TheosGuy

A sermon by Martin Luther on Law and Grace.

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The People of Law and of Grace
Sermon for the Sunday after Christmas; Galatians 4:1-7

By Martin Luther

This text is very characteristic of the apostle Paul. It is not generally understood. Not because of any obscurity in itself, but because the doctrine of faith, a doctrine it is very necessary to understand if we are to comprehend Paul, for his energetic and zealous mind is, in all his epistles, occupied with the subject of faith–because, I say, this doctrine is almost obsolete in the world today. A lengthy exposition is necessary to make it plain. To gain space to treat the subject clearly, we will let this suffice for the introduction.

MAN’S JUSTIFICATION.

We must know it is one thing to handle the subject of good works and another that of justification; just as the nature or personality of an individual is one thing and his actions or works another. Justification has reference to the person and not to the works. It is the former, not the latter, which is justified and saved, or is sentenced and punished.

There is more to read!

Tags: Grace, Justification

J. C. Ryle has an excellent exhortation on the subject of the Justification of the believer.

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JUSTIFICATION!
An Exposition By Bishop J. C. Ryle

“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

There is a word in the text which heads this page which ought to be very precious in the eyes of Englishmen. That word is “peace.”

Even in “merry England” we have known something of the horrors of war in the last thirty years. The Crimean war, the Indian mutiny, the Chinese, Abyssinian, and Ashantee wars have left deep marks on the history of our country.

We have tasted some of the tremendous evils which war, however just and necessary, brings in its train. Battle and disease have done their deadly work among our gallant soldiers and sailors. Gentle and simple blood has been shed like water in far distant lands. Many of the best and bravest of our countrymen are lying cold in untimely graves. Hearts in England have been broken by sudden, stunning, crushing bereavements. Mourning has been put on in many a palace, and many a cottage. The light of hundreds of happy firesides has been quenched. The mirth of thousands of homes is gone. Alas, we have learned by bitter experience, what a blessed thing is peace!

I desire, however, to call the attention of all who read this paper to the best of all peace—even peace with God. I would gladly speak to you of a peace which this world can neither give nor take away—a peace which depends on no earthly governments, and needs no carnal weapons, either to win it or preserve it—a peace which is freely offered by the King of kings, and is within the reach of all who are willing to receive it.

There is such a thing as “peace with God.” It may be felt and known. My heart’s desire and prayer is that you may be able to say with the Apostle Paul, “Being justified by faith, I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1.)

There is more to read!

Tags: Justification, Living, Salvation, Theology

Here is an essay by J.C. Ryle on the issue of the differences between the theological concepts of justification and sanctification.

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Justification and Sanctification
How Do They Differ?
by J. C. Ryle

I now propose to consider, in the last place, the distinction between justification and sanctification. Wherein do they agree, and wherein do they differ?

This branch of our subject is one of great importance, though I fear it will not seem so to all my readers. I shall handle it briefly, but I dare not pass it over altogether. Too many are apt to look at nothing but the surface of things in religion, and regard nice distinctions in theology as questions of “words and names,” which are of little real value. But I warn all who are in earnest about their souls, that the discomfort which arises from not “distinguishing things that differ“ in Christian doctrine is very great indeed; and I especially advise them, if they love peace, to seek clear views about the matter before us. Justification and sanctification are two distinct things we must always remember. Yet there are points in which they agree and points in which they differ. Let us try to find out what they are.

There is more to read!

Tags: Imputation, Justification, Salvation, Sanctification

Following are some of the Biblical references noted in the Thompson Chain Reference Bible under the heading:

Sowing and Reaping:

