Wisconsin Sect - Studying Everything Except One Thing Needful

 

Groups addressing same old same old

Any number of groups have been carrying out their assignments to address various issues that are important to our called workers, congregations, accountants, and members. Here is an update on those groups and their assignments.

The Ministry Recruitment task force - already described exhaustively in a previous issue of Together - is set to have even fewer ministers
Chaired by Rev. Paul Prange, this task force was formed as a result of a resolution passed by the 2023 synod convention due to the significant shortage of pastors, teachers, and staff ministers. Its assignment is to look at all factors that impact the recruitment of called workers and bring recommendations for a synodwide effort to recruit and train more called workers. It will bring its recommendations to the 2025 synod convention.

Task force on critical theories about going with the flow
Chaired by Rev. Snowden Sims, this task force was assigned to evaluate the topic of critical theories and provide guidance to WELS called workers and members on how to understand and address these philosophies in light of Scripture. The task force will submit its recommendations to the Conference of Presidents, which will then produce and distribute a pastoral brief on the subject.

Theology curriculum task force celebrating the worst ever NIV
The theology curriculum task force is currently in an 18-month development of the components necessary for future content writers to create new instructional materials for WELS schools to use for the instruction of God’s Word. The task force wants the new curriculum to hold fast to our purposes of sharing God’s Word in its truth and purity with the next generation and meet the needs of increasingly diverse classrooms. One of its goals is to provide a curriculum that is primarily digital in format, which will make it possible to update the curriculum on an ongoing basis. The task force chairman is Mr. Jim Rademan. Mrs. Melanie Giddings is the curriculum coordinator.

Long-range committee Peter Drucker (tm) strategic planning task force
Chaired by Rev. Jonathan Hein, this task force is developing a new synod long-range strategic plan that will guide all areas of synodical mission and ministry. The six-year plan, entitled “Christ through us” (the theme of the 2025 synod convention), will be presented to the synod convention in 2025.

175th anniversary planning committee for the 200th, if we make it.
Chaired by Prof. Joel Otto, the committee has already begun to make plans for the celebration of the synod’s 175th anniversary in 2025. The theme for that celebration will be the same as the theme for the 2025 convention (“Christ through us”). Plans include a book that provides a pictorial history of the synod, video vignettes, an interactive online history of WELS, and a synodwide celebration Sunday in the fall of 2025.

Gender, sexuality, identity
A standing committee (not a perpetual task force), chaired by Rev. Greg Lyon, is developing resources for pastors, congregations, parents, and young people to help them deal with transgender and same-sex attraction issues that are becoming more common in our society and culture. We are trying to cut back on the gay activities and fun in prep school, GA, and college events. If pastors cross-dress with their elders at a church picnic, we will honor the pastor for his flexibility, wardrobe choices, and makeup.

Man/woman roles
The Conference of Presidents is continuing its work to develop its 15th pastoral brief on man/woman roles. The brief will be distributed as soon as it is completed.

Please remember these groups as they work to address important issues Mequonly, biblically, and evangelically.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

Chick Peas? Chick Peas! What Are You Going To Do with Chick Peas!?

 

Don't let's tell everyone - Ducreux!

The Walmart pharm tech asked about my grocery chart and said, "Chick Peas? Chick Peas! What are you going to do with Chick Peas!?

Healthline Summary of Chick Peas aka Cicero Beans

Chickpeas also provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as a decent amount of fiber and protein. A 1-cup (164-gram) serving of cooked chickpeas offers (1Trusted Source):

• Calories: 269
• Protein: 14.5 grams
• Fat: 4 grams
• Carbs: 45 grams
• Fiber: 12.5 grams
• Manganese: 74% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Folate (vitamin B9): 71% of the DV
• Copper: 64% of the DV
• Iron: 26% of the DV
• Zinc: 23% of the DV
• Phosphorus: 22% of the DV
• Magnesium: 19% of the DV
• Thiamine: 16% of the DV
• Vitamin B6: 13% of the DV
• Selenium: 11% of the DV
• Potassium: 10% of the DV

I have not looked over all the beans and lentils, but I found this bean (WM generic) was relatively low in salt and loaded with nutrition, protein, and fiber - very satisfying.

