Just as foolish is the argument of Agricola that the Law is not to be taught because it does not justify. Inverted the argument makes sense: Because the Law does not justify, but condemns, it must be preached before the Gospel. Justification presupposes condemnation by the Law. Luther therefore asked Agricola to consider: “Is not [...]
We differentiate between Law and Gospel when both terms are used in their proper sense. The Law in the proper sense (lex proprie accepta) is the Word of God in which God demands of men that in their nature and in their thoughts, words, and acts they conform to the standard of His commandments and [...]
The Christian doctrine which Luther confessed and championed at Worms four hundred years ago before the Church and the world involves above all the fundamental truth that Holy Scripture is the only source and norm of faith. We accept the Holy Bible as that only standard of truth because it is not the word of [...]
Because Scripture divides doctrinally into Law and Gospel, one cannot but treat constantly of Law and Gospel and their mutual relation in presenting the Christian doctrine on the basis of Scripture. Already in the very Prolegomena, in distinguishing the Christian religion from pagan religions, we had to demonstrate that the Christian religion is a religion [...]
When the sinner comes to faith in Christ, or in the Gospel, he is at once justified before God by his faith. Since the Gospel offers him the forgiveness of sins gained by Christ for the whole world (objective justification), the acceptance of this offer, by faith, is all that is needed to accomplish his [...]
… the old and the more recent Calvinists teach that those who are actually illuminated unto faith and salvation do not receive this illumination through the external Word, the Scriptures, but receive it without this Word, through an immediate illumination of the Holy Ghost. It is obvious that such teaching makes the truth that Scripture [...]
Thus our precious Lutheran Church confesses: There is no teaching in the Christian faith which is not revealed in passages of Scripture with clear and unambiguous words. In these Scriptures all articles of the Christian faith have been revealed in a way which is accessible to both the learned and unlearned, as St. Augustine early [...]
This is the unique situation of our time! The teachers of the church, from defenders of the Holy Scripture, have become its accusers. They now also assert–in word and writing–that not the whole Holy Scripture is God’s Word and infallible truth. The old church doctrine of inspiration, that is, the teaching that the holy writers [...]
“In the preceding characterization of faith we have stated again and again that justifying faith must be viewed merely as the instrument, or the receptive organ (medium lepticon), for apprehending the forgiveness of sins offered in the Gospel. But the many errors which have arisen in the Church on this point call for a special [...]
Via The Church and Her Treasures: Lectures on Justification and the True Visible Church The Ninth Lecture As I have already indicated, Holy Writ is composed in such a way that the right teaching not only can be discerned but it must be discerned – so long as one remains by the Scripture words. One [...]
Via “What is Christianity?” Reconciled to God! These words express the greatest happiness that mortal man can know. Since the Fall the life of man on earth is filled with sorrow and misery. This is taught by Scripture, and this we know from experience. But for every one who through faith in the Gospel of [...]
Via “What is Christianity?” So, then, with the help of God let us adhere to the doctrine of pure grace. While it is true that no one in the world should excel us in amicability and urbanity, it is God’s will and command that we must tolerate no compromise whatsoever in matters of Christian doctrine. [...]
Via “What Is Christianity?” In the first place, let us not neglect our own souls’ salvation in our zeal for the Church’s work, for which we want to gain new inspiration during these sessions. This admonition may seem superfluous. Some one may say: “How could we neglect to work out our own salvation with fear [...]
Via “What is Christianity?” What is the purpose of the world so long as God allows it to exist? What, too, is the purpose of man’s living in the world? Quite manifestly this knowledge is essential to our Christian world-view. Whoever does not know the purpose of the world and of his own existence in [...]
Via “What Is Christianity” Our third thesis reads: “The objections which are raised against the inspiration of Scripture are invalid.” The objections to the verbal inspiration of Holy Scripture do not manifest great ingenuity or mental acumen, but the very opposite: they serve as a shining example of how God inflicts His just punishment upon [...]
Franz Friday Via “The True Visible Church of God on Earth” You all, my friends, want to become servants of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Office of the Ministry. Therefore, picture in your mind what the Lutheran Church demands and expects of you. The Lutheran Church expects of you that you are moved to [...]
Franz Friday Via Pieper’s Christian Dogmatics, vol. 3 The Original Text of Holy Scripture and the Translations Since Scripture is intended for the use of all Christians, of whatever station, sex, age, etc. (Deut.6:6-9; Joshua 1:8; Is.3416; Neh.8:2-8; 2 Kings 23:1-2; Luke 16:29ff.; John 5:39; 20:31; Acts 17:11: “They searched the Scriptures daily” 2 Thess.2:15; [...]
