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| Why didn't Chemnitz mention UOJ or Martians? |
This week most of my posting will be the new chapter on the Walther mythology, which will be included in the latest versus of Luther versus the UOJ Pietists: Justification by Faith.
The next week will aimed at a section on Huberism, which is now taught so enthusiastically by ELCA, WELS, Missouri, the Little Sect on the Prairie, and the micro-mini sects.
The whole book will be revised in time for the Emmaus Conference in early February.
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AC V has left a new comment on your post "Luther versus the UOJ Pietists":
In the Spirit of Christmas and Epiphany, a quote from Luther would be an appropriate response to this post:
Thus here, too, the evangelist did not intend that John or any other human being or any creature should be the light, but that there is only one light which illumines all men and that not a single human being could come upon the earth who could be illumined by anybody else. I do not know how to disagree with this interpretation; for in the same manner also St. Paul writes in Romans 5[:18]: “As through one man’s sin condemnation has come over all men, so through one man’s righteousness justification has come over all men.” Yet not all men are justified through Christ, nevertheless he is the man through whom all justification comes. It is the same here. Even if not all men are illumined, yet this is the light from which alone all illumination comes. The evangelist has freely used this manner of speaking; he did not avoid it even though some would stumble over the fact that he speaks of all men. He thought he would take care of such offense by explaining before and after and by saying that “the darkness has not comprehended it,” and that the world has never recognized him and his own have never accepted him. Such passages should have been strong enough so that nobody could say he had intended to say that all men are enlightened, but that he alone is the light which enlightens everybody and that, without him, nobody is enlightened.
Luther, M. (1999). Vol. 52: Luther's works, vol. 52 : Sermons II (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (71). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Luther versus the UOJ Pietists":
Outstanding Luther quote in opposition to the false gospel of Universal Objective Justification.
I'm looking forward to the new chapters in the book. The timing of the conference last year was difficult for me, along with not a little apprehention regarding the kind of reception I might receive - I've seldom been coy about my opinions regarding religious issues. It turned out to be a very rewarding experience for me and to see the conference first hand was enlightening. Lord willing, they will allow me to host a table again this year.
6 comments:
In the Spirit of Christmas and Epiphany, a quote from Luther would be an appropriate response to this post:
Thus here, too, the evangelist did not intend that John or any other human being or any creature should be the light, but that there is only one light which illumines all men and that not a single human being could come upon the earth who could be illumined by anybody else. I do not know how to disagree with this interpretation; for in the same manner also St. Paul writes in Romans 5[:18]: “As through one man’s sin condemnation has come over all men, so through one man’s righteousness justification has come over all men.” Yet not all men are justified through Christ, nevertheless he is the man through whom all justification comes. It is the same here. Even if not all men are illumined, yet this is the light from which alone all illumination comes. The evangelist has freely used this manner of speaking; he did not avoid it even though some would stumble over the fact that he speaks of all men. He thought he would take care of such offense by explaining before and after and by saying that “the darkness has not comprehended it,” and that the world has never recognized him and his own have never accepted him. Such passages should have been strong enough so that nobody could say he had intended to say that all men are enlightened, but that he alone is the light which enlightens everybody and that, without him, nobody is enlightened.
Luther, M. (1999). Vol. 52: Luther's works, vol. 52 : Sermons II (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (71). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Outstanding Luther quote in opposition to the false gospel of Universal Objective Justification.
I'm looking forward to the new chapters in the book. The timing of the conference last year was difficult for me, along with not a little apprehention regarding the kind of reception I might receive - I've seldom been coy about my opinions regarding religious issues. It turned out to be a very rewarding experience for me and to see the conference first hand was enlightening. Lord willing, they will allow me to host a table again this year.
I am reading through Luther on the basis of the schedule George Kraus provides in his booklet: "A Guide to a Year's Readings in Luther." (This is an excellent schedule for those who can find it and also have the American edition of Luther's Works.)
In my reading, I came across two sections where Luther clearly states that all people are forgiven "before" repentance. Here are the two quotes:
The first one from his comments on Hebrews 1:4 found in Volume 29, page 112-113:
When He made purification for sins, [He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high].
"With this brief word he makes useless absolutely all the righteousnesses and deeds of penitence of men. But he praises the exceedingly great mercy of God, namely, that “He made purification for sins,” not through us but through Himself, not for the sins of others but for our sins. Therefore we should despair of our penitence, of our purification from sins; for before we repent, our sins have already been forgiven. Indeed, first His very purification, on the contrary, also produces penitence in us, just as His righteousness produces our righteousness. This is what Is. 53:6 says: “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
The second is from his comments on Genesis 3:15 found in volume 1 on page 190:
Adam and Eve not only do not hear themselves cursed like the serpent; but they even hear themselves drawn up, as it were, in battle line against their condemned enemy, and this with the hope of help from the Son of God, the Seed of the woman. Forgiveness of sins and full reception into grace are here pointed out to Adam and Eve. Their guilt has been forgiven; they have been won back from death and have already been set free from hell and from those fears by which they were all but slain when God appeared.
I understand Luther meaning that, in Christ, all people are forgiven, saved and righteous, but that this forgiveness, salvation and righteousness is only apprehended through faith.
Am I misunderstanding Luther? And if not, how does this differ from General justification?
Michael
Michael, what Luther describes in your quotes is the atonement. Justification is that special New Testament word that is always used in the context of "by faith." The Lutheran Confessions affirm this. Justification is the divine declaration of "not guilty" only of the believer, which declaration means that the believer is now righteous and having the status of saint.
Forgiveness of sin is part of what it means to be righteous, but it is not the only or essential thing because the "saint" is still a "sinner" and therefore in daily need of forgiveness. As Luther coined the phrase: simul iustus et peccator "at the same time saint and sinner." The means of grace, Word and Sacraments, are the instruments that convey the forgiveness of sin won on the cross to the sinner in need of forgiveness.
I have been a member of both LCMS and ELS congregations and have NEVER been taught that I am saved without faith.
John, is God declaring you forgiven of all sins and righteous by the blood of Christ eternal salvation?
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