ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
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Friday, September 7, 2012
Retired Pastor Raises Intuitu Fide Charge in Jesus' Quotion
Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "The Augustana Synod Understood the Biblical View o...":
Ichabod -
Without looking up the Scripture (as I am very tired right now); didn't Jesus go on, to tell His disciples: "If you had the faith of a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to uproot itself.......?" [Paraphrase]
In other words; I believe that Christ was telling His disciples: "Forget this business about having and asking for big faith; but exercise the faith that you presently [already] possess!" And, doesn't Scripture say that God apportions a measure of faith to his individual children? Actually, that question by Christ's disciples about increasing their faith was an insult. They had already been granted faith; they just needed to act within the present apportioned realms of that God given faith.
So, it is today in multiplied Christian households where God's children freeze at the very first experience of difficulty; whether it is financial, work related or, whatever. Instead of being like David (who "encouraged himself in the Lord"), Christians don't don't remind themselves of their faith as is the essence of the old Negro spiritual:
"I shall; I shall not be moved. I, shall; I shall not be moved;
Just like a tree; that's planted by the waters; I....shall not be moved!
Jesus is my Savior; I shall not be moved; Jesus is my Savior; I shall not be moved;
Just like a tree, that's planted by the water; I...., shall not be moved!"
The [above] aforementioned song I learned one Saturday night as an adolescent. My father had invited the black Detroit Lutheran minister, Rev. Percy Dumas, to preach for Sunday's Mission Festival; at Trinity Lutheran; Merritt Twp. Bay City. Mom and Dad invited Percy for Saturday evening supper and to spend the night with us. After supper Dad asked Pastor Dumas to play the piano in the living room and sing some Negro spirituals. I'll never forget that evening! There's nothing like singing spiritual songs and hymns that can have the effect of reminding us of the faith that the Lord has given us!
Nathan M. Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org
Labels:
Justification by Faith
The Augustana Synod Understood the Biblical View of Faith - They Read Luther
The apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Luke 17:5. There are those who hear and read the gospel and what is said by faith, and immediately conclude that they have a correct conception of what is faith. They think that faith is something which is altogether in their own power to have or not to have, as any other natural work. When in their hearts they begin to think that the doctrine is right, and believe it is true, they immediately conclude that faith is present. But as soon as they see and feel in themselves and others that no change has taken place, that they remain in their old ways, they conclude that faith is not sufficient, that they must have something more and greater than faith. Then they cry: "Faith alone does not do it." Why? Because there are so many who believe, and no better than before. Such people are those whom Jude in his epistle calls dreamers, who deceive themselves with their own dreams.
The true faith, of which we speak, cannot be manufactured by our own thoughts, for it is solely a work of God in us without any assistance on our part. It is God's gift and grace. Faith is something very powerful, active, restless, effective, which at one renews a person and regenerates him and leads him altogether into a new manner and character of life, so that it is impossible not to do good without ceasing. Just as natural as it is for the tree to produce fruit, so natural it is for faith to produce works.
Whoever has not this faith talks but vainly about faith and works, and does not know what he says. For he has not received it; he juggles with lies and applies Scriptures where they speak of faith and works to his own dreams and false thoughts, which are purely a human work. Whereas the Scriptures attribute both faith and works not to ourselves, but to God alone. We should therefore despair and pray to God for faith as the apostles did. When we have faith we need nothing more, for it brings with it the Holy Spirit, who not only teaches us all things, but also firmly establishes us in them, and leads us through death and hell to heaven.
Devotional Readings from Luther's Works -- For Every Day of the Year -, Augustana Book Concern, Rock Island, IL, 1915
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bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "The Augustana Synod Understood the Biblical View o...":
Professor Preus at Irvine, CA, is involved in the Wittenberg Latin school renovation. A big mall (German style) is going up right across the street, so that will draw a lot of people next to the building. They finally have architectural drawings for the renovation:
video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_tm6ocGBqc&feature=share
Labels:
Justification by Faith,
Luther
Pipe Organ Concert - Historic St. John Lutheran Church - September 16, 2012, 3 PM
Ken Schurb Begging the Question - "Does the Lutheran Confessions' Emphasis on Subjective Justification Mitigate Their Teaching of Objective Justification?"
The UOJ contingent wanted me to read Ken Schurb's essay, "Does the Lutheran Confessions' Emphasis on Subjective Justification Mitigate Their Teaching of Objective Justification?" Concordia, Ft. Wayne sells the essay, which I read years ago.
I forwarded the PDF to Brett Meyer, who replied with the quotation illustrated above.
One part of the essay is correct -
The Confessions never use the word “justify” unless faith is at least in the immediate context. p. 4.
But the next sentence is dead wrong and misleading, because it makes an unwarranted claim:
And they never explicitly distinguish between objective and subjective justification. (The late Dr. Harry Huth used to point out these two facts to his symbolics classes at Concordia Theological Seminary Ft. Wayne. The present writer took his introductory courses in the summer of 1979, and reports both of these observations on the basis of first-hand experience.) p. 4.
The title of the essay and this clumsy thesis are prime examples of begging the question, a logical fallacy.
When one begs the question, the initial assumption of a statement is treated as already proven without any logic to show why the statement is true in the first place. http://begthequestion.info/
The author begins with the assumption of two justifications in the Book of Concord, conceding there is only one (justification by faith) then claiming via a professor that there really are two justifications. The Book of Concord is just not explicit about this alleged fact.
