Justification by faith in Romans and Galatians has a common theme - Abraham, based on Genesis 15.
KJV Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.
Believing and counting [imputing] for righteousness are united in this passage, and Paul uses this bedrock passage for justification by faith, with these words - imputing and believing.
In the Kregel Galatians Commentary, by Luther, the statements referring to Abraham seem endless. I will post some of them.
There is another anchor - Jesus addressing the religious opponents in John 8. The opponents yell, "We have Walther for a father." [Jackson New Living International Paraphrase]
KJV John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
This is another reference to Abraham's justification by faith. As Luther taught, Old Testament justification by faith is no different from New Testament justification by faith.
What is common in all these places? Abraham believed and was declared righteous. Abraham was justified by faith. This is simple. The Gospel Promises create faith through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Word. Through faith, the believer receives what is promised by the Word, earned by the atonement.
But the Law-Mongers of today, who use Walther to set aside Luther, Paul, and Christ Himself, do more than ignore this. Justification by faith moves them to fury. They threaten, accuse, and silence. Trinity in Bridgeport, Missouri told Herman Otten that they would give no more money to Christian News if the editor continued to publish my articles.
What stirs up the wrath of Jon Buchholz, the Sausage Factory, Tim Glende, Jack Cascione, and Paul McCain? Justification by faith.
WELS tolerates any false doctrine - promotes it, publishes it, funds it, defends it. But the Biblical, Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith? - They march in to smash it, to threaten, silence, and excommunicate. More than they - they doggedly divide family and friends, congregations and pastors - all for the love of universal forgiveness without faith.