A mix of unprocessed, frozen, and fresh food will provide most of the medicine a store can provide. 

In contrast, prescription drugs address symptoms and may relieve them - a gamble. Prescription drugs can be quite dangerous. Over the counter remedies are shockingly expensive and very close to useless. Some over the counter brands are dangerous and expensive, such as promoting huge amounts of protein, loads of sugar and milk, plus ingredients to provide bogus energy.

These are super foods that outshine others in promoting health:

Cruciferous plants - the ones your mother forced on you when you wanted Coco-Puffs and chocolate milk instead -

• Kale - "beats them all."
• Broccoli - "another top contender"
• Brussels Sprouts - "baby cabbages, can be delicious"
• Cabbage - "German vitamins"
• Collards. "not just for poor people anymore."

Blueberries are the superfood of fruits, low in sugar, delicious, great for stew and old-fashioned oatmeal.

Mushrooms are anti-cancer, no calories, no fat, and a subtle addition to many foods, yea even oatmeal and stew.

The total grocery bill will collapse from the lack of dollars spent. If a single item like blueberries seems high, do not measure them in dollars but in Quarter Pound Meals. I see that QPM at $9.95 here, but I never go there anymore. One large box of blueberries - $6.00.  The QPM is comprised of grease, salt, greasy salty cheese, and greasy salty french fries, with some protein. The cola adds salt and sugar or fakey sugar. 

This is mean, but I have to do it. 

1. Add up all the fastfood meals and coffee shop drinks/desserts for one week. 
2. Keep the grocery store receipt and compare with no pizza, no soda pop, no cheese and milk products, candy, prepared desserts and processed meals. 
3. Consider - the Walton family did not grow rich on leafy greens, beans, fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Dr. Greger's website provides essay and videos - for free - on more topics that anyone can name. 

Rain Is Coming And the Daffodils Are Finishing Their Display

 

Digger, aka Charlie Sue, loves her dog friends along the south and north fences, plus the pug near the north fence. Charlie has raced Dustmop so often that I can easily get them running along the fence as I yell, "Race, race!" She has coached the Doggie Day Care bunch to run back and forth too. She is a Patterdale Terrier, a prankster and speed demon.

This year's daffodil harvest has been splendid, even with echoes of "You don't need more flowers."

Everyone enjoys daffodils, but they are not widely planted around here. Recently I put several daffodils into tall party cups for each of the homes on our cul-de-sac. Flowers on altar also move to the neighbors. Our Laotian neighbor loved getting the daffodils, so I urged her to take home one or more of the scented hyacinths. Yesterday, cutting the last of the flowers led me into harvesting the last white hyacinth, which traveled across the street. 

The daffodils wanted to finish up, but I cut their dying flowers off to let the bulbs get more energy for next year, instead of letting the flowers go to seed.

Now I am checking rose bushes to see which ones are thriving and which died during our brief winter cycles. Snow packed winters are far more friendly to roses, but Arkansans are not looking for blankets of snow - or any snow.

Hostas are emerging from the ground - all over. When we transfer hostas from the front yard to the backyard, they leave some roots behind and start more. The front hostas are getting much more colorful, and the brightest ones do not like a lot of sun.

It is time to fill up the hummingbird feeders, this time along the Doggie Day Care fence. I added some Cinnabon bushes along the north fence last fall and hope to have a combination of Clethra (Cinnabon) and sugar water. Humming birds expect food and love to probe the tiny Clethra flowers wit their tiny beaks.

Another feature - cow squares. They are like chicken wire, heavy duty and easy to place. They are perfect tools for growing climbing plants. That started with my honeysuckle vine and will continue with such amenities as cucumbers and climbing beans.

Long ago I coveted a member's dog who dug up moles. When I got Charlie Sue I soon learned that her instincts were indeed powerful in finding small underground animals. That has given her the muscles of a wrestler and astonishing speed. She yaks all the time at her dog friends and the children playing on the trampoline. Inside, she is quiet but intent on training the staff.

 Clethra, or sugar spice, or Cinnabon bush.
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love it.