Let us examine the Biblical basis for the Assumption of Mary, using the same kind of fallacy. The Bible never says that she was assumed into heaven. However, Mary appears in the Book of Acts and her death is never mentioned there or anywhere else in the New Testament, making this a real possibility. Nothing disproves the Assumption of Mary.
Here is another winner from the same essay, page 5:
But the scenario has its problems. Most obvious is the one Edward Preuss reports: “The Wurttemberg superintendent Burk experienced . . . [what] seemed to him like a faulty circle:
I am to believe and thereby become righteous. However, I cannot believe this before it is so. And yet, it is not so, for I am first to become righteous. (The Justification of the Sinner Before God, Edward Preuss, tr. by J.A. Friedrich Reprint. St. Louis, n.d.), 22.) “God be praised,” Preuss continues, “the case is different.” It can only be different, however, if one believes in objective justification. This gives him an object for his trust.
There is a place to join this “circle.”
Like I said before, Eduard Preuss is the Bo Derek of UOJ fanatics, an old favorite of Boomers. Preuss left the Lutheran Church for Romanism and used his considerable skills to promote the Immaculate Conception of Mary! Nevertheless, this fact about him is omitted from every UOJ citation. Preuss is introduced instead as a reliable orthodox Lutheran, not an Enthusiast who turned to Rome when he saw a brilliant sunset (see the Fuerbringer book). The Burk mentioned may be the Pietist who wrote an early endorsement of UOJ, recorded by Hoenecke in his Dogmatics.
The LCMS pastors begin with the framework of double-justification, then wedge all their data into that position, as this essay does.
The WELS pastors begin with world absolution. God has declared the entire world, "Not guilty!" Any questioning of that astonishing verdict is considered reason for excommunication. As they say in all the Hitler videos, "The irony will dawn on them later."
Both groups of pastors assume that their synods have taught this truth since the very beginning, whether it was Walther's discovery of the syphilis plague spreading from Bishop Martin Stephan or WELS turning down the loot from the union mission society (no Thrivent, we don't mean you - we love your money).
Both groups contain large numbers of pastors who know that UOJ/double-justification is a crock. Both groups have published materials that teach only justification by faith. Gausewitz and the KJV catechism are two examples easily obtained.
The title of this essay was never a sincere question. Instead, it was a feint, a set-up to make the reader think this was really a research topic when it was a polemic for double-justification. We should pity all the seminarians who accepted the professor's deceptive claims. I have seen similar assertions from the early Robert Preus and from Dan Deutschlander.
Relax readers, it is possible for someone to have erred. My own sins are confessed on a daily basis. Three blogs have been set up and dismantled for that onerous and time-consuming task.
UOJ specialists make it personal, writing, "I do not agree with you." In sorrow, I have to reply, "That does not matter. The issue is whether you agree with the Scriptures and the Confessions." I am only a curator of the Lutheran museum. I describe and stir up interest in the musty old exhibits. Admission is free. I do not have the power to silence anyone, to ban their feeble blogs, to cost them money.
A layman observed, "They criticize Luther endlessly, but Walther is never wrong about anything. No one dares to criticize the American Pope." A poorly-trained man with two years in the parish should not be the ruling norm of Lutheran doctrine in America. Did you think I meant Paul McCain? That fits too.
Luther earned a doctorate in theology. It is true that he studied at a Roman Catholic university and read endless amounts of false doctrine. That seemed to be God's way of preparing him for the Reformation. Pastors sometimes think of that when they rouse themselves to outline a Reformation sermon. Luther spent his life debating doctrine with false teachers. That sharpened his knowledge of the Scriptures and church history, as he observed.
Likewise, Chemnitz earned a doctorate in theology. He also debated doctrine with a host of opponents. He wrote a monumental set against the Council of Trent, but also defended Luther's doctrine against the Calvinists. Chemnitz was uniquely qualified to be senior editor of the Book of Concord and the Formula of Concord. Much the same could be said of the others. I was thinking that the lesser known Concordists and men like Hunnius would put all the synod lackey seminary professors to shame. We are in dire straits.
Lutheran pastors are so lazy and ignorant that they cannot acknowledge the growth of Robert Preus in his years of scholarship. He was definitely a UOJ cheerleader when he was also promoting Church Growth at Ft. Wayne. He changed his mind about both. His final book records his thoughts about justification by faith. Do the indolent notice, or are they too afraid to open a book that shreds their dogmatics notes?
PS - The Preuss citations in the Schurb reminded me that he promoted many of the current arguments in favor of UOJ, such as "your faith is in faith" or "I cannot believe unless I already have something to believe in, something already accomplished." They never argue, "As Eduard Preuss, who finished his career promoting Roman dogma used to say..."
That is why your curator has to dust off his old exhibits, bring them out the storage room (your storage, not mine) and display them again.
Labels:
LCMS UOJ WELS
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Doing Works for the Forgiveness of Sins
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_Dei |
This the papists do not believe, but being blind and obstinate, they defend their abominations, having in their mouths these execrable words: He that doth this good work, or that, deserveth forgiveness of his sins: whosoever entertaineth into this or that holy order, and keepth this rule, to him we assuredly promise everlasting life. It cannot be uttered what a horrible blasphemy this is. For if no flesh can be justified by the works of the law, much less shall it be justified by the rules of Benedict, Francis, or Augustine, in which there is not one jot of true faith in Christ; but this only they teach, that whosoever keepeth their rules hath everlasting life.
