Rare Sky Event!

Details here. Sky event!

When is the triple conjunction?  

The time to go looking for the triple conjunction is just after sunset on Saturday, Jan. 9, Sunday, Jan. 10 and Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. On Saturday and Sunday, the three planets will form a small triangle in the fading light, while on Monday you’ll find Mercury next to Jupiter. However, it’s not going to be easy to see because it will take place very low on the west-southwest horizon. The best time to look will be about 30 minutes after sunset when it will be dark enough to see the planets shine.

Looks Promising – Why Trump Will Not Attend Biden’s Inauguration

Luther’s Galatians – Theme of Our Lenten MidWeek Services – 2021

One of our readers was delighted with Luther’s Galatians Commentary and asked when the lessons on it would start. 

I will use the MidWeek Lenten series to explain the book that teaches us so much about Luther’s Galatians.

If you have not received a copy and want one or two, just email me – greg.jackson.edlp@gmail.com

The first copies are going out free. The Amazon price is $28, but I can send it for $20 as the author or editor.

If…

Video of Epiphany Service – January 6, 2021

Video of January 6, 2021 service – The Epiphany of Our Lord
Our History and Our Constitution

Vespers Service, Luther’s Litany, Hymns, and Sermon

Psalm 64 KJV

Psalm 64

King James Version

64 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

The Spirit Blows Where It Wills

Why am I featuring Popey the Jesuit?

Mother Theresa’s charity caught trafficking children.

Trump and the Jesuit Pope

The President and the Jesuit Pope, Francis. Someone is not happy.

Perhaps the Jesuit was unhappy about Trump’s war on child trafficking. The Vatican has a long history of abuse in that area alone. I would bet that if the Jesuit had satellites to use in his business, he would use them. 

The Insurrection Act – Know Your History

From the History Channel

The Insurrection Act gives U.S. presidents the authority to deploy active duty military to maintain or restore peace in times of crisis. The Insurrection Act was invoked numerous times in the 20th century, most famously when Dwight D. Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne Division to enforce the desegregation of public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas.

But the origins of the Insurrection Act date back more than 200 years to a bizarre chapter in American history—when Aaron Burr plotted to raise an army and establish his own dynasty in either the Louisiana Territory or Mexico.

Burr, a decorated Revolutionary War officer and senator from New York, served as vice president during Thomas Jefferson’s first term. Burr had grand political aspirations, but they were dashed after he killed his rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804.

After Duel With Hamilton, Burr Sets Sights on Louisiana

Burr was never arrested or tried for Hamilton’s murder, but it effectively ended Burr’s political career. With no prospects in Washington, D.C. or New York, Burr set his sights on the West, namely the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and Mexican-owned lands in the Southwest….

In 1861, Abraham Lincoln expanded the law to form the legal basis for waging the Civil War. Without it, he wouldn’t have had the authority to send federal troops into a state without the governor’s permission…

The Insurrection Act was invoked numerous times in the 20th century, most famously when Dwight D. Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne Division to enforce the desegregation of public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas.

That’s the same authority invoked during the civil rights era by Presidents Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy to deploy troops to the South to enforce desegregation in defiance of governors.

The Insurrection Act was last invoked in 1992 under President George H.W. Bush, after Peter Wilson, then-governor of California, requested help to quell widespread riots after four police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King were acquitted. 

The entire article is here.

Not Everything Is What It Seems at the Moment

Pence a Back-Stabber or a Good Actor?

JUST IN – Pelosi tried to call VP Mike Pence this morning to urge him to remove President Trump. She was kept on hold for 25 minutes before she was told Pence would not take her call (CNN).

I talked to a neighbor, who was ready to jump from a sinking ship.

As they say, “When everyone says SELL!, it may be time to buy.” Selling short is a way to make money from a failing stock, but it burns the ones left holding a stock that suddenly jumps in price and keeps going higher.

I am completely confident in a good outcome and four more years. 

Too many people are saying the same things to believe it comes from the heart. The message comes from a script. 

The time will come soon when people realize they sold this era short instead of backing it.

