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| L-R: W. Schweppe, R. Cox, E. H. Wendland, R Sawall, R. W. Mueller and T. Sauer. |
Courtesy - a Michigander
E. H. Wendland / WELS 1954
WELS / UOJ pages 4 through 7 of the .pdf
Page 5
"In 1905 Ohio (Ohio Synod) called this position of Missouri on Objective Justification a “sin against holiness,”
“insanity,” “night of error,” a “miserable figment of man’s own invention,” whereby the central doctrine of
Scripture was destroyed (Lehre u. Wehre, Vol. 51, p. 385 ff.).”
E. H. Wendland - "We are all certainly aware of the fact that a serious clash over this doctrine existed between the old Ohio
Synod and the Missouri Synod fifty years ago. At that time Ohio flatly rejected the truth upheld by Missouri
that God already declared the whole world justified of all sins in the death and resurrection of Christ (Romans
5: 18-19; Romans 4:25; 2 Cor 5:19). Particularly Dr. Stoeckhardt in his beautiful exegesis on Romans
emphasized Missouri’s position that justification was basically a forensic act, a pronouncement of God in which
5
forgiveness of sin was declared to the whole world, that this objective truth was an accomplished fact, not
conditioned by any attitude, merit, or faith on the part of man. God did not, in other words, justify only those
whom He knew would come to faith."
But Wendland and WELS went whole-Garasene-hog for Church Growth, studying and worshiping with Fuller Seminary Babtists, Pentecostals, and Disciples - not to mention clergy from Rome, the LCA and The ALC.
In 1905 Ohio called this position of Missouri on Objective Justification a “sin against holiness,”
“insanity,” “night of error,” a “miserable figment of man’s own invention,” whereby the central doctrine of
Scripture was destroyed (Lehre u. Wehre, Vol. 51, p. 385 ff.). Ohio defined its own position this way, “Through
the reconciliation of Christ the holy and gracious God has made advances to us, so that forgiveness of sin and
justification have been made possible on his part; justification itself, however, does not occur until through
God’s grace the spark of faith has been kindled in the heart of the poor sinner” (Lehre u. Wehre, Vol. 51, p.
388).
Horrified by Lenski - But Loved Fuller Seminary, Willow Creek
Wendland:
"It is but natural that we ask whether or not this position has changed within the American Lutheran
Church during the course of the years. Statements appearing in church periodicals repeatedly present the
thought that God is “ready to forgive” all those who come to faith. Universal redemption is taught, but not
universal justification. Interesting to observe is the exegesis of Dr. R. C. Lenski on the “sedes doctrinae” found
in Romans. Dr. Lenski agrees that the word “justify” as used by Paul is always forensic but goes to great lengths
to attempt to prove that this justifying act of God applies only to believers after they have come to faith. On
Romans 4:5, where Paul speaks of God justifying the ungodly, Dr. Lenski says, “God declares the ungodly
righteous by reckoning his faith for righteousness…. But for faith there would be no justification. I must ever
say: I believe, therefore am I justified. The strength of my faith is the degree of my certainty” (Commentary on
Romans, p. 299). [GJ - Poor Wendland! What is the topic of Romans 4? - Genesis 15:6, Abraham justified by faith.] On Romans 5:19, he comes out a with the flat statement: “Nowhere in the Bible is any man
constituted or declared righteous ‘without faith, before faith’, all asseverations and argumentations to the
contrary notwithstanding.” Dr. Lenski plainly recognized no biblical doctrine of objective justification and was
very clear in saying so. The same can be said of Dr. Reu. Although he uses the term “objective justification” in
his Lutheran Dogmatics (1945 ed., p. 279), he explains it as meaning that forgiveness of sins has been procured
and is available to all men through the suffering and death of Christ, and that it becomes an accomplished fact if
and when the sinner comes to faith in Christ. “Christ’s righteousness is available for the entire world,” Dr. Reu
states, and then continues, “The indispensable condition for the imputation of Christ’s righteousness and for the
subsumption under universal justification, is faith.” (Lutheran Dogmatics, p. 287 f.)."
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| The Mordor faculty grew increasingly worse as the Shrinkers made sure each newcomer was approving of CG, or silent on the topic. |