Martin Luther, Kregel, Galatians 2:15-16, p. 74f.
Labels:
Galatians Commentary
Note Luther on the Lamb of God Passage, John 1:29
We must learn to discern all laws, yea, even the law of God, and all works, from the promise of the Gospel, and from faith, that we may define Christ rightly. For Christ is no law, and therefore He is no exactor of the law and works, but “He is the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world” (St. John 1:29). This doth faith alone lay hold of, and not charity, which yet, as a certain thankfulness must follow faith. Wherefore victory over sin and death, salvation and everlasting life, came not by the law, nor by the works of the
law, nor yet by the power of free will, but by Jesus Christ only and alone.
Martin Luther, Kregel, Galatians, 2:15-16, p. 74.
Labels:
Galatians Commentary
We Are in Christ by Faith, And He Is in Us
When we are in the matter of justification, there is no time or place to speak of the law: but the question is, what Christ is, and what benefit He hath brought unto us. Christ is not the law; He is not my work, or the work of the law; He is not my charity, my obedience, my poverty; but He is the Lord of life and death, a Mediator, a Savior, a Redeemer of those that are under the law and sin. In Him we are by faith, and He in us.
Martin Luther, Kregel, Galatians 2:15-16, p. 73.
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A. Berean has left a new comment on your post "We Are in Christ by Faith, And He Is in Us":
"That at that time ye were WITHOUT Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now IN Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."
Ephesians 2:12, 13
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GJ - The latest mantra, I hear, is to say the entire world is righteous IN CHRIST, which is nonsense, since only believers are in Christ.
The same tactic is used when UOJ Advocates say, "We are saved BY GRACE." Connecting justification to faith is the norm for the Scriptures and the Confessions. This BY GRACE business is used by the mainline denominations to promote universal salvation.
Long ago I heard liberals say, "You cannot make salvation contingent upon faith!" What about Paul, saying "If we believe...?" in Romans 4:24 - the missing verse of UOJ. What about the Lutheran Reformation, which turned on justification by faith versus justification by works. And, wrote Luther, if not by faith, then it is by works. That puts UOJ solidly in the works camp while taking shelter under their bizarre concept of grace.
But there is a fake-grace dividend. Universal righteousness makes unionism possible, mandatory, God-pleasing and just plain fun. Universal righteousness, which we find in Schleiermacher and Barth, simply negates any doctrinal or liturgical distinctions. All are righteous. All are forgiven. All are saved. When DP Jon Buchholz distinguishes the WELS heresy from the Evangelicals, he fails to note that he is one with ELCA, all the mainline churches, the Universalists, and various oddball sects.
Labels:
Galatians Commentary
The Papacy Neglects and Despises the Gospel of Faith.
Roman Catholic Popes Do the Same Thing.
How Are UOJ Popes Spared from This Passage?
Wherefore this doctrine of the schoolmen, with their ceremonies, masses and infinite foundation of the papistical kingdom, are most abominable blasphemies against God, sacrileges and plain denials of Christ, as Peter hath foretold in these words: “There shall be false teachers among you who shall privily bring in damnable heresies.” (2 Peter 2:1) Peter, throughout this chapter, most lively painteth out the papacy--which neglecting and despising the Gospel of faith in Christ--hath taught the work and traditions of men: as
the merit of congruence and worthiness, the difference of days, meats, vows, invocation of saints, pilgrimages, purgatory, and such like.
Martin Luther, Kregel, Galatians 2:15-16, p. 73.
Labels:
Galatians Commentary
Christians Can Judge All Kinds of Doctrine, When the Teaching Remains Pure
While this doctrine remaineth pure and uncorrupt, Christians are made judges over all kinds of doctrine. They can pronounce sentence against the Pope, that he is condemned with all his kingdom, because he so walketh, and so teacheth that by the merit of congruence we must come to grace, and that afterward by the merit of worthiness we are received into heaven. This, saith the Christian, is not the right way to justify us, neither doth this way lead to heaven. Not by work going before grace, shall I deserve grace, not by my work following grace shall I deserve eternal life; but to him that believeth, sin is pardoned, and righteousness imputeth. This truth, and this confidence, maketh him the child of God, and heir of His Kingdom; for in hope he possesseth already everlasting life, assured unto him by promise. Through faith in Christ therefore all things are given unto us, grace, peace, forgiveness of sins, salvation, and everlasting life, and not for the merit of
congruence and worthiness.
Martin Luther, Kregel, Galatians 2:15-16, p. 72f.
Labels:
Galatians Commentary
Hunnius on Faith. The UOJ Fanatics Give Themselves Away.
False Gospel and False Faith
narrow-minded has left a new comment on your post "The Biblical View of Faith Contradicts UOJ Claims":
The UOJers claim that they are not pooh-poohing faith, but here it is from the horse's mouth ("Thesis Opposed to Huberianism," by Aegidius Hunnius):
Thesis 39
Huber completely outlaws and eliminates all regard for faith from the act of eternal predestination, and dreams that, in the act of God's electing, people have been elected to salvation in a bare way, without any view toward faith in Christ. From this it is plain that he contends that they have also truly and properly been elected and predestined to eternal life who have never believed on Christ, including those who never will believe for all eternity. For what else is it than to draw men in under the election to salvation whether they believe it or not?
