Martin Luther Was -- Was Not

 

We have reached academic minor areas where Martin Luther has become a slightly known, seldom mentioned theologian from Europe and America.

I

First of all, Luther was the dominant teacher, preacher, and writer of the 16th century, the Pope being second fiddle.

II

Thanks to Zwingli and Calvin, both men chose to veer away from Luther while while setting up their own preferences. This led to the easier path for them and diluted the message of the Bible itself. Notice that multiplying the Bible versions also decreased clarity.

III

Therefore we now have Scriptural material - which is diluted, watered down, and confusing. Fifty years ago, my first Bible from a minister was given at an Augustana congregation, inexpensive and not King James Version. I pointed out two times that the printing itself was poorly made. It took some time to get the RSV, KJV, and other Bibles straightened out. However, many of us golden oldies are clear about the King James.

Few are the clergy who would publish this today!

The 1370 Count - What Does It Mean!

 

An oncologist and I were discussing cancer issues when he asked about the main blog I published daily, very much part of Christina's studies. He was shocked to hear that I had 600 readers a day on the average. I said, "That's a big classroom." He thought about it.

The total views for today are already 1379 and climbing, as the weather forecaster claims. The synods measure their numbers, but not honestly. They claim or imagine a certain number is good for their money and satisfaction. 

Here is a test for the 70ers and up - "How many of the synod bosses and laity are still around?" Or worse - what have they left behind?

1. The greatest English Bible - the King James.
2. The pursuit of feminist clergy and teachers and managers.
3. The basics of Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz.
4. A scattering of claims about Biblical standards. 

A nurse without speaking ability! Tiny Bethany "spoke" beautifully without physical strength, only with intense eyes and smiles.

The Necessity of Kindness without Equality

 

My favorite Luther story (from R. Bainton) is the neighbors laughing at Luther because he was washing his children's diapers outdoors. He responded, "You may laugh, but the angels look at me and bless me." 

There are so many ways to get irritated, and so many to delight.

The neighbors, mother and girls, decided to write out cards - in great detail - about their love of roses during the season, with artwork included. I did not know how much that meant to them because they were always near to take a vase and exchange more fresh flowers. I should have remembered, because women and girls easily respond to flowers. Later I saw how much that meant to them - in great detail.

The equivalent is having students (online and the old-fashioned) who take the time to say a class was very much worthwhile. Members and friends are like that, too.

Quoting Luther in another post, we should be looking out for those we are inclined to stink-eye or ignore. We can improve matters on our part, but stink-eye and ignoring will never build upon trust, humor, misunderstanding, and many more ways to improve rather than disapprove.

I have had odd experiences on the cul-de-sac. One person did not respond to roses for a long time, then waved in a friendly way. After that, there were more friendly gestures.

One tough veteran said, "I don't need roses." I said, "They are for your sainted mother, not you." He took that well. Some people need a lot of softening before something worthwhile happens. There is so much opportunity and not enough time. It is better to overcome the barrier and create some cheerfulness.

 Christina loved seeing a paraplegic and listening to him through his special computer. She was always reaching out to people will special needs.

 

Tom Fisher And Luther

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

Christ and Luther always give true comfort and certainty. I experience true relief and comfort when I listen to Christ and Luther.  Luther is especially skilled in providing vivid illustrations and examples that amplify the true and certain comfort of Christ Words. 

Our sins and the cares and worries of this life often weigh us down with dejection and sadness. We feel our sins and the threats of this life. As true Christians we are sorry for our sins, but the voice of Christ and Luther brings us eternal relief and comfort. The world mocks us for being sorry and sad over what it considers petty insignificant sins. No sin is petty. All sin no matter how petty wars against our souls. Luther says that we daily sin much and deserve only wrath and punishment. 

The voice of Christ and Luther will not allow us to wallow in dejection and sadness over our sins and the threats of this life. I experienced this last night while reading the Words of Christ and Luther in John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37

Last night I was especially sad and dejected over my sins, worries and fears of that day. I could not sleep so I began to read Luther's explanation of John 6:37 in Luther's Works, CPH, vol. 23, page 48:

"When you come, just believe, and you will not want. Your shortcomings and failures will not harm you." This we learn from Romans 14:22 and 15:1. A believer has forgiveness of sin, and Christ will not cast him out. Sin will ever remain part of the Christian's flesh, as seen, for instance, in evil desires referred to in Romans 6-8. "But as long as a man comes to Me in faith, even though he should stumble, I shall see to it that this does not harm him."  His sinful flesh will have no dominion over him; there is no condemnation for those who are incorporated into the body of Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 ), although they are not yet entirely pure, and their flesh is not completely mortified."

