Dear Pastor Jackson,
Please
add your thoughts, comments, and clarifications throughout this article
as you wish. Justification by faith in Christ is the most important
teaching and doctrine in God's INCORRUPTIBLE Word. Luther noted how easy
it is for all of us to slip away from justification by faith in Christ.
Luther constantly warned of adding our own will, works, devotions,
rules, and works righteousness to justification by faith in Christ.
America
is full of misbelief and hardened unbelief especially against God's
INCORRUPTIBLE Word in the King James Bible, the Office of the Keys, Holy
Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. I am attempting to address these errors
as they come to mind. I will be noting Luther often. Many of my
paraphrasing of Luther are from memory and subject to correction.
The
exact TEXT of God's INCORRUPTIBLE WORDS in the King James Bible must be
correctly understood and firmly believed. For example, what is the
difference between "dead in sin" and "dead to sin"? What is the
difference between "in the flesh" and "in the Spirit"? How do you get
"in the Spirit"? How do you become "in Christ"? Why does God say, "fruit
of the Spirit" instead of "works of the Spirit"? Why does God say
"works of the flesh" instead of "fruits of the flesh"? Why are some
people "under the law" and some are "under grace"? How do you become "
under grace" and escape being "under the law"? What do you run to when
your sin bothers your conscience? Hint: Run to the pure gospel in 1
John 1:9, Galatians 3:26,27; and your Baptism into Christ. Remember that
Christ promises to forgive all manner of sin and blasphemy. Christ will
never withdraw Himself from you; but constantly urges you to believe in
Him as He did for Thomas.
As
soon as Luther woke up in the morning, he would make the sign of the
Holy cross and say, "In the name of God the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost."
He would then say, "I am baptized in the name of God
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven
and earth.
And in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of
the virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and
buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the
dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the
communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the
body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
As soon as I wake up, I do the same as Luther. I also recite the following so I am not a forgetful hearer:
"For
ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians
3:26-27
"Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His
mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:5
"If
we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have
not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us " 1 John
1:8-10
Then I pray the Lord's prayer, remembering Luther's explanation for each petition.
God
clearly preaches justification by faith to us at the beginning of the
ten commandments in Exodus 20 saying: " and showing MERCY unto thousands
of them that love me and keep my commandments." MERCY is for sinners
God clothes in His righteousness by the faith of Jesus as Pastor Jackson
clearly teaches. Isn't it wonderful for God to preach justification by
faith to us at the beginning of the first and greatest commandment:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
strength, and with all thy might."
How
does a Christian use the law of 10 commandments lawfully? Perhaps it
means to keep the 10 commandments according to the law of faith instead
of merit? 1 Timothy 1:8 says the law is good if a man use it lawfully.
Paul delighted in the 10 commandments according to his new man. Luther
also delighted in the 10 commandments, but when sin attacked his
conscience he put the law far away, and held to the pure milk of the
gospel.
Neither
give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions,
rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing
this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless
and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and
profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for
manslayers,
10 For
whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for
menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other
thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust
1 Timothy 1:4-11
God
preaches justification by faith at the beginning of the fourth
commandment that He gives to us with PROMISE. It is the forth
commandment with PROMISE. God gave His righteousness to Abraham by
PROMISE, not by works.
The PROMISE was given to Abraham 430 years before the law of commandments.
And
the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through
faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall
all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For
as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is
written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are
written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ
hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That
the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren,
I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet
if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now
to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to
seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And
this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in
Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot
disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Galatians 3:8-18
The
foolish Galatians added rules, devotions, ceremonies, laws, and
circumcision as requirements to justification. What is the "liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us free"? Is this phrase speaking of
justification by the faith of Christ and our faith in Christ? What does
"be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" mean? Does it mean
adding the requirements of the law and works righteousness to
justification by faith? Paul specifically mentions adding circumcision
and the whole law to justification by faith.
5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Galatians 5
Even
the apostle Peter slipped miserably away from justification by faith by
adding the requirements of the law. This was so serious that the
apostle Paul had to correct Peter in front of everyone. Paul forcefully
asserts we are NOT justified by the works of the law. We are justified
by the faith of Christ. We believe in Christ so we may be justified by
the faith of Christ as Pastor Jackson has clearly taught.
