LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 342

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THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS

When one proclaims Christ's finished work and world justification
this must always be done with the purpose that it be received
through faith (Mark 16:16: Rom. 1.16-17}. When one speaks of faith
or justification through faith, this must be done tn such a way that it
1s Clear that faith 1s logically subsequent. not prior. to the Gospel! of
objective justification (Rom. 3:21-28: $:1-11.2 Cor. 5:19-20: Gal. 4:4-
7: Col. 120-23: Ap IV, 43-45, 80-81. 84. 87,97. SA 11.1, 1-4: FC Ep ill.
3-6)

It is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospei to teach
That there is any more basic goal in Gospel proclama-
tlor than the Holy Spirit's creation of faith in the hearers.
That the psychological dimension of justifying faith 1s
more basic and important than justifying faith as receptivity.

it must be proclaimed in the churches and in the world that man is a
sinner (jaw) Just as it must be proclaimed that man !s forgiven and
righteous for Christ's sake that God forgives sins because of Christ's
fulfiliment of the just demands of the law (Gospel). (Matt. 19:16-22.
Rom. 3:9-19. 25-26: 10:4: Gal. 3 10-14, 21-26; Ap It. 13: IV. 166-168
XII, 53, FC Ep |. 9: FC SO 1. 8. V. 10-13, 17-18)

It is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach
That people at any time in history do not need the law
to expose their sin

It must be proclaimed in the church and to the world that God !s
reconciled and at peace with all (Gospel). just as that God Is angry
and punishes sinners (law) must be proclaimed in the church and to
the world Ps. 5:5. 90:7-8: 103 10-12: Is. 52.3-7. Luke 24.47, Rom
4:18 2:5: 413-15, 2 Cor. 3:9: 519-20: Eph. 2:3: 56: Col. 3:6: 1 John
21-2: AC {I 1-2. Ap IV, 128: FC SOD V. 10-13, 17-18)

It is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach
That people can nave saving faith in God even though
they have not heard the definite Word which tells them that
God for Christ's sake 1s no longer angry with them

With the command to preach the Gospel to every creature. Christ
has commanded that the forgiveness of sins which He has acquired
for all, that 1s. complete absolution. be preached to all But the
distinction between law and Gospel must always be observed. lest
the penitert be further afflicted with the law. or the impenitent be
faisely corrforted with the Gospel. (Mark 16:15. Luke 24:47: Acts 1.8.
Ap IV. 43. 62: LC HI. 38)

This absolution. or forgiveness of sins. based upon Christ's pertect
and vicarious obedience of life. death. and resurrection, is the Gos-
pel. whether proclaimed to many or few. (Matt. 91-8: Luke 24:47. AC
XII, 5: XXV. 1-6: Ap IV. 271: X11. 39. SA IIL iv: FC Ep V. 5)

X. Justification and Renewal

Although the term justification may be used interchangeably with
regeneration (the bestowal of faith), since faith given In regeneration
1s the faith through which the sinner Is justified (Gal. 3:26-27. Titus
33-7; Ap IV, 72, 78, 117: FC SD Ill. 18-19). the term must never be
confused or used interchangeably with renewal (sanctification. love.
the keeping of the jaw). which always follows faith. (Acts 13.38-39.
Rom. 3:28: 116: Gal. 2:16. Eph 2:8-10; FC Ep itt. 7-8: FC SD Ill 30)

It is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach

That we are justified, or forgiven. by virtue of Our “mys-
tical union” with Christ. rather than by God's verdict or
pronouncement of forgiveness in the means of grace.

That since faith involves our union with Christ. this
umion with Christ becomes the basis for our justification
before God

Faith. which is worked by the Holy Spirit in the sinner solely through
the Gospel. must not be confused with contrition. that 's. terror of
conscience and fear of God's wrath. which 1s worked by the Holy
Spirit in the sinner solely through the law. (Ps 32 3-5: 130:1-8 Rom
319-28: Gal. 3:12. Ap Xil. §3-54. SASH. ni, 2: FC SD Ml. 22)

It ig contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach

That true faith can exist in the heart without contrition
Good works and renewal are the result of faith. or the fruit of faith. 1n
the sense that the Holy Spirit. who has quickened us and made us
new creatures in Christ. works the fruits of faith in and through us.
(Ps. 1102: Jer. 31:31-34: John 151-11. Rom 12.1: 2 Cor. 5°17: 83-4:
Gal. 5:22-24. AC VI. 1: XII. 6. XX 29: Ap Il, 35: IV 45. 125 250. 275. SA
IU, xii, 2° LC I. 2. 69)

It is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach
That good works in the Christian Iife are to be moti-
vated by the law
That good works are not a necessary result of an indi-
yidual'’s justification
Faith, which alone receives and obtains grace and forgiveness. must
not be confused with good works. which are pleasing to God only
because of faith in Christ (John 15:1-11: Acts 13:38-39: Rom 3 28:
11:6, 14°23, Gal. 2:16. Epn. 28-10: AC VI. 1-3: Ap XIl, 67. FC SD Ill.
27-28)

It ig contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospe! to teach.
That man 1s saved by faith and works.
That good works are pleasing to God for their own
sake or because they justify.