Church Politics – A Microcosm – And Still the Pulpit Leads the World

Herman Melville, Moby Dick, “The Pulpit, Chapter 8”

Nor was the pulpit itself without a trace of the same sea-taste that had achieved the ladder and the picture. Its panelled front was in the likeness of a ship’s bluff bows, and the Holy Bible rested on a projecting piece of scroll work, fashioned after a ship’s fiddle-headed beak.

What could be more full of meaning?—for the pulpit is ever this earth’s foremost part; all the rest comes in its rear; the pulpit leads the world. From thence it is the storm of God’s quick wrath is first descried, and the bow must bear the earliest brunt. From thence it is the God of breezes fair or foul is first invoked for favourable winds. Yes, the world’s a ship on its passage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow.

Herman Melville, Moby Dick, The Pulpit

I am not worried or fretful about the future. Before, our country had outward peace and inner turmoil. Now, we have outward turmoil and inner peace. Nothing is going to change the path which people chose some time back.

Secular politics remind me of church politics, but church politics are worse by far. In both cases, people swear an oath based on certain principles. The difference is that the ecclesiastical principles come from God and the legal principles come from man – the U.S. Constitution (read as often and as rarely as the KJV). One would never guess, after hearing from the great and wise in the Church – that Tyndale was killed for giving us the first direct translation of the Bible, directly influenced by the Lutheran Reformation.

The Church today rewards people for being unfaithful in every possible way. And they punish for indications of faith. This was predicted long ago. 

“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.” Proverbs 17:15

The secular parallel is perfect. The corrupt become rich. The truly evil become billionaires. 

David Preus, another crooked smile, another abomination.

Some indications of corruption in the visible Church are listed below:

1. The LCA actually voted for a pro-life statement in 1978, and the people behind it lost their jobs while the synod became even more pro-abortion.
2. The LCA bishop published a set of letters between him (Crumley) and the pope (JP II) – in color. To match him, David Preus (ALC) worked to have joint Holy Communion services with a Calvinist seminary faculty, on their terms of course.
3. The LCMS and WELS abandoned the faithful KJV while promoting and selling the NIV and ESV, the latter two using a corrupted text and deceitful translating. Both synods were happy to be part of the ecumenical slate of apostate paraphrasers – and to enjoy the loot derived from replacing the KJV.
4. WELS went all out to feign superiority over other Lutheran groups, while working with ELCA – and practicing safe sects at Fuller Seminary, Willow Creek, Trinity Divinity, and other evangelical flotsam.
5. David Valleskey and Frosty Bivens bragged about their studies at Fuller while calling anyone who repeated their braggadocio – “liars!” Oh, how sweet, to be a red under the bed while denouncing those who expose the reds under the bed.
   

“I did not go to Fuller! Ask Bivens. The drive by Demon stripes? Oh, I just borrowed that robe.”

The Epiphany of Our Lord – The Christian and the State

The Hymn # 132                O God of God, O Light of Light
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The Psalmody Psalm 2 on page 123
The Lections

Isaiah 60:1-6

Matthew 2:1-12

The Sermon Hymn #575        Before the Lord We Bow

The Christian and the State

The Litany and the Lord’s Prayer p. 44
The Collect for Peace p. 45
The Benediction p. 45
The Hymn # 558             All Praise to Thee

Isaiah 60

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Matthew 2

2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

The Christian and the State

A lady in this area was talking about her worship services at church – outside. I said, “I wish people would declare their First Amendment rights instead of saying – the strip clubs are open, so we should be, too.”

She seemed a bit confused by what I said, so I said, “Free exercise of religion is a First Amendment right, which is beyond the control of any lawmaker or policeman.”

She said, “Right. That is why we are worshiping in the parking lot. Freedom of religion.”

I decided not to go over our inborn – inherent rights, because that concept is being lost quickly. It is very common to hear people say, “Don’t even talk about that topic because it offends me.”

The same is true of the Second Amendment. I have had students worry about their innate right to protect themselves.

The trouble with our society is the loss of literacy in general and that includes the concept of government. We have best possible Constitution, unrivaled by any other country’s. However, we need to articulate our rights and our history rather than listen to blame from those who strive for another form of government.