Protestia - Presbyterians Consider Even More Tolerance - Echoes of United Lutheran Seminary

 

Presbyterian Denomination Considers Barring Ordination of Clergy Who Aren’t LGBTQ-Affirming+ Make it Non-Negotiable

"The scant number of remnant congregations within the PCUSA may soon dip even further after it was revealed the .... denomination is taking up the legislation this summer in Salt Lake City at its upcoming 226th General Assembly that would prohibit the ordination of clergy candidates who aren’t LGBTQ-affirming." 

ELCA's United Lutheran Seminary - Office of the President

The Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin was appointed president of United Lutheran Seminary and Ministerium of Pennsylvania Chair and Professor of Reformation Studies on August 1, 2020. Prior to this appointment, he was fourth bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Therea Latini was previously serving as a Presbyterian professor at ELCA's Luther Seminary.

From The American Conservative:

"ELCA is so “committed to unity among people of different views of sexuality” that one of its seminaries has been thrown into a spasm of angst over the fact that its president once held mainstream Christian views that she has long since repudiated. More recently, the seminary board chairman resigned over the controversy, which is spreading:

A joint letter from the Lutheran Students of Harvard Divinity School and the Union Theological Seminary noted that many Lutheran students at those two institutions finish their pre-ordination studies at United Lutheran (and previously did so at one of the two seminaries that merged). The letter said that this tradition has been “jeopardized by the past statements of President Latini and the recent, deceptive actions of the ULS board.”

So now they believe that Theresa Latini’s cooties will have retroactively infected them. Wow. Progressive Donatism in our time."

***

Sponsored by the Women's Ordination Conference

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Palm Sunday Epistle - "And during his suffering on the cross he, with divine power, gave to the murderer the promise of Paradise. Luke 23:43. And in the garden, similarly, he repelled the multitude by a word. John 18:6."

 

Epistle Sermon for Palm Sunday ->Complete Epistle Sermon Here

15. Unquestionably, then, Paul proclaims Christ true God. Had he been mere man, what would have been the occasion for saying that he became like a man and was found in the fashion of other men? and that he assumed the form of a servant though he was in form divine? Where would be the sense in my saying to you, “You are like a man, are made in the fashion of a man, and take upon yourself the form of a servant”? You would think I was mocking you, and might appropriately reply: “I am glad you regard me as a man; I was wondering if I were an ox or a wolf. Are you mad or foolish?” Would not that be the natural rejoinder to such a foolish statement? Now, Paul not being foolish, nor being guilty of foolish speech, there truly must have been something exalted and divine about Christ. For when the apostle declares that he was made like unto other men, though the fact of his being human is undisputed, he simply means that the man Christ was God, and could, even in his humanity, have borne himself as divine. But this is precisely what he did not do; he refrained: he disrobed himself of his divinity and bore himself as a mere man like others.

16. What follows concerning Christ, now that we understand the meaning or “form of God” and “form of a servant,” is surely plain. In fact, Paul himself tells us what he means by “form of a servant.” First: He makes the explanation that Christ disrobed, or divested himself; that is, appeared to lay aside his divinity in that he divested himself of its benefit and glory. Not that he did, or could, divest himself of his divine nature; but that he laid aside the form of divine majesty — did not act as the God he truly was.

Nor did he divest himself of the divine form to the extent of making it unfelt and invisible; in that case there would have been no divine form left.

He simply did not affect a divine appearance and dazzle us by its splendor; rather he served us with that divinity. He performed miracles. And during his suffering on the cross he, with divine power, gave to the murderer the promise of Paradise. Luke 23:43. And in the garden, similarly, he repelled the multitude by a word. John 18:6.

Hence Paul does not say that Christ was divested by some outside power; he says Christ “made himself” of no repute. Just so the wise man does not in a literal way lay aside wisdom and the appearance of wisdom, but discards them for the purpose of serving the simple-minded who might fittingly serve him. Such man makes himself of no reputation when he divests himself of his wisdom and the appearance of wisdom.

Finished One OT Class, Started a New One, And Started Reformation Seminary's First Lecture

 

The first session went well. I realize now that I need to unplug the office camera, which picks up sound for unwanted feedback.