Luther then gives us a wonderful illustration and example:

"Thus even if you fall and sin, Christ will not cast you out. A mother will not put a soiled, mangy, or sick child out of the house. A son or a daughter often does wrong, but they are not disinherited and ejected from the house because of this."

As I listened to the voice of Christ and Luther, my dejection and sadness lifted and was replaced by true Christian cheerfulness. Yes, I am that sinful, soiled, sick child that Christ my good Shepherd forgives and cleanses from ALL sin.

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1 

The comforting voice of Christ and Luther is our pearl of great price this reformation day. It stands alone in stark contrast to the troubling voices of ALL other religions that ADD the preparations of 'free will' to justification by faith. These preparations of 'free will' are not recognized as works righteousness. For example these works righteousness salesmen require that you must 'make a decision for Christ' or 'ask Jesus into your heart', or 'put Christ first', or 'go forward to the alter', or 'dedicate your life to Christ', or 'do wonderful things for Christ', or have an emotional conversion, or speak in tongues, or go on a pilgrimage.  All of these false religions add their own works to justification by faith. They are called Christian, but they add their own works to justification by faith.  They all reject God's work in Baptism in favor of their own flavor of works righteousness. They are enemies of the gospel of Christ because they add their own works to justification by faith. The Catholics, Baptists, Christian Reformed, Greek Orthodox, Calvinists, Presbyterians, Methodist, Turks, Jews, Amish, Objective Justification Cultists, Pentecostals, etc. all add their own works to justification by faith. They are NOT Christian at all. This is troubling because many of our relatives and loved ones follow the teachings of these false churches. They need the comforting voice of Christ and Luther so we must do our best to help them.

Christ is our Good Shepherd. No one is able to pluck us out of His hands.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one. John 10:27-30

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

How Do We Wake-up with Such Nightmares

 

How have we found our nation and most others in collapse? Japan, India, and China, Russia withering away, and Europe another region of doom.

The nations of the world - such leaders! - remind me of the 50th anniversary of my high school. The alumni wanted to get together for the big banquet. However, one person wanted to show off her favorite no-talent, loud band. Everyone got up and left in one silent mass. The 60th anniversary is not planned - no surprise - and many alumni have passed away.

That is very much like America, following the crowd without genuine leadership.

A Mighty Fortress Is No More

 

The Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) are so saturated with their errors and corruptions that even their Father Below is a bit choked up.

They deny Justification by Faith - so does he.

They love every Bible paraphrase except the King James Version - so does he.

They reject the efficacy of the Word - so does he.

They repudiate the Means of Grace - so does he.

They usurp authority - so does he.

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God"

by Dr. Martin Luther, 1483-1546

Composite Translation from the Pennsylvania Lutheran CHURCH BOOK of 1868

1. A mighty Fortress is our God,

A trusty Shield and Weapon;

He helps us free from every need

That hath us now o'ertaken.

The old evil Foe

Now means deadly woe;

Deep guile and great might

Are his dread arms in fight;

On Earth is not his equal.

2. With might of ours can naught be done,

Soon were our loss effected;

But for us fights the Valiant One,

Whom God Himself elected.

Ask ye, Who is this?

Jesus Christ it is.

Of Sabaoth Lord,

And there's none other God;

He holds the field forever.

3. Though devils all the world should fill,

All eager to devour us.

We tremble not, we fear no ill,

They shall not overpower us.

This world's prince may still

Scowl fierce as he will,

He can harm us none,

He's judged; the deed is done;

One little word can fell him.

4. The Word they still shall let remain

Nor any thanks have for it;

He's by our side upon the plain

With His good gifts and Spirit.

And take they our life,

Goods, fame, child and wife,

Let these all be gone,

They yet have nothing won;

The Kingdom our remaineth.

