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Martin Luther - Lesson 10

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Justification by Faith

Luther's teaching on justification by faith is central to his theology.

Gordon Isaac
Gordon Isaac
Martin Luther
Lesson 10
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Justification by Faith

Justification by Faith

Luther, the Pastor: On Gal 2:19b

 

I. The Medieval Traditions

A. The Mystics - Did not use language of justification

1. Neoplatonic - One needed to climb Jacobs ladder to get to God. At the top one would find the great cloud of unknowing.

2. Romance - Christ the lover. Urging the Christian into a complete and total love of God

3. German - Divine seed planted into the Christian. One grows into divine union with Christ. No preparation for receiving God's grace.

B. Thomism- Thomas Aquinas - Movement from starting point to end point with the following 4 experiences:

1. the infusion of grace

2. the movement of the free will toward God in faith.

3. movement of the free will in recoil from sin

4. remission of guilt

C. Nominalism - Gabriel Biel

Do that which is in you and God will complete the process

 

II. Luther on Justification

A. Luther's doctrine on justification is directly related to Paul's

(Romans 4:17) - Primary importance

B. Alien Righteousness - Abraham

Once received transforms being, therefore not cheap grace only.

C. Non-imputation of sins/Imputation of righteousness

D. Justification is received in the form of faith/with faith.

1. Christ is not only the object of faith but himself present in faith.

2. Unconditional promise of the gospel is not an if... then... statement but is a because... therefore.... When preaching this you will face opposition. This is an offense of the 'old Adam.'

3. Death to sin language. Death and resurrection not only allegorical but actual experience. When God kills, faith in life is lived by death.

4. Paul: Should we sin therefore so that grace can abound? No, how can we who have died to sin live in it.

 

III. Justification Today - Ecumenical Climate

A. Signing of the Concordat by both the Lutheran and Catholic Churches

B. Finnish Theologians- St. Paul/Minneapolis Conference


All Lessons
About
  • 1. Introduction to Martin Luther

    Introduction to the life and theology of Martin Luther.

  • 2. About Reading Luther

    Luther expressed his views in a way that was shaped by his theology and the culture.

  • 3. His Life and Times

    Martin Luther was born in Germany in the late 15th century, just after Guttenberg developed his printing press.

  • 4. The 95 Theses

    When Martin Luther posted the 95 theses, his intention was to discuss and debate the misuse of indulgences, but it was interpreted by the church heirarchy as an attack on the power of the papacy.

  • 5. The Task of Theology

    Luther's writings demonstrate his ability to understand and articulate issues that are at the core of the nature of God and man. His theology is distinct from philosophy and consists of many comments on passages in Psalms and Romans.

  • 6. The Freedom of a Christian

    Faith alone justifies. By faith the Christian is made to love God, therefore a person does good works because they cannot remain idle.

  • 7. Luther's Theology of the Cross

    The work of Christ when he allowed himself to be crucified on the cross, teaches us about God's nature, our nature and our relationship to God.

  • 8. Luther's Approach to Scripture

    Luther's fourfold sense of scripture focused on historical (literal), allegorical (figurative), tropological (moral), and anagogic (future).

  • 9. Christ and the Atonement

    Luther's view of the atonement differs from classical views taught during his time and view held by the scholastic tradition.

  • 10. Justification by Faith

    Luther's teaching on justification by faith is central to his theology.

  • 11. The Bondage of the Will

    Theology of the cross assumes bondage and moves to freedom.

  • 12. Luther on Predestination

    Four positions on predestination include the Calvinist, neo-Protestant, intuitu fidei, and Gnesio-Lutherans.

  • 13. Luther on Law and Gospel

    Luther's commentary on Galatians is an attempt to set "Law" in its proper setting.

  • 14. The Promise of the Sacraments

    The sacraments are an external expression of an internal reality.

  • 15. Luther on Baptism

    Luther's teachings on the importance of baptism and arguments for infant baptism.

  • 16. Luther on Christ's Supper

    Luther's view of the theological and personal significance of the Lord's Supper.

  • 17. Luther's Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms

    The kingdom of God and secular government have areas of unity and areas of differences.

  • 18. Luther's View of the Church

    Luther gives a definition of the church and describes characteristics of the church.

  • 19. Luther and the Small Catechism

    Luther developed a catechism to help people focus on the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith.

  • 20. Luther for Evangelicals

    Martin Luther's writings can encourage people to pursue their relationship with God on a deeper level.

This course is an introduction to the life and writings of the great German reformer, Martin Luther. There are 20 lectures totaling approximately 18 hours. These lectures were given at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.