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| DP Jon-Boy Buchholz and his peritus Jay Webber claim Ambrose taught justification without faith. And the Book of Concord proves it! Have they read Augustine, or the Book of Concord? |
http://ecclesiaaugustana.blogspot.com/2013/02/st-augustine-on-2-corinthians-519.html
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According to St. Augustine, the "world" in 2 Corinthians 5:19 is referring only to the ChurchReply
I disagree that world is restricted to the Church but instead it references all of humanity. In harmony with what Rev. Bickel stated, 2 Cor. 5:19 doesn't teach that the whole unbelieving world has been reconciled with God when Christians interpret Scripture with Scripture. Reconciling is understood to be Reconciled only when individuals depart from God's Word, subject Scripture to human reason with a goal of establishing their rationalistic doctrine.
God has also graciously provided a proven faithful explanation of Scripture in the Christian Book of Concord which clearly states reconciliation with God is only through the gracious gift of faith, Christ's righteousness, worked solely by the Means of Grace.
John 3:17, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." World in this verse is the whole of humanity as the following verse clarifies those who believe in Christ are not condemend but those who don't believe are condemned already. Clearly there are no unbelievers in the Church (capital 'C' - invisible) as there are in the church (lower case 'c' - visible).
1 John 2:1-2 is also referring to the world as all of humanity. The Word teaches that Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world and in Romans clarifies that He is the world's propitiation through faith alone.
Romans 3:25, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood..."
World in 2 Cor. 5:19 doesn't have to refer to the Church for Scripture and the central article of one Justification solely by Faith Alone to be upheld. -
It is the False Theology of Glory that people have a lust for and that is the reason they like false teaching like UOJ. UOJ is evil on many levels, why should one tell another about Christ when all have been justified by Christ's Resurrection rather than by faith which is required to take hold of the promises of God. This leads to a flourishing of the false teaching of felt needs and works based righteousness replacing Christ for sinners and the Means of Grace.Reply
It is because of the perpetuation of UOJ that we have had to deal with false teaching and METHOBAPTOCOSTAL heresy invading our ranks. It is good to have fellow Lutherans yelling about this falsehood.
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Northwest -
The UOJ enthusiasts as you well observe, lack a crucial part of God's calling. I believe that their molestation of Scripture's "justification by faith alone" inherently makes them poor witnesses as Christ would have His disciples be.
I've thought for many years now, that the 3 major "ingredients" for faithful disciples of Christ, are as follows:
1) Keeping God's Word - John 14:21;23 ; 2 Timothy 1:13-14
2) Defending God's Word - Jude 3
3) Sowing God's Word - Matthew 28:18-20
These 3 major endeavors for Christ's disciples can be likened to a 3 legged chair. Take one of them away and the chair becomes disfunctional.
If one does not keep God's Word; live it and treasure it in his very life; he becomes dysfunctional. The same holds true of the two others. If one doesn't defend God's Word; it is a clear indication that he does not treasure and keep God's Word. If one fails to sow God's Word; he becomes stagnant as a pool of water with no spring or outlet.
I suppose, what I just described could indict many professing Christians, including many Lutherans who want to mimic flamboyant segments of professing Christianity. WELS, Rev. Mark Jeske comes to mind with his "mini me" Lutheran version of Billy Graham "decision theology." This website has done a good job of exposing that:
http://ecclesiaaugustana.blogspot.com/2013/01/decisions-decisions.html
Nathan M. Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org
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Regarding your short specific article:
I like your distinction of pointing out that Christ chose his own "out of the world."
Furthermore - even with wrongly translating 2 Corinthians 5:19; that, in itself is no reason to promulgate the false teaching of "universal objective justification."
The practice of proper hermeneutics can curb even some poor translation work. But, many Christians and (so-called) "Christians" don't care to apply the principal of comparing Scripture with Scripture and taking the clear passages first, to formulate correct doctrine.
Myself, coming from a rich Lutheran background and heritage, I find it most unfortunate and sad, that this 2 Corinthians 5 Scripture is now cherished by Lutheran bellwethers to the detriment of their synods' congregational flocks.
Nathan M. Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org