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| "UOJ is in here somewhere." |
The pivotal issue in modern theology is faith, because the modern theologians are against it. As Professor Charles Caldwell said, "Faith without belief," and "Radicalism with a sentimental attachment to the Bible."
The origin? Calvin, his double-predestination, and his rationalism. He was Walther before Walther, which is why LCemessians should not study Calvin. They would see too much of their idol Walther in the Great Calvin.
When I hear Lutheran pastors warn against "making faith a work of man," I am reminded of all those Calvinism liberal apostate theologians. They have their little slogans too, the chief one being, "Do not allow for a contingency, because then grace is no longer grace." A contingency clause starts with if, so the modern theologians and Synodical Conference blind guides emphasize universal grace, universal forgiveness, universal salvation. But that does not mean Universalism!?
Paul did not raise himself to the level of being God's counselors, but these quacks do. So let us look at one verse which endangers their false doctrine so much that they purposefully ignore it. Yes, purpose-driven false exegesis.
Romans 4:24-25 King James Version (KJV)
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
QED (therefore, it is demonstrated that) - God speaks about forgiveness if we believe. See just a few of the passages in the Bible that address this directly, opposed to UOJ.
On the Biblical side - the Holy Spirit works through the invisible Word of teaching and preaching to bring Jesus and His grace to individuals. The Holy Spirit also works throug the visible Word (the Sacraments) as instruments of God's grace.
The Enthusiasts of Rome, Geneva, Wheaton, and Pasadena do not acknowledge or teach the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace. Therefore, they mill about in confusion about the way in which people are converted to the Gospel, forgiven, and saved.
Almost all modern theologians are neos - they work against faith and deny faith - but they imagine their work is a collection of fabulous wisdom. Although it may be interesting to read the imaginative literature of C. S. Lewis, he was a neo, enchanted with his own views, which are are dog-eared ideas from Calvinism.
Those who identify as conservative Lutherans and even call themselves orthodox or confessional...wait, I have to pause to stop laughing - they are quasi-Lutheran at best. They know a little more about Luther than the average Unitarian, but not much. They just remember a few more talking points from Dogmatics 101. They do not read or study Luther's sermons, which are the key to everything the Reformer did.
Didja ever walk home from junior or senior high school, starved for somethign to eat? We often had donuts in a box, sometimes days old and hard as rocks. El donuts can be harder than granite when left alone a few days.When nothing was immediately available to eat, I warmed up the donuts. I satisfied my immediate hunger, but that was not exactly nutrition.
The Quasi-Lutherans are always looking for something, because they utterly neglect Luther and the Confessions. They see their Calvinistic Bible (probably NIV or ESV) as their guide, and grab anti-Means of Grace material as their snackfood.
On vacation in Florida, in the old days, my parents got lower and lower in cash. We were only eating fast food on the way home to Moline. What seems to appealing gets tiresome in time. Even as a kid I missed having a real, home cooked meal. Could that be the reason so few people want to sit through another amateur music hour, another meal of spiritual Twinkies and Diet Dr. Thunder?
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| "We have apprehended the Justification by Faith rebel, Lord Vader. He is resisting arrest, so we will have to make him a little more eager to listen to your wisdom." |
Beware of Knocking "Faith as a Work of Man"
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
As anyone can plainly see, believing in Him is connected to the Bread of Life, never hungering, never thirsting.
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| Eating three donuts will make someone hungry for three more. Donut ask how I know. |
