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| The McCain-Harrison administration has presided over this bombastic, ponderous, self-important veneration of Objective Justification, a Barthian Calvinistic repudiation of the Chief Article. |
Gentlemen: Inspired by Pastor Jackson's research as reported in Ichabod, I have examined the first English language Small Catechisms used in the Synodical Conference synods from the 1890s up to (in the case of the 1943
LCMS Catechism) the present by some conservative Lutherans, to determine how the doctrine of Justification is presented: UOJ or JBFA. Here are my findings: (Caps added)
2. DR. MARTIN LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM BY DR. J.C. DIETRICH, CPH, 1902: Qu. 305 Why do you say in this article: I believe in the forgiveness of sins? A: Because I am fully assured that I cannot by my own power or my own works be justified before God, but that forgiveness of sins is bestowed upon me by grace, THROUGH FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. For where there is forgiveness of sin there is also true justification. Qu. 306 What is justification? Justification is that act of God by which, from pure grace and mercy, for the sake of Christ's merits, He forgives the sins of a poor sinner WHO TRULY BELIEVES IN CHRIST, and receives him to eternal life. Qu. 307 How then do you become just before God and obtain eternal salvation? A: Not by the merit of works, or by an indwelling and infused righteousness [UOJ?] , but only through the grace and mercy of God, for the sake of the merit of Christ alone, which I have apprehended and appropriated by TRUE CONFIDENCE OF THE HEART. Or: By the most holy obedience, and by the suffering and death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, not by any other works To this I CLING WITH UNDOUBTING FAITH and upon this I FIX MY HEART'S ENTIRE CONFIDENCE....Qu. 309 But how can it be said that we are justified alone by grace, alone for the sake of Christ's merit, ALONE THROUGH FAITH, and still through the Word of God and the Sacraments? A: We are justified 1. By the grace and mercy of God, as the efficient cause; 2. For the sake of Christ's merits, as the meritorious cause; 3. THROUGH FAITH ALONE, AS THE ONLY INSTRUMENTAL CAUSE, OR THE HAND WHICH GRASPS SALVATION; 4. Through the Word and Sacraments as the means of grace, which either convey or seal salvation. (LCMS Catechism)
3. EXPLANATION OF LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM, Lutheran Synod Book Co. [ELS] 1906? (1964 printing, two years before first new ELS Catechism:) Qu. 218 What precious gift does the Holy Ghost, in the Christian Church, grant YOU AND ALL BELIEVERS? A: The Holy Ghost daily and richly forgives ME AND ALL BELIEVERS all our sins.
4. A SHORT EXPOSITION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM by Heinrich Schwan, CPH 1912: Qu. 197 Who receives this forgiveness? A: Although it has been PROCURED for ALL MEN, and is offered by the Gospel to ALL THAT HEAR it, yet ONLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL AND THUS ACCEPT THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACTUALLY BECOME PARTAKERS OF SUCH FORGIVENESS. Qu. 198 What, then, do we, together with our Church, confess regarding the forgiveness of sins, or justification? A: That we receive forgiveness of sins and are justified before God, not by our works, but by grace, for Christ's sake, THROUGH FAITH. Qu. 199 Can EVERY BELIEVER be sure of the forgivenesss of sins and of his salvation? A: Yes, he can and should be, because God's promise is sure. (LCMS Catechism)
5. DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM by Carl Gausewitz, Northwestern Publishing House [WELS] 1917 (Unrevised 1946 edition.) Qu. 260 What do you confess with these words [I believe in the forgiveness of sins]? A: I believe that the Holy Ghost in the Christian Church on earth daily and richly forgives all sins to ME AND ALL BELIEVERS. ..Qu. 262 Why do we say that the Holy Ghost forgives our
sins, whereas we are justified before God by the redemption of Christ? A: The Holy Ghost by the Gospel awards the righteousness of Christ to us, and gives OUR FAITH ASSURANCE THEREOF. Qu. 263 To whom does God forgive sins? A: TO ME AND ALL BELIEVERS. "Our works are all rejected, all claims of merit pass for naught."
6. LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM (Revised Schwan Catechism/Intersynodical Edition) CPH, 1943: Qu. 187 Why do you say, I believe in the forgiveness of sins? A: The Bible assures me that God daily and richly forgives all sins to ME AND ALL BELIEVERS. ..Qu. 192 How do you accept this forgiveness of sins? A: I accept this forgiveness BY BELIEVING THE GOSPEL. (LCMS Catechism)
7. LUTHER'S CATECHISM (Revised Gausewitz Catechism) NPH [WELS] 1956: Qu. 258 What do you confess with these words [I believe in the forgiveness of sins]? A: I believe that in the Christian Church on earth the Holy Ghost daily and richly forgives all sins to ME AND ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST. ..Qu. 260 Why do we say that the Holy Ghost forgives sins, whereas we are made righteous before God through the redemption of Christ? A: The Holy Ghost brings the righteousness of Christ to us by the Gospel and gives us THE FAITH TO BELIEVE IT. Qu. 261 To whom does God forgive sins? A: God forgives sins to ME AND ALL BELIEVERS.
It was beginning in 1966, with the first new ELS Catechism, that the Catechisms of the synods which had once been part of the Synodical Conference began to change how they presented the doctrine of Justification in such a way as to bring in UOJ, but up until that point in time JBFA was STILL being taught in the Synodical Conference Catechisms to the laity of those synods, while UOJ was being taught to college students, seminarians and pastors through such doctrinal theology texts as those by Franz Pieper, JT Mueller and EWA Koehler. --WM
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO THE SIX PARTS OF LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM by Wilhelm Loehe, 1893: Qu. 480 What does the Holy Ghost do for you? A: He forgives my sins. Qu. 481 Yours only? A. No. And the sins of ALL BELIEVERS. Qu. 482 Why do you say, of ALL BELIEVERS? A: Because the forgiveness of sins can be received ONLY IN FAITH. (This Catechism was published in the United Synod of the South by the translator, Edward T. Horn. Wilhelm Loehe originally worked with Walther and the LCMS, before founding the Iowa Synod. Although not a Synodical Conference Catechism, Loehe's Catechism did reflect the teaching of the Synodical Conference at the time of its translation.)
2. DR. MARTIN LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM BY DR. J.C. DIETRICH, CPH, 1902: Qu. 305 Why do you say in this article: I believe in the forgiveness of sins? A: Because I am fully assured that I cannot by my own power or my own works be justified before God, but that forgiveness of sins is bestowed upon me by grace, THROUGH FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. For where there is forgiveness of sin there is also true justification. Qu. 306 What is justification? Justification is that act of God by which, from pure grace and mercy, for the sake of Christ's merits, He forgives the sins of a poor sinner WHO TRULY BELIEVES IN CHRIST, and receives him to eternal life. Qu. 307 How then do you become just before God and obtain eternal salvation? A: Not by the merit of works, or by an indwelling and infused righteousness [UOJ?] , but only through the grace and mercy of God, for the sake of the merit of Christ alone, which I have apprehended and appropriated by TRUE CONFIDENCE OF THE HEART. Or: By the most holy obedience, and by the suffering and death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, not by any other works To this I CLING WITH UNDOUBTING FAITH and upon this I FIX MY HEART'S ENTIRE CONFIDENCE....Qu. 309 But how can it be said that we are justified alone by grace, alone for the sake of Christ's merit, ALONE THROUGH FAITH, and still through the Word of God and the Sacraments? A: We are justified 1. By the grace and mercy of God, as the efficient cause; 2. For the sake of Christ's merits, as the meritorious cause; 3. THROUGH FAITH ALONE, AS THE ONLY INSTRUMENTAL CAUSE, OR THE HAND WHICH GRASPS SALVATION; 4. Through the Word and Sacraments as the means of grace, which either convey or seal salvation. (LCMS Catechism)
3. EXPLANATION OF LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM, Lutheran Synod Book Co. [ELS] 1906? (1964 printing, two years before first new ELS Catechism:) Qu. 218 What precious gift does the Holy Ghost, in the Christian Church, grant YOU AND ALL BELIEVERS? A: The Holy Ghost daily and richly forgives ME AND ALL BELIEVERS all our sins.