Hymn #262

The Lutheran Hymnal

Text: Psalm 46

Author: Martin Luther, 1529

Tom Fisher - Notice How Deceptive Walther Is

 

Tom Fisher's twin lambs.

Dear Pastor Jackson,

America is NOT a Christian nation!!! WHAT!!! How can you say that?? 

America is a 'works righteousness' nation that despises, rejects, and mocks God's work in Faith, Baptism, Office of the Keys, Holy Communion, and His exact efficacious Word in the King James Bible, Luther's 1545 Bible, and the TEXTUS RECEPTUS. 

America is a nation that trusts reasoning instead of the all clear Word of God. Oh my!  The yowling favoring reasoning over God's Word is deafening:

"Baptism is just water that gives nothing. Faith is NOT God's work. Faith is your work of making a decision for Christ. You MUST do the work of accepting Jesus into your heart. Infants must NOT be baptized until they are old enough to do the work of making a decision for Christ and accepting Jesus into their hearts. Just say, 'Dear Jesus come into my heart." You must do the work of dedicating your life to God. You must do the work of getting closer to God.  You MUST follow these awesome steps and techniques to get closer to God. Close your eyes and work yourself into an emotional frenzy as you feel the 'spirit' move you with the squalling 'bust a gut' church music. Lift your hands high in the air to praise God with your own works , reasoning, and will power. You must do the work of speaking in tongues. Baptism is just water that gives nothing. Fasting actually attracts God to come to you. God's Word is NOT efficacious. It is just empty words that do nothing and give nothing. The Office of the Keys does NOT forgive sins. It is just an empty nothing. Holy Communion is just bread and wine that gives nothing. Holy Communion is NOT Christ's Last Will and Testament bequeathing to us forgiveness of sins and eternal life. YAAA HOOO!!! Cowboy church sure sounds fun!  I just love being a cowboy that can bring his horse into a church roping arena where what matters most is center stage: cowboys, horses, and roping. Just keep the Bible submissive to cowboy squalling, yipping, and yapping, spitting, and chewing. Oh my!! Cowboys love to mock God and His Word! 

Repent America!! Turn away from trusting your corrupt darkened reasoning and will. Your reasoning and will have taken you far far away from God your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. You cannot come to God. God must come to you. He comes to you in the gentleness of His infant child Jesus born of the virgin Mary for you. 

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:10-14

Reasoning takes away the truth that this baby born of the virgin Mary is God and man in one person. He took all our sins upon Himself, was crucified, dead, buried, and then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven for us.

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6

Darkened reasoning rejects God's grace and forgiveness in favor of works righteousness. Reasoning and the will is the way Americans " get closer to God."  Surely there is at least a spark of good in our highest and most noble powers of our reasoning and will.

I remember graduating with honors from parochial high school. Everything went well. I even delivered a good speech in spite of my nervousness.  I was feeling encouraged and happy as I received words of encouragement from friends and family. Then my heart sank as I saw the sad, gaunt, tortured face of "Mr. Calvinist" purposefully making his way toward me, eager for malignant debate. He wasted no time pressing his attack against me.  "So you still don't believe there is any good in man, not even a spark of good?", he snarled. And so the war began with "Mr. Calvinist" arrogantly and condescendingly pressing forward with his invincible and superior reasoning while I deftly countered  his lies with the clear Word of God I knew and believed so well.

Reasoning, the ultimate power and seat of all wickedness and unbelief, attacks us poor Christians from within our own hearts as well as externally from apostate heretics and this evil world. Christ our Lord warns us about having a wrong understanding of His Words when He said,

"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matthew 6:22-23

"Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness." Luke 11:35

"While ye have light,  believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." John 12:36

Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now." 1 John 2:8,9

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:4,5

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:8

Our highest powers of reasoning and will is darkness. They lead us farther and farther away from God.

Scripture describes our reasoning and will as deceitful and desperately wicked in Jeremiah 17:9

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Our highest powers of reasoning and will take us farther and farther away from God. 

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Romans 8:5-9

Luther describes the wickedness of our most exalted powers of reasoning and will.

"Therefore, those most exalted virtues of the best men are in the flesh; that is, they are dead, and at enmity against God; they are not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be; and they please not God. For Paul does not only say that such men are not subject, but that they cannot be subject. So also Christ saith, "An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit." ( Matthew 7:17). 

