# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S275
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

II. THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS­­—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Christ LESS THAN CENTRAL

275

An Indulgence

FROM TETZEL

Churchly control of grace — the
ecclesial dispensary of grace
• Sacramentalist centrality
with
only indirect connection to Christ or
to faith
• “You must prepare yourself for
God’s grace.”
• Thus the temptation to indulgence
•

Examining

THE INDULGENCE

Luther’s

RESPONSE

95 Theses (Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther

Who is named in the indulgence?
• Who isn’t named!?
• How did you get this?
• The theology of indulgence is more
complex than this simple statement, but
what would the common person think?
•

Reform

NOT REVOLUTION

on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences)
–

In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

–

#1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam
agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.

–

#62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the
glory and the grace of God.

–

#75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a
man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the
Mother of God -- this is madness.

–

#76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to
remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.

–

#78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any
pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel,
powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.

For Luther

CHRIST IS ALL

“If you want to interpret well and confidently, set Christ before you, for He is
the man to whom it all applies, every bit of it.” ― Martin Luther (AE 35:247)

A key truth about the Lutheran reform
So, affirmation of the received doctrine
of the Trinity and the two natures of
Christ (together with many other
teachings)
• Reformation’s criticism: “We have
always believed this, why do you ignore
it or deny it?”
• “Let’s take Jesus (the second article) to
heart.”
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Incarnation
Life and teaching of Christ
Suffering of Christ
Death
Resurrection
Ascension
Return in glory

2019 Convention Workbook