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For
before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but
when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them
which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But
when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the
gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest
after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest
thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing
that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith
of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for
by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But
if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are
found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I
am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:11-21
Americans
completely misunderstand the phrase "I through the law am dead to the
law, that I might live unto God." They completely forget about the law
of faith that delivers us from the law of the ten commandments. God
calls the law of faith in Romans, the law of liberty in James.
America
is full of internet miracle workers, internet prophets, internet false
preachers who hear God speaking to them directly. Self help books,
Yoga, meditation, nature worship, mind speak, TV will power coaches,
emotional devotions, and emotional prayer techniques is the American way
to God. What is the foundation of these "get closer to God" techniques
and teachings? Man's highest powers of free will, and reasoning is the
foundation of these "get closer to God" endeavors.
The
Amish and Mennonites are my wonderful friends and neighbors, yet they
war against forgiveness of sins and eternal life given to us in Holy
Baptism, and the Office of the Keys and the Lord's Supper. How should I
respond to them? Their works are commendable and even superior. The
quality of their works are perhaps better. How shall I respond to them?
What would Jesus our Good Shepherd say to these precious lost sheep?
Luther
insisted that our 'free will' can do nothing but sin. It always leads
you away from Christ. Perhaps you have noticed how your Baptist and
Calvinistic relatives put all their trust and confidence in their 'free
will' to 'make a decision for Christ', to 'accept Jesus into their
heart', to have an emotional 'born again' experience at the alter, and
to endeavor to put Christ first in their life. They always brag about
the accomplishments of their own works, will power, endeavors, emotional
devotions, and decisions. They say, "I made a decision for Christ,
accepted Jesus into my heart, and was born again on April 9, 2016."
Where is Christ? Their own 'free will", works, decisions, and emotional
experience lead them to trust works righteousness instead of Christ.
They hate and heave with all their might against God's work, will, Word,
and name in Baptism. How do you respond? How would Christ our Good
Shepherd respond to these precious lost sheep? Is their Baptism nothing
because they heave against it with all their might? Do they need to use
their own works and will to recover their Baptism as Jerome suggested?
Has God withdrawn their Baptism from them until they work, scratch, and
claw their way back to it? Did Christ withdraw Himself from Thomas
because of his strong unbelief? Christ the Good Shepherd earnestly
sought and came to Thomas, showing him His hands and feet, and urging
him to believe. So also God NEVER withdraws Baptism from any one!
Baptism is always there just as Christ and His Word is always with us.
Baptism is always with our relatives even though they heave and squirm
against it. It is our duty to remind them that their baptism is not
nothing just because they heave and squirm against it. Baptism makes
them Christian not their precious invented works, decisions and will
power.
Christ
has compelled all of us to go tell our family, brothers, sisters,
parents, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends the great things God has
done for us and for them in the Word, Baptism, Office of the Keys, and
Holy Communion. We need to urge them to believe in Christ and God's
gifts in their Baptism especially!!! Luther insisted that we trust
Christ and His Word instead of our faith. Sometimes we cannot find our
faith. Our faith is flickering and imperfect. Christ's faith is perfect.
This is why we are justified by the faith of Christ as Pastor Jackson
has taught.
We
are certain the King James Bible is the same INCORRUPTIBLE Word God
gave us in the original autographs when Holy men of God wrote as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost. God preserved His Words in the Greek
TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Ben Chayyim Hebrew Text, Luther's 1545 German Bible,
King James Bible, Russian Synodal Bible, Spanish Reina-Valera Bible,
Czech Bible of Kralice, Portuguese Almeida Recebida Bible, Dutch
Statenvertaling Bible, etc.
6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Psalm 12:6,7
God's
INCORRUPTIBLE Word in the King James Bible is EFFICACIOUS, living,
powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. God's Word is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of our hearts.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of
the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart.
13 Neither
is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things
are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing
then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For
we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of
our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin.
16 Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:11-16
God's
INCORRUPTIBLE Word in the King James Bible is EFFICACIOUS, living,
powerful, and full of God the Holy Ghost who has attached Himself to
these Words. Luther noted that the Spirit is never without the Word and
the Word is never without the Spirit.
