"Now, although both, the planting and watering of the preacher, and the running and willing of the hearer, would be in vain, and no conversion would follow it if the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost were not added thereto, who enlightens and converts the hearts through the Word preached and heard, so that men believe this Word and assent thereto, still, neither preacher nor hearer is to doubt this grace and efficacy of the Holy Ghost, but should be certain that when the Word of God is preached purely and truly, according to the command and will of God, and men listen attentively and earnestly and meditate upon it, God is certainly present with His grace, and grants, as has been said, what otherwise man can neither accept nor give from his own powers."
Formula of Concord SD II. #55-56. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 903. Tappert, p. 531f. Heiser, p. 246.
Psalms 147:15-18 (KJV) He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. {16} He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. {17} He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? {18} He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
The Lutheran clergy want to be priests who impress their audiences with exotic terms - not bothering to explain them, if they could.
I often hear the UOJ Enthusiasts condemn justification by faith, throwing out a red herring, intuitu fidei. That means as much, undefined, as the term grace. Roman Catholics promote grace (plus works), but they say grace. The reason for the popularity of Amazing Grace is its vagueness. Uncoverted Inuits could sing it with gusto, Tim Glende's inuitu fidei.
A discerning layman will ask, for instance. "Do you believe we are justified without faith? Before we are born?"
Or - "Has God pronounced the entire world, Hindu and cannibals alike, forgiven of its sin?"
Or - "Is everyone in Hell a guilt-free saint, as taught infallibly by the Wisconsin Sect?"
Citing intuitu fidei does not display one's education but a lack of it. The MDiv graduates who engage in this farce are simply trying to dazzle laity and confuse them.
The Little Three are one generation or less from self-extinction. No one cares what made The Kidnapper fuss and fume. They want to hear the Gospel. The Syn Conference is now so deep into navel-gazing that they believe their ministry of condemnation is working somewhere, in spite of evidence to the contrary.
I might have mentioned this before--on 6,700 posts--the Little Three obviously have no use for the Means of Grace, since they have skimmed millions of dollars income to fund study at Fuller Seminary and the other beehives of Enthusiasm. Not once has a solid, principled condemnation of Enthusiasm come forth, with an equally forceful emphasis upon the Means of Grace.
The Word of God can change this, but not until there is genuine repentance from top down, a rejection of sophomoric posturing to preserve the Fuller elite, an extensive new look at the nuda Triglotta, without all the fluff from overpaid staffers.
Isaiah, mighty seer, in days of old
The Lord of all in spirit did behold
High on a lofty throne, in splendor bright,
With flowing train that filled the temple quite.
Above the throne were stately seraphim;
Six wings had they, these messengers of Him.
With twain they veiled their faces, as was meet,
With twain in reverent awe they hid their feet,
And with the other twain aloft they soared,
One to the other called and praised the Lord:
"Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
Behold, His glory filleth all the earth!"
The beams and lintels trembled at the cry,
And clouds of smoke enwrapped the throne on high.