 |
| These passages if read you will, peace find you will. |
Background for Reverends Hategood, Fauxdoktor, and Wolfszähne
Brothers, colleagues, members of the clergy:
A conflict has broken out in a small corner of Lutherdom. Someone is insisting on Justification by Faith, which must be addressed at once. You have commissioned yourselves to take on this task, out of duty and love for Universal Objective Justification.
Since you are Scriptures-alone pastors, I have listed some passages for you to study. Hammer this thick-headed fellow with the truth, but only from the Word of God, lest your arguments go astray. You know the passages or can look them up, so I will simply outline the easy yoke for you to bear;
Genesis 3:15 - God promised the Savior, so what was His intent, in giving Adam, Eve, and humanity this hope?
Genesis 15:5-6 - God promised an ever-growing and everlasting kingdom through Abraham's line, through the Savior. Abraham believed this Messianic Promise, and it was counted as ______?
Why are Jews called children of Abraham, not children of Moses?
Luke 13:16, 19:9).
Lazarus went to the bosom of Abraham in Luke. Why is Abraham the figure in heaven? Luke 16:19ff.
Why is Abraham an example in Hebrews 11 and in James?
Romans 4 KJV
Romans is the major doctrinal epistle of the New Testament, so unless y'all argue for contradictions in the Bible, Romans speaks for the Holy Spirit and all verses of the Bible agree with it. Have I lost anyone? Good.
4:1-3. One is either justified, declared forgiven, by works or by faith. There are no alternatives.
4:5-8. If by works, no grace - verse 5. If by faith, then it is by grace - verse 5. So it is a blessing, writes David, to be forgiven without works - that is - by faith - verses 6-7. Forgiving means not imputing, not counting sin - verse 8.
4:9-12. The issue is not circumcision or lack of circumcision, but faith, the conclusion of his previous argument about Jews versus Gentiles - verse 9. Abraham was Justified by Faith without circumcision - verse 10. Circumcision was much later given as a seal of his Justification by Faith, which happened without circumcision - verse 11. This made Abraham "the father of all who believe" so they are also Justified by Faith - verse 11. And made him the father of Jewish believers - verse 12.
4:13-14. The Promise is through the righteousness of faith - verse 13. If by law or inheritance, the Promise has no effect - verse 14.
4:15-17. The Law works wrath, so the absence of Law means no transgression - verse 15. Therefore the Promise and forgiveness are through faith and grace. Faith does not exclude grace - verse 16. Abraham is the father of many nations through faith - verse 17. God even raises the dead through the Word - verse 17.
4:18 Abraham believed in God's Promise of a son leading to the Messianic Kingdom - verse 18. Almost dead in body, both Abraham and Sarah, he believed - verse 19 In faith, Abraham glorified God and trusted in His Promise - verse 20. He did not give up in doubt but believed - verse 21.
4:22 Therefore, his faith was counted or imputed as righteousness - verse 22.
How This Applies To Us
4:23 This was not written just for Abraham that faith was counted for him - verse 23. But it was written for us too, and righteousness will also be counted or imputed if we believe in Him Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead - verse 24. Who was delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification - verse 25.
Abraham's Example - Conclusion and Transition from Chapter 4
5:1-2 Because we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ - verse 1. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The Gospel of John - Ask Jesus
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