Also, I did not realize that discussions were silent automatically and need to be changed for the audience to talk.

I decided the best way to create the segments is during the day. Let me know if you agree.

Inaugural Post - Reformation Seminary, March 21, 2024. Lecture at 7 PM Central. Music at 6:30 PM.

 

Zoom link -> https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85187471604?pwd=ciuMQhDJEfpE0wgXeKLYsTgDJ8lvbi.1

YouTube link will be here, after conversion -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl5NYptONwA

I mentioned having more Biblical doctrine lessons. One person said, "Why not a seminary?" I thought about and said, "We have to save Zoom webinars, so that has to work." 

Nothing was easier than a conversion to YouTube, so here I am with the first session. I am going to have an outline each time, posted in advance. I will limit my talk to 30 minutes, and we can have discussions after. 

We have not fixed dates and times yet, but that will develop. Ichabod will be the primary post, which will be copied on Reformation Seminary, making the lectures orderly rather than lost in all the other posts.

Foundational Concept of the Bible - 

The Efficacy of the Word - The Holy Spirit at Work in the Word and Sacraments

1. Dogmatics books tend to multiply themselves and promote battles.

2. Genesis 1 and John 1 are examples of efficacy, John explaining Genesis.

3. A. Hoenecke - The Word never without the Spirit, the Spirit never without the Word - that is sound doctrine. His Dogmatics were much more like the German Reformation.

4. The Reformation does not include Zwingli-Calvin, the changes in England, or anywhere else. The Reformation itself was established by Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz.

a. Luther was the foundation, the result of many years of monastic work and teachers.

b. Melanchthon served as his opposite in temperament, the same in Biblical doctrine.

c. Martin Chemnitz studied under both and solidified their work through the Book of Concord, Examination of the Council of Trent, etc.

Efficacy

Effectual, powerful: energes

1 Corinthians 16:9 (KJV) For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and many adversaries.

Philemon 1:6 (KJV) That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) For the word of God quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Operations, working: energema

1 Corinthians 12:6 (KJV) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

To show forth, work: energew

Matthew 14:2 (KJV) And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.

Mark 6:14 (KJV) And king Herod heard ; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.

Romans 7:5 (KJV) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

1 Corinthians 12:6 (KJV) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1 Corinthians 12:11 (KJV) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

2 Corinthians 1:6 (KJV) And whether we be afflicted, for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, for your consolation and salvation.

2 Corinthians 4:12 (KJV) So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

Galatians 2:8 (KJV) (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

Galatians 3:5 (KJV) He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Galatians 5:6 (KJV) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Ephesians 1:11 (KJV) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Ephesians 1:20 (KJV) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set at his own right hand in the heavenly ,

Ephesians 2:2 (KJV) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 3:20‑21 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, {21} Unto him glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

LCMS Leads the Way in Closing Colleges

Could they improve by teaching the Gospel instead of this drivel?

The list of departing LCMS colleges is growing:

1. Ann Arbor - Best compliment - better than Mequon with a 50% president.
2. Mequon - Goner from the start - the Catholics dumped it.
3. Texas - Freedom! Adios!
4. Portland - HotChalk disaster.
5. Valparaiso - LCMS in the past. 
6. Concordia NY - sold to a happy buyer.
7. Selma - closed.

Someone opined that the college student census is figured to drop in a few more years. 

ELCA began the college closings soon after its conception in 1987 with 5.3 members and a current count of 2.9 million today (Wickedpedia). Not a single manager has said, "We have nowhere to go but up!"

ELCA cleverly kept the seminary names (most of the time) but reduced floor space and faculty all over.

1. LSTC - had to sell the building and move into Roman Catholic rental space.
2. Luther - had to start selling off land to stay afloat.
3. Southern - is allied with a college.
4. Trinity - once the seminary of Lenski, Loy, Leupold, lost big in a huge lawsuit.
5. Pacific - land sold for a Muslim college, now renting space down below.
6. Wartburg - seems to have obtained more funds.
7. United was created out of Gettysburg and Philadelphia.

How Do the the Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) Justify the ELCA's Position on the Weakest of the Weak, the Poorest of the Poor?

