The Gospel Dominates

 Luther dealt with Law & Gospel when he dealt with his Saxon visitations. In the 1520s, Luther realized that being freed from the condemnation of the law caused people to love serving others. Luther visited other congregations and was not pleased with what he saw. Luther dealt with antinomianism and other controversies dealing with the concept of sanctification (growing more and more Christ-like). After Luther's death, Melanchthon most prominently describes three uses of the Law. Some people prefer "functions" over "uses." Melanchthon explained how the Law was a curb, mirror and guide. It's been a staple in Lutheran culture since Melanchthon. 

Sanctification to some degree has to do with all three uses of the law, but it's most clearly associated with the third use of the Law. 

Unfortunately, during the Pietist Movement, sanctification began to supercede justification in importance. People were looking within themselves versus outside of themselves (extra nos) for assurance of salvation. 

A Key element to this debate is the Mystical Union

MYSTICAL UNION -- SAY WHAT??!!

The mystical union is the ontological (literal, physical) indwelling of the Godhead within us. All the language of being conformed to Christ that we see in the Bible, etc. The whole point is intimacy---this is why the apostle Paul was so adamant about the Corinthians being sexually pure. Our relationship with Christ is definitely NOT sexual, but it is intimate. 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

New English Translation

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Sanctification is so much more than just moral effort. 

SANCTIFICATION DEBATES TODAY

Two problems that show up in Lutheranism in the mid 1900s are Gospel reductionism (no Law preached). The Law shifts from being the eternal will of God to just accusation.  Gerhard Forde would say that the Law only accuses.  He removes the essence of the Law from the distinction of the Law.  This leads to a theology that has nothing good to say about sanctification.  Gerhard Forde has an essay on sanctification, in which he says sanctification is getting used to your justification.  This is not found in Luther, Lutheranism, our Confessions, but most importantly, this idea is not found in scripture. 

SANCTIFICATION -- IS IT ME OR GOD? 

John 15

New American Standard Bible

Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already [b]clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, [c]and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit [d]of itself [e]but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him [f]bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [g]prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

 Sanctification is God the Holy Spirit working with us, within us.