Woods was a Calvinist and Knapp a Pietist, so people who agree with Luther's justification by faith are Calvinists? Please explain. |
Although
a thorough study of the entire Universal Objective Justification essay is
beneficial it is not necessary to move beyond the first page in order to skewer
the primary focus and objective of this heretical essay. I’ll even
quote Buchholz to disprove Buchholz.
Buchholz,
“Nevertheless, the primary focus in this paper is showing that the basis for the
doctrine is Scripture itself. Additionally helpful in treating the subject,
the writings of church fathers, Lutheran dogmaticians, the Lutheran
Confessions, and Luther himself, speak in harmony with Scripture in teaching
that the whole world was forgiven and acquitted in Christ at the cross and empty
tomb.” Page 1
Today McCain is honoring Chemnitz as a great theologian. Recently he mocked those who promote Romanism. As St. Bernard, lower left, said - "I'll drink to that!" |
The
Lutheran Confessions – The Christian Book of Concord
67]
"Faith cometh by hearing. And proof can be derived even from this that faith
justifies, because, if justification occurs only through the Word, and
the Word is apprehended only by faith, it follows that faith
justifies."
“69]
Now we will show that faith [and nothing else] justifies. Here, in the
first place, readers must be admonished of this, that just as it is necessary to
maintain this sentence: Christ is Mediator, so is it necessary to defend that
faith justifies, [without works]. For how will Christ be Mediator if in
justification we do not use Him as Mediator; if we do not hold that for His
sake we are accounted righteous? But to believe is to trust in the merits of
Christ, that for His sake God certainly wishes to be reconciled with us.
70] Likewise, just as we ought to maintain that, apart from the Law, the promise
of Christ is necessary, so also is it needful to maintain that faith justifies.
[For the Law does not preach the forgiveness of sin by grace.] For the Law
cannot be performed unless the Holy Ghost be first received. It is,
therefore, needful to maintain that the promise of Christ is necessary. But this
cannot be received except by faith. Therefore, those who deny that faith
justifies, teach nothing but the Law, both Christ and the Gospel being set
aside.
71] But
when it is said that faith justifies, some perhaps understand it of the
beginning, namely, that faith is the beginning of justification or preparation
for justification, so that not faith itself is that through which we are
accepted by God, but the works which follow; and they dream, accordingly,
that faith is highly praised, because it is the beginning. For great is the
importance of the beginning, as they commonly say, Arch; h{misu pantov", The
beginning is half of everything; just as if one would say that grammar makes the
teachers of all arts, because it prepares for other arts, although in fact it is
his own art that renders every one an artist. We do not believe thus concerning
faith, but we maintain this, that properly and truly, by faith itself, we are
for Christ's sake accounted righteous, or are acceptable to God. 72] And
because "to be justified" means that out of unjust men just men are made, or
born again, it means also that they are pronounced or accounted just. For
Scripture speaks in both ways. [The term "to be justified" is used in two ways:
to denote, being converted or regenerated; again, being accounted righteous.]
Accordingly we wish first to show this, that faith alone makes of an unjust, a
just man, i.e., receives remission of sins.
80] AAC
That We Obtain The Remission of Sins By Faith Alone In Christ, "The wrath of God
cannot be appeased if we set against it our own works, because Christ has
been set forth as a Propitiator, so that, for His sake, the Father may become
reconciled to us. But Christ is not apprehended as a Mediator except by
faith. Therefore, by faith alone we obtain remission of sins when we comfort
our hearts with confidence in the mercy promised for Christ's sake."
6] Let
any one of the adversaries come forth and tell us when remission of sins takes
place. O good God, what darkness there is! They doubt whether it is in attrition
or in contrition that remission of sins occurs. And if it occurs on account of
contrition, what need is there of absolution, what does the power of the keys
effect, if sins have been already remitted?…"
Martin Luther faithfully taught justification by faith. |
Martin
Luther
12. As
before said, they regard faith of slight importance; for they do not
understand that it is our sole justifier. To accept as true the record of
Christ--this they call faith. The devils have the same sort of faith, but it
does not make them godly. Such belief is not Christian faith; no, it is rather
deception.