 

The biggest - or foulest charade - has been the supposed distance between the Walther synods (LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC) and the ELCA. Thrivent unifies the worst of them all.

Abortion is an attack on the weakest of the weak, the poorest of the poor - the unborn. There is no excuse for this among Christian churches. Thrivent is just as much for this genocide as ELCA. 

How can God bless church bodies that work together against the unborn? Our indifference to this horrible crime is the ultimate display of apostasy - falling away from the Scriptures and God's Creation by the Word. 

The synodical managers (they are not leaders) think that money makes the world go around. They dedicate their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor to -- wait, that is a contradiction. They dedicate their lives to their comforts, their luxuries, and their positions of honor. They want no interference with that singular goal. That is why they lick the boots of Thrivent, pleading that the financial demands are not too burdensome. 

+++

Long ago, I noted from a Kurt Marquart article that the synods were being handed a huge sum of money from AAL (one of the two insurance companies merging). We lived downhill from Martin Luther College, WELS, so I looked for the materials on this AAL Church Membership Initiative.

"To the reader: This binder contains a summary of activities and findings of the Church Membership Initiative funded by AAL. A meeting in February, 1993 at Orlando involving congregational participants and church executives was phase three. This summary focuses on the findings of phases one and two. As is the nature of such studies, emphasis is on research and statistical analysis. Such studies do provide helpful indicators. Such an approach, however, cannot directly reflect spiritual reality, which must remain with the judgment of those dispensing the means of grace. Phase four--utilization of information coming out of the first three phases--is open ended for whatever church body [ELCA, WELS, LCMS] will determine such use to be."
Rev. Wayne Borgwardt, WELS, Church Membership Initiative, Narrative Summary of Findings, 1993, Aid Association for Lutherans, 4321 N Ballard Road, Appleton, WI, 54919-0001, June 30, 1993. Five copies at Martin Luther College (WELS). BV 4523 .C48 1993 c.5

"In 1970 there were 500,000 more baptized members of Lutheran congregations than was the case in 1990. The Church Membership Initiative project was undertaken to understand and address this decline... [GJ - This is still the saddest or funniest example of Thrivent helping out and making everything worse.]

Contact:

• Rev. Mary Ann Moller-Gunderson, Executive Director, Division for Congregational Ministries, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 W Higgins Road, Chicago, IL, 60631, 312-380-2570; 
• Rev. Lyle Muller, Executive Director, Board for Evangelism Services, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, 1333 S Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO, 63122-7295, 314-965-9000; 
• Rev. Wayne Borgwardt, Administrator for Worker Training, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, 2929 N Mayfair Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53222, 414-256-3236; 
• Mr. Douglas Olson, Aid Association for Lutherans, 4321 N Ballard Road, Appleton, WI, 54919, 414-734-5721." 

Church Membership Initiative, Narrative Summary of Findings, 1993, Aid Association for Lutherans, 4321 N Ballard Road, Appleton, WI, 54919-0001, June 30, 1993.

+++ 

There is a direct connection between AAL and LB erasing "Lutheran" during their merger, so they could say Thrivent! and forget about the past. The Big Five have revealed their incompetence to be Christian organizations who have no compassion for the unborn, no ability to proclaim the Means of Grace, only results from their Father Below.

Lutheran Farmer Tom Fisher - About the Objective Justification Enthusiasts

 

KJV Isaiah 40 - "11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."

Dear Pastor Jackson,

True Lutheran Christians instinctively know that Objective Justification is a wooden nickel.  They cling to justification by faith as taught over and over in the Bible with Abraham being the father of our faith. Ask a true Lutheran Christian when God justified him and he will reply: "I am baptized into Christ and clothed in the righteousness of Christ in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 

What would a wild eyed Objective Justification enthusiast say when you ask him when God justified him?  If he is honest he would say, "I was justified when I accepted the fact that God already declared the world righteous in Christ."  True Lutheran Christians sense this is justification by works not true justification by faith.

I have noticed the evasiveness of Objective Justification enthusiasts. They never answer your questions. They are skilled at lying and deceiving by God's name and Word.  When you hear them use the term "subjective justification" - think works righteousness and synergism because that is what it is. 

