Adult Bible Class
St. Mark Lutheran Church, Duncanville, TX
What Luther says about…Justification
Sources
· Book of Concord: Smalcald Articles (1537)
· “Theses Concerning Faith and Law” (1535), Luther’s Works, Volume 34, 105-132
· “Disputation Concerning Man” (1536), LW, Volume 34, 133-144
· “Disputation Concerning Justification” (1536), LW, Volume 34, 145-196
The first and chief article is this: Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24–25).
He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
All have sinned and are justified freely, without their own works or merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood (Romans 3:23–25).
This is necessary to believe. This cannot be otherwise acquired or grasped by any work, law, or merit. Therefore, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us. As St. Paul says: For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:28) That He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. [Romans 3:26]
Nothing of this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth and everything else falls [Mark 13:31]. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) And with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
Upon this article everything that we teach and practice depends, in opposition to the pope, the devil, and the whole world. Therefore, we must be certain and not doubt this doctrine. Otherwise, all is lost, and the pope, the devil, and all adversaries win the victory and the right over us. – Smalcald Articles, Part II, 1:1-5
1. In your own words, what is the chief article of the Christian faith?
2. How does the way Luther composed this article emphasize the Lutheran solas (Latin for “alone”) – by grace alone, through faith alone, by Scripture alone?
3. Are the pope, the devil, and the world still opposed to this? Offer examples.
4. What does it mean to “be certain” and “not doubt this doctrine”? What does doubt and uncertainty look or sound like? How does that make “all…lost” and give the pope, the devil, and all adversaries the victory and right over us?
I do not know how to change in the least what I have previously and constantly taught about justification. Namely, that through faith, as St. Peter says, we have a new and clean heart [Acts 15:9–11], and God will and does account us entirely righteous and holy for the sake of Christ, our Mediator [1 Timothy 2:5]. Although sin in the flesh has not yet been completely removed or become dead [Romans 7:18], yet He will not punish or remember it.
Such faith, renewal, and forgiveness of sins are followed by good works [Ephesians 2:8–9]. What is still sinful or imperfect in them will not be counted as sin or defect, for Christ’s sake [Psalm 32:1–2; Romans 4:7–8]. The entire individual, both his person and his works, is declared to be righteous and holy from pure grace and mercy, shed upon us and spread over us in Christ. Therefore, we cannot boast of many merits and works, if they are viewed apart from grace and mercy. As it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31); namely, that he has a gracious God. For with that, all is well. We say, besides, that if good works do not follow, the faith is false and not true. – Smalcald Articles, Part III, 13:1-4
1. Read Psalm 32:1-2. Define justification based on this passage.
2. How do we reconcile justification and the fact that we are still sinful?
3. How can we say that “if good works do not follow, the faith is false and not true,” and yet also maintain that good works are not necessary for salvation?
18. But true faith says, “I certainly believe that the Son of God suffered and arose, but he did this all for me, for my sins, of that I am certain.
19. “For he died for the sins of the whole world. But it is most certain that I am some part of the world, therefore, it is most certain that he died also for my sins.”
24. Accordingly, that “for me” or “for us,” if it is believed, creates that true faith and distinguishes it from all other faith, which merely hears the things done.
25. This is the faith which alone justifies us without law and works through the mercy of God shown in Christ. – Theses Concerning Faith and Law
1. Why are the words “for me” perhaps the most important words of Thesis 18?
2. How are the words “I am some part of the world” both law and gospel?
84. If we ourselves could be obedient to God or fulfill the law, it would not have been necessary for the Son of God to become obedient in place of all of us or for the sake of all of us. – Theses Concerning Faith and the Law
1. Read Galatians 2:21. Are we offended enough by theologies that give our work a role in salvation (decision theology, Roman Catholicism, all pagan religions)?
23. For we perceive that a man who is justified is not yet a righteous man, but is in the very movement or journey toward righteousness. – Disputation Concerning Man
1. Explain how this isn’t saying we finish what God started.
…because that one article concerning justification even by itself creates true theologians, therefore it is indispensable in the church and just as we must often recall it, so we must frequently work on it…. Although we say we know, when we occupy ourselves with justification, nevertheless, it is not so, as some people think, that when they have heard the Word once or twice, they believe they have consequently become theologians. They are badly mistaken. For no matter how much progress we have made, we still remain at first principles, as Paul tells the Galatians in chapter 4[:9]…. Therefore, this teaching is essential and of great use, and the better it is understood the more it pleases. But this doctrine will quickly become nauseating to contemptuous souls. – Disputation Concerning Justification, p157
1. How does the “article concerning justification…create true theologians”?
2. Why must we frequently “work on” the article of justification?
3. How can “this doctrine…become nauseating to contemptuous souls”?
The promise…is that kind of a gift, that we bring nothing to faith, because the promise came earlier and because reason turns away from faith. It is up to God alone to give faith contrary to nature, and ability to believe contrary to reason. That I love God is the work of God alone. – Disputation Concerning Justification, p160
1. Explain the phrase: “We bring nothing to faith.”
2. Why doesn’t God give everyone faith?
On no condition is sin a passing phase, but we are justified daily by the unmerited forgiveness of sins and by the justification of God’s mercy. Sin remains, then, perpetually in this life, until the hour of the last judgment comes and then at last we shall be made perfectly righteous…. In short, the term “to be justified” means that a man is considered righteous. – Disputation Concerning Justification, p167
1. Explain the significance of the phrase, “we are justified daily.”
2. Where does this daily justification come from?
It is one thing that faith justifies without works; it is another thing that faith exists without works. – Disputation Concerning Justification, p176
1. Read James 2:17-24. Explain the distinction Luther draws here.
We are justified by faith, we are exalted by faith, we merit being called sons of God by faith. Faith alone obtains the blessedness of all good things. We have good works and life eternal in this life through faith. – Disputation Concerning Justification, p190
1. Five times Luther uses the word “faith” in these three sentences. So what?
2. Read John 1:29 and Eph. 2:8-9. How do I balance Jesus dying for the sins of the world with, “Believe in Jesus and you’ll be saved”? In other words, how do I avoid becoming a universalist (everyone’s going to heaven) and a decision theologian (you decide to believe)?
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