http://www.intrepidlutherans.com/2013/02/comparing-huberianism-and-lutheranism.html#comment-form
I'd like to add a few observations.
The Christian Book of Concord, the Lutheran Confessions, which all who accept divine calls from the Lutheran Synods have taken an oath to uphold, speak clearly that solely through faith in Christ alone are individuals accounted as acceptable to God the Father.
71] "but we maintain this, that properly and truly, by faith itself, we are for Christ's sake accounted righteous, or are acceptable to God. 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".
http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_4_justification.php
Note here that in this crystal clear doctrinal statement the entire contention as to whether the doctrine of Objective Justification - in any formulation - is faithful to Scripture is emphatically decided:
"by faith itself, we are for Christ's sake accounted righteous, or are acceptable to God."
UOJ teaches that "for Christ's sake" the entire unbelieving world has been accounted righteous by God objectively without faith. But the Lutheran Confessions close the door on that teaching by stating "by faith itself, we are for Christ's sake accounted righteous". And by that righteousness, Christ's righteousness, believers are acceptable to God.
Therefore without faith, without the gracious gift of faith worked by the Holy Spirit solely through the Means of Grace, no man is acceptable to God.
Also note in the BOC quote above that the Lutheran Confessions only detail two ways in which "justified" is used in Scripture and neither apply to unbelievers. Justified only applies to believers in Christ. Yes, Christ died and paid for the sins of the whole world, the iniquity of the world was laid upon Him and he paid the accepted price. The result of that payment is that all righteousness resides in Christ and never apart from him. It is, in fact, this righteousness which exists in Christ which brings justification to those who obtain Christ as their Propitiation and Mediator through faith alone.
Again, it is a misdirection from the doctrine of UOJ which teaches justification and a declaration of the forgiveness of sins which resides in Christ due to his atonement. I contend that it is Christ's righteousness which resides in Him. This is the same type of misdirection UOJ commits when it places the forgiveness of sins as the object of faith and not Christ and Him crucified as Scripture teaches. Acknowledging this removes the dilemma UOJ creates and again removes all necessity for the contradictory terms Objective and Subjective.
The Christian Book of Concord, the Lutheran Confessions, which all who accept divine calls from the Lutheran Synods have taken an oath to uphold, speak clearly that solely through faith in Christ alone are individuals accounted as acceptable to God the Father.
71] "but we maintain this, that properly and truly, by faith itself, we are for Christ's sake accounted righteous, or are acceptable to God. 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".
http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_4_justification.php
Note here that in this crystal clear doctrinal statement the entire contention as to whether the doctrine of Objective Justification - in any formulation - is faithful to Scripture is emphatically decided:
"by faith itself, we are for Christ's sake accounted righteous, or are acceptable to God."
UOJ teaches that "for Christ's sake" the entire unbelieving world has been accounted righteous by God objectively without faith. But the Lutheran Confessions close the door on that teaching by stating "by faith itself, we are for Christ's sake accounted righteous". And by that righteousness, Christ's righteousness, believers are acceptable to God.
Therefore without faith, without the gracious gift of faith worked by the Holy Spirit solely through the Means of Grace, no man is acceptable to God.
Also note in the BOC quote above that the Lutheran Confessions only detail two ways in which "justified" is used in Scripture and neither apply to unbelievers. Justified only applies to believers in Christ. Yes, Christ died and paid for the sins of the whole world, the iniquity of the world was laid upon Him and he paid the accepted price. The result of that payment is that all righteousness resides in Christ and never apart from him. It is, in fact, this righteousness which exists in Christ which brings justification to those who obtain Christ as their Propitiation and Mediator through faith alone.
Again, it is a misdirection from the doctrine of UOJ which teaches justification and a declaration of the forgiveness of sins which resides in Christ due to his atonement. I contend that it is Christ's righteousness which resides in Him. This is the same type of misdirection UOJ commits when it places the forgiveness of sins as the object of faith and not Christ and Him crucified as Scripture teaches. Acknowledging this removes the dilemma UOJ creates and again removes all necessity for the contradictory terms Objective and Subjective.
Brett,
I'm not sure that you've completely grasped the point I'm trying to make. You say, "The result of that payment is that all righteousness resides in Christ and never apart from him." I totally agree with you. I'm not sure who is claiming that righteousness resides apart from Christ, but it certainly isn't me. If you meant your post as a response to mine, perhaps you could reread what I've written and address what I've written. Thanks!
I'm not sure that you've completely grasped the point I'm trying to make. You say, "The result of that payment is that all righteousness resides in Christ and never apart from him." I totally agree with you. I'm not sure who is claiming that righteousness resides apart from Christ, but it certainly isn't me. If you meant your post as a response to mine, perhaps you could reread what I've written and address what I've written. Thanks!
Phinehas, I appreciate your response and clarification.
Although your statement, "If you mean by "material sense" that justification actually and really exists in Christ regardless of and prior to the existence or nonexistence of faith, then I would be in agreement." triggered my consideration of the issue but the comment was directed toward the Lutheran Synod's teaching of Objective Justification and what the Confessions declare about "for the sake of Christ."