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narrow-minded has left a new comment on your post "Hunnius on Faith. The UOJ Fanatics Give Themselves...":
I neglected to add "page 23" in my above citation.
While I'm here, this sounds like Walther's Easter Sermon (Above cited source, p. 25):
Thesis 48
Therefore, it is certain that [Huber] does not include a consideration of faith in election per se, but afterwards subordinates faith to, at most, a fruit [in bold] of an election that has already been completed, perfected, and finished by the sole mercy and merit of Christ, made without any consideration of faith. And [Huber] affirms that it is only an effect of election, required for the goal (that is, salvation) to be obtained.
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GJ - Narrow-minded, you can see what the faculties of the parochial seminaries cannot, for they are united with ELCA in teaching world absolution and calling it grace. Amazing!
Labels:
Hunnius,
Justification by Faith
Luther Often Beat into Their Minds - Justification by Faith - Not UOJ
When we have thus taught faith in Christ, then do we also teach good works. Because thou hast laid hold of Christ by faith, through whom thou art made righteous, begin now to work well. Love God and thy neighbours, call upon God, give thanks unto Him, praise Him, confess Him. These are good works indeed, which flow out of this faith, and this cheerfulness conceived in the heart, for that we have remission of sins freely by Christ.
Now what cross or affliction so ever does afterwards ensue, is easily borne, and cheerfully suffered, for Christ’s yoke is easy and His burden is light (St. Matthew 11:30). But when a man walketh in his own righteousness, whatsoever he doth is grievous and tedious unto him, because he doth it unwillingly.
We therefore make this definition of a Christian: a Christian is not he who hath no sin, but he to whom God imputeth not his sin, through faith in Christ. This is why we so often repeat and beat into your minds, the
forgiveness of sins and imputation of righteousness for Christ’s sake.
Martin Luther, Kregel, Galatians 2:15-16, p. 72.
Labels:
Galatians Commentary
Send Your Tax-Supported Children to WELS Schools?
To Funny
Do you want to trust your child's education to these people?
2) The dollar figures that Ms. O'Connell present whether right or wrong are way to (sic) high! There is to (sic) much bureaucracy in this system for good results to have a chance. We can do much better;
Retirement Looms in 2013. Premature Celebration Is Premature
I am Social Security and Medicare qualified in 2013. I may delay SS somewhat, but we are on the retirement path anyway - downsizing and relaxing a bit.
Worship services will continue the same as before. After looking at some possibilities, we decided that it was better to emphasize more writing and publishing.
A number of books are being prepared right now. Getting them finished and published requires some concentration.
Broken Arrows from the UOJ Quiver
The Fifth Petition. Large Catechism. The Book of Concord
85] And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
86] This part now relates to our poor miserable life, which, although we have and believe the Word of God, and do and submit to His will, and are supported by His gifts and blessings, is nevertheless not without sin. For we still stumble daily and transgress because we live in the world among men who do us much harm and give us cause for impatience, anger, revenge, etc. 87] Besides, we have Satan at our back, who sets upon us on every side, and fights (as we have heard) against all the foregoing petitions, so that it is not possible always to stand firm in such a persistent conflict.
88] Therefore there is here again great need to call upon God and to pray: Dear Father, forgive us our trespasses. Not as though He did not forgive sin without and even before our prayer (for He has given us the Gospel, in which is pure forgiveness before we prayed or ever thought about it). But this is to the intent that we may recognize and accept such forgiveness. 89] For since the flesh in which we daily live is of such a nature that it neither trusts nor believes God, and is ever active in evil lusts and devices, so that we sin daily in word and deed, by commission and omission, by which the conscience is thrown into unrest, so that it is afraid of the wrath and displeasure of God, and thus loses the comfort and confidence derived from the Gospel; therefore it is ceaselessly necessary that we run hither and obtain consolation to comfort the conscience again.
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GJ - The UOJ-spurts want everyone to read the red print and gasp in amazement, "Luther taught UOJ!"
The context, above and below the rubrics, is never quoted. One can find quotations from the fanatics where they claim Luther was just brim-full of UOJ. I remained staggered that so little spilled from the brim, since the Reformer was so full of forgiveness without faith.
The church historians must have made a terrible mistake in saying the theme of the Reformation was justification by faith. They must not have read the same sources.
The comfort offered in this passage from the Large Catechism is similar to many other passages in Luther and the Book of Concord. The blockheads cannot discern this, but anyone else can. The Book of Concord is easy to read, fascinating to study, and always relevant. When a WELS pastor refuses to lead his congregation in a study of the Book of Concord, because it is "boring and irrelevant," one can guess he never read it a single time. But those statements are winners for being selected for the Synodical Council, so the blind can lead the blind into a pit. Very Biblical.
The forgiveness is already there: Christ paid for our sins. Christ redeemed the world. Not for a few little sins, but for great and terrible sins. We see that in the fallen nature of the apostles. Peter denied his own Savior, but he was restored with forgiveness to be an apostle. Paul and Barnabas argued and split. Luther wrote - one of them sinned in some way. These are examples to show us sinfulness and restoration.
Does this Lord's Prayer passage reveal UOJ to us? Not at all, especially if we actually read and study the Book of Concord. Let's just focus on the same author, Luther.
Large Catechism, The Creed
55] Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sins, the [grace of the] Holy Ghost does not allow them to injure us, because we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but [continuous, uninterrupted] forgiveness of sin, both in that God forgives us, and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other.
