Luke 18:9-14; Matt. 18:23-27; Rom. 3:21-28; Rom. 4 and 5.  Acts 10:43 To Jesus give all the prophets witness that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.  Rom. 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.  Rom. 10:4; Rom. 4:5,6; Is. 53:11; John 3:18,36; Mark 16:16.

264.  Where are sins forgiven?  In the Christian Church on earth.

265.  Why do we say, In the Christian Church on earth?  Because Christ gave the Gospel to His Church on earth: in the Gospel we have the forgiveness of sins.  (Ministry of the Keys)  Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; 1 Pet. 2:9; Luke 10:16; 2 Cor. 5:19; Luke 24:47; Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:18; John 20:22,23; Eph. 4:10-12; Luke 5:18-26.

Gausewitz—1984 NIV edition

254.  Which is the most precious gift of the Holy Spirit by the gospel to the church?  The most precious gift is the forgiveness of sins of the righteousness of Christ by which we are justified before God. (Justification.)  Romans 4:7,8; Romans 1:16,17.

255.  Why is the forgiveness of sins the most precious gift?  It is the most precious gift because without the forgiveness of sins we are lost and condemned creatures, but with it we have life and salvation.  Romans 3:23,24; Romans 8:1.

256.  Why do we, the saints, still need forgiveness of sins?  We need forgiveness of sins because we daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment.  Romans 7:18-25; Psalm 143:2; Romans 7:18.

257.  But what may we according to the Word of God confess with the Christian church regarding our sins?  I believe in the forgiveness of sins.

258.  What do you confess with these words?  I believe that in the Christian church on earth the Holy Spirit daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers in Christ.

259.  What do you mean by saying that God forgives your sins?  God no longer looks upon my sins but justifies me; that is, he declares me free from all guilt and punishment.  Luke 18:9-14; Romans 5.

260.  Why do we say that the Holy Spirit forgives sins, whereas we are made righteous before God through the redemption of Christ?  The Holy Spirit brings the righteousness of Christ to us by the gospel and gives us the faith to believe it.  1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Acts 2:38.

261.  To whom does God forgive sins?  God forgives sins to me and all believers.  Luke 18:9-14; Matthew 18:23-27; Romans 3:21-28; Romans 4 and 5; Acts 10:43; Romans 3:28; Romans 10:4.

262.  Where are sins forgiven?  Sins are forgiven in the Christian church on earth.  (Use of the Keys.)

263.  Why do we say, “In the Christian church on earth”?  We say this because Christ has given the gospel to his church on earth; in the gospel we have the forgiveness of sins.  Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Luke 24:47.

CPH 1943/1965—KJV edition

187.  Why do you say, I believe in the forgiveness of sins?  The Bible assures me that God daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers.  Ps. 103:1,2; Ps. 130:3,4.

188.  How does God forgive your sins?  God no longer charges, or imputes, my sins to me, but declares me righteous.  (Justification.)  2 Cor. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 8:33; Rom. 4:5; Matt. 18:23-35.

189.  What induces God to forgive your sins?  God forgives my sins, not because of any merit or worthiness in me, but because of His grace, for Christ’s sake.  Rom. 3:22-24; Eph. 1:7; Luke 18:9-14.

190.  For whom has this forgiveness been obtained?  Forgiveness of sins has been obtained for all, because Christ has fully atoned for the sins of all mankind.  1 John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:19.

191.  Where does God offer you the forgiveness of sins?  God offers me the forgiveness in the Gospel.  Luke 24:47; 2 Cor. 5:19.

192.  How do you accept this forgiveness of sins?  I accept this forgiveness by believing the Gospel.  Rom. 3:28; Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:5.

193.  Why can and should every believer be certain of the forgiveness of his sins and of his salvation?  Every believer can and should be certain of the forgiveness of his sins and of his salvation, because God’s promise is sure.  2 Tim. 1:12; Rom. 8:38,39.

194.  Why must we ever firmly maintain the doctrine of justification by grace, for Christ’s sake, through faith?  We must ever firmly maintain this doctrine—A. Because it is the chief doctrine of the Christian religion (Acts 10:43; Acts 4:12); B. Because it distinguishes the Christian religion from false religions, all of which teach salvation by works (Gal. 5:4,5; Micah 7:18-20); C. Because this doctrine gives enduring comfort to penitent sinners (Acts 16:30,31,34; Matt. 9:2); D. Because this doctrine gives all glory to God (Rev. 1:5,6).

