Brett Meyer:
Dr. Kilcrease doesn’t understand why I post quotes from Scripture or the Lutheran Confessions without explaining them. It’s been a source of frustration before as it is now.
The reason is that direct quotes from Scripture are God’s pure Word. Through the Word the Holy Ghost works to build and strengthen faith in those God has called and also to harden the hearts of those who reject it.
Scripture doesn’t require philisophical manipulation in order to wrench a “concept” from it. God speaks clearly throughout the Bible which is the reason we look at the whole of God’s Word regarding Justification and not pixilate it as the sophists do. God’s Word is completely harmonious – there is no contradiction.
False teachings are contrary to God’s Word and will be, by their nature, contradictory to it.
I do not often go into great explanatory detail when I quote the Confessions. They too are very clear as they are wholely faithful to Scripture which is the Norm for Christian doctrine, Christian faith. It’s also good to let the Confessors speak directly to those who care enough to study.
It’s a trait of false teachings that they must masticate the source in order to substantiate their doctrines which are contrary to the source – in this case Scripture.
---
Brett Meyer:
Rev. McCall, Dr. Kilcrease,
I assure you there are no theological suppositions being superimposed on Scripture from the Justification by Faith Alone for the forgiveness of sins, righteousness and eternal life team.
I assure you there are no theological suppositions being superimposed on Scripture from the Justification by Faith Alone for the forgiveness of sins, righteousness and eternal life team.
Defense of my assertion is to quote the BOC, Smalcald articles Part II, Article I: The first and chief article. Note that the exposition of Rom. 4:25,John 1:29, Rom 3:23, Rom 3:26 the Confessors do not decree the unforgiven world forgiven without faith but clearly state forgiveness (justification) is by faith alone.
1] That Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins, and was raised again for our justification, Rom. 4:25.
2] And He alone is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world, John 1:29; and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all, Is. 53:6.
3] Likewise: All have sinned and are justified without merit [freely, and without their own works or merits] by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood, Rom. 3:23f
4] Now, since it is necessary to believe this, and it cannot be otherwise acquired or apprehended by any work, law, or merit, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us as St. Paul says, Rom. 3:28: For we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the Law. Likewise 3:26: That He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Christ.
5] Of this article nothing can be yielded or surrendered [nor can anything be granted or permitted contrary to the same], even though heaven and earth, and whatever will not abide, should sink to ruin. For there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved, says Peter, Acts 4:12. And with His stripes we are healed, Is. 53:5. And upon this article all things depend which we teach and practice in opposition to the Pope, the devil, and the [whole] world.Therefore, we must be sure concerning this doctrine, and not doubt; for otherwise all is lost, and the Pope and devil and all things gain the victory and suit over us.
http://bookofconcord.org/smalcald.php#officeandworkofjesus
http://bookofconcord.org/smalcald.php#officeandworkofjesus
Also, under the Solid Declaration in the BOC forgiveness follows faith and without faith the unbelieving world is not accounted righteous and forgiven but under God’s wrath:
20] However, now that man has not kept the Law of God, but transgressed it, his corrupt nature, thoughts, words, and works fighting against it, for which reason he is under God’s wrath, death, all temporal calamities, and the punishment of hell-fire, the Gospel is properly a doctrine which teaches what man should believe, that he may obtain forgiveness of sins with God, namely, that the Son of God, our Lord Christ, has taken upon Himself and borne the curse of the Law, has expiated and paid for all our sins, through whom alone we again enter into favor with God, obtain forgiveness of sins by faith, are delivered from death and all the punishments of sins, and eternally saved.
This BOC quote also rejects Dr. Kilcrease’s teaching that the imperitive to “believe”, as a requirement for the forgiveness of sins, is Law and not Gospel. It is most definitely Gospel because Faith is solely worked, created and sustained by the Holy Ghost through the Means of Grace.
And in order to counter the UOJ claim that the BOC was only speaking of what UOJ would call Subjective Justification the BOC declares the two ways in which Scripture uses the word Justified – neither of them being a declaration of forgiveness without faith graciously worked through the Means of Grace.
72] And because “to be justified” means that out of unjust men just men are made, or born again, it means also that they are pronounced or accounted just. For Scripture speaks in both ways. [The term "to be justified" is used in two ways: to denote, being converted or regenerated; again, being accounted righteous.] Accordingly we wish first to show this, that faith alone makes of an unjust, a just man, i.e., receives remission of sins.
---
Brett Meyer:
The Seventh-Day Adventists confess the same UOJ as the Lutheran Synods.
Lito Cruz:
Mr. Halvorson,
To add a bit more, to my post in
The way to interpret Romans 4:25 that is safe and fair is to put it in context with the rest of Romans 4 as part of an argument and further to look at the statements of St Paul as a statement which includes the story of our Redemption as Christians.
Before you shoot more questions, I would suggest you deal with the explanation of Walther A. Maier whose paper I have included in the above post. Please study that paper carefully and try to shut yourself for the moment from any propaganda, if you wish by Team JBFA or Team UOJ.
When you have done that, I am happy to answer questions which you might direct to me personally.
LPC
---
Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Comments against UOJ, Steadfast Lutherans":
I recommend reading through the "Oh did you hear what Rydecki said..." post on LutherQuest. Count each time a leap of human reason occurs in the confessions of those commenting.
For example here is a snippet from a comment from UOJ promoter Rolf Preus, " If Jesus paid the ransom and the Father accepted the ransom this must mean that God has absolved everyone for whom the ransom was paid. Otherwise God's a cheat."
The leap of human reason is "...this must mean..." add 1 to your count
http://www.lutherquest.org/cgi-bin/discus40/discus.cgi
---
Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Comments against UOJ, Steadfast Lutherans":
I recommend reading through the "Oh did you hear what Rydecki said..." post on LutherQuest. Count each time a leap of human reason occurs in the confessions of those commenting.
For example here is a snippet from a comment from UOJ promoter Rolf Preus, " If Jesus paid the ransom and the Father accepted the ransom this must mean that God has absolved everyone for whom the ransom was paid. Otherwise God's a cheat."
The leap of human reason is "...this must mean..." add 1 to your count
http://www.lutherquest.org/cgi-bin/discus40/discus.cgi
