First of all, let
us not lose sight of the principle on which the whole battle
of the Reformation was fought and the Augsburg Confession as
brought into being. The Word of God as given us in the Holy
Scriptures is the only source of our knowledge of the truth
unto salvation and the only judge of controversies arising
among men in regard to that truth. From this alone articles of
faith can be derived. What this declares must be received;
what conflicts with this must be rejected.
The Church can
recognize no authority but that of God, and no revelation of
His will unto man’s salvation but Holy Scripture. From this no
appeal to any other authority can be allowed. If any person or
church will not recognize this sovereign authority, the
difference in principle is such as to render all discussion of
differences in doctrine useless.
From Loy, Matthias.
The Augsburg confession: An Introduction To Its Study And An
Exposition Of Its Contents Columbus, Ohio: Lutheran Book
Concern, 1908.
