AC V has left a new comment on your post "Intrepid Lutherans: Chemnitz's Absolution for only...":
Brian G. Heyer, the author of the post asks: "How would — if at all — such an Absolution sting our ears in our modern WELS pews?"
Not sure about the stinging, but this is still ringing in their ears from the April 2012 issue of the WELS Forward in Christ:
"Especially to those who have wronged us yet have given no evidence of contrition before God or reliance on Jesus as their sin-bearer, we may say:
I fully and freely forgive you, sinner to sinner.... You have my forgiveness, given cheerfully in love. But just like me, a sinner like you, you need the personal enjoyment of Christ's forgiveness, which is also freely given. I will do anything I can to help you enjoy this.
Our responsibility is to forgive others fully, unconditionally."
- Forrest L. Bivens "Should we forgive others for all sins they may commit against us? If they show no remorse or repentance, are we still to offer our forgiveness?"
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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Intrepid Lutherans: Chemnitz's Absolution for only...":
The Chemnitz quote the Intrepid Lutheran Brian Heyer is certainly a faithful declaration of Christ's Word.
It's very good to see such a clear and strong confession come from them.
I do not believe Intrepid Rev. Spencer has as faithful a confession regarding Justification. His (W)ELSness comes through when he states in the posts comments, "It is also been my observation of practices among my Pastoral peers that we tend to give people "the benefit of the doubt." As you say, this is not necessarily, and by itself, a bad thing, or a sign of slack practice or poor theology. But then again it might be."
It is or it isn't.
I contend that it is a bad thing because it remains consistent with their chief satanic doctrine of Universal Forgiveness without faith. The (W)ELS as a Synod - confessing written and documented confession of UOJ - does not have Christ nor the Holy Spirit to guide them. Their heinous attacks on the Holy Spirit's faith and Christ Himself is in keeping with God's declaration that they are an abonimation to Him.
Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Those in the (W)ELS who confess such an abominable and Christ denying gospel as UOJ will be inconsistent and contradictory not only to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions (which they falsely claim a confession of) but even to themselves. It is simply a fruit of the tree and an indication of being cut off.
Note Spencer's comment, "It must be noted that there is no "if" in this absolution, as in "If you repent . . . believe . . . act . . . ," but only that those "who" believe are absolved, etc... In other words, the fact that they are even able to repent shows their faith, and since this faith exists, the absolution is pronounced upon them."
This is indicative of UOJists who recoil at any suggestion that faith is a condition of being forgiven by God. It is a UOJ tenent which is tied to the doctrines teaching that faith is a work of man. Instead of teaching faithfully concerning faith as the righteousness of Christ and a gracious work of the Holy Spirit they attack it as a potentially synergistic act.
The "if" police in the UOJ corner are ground against the Rock of Scripture on this issue:
John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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GJ - At this point the Lutheran Church should get the Gospel right, but there is too much hedging, parsing, and pussy-footing.
Bivens fouls the air even time he solemnly declares the dogma of UOJ. He bragged about going to Fuller Seminary and also denied going to Fuller Seminary. Which lie should we believe?
Lutheran training has been so poor in the Scriptures and the Confessions that the typical SynConference pastor cannot articulate justification by faith. He may recite the Knapp, Walther, or J. P. Meyer formula--variations on the same bilge of universal absolution--but he cannot explain atonement versus the declaration of forgiveness. He cannot describe how man receives grace in a way that harmonizes with the inspired Word. He cannot teach the Means of Grace, the efficacy of the Word, or the exclusive work of the Holy Spirit through the Word.
What is the most basic sermon on sin? John 16:8 - the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, because "they do not believe on Me." Can the typical SynConference pastor preach on that text and mean it?