Objective Justification is convoluted, twisted, absurd, and blasphemous against God and His Word.  Objective Justification enthusiasts constantly insist that God has already justified the world, but it really doesn't benefit anyone until they accept this dogma personally as their own.  Would God convey a vain and empty universal justification on the whole world and then add man's work of accepting it to make it effective and efficacious? God works all things after His perfect foreknowledge, council, and will.  God never gives us an empty vain husk. Objective Justification is an empty husk that requires man's work of accepting. 

Here is the original definition of Objective / Subjective justification. Notice how justification is divided into two parts: God's work and man's work. Walther, a rabid OJ/SJ nut divided justification into two parts: God's part and man's part. Walther faithfully adhered to the original definition of OJ/SJ derived from its founder: G. C. Knapp, Theology Professor, Halle University:

"This is very conveniently expressed by the terms Objective and Subjective Justification. Objective Justification is the act of God, by which he proffers pardon to all through Christ; subjective is the act of man, by which he accepts the pardon freely offered in the Gospel. The former is universal, the latter is not." (See pg. 11, The Path To Understanding Justification, Gregory L. Jackson, PhD, ISBN 9781072530428) [GJ - Note that the OJ/SJ words quoted came from the Calvinist translator's explanation. The definition was adopted by the Walther synods.]

In contrast true justification by faith in Christ is completely God's work, Word, Will, Foreknowledge, Council, and Name in our baptism. Here in our baptism we are freely given true faith and clothed in the righteousness of Christ in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. For most of us God baptized us into Christ and clothed us in the righteousness of Christ when we were little infants.  Here in our baptism God gave us true faith in Christ, and justified us in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3: 5 -7

We have countless examples of believers both adults and infants being baptized into Christ, and justified in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. At Pentecost the apostle Peter urged the multitude to repent and be baptized:

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. " Acts 2:38, 39

Notice how baptism reigns supreme in true justification by faith. It completely destroys our works, our accepting, our endeavoring, our will, our emotional devotions, grinding them to powder. Here in our baptism we have God's Word, Will, Foreknowledge, Council, Work, and Name. 

In Acts 8:26-40 we see the Ethiopian Eunuch of great authority under Candace Queen of the Ethiopians believing in Christ and immediately being baptized into Christ.

In Acts 9:17-19 Saul is immediately baptized into Christ.

In Acts 10 Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian band was immediately baptized into Christ.

In Acts 16:15 Lydia of Phillipi is immediately baptized into Christ.

In Acts 16:30-33 The jailer and his whole family are baptized into Christ and justified in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

In Acts 18:8 Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue and his whole family are baptized into Christ and justified in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

In Acts 19:5 Many Ephesians are baptized into Christ and justified in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Here in these examples we see the apostles preaching the true gospel and then immediately baptizing the believers into Christ in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The apostle Peter preached the death and resurrection of Christ.  Phillip preached Christ to the Ethiopian Eunuch. The apostle Paul clearly describes the preaching of the true gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." 

That's the true gospel.  Do you hear any OJ/SJ nonsense here? Absolutely NOT!! Objective Justification is another gospel and those who preach it put themselves under a horrible curse. 

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8,9)

Hang your heads in shame and repent you Objective Justification preachers. Your universal justification without faith and without baptism lies in a ruinous heap, completely crushed and defeated by the true gospel and baptism, and true justification by faith in Jesus as taught repeatedly in the Bible.

Objective Justification enthusiasts in LCMS, WELS, ELS, and ACLC must answer the following questions:

LCMS states in the Brief Statement that "scripture teaches that God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in Christ."

Does this LCMS statement teach that God has already justified the whole world prior to and without faith and without baptism?

In contrast scripture teaches that it is impossible to please God without faith. So why do OJ/SJ enthusiasts continue to ignore this passage so they can continue lying and deceiving by God's name and Word. Scripture teaches justification by faith not justification prior to and without faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb 11:6

Does this LCMS statement teach that God has already declared every baby being born to be already righteous in Christ prior to and without baptism into Christ, and without faith, and without God the Holy Ghost?