I would contend that Justification of the unbelieving world doesn't exist in Christ.
As you affirm, all righteousness exists in Christ.
The difference is that UOJ teaches God has made a declaration concerning the unbelieving world that "in Christ", or "for the sake of Christ" they are forgiven, righteous and worthy of eternal life. But the fact is they are not in Christ and may never be in Christ, since Scripture teaches Christ is a man's Propitiation and Mediator only, solely, through faith in Christ alone. It is a grave error for the doctrine of UOJ to teach that God has declared a divine verdict of not guilty on the unbelieving world who are not in Christ through faith.
That is why I believe it is incorrect to say that the unbeleiving world's justification exists in Christ. Scripture teaches that it's the righteousness of Christ which believers recieve through faith and that righteousness washes us from all sin. It is not the forgiveness of sins in Christ that washes us from all sin.
The key to this is understanding that the doctrine of UOJ falsely applies "for the sake of Christ" to a teaching that for the sake of Christ the whole unbelieving world has been declared forgiven, righteous and worthy of eternal life. In opposition to this teaching the BOC (as I quoted in my comment above) teaches that only by faith are we accounted anything that comes from Christ and are acceptable to God, "by faith itself, we are for Christ's sake accounted righteous, or are acceptable to God."
This is in complete harmony with Galatians 5:4, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Christ is of no affect to unbelievers - God does not consider anyone in Christ except by faith alone.
As stated in the comment above, this is another example of the doctrine of UOJ establishing a different object than what Scripture teaches and declares.
I hope this helps explain the points I was trying to make. I appreciate your question and clarification.
Although your statement, "If you mean by "material sense" that justification actually and really exists in Christ regardless of and prior to the existence or nonexistence of faith, then I would be in agreement." triggered my consideration of the issue but the comment was directed toward the Lutheran Synod's teaching of Objective Justification and what the Confessions declare about "for the sake of Christ."
I would contend that Justification of the unbelieving world doesn't exist in Christ.
As you affirm, all righteousness exists in Christ.
The difference is that UOJ teaches God has made a declaration concerning the unbelieving world that "in Christ", or "for the sake of Christ" they are forgiven, righteous and worthy of eternal life. But the fact is they are not in Christ and may never be in Christ, since Scripture teaches Christ is a man's Propitiation and Mediator only, solely, through faith in Christ alone. It is a grave error for the doctrine of UOJ to teach that God has declared a divine verdict of not guilty on the unbelieving world who are not in Christ through faith.
That is why I believe it is incorrect to say that the unbeleiving world's justification exists in Christ. Scripture teaches that it's the righteousness of Christ which believers recieve through faith and that righteousness washes us from all sin. It is not the forgiveness of sins in Christ that washes us from all sin.
The key to this is understanding that the doctrine of UOJ falsely applies "for the sake of Christ" to a teaching that for the sake of Christ the whole unbelieving world has been declared forgiven, righteous and worthy of eternal life. In opposition to this teaching the BOC (as I quoted in my comment above) teaches that only by faith are we accounted anything that comes from Christ and are acceptable to God, "by faith itself, we are for Christ's sake accounted righteous, or are acceptable to God."
This is in complete harmony with Galatians 5:4, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Christ is of no affect to unbelievers - God does not consider anyone in Christ except by faith alone.
As stated in the comment above, this is another example of the doctrine of UOJ establishing a different object than what Scripture teaches and declares.
I hope this helps explain the points I was trying to make. I appreciate your question and clarification.
Brett, you're reacting to and arguing against what I have already described as overly broad formulation of UOJ.
The narrow (and correct, I believe) formulation of UOJ is that, in his resurrection, Jesus Christ, as a representative of every human being, was declared not guilty of the sins of every human being, which he had taken upon himself on the cross. It is universal in that Christ represented every single human being. It is objective in that this declaration took place completely within the Godhead and this righteousness is located only in the sphere of Christ.
Thus, the only way to access, receive, enjoy, possess, or benefit from this righteousness is to be "in Christ" through faith.
The narrow (and correct, I believe) formulation of UOJ is that, in his resurrection, Jesus Christ, as a representative of every human being, was declared not guilty of the sins of every human being, which he had taken upon himself on the cross. It is universal in that Christ represented every single human being. It is objective in that this declaration took place completely within the Godhead and this righteousness is located only in the sphere of Christ.
Thus, the only way to access, receive, enjoy, possess, or benefit from this righteousness is to be "in Christ" through faith.
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GJ - I wonder how many of these UOJ experts have carefully read Luther's Galatians Commentary.
Some people would like to say they have a better, more subtle version of UOJ, but they agree on one thing - forgiveness of sin apart from faith - which is contrary to Scripture, especially the passages they cite.
Walther made a lot of noise about his great love for Luther and the Book of Concord. But he was marketing the Pietism of Halle that he learned from his own Pietistic endeavors and his syphilitic bishop, Martin Stephan.
Pietism taught universal righteousness from the resurrection of Christ. The Book of Concord, following the Apostle Paul, teaches justification by faith. Walther followed the thinking of Pietism, not Luther and not the Book of Concord.
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