The Wittenberg Trail
Your Path to the Authentic, Historic & Catholic Faith
Martin Luther
"But the doctrine of justification is this, that we are pronounced righteous and are saved solely by faith in Christ, and without works."
"This one and firm rock, which we call the doctrine of justification is the chief article of the whole Christian doctrine, which comprehends the understanding of all godliness."
"It is not from works that we are set free by the faith of Christ, but from belief in works, that is from foolishly presuming to seek justification through works. Faith redeems our consciences, makes them upright, and preserves them, since by it we recognize the truth that justification does not depend on our works, although good works neither can nor ought to be absent."
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Justification
& Sanctification
"Faith is not mere intellectual assent to certain beliefs. This would be the way of speculation. Nor is it any version of "positive thinking" or cosmic optimism, nor is it, as Kierkegaard describes it, a leap into what cannon be known. Faith is not an experience. This would be the way of mysticism.
Faith for Lutherans is certainly not a "decision to accept Christ," as it is described by later evangelicals. Making salvation contingent, once again, upon what the human being does, a function of human effort, willpower, and action, in all of their actual futility.
Faith itself is considered by Lutherans to be a gift of God, created in the human heart as His action through the Holy Spirit. Faith has to do with trust, with conscious dependence on Christ, the assurance that, in fact, He will do it all." Veith
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
There
are different views of Justification and Sanctification
among Christians. As you continue on the
Wittenberg Trail,
here is information on how Lutherans understand both
Justification and Sanctification.
What is the Lutheran view of
Justification?
The
Christian Cyclopedia
defines
Justification as:
"• Judicial act of God which consists of non-imputation of sin and imputation of Christ's righteousness.
• The doctrine of justification presupposes that man, through his natural condition and his thoughts, words, and deeds, is a transgressor of God's Law, subject to His wrath, condemned to eternal death, Ec 7:20; Is 64:6; Mt 25:41; Ro 1–3.
• The doctrine includes, as one of its chief elements, that God is moved to justify us by grace, a special kind of love, directed toward those who are undeserving or unworthy, Jn 3:16; Ro 3:23; 5:20.
• God's grace accomplished its purpose through the redemption of Christ. God sent His holy, innocent Son to become man and made Him man's Substitute. This Substitute fulfilled all requirements of the Law in our place (active obedience). He also suffered the pangs and woes which we had deserved (passive obedience). Divine justice is satisfied and love triumphs. Through Christ God reconciled the world unto Himself, 2 Co 5:19. This act of God is called objective justification; it is not the same as redemption, justification being judicial, redemption sacrificial.
• The righteousness of Christ is given us by God in the Gospel and Sacraments. These means of grace offer, give, and seal to us God's forgiveness, Jn 15:3; Ro 1:16; Gl 3:27. We receive this righteousness through faith. The moment we accept the righteousness which Christ won, God pronounces us justified, free from sin, acquitted (subjective justification, Gn 15:6; Lk 15; Gl 2:16). “ … the forgiveness of sins is a thing promised for Christ's sake. Therefore it can be accepted only by faith, since a promise can be accepted only on faith. In Rom. 4:16 Paul says, 'That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed,' as though he were to say, 'If it depended on our merits, the promise would be uncertain and useless inasmuch as we could never determine whether we had merited enough.' Experienced consciences can readily understand this. Therefore Paul says (Gal. 3:22), 'God consigned all things to sin, that what was promised to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.' Here he denies us any merit, for he says that all are guilty and consigned to sin. Then he adds that the promise of the forgiveness of sins and justification is a gift, and further that the promise can be accepted by faith. Based upon the nature of a promise, this is Paul's chief argument, which he often repeats (Rom. 4:16; Gal. 3:18). Nothing one can devise or imagine will refute Paul's argument. So pious men should not let themselves be diverted from this declaration, that we receive the forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake only by faith; here they have a certain and firm consolation against the terrors of sin, against eternal death, and against all the gates of hell (Matt. 16:18).
• Since justification is brought about by God's grace through the sacrifice of Christ and we become possessors of it through faith, all human merit is excluded, Ro 3:27–31. Faith is not merit, since we are not justified on account of, but through, faith. Justification takes place outside of us, at the tribunal of God, Ro 8:33–39.
• When a sinner is justified, he has peace with God, enjoys Christian liberty, does good works, and is filled with hope of eternal life, Jn 8:36; Ro 7:25; 8:1–2, 17.
• Justification is not a long-drawn-out process, but occurs in a moment; it is never partial, but always perfect and complete; it is alike in all who are justified; it puts one into a state of righteousness which continues as long as one believes; it can be lost; it can be obtained anew when it has been lost."
What is the Lutheran view of Sanctification?
The Christian Cyclopedia defines Sanctification as:
"• In a wide sense, sanctification includes all effects of God's Word in man (cf., e.g., Acts 26:18; Eph 5:26; 2 Th 2:13; Heb 10:14; 1 Ptr 1:2).
• In a narrow sense, sanctification is the spiritual growth (1 Co 3:9; 9:24; Eph 4:15; Ph 3:12) that follows justification (Mt 7:16–18; Jn 3:6; Eph 2:10). By God's grace (Gl 5:22–23; Ph 2:13) a Christian cooperates in this work (2 Co 6:1; 7:1; Ph 2:12; 1 Ti 4:14; FC SD II 65–66); through the Holy Spirit's work faith is increased daily, love strengthened, and the image of God renewed (cf., e.g., Jn 14:26; 16:13–14; Ro 6:15–23; 8:15–16, 26; 14:17; 15:13; 1 Co 12:7–11; Gl 5:16–18; 2 Ptr 3:18). A believer's good works are not perfect; but sins of weakness are forgiven (Jn 15:3). Sanctification differs in the same Christian at different times (Ro 7:14–19; Gl 2:11; 5:17; 1 Jn 1:8).
• God works sanctification only through the means of grace.
• The most comforting part of the doctrine of sanctification is that which speaks of the completion of sanctification in heaven (Ps 17:15; I Co 13:12; 15:20–57; Rv 7:9–17; 21:4–7)."
Articles:
The Theology of the Cross: Cross-Shaped Theology
How to Become and Remain a Christian: Toward an Understanding of the Doctrine of Justification
Dead? Wounded? Or Merely Uninformed? What is the Human Condition?
Salvation in Christ
Doctrine of Justification, Predestination, and Doctrine of the Assurance of Salvation
Objective Justification
Luther Revisited: The Doctrine of Justification is Still the Issue
The Enduring Relevance of the Doctrine of Justification
Original Sin, Justification and Sanctification
About the Doctrine of Justification
How Can Our Good Works Please God ... God's Work or Ours?
Early Church and Justification by Grace
Chrysostom on Justification
Ambrose on Justification: A Study of the Catholicity of Lutheran Theology
Sanctification: By Grace Alone
Visit
The Wittenberg Trail Online Community
What is Faith?
Rev.
Ernie Lassman, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in
Seattle, WA, posted this video on both his
church website and
on
YouTube.
What is the most important teaching of the
Bible?
Rev.
Ernie Lassman, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in
Seattle, WA, posted this video on both his
church website and
on
YouTube.
What does it mean we are saved by faith not by
works?
Rev.
Ernie Lassman, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in
Seattle, WA, posted this video on both his
church website and
on
YouTube.
How
does God forgive our sins?
Rev.
Ernie Lassman, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in
Seattle, WA, posted this video on both his
church website and
on
YouTube.