| Author | Message |
    
Angela N (Angela_naglis)
Member
Username: Angela_naglis
Post Number: 157
Registered: 3-2007 |
| Posted on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 11:34 pm: |    |
I am looking for a Luther Quote that goes something along the lines like this...
If a man gives you a castle and you do not believe him,he certainly gave it and you have nobody to blame but yourself.
Can you help me find the exact quote? |
Timothy Blank (Timothyblank)
Intermediate Member
Username: Timothyblank
Post Number: 486
Registered: 11-2004 |
| Posted on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 12:46 am: | |
Angela,
This is a great quote, on which I have found deniers of Objective Justification to be incredibly silent,
quote:
But if you speak as the factious spirits and sophists do: “After all, many hear of the binding and loosing of the keys, yet it makes no impression on them and they remain unbound and without being loosed. Hence, there must exist something else beside the Word and the keys. It is the spirit, the spirit, yes, the spirit that does it!” Do you believe he is not bound who does not believe in the key which binds? Indeed, he shall learn, in due time, that his unbelief did not make the binding vain, nor did it fail in its purpose. Even he who does not believe that he is free and his sins forgiven shall also learn, in due time, how assuredly his sins were forgiven, even though he did not believe it. St. Paul says in Rom. 3[:3]: “Their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God.” We are not talking here either about people’s belief or disbelief regarding the efficacy of the keys. We realize that few believe. We are speaking of what the keys accomplish and give. He who does not accept what the keys give receives, of course, nothing. But this is not the key’s fault. Many do not believe the gospel, but this does not mean that the gospel is not true or effective. A king gives you a castle. If you do not accept it, then it is not the king’s fault, nor is he guilty of a lie. But you have deceived yourself and the fault is yours. The king certainly gave it.
Well, you say, here you yourself teach that the key fails. For the keys do not accomplish their purpose when some do not believe nor accept. Well, friend, if you call this failing, then God fails in all his words and works. For few accept what he constantly speaks and does for all. This means doing violence to the proper meaning of words. I do not call it a failure or a mistake if I say or do something, and somebody else despises or ignores it.
Luther’s Works Vol. 40, pgs. 366-367 (bold my emphasis). |
George Mueller (Mueller)
Advanced Member
Username: Mueller
Post Number: 896
Registered: 11-2012 |
| Posted on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 10:49 am: | |
This is a wonderful citation that shows that Luther taught objective justification, though deniers of objective justification won't admit it. But then, if they're not going to believe the Bible, why should they believe Luther? |
Timothy Blank (Timothyblank)
Intermediate Member
Username: Timothyblank
Post Number: 487
Registered: 11-2004 |
| Posted on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 12:45 pm: | |
Walther gave a very similar analogy in his Law and Gospel, pg. 375
quote:
To illustrate: Suppose a king has declared that a rebellious town has been granted full amnesty, and no one is to suffer for his sedition. In a case like that anybody can say: “The king has quelled the rebellion; he has conquered you rebels, but you can be of good cheer, because he has pardoned you. I know this for a certainty, because I myself heard the king say so.” If the speaker, in addition, were to bring a document signed and sealed by the king which contained the same statement, everybody would rejoice and begin to celebrate the event. The situation is identical with the case now under discussion. By the resurrection of Christ, God has declared that He is reconciled with all mankind and does not intend to inflict punishment on anybody. He has this fact proclaimed in all the world by His Gospel and, in addition, has commanded every minister of the Gospel to forgive men their sins, promising that He will do in heaven what the minister is doing on earth.
|
Sharlene Miers (Joyfulnoise)
Advanced Member
Username: Joyfulnoise
Post Number: 844
Registered: 6-2005 |
| Posted on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 2:19 pm: | |
Even my 10-year old granddaughter understood this. She told me that it's like someone gave you a gift and you kept pushing it away and pushing it away. They still gave you the gift; you just refused to accept it. She was extremely serious when she explained this to me. |
George Mueller (Mueller)
Advanced Member
Username: Mueller
Post Number: 898
Registered: 11-2012 |
| Posted on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 2:34 pm: | |
It's amazing how a ten year old can understand what many highly educated theologians can't understand. |
Angela N (Angela_naglis)
Member
Username: Angela_naglis
Post Number: 159
Registered: 3-2007 |
| Posted on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 4:19 pm: | |
It IS amazing how a ten year old can understand what scripture is saying better than some adults!
Why is it this way? It's frustrating.
Thanks everyone for the responses! |
|