Fehlauer—1981 NIV edition

Course One, Lesson 49:

Summary: Jesus earned forgiveness of sins for all people (Ephesians 1:7).  God declares all people righteous for Jesus’ sake (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Through the Gospel God offers forgiveness of sins.  The Holy Spirit gives us faith to believe the Gospel (Ephesians 2:8). 

How do we receive forgiveness of sins?  We receive forgiveness through faith in the Gospel.

What This Means to Me: In the Bible God tells me that all my sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake.  He is my holy and righteous Savior.  God looks upon Jesus’ righteousness as my righteousness, and therefore He declares me just and holy (justified).

Course Two, Lesson 28:

Summary: All people are born in sin and sin daily (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23).  Sin separates people from God (Isaiah 59:2).  All people need forgiveness of sins to be saved.  Jesus earned forgiveness of sins for all people.  God declared all people righteous for Jesus’ sake.  This is the good news or Gospel.  The Holy Spirit gives us faith to believe the Gospel.

How, then, do we receive forgiveness of sins?  The Holy Spirit gives us forgiveness of sins through faith in the Gospel.

What This Means to Me: I was born in sin, and I daily sin in thought, word, and deed.  I cannot save myself.  God’s Son suffered and died to save me.  God put all my sins on Jesus and declared me righteous in His sight.  The Gospel tells me this good news, and the Holy Spirit gives me faith to believe that all my sins are forgiven.  Forgiveness of sins is the greatest gift of God.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will move many people to accept this wonderful gift.

Kuske—1982 NIV edition

251.  How does God forgive sins?  God forgives sins like a judge in a courtroom who tells a criminal that there is no longer any charge against him and so declares him innocent or not guilty.  Romans 4:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Psalm 51:9; Psalm 85:2,3; Jeremiah 31:34; 1 John 1:9; Romans 8:33.

252.  On what basis did God declare guilty sinners to be righteous?  God declared guilty sinners to be righteous because Jesus served as their substitute and paid for their sins in full.  Isaiah 53:5,6; 2 Corinthians 5:19,21; Romans 3:23-26.

253.  How many people did God declare righteous?  God declared all people righteous (Objective justification).  1 Timothy 2:3,4; Mark 16:15; John 3:17; Romans 5:18; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 John 2:2; John 1:29.

254.  How do many people reject this perfect righteousness which Jesus obtained for them?  Many people reject this perfect righteousness by trying to earn righteousness before God by their own works (Self-righteousness, work-righteousness).  Luke 14:16-24; Romans 10:3; Romans 4:6; Galatians 5:4; Romans 11:6; Titus 3:5.

255.  Why is it important, then, that the Holy Ghost work faith in me?  It is important that the Holy Ghost work faith in me so that I do not trust in my own works but only in the righteousness God gives me by grace in Christ (Subjective justification).  Philippians 3:7-11; Ephesians 2:8,9; Galatians 3:26,27; Romans 3:22,28; Romans 4:5; Romans 1:17.

256.  Why can I as a believer be certain of God’s forgiveness?  I can be certain of God’s forgiveness because it does not depend on anything I do but completely on what Christ has done for me.  Romans 4:16; Philippians 3:8,9, Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 3:12.

257.  Why is this certainty a great blessing to me?  This certainty is a great blessing to me because I need the assurance of God’s forgiveness every day (Romans 7:14-25; Psalm 32:1-5; Matthew 11:28,29; Lamentations 3:22,23), and because I have the assurance that I am an heir of eternal life (Romans 5:20,21; Titus 3:7; Ephesians 1:13,14).

Book of Concord—1580

Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III:

54] We further believe that in this Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin, which is wrought through the holy Sacraments and Absolution, moreover, through all manner of consolatory promises of the entire Gospel. Therefore, whatever is to be preached concerning the Sacraments belongs here, and, in short, the whole Gospel and all the offices of Christianity, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. For although the grace of God is secured through Christ, and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Ghost through the Word of God in the unity of the Christian Church, yet on account of our flesh which we bear about with us we are never without sin.

55] Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sins, the [grace of the] Holy Ghost does not allow them to injure us, because we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but [continuous, uninterrupted] forgiveness of sin, both in that God forgives us, and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other.

56] But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness [sanctification]. Therefore all who seek and wish to merit holiness [sanctification], not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves [from this Church].

57] Meanwhile, however, while sanctification has begun and is growing daily, we expect that our flesh will be destroyed and buried with all its uncleanness, and will come forth gloriously, and arise to entire and perfect holiness in a new eternal life. 58] For now we are only half pure and holy, so that the Holy Ghost has ever [some reason why] to continue His work in us through the Word, and daily to dispense forgiveness, until we attain to that life where there will be no more forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of godliness and righteousness, removed and free from sin, death, and all evil, in a new, immortal, and glorified body.