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Private absolution is nothing else than the prociamation of tne Gos-
pel to the individuai sinner. (John 20:23: Ap XH, 39, 99. 105: SA IH. iv:
LC V Confession. 29. 32}

It 1s contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach
That private absolution has. is based on. or confers
some power outside the Gospel. e.g.. a power inherent in
the person or office of the person pronouncing the
absolution
The proclamation of forgiveness, or absolution (God's justification.
or acquittal). does not consist in the fact that the confessor. OF
pastor. sits as judge over the contessant and renders a verdict over
his worthiness or faith, nor is it an empty announcement. or mere
wish, that the confessant be forgiven. but it powerfully imparts
forgiveness and salvation. (Matt. 7:1-5; 91-5; John 5:39: Acts 14:14,
Rom. 1:16-17: 10:17: 1 Cor, 1:21; 4:3-5; James 4:11: 1 Peter 1:23: Ap
XII, 40, 104-105: SA tif, vii. 1-3: LC V, 31: Contession. 14)

It is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach

That the word of absolution may be pronounced
conditionally. e.g.. “| forgive you your sins. on the condition
that you believe and change your life”:

That absolution is not a true forgiveness. a divine ver-
dict by which God exonerates and forgives sins. but merely
an offer of forgiveness to those who believe:

That since we cannot be certain of the true contrition
and faith of anyone. we cannot pronounce an
unconditional absolution.

The efficacy of the proclamation of forgiveness, or absolution. does
not depend upon man’s worthiness, confession. or faith rather abso-
lution solicits faith and. like Baptism, creates and sustains the very
faith that it solicits. (Jonn 17 20: Acts 11:20-21; Rom. 1 16; 10:17:
1 Cor. 1:21-24: AC V. 1-2. XII. 5: XXV, 4: Ap IV. 55-56, 267. 272, 324.
397. Ap XII. 42, 56: XIU. 49-20: LC Il. 62: IV. 35: V. 34. LC V
Confession. 15)

It is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach

That anyone receives for himself the forgiveness
granted in absolution without faith

That the proper object of faith. that to which it clings. Is
the “inner assurance.” the “indweiling Christ.” or some
other inner experience or feeling of forgiveness. instead ot
the external means of grace:

That the hearing of the Gospet and the use of the
sacraments 1s merely the evidence that true faith exists In
the hear. rather than that the hearing of the Gospel and the
use of the sacraments are the means by which God
awakens and confirms faith in those who use them

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That it 1s possible for a person to desire to grow spiritu-
ally without having already been justified through faith:

That challenging Christians to do good works can
cause faith to grow

XI. Certainty of Salvation

Every justified and regenerated sinner can and should be certain of
his salvation. (Jonn 10:28: Rom 8-37-39. Phil, 1:6; 2 Tim. 1:12. 1 Peter
13-5: 5.10; 1 Jonn 3:2: 5 10-13: AC XII. 5: XX. 15: AP IV, 85. 314-315
382: XI, 2: XX. 8: LC Ill. 92. 96-97: FC SD XI. 90)

The justified sinners certainty of salvation should not be sought in
his experience. good works. feelings. or faith, but rest only in the
once and for all obedience of Christ's life and death and
resurrection. (1 John $:9-10; Rom 832-34: 106-8. 1 Cor 129-30.
41-5. Gal. 614-15: AC XX. 15, Ap IV. 58, 285, 313-315: XX. 8: LC lil.
96. FC SO I. 56)

it is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach
That no one can be certain of forgiveness or justifica-
tion before God unless he also perceives in his life the
“spiritual gifts” imparted by the Holy Spirit
That Christians can only be assured of their justifica-
tion before God when they are able to identify the evidence
of. and the presence of. good works In their own life
The justified sinners certainty of salvation is mediated only by the
Gospel. to which alone he clings for certainty. (2 Cor 11920. 3
John 5°9-10: AC XX. 15: XXV. 4: Ap IV. 2. 58-60. 85. 285. 313-315, 382:
XI, 2: XX. 8; LC ili, 92: FC SD X). 25-31. 65-70)

It is contrary to Scripture and the pure Gospel to teach
That we are not to rely solely Upon Christ and the
Gospel promise In the means of grace for the certainty of
our salvation, but that we must also be able to “see” in our
own life the evidence of “spiritual gifts” in order to be
certain that we Nave been justified before God

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