This post was posted on Ichabod:
What is the LutherQuest objection to the reformation teaching of "Justification by Faith"? If it is a dangerous or destructive teaching, can they clearly as if to a sixth grader explain why "Justification by Faith" is wrong?
It would be extremely helpful for the Confessional Lutherans in the audience to understand the problem with "Justification by Faith" without any reference to terms not found in the Book of Concord, which is the Confession we all profess to believe, as I understand it.
Please post this. I wasn't able to find any answer to the previous request for clarification. Please keep asking. And attacks on "Jackson", "Ohio Synod", "Intuitu Fidei", etc, are not an answer the underlying question:
Why is "Justification by Faith" as Lutherans have understood it an error?
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We most certainly do not understand the biblical doctrine of Justification by faith as articulated and defended in Romans 3-5 and 2 Cor. 5:18-20 as an error. Here is proof in paragraph 17 of our Brief Statement of 1932:
Holy Scripture sums up all its teachings regarding the love of God to the world of sinners, regarding the salvation wrought by Christ, and regarding faith in Christ as the only way to obtain salvation, in the article of justification. Scripture teaches that God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in Christ, Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Rom. 4:25; that therefore not for the sake of their good works, but without the works of the Law, by grace, for Christ's sake, He justifies, that is, accounts as righteous, all those who believe, accept, and rely on, the fact that for Christ's sake their sins are forgiven. Thus the Holy Ghost testifies through St. Paul: "There is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," Rom. 3:23, 24. And again: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law," Rom. 3:28.
The poster needs to distinguish the scriptural doctrine of Justification from the erring doctrine of Dr. Gregory Jackson along with his baseless accusations against us of Universalism, apostasy, justification without faith, and Enthusiasm.
Dr. Jackson has read our documents, so he knows better than to caricature our doctrine in the manner that he does on his ecclesiole website. The poster should take the time to READ the posts on this website to see the evidence of what I am posting here.
The hallmark of the doctrine of "justification by grace alone through faith alone" is the scriptural doctrine of the Gospel that our merciful God justifies us, acquits us of our sins in Christ and imputes His perfect righteousness to us when He brings us to faith. God supplies the perfect and complete gift of justification and forgiveness, which He delivers to people in the world through the means of grace (Gospel and sacraments), and He imparts this gift to the individual whom He brings to faith.
Justification by faith alone is the doctrine that not our own works but the works of another, Jesus Christ, are what saves us when God brings us to faith.
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GJ - This was not an answer, but it is a perfect example of the OJists trying to take both sides at once. One is the dreadful attack on Scriptures, Brief Statement 1932, confusing the Atonement with Justification by Faith. The blatant Scriptural falsehoods are given some nip and tuck plastic surgery, more like Bondo filler, to make it all sound Biblical. The last sentence omits faith.
No wonder so few listen to his hollow, rationalized view of Pietism, quite the opposite of Dr. Walter A. Maier preaching inerrancy and Justification by Faith.