I do not feel any sense of alarm about Washington DC, because the current disturbance was obviously planned, funded, and coordinated with those who would benefit from it. Many times people are stricken bad, unexpected events. Rather than blame the peace, why not ask, “Who benefits from this?”

Most of the news coverage is almost completely lacking in knowledge of the US Constitution. For example, we do not have a direct election of the President and Vice-President. Nobody votes for President. We only vote for a slate of electors. With slight variations, the state either pledges all electors to one candidate or another.

No one is elected or President Elect until the electors have voted and their slate has been accepted by the House. This balances the influence of the region with the influence of the population.

Lutherans should not be shocked. What protected Luther from the Emperor (who hated Germans and Lutherans) was his ruler being an Elector of the Emperor. Frederick the Wise had the power to say “No!” to the Emperor and the Pope. That is ironic especially this year – because that protection changed the world.

Our Founders anticipated the issue of population massed in certain places and controlling everything beneficial to them alone. The idea of electors was not new to them, but borrowed. There are many benefits, such as having presidential candidates pay attention to tiny states and big states with tiny populations. One state can make the difference in the election.

The individual state legislatures alone have the right to set the rules for their elections. Judges do not have that authority, and governors do not have that authority – under the US Constitution. There can be adjustments from the House of Representatives, but it really depends on them and the state legislatures to keep the votes honest.

God has given America a great place in the history of the world, great leaders as founders, a long-lasting Constitution, great mineral wealth and fertile soil, lakes and rivers to provide water and transportation, two oceans to provide safe distance from the covetous.

We seem so small and insignificant as a congregation, but the Savior was born in a town barely known, placed in a manger rather than the Temple or a ruler’s home, not even in a scholar’s home. The great power of Jesus came from the Truth rather than political standing. Truth is often persecuted but God’s truth in the Word remains and grows until the end of time.

The fog was so bad, they could not see where they were going. The Durham boats took their half-frozen and ill-equipped army to the Hessian mercenaries, where they surprised them and began the march to freedom for us all. Washington gave credit to God.

+++

The Litany of Martin Luther,
1529.

 

℣: O Lord,	℟: Have mercy upon us.
℣: O Christ,	℟: Have mercy upon us.
℣: O Lord,	℟: Have mercy upon us.
℣: O Christ,	℟: Hear Thou us.
℣: O God the Father in heaven,	℟: Have mercy upon us.
℣: O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,	℟: Have mercy upon us.
℣: O God the Holy Ghost,	℟: Have mercy upon us.

 

℣: Be gracious unto us.	℟: Spare us, good Lord.
℣: Be gracious unto us.	℟: Help us, good Lord.

                                                               

℣: From all sin;	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.
℣: From all error;	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.
℣: From all evil:	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.

 

℣: From the crafts and assaults of the devil;	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.
℣: From sudden and evil death;	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.
℣: From pestilence and famine;	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.
℣: From war and bloodshed;	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.
℣: From sedition and rebellion;	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.
℣: From lightning and tempest;	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.
℣: From all calamity by fire and water;	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.
℣: And from everlasting death:	℟: Good Lord, deliver us.

 

℣: By the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: By Thy holy Nativity;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: By Thy baptism, fasting, and temptation;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: By Thine agony and bloody sweat;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: By Thy cross and Passion;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: By Thy precious death and burial;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: By Thy glorious resurrection and ascension;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: And by the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter:	℟: Help us, good Lord.

 

℣: In all time of our tribulation;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: In all time of our prosperity;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: In the hour of death;	℟: Help us, good Lord.
℣: And in the day of Judgment:	℟: Help us, good Lord.