4. A SHORT EXPOSITION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM by Heinrich Schwan, CPH 1912: Qu. 197 Who receives this forgiveness? A: Although it has been PROCURED for ALL MEN, and is offered by the Gospel to ALL THAT HEAR it, yet ONLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL AND THUS ACCEPT THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACTUALLY BECOME PARTAKERS OF SUCH FORGIVENESS. Qu. 198 What, then, do we, together with our Church, confess regarding the forgiveness of sins, or justification? A: That we receive forgiveness of sins and are justified before God, not by our works, but by grace, for Christ's sake, THROUGH FAITH. Qu. 199 Can EVERY BELIEVER be sure of the forgivenesss of sins and of his salvation? A: Yes, he can and should be, because God's promise is sure. (LCMS Catechism)
5. DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM by Carl Gausewitz, Northwestern Publishing House [WELS] 1917 (Unrevised 1946 edition.) Qu. 260 What do you confess with these words [I believe in the forgiveness of sins]? A: I believe that the Holy Ghost in the Christian Church on earth daily and richly forgives all sins to ME AND ALL BELIEVERS. ..Qu. 262 Why do we say that the Holy Ghost forgives our
sins, whereas we are justified before God by the redemption of Christ? A: The Holy Ghost by the Gospel awards the righteousness of Christ to us, and gives OUR FAITH ASSURANCE THEREOF. Qu. 263 To whom does God forgive sins? A: TO ME AND ALL BELIEVERS. "Our works are all rejected, all claims of merit pass for naught."
6. LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM (Revised Schwan Catechism/Intersynodical Edition) CPH, 1943: Qu. 187 Why do you say, I believe in the forgiveness of sins? A: The Bible assures me that God daily and richly forgives all sins to ME AND ALL BELIEVERS. ..Qu. 192 How do you accept this forgiveness of sins? A: I accept this forgiveness BY BELIEVING THE GOSPEL. (LCMS Catechism)
7. LUTHER'S CATECHISM (Revised Gausewitz Catechism) NPH [WELS] 1956: Qu. 258 What do you confess with these words [I believe in the forgiveness of sins]? A: I believe that in the Christian Church on earth the Holy Ghost daily and richly forgives all sins to ME AND ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST. ..Qu. 260 Why do we say that the Holy Ghost forgives sins, whereas we are made righteous before God through the redemption of Christ? A: The Holy Ghost brings the righteousness of Christ to us by the Gospel and gives us THE FAITH TO BELIEVE IT. Qu. 261 To whom does God forgive sins? A: God forgives sins to ME AND ALL BELIEVERS.
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| Drive-Buy Doctor Kintz. Have you no shame? Using Luther to sell foolish trinkets and his name to promote the Calvinistic Pietism of Bishop Stephan and Pope Walther? Is it not enough for the LCMS to jointly write a Book of Concord with an ELCA activist while decrying that activism? Must the synod also embrace the apostate dogma of ELCA and cover it with gold and silver paint to make everyone forget it is Dreck? |
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| CPH books are brought to the gullible, courtesy of Calvin, Rambach, and Stephan, STD. |
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| Didya buy your Here I Stand socks from CPH? |
It was beginning in 1966, with the first new ELS Catechism, that the Catechisms of the synods which had once been part of the Synodical Conference began to change how they presented the doctrine of Justification in such a way as to bring in UOJ, but up until that point in time JBFA was STILL being taught in the Synodical Conference Catechisms to the laity of those synods, while UOJ was being taught to college students, seminarians and pastors through such doctrinal theology texts as those by Franz Pieper, JT Mueller and EWA Koehler. --WM
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| These clowns now have an enormous CPH "Small" Catechism that carefully explains two Justifications, one where the entire world is forgiven without faith, the other where one must agree that the world is forgiven without faith, to be be forgiven. |