15.
...You see how they make faith of no value to themselves, and so must regard as
heresy all doctrine based upon it. Thus they do away with the whole Gospel.
These are they who deny the Christian faith and exterminate it from the world.
Paul prophesied concerning them when he said (1 Tim 4, 1): "In later times some
shall fall away from the faith." The voice of faith is now silenced all over the
world. Indeed, faith is condemned and banished as the worst heresy, and all who
teach and endorse it are condemned with it. The Pope, the bishops, charitable
institutions, cloisters, high schools, unanimously opposed it for nearly four
hundred years, and simply drove the world violently into hell. Their conduct
is the real persecution by Antichrist, in the last times.
22.
Now, the Cain-like saints have not, as they themselves confess, the Christian
faith which would assure them of being the children of God.
29. You
cannot extricate yourself from unbelief, nor can the Law do it for you. All your
works in intended fulfilment of the Law must remain works of the Law and
powerless to justify in the sight of God, who regards as just only believing
children.
37.
Note, Paul everywhere teaches justification, not by works, but solely by
faith; and not as a process, but instantaneous. The testament includes in
itself everything--justification, salvation, the inheritance and great blessing.
Through faith it is instantaneously enjoyed, not in part, but all.
Truly
is it plain, then, that faith alone affords such blessings of God, justification
and salvation--
immediately
and not in process as must
be the case with works
74. But
what is the process whereby Christ gives us such a spirit and redeems us from
under the Law? The work is effected solely by faith. He who believes that Christ
came to redeem us, and that he has accomplished it, is really redeemed. As
he believes, so is it with him. Faith carries with it the child-making spirit.
The apostle here explains by saying that Christ has redeemed us from under the
Law that we might receive the adoption of sons. As before
stated, all must be effected through faith. Now we have discussed the five
points of the verse.
2005
Buchholz
"God has forgiven the
whole world. God has forgiven everyone his sins." This statement is absolutely
true! This is the heart of the gospel, and it must be preached and taught as the
foundation of our faith. But here’s where the caveat comes in: In Scripture,
the word "forgive" is used almost exclusively in a personal, not a universal
sense. The Bible doesn’t make the statement, "God has forgiven the
world."
"God has forgiven all
sins, but the unbeliever rejects God’s forgiveness." Again, this statement is
true—and Luther employed similar terminology to press the point of Christ’s
completed work of salvation.16 But we must also recognize that Scripture doesn't speak this way."
"God has declared the
entire world righteous." This statement is true, as we understand it to mean
that God has rendered a verdict of "not-guilty" toward the entire world. It is
also true—and must be taught—that the righteousness of Christ now stands in
place of the world’s sin; this is the whole point of what Jesus did for us at
Calvary. However, once again we're wresting a term out of its usual context.
In Scripture the term "righteous" usually refers to believers."
http://www.wlsessays.net/files/BuchholzJustification1.pdf
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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "The Double-Talk They Learn from Their Secret Initi...":
(W)ELS DP Pastor Jon Buchholz is called on the carpet for his false teaching of UOJ which is blatantly contrary to Christ and His Word.
Buchholz, "What does it mean to take away the sin of the world? If the sin of the world is laid upon Jesus and taken away, then it is removed completely. The transfer of the world’s guilt onto the Lamb of God indicates complete, objective, universal forgiveness accomplished by Christ, the world’s sin-bearer."
Scripture: John 8:24, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "The Double-Talk They Learn from Their Secret Initi...":
(W)ELS DP Pastor Jon Buchholz is called on the carpet for his false teaching of UOJ which is blatantly contrary to Christ and His Word.
Buchholz, "What does it mean to take away the sin of the world? If the sin of the world is laid upon Jesus and taken away, then it is removed completely. The transfer of the world’s guilt onto the Lamb of God indicates complete, objective, universal forgiveness accomplished by Christ, the world’s sin-bearer."
Scripture: John 8:24, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."