Friday, August 28, 2015

Brief Study Guide for Justification by Faith in the Bible and Luther, the Book of Concord

Various dimwits argue from the ancient sayings of the Wisconsin Sect,
which was born in Pietism and shook off any remnants of Lutheran doctrine
after Gausewitz died.

Study Guide for Justification by Faith
Justification by Faith Book – draft

Justification by Faith in the Bible – King James Version
Creation by the Word – Genesis 1 and John 1.
Efficacy of the Word – Isaiah 55:8-11
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of unbelief – John 16:7-11
Abraham justified by faith – Genesis 15:1-6
·       Abraham justified by faith Romans 4
·       If we believe.. Romans 4:24-25
·       Therefore, since we are justified by faith – the recap of the Romans 4 message
·       Galatians 3, especially 3:6 - faith counted as righteousness.
·       Luke 16:19-31. Father Abraham is the speaker from heaven, the symbol of justification by faith
·       Hebrews 11:8ff – Abraham as the example of faith
·       Romans 9-11. We belong to the Kingdom by faith, not by birthright

Augsburg Confession, Articles IV and V
Article IV: Of Justification.
1] Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for 2] Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. 3] This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight. Rom. 3 and 4.

  

Article V: Of the Ministry.
1] That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, 2] the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear 3] the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ's sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's sake.
4] They condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that the Holy Ghost comes to men without the external Word, through their own preparations and works.


  
The Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession. Article II (IV) - Justification

This is sufficient to see that justification by faith is the doctrine taught by the Bible, Luther, Melanchthon, and the Book of Concord editors, who considered themselves one with Luther in being “theologians of the Augsburg Confession.”


Calov and Gerhard used to be leveled against justification by faith -
until we had plenty of quotations to show that the theologians were
clearly arguing against a developing UOJ.