In contrast scripture teaches infants are born into sin, and are sinful not innocent. Infants are not born into Christ prior to and without faith and baptism into Christ. Baptism gives infants faith, and the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Baptism clothes infants in the righteousness of Christ and puts them in the entire Christ. 

"But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians 3:22-27

Does the LCMS teach Objective / Subjective Justification?  

If so then why would justification need to be divided into two parts?  

They say it is the other side of the same coin, but it is not. The original definition insists that OJ is God's work and SJ is man's work. 

In contrast scripture teaches one undivided justification by faith in Christ. All of justification is God's work. God's works are never barren, but always  abundantly efficacious and fruitful. We know faith in Christ and faith in God the Father is the work of God.

" Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works is God? Jesus answered and said unto them. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:28, 29

In contrast Objective Justification is completely barren, unfruitful as it benefits no one. OJ/SJ enthusiasts insist Objective Justification declares the whole world righteous in Christ, yet benefits no one. Man must do something to receive any benefit. He must admit that everyone is already righteous in Christ.  They call this "faith", but we call it works righteousness and synergism where man must cooperate. 

"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life " 1 John 5:19-20

"For ye are all the children God by faith in  Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ " Galatians 3:26,27

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Palm Sunday Epistle - "Paul’s words are chosen, not as an apology for Christ, but as a severe rebuke for those who arrogate to themselves the form of God against the protest of conscience that it is not their own but stolen."

 

Epistle Sermon for Palm Sunday ->Complete Epistle Sermon Here

12. They are startled by this expression also: “Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Now, at first sight these words do not seem to refer solely to Christ, since even the devil and his own, who continually aspire to equality with God, do not think their action robbery in spite of the testimony of their conscience to the contrary. But with Paul the little word “think,” or “regard,” possesses a powerful significance, having the force of “perfect assurance.” Similarly he says (Romans 3:28), “We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law”; and (1 Corinthians 7:40), “I think [deem] that I also have the spirit of God.” But the wicked cannot boast it no robbery when they dare take upon themselves the form of God; for they know, they are satisfied in themselves, that they are not God. Christ, however, did not, nor could he, think himself not equal to God; in other words, he was confident of his equality with God, and knew he had not stolen the honor.

Paul’s words are chosen, not as an apology for Christ, but as a severe rebuke for those who arrogate to themselves the form of God against the protest of conscience that it is not their own but stolen. The apostle would show how infinitely Christ differs from them, and that the divine form they would take by theft is Christ’s by right.

13. Paul does not use this expression, however, when he refers to Christ’s assumption of the servant form which is his, not by nature, but by assumption. The words produce the impression that Christ took by force something not his own. Paul should be expected to say: “He held it not robbery to assume the form of a servant.” Why should he rather have chosen that form of expression in the first instance, since Christ did not assume the divine form, but possessed it as his very own — yes, laid it aside and assumed a form foreign to his nature? The substance of the matter is that he who becomes a servant does not and cannot assume anything, but only gives, giving even himself. Hence there is no warrant here to speak of robbery or of a disposition to look upon the matter in this light.

On the other hand, assumption of the divine form necessarily involves taking, and altogether precludes giving. Hence there is warrant to speak of robbery in this connection, and of men who so view it. But this charge cannot be brought against Christ. He does not render himself guilty of robbery, nor does he so view his relation, as all others must do. Divinity is his by right, and so is its appropriate form a birthright.

14. Thus, it seems to me, this text very clearly teaches that to have divine form is simply to assume in regard to others, in word and deed, the bearing of God and Lord; and that Christ meets this test in the miraculous signs and life-giving words, as the Gospels contend. He does not rank with the saints who lack the divine essence; he has, in addition to divine form, the divine essence and nature. On the other hand, the servant, or servile, form implies acting toward others, in word and deed, like a servant. Thus Christ did when he served the disciples and gave himself for us. But he served not as the saints, who are servants by nature. Service was, with him, something assumed for our benefit and as an example for us to follow, teaching us to act in like manner toward others, to disrobe ourselves of the appearance of divinity as he did, as we shall see.

15. Unquestionably, then, Paul proclaims Christ true God.