56] But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness [sanctification]. Therefore all who seek and wish to merit holiness [sanctification], not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves [from this Church].
Large Catechism, The Creed
38] For neither you nor I could ever know anything of Christ, or believe on Him, and obtain Him for our Lord, unless it were offered to us and granted to our hearts by the Holy Ghost through the preaching of the Gospel. The work is done and accomplished; for Christ has acquired and gained the treasure for us by His suffering, death, resurrection, etc. But if the work remained concealed so that no one knew of it, then it would be in vain and lost. That this treasure, therefore, might not lie buried, but be appropriated and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to go forth and be proclaimed, in which He gives the Holy Ghost to bring this treasure home and appropriate it to us. 39] Therefore sanctifying is nothing else than bringing us to Christ to receive this good, to which we could not attain of ourselves.
Large Catechism, Holy Baptism
84] For this reason let every one esteem his Baptism as a daily dress in which he is to walk constantly, that he may ever be found in the faith and its fruits, that he suppress the old man and grow up in the new. 85] For if we would be Christians, we must practise the work whereby we are Christians. 86] But if any one fall away from it, let him again come into it. For just as Christ, the Mercy-seat, does not recede from us or forbid us to come to Him again, even though we sin, so all His treasure and gifts also remain. If, therefore, we have once in Baptism obtained forgiveness of sin, it will remain every day, as long as we live, that is, as long as we carry the old man about our neck.
Large Catechism, Sacrament of the Altar
31] Therefore also it is vain talk when they say that the body and blood of Christ are not given and shed for us in the Lord's Supper, hence we could not have forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament. For although the work is accomplished and the forgiveness of sins acquired on the cross, yet it cannot come to us in any other way than through the Word. For what would we otherwise know about it, that such a thing was accomplished or was to be given us if it were not presented by preaching or the oral Word? Whence do they know of it, or how can they apprehend and appropriate to themselves the forgiveness, except they lay hold of and believe the Scriptures and the Gospel? 32] But now the entire Gospel and the article of the Creed: I believe a holy Christian Church, the forgiveness of sin, etc., are by the Word embodied in this Sacrament and presented to us. Why, then, should we allow this treasure to be torn from the Sacrament when they must confess that these are the very words which we hear every where in the Gospel, and they cannot say that these words in the Sacrament are of no use, as little as they dare say that the entire Gospel or Word of God, apart from the Sacrament, is of no use?
Large Catechism, Sacrament of the Altar
70] But those who are sensible of their weakness, desire to be rid of it and long for help, should regard and use it only as a precious antidote against the poison which they have in them. For here in the Sacrament you are to receive from the lips of Christ forgiveness of sin, which contains and brings with it the grace of God and the Spirit with all His gifts, protection, shelter, and power against death and the devil and all misfortune.
Large Catechism, Third Commandment
100] For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the devil, who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the commandments. Therefore you must always have God's Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. 101] On the other hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words. 102] And even though no other interest or necessity impel us, yet this ought to urge every one thereunto, because thereby the devil is put to Right and driven away, and, besides, this commandment is fulfilled, and [this exercise in the Word] is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant.
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GJ - This selection identifies any UOJ advocate as a dolt, a lunkhead, a lazy-bones who cannot understand anything in context, but must invent reasons to turn things upside-down.
The UOJ Enthusiasts have been causing confusion everywhere for the last decades, especially in WELS. I suggested that the sect should study the Book of Concord. Instead, they dig into their Holy of Holies, the WELS Essay Files, and prove their case with their parochial parodies of Christian doctrine.
The last I looked, out of sheer boredom, the Holy of Holies contained essays by a known atheist (but one of their own) and the chairman of the first gay Lutheran seminary (but one of their own) unless we count Mequon as first. Offended? Two words - mattress room.
Labels:
Book of Concord
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Biblical View of Faith Contradicts UOJ Claims
UOJ has little to say about faith - except in the negative mode. The Enthusiasts warn people against faith. They question faith. In the end, they jump at the departing justification by faith boat, but too late. That which they loathe is far beyond their reach. They sink with watery groan in the ocean of doubt and despair, maddened by their own inconsistencies and contradictions.
The Analogy of Faith teaches us that the Bible, as God's Word, contains no errors or contradictions. The Scriptures must be read as a whole, as a unified message of truth, because the Bible is the Book of the Holy Spirit, not a collection of verses strung together. One part explains the other, without discord.
Biblical faith means trust in God, specifically in what He has done for us in Christ. Paul urges Christians to rely upon the atoning death of the Savior.
The Apostle Paul
KJV 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Paul taught the Means of Grace in Romans, showing that the fruit of preaching the Gospel is faith, forgiveness, and salvation. Try to wedge "I was saved 2,000 years ago" into this passage:
KJV 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. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The Means of Grace generate faith in those who hear the Gospel message of Christ crucified:
KJV Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Faith must be something good in Paul's writing, since he offered Abraham as the prime example of faith, of justification by faith. Faith in God's promise was accounted as forgiveness, before and without the Law.
KJV Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
This example matters because we are no different from Abraham. If we believe in Christ, we are forgiven.
KJV Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 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; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The ending of Romans 4 is summarized by the opening of Romans 5, leaving no doubt about access to God's grace, for how can anyone be forgiven or even pre-forgiven (Mark and Avoid Jeske) apart from grace?