.....So that these two sentiments of Paul, that the just man liveth "by faith" (Romans 1:17), and that "whatsoever is not of faith is sin," (Romans 14:23), stand confirmed: the latter of which follows from the former. For if there be nothing by which we are justified by faith only, it is evident that those who are not of faith, are not justified. And if they be not justified, they are sinners. And if they are sinners, they are evil trees and can do nothing but sin and bring forth evil fruit--Wherefore, "Free-will" is nothing but the servant of sin, of death, and of Satan, doing nothing, and being able to do or attempt nothing, but evil! (Martin Luther, Bondage of the Will; Associated Publishers And Authors, pg. 141 )

Our Baptism in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost crushes and mortifies our old man of reasoning and will. Jesus said:

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:5-7

God clothes us in the righteousness of Christ in our Baptism.

"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 3:26,27

American "do it yourself" Christianity rejects true Faith, Baptism, The Office Of The Keys, Holy Communion, and the true pure Word of God in the King James Bible. The reasoning of CFW Walther rejected Faith, Baptism, The Office Of The Keys, and Holy Communion.

According to CFW Walther, objective universal justification occurred over 2,000 years ago without baptism, without Faith, without the Washing of Regeneration, without the Renewing of the Holy Ghost. 

C.F.W. Walther said, "For God has already forgiven you your sins 1800 years ago when He in Christ absolved all men by raising Him after He first had gone into bitter death for them " (The Path To Understanding Justification, Gregory L. Jackson, PhD; pg. 12; ISBN 9781072530428

Let's step out of the weeds for a moment and attempt to grasp this highest blasphemy and mockery against God and His work in Baptism, Faith, The Washing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghost. Do you see how they are all permanently tore away from justification. Yes, all of these most necessary works of God in Baptism, Faith, the Washing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghost are permanently tore away from justification. These works of God must come first in justification. 

In contrast OJ / SJ insists universal forgiveness comes first, prior to and without Faith, Baptism, the Washing of Regeneration, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. 

God does not change. CFW Walther and Franz Pieper taught that God changed the instant Christ rose from the dead, moving Him to justify the whole world prior to and without Faith, Baptism, the Office Of The Keys, and Holy Communion.

"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6

LCMS, WELS, ELS, ELCA are all stuck with this blasphemous objective universal justification that has permanently tore away God's work of Faith, Baptism and the Renewing of the Holy Ghost from justification. 

True justification by faith was given to Abraham 400 years before the law and thousands of years before CFW Walther's blasphemous objective justification without faith, without Baptism, without the renewing of God the Holy Ghost.

CFW Walther's reasoning even added man's work of personally 'accepting' Universal Justification as his own without true Faith. CFW Walther said:

"Only one thing remains on your part so that you also possess the gift.  This one thing is--faith. And this brings me to the second part of today's Easter message, in which I now would show you that every man who wants to be saved must accept by faith the general absolution, pronounced 1800 years ago, as an absolution spoken individually to him."  (The Path To Understanding Justification, Gregory L. Jackson, PhD. ; pg.12; ISBN 9781072530428)

Notice how deceptive Walther is when he called man's work of "accepting" true faith. This is justification by the work of "accepting" NOT justification by faith in Christ. 

God's Word overcame the ultimate lie of Calvinism for me: that there is at least a spark of good in man especially after he becomes a Christian. God's Word grinds this lie to powder in many passages:

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Romans 7:18

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

Our reasoning and will are the seat of all unbelief and wickedness in us Christians. We are constantly vexed by them and driven to constantly confess that we are sinful and unclean in our highest and most noble powers of reasoning and will. Luther is correct when he said that man is a donkey. He is either ridden by Satan or by God. Shall we as true Christians turn to the most vile and wicked powers of reasoning and will to war against Satan. 

The war is between God and Satan. God has completely defeated Satan for us in His holy child Jesus, true God from all eternity and true man born of the virgin Mary. He took all our sins upon Himself, was crucified, dead, buried, and then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven for us.

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

 Luke 2:10-14

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Isaiah 40:9

Say unto the cities of America, Behold your God!

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

 Luther says, with John 16 - "Faith is righteousness."