More dynamite! Oh if God might raise Lutheran preaching like this to our world. From Hunnius, as quoted in Intuitu Fidei (In view of faith, not of (unbelieving) Eskimos :) ): Alec
[GJ - That's Eskimeaux in the old spelling.]
Hunnius
Query: Certainly, I believe that Christ must enter into the mystery of predestination, because He Himself has chosen us (John 13 and 15), and because we are chosen in Him (Eph. 1). But I would like to see proof for including faith in Christ in the decree of election. – Answer: That you may understand aright in what sense faith is said to enter into the mystery of election, I beg you to remember that it enters into this mystery only as a part of the above named order. For testimony and proof we appeal to Eph. 1; 2 Thess. 2; James 2. … It cannot but be that all persons chosen unto eternal life must be loved of God, as becomes His children, with a most intimate and perfect love. But it is impossible for any one without faith to be so intimately loved of God, as befits His children. Heb. 11. Consequently, we dare not believe that any one was chosen unto eternal life without all regard to faith in Christ. . . . Since election is an act of the mercy of God toward fallen, sinful man, it cannot take place unless the eternal righteousness of God, which the sin of man offended, has received full satisfaction. From this we conclude the following. The election of sinners unto salvation cannot take place, unless either the sinners themselves render a satisfaction of their own to God’s eternal righteousness, or receive that of another, i. e. of Christ, imputed unto them. They cannot render a satisfaction of their own. It follows then, if they would be ordained to salvation, they must render the imputed satisfaction of Christ. But this imputation takes place only through faith, making it as clear as day that regard to faith, in so far as it embraces Christ, cannot be debarred from the election of sinners.”[Footnote] (De Prasdest., p. 339 sqq.)
[Footnote] Hunnius here follows strictly the words of St. Paul: Hath any man prophecy, let him “prophesy according to the proportion of faith,” that is according to the analogy of faith. For it is one of the fixed and immovable principles of our Lutheran theology, and with God’s help will remain such in spite of Missouri, that the doctrine of justification by faith is the chief article, and all others must harmonize with it. Now it is one of the principal parts of the doctrine of justification, that the bestowal of everlasting life, according to God’s will, which is ever one and the same immutable will, depends upon the sinner’s justification through faith in Christ. “Where there is forgiveness of sin, there also is life and salvation” – and nowhere else! “Vita aeterna promissa est justificatis,” our Confession declares. “Eternal life is promised to those who are justified,” to those “who are reconciled in Christ; and it is faith that reconciles and justifies before God.” Missouri indeed easily evades all this. It tells us: To be sure, in the universal decree of redemption the word applies: “He that believeth shall be saved.” Salvation and even eternal ordination unto salvation is here made altogether dependent upon faith, as is evinced also by the fact that God did not ordain many unto salvation for the very reason that He foresaw no faith in them. But “it is false to say, God has foreseen who would believe and therefore God has chosen them, for this is not predestination (Gnadenwahl), it is the order of salvation (Gnadenordnung).” (Report of the Western District, 1880, p. 29.) So then, in the order of salvation, to which justification belongs, God reveals His will thus: Without faith it is impossible to please God; he only who believes shall be justified and saved. In predestination, however, God simply ordains certain sinners as they are by nature unto salvation, and thereby also unto faith and unto justification!
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| Pastor Paul Rydecki has translated some Hunnius, but Concordia Publishing House no longer distributes ELDONA books. Maybe Paul the Pistol-Packing Plagiarist noticed Rydecki using my Photoshop of Hunnius. |
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| The Fox Valley AA Pastors accused me of promoting "Inuitu Fidei" - which translates as The Faith of the Eskimeaux, since they are Inuits. Why do they never shout "I studied Latin!"? - Because they fear the raucous laughter that would follow. And yes, I got a cranky comment from Fox Valley after creating this hilarious graphic. |