KJV Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Child-like Faith
The faith Jesus commended to us is a child-like faith, not the speculations of philosophers and snake-oil salesmen.
KJV Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
The Gospel of John emphasizes faith: beginning, middle, and end.
Beginning. The message is not to make a decision in favor of world-absolution, but to receive, to welcome, to trust in the Redeemer.
KJV John 1:11 He came unto his own, and His own received Him not. 12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name:
Middle. This passage clearly reveals that faith is salvation, that not believing in the Son is condemnation. Only the perverted could turn this passage into UOJ.
KJV John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.
The Good Shepherd defined sin as not believing. The Holy Spirit works through the Law and Gospel, through Word and Sacrament, for one purpose - to convict us of our unbelief, to reprove us for not trusting completely in Christ alone, to remind us that unbelief is the foundational sin that fuels all other sin.
KJV John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see Me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Ending of John. How can someone read any portion of the Fourth Gospel and insist that world-absolution is taught? John 1:29 does not promote UOJ, because the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world also condemns those who do not receive, trust, or believe in the Gospel. Unbelievers are not forgiven or even pre-forgiven (as Master Heretic Jeske teaches). Unbelievers are already condemned, born condemned (not born forgiven) but given the Gospel freely so the Holy Spirit will move them to faith and forgiveness.
KJV John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name.
The Analogy of Faith teaches us that the Bible, as God's Word, contains no errors or contradictions. The Scriptures must be read as a whole, as a unified message of truth, because the Bible is the Book of the Holy Spirit, not a collection of verses strung together. One part explains the other, without discord.
Biblical faith means trust in God, specifically in what He has done for us in Christ. Paul urges Christians to rely upon the atoning death of the Savior.
The Apostle Paul
KJV 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Paul taught the Means of Grace in Romans, showing that the fruit of preaching the Gospel is faith, forgiveness, and salvation. Try to wedge "I was saved 2,000 years ago" into this passage:
KJV 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. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The Means of Grace generate faith in those who hear the Gospel message of Christ crucified:
KJV Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Faith must be something good in Paul's writing, since he offered Abraham as the prime example of faith, of justification by faith. Faith in God's promise was accounted as forgiveness, before and without the Law.
KJV Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
This example matters because we are no different from Abraham. If we believe in Christ, we are forgiven.
KJV Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 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; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The ending of Romans 4 is summarized by the opening of Romans 5, leaving no doubt about access to God's grace, for how can anyone be forgiven or even pre-forgiven (Mark and Avoid Jeske) apart from grace?
KJV Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Child-like Faith
The faith Jesus commended to us is a child-like faith, not the speculations of philosophers and snake-oil salesmen.
KJV Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
The Gospel of John emphasizes faith: beginning, middle, and end.
Beginning. The message is not to make a decision in favor of world-absolution, but to receive, to welcome, to trust in the Redeemer.
KJV John 1:11 He came unto his own, and His own received Him not. 12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name:
Middle. This passage clearly reveals that faith is salvation, that not believing in the Son is condemnation. Only the perverted could turn this passage into UOJ.
KJV John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.
The Good Shepherd defined sin as not believing. The Holy Spirit works through the Law and Gospel, through Word and Sacrament, for one purpose - to convict us of our unbelief, to reprove us for not trusting completely in Christ alone, to remind us that unbelief is the foundational sin that fuels all other sin.
KJV John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see Me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Ending of John. How can someone read any portion of the Fourth Gospel and insist that world-absolution is taught? John 1:29 does not promote UOJ, because the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world also condemns those who do not receive, trust, or believe in the Gospel. Unbelievers are not forgiven or even pre-forgiven (as Master Heretic Jeske teaches). Unbelievers are already condemned, born condemned (not born forgiven) but given the Gospel freely so the Holy Spirit will move them to faith and forgiveness.
KJV John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name.
Why No Galatians Commentary from CPH?
Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Faith, Imputation, Christ, Righteousness - Joined ...":
Ichabod -
Why can't CPH publish a new edition of Luther's Galatian's Commentary? Or, would all that "faith stuff" (contained therein) be anathema to the ever loving Mother Mary lactating statue admirer, who is now known as, McNasty?
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/09/mcnasty-fruit-of-unfaith.html
I can't help but think that if such a new published edition were finally realized; - and, it was truly read and received; there might be a great falling away of McCaininites........
Nathan M. Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org
St. Ambrose Misquoted To Support UOJ
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This is the crown jewel of UOJ in the Book of Concord? No, it is a repudiation of UOJ. |
And on this account let no one boast of works, because no one is justified by his deeds. But he who is righteous has it given him because he was justified after the laver [of Baptism]. Faith, therefore, is that which frees through the blood of Christ, because he is blessed "whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is
covered," Ps. 32:1,104] These are the words of Ambrose, which clearly favor our doctrine; he denies justification to works, and ascribes to faith that it sets us free through the blood of Christ. Let all the Sententiarists, who are adorned with magnificent titles, be collected into one heap. For some are called angelic; others, subtile, and others irrefragable [that is, doctors who cannot err.] When all these have been read and reread, they will not be of as much aid for understanding Paul as is this one passage of
Ambrose.
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV: That We Obtain Remission of Sins by Faith Alone in Christ,
#104ff.
***
GJ - When the UOJ Enthusiasts crack open the Book of Concord, it only opens to one spot, right here. And they only quote the first part of the paragraph, which suits their perverted Gospel - a Gospel which is not Gospel to fit a faith which is no faith.