Franz Friday Via “What is Christianity?” Luther proclaimed to the Church and the world with a voice of thunder that God’s holy Law indeed condemns all men to death and eternal damnation; but that Holy Scripture sets forth not only the Law, but also the blessed Gospel, which announces to all men that for the [...]
Franz Friday Via “What is Christianity” Yes, indeed, heaven is open! True, heaven was closed to mankind on account of the fall of our first parents; for the blessed communion with God, for which man had been created, was broken off by their transgression. When Adam and Eve, misled by Satan’s wiles, disobeyed the divine [...]
Franz Friday Via “What is Christianity” Finally, the Christian Church must make men wise and discerning, so wise and discerning indeed that in all matters of religion they can distinguish without fail between truth and error. To His followers Christ says: “Ye shall know the truth,” John 8, 31.32. But how do men acquire this [...]
Franz Friday Via “What is Christianity?” The Christian Church moreover must lead men back to the service of God and make them abound in good works. To use a more modern expression, it must foster “Christian morality.” That too, is a purpose of the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. This St. Paul asserts in [...]
Franz Friday Via Franz Pieper, “What is Christianity?” The fact is this: God is known, apprehended and perceived as a gracious Father only in Christ, never without Christ. the Jews also wanted to call God their Father, although they rejected Jesus as their Savior. Like Professor Harnack, they refused to allow Christ’s person and work [...]
Franz Friday Via Pieper’s “What is Christianity?” …it is the mission of the Church to assist men in acquiring a good conscience toward God and thus to insure to them the greatest happiness in this world. The Christian Church should serve men in such a way that under all circumstances – even in sickness, poverty, [...]
Franz Friday Via Pieper’s Dogmatics Vol. 3 The usual distinction between an immediate and a mediate call (vocatio immediata et mediata) is Scriptural. Also Luther has it and substantiates it copiously (St L. XI:1910ff.). The Prophets and Apostles also Paul (Acts 22:21), were called immediately. Paul lays great stress on his immediate call in the [...]
Franz Friday Via Pieper’s Church Dogmatics Volume 3 Also sanctification, the death of the old man and the resurrection to a new life, is not only typified by Baptism, but actually effected. In Rom. 6:1-11 Paul teaches that the Christians are dead unto sin, but alive unto God. This, however, is an effect of Baptism [...]
Franz Friday Via Franz Pieper, Christian Dogmatics Vol. 3 Thieme reports that the Lutheran doctrine that good works are not necessary for salvation has been given up by most modern Protestant theologians, including the so-called “positive” theologians; instead, they have generally adopted the “idea of the religion of morality, that the fruit of faith is [...]
Franz Friday Via Pieper’s Church Dogmatics Vol. 1, p. 289 Luther’s words read: “In this manner, without doubt, the Prophets studied Moses and the last Prophets the first, and with the phrase “in this manner” he refers to his preceding remarks about Scripture study, which God enjoins upon all Christians and all teachers, as he [...]
Franz Friday Via Pieper’s Dogmatics Volume 1, p.366 In fact, we go astray in our exegesis of Scripture as soon as we think that the historical background given in Scripture needs to be supplemented by material from secular history and permit this supplementation to have any decisive influence on our exegesis. Such a procedure, too, [...]
Franz Friday Via Pieper’s Dogmatics vol. 1, p.343-44 The Original Text of Holy Scripture and the Translations Since Scripture is intended for the use of all Christians, of what-ever station, sex, age, etc. (Deut. 6:6-9; Joshua 1:8; Is. 34:16; Neh. 8:2-8; 2 Kings 23:1-2; Luke 16:29ff.; John 5:39; Acts 17:11: “They searched the Scripture daily”; [...]
Franz Friday Via “The Glorious Blessing of Brotherly Fellowship in Faith,” Thesis I All Christians are in inner, invisible fellowship with one another, because through the working of the Holy Spirit they altogether believe on Christ as their Savior and through this faith are bound together with Christ as the only Head of the church [...]
Franz Friday Vai Pieper’s Dogmatics vol. 1, p. 510 The activity of the evil angels against the Church is portrayed fully in Scripture. According to Matt. 16:18 “the gates of hell” are continually waging war against the Church, and it is Christ alone who preserves the Church against the onslaughts of the powers of hell. [...]
Franz Friday Via F. Pieper, “Our Position in Doctrine and Practice Lecture – delivered before the 1893 Synod of Delegates of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states.” “That discipline in doctrine must remain standing in the first place is self-explanatory, for the right doctrine is the foundation for everything, or, to speak with [...]
Franz Friday by Francis August Otto Pieper Doubts disappear like mist before the sun, as soon as you hear the clear testimony of Scripture, which she witness to herself. The word of Scripture, she simply calls the word of the Holy Spirit, Heb. 3:7; Acts. 28:25. She says (2 Pet. 1:2), especially in relation to [...]
