Easter Absolution and Pietism < Must read
Brethren: It has been brought to my attention by an LCMS pastor friend that the doctrine of Objective Justification can also be taught under the Second Article, in the explanation of the Resurrection of Christ.
With reference to the Synodical Conference synods Catechisms prior to 1966, these were my findings when I examined the Second Article in the Catechisms (caps added:)
1912 LCMS (Schwan) Catechism, Second Article, the Resurrection of Christ, "Qu. 163: Why is the resurrection of Christ so comforting to us? A: Because it conclusive evidence,--1, That Christ is the Son of God, and that His doctrine is the truth; 2. That God the Father has accepted the sacrifice of His Son FOR THE RECONCILIATION OF THE WORLD; 3. That all believers shall rise unto eternal life."
1943 LCMS (Intersynodical) Catechism: "Qu. 152: Why is the resurrection of Christ of such importance and comfort to us? A: Christ's resurrection definitely proves--A. That Christ is the Son of God; B. That His doctrine is the truth; C. That God the Father has accepted the sacrifice of His Son for the RECONCILIATION OF THE WORLD; D. That all believers shall rise unto eternal life."
The other Catechisms when speaking of the Resurrection of Christ used terminology which indicated that the Atonement of Christ was being referred to rather than to an Objective Justification of all people, so there seems to have been a difference between the Catechisms about how to teach the benefits of the Resurrection if Christ which has continued to this day. Of the 16 different Synodical Conference synod Catechisms which I consulted, 8 apparently taught the doctrine of Objective Justification under the Second Article and 8 under the Third Article, the Forgiveness of Sins. Some Catechisms taught it under both Articles, the rest only under the Third Article. The 2017 LCMS Catechism was vague regarding both Articles.
I sincerely apologize for not having checked the Second Article before sharing my earlier findings; I have ONLY heard of Objective Justification being taught under the Third Article, and even then--as an adult convert to TALC, then the LCMS--only when I attended the Fort Wayne seminary. Prior to that I had only been taught JBFA.
A final thought: I noticed in my research that a crucial element in the teaching of Objective/Subjective Justification in the Catechisms was to "move" the IMPUTATION of Christ's righteousness from when a person is brought to faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel in the Means of Grace (JBFA) to the "Easter Declaration," by which God the Father justified and reconciled and forgave the whole human race at the SAME time as imputing Christ's righteousness to them. --WM
With reference to the Synodical Conference synods Catechisms prior to 1966, these were my findings when I examined the Second Article in the Catechisms (caps added:)
1912 LCMS (Schwan) Catechism, Second Article, the Resurrection of Christ, "Qu. 163: Why is the resurrection of Christ so comforting to us? A: Because it conclusive evidence,--1, That Christ is the Son of God, and that His doctrine is the truth; 2. That God the Father has accepted the sacrifice of His Son FOR THE RECONCILIATION OF THE WORLD; 3. That all believers shall rise unto eternal life."
1943 LCMS (Intersynodical) Catechism: "Qu. 152: Why is the resurrection of Christ of such importance and comfort to us? A: Christ's resurrection definitely proves--A. That Christ is the Son of God; B. That His doctrine is the truth; C. That God the Father has accepted the sacrifice of His Son for the RECONCILIATION OF THE WORLD; D. That all believers shall rise unto eternal life."
The other Catechisms when speaking of the Resurrection of Christ used terminology which indicated that the Atonement of Christ was being referred to rather than to an Objective Justification of all people, so there seems to have been a difference between the Catechisms about how to teach the benefits of the Resurrection if Christ which has continued to this day. Of the 16 different Synodical Conference synod Catechisms which I consulted, 8 apparently taught the doctrine of Objective Justification under the Second Article and 8 under the Third Article, the Forgiveness of Sins. Some Catechisms taught it under both Articles, the rest only under the Third Article. The 2017 LCMS Catechism was vague regarding both Articles.
I sincerely apologize for not having checked the Second Article before sharing my earlier findings; I have ONLY heard of Objective Justification being taught under the Third Article, and even then--as an adult convert to TALC, then the LCMS--only when I attended the Fort Wayne seminary. Prior to that I had only been taught JBFA.
A final thought: I noticed in my research that a crucial element in the teaching of Objective/Subjective Justification in the Catechisms was to "move" the IMPUTATION of Christ's righteousness from when a person is brought to faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel in the Means of Grace (JBFA) to the "Easter Declaration," by which God the Father justified and reconciled and forgave the whole human race at the SAME time as imputing Christ's righteousness to them. --WM
