LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 338

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338 THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS

THESES ON
JUSTIFICATION

Theses on Justification

A Report of the
Commission on Theology
and Church Relations
The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod

May 1983

Introduction

Tne 1981 convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
adopted a resolution asking ‘the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations. tne oint faculties of the seminaries. and the Council of
Presidents to make a study of the doctrine of justification within one
year. which gives proper expression to all the aspects of what the
Scriptures teach on this matter’ {1981 Res. 3-12 “To Make a Study on the
Doctrine of Justification’. In response to a request from the President of
the Synod that the Commission on Theology and Church Relations
coordinate the oreparation of this study. a set of theses on justification
was drafted by the CTCR and shared with the Council of Presidents and
the seminary faculties for discussion and review as they carned out their
own independent studies of this doctrine. On the basis of the written
responses received. the CTCR revised the original draft of the theses and
distributed them once again to the Council of Presidents and seminary
faculties for final review The Commission now presents these theses for
synod-wide study and discussion

In keeping with the Synod’s recognition that “the need has been
expressed to study anew what the Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions teach on this doctrine. these theses have been formulated
for the purpose of presenting the Biblical doctrine of justification by
grace through faith for Christ s sake In as comprehensive a manner as 1s
possibile in a format of this kind In order to elucidate certain key aspects
of the doctrine of justification as precisely as possible. the document
presents a number of antitheses which point out and reject past and
present errors whicn obscure and even vitiate this central doctrine

The theses are here presented in accordance with the sequence
followed in the aricles of the Augsburg Confession. The article of
justification is tnerefore presented in the context of Its basis in the work
of Christ. the means of grace through which the sinner 1s brought to faith
and to possession of the benefits of Christ. and the renewal or Christian
life of the sinner which results from his justification through faith in
Christ Tne theses are not intended to go beyond the pattern of thought
and terminology of Scripture. the Lutheran Confessions. and the
presentation of our respected Lutheran theologians of the past

This study on justification is presented to the Synod in the year of
the 500th ann:versary of the birthday of Dr Martin Luther. It can
therefore serve as a timely reminder of the debt of gratitude we owe to
God for this our father in the faith. who so faithfully labored to restore
this doctrine to the center of the church's life and proclamation The
Commission on Theology and Church Relations offers the theses which
follow with tre special prayer that they wil assist pastors and
congregations as they seek to bring comfort and peace to troubled
consciences in their midst and to edify one another for the work of
Christian service

Citations from the Lutheran Confessions are taken from The Book
of Concord edited by T G Tappert (Philadeipnia. Fortress Press. 1959).
and, where noted. from Concordia Trigiotta. The following abbreviations
nave been used

AC —~Augsburg Confession

Ap —Apology of the Augsburg Confession

Ep —Epitome of the Formula of Concord

FC —Formula of Concord

LC —tLarge Catechism

SA -—~Smalcaid Anicles

SC —~Smal! Catechism

SD —Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord
Tr —Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope

Trg. —Concordia Trigiotta

|. Centrality and Function

1. The doctrine of the sinner's justification before God by grace for
Christ's sake through faith is the central and most important
teaching of the Christian faith. (1s. §3; John 1.29; 3:16. Acts 4:12.
Rom. 1:16-17; 3:23-28. 4:25: 1 Cor. 2:1-5: 3:11; Gal. 2:16: 5:4: 1 Tim
1:15. 26-6: AC XX, 9-11; XXVI. 4; XXVII. 48: Ap tV, 2: SA II. i, 1-5: SA
We it, 21, 24, 25: SA IL i. 2. FC SD Ul, 6)

It is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospei to teach
That justification or forgiveness for Christ's sake by
grace through faith is not central in Scripture or does not
really take place. but is merely one of a number of modes or
theological interpretations or metaphors or pictures OF
motifs—each of these really dispensable—of Christ's
saving work found in the Scriptures.

Il. Definition*

2. When used to refer to the sinner’s relationship to God. the term
“justify” is used throughout the Scriptures to denote a verdict. .e., a foren-
sic act whereby a person is counted righteous. declared nghteous,
reckoned to be righteous. absolved. or forgiven. (Rom. 3:20-28: 4:1-
13: 5:1; 8:33: Gal. 2:16, [cf. Deut. 25.1. 1 Kings 8:32: Prov. 17:15; Is
§:23}: Ap IV. 72. 158. 161. 252. 305: FC Ep Ill. 7, FC SD Ill, 17)

{ts contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach

That God judges a person to be righteous because that
person is inherently righteous on account of what he has
done:

That Christ's righteousness ts reckoned to a person
only in piece-meal fashion. as love 's infused

That justification is not a completely forensic act of
God. but is realized at least in part in the “new creation”
among Christians:

That God declares a person righteous because He has
started to renew that person's life and conduct.

3. The term “justify” in Scripture often overlaps in meaning the term
“forgive.” which means to blot out [sins]. to pardon. In Scripture the
term “justify” is often used in the context of God's grace. Christ's
work of obedience and redemption, reconciliation, propitiation.

* Definitions in part il are preiminary to the materia! in the remainder of the document and
should be cross-reterenced with more detailed statements in the later theses For example
theses 5 and 6 are elaborated im theses 19-22