Lutherna View of Church and State

LESSON NINE

2009

LAW, GOSPEL & THE MEANS OF GRACE

I. Thesis XI

In the seventh place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when there is a disposition to offer the comfort of the Gospel only to those who have been made contrite by the Law, not from fear of the wrath and punishment of God, but from love of God." (WPD 236)

II. Thesis:

A. Describes methods of:

1. Roman Church.

2. Fanatics and Pietists within "Protestant Church".

B. Method

1. If they find person contrite and in sorrow over sins,

2. They ask source of contrition.

a. Sorry because "going to perdition" seeing nothing but God's wrath? (WPD 236)

b. Then, is told genuine contrition must come from love of God and Gospel can not be proclaimed.

C. Is "appalling error".

1. Since fall, Law has "single function, viz., to lead men to the knowledge of their sins." (WPD 236)

2. Has no power to renew man.

3. Power to renew is in Gospel.

4. Only faith works love.

5. While ignorant of Gospel, man hates God.

D. The Biblical doctrine:

1. Sinner is to come to Jesus just as he is - a sinner.

2. True even if he must admit he truly hates God and knows of no refuge to which he can flee for salvation.

3. Preacher of Gospel shows the free gift of salvation.

4. He is not first to:

a. Become a different person.

b. Become purified.

c. To amend his conduct.

5. Jesus receives sinners..

a. Only He can change the man.

b. He will do that if only he believe.

E. Proof

1. Ro. 5:20.

a. When law preached to one ignorant of Law, his sin gets worse.

b. Law drives men to desperation.

c. Only sinner, "on brink of despair", joyfully receives Gospel. (WPD 237)

2. Ro. 4:15

a. lit.:"The Law works wrath" [Luther: wrath only].

b. Law incites men to hate God.

3. Ro. 7:7,8

a. "We always reach out for what has been definitely forbidden." (WPD 238).

b. Such is temptation.

4. Gal. 3:21

5. 2 Co. 3:6

a. The Law kills

b. The Gospel gives life.

F. Example showing contrition does not flow from love of God. (WPD 238)

1. Pentecost: Ac. 2:36-38.

2. Jailer in Philippi: Ac. 16:22-31.

3. Saul/Paul: Ac. 9:3-9, 17-19.

G. Preach the Gospel to those prepared by the Law.

H. 2 Co. 7-10.

1. Opponents taught "Godly sorrow" means sorrow of contrition from love of God - wrong.

2. Phrase refers to sorrow caused by God with His Word.

3. GK: kata Theon lupē (according to God grief) i.e. "sorrow in accordance with God or produced by God". (WPD 240)

I. Also can not tell alarmed sinner he must first experience contrition and tell him to meditate and try to draw repentance from within (is what papists teach).

1. No one can do this.

2. It is not a good work we do.

3. God works it in us.

4. When it is worked within us, we desire to be rid of it.

J. Ap. XII, 4-9 (Tappert pp. 183-184; Kolb and Wengert, pp. 188-189, Triglotta, pp. 253, 255)

1. Papists say Judas lost because contrition did not come from love of God.

2. We can not ascertain motive behind a person's contrition.

3. No matter what it is, when we behold one in terror of hell, we bring comfort of the Gospel.

K. Ap. XII, 29-34 (Tappert pp. 185-186; Kolb and Wengert, pp. 191-192; Triglotta, pp. 259-261).

1. Lutheran Confessions offer sweet comfort that when God , in His grace gives them alarm re: sin, they are in "fit condition to approach throne of grace". (WPD 243)

2. Even our love is spoiled by Satan.

3. Through faith, clings to Jesus, and therefore love of God enters heart.

L. Discusses Luther's writings about his own journey (WPD 243-ff).

III. 23rd Lecture (WPD 247)

A. Preaching: the most important function of pastors.

1. No substitute.

2. Papists disagree, asserting most important of all functions:
a. to baptize.

b. hear confession and pronounce absolution.

c. administer Communion.

d. and, above all, to offer to God the sacrifice of the Mass.

B. "Mass": great abomination.

C. For others, for them to be of any use, absolutely necessary that "through instruction concerning them be first given from the Word of God by preaching." (WPD 247)

D. COMMENT: do not disregard infant baptism in this.

1. Mt. 28:18-20.

2. Lk. 24: 44-49.

E. Preaching

1. Most important function.

2. Also, most difficult.

3. Genuine preaching "inspired" only by Holy Spirit through His Word.

4. "a real sermon is produced only after all the spiritual and intellectual energy of a truly believing preacher has been exhorted to the utmost, after fervent prayer, after all earthly cares have been chased from the mind, and after the preacher has been freed from all vain desires. This is difficult task." (WPD 248).

5. It is easy to:

a. Administer baptism: anybody can do it.

b. Pronounce absolution correctly: even boy can do it.

c. Administer Communion: any intelligent Christian can do it. (WPD 248)

6. But, to preach properly is difficult. (WPD 248)

7. Preaching: "the central elements of every divine service". (WPD 248)

8. Must rightly divide law and gospel!

a. Arouse secure souls from their sleep in sin.

b. Lead those aroused to faith.

c. Give believers assurance of their state of grace and salvation.

d. Lead those so assured to sanctification.

e. Lastly, to confirm the sanctified and keep them in their holy state unto the end. (WPD 248)

f. "What a task!" (WPD 248)