Melanchthon was contending against justification by works, proving justification by faith from Ambrose, one of the Doctors of the Church for the papal party. This entire article on justification is a defense of justification by faith, and the title of this section makes that even clearer (for those who graduated from Mequon) -
That We Obtain Remission of Sins by Faith Alone in Christ.
In the craft of writing, one does not simply make a point and let it hang. Melanchthon was a gifted theological writer and a scholar of Greek and Latin. He wrote paragraphs, not verses. A paragraph has a beginning, middle, and an end. This one builds to a climax focusing on Ambrose as a Doctor of the Church, a Doctor of Justification by Faith. Jay Webber and his vicar, Jon Buchholz, take that justification by faith away through subterfuge, since the plain words of the paragraph condemn both MDivs as Sententiarists.
I have pity for Buchholz and Webber, because they have so little research and writing behind them. They are like children sent to Piggly-Wiggly with a credit card to buy groceries for the family. They come home with bags of marshmallows, candied apples, Fruit Loop cereal, orange juice, chocolate milk, Fritos, and hot dogs. They have all the food groups, but selected with such ignorance that the results are junk. Their selective arguments are junk, too.
Webber and Buchholz are the new Sententiarists. They gather their self-serving quotations, to keep everyone in the dark. After a period of time, enough names and quotations can be collected and used selectively to prove anything.
Eduard Preuss, the Bo Derek of aging UOJ champions, knew how to do this. First he worked on Lutheran orthodoxy. Then he taught Walther's UOJ at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Finally, he taught papal falsehoods for the Church of Rome. Asked about his change, he said, "Give me the quotations and I can prove anything."
I have gathered as much UOJ material as possible, with the help of others, to show what has been taught and where it started. The UOJ Enthusiasts deceptively drill through the Pietism base to discover UOJ in the Book of Concord and in the NNIV. But their layer of proof is from Halle Pietism and the graduates of Halle Pietism. This can be clearly shown in the arguments in favor of universal forgiveness without faith: Rambach, Knapp, Tholuck, Schleiermacher, and Barth.
In other words, I want everyone to read UOJ statements.
But the UOJ Stormtroopers want justification by faith attacked, silenced, and metaphorically burned at the stake. The difference should be telling.
Faith, Imputation, Christ, Righteousness - Joined Together
Here it is to be noted, that these three things, faith, Christ, acceptation, or imputation, must be joined together. Faith taketh hold of Christ, and hath Him present, and holdeth Him enclosed, as the ring doth the precious stone. And whosever shall be found having this confidence in Christ apprehended in the heart, him will God accept for righteous. This is the mean and this is the merit whereby we attain the remission of sins and righteousness.
Because thou believest in Me, saith the Lord, and thy faith layeth hold upon Christ, whom I have freely given unto thee, that He might be thy Mediator and High Priest, therefore be thou justified and righteous. Wherefore God doth accept or account us as righteous only for our faith in Christ.
Martin Luther, Krebel, Galatians 2:15-16, p. 71
These and like errors, one and all, we unanimously reject as contrary to the clear Word of God, and by God's grace abide firmly and constantly in the doctrine of the righteousness of faith before God, as it is embodied, expounded, and proved from God's Word in the Augsburg Confession, and the Apology issued after it. Formula of Concord, SD, III, 66.
Galatians Commentary
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To paraphrase Luther, I would kiss Pope Paul's feet and carry him in my arms, if He conceded that we are justified by faith alone. |
quercuscontramalum (http://quercuscontramalum.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "The Promises Are Offered in the Gospel, And Faith ...":
(from Luther's Commentary on Galatians 2:6, quoting the sentences immediately before those in your Pope graphic)
"I know that a Christian should be humble, but against the Pope I am going to be proud and say to him: 'You, Pope, I will not have you for my boss, for I am sure that my doctrine is divine.' Such pride against the Pope is imperative, for if we are not stout and proud we shall never succeed in defending the article of the righteousness of faith."
UOJ Enthusiasts Malign Faith: One Error Leads to Many Others
THE TRUE RULE OF CHRISTIANITY
Contrary to these vain trifles and doting dreams, we teach faith, and give a true rule of Christian divinity in this sort: first, that a man must be taught by the law to know himself, that so he may learn to say with the prophet “All have sinned and have come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23); also “There is none righteous, no not one; (Romans 3:10-11); also, “Against Thee only have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4)...
Here now the sinner beginneth to sigh, and saith in this wise: who then can give succour? For he being thus terrified by the law, utterly despaireth of his own strength: he looketh about and sigheth for the help of another, of a Mediator and Saviour. Here then cometh in good time the healthful Word of
the Gospel, and saith, “Son, thy sins are forgiven thee” (St. Matt. 9:2). Believe in Jesus Christ, crucified for they sins. If thou feel thy sins, and the burden thereof, look not upon them in thyself, but remember that they are translated and laid upon Christ (Isa. 53:5). This is the beginning of health and salvation.
By this means we are delivered from sin, justified and made inheritors of everlasting life, not for our own works and deserts, but for our faith, whereby we lay hold upon Christ.
Martin Luther, Kregel, Galatians 2:15-16, p. 69f.
***
GJ - Luther warned everyone against the dreams of the philosophers, the invented distinctions of His Holiness, the Antichrist.
