Pastor Jackson,
What better way to read a Luther sermon, with some good warm
coffee and a family pet that does not feel threatened by Luther.
I appreciate how you ring out the UOJ belief among Lutherans
by using Nazi and Red Chinese Communist picture language. Such is the
"nth" degree, if we were to take seriously the UOJ position. Yet, I
can understand why you may fall in disrespect by the UOJ crowd, as they
apparently don't care to admit their over emphasis on the grace of God, at the
expense of the Scriptural teaching of the Holy Spirit's work of bringing the
lost soul to personal faith in Christ.
Now for some
smattering comments on Luther's sermon text:
Luther says: ".....Their hearts are cleansed by
faith,...."
According to the UOJ crowd, this statement by Luther is
anathema. It flies in the face of the absolution granted by each UOJ pastor
after the congregational confession of sins.
Yet, Luther substantiates with Scripture. And, we must
remember, his explanation to the 3rd Article of the Apostle's Creed:
"......In which Christian church, He daily and richly
forgives sins to me and all believers..........."
So true what you
point out, Pastor Jackson:
".....But there is also a paradox. We remain sinful and
weak, because of the Old Adam in us all, but Christ gives us His forgiveness
through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel....."
UOJ adherents get into big trouble because they don't
understand "paradox." And, the Scripture is full of them. Hence, they
utilize their sinful human reasoning, rather than simple trust (belief / faith)
in the Word. Luther would take modern day UOJS out behind the woodshed and give
them a good sound thrashing!
When Luther talks of faith in this sermon, he talks of it in
the sense of the Apostle Paul's inspirational writing (under the Holy Spirit).
Faith is unseen - yet, real. That, which is seen, is temporal. It's again the
Spirit who gives wings to vibrant faith. Feeling is unessential, because faith
is divine. It is that which truly believes and "bestirs itself cheerfully
to believe the things it neither feels nor ‘can measure with all its powers
inwardly or outwardly." [Luther]
Finally, it is so
clear, when Luther says:
"If we believe that Christ made satisfaction for our
sins and that his satisfaction is ours, that is then the righteousness. When we
are free from sin, and are just and pious, then the world, Satan and the flesh
will arise and contend and battle against us...."
What comes to mind
after reading this, by Luther, are 3 groups, and a short [true] story:
Group 1 - Those
who believe (by faith) that "Christ made satisfaction for our sins and
that his satisfaction is ours, that is then the righteousness." [Luther]
Group 2 - Those
who need to prove to themselves that they (somehow) believe. These are the type
that needs externals, such as an altar; an altar call; a day of remembrance of
"personally receiving the Lord."
Group 3 - Those
who acknowledge belief, based upon Scripture's declaration of Christ's atoning
work. They then accept this as their modus operandi perception and take it for
themselves, and call it faith. Their "faith" is in the absolution
often announced at communion services. Their belief is confused, because they
emphasize Christ's finished work upon the Cross but kick the Holy Spirit to the
gutter curb. It's as if they have stopped in their understanding at Christ's
death and resurrection and ignore Christ's Words in the Gospel of John about
the Comforter, Holy Spirit, who not only creates personal faith, but nurtures
that faith to the end.
Now, my personal
story in relation to the above 3 groups:
My aging mother took up my dear Baptist brother's offer to
live in a cozy trailer home next to his house in the country. Mom often said
that after Dad died, she wished she would have moved sooner. She loved the
convenience of one floor with all facilities just steps away.
As the routine would have it, Joyce and I would come on
Wednesday and take Mom to the senior's group. There we would eat and then play
euchre afterwards. From there, we took Mom to do her weekly grocery shopping.
When we would return to her trailer, we would play Scrabbles with Mom, before
she would become sleepy.
It so happened that the one afternoon, my dear Christian
Baptist brother stopped in. To Joyce and my surprise, he engaged Mom in the
familiar Baptist question: "But,
Mom - how do you know that you are 'saved'?" To that, my mother stopped my
brother cold, in his conversation tracks, by emphatically responding: "Because, I believe God's
promises!"
There was no more further conversation on my brother's part.
Mom had made her point. In all my years of academic seminary study and other
educational learning and reading, I have never heard a more beautiful and
concise confession of personal faith! (And, of course, I'm biased. She was [is]
my mother).
Nathan M. Bickel – emeritus pastor