6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For
as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not
thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that
it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So
shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return
unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For
ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains
and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the
trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 55:6-13
Christ
our Lord said that we live by every Word of God. We have EVERY Word
that proceeded out of the mouth of God in the King James Bible. I often
get frightened and need to rush back to the exact text of God's
INCORRUPTIBLE Word in the King James Bible.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But
he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew
4:3-4
Our faith in Christ
is the work of God. Our faith comes by hearing and correctly
understanding His Words. Our hearing and correct understanding come to
us by the INCORRUPTIBLE Word of God.
26 Jesus
answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not
because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and
were filled.
27 Labour
not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him
hath God the Father sealed.
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:26-29
Our
faith comes by hearing and our hearing with a correct understanding
comes from the INCORRUPTIBLE and efficacious Word of God in the King
James Bible.
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But
I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the
earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Romans 10:16-18
Christ our Lord made a sharp distinction between an incorrect hearing and a correct hearing and understanding of His Word.
18 Take
heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given;
and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he
seemeth to have. Luke 8:18
Christ
made a distinction between works coming from our own righteous
endeavors and the works of faith. Our works of faith are perfect and
acceptable to God ONLY because they are clothed in the righteousness of
Christ. Luther insisted works of faith are as common as a mother
changing the diapers on her baby. How is a common work made acceptable
to God? Does the quality of the common work make it acceptable to God?
No!! God must clothe all our common works in the righteousness of Christ
to make them acceptable. We still have sin. So we confess our sins
believing God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But
if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one
with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from
all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-9
What
does Christ mean when He tells us that He is the vine and we are the
branches? Can the branches help the vine? Can our will power, works,
endeavors, self help contribute anything other than sin and unbelief?
Christ forcefully asserts that we can do nothing without Him.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except
it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If
a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;
and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:1-8
Christ our Lord said, " Either make the tree good and his fruit good or make the tree evil and his fruit evil."
Pastor
Jackson you showed us how important every INCORRUPTIBLE Word of God is.
Even tiny little Words such as "of" and "in" control the meaning of the
Text. We are justified by the faith OF Jesus.
What is 'the law of faith in Romans 3? What does 'the law of faith' exclude?
What is 'the perfect law of liberty' in James 1?
The book of James teaches justification by faith. The 'law of faith' in Romans 3 is the same as the 'law of liberty' in James.
Romans 3 proves everyone is sinful and filthy in their reasoning, and will.
19 Now
we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are
under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even
the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and
upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom
God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
What
is the law of faith? Luther loved this phrase because it completely
excludes and banishes our own works of 'free will', reasoning,
endeavoring, ' making a decision for Christ', 'putting Christ first', '
dedicating our life to God', and invented works of righteousness.
Scripture is clear. All our works of righteousness are filthy rags. They
are nothing but sin, darkness, and unbelief.
6 But
we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as
filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the
wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6
In
First John God says that if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us. Then God says that whoever is born of God
does not commit sin.
Americans
are forgetful hearers of the Word, because they add their own will,
reasoning, and invented righteousness to justification by faith. Here is
an example of trusting reasoning and 'free will', and the 'superior
quality' of your own works instead of trusting in Christ alone without
works.
I,
as a believer in Christ, am sorting my sheep today. My unbelieving
neighbor is also sorting his sheep today. Why does God accept my common
work of sorting sheep, but rejects my neighbors common work of sorting
sheep? Perhaps my godly attitude is superior to the attitude of my
unbelieving neighbor? Yes, that's it?? My godly attitude makes my common
work acceptable to God, and my neighbors poor attitude makes his work
unacceptable to God???? This is a perfect example of reasoning, and
'free will' leading us away from Christ and into the abyss of trusting
our own works of a better 'more godly attitude'!!!! All our works, and
faith are infected with sin and must be covered in Christ's
righteousness. This is why Luther and all of us start and end our day
with our Baptism in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost!!!!!!!!! God makes ALL our common works perfect by clothing us in
the righteousness of Christ in our Baptism in the name of God the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, without our own works.
In First John 3 God says:
Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it
knew him not.
2 Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we
shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He
that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In
this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth
not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not
as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And
wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his
brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But
whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of
God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
What
is meant by: 'whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth
hath not seen him, neither known him'? Does it mean that we must muster
our free will against breaking the 10 commandments? Does it mean: 'If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness'? Yes, 1 John 1:9 is the correct
answer. Another good answer is: For ye are all the children of God by
faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26,7 God's efficacious Word,
Baptism, the office of the keys, and Holy Communion all keep us abiding
in Christ.