59] Behold, all this is to be the office and work of the Holy Ghost, that He begin and daily increase holiness upon earth by means of these two things, the Christian Church and the forgiveness of sin. But in our dissolution He will accomplish it altogether in an instant, and will forever preserve us therein by the last two parts.

Smalcald Articles, Part III, Article XIII:

1] What I have hitherto and constantly taught concerning this I know not how to change in the least, namely, that by faith, as St. Peter says, we acquire a new and clean heart, and God will and does account us entirely righteous and holy for the sake of Christ, our Mediator. And although sin in the flesh has not yet been altogether removed or become dead, yet He will not punish or remember it.

Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Part III:

9] Concerning the righteousness of faith before God we believe, teach, and confess unanimously, in accordance with the comprehensive summary of our faith and confession presented above, that poor sinful man is justified before God, that is, absolved and declared free and exempt from all his sins, and from the sentence of well-deserved condemnation, and adopted into sonship and heirship of eternal life, without any merit or worth of our own, also without any preceding, present, or any subsequent works, out of pure grace, because of the sole merit, complete obedience, bitter suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Christ alone, whose obedience is reckoned to us for righteousness.

10] These treasures are offered us by the Holy Ghost in the promise of the holy Gospel; and faith alone is the only means by which we lay hold upon, accept, and apply, and appropriate them to ourselves. 11] This faith is a gift of God, by which we truly learn to know Christ, our Redeemer, in the Word of the Gospel, and trust in Him, that for the sake of His obedience alone we have the forgiveness of sins by grace, are regarded as godly and righteous by God the father, and are eternally saved. 12] Therefore it is considered and understood to be the same thing when Paul says that we are justified by faith, Rom. 3:28, or that faith is counted to us for righteousness, Rom. 4:5, and when he says that we are made righteous by the obedience of One, Rom. 5:19, or that by the righteousness of One justification of faith came to all men, Rom. 5:18. 13] For faith justifies, not for this cause and reason that it is so good a work and so fair a virtue, but because it lays hold of and accepts the merit of Christ in the promise of the holy Gospel; for this must be applied and appropriated to us by faith, if we are to be justified thereby. 14] Therefore the righteousness which is imputed to faith or to the believer out of pure grace is the obedience, suffering, and resurrection of Christ, since He has made satisfaction for us to the Law, and paid for [expiated] our sins. 15] For since Christ is not man alone, but God and man in one undivided person, He was as little subject to the Law, because He is the Lord of the Law, as He had to suffer and die as far as His person is concerned. For this reason, then, His obedience, not only in suffering and dying, but also in this, that He in our stead was voluntarily made under the Law, and fulfilled it by this obedience, is imputed to us for righteousness, so that, on account of this complete obedience, which He rendered His heavenly Father for us, by doing and suffering, in living and dying, God forgives our sins, regards us as godly and righteous, and eternally saves us. 16] This righteousness is offered us by the Holy Ghost through the Gospel and in the Sacraments, and is applied, appropriated, and received through faith, whence believers have reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sins, the grace of God, sonship, and heirship of eternal life.

Purcell

ARCUS Funds ELCA Gay Activism. So Why Are Missouri and WELS So Cosy with ELCA?

Meet the new youth minister.

From Virtue Online

Pro-Gay Secular Foundation Funds Episcopal Consultation on Blessings and Same-Sex Rites
Whose piper, whose tune?

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
April 18, 2011

Pro-homosexuality foundations are pouring millions of dollars into Catholic and mainline Protestant gay groups. The worst offender is the Arcus Foundation. Recently they funded - to the tune of $60,000 - the Episcopal Chicago Consultation that met last month with the stated Gospel agenda that opposition to full inclusion of lesbigays is a sin.

Who exactly is the Arcus Foundation? According to their website, it is a leading global foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, advancing pressing social justice and conservation issues specifically to "achieve social justice that is inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and race." Arcus then works to advance Lesbigay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) equality, as well as to conserve and protect great apes.

Liberals and pansexualists within the Episcopal Church have for years bemoaned and screamed their outrage at conservatives who received grants from Howard F. Ahmanson, Jr., of the Ahmanson Foundation, the savings and loan heir for their causes. Apparently it is okay when pansexual organizations in The Episcopal Church get them from liberal foundations. The hypocrisy and hubris knows no bounds.

Following the conference, the Consultation received a $60,000 grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation to support its future work. The Foundation will consider funding public charity projects (e.g. programs, conferences, resources, etc.), according to a blurb at their website. This foundation, apparently secular, "offers support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons of faith, or endeavoring to insure faith communities' understanding, affirmation, and inclusion of such persons." There is nothing specifically Episcopal in its ethos or foundation statements.