• SOWING EVIL, on the part of the wicked
  Job 4:8
  Proverbs 6:14
  Proverbs 16:28
  Proverbs 22:8
  Hosea 8:7
  Galatians 6:8
• REAPING, harvest of sin
  • Disappointing
    Isaiah 17:11
  • Profitless
    Jeremiah 12:13
    Jeremiah 51:33
    Hosea 6:11
    Hosea 8:7
  • Reaped at the Judgment Day
    Joel 3:12
    Joel 3:13
  • According to the Seed Sown
    Galatians 6:7
    Galatians 6:8
  • Sure to Come in the Fulness of Time
    Revelation 14:15
  • SEE Sin’s; Misery
  • SEE Wages of Sin
• SOWING, SPIRITUAL, the blessings of
  Psalms 126:5
  Psalms 126:6
  Proverbs 11:18
  Isaiah 32:20
  Hosea 10:12
  Luke 8:5
  Galatians 6:8
  SEE Reward
• HARVEST, SPIRITUAL, general references to
  Psalms 126:6
  Hosea 10:12
  Matthew 9:37
  Mark 4:29
  Luke 10:2
  John 4:35
  John 4:36
  Galatians 6:9

Tags: Thompson

Following is some of the requested info re: premillennialism.

1. Pre-millennial Leaders in the Early Church. Following are some of the notable premillennial disciples/writers in the early church.

• Barnabus (~100 AD)
• Polycarp(70-155-160 AD)
• Pothinus (87-177 AD)
• Irenaeus(120-202 AD)
• Justin Martyr (100-165 AD)
• Tertullian (150-225 AD)
• Papias, Bishop of Hierapolis (60-130/155AD)
• Tatian (110-172 AD)
• Apollinaris (175 AD)
• Clement, Bishop of Rome (90-100 AD)
• Cyprian (200-258 AD)
• Hegesippus (Second Century)
• Melito (~190 AD)

Of special note in the above list are Polycarp, Irenaeus and Justin Martyr. Polycarp was a direct disciple of the Apostle John (the writer of Revelation) and at the same time when Revelation was written. Therefore, it is reasonable that John would have directly taught Polycarp about this subject. And Polycarp was premillennial. Carry this on to the next level, since Irenaeus was a direct disciple of Polycarp, and Irenaeus was premillennial. Then Justin Martyr a contemporary of Irenaeus, both premillennialists, wrote the work, Against Heresies to document what Christians believe. I attached an interesting article from Dr. Michael Vlach of The Master’s Seminary, who traces the premillennial beliefs of the early church chronologically around the time of the Apostle John and geographically around John’s ministry.

2. While we could find quotes in the writings of the above, a “shortcut” would be to review the following notable researchers.

• Philip Schaff, in his seminal work The History of the Christian Church, noted the following:
  

  The Apostolic Fathers and the early church were definitely premillennial in their thinking. In fact, Church historian, Phillip Schaff, wrote the following: The most striking point in the eschatology of the ante-Nicene age is the prominent chiliasm, or millennarianism, that is the belief of a visible reign of Christ in glory on earth with the risen saints for a thousand years, before the general resurrection and judgment. It was indeed not the doctrine of the church embodied in any creed or form of devotion, but a widely current opinion of distinguished teachers, such as Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Methodius, and Lactantius; [1]

  [1] Phillip Schaff. The History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2 (New York: Charles Scribner & Company, 1884), p. 482.

• Thomas Burnet, Royal Chaplain to King William III of England, documented the Ante-Nicene history of premillennialism for the King, in the late 1600’s.
  

  And to make few words of it, we will lay down this conclusion, that the Millennial kingdom of Christ was the general doctrine of the Primitive Church, from the times of the Apostles to the Nicene Council; inclusively. [2]

  [2] Thomas Burnet, The Sacred Theory of the Earth (London: J. McGowan, 1681), 346.

  Note even the fact that in the 1600’s they were discussing premillennialism from a historical standpoint, shows that it did not start with Darby in the 1800’s.

Tags: Premillennialism

Following are some of the Biblical references noted in the Thompson Chain Reference Bible under the heading:

Control, Divine:

• Manifested in the Control of Men
  • 2 Kings 19:28
  • Job 12:19
  • Proverbs 21:1
  • Isaiah 37:29
  • Isaiah 44:25
  • Ezekiel 29:4
  • Ezekiel 38:4
  • Ezekiel 39:2

Here are some additional verses that apply that were not included in Thompson:

• Genesis 11:9
• Exodus 14:4
• Psalm 37:23
• Proverbs 16:9
• Isaiah 40:23
• Jeremiah 15:11; 16:21; 17:4
• Revelation 17:17

Tags: Control, Free Will, Sovereignty, Thompson