False Leaders of Unsteady Lutherans Must Silence Brett Meyer While They Let Crypto-Atheists and Open Universalists Rant

1.   

Brett Meyer

March 13th, 2014 at 01:05 | #27

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Daniel Baker :

John Rixe :@Bryan Lidtke #19 Can we just say that Jesus died for everybody and whoever believes this goes to heaven?Thank you, thank you. What more is there to say but Amen.

I’m down with that too. I just want to stop putting the egg before the chicken with such ridiculous notions that amount to “Everybody is already saved, whoever believes this gets to go to heaven.”

(My comment - Brett) 

I believe it’s wrong to agree to such a minimalistic statement which is made primarily to find agreement between two diametrically opposed sides of the Chief Article as though the differences being taught and defended (to the point of excommunication) are insignificant.

Universal Objective Justification teaches that the object of it’s gospel’s faith is specifically the supposed declaration by God the Father that the whole world of unbelievers is declared forgiven all sin, guiltless, righteous and worthy of eternal life. The doctrine of UOJ states it is only this declaration which creates faith and upon which faith can trust. Whereas Scripture, and the Lutheran Confessions faithfully teach in harmony, declares the object of the Holy Spirit’s faith is Christ alone. Prior to the gracious gift of faith in Christ the unbelieving world remains under the Law, alive to sin and under God’s wrath and condemnation. It is the gracious gift of faith in Christ alone, the righteousness of Christ – worked through the Means of Grace, which regenerates, by which men are redeemed from under the Law, die to sin, raised to live under God’s grace as Children of God and are eternally saved.

The doctrine of Objective Justification is unfaithful and contrary to Scripture in every tenet of its doctrinal teachings as has been thoroughly covered in this forum (http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=35105&cpage=1#comments) and elsewhere on the internet.

I believe Luther was correct when he stated:
“Therefore nothing but a satanic, seductive, and sinister strategy is involved when we are called upon to yield a bit and to connive at an error for the sake of unity. In this way the devil is trying cunningly to lead us away from the Word. For if we adopt this course and get together in this matter, he has already gained ground; and if we were to yield him a fingerbreadth, he would soon have an ell.”
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1411f. Ephesians 6:10-17.

“Therefore, do not speak to me of love or friendship when anything is to be detracted from the Word or the faith; for we are told that not love but the Word brings eternal life, God’s grace, and all heavenly treasures.” 19 ” In matters concerning faith we must be invincible, unbending, and very stubborn; indeed, if possible, harder than adamant. But in matters concerning love we should be softer and more pliant than any reed and leaf and should gladly accommodate ourselves to everything.” 20 “Doctrine is our only light. It alone enlightens and directs us and shows us the way to heaven. If it is shaken in one quarter (in una parte), it will necessarily be shaken in its entirety (in totum). Where that happens, love cannot help us at all.” 21 ” But this tender mercy is to be exercised only toward Christians and among Christians, for toward those who reject and persecute the Gospel we must act differently; here I am not permitted to let my love be merciful so as to tolerate and endure false doctrine. When faith and doctrine are concerned and endangered, neither love nor patience are in order. Then it is my duty to contend in earnest and not to yield a hairbreadth.” What Luther Says, II, 637f.

“However, if anything is undertaken against the Word, faith, and the honor of God, we are in no wise to preserve silence, are to bear it far less patiently. Then we should offer stubborn resistance.”
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1308. Sermon, 1523.

In Christ,
Brett Meyer

2.   

Brett Meyer

March 13th, 2014 at 01:22 | #28

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Martin Diers :Regarding 2 Cor. 5:19: show me a single example in the entire New Testament where that grammatical construct means “is” instead of “was”.
It never does.
I wrote this up in my paper on this subject available here: http://lutherantheology.com/uploads/works/papers/ObjectiveJustification_2013_mwd.pdf
See page 15f.

(My comment - Brett)

Pastor Diers, your contention in defense of the doctrine of Objective Justification that God is reconciled to the whole unbelieving world is obliterated by the Christian Book of Concord which clearly teaches God’s reconciliation is solely by and through the gracious gift of faith in Christ alone and not before as UOJ contends.

“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 81] Christ’s sake. Likewise Paul, Rom. 5:2, says: By whom also we have access, and adds, by faith. Thus, therefore, we are reconciled to the Father, and receive remission of sins when we are comforted with confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake. The adversaries regard Christ as Mediator and Propitiator for this reason, namely, that He has merited the habit of love; they do not urge us to use Him now as Mediator, but, as though Christ were altogether buried, they imagine that we have access through our own works, and, through these, merit this habit, and afterwards, by this love, come to God. Is not this to bury Christ altogether, and to take away the entire doctrine of faith? Paul on the contrary, teaches that we have access, i.e., reconciliation, through Christ. And to show how this occurs, he adds that we have access by faith. By faith, therefore, for Christ’s sake, we receive remission of sins. We cannot set our own love and our own works over against God’s wrath.
86] But since we receive remission of sins and the Holy Ghost by faith alone, faith alone justifies, because those reconciled are accounted righteous and children of God, not on account of their own purity, but through mercy for Christ’s sake, provided only they by faith apprehend this mercy. Accordingly, Scripture testifies that by faith we are accounted righteous, Rom. 3:26. We, therefore, will add testimonies which clearly declare that faith is that very righteousness by which we are accounted righteous before God, namely, not because it is a work that is in itself worthy, but because it receives the promise by which God has promised that for Christ’s sake He wishes to be propitious to those believing in Him, or because He knows that Christ of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor. 1:30.
113] But faith, properly so called, is that which assents to the promise [is when my heart, and the Holy Ghost in the heart, says: The promise of God is true and certain]. Of 114] this faith Scripture speaks. And because it receives the remission of sins, and reconciles us to God, by this faith we are [like Abraham] accounted righteous for Christ’s sake before we love and do the works of the Law, although love necessarily follows. 115]Nor, indeed, is this faith an idle knowledge, neither can it coexist with mortal sin, but it is a work of the Holy Ghost, whereby we are freed from death, and terrified minds are encouraged and quickened. 116]
http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_4_justification.php

so that for His sake, the Father may become reconciled to us. But Christ is not apprehended as a Mediator except by faith.

therefore, we are reconciled to the Father, and receive remission of sins when we are comforted with confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake.

Paul on the contrary, teaches that we have access, i.e., reconciliation, through Christ. And to show how this occurs, he adds that we have access by faith.

But since we receive remission of sins and the Holy Ghost by faith alone, faith alone justifies, because those reconciled are accounted righteous and children of God, not on account of their own purity, but through mercy for Christ’s sake, provided only they by faith apprehend this mercy.

Of 114] this faith Scripture speaks. And because it receives the remission of sins, and reconciles us to God, by this faith we are [like Abraham] accounted righteous for Christ’s sake

In Christ,
Brett Meyer