"Justification" Theologica Prolegomena Class

 Greetings! 

     AA is one of our classmates and will be presenting a white paper on justification. I remember a quote from Martin Luther which stated that "justification is the chief doctrine upon which the Church stands or falls." I believe I concur with this statement. 

     So it's after 8pm on the East Coast. I'm chilaxin, vibin, coolin, tryna get through this Theologica Prolegomena. So far so good. I appreciate my man AA writing on justification. 

AA: basically, Martin Luther constantly emphasizes that justification is all about comfort and assurance. It is definitely monergistic.  AA quotes some theological articles on the topic. But why justification?

WHY SHOULD I CARE? WHY SHOULD ANYONE CARE? 

     In the Smalcald Articles, Luther makes it clear that justification must be the centerpiece of our theology because justification is the doctrine that explains most clearly how we find our assurance and comfort. But what is justification? And how do we tie this term into other terms such as sanctification

             JUSTIFICATION VERSUS SANCTIFICATION 

     We are so used to justification just being seen as a legal declaration, a legal positioning. Can we use marriage as a metaphor? Legally speaking, there was a change in the relationship between my wife and I (I DEFINITELY married up, haha).  But there was also a tangible shift in reality concerning how we related to life and each other. Through faith as St Peter says, we receive a new, different clean heart. Although sin is not completely dead, God will not hold it against us -- Martin Luther. 

There is truth in justification being a legal, forensic declaration.  But also, we can allude to marriage again. More than just what is reflected on paper, I have a real, and sincere relationship with my wife. We are genuinely connected to each other. Before being married I was single.  My wife Chi was single. But now, we've been recreated as a couple. We are something that has never existed before in the world. 

AT THIS POINT AA FINISHES HIS PRESENTATION.....

        I thought it was a great presentation.  One of the questions that was asked was what passages of scripture was AA looking to in order to discuss justification. He stated that Romans 5 and Galatians were the main ones.  So let's look at Romans 5: 

Romans 5 New American Standard Bible 5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. 

So, please meditate on this passage of scripture, which clearly lays out justification. Now, we will focus on the last half of class, where Dr. Leins quotes from his article on Anfectung and Absolution.

Dr. Leins was at a Bible class overseas and was preaching on Confession & Absolution.  Now, Dr. Leins laid the foundation for Confession & Absolution by discussing the importance of Law & Gospel and their proper distinction being preached in every sermon.  The right proclamation of the Law will be driven to the Gospel. I'm reminded of the show "Outlaw God," by Steven Paulson. He says that preachers are both hitmen and midwives in every sermon. 

Dr. Leins tells a story about his time in a remote place doing missions work. In this place, people had regular encounters with demons and with witchcraft.  After receiving the Word of Christ, one person in the congregation shouted at Dr. Leins, stating that he could not forgive sins. "You cannot forgive sins" said the man. But it was simply a misunderstanding or a lack of understanding of the Office of the Keys.  Dr. Leins showed them scripture, and told them that this practice was done since the beginning of the church. Matthew 18 is a good example.  

Matthew 16:19

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

I believe the passage in Matthew 16:19 also ties into this passage: 

Matthew 6:10

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

The point of all of this, the Office of the Keys, Confession & Absolution, all tie back to forgiveness. Forgiveness is what we need to give and also receive.  But what is the significance of the phrasing in this passage? It comes from the Hebraic concept of future events already being done in past tense.  And speaking of past, present and future events, 

Now we have moved to the topic of church plants, and corporate worship...the goal is to have worship on earth that reflects the worship in scripture...on earth as it is in heaven. 

Now, Dr. Leins is talking about the uniqueness of the call and response of Lutheran Divine Service. His action, our response, over and over. 

Why does the pastor read the Gospels in the center of the sanctuary? It represents the Word becoming flesh, the Word coming among us. That's what all of this is about. Christ Jesus. More soon!!