The Book of Concord, Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article III,
The Righteousness of Faith
6] This article concerning justification by faith (as the Apology says) is the chief article in the entire Christian doctrine, without which no poor conscience can have any firm consolation, or can truly know the riches of the grace of Christ, as Dr. Luther also has written: If this only article remains pure on the battlefield, the Christian Church also remains pure, and in goodly harmony and without any sects; but if it does not remain pure, it is not possible that any error or fanatical spirit can be resisted. (Tom. 5, Jena, p. 159.) 7] And concerning this article especially Paul says that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.The Righteousness of Faith
- In the Gospel of John, believing and witnessing to the truth go together - and there is only one Truth in the Bible.
- This is directly related to creeds, because the people witnessing were responding to the truth, the revelation of Christ Jesus. The witness is the result of God's revelation.
- In the early Church, there were various Creeds and catechisms. Some poetical passages may very well be reminders of the memorized creeds or hymns they used. 1 Timothy 3:16.
- Creeds are secondary to Scripture, but that does not make them "boring and irrelevant" as one WELS pastor said.
- Apostates and unionists do not like creeds. Apostates have lost their faith, and unionists see all roads as leading to God. Both are hostile to faith.
- Hymns and creeds are born in conflict, so they are valuable for that reason.
- The Formula of Concord, 1580, came from 50 years of doctrinal strife after the Augsburg Confession. Luther considered himself a "theologian of the Augsburg Confession," as the Book of Concord editors did.
- Confessions are not weighty chains that imprison us in the past - they are witness to Biblical truths, which inform us and keep us from making the same mistakes again.
- The Book of Concord is a reference book, which we read in small sections at a time. Justification can be looked up in AC IV and V, the Apology, and FC III.
- We can see for ourselves in the parts are in agreement with each other and with the Scriptures.
Chemnitz - Apology of the Book of Concord - Ending.
The Zwinglians are like renters ordering the property owners around so there is peace and harmony. They came after the Lutheran Reformation and declared Sacraments did not offer forgiveness, and the "Holy Spirit did not need a vehicle, like an oxcart." They denied the Real Presence in Holy Communion.
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| Universal Objective Justification is a perfect case of this, as Hoenecke falsely claimed, "protecting the Gospel," so much that now WELS-ELS-LCMS are in agreement with each other, and ELCA, against the Chief Article, against Luther, against the Scriptures. |
Luther's Galatians
FC. III. 67] Concerning what is needful furthermore for the proper explanation of this profound and chief article of justification before God, upon which depends the salvation of our souls, we direct, and for the sake of brevity herewith refer, every one to Dr. Luther's beautiful and glorious exposition of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians.This is another provision, lest the topic be kidnapped by false teachers. The editors thought so highly of this work that they recommended it to everyone for additional study of Justification. How often is it cited and quoted by UOJ salesmen?
Romans 5:1-2 summarizes Romans 4 and then elaborates further, after 5:2.
5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
5 δικαιωθεντες (Having been justified) ουν (therefore) εκ πιστεως (by faith) ειρηνην εχομεν (we have peace) προς τον θεον (with God) δια του κυριου ημων (through our Lord) ιησου χριστου (Jesus Christ).
2 δι ου (through Whom) και (also) την προσαγωγην εσχηκαμεν (we have an entryway) τη πιστει (by faith) εις την χαριν ταυτην (into this grace) εν η εστηκαμεν (in which grace we stand) και καυχωμεθα (and we boast or exult) επ ελπιδι (in the hope) της δοξης του θεου (of the glory of God).