As the result of a grant from this foundation, Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS)provided English language training to seminarians in Haiti and the Dominican Republic for entry into its Masters in Theological Studies Program.

There is at least one very clear difference between Arcus and Ahmanson. Arcus is secular in ethos with no particular interest in religion except that it serves their purpose of pansexual advancement and inclusion. The Ahmanson family is orthodox Episcopalian and, until 2004, worshipped in an Episcopal Church. They now attend a conservative Presbyterian Church in Southern California. Either church, they are Christians who support a few Anglican causes as well as a number of conservative religious organizations.

Over the years, Howard F. Ahmanson, Jr., has sent contributions to organizations such as the American Anglican Council (AAC) and the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) in the context of the donors' other philanthropic activities, which include support for conservative political candidates, think tanks and causes such as the intelligent design movement.

There has been a long historic relationship between conservative foundations supporting conservative causes. That they have used money to offset the growing pansexual influence in The Episcopal Church is no secret. And why shouldn't they? This is done every day in political circles.

Jim Naughton of Episcopal Café who documented what he said were millions of dollars funneled into such organizations as the American Anglican Council and IRD, goes on to say, quite falsely, that "one year later, they achieved one of their most important goals when the 1998 Lambeth Conference passed Resolution 1.10, declaring that same-sex relationships were incompatible with Scripture."

The vote at Lambeth '98 had nothing to do with money channeled to IRD and AAC. IRD had no influence on that vote whatsoever. The AAC was accused, at that time, of buying African votes with rubber chicken dinners, an equally false assertion. The Africans are well educated enough to know exactly what they were voting on and for. They overwhelmingly rejected homosexuality, affirming marriage only between a man and a woman.

Naughton then wrote in a second article, "A Global Strategy," using internal emails and memos from leaders of the AAC and IRD, to examine efforts to have the Episcopal Church removed from the worldwide Anglican Communion and replaced with a more conservative entity.

That "entity" - GAFCON - arose years later (2008). The Anglican Province of Nigeria raised most of the funds for its first meeting in Jerusalem.

To argue that Howard F. Ahmanson Jr. has underwritten internal opposition to the Episcopal Church's policies on homosexuality must be weighed against the millions poured into pro-gay organizations by wealthy homosexuals who have nothing better to do with their money than support gay causes - among them the Arcus group.

Andrew Goddard, a neo-conservative British blogger, CofE priest and former ethics professor, has perpetuated across the Atlantic lies about the extent of funding and influence by the Ahmanson foundation. He noted at that time that significant amounts of funding for many of these leading organizations - notably the American Anglican Council, Anglican Communion Network and Anglican Mainstream - have come from the Ahmanson family and other non-Anglican, politically conservative foundations based in the United States. According to Goddard, this funding has enabled the due processes of the Anglican Communion to be subverted and hijacked, raising issues of family life and human sexuality to a prominence within the life of our church which is unjustified and contrary to the Gospel values of love and justice.

This is blatant nonsense. It makes the Ahmansons to be into people who could, with their money, manipulate millions of Global South orthodox Anglican believers who are allegedly incapable of making their own theological and moral decisions without the help of Western money. This is both racist and colonialist.

This begs the question, whose piper? Whose tune?

The Rev. David Fischler, a church planter in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and the founder of The Reformed Pastor blog, notes that the Arcus Foundation and homosexual billionaires have poured almost $600,000 into various Catholic groups in order to undermine the Roman Catholic Church's position on homosexuality.

Thomas Peters at CatholicVote.org catalogs Arcus' efforts to undermine Christian orthodoxy on faith and morals.

A review of the Arcus website, shows that it isn't just Roman Catholic groups this foundation is funding. Money is also going to many dissident groups in mainline Protestant denominations.

Here are some of the grants listed for 2010 alone:

* Central United Methodist Church (Detroit): $50,000 for The Reconciling Project, "a reconciling education and advocacy initiative to positively transform attitudes and beliefs about LGBT [Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgendered] people among United Methodist congregants and pastors in Southeastern Michigan."

* Christian Community: $300,000 (over two years) "to increase support for and advocacy on behalf of LGBT people of faith in mainline Protestant congregations across the U.S."

* Emory University (United Methodist affiliated): $100,000 (over two years) for continued support for Religion Dispatches, "a progressive online magazine dedicated to analysis and critique of the role of religion in public culture, with a focus on LGBT justice issues."