 

℣: We poor sinners do beseech Thee

℟: To hear us, O Lord God,

 

℣: And to rule and govern Thy holy Christian Church;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To preserve all pastors and ministers of Thy Church in the true knowledge and understanding of Thy Word and in holiness of life;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To put an end to all schisms and causes of offense;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To beat down Satan under our feet;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To send faithful laborers into Thy harvest;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To accompany Thy Word with Thy Spirit and grace;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To raise up them that fall and to strengthen such as do stand;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: And to comfort and help the weak-hearted and the distressed:	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

 

℣: To give all nations peace and concord;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To preserve our country from discord and contention;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To give to our nation perpetual victory over all its enemies;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To direct and defend our President and all in authority;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: And to bless and keep our magistrates and all our people:	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

 

℣: To behold and succor all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To protect all who travel by land or water;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To preserve all women in the perils of childbirth;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To strengthen and keep all sick persons and young children;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To set free all who are innocently imprisoned;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To defend and provide for all fatherless children and widows;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: And to have mercy upon all men:	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

 

℣: To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn their hearts;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: To give and preserve to our use the fruits of the earth;	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.
℣: And graciously to hear our prayers:	℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

 

℣: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

℟: We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

 

℣: O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world,	℟: Have mercy upon us.
℣: O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world,	℟: Have mercy upon us.
℣: O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world,	℟: Grant us Thy peace.

 

℣: O Christ,	℟: Hear Thou us.
℣: O Lord,	℟: Have mercy upon us.
℣: O Christ,	℟: Have mercy upon us.

Minister and Congregation:

Lord have mercy upon us. Amen.

 

 

                                                                          

The Epiphany – Service Tonight at 7 PM Central

Perceptions will change today. 

Whatever our thoughts were before, we must take our citizenship seriously before we become serfs, slaves, beholden to foreign powers.

Brief Statements – From One More Researcher

Many people contribute research, ideas, and findings. Below is an extensive lesson on the Brief Statements of the LCMS. I have permission to copy and paste it.

***

Dear Pastor Jackson,

You have posted regarding catechisms of the Missouri
Synod.  I draw your attention to three
versions of a brief statement: 1897, 1922 and 1932.  Franz Pieper was primarily responsible for
the first two and perhaps for the third, as far as I know.

The 1897 brief statement lacks universal justification.  It says, “faith in Christ as the only way to
obtain salvation, the Scripture sums up in the article of justification.” It
quotes John 3:36. And, “alone by grace, on account of the perfect merit of
Christ, He justifies them, i.e. He regards as righteous all those who believe
in Christ, i.e., who believe on the authority of the Gospel, that for Christ’s
sake their sins are forgiven them.” 
Furthermore, it says, “this doctrine we hold, in harmony with our
fathers, that it is the principal article of the Christian doctrine.”

I know universal or objective justification was held and
debated before 1897, such as in the 1872 conference when the Synodical Council
was formed.  Yet, it doesn’t appear in
this brief statement.

The 1922 brief statement inches closer.  It says, “Since all mankind is reconciled
with God through Christ’s vicarious life and passion, and God has the
reconciliation brought about through Christ proclaimed in the Gospel that it
might be believed by men; hence, for all men faith in Christ is the only way to
obtain forgiveness of sins and salvation, as the Scripture of the Old and New
Testament teaches (Acts 10:43; John 3:17, 17, 36). Under faith in Christ we
understand faith in the Gospel, that is, faith in the forgiveness of sins
purchased by Christ, not the human attempts, to fulfill God’s Law.”  Under justification, it says, “For the
Christian religion is the faith that we have forgiveness of sins and salvation
through faith in Christ without [our] own works and worthiness.”

I think these statements could be understood without
universal justification in mind or with universal justification in mind,
depending on the understanding of reconciliation and “faith in the forgiveness
of sins.”  Note that there is no mention
of 2 Cor. 5:19.

The 1932 brief statement, as you know, brings universal
justification into full bloom, but without as much emphasis and defense as in
later statements, especially the 1983 theses. 
Of reconciliation under the topic of redemption, it says, “In this
manner God reconciled the whole sinful world unto Himself, Gal. 4:4, 5; 3:13; 2
Cor. 5:18, 19.” It repeats this under “Faith in Christ” and says, “faith in
Christ is the only way for men to obtain personal reconciliation with God, that
is, the forgiveness of sins, as both the Old and New Testament Scriptures
testify, Acts 10:43; John 3:16-18, 36.” 
Note the creation of a world justification and a personal justification.