But the ignorant, foolish, and deluded UOJ Enthusiasts run to their OJ and their SJ, much like the papal condign and congruous merit labels, and pet them over and over. OJ and SJ are their toy poodles, so adorable and harmless. Anyone against OJ poodle and SJ poodle is a an obvious poodle-hater and must be consigned to the lowest depths of Hell with all those guilt-free saints.
From their double-justification labels (from Halle University Pietism and a Calvinist translator) they leap into nasty personal attacks. Heaven forbid they would crack a Book of Concord, a Luther commentary, or Luther's English Bible (the KJV).
Medium Rare pointed out, months ago, that the primary error of UOJ was their blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. John 16:8ff shows how true this is. Christ Jesus defined sin as the Holy Spirit convicting the world that they do not utterly trust in Him.
Sin is not denying OJ! Every time I see that claim, delivered with great indignation, I laugh.
The most obvious sin of UOJ, besides blasphemy, is turning something good - faith - into something dark and terrible. At the end of their diatribes they have a toss-away line, "you gotta believe this UOJ," but that is nothing more than an additional perversion.
Later I will spend more time on faith itself, but I want to point out what one observer said. "They separate all those things that belong together - the Gospel, the Means of Grace, election, the Holy Spirit, faith. They are all connected."
That is a philosophical mindset, one that eventually killed off orthodoxy and paved the way for Pietism. The fading orthodoxy of Europe turned each Latin label into a new skirmish, so studying for the ministry was a tedious lesson in philosophical polemics.
The Pietists drew large crowds simply by opening the Bible and working through the actual content of the Bible. The Word of God is efficacious. When given a choice between Pietism, philosophical polemics and its cousin, rationalism, many chose Pietism.
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Justification by Faith
After the Deluge
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Not if they teach justification without faith. Their public teaching places them outside of Christianity but happy as clams with ELCA. And they are. |
Faith Apprehends Jesus Christ
quercuscontramalum (http://quercuscontramalum.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Luther - Without Faith":
"We say, faith apprehends Jesus Christ. Christian faith is not an inactive quality in the heart. If it is true faith it will surely take Christ for its object. Christ, apprehended by faith and dwelling in the heart, constitutes Christian righteousness, for which God gives eternal life.
"In contrast to the doting dreams of the scholastics, we teach this: First a person must learn to know himself from the Law. With the prophet he will then confess: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." And, "there is none that doeth good, no, not one." And, "against thee, thee only, have I sinned."
"Having been humbled by the Law, and having been brought to a right estimate of himself, a man will repent. He finds out that he is so depraved, that no strength, no works, no merits of his own will ever deliver him from his guilt. He will then understand the meaning of Paul's words: "I am sold under sin"; and "they are all under sin."
"At this state a person begins to lament: "Who is going to help me?" In due time comes the Word of the Gospel, and says: "Son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Believe in Jesus Christ who was crucified for your sins. Remember, your sins have been imposed upon Christ."
"In this way are we delivered from sin. In this way are we justified and made heirs of everlasting life."
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/gal/web/gal2-14.html
Labels:
Justification by Faith
Without Apology - WELS, Missouri, and the SynConference Fragments
2138 has left a new comment on your post "The Promises Are Offered in the Gospel, And Faith ...":
From the Apology, Justification:
“5] All Scripture ought to be distributed into these two principal topics, the Law and the promises. For in some places it presents the Law, and in others the promise concerning Christ, namely, either when [in the Old Testament] it promises that Christ will come, and offers, for His sake, the remission of sins, justification, and life eternal, or when, in the Gospel [in the New Testament], Christ Himself, since He has appeared, promises the remission of sins, justification, and life eternal.”
Note that “justification” is sandwiched between “the remission of sins” and “life eternal.” UOJ proponents are quick to deny charges of “universalism,” but then how does one explain “life eternal” in this context, not once, but twice? If this is “subjective justification,” then where is “objective justification”?
Apology, Justification:
“67] But God cannot be treated with, God cannot be apprehended, except through the Word. Accordingly, justification occurs through the Word, just as Paul says, Rom. 1:16: The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Likewise Rom. 10:17: 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.”
Am I to believe that this section is merely speaking of “subjective justification”? Because I’m pretty sure that those unbelievers out there who are “objectively justified” are rejecting or oblivious to the Word, through which “justification occurs only,” and which “is apprehended only by faith.” Again, if this is “subjective justification,” then where is “objective justification”?
Don’t any Lutherans even read the Apology anymore?
***
GJ - In WELS, where they have declared war against justification by faith; the Wauwatosa rejection of the creeds has fueled their doctrinal indifference. That is why Tiefel and Company could adopt the feminist Creeds and pretend they were forced to do it. All the WELS pastors went along with and bought Christian Worship.
The Universalists were honest in their Universalism. UOJ is universalistic and denies it.
The path of deterioration does not vary. The Pietists put love above sound doctrine. Georg Knapp produced the lectures that led to a Calvinist, Woods, describing the system as two justifications: Objective Justification and Subjective Justification.
Knapp denied that the orthodox definition of the Trinity was Biblical. In the next generation at Halle University, Tholuck embraced Universalism. Scheiermacher, at Halle, became pivotal for modern theology, offering an elaboration of faith without belief - writing voluminously about Christianity without believing a word of it.
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Selling the NNIV allows WELS to get rid of the Bible with the Bible - and make a few bucks. |
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Justification by Faith
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