Lutherna View of Church and State

JUSTIFICATION

2006-2007

LESSON TWO

I. The Proper Doctrine of the Gospel, i.e. the Definition of the Subject. (p. 447)

A. Doctrine of justification before God.

1. Must not be taught, learned or sought in the Law, but in Gospel.

2. Ro 1:16,17.

3. Ro 3:21.

B. The object of justifying faith.

1. Is not the doctrine of the Law.

2. Is the voice of the Gospel.

C. A carefully and correctly drawn up definition of the true doctrine is critical.

1. Ro 10:1-3.

2. Ro 11:17(-20).

II. Errors concerning article of justification. (p. 448)

A. As they limited Law to prophetic books of the Old Testament, so they limited the Gospel to New Testament.

B. Before Moses, men saved by only the natural law; after Moses, saved by the law of Moses; and now saved by evangelical law.

C. New law more perfect bringing promise of salvation.

D. They say Law and Gospel differ:

1. As to time.

2. As to the precepts.

3. As to the promises.

4. As to the sacraments.

5. i.e. old law was a matter of fear and new law a matter of love.

E. Early church fathers contributed to errors.

1. Augustine: included works.

2. Eusebius: included living a life in keeping with commandments.

3. Jerome: included obedience.

4. Papists: included good works.

III. Distinction between Law and Gospel. (p. 449)

A. Critical

B. Luther: “…distinguish [the Law from the Gospel] as diligently as heaven is distinguished from earth, light from darkness, day from night...and would that we could separate them even farther!”

C. Main differences

1. Doctrine of the Law to a certain degree is known to human reason while Gospel is a mystery hidden from world, revealed only by the ministration of the Spirit.

2. Both deal with the subject of sin, but in a different way.

a. Law shows sin, accuses, imputes guilt and condemns sin.

b. Gospel remits, covers and does not impute sin.

3. Law talks about doing, (i.e. is the Law of works); but Gospel is the law of faith (i.e. He imputes faith for righteousness).

4. Law prescribes and demands perfect obedience and threatens a curse while Gospel shows Christ, who was made sin and a curse.

5. Promises of Law are conditional while promise of the Gospel concerning remission of sin is free.

6. Law imprisons all under sin, while Gospel is Word of salvation, peace, reconciliation, etc.

7. Law shows what the good works are in which God wants the regenerate to exercise obedience while Gospel teaches how they can demonstrate this obedience. (Gospel contains promise of Spirit of renewal and teaches how the beginnings of obedience, though imperfect, are pleasing to God in the regenerate.)

8. Law speaks to hypocrites, the secure, the old Adam. Gospel speaks to the contrite, the broken, the captives and keeps new man in a state of grace.

IV. Gospel: Categories of Scriptural passages. (p. 450)

A. Is preached to those who are repentant and deals with the gracious promise of reconciliation, remission of sins, righteousness before God, salvation and acceptance unto eternal life. This promise is established in God’s grace, mercy and love.

1. Eph 1:6-9.

2. Eph 2:8,(9).

B. In defining the Gospel, must always include the person of Christ, in His office as Mediator.

1. 2Co 1:20.

2. Gal 3:(13,14),17.

V. Benefits of Reconciliation ( p. 450)

A. Christ has taken upon Himself our sins and the punishments and has made satisfaction to the Father.

B. He is the fulfillment of the Law for believers, who are thereby reconciled to God and received into eternal life.

C. These benefits are apprehended by faith and apply to those who repent.

D. These benefits are offered through the Word and the Sacraments.

E. After the benefit of justification, Gospel also contains the promise of the Spirit of renewal.

F. Gospel speaks not only of present benefits, but it also has the promise of “the hope”.

1. Gal 5:5: “the hope of righteousness”.

2. 1Co 15:28: where “God will be all in all”.

3. Ro 5:21; 8:18-21: and “the glory of God will be revealed in us” in life to come.

G. The promise of Gospel is universal, pertaining to all who repent and receive the promise by faith.

VI. The Common Definition. (p. 450)

A. The Gospel is the preaching of repentance and the forgiveness of sins.

B. Some (in error) argue that Gospel properly speaking contains promise of grace and also the teaching of good works.

1. Confounds distinction.

2. Changes the Gospel into Law.

C. When “Gospel” used in general sense as summary of entire teaching delivered and propagated through ministry of Christ and apostles, includes Law.

D. Because Gospel announces grace to the penitent (not the secure, etc.), in this sense it is proper to say Gospel is the preaching of repentance.

1. Luther: “The Gospel preaches repentance, but through the ministration of the Law”

2. Ro 3:20.

E. Gospel teaches only saved by name of Jesus Christ, and, therefore, antithetically shows that all men imprisoned under sin.

F. Gospel teaches and demonstrates certain explanations of Law which we cannot easily and clearly gather from Moses alone.

1. These explanations are “expositions of the Law and appendices to the Gospel” (M. Luther).

2. Law accuses and condemns and “drives us to Christ.” (M. Luther).

3. Law of faith adds to law of works.

a. Outward honorable discipline in unregenerate is a sin.

b. Heb 11:6.

G. First Table accuses as sin all unbelief over against the Word of God, but Gospel explains this unbelief specifically as being a rejection of the gracious promise of reconciliation.

H. First part of repentance, the sorrow over sin, comes from Law but the second part, the intention to do good, can not come from Law. Gospel teaches that repentant must take hope, and out of love for God, hate sin. (The “truly good intention”).