Americans
are completely lost. They firmly believe God the Holy Ghost works
without the Word, Baptism, Office of the Keys, and Holy Communion. A
good example of this is the belief that everyone is already justified
without and prior to the Word, faith, and Baptism. This false teaching
is called objective justification. This pernicious doctrine has been
added to Luther's Catechism, the LCMS Brief Statement, and foundational
doctrine books used in the seminaries.
Don't
believe every spirit. Try and test the spirits. The objective,
universal justification spirit will always refuse to honestly answer
this question: "Does objective justification teach that God has already
forgiven and justified everyone prior to and without faith and without
Holy Baptism." You must persist in asking this question because the
answer is obviously yes. They will never admit this. They are not afraid
to consistently lie, obfuscate, and threaten. Avoid them!! They are
dangerous liars and deceivers. They are blind guides of the blind. They
both go into the ditch of misbelief and darkness.
Christ
our Shepherd ends our darkness. I love the picture of the apostle John
leaning on Jesus like a little child. Christ encouraged all of His
apostles to touch and hold onto to Him like little children. After He
rose from the dead, Jesus walked through the locked door and stood in
the middle of His apostles:
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 And
he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I
was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written
in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning
me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And,
behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the
city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. Luke 24:36-53
Luther constantly asserted that Jesus is God and man in one person:
"I
believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from
eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord, who
has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me
from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with
gold or silver, but with His Holy precious blood and with His innocent
suffering and death, that I may be His own, and live under Him in His
kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and
blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all
eternity. This is most certainly true." Luther's Small Catechism, 1905
Schwan Edition, Lutheran Library.org; pg.9 ISBN 9798746326935
Psalm 32 speaks of justification by faith without works:
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Psalm 32
Romans 4 quotes Psalm 32: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Romans 4:3-8
Only
God can keep us in justification by faith without our own works. He
does this by His Word, Baptism, the Office of the Keys, and Holy
Communion. This is why we should start and end our day as Luther did:
Make the sign of the Holy Cross and say: I am baptized in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Mark 16:16
"For
ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians
3:26,27
"Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life."
Titus 3:5,6
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." John 6:47
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
Then confess the Apostles Creed remembering Luther's explanation for each article:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And
in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was
crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He
rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the
right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to
judge the quick and the dead.
I
believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Christian Church, the communion of
saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; and the
life everlasting. Amen
Luther concluded his book on the bondage of the will with this very important truth:
"As
to myself, I openly confess, that I should not wish "Free-will" to be
granted me, even if it could be so, nor anything else left in my own
hands, whereby I might endeavor something towards my own salvation. And
that, not merely in so many opposing dangers, and so many assaulting
devils, I could not stand and hold it fast, (in which state no man could
be saved, seeing that one devil is stronger than all men;) but because,
even though there were no dangers, no conflicts, no devils, I should be
compelled to labor under a continual uncertainty, and to beat the air
only. Nor would my conscience, even if I should live and work to all
eternity, ever come to a settled certainty, how much it ought to do in
order to satisfy God. For whatever work should be done, there would
still remain a scrupling, whether or not it pleased God, or whether He
required anything more; as is proved in the experience of all
justiciaries, and as I myself learned to my bitter cost, through so many
years of my own experience.
But
now, since God has put my salvation out of the way of my own will, and
has taken it under His own, and has promised to save me, not according
to my working or manner of life, but according to His own grace and
mercy, I rest fully assured and persuaded that He is faithful, and will
not lie, and moreover great and powerful, so that no devils, no
adversities can destroy Him, or pluck me out of His hand. "No one (
saith He) shall pluck them out of My hand, because My Father which gave
them Me is greater than all." (John 10:27-28). Hence it is certain, that
in this way, if all are not saved, yet some, yea, many shall be saved;
whereas by the power of "Free-will" no one whatever could be saved, but
all must perish together. And moreover, we are certain and persuaded,
that in this way, we please God, not from the merit of our own works,
but from the favor of His mercy promised unto us; and that, if we work
less, or work badly, He does not impute it unto us, but, as a Father,
pardons us and makes us better. This is the glorying which all the
saints have in their God!" (Martin Luther, Bondage of The Will,
Associated Publishers And Authors, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1971; pg.
148-149 )
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one. John 10:27-30
In Christ,
Tom Fisher
