Thursday, May 23, 2019

David Scaer's Easter Absolution - Not Pietistic?



Objective vs. Subjective Justification 

"While biblical inspiration and authority was foundational for Pieper’s Christian Dogmatics, Franz Pieper was absorbed with the doctrine of objective justification throughout his three volumes. Also known as universal justification, it distinguished the Missouri Synod from other synods as no other doctrine in the second half of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century did. At the heart of the doctrine was that God justified the entire world in the resurrection of Christ."

Scaer, David P.. Surviving the Storms: Memoirs of David P. Scaer. Luther Academy. Kindle Edition. #5539.

In the OJ cult, no one teaches the Chief Article - they "deny Objective Justification."

 Where is this taught in the Bible?


Objective Justification Is Not Calvinistic?

Dr. Robert Preus consulted with Calvinists about Objective Justification.


"At the time of the faculty’s conversations with Maier II, Robert Preus looked for support and found it among conservative friends in the Evangelical movement who admired him for his defense of biblical inspiration and inerrancy, including several faculty members of Westminster Seminary—Escondido, California, with its renowned Reformed scholar Michael Horton (b. 1964). Preus must have been aware, but chose to ignore that the Reformed see objective justification as a component of their doctrine of election, but it was hardly universal in scope as Lutherans have historically held it."

Scaer, David P.. Surviving the Storms: Memoirs of David P. Scaer . Luther Academy. #5653. Kindle Edition.

 *Michael Scott Horton (born May 11, 1964) is the J. Gresham MachenProfessor of Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary Californiasince 1998,[1]  (Wiki)

Westminster Seminary California is a Reformed and PresbyterianChristian graduate educational institution located 25 miles north of San DiegoCalifornia, United States, in Escondido. It was initially a branch campus of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia until 1982 when it became fully independent.

 Objective Justification is limited to the LCMS...and the Calvinists.

Renewing the Challenge - Explain These Passages Together -
No Aquinas, Letihart, Pieper, Walther, or even Luther


LutherQuest (sic) has been hosting a rant against Justification by Faith, the Chief Article.I challenged them to explain the following three passages in relation to the issue.
  • Genesis 15:6
  • Romans 4 (maybe include the bridge verses, Romans 5:1-2)
  • Galatians 3:6-7


They ran like frightened rabbits, quoting a Calvinist, Aquinas, Pieper (of course). Lots and lots and lots of quotations, but they did not explain those three passages. To make things easier, I have done my own copy and paste below. Feel free to study the Word of God and pay attention to Professor Holy Spirit. Note three words - 
  • Believe
  • Counted
  • Righteousness.

Genesis 15:6 KJV

Genesis 15 6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4 - 5:2 KJV

Romans 4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Galatians 3:6-7 KJV
Galatians 3 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.