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

I attended the Together for the Gospel (2010) conference this week. The theme for the conference was The (Unadjusted) Gospel. Dr. Ligon Duncan gave an address entitled, Did the Father’s Know the Gospel. It was referring to whether the pastristic fathers of the church preached the same Gospel that evangelicals preach today (i.e., personal justification, imputation of our sin to Christ and His righteousness to us, by faith alone).

In the address he referenced a document from the early second century (dated as early as 117 A.D.) known as The Epistle to Diognetus, which clearly states the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is the excerpt from that document. The citation is from The Epistle to Diognetus as translated by J.B. Lightfoot, chapter 9, verses 2-6:

[2] And when our iniquity had been fully accomplished, and it had been made perfectly manifest that punishment and death were expected as its recompense, and the season came which God had ordained, when henceforth He should manifest His goodness and power (O the exceeding great kindness and love of God), He hated us not, neither rejected us, nor bore us malice, but was long-suffering and patient, and in pity for us took upon Himself our sins, and Himself parted with His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy for the lawless, the guileless for the evil, “the just for the unjust,” the incorruptible for the corruptible, the immortal for the mortal. [3] For what else but His righteousness would have covered our sins? [4] In whom was it possible for us lawless and ungodly men to have been justified, save only in the Son of God? [5] O the sweet exchange, O the inscrutable creation, O the unexpected benefits; that the iniquity of many should be concealed in One Righteous Man, and the righteousness of One should justify many that are iniquitous! [6] Having then in the former time demonstrated the inability of our nature to obtain life, and having now revealed a Saviour able to save even creatures which have no ability, He willed that for both reasons we should believe in His goodness and should regard Him as nurse, father, teacher, counsellor, physician, mind, light, honour, glory, strength and life.

Thank the LORD for the sweet exchange, i.e., imputing our Saviour’s righteousness to us and taking our sins upon Himself.
The righteousness of One is a very sweet gift

Tags: Imputation, Righteousness, Salvation