Under “Justification,” it builds to a crescendo. “Scripture
teaches that God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in
Christ, Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Rom 4:25; . . . He justifies, that is,
accounts a righteous, all those who believe, accept, and rely on, the fact that
for Christ’s sake their sins are forgiven.”

I don’t understand how the whole world is righteous on the one hand, and God accounts as righteous all who believe (presumably without holding unbelievers as righteous).

Note the addition of the Romans and 2 Corinthians “sedes
doctrinae” for universal justification. 
Of course, by this time, Franz Pieper (1852-1931) had already produced Christian
Dogmatics ca. 1917.  It is a surprise
that the 1922 statement did not treat universal justification more thoroughly.

                          1897

A Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the
Missouri Synod by F. Pieper, 1897

Of Faith

Since
Christ by His vicarious life, suffering, and death is the sole Redeemer
of men, and since God has the salvation, which was wrought out by Christ,
proclaimed to men through the Gospel, to the end that they
may believe this salvation, and thus become sharers therein, we
profess that faith in Christ is the only way for men to obtain
salvation, as Christ Himself testifies: “He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the
wrath of God abideth on him,” John 3, 36.

However, by faith in Christ we understand faith in the
forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake, i.e., this confidence of the heart,
that God by grace, for Christ’s sake, without our works, forgives all our sins,
and receives us to everlasting life.

Of Justification

All its teachings regarding the love of God to a
sinner-world, regarding the salvation wrought out by Christ, regarding the
insufficiency of all men to acquire salvation through themselves, and regarding
faith in Christ as the only
way to obtain salvation, the Scripture sums up in the article of justification,
by which it teaches the reason why, and the manner in which, a person is
accounted righteous before God, and received unto eternal life. Holy Scripture,
namely, teaches that God does not receive men on a basis of their own work and
their own merit, as the blind world and nominal Christians imagine Him to do, but
that without the deeds of the Law, alone by grace, on account of the perfect merit of Christ, He justifies
them, i.e., He regards as righteous all those who believe
in Christ, i.e., who believe on the authority of the Gospel, that for
Christ’s sake their sins are forgiven them. Thus the Holy
Spirit testifies through St. Paul: “There is no difference: for all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Rom. 3:22-24. And again: “Therefore
we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law,”
Rom. 3,28.

This doctrine we believe with all our heart, and pray God to
graciously preserve us and our posterity in the same. For this doctrine Christ
is given the honor due Him., viz., that by His life,
suffering, and death He is our only Redeemer, and only by this doctrine poor
sinners receive this abiding comfort, that God is assuredly gracious to
them. Regarding this
doctrine we hold, in harmony with our fathers, that it is the principal
article of the Christian doctrine;” this doctrine is the real secret
of Scripture, by which Scripture is distinguished from all false books of
religion; for only Scripture teaches this article, that men are saved by faith
in Christ crucified, and not by their own works. We also profess that only
where this article has entered into a heart by faith there are
Christians, and there is the Christian Church found, while all men who do not
believe this article must be numbered with the unbelieving, even though they
are found in external communion with the Church.

 1922

The 1922 Brief Statement, F. Pieper

Of Redemption [final sentence]

This divine wonder of the incarnation of the Son of God
occurred to the end that He might be the Mediator between God and man, viz.,
that [He] might fulfill the divine Law in man’s place, suffer and die, and in this way reconcile all
mankind with God.

Of Faith in Christ

Since all mankind is
reconciled with God through Christ’s vicarious life and passion, and God has
the reconciliation brought about through Christ proclaimed in the Gospel that
it might be believed by men; hence, for all men faith in Christ is the only way
to obtain forgiveness of sins and salvation, as the Scripture of the Old and
New Testament teaches (Acts 10:43; John 3:16, 17, 36). Under faith in Christ we
understand faith in the Gospel, that is, faith in the forgiveness of sins purchased
by Christ, not the human attempts, to fulfill God’s Law.

Scripture teaches, viz., that God does not accept men on the
basis of their own works, but without the works of the Law by grace alone for
the sake of Christ’s perfect obedience does He justify all of them, that is, He
reckons righteous those who believe in Christ, that is, believe that they are
forgiven for Christ’s sake.

