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| Parts 1 and 2 are linked here. |
Part Two - Alleged Scripture Support for Objective (Faithless) 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." (LCMS Brief Statement, 1932)
In the first part I noted how fatuous the LCMS claim was - and is - that Romans 4:25 teaches Objective (Faithless) Justification when the complete sentence, Romans chapter 4 itself, and Romans teaches Justification by Faith.
KJV Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
There is nothing faithless about this verse, unless one decides that "many" means "all" - a foolish and lame strategy promoted by WELS and other sectarians. That is a foolish gesture on their part, because "all" puts them in the category of Universalism - all are saved - and ELCA, their ministry partner.
Word and Witness Audio Tape - GRACE!
The Lutheran Church in America had a Word and Witness program designed to be a modernized version of another one. They offered audio tapes too - remember them - and one defined the LCA quite well. The narrator said with venomous anger in his voice, "The media evangelists have one great problem in their work. They have no concept of GRACE!" He meant that forgiveness from Christ could not be connected to faith, because "all forgiven" meant "all received by grace, without faith."
Various toxic dogmas have erased the Means of Grace from the thoughts of modernistic, paganistic Lutherans. Simply put, the Word is invisible - teaching and preaching - and also visible - Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. The term "means" is also taught as "instruments." The Gospel Word is the instrument by which faith in Christ is planted in our hearts and strengthened in our worship and studies. Because the Holy Spirit always works with the Word and never apart from the Word, we know that no one can legitimately make claims which are not found or proclaimed in the Scriptures.
KJV 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
KJV 2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The Objective (Faithless) Justification fanatics do not use the above quotation with the pivotal Romans passage which summarizes chapter 4. Romans 5:1-2 is really a summary of Romans 4, as shown by the transition - therefore -
KJV Romans 5:1 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.
Paul does not mean or even imply that Christ taking on the sins of the world equals the entire world being forgiven and saved (even back to Adam) as a result. Yet the chowder-heads of Church Growth, Objective (Faithless) Justification, and other maladies demand that their slogans be accepted as Biblical truths.
Often added to this group of citations is 1 Timothy 3:16, an unlikely candidate but still enrolled in the cavalcade of Biblical blunders.
KJV 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
- God was manifest in the flesh,
- justified in the Spirit,
- seen of angels,
- preached unto the Gentiles,
- believed on in the world,
- received up into glory.
The Pietists, who tried and failed to blend Lutheran doctrine with Calvinism, used "justified in the Spirit" as the world being absolved of sin the moment Christ rose from the grave. But the justification of Jesus Christ was different from Justification by Faith by mortal men. The resurrection of the Son of God proved He had committed no sin, because death is the mark of Adam. Turning the resurrection into world absolution may be marvelous remedy for the Law-oriented ELCA Enthusiasts and the Walther worshiping Midwestern Pietists, but the inerrant Word does not allow Universalist carpet-baggers.