* Intersections International: $100,000 for the Believe Out Loud campaign, "which seeks to move moderate people of faith to publicly advocate for LGBT inclusion within their mainline Protestant faith communities." (The Reconciling Ministries Network in the United Methodist Church is integrally involved with the Believe Out Loud campaign.)

* Lutherans Concerned: $90,000 for "two convenings to advance the full inclusion of LGBT people of faith by convening pro-LGBT denominational leaders from the Episcopal Church USA, the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutherans of America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the United Church of Christ, and by convening nationally recognized pro-LGBT Lutheran theologians."

* Methodist Federation for Social Action: $93,120 "to advance the full inclusion of LGBT people of faith within the United Methodist Church through a coalition of progressive justice organizations working within the UMC." (MFSA used these funds to hire a coordinator for the Common Witness Coalition, an alliance of progressive groups that will press the UM 2012 General Conference to vote for "full inclusion of all people in UMC membership and leadership"-PDF.)

Here are several other Arcus grants from last year: * Church Divinity School of the Pacific: $404,351 "to develop official rites for the blessing of same-gender relationships within the Episcopal Church."

* More Light Presbyterians: $75,000 "to support the ratification of denominational policy that permits the ordination of partnered LGBT persons within the Presbyterian Church (USA)."

* The Gay Christian Network: $73,018 "to develop, test, and refine a pilot program that prepares young adult evangelicals to support pro-LGBT dialogue within evangelical communities."

* Truth Wins Out: $40,000 "for general operating support to enable Truth Wins Out to continue to challenge the ex-gay movement and monitor the anti-LGBT efforts of the religious right." (Truth Wins Out is the group behind pressuring Apple to drop apps developed by the Manhattan Declaration and Exodus International.)

Despite the lack of stated religious connections on the part of its staff or its board members, the Arcus Foundation has a "Religion and Values" program, the goal of which is described this way:

"[Our] goal is to achieve the recognition and affirmation of the moral equality of LGBT people. To accomplish this goal, the program supports the efforts of religious leaders to create faith communities in which LGBT people are welcomed as equal members; it also supports civic leadership to promote the moral and civil equality of LGBT people at state, national, and international levels."

In his article at CatholicVote.org, Peters notes that the total given by the Arcus Foundation since 2007 to groups operating within Catholic and Protestant churches is $6.5 million. "That's a lot of scratch."

The question that must be raised is this: What right does a secular foundation, which has no vested interest in Christian morality or 2,000 years of biblical and church teaching on sexual behavior, have to influence Christian churches, even quasi religious ones like The Episcopal Church, to abandon fundamental aspects of their faith?

Writes Fischler, "Liberals have been claiming for years that there is something insidious, if not downright evil, about support the Institute on Religion and Democracy has received from conservative foundations. That funding is dwarfed - in both scale and breadth - by the money given out by Arcus.

"It's also the case that the IRD supports the traditional stances of the churches to which it speaks. It is not seeking to bring about radical change in historic teaching and practice."

What the Arcus Foundation is doing may be more public, and may involve using money to fund others rather than using their own "agents," but make no mistake: this is just as much about infiltrating the churches to push a political agenda.

Episcopal Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori has repeatedly said she is primate of the Episcopal Church and 15 countries - countries that TEC has bought and paid for, and continues to pay for - the worst example of financial colonialism. Meanwhile, Episcopal revisionists blast orthodox bishops and organizations, like the AAC and Network, for taking money from the Ahmanson Foundation and other conservative bank accounts. The question must be asked, would there be an Episcopal presence in Central and South America if it wasn't for TEC Trust Funds? What about the millions of dollars of TEC money (now mostly from dead men) has the Anglican Church of Mexico squandered over the years? What of TEC's ability to manipulate the Province of Brazil into buying its gay agenda, an agenda that has seen one of their dioceses - the Diocese of Recife - split away from the liberal clone of TEC? And the millions poured into the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

The truth of the matter is that pansexual foundations like Arcus will continue to pour millions of dollars into (liberal) mainline Protestant denominations like the Episcopal Church as well as secular organizations throughout the country in an attempt to transform the culture in universities and schools with a perverse sexual agenda. They have been successful in influencing even a president. By doing so they are attempting to overthrow 6,000 years of a Judeo-Christian moral order from which we will reap the truth that all we have done, in fact, is overthrow ourselves.

***

GJ - The ALC started Lutherans Concerned with the offering money of their own members. Now ELCA has become one giant lobbying group, expelling even those liberals who cannot abide the Lavender Mafia.

The parallels to Church and Change are obvious. They also started with synodical funds. They have replicated themselves faster than a flu virus.

Yes, there is a homosexual network in WELS, too.