Of Justification

Thus
the Holy Spirit testifies through St. Paul: “there is no distinction; they are
altogether sinners and lack the glory, which they should have in God, and are
justified freely by His grace through the redemption effected through Christ
Jesus” (Romans 3:23, 24).

And
again: “so we now maintain that man is justified without the works of the Law,
only through faith” (Romans 3:28). Only through this doctrine will
Christ be given His glory that He is our Savior through His holy life and His
innocent suffering and death, and only through this doctrine do poor sinners
have continual comfort that God is truly gracious. We reject all doctrine in
which human works and worthiness are mingled with Justification before God as
apostasy from the Christian religion. For the Christian religion is the faith that we have
forgiveness of sins and salvation through faith in Christ without [our] own
works and worthiness.

                            1932

Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri
Synod (Adopted 1932)

Of Redemption

8. We teach that in the fulness of
time the eternal Son of God was made man by assuming, from the Virgin Mary through the operation of the Holy
Ghost, a human nature like unto ours, yet without sin, and receiving it unto
His divine person. Jesus Christ is therefore “true God, begotten of the Father
from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary,” true God and true
man in one undivided
and indivisible person. The
purpose of this miraculous incarnation of the Son of God was that He might become
the Mediator between God and men, both fulfilling the divine Law and
suffering and dying in the place of mankind. In this
manner God reconciled the whole sinful world unto Himself, Gal. 4:4, 5; 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:18,
19.

Of Faith in Christ

9. Since God has reconciled the whole world unto Himself through the
vicarious life and death of His Son and has commanded that the reconciliation
effected by Christ be proclaimed to men in the Gospel, to the end that they may
believe
it, 2 Cor. 5:18, 19;
Rom. 1:5, therefore faith
in Christ is the only way for men to obtain personal reconciliation with God,
that is, forgiveness of sins, as both the Old and the New Testament Scriptures
testify, Acts 10:43; John 3:16-18, 36. By this faith in Christ, through which men obtain the forgiveness
of sins, is not meant any human effort to fulfill the Law of God after the
example of Christ, but faith in the Gospel, that is, in the forgiveness of
sins, or justification, which was fully earned for us by Christ and is offered
by the Gospel. This faith justifies, not inasmuch as it is a work of man, but
inasmuch as it lays hold of the grace offered, the forgiveness of sins, Rom. 4:16.

Of Justification

17. Holy Scripture sums up all its
teachings regarding the love of God to the world of sinners, regarding the
salvation wrought by Christ, and regarding faith in Christ as the only way to
obtain salvation, in the article of justification. Scripture
teaches that God has already declared the whole world to
be righteous in Christ, Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Rom.
4:25; that therefore not for the sake of their good works, but without
the works of the Law, by grace, for Christ’s sake, He justifies, that is, accounts as righteous, all
those who believe, accept, and rely on, the fact that for Christ’s sake
their sins are forgiven. Thus the Holy Ghost
testifies through St. Paul: “There is no difference; for all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace, through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Rom. 3:23,
24. And again: “Therefore we conclude that a
man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the Law,” Rom. 3:28.

18. Through this doctrine alone
Christ is given the honor due Him, namely, that through His holy life and innocent suffering
and death He is our Savior. And through this doctrine alone can poor sinners
have the abiding comfort that God is assuredly gracious to them. We reject as apostasy from the Christian religion all doctrines whereby man’s own works and merit are mingled into
the article of justification before God. For the Christian religion is the
faith that we have forgiveness of sins and salvation through faith in Christ
Jesus, Acts 10:43.

19. We reject as apostasy from the Christian religion
not only the doctrine of the Unitarians, who promise the grace of God to men on the basis of their moral
efforts; not only the gross work-doctrine of the papists, who expressly teach
that good works are necessary to obtain justification; but also the doctrine of the synergists, who indeed use the
terminology of the Christian Church and say that man is justified “by faith,”
“by faith alone,” but again mix human works into the article of justification
by ascribing to man a co-operation with God in the kindling of faith and thus
stray into papistic territory.

Yours in Christ,