Katechismus

Question 59-61

“The doctrine of justification, which now follows, is one of the chief articles of our faith, not only because it treats of those things which are fundamental, but also because it is most frequently called in question by heretics. The controversies between the church and heretics have respect principally to two points: the one is concerning God, and the other concerning the justification of man in the sight of God.” Ursinus

Just to prove the point, check out the latest from the Presbyterian Church (USA) in this report originally from the Associated Press.

Righteousness is conformity with the law, that by which we are justified before God. Justification is the application of this righteousness – the imputation and application of that righteousness which Christ wrought out for us by his death upon the cross and by his resurrection from the dead. It is not a transfusion of righteousness, or of the qualities thereof; but it is the acquitting or the declaring us free from sin in the judgment of God, on the ground of the righteousness of another.

There are two ways in which thesatisfaction of Christ is made over unto us:

1. God Himself applies it unto us, that is, he makes the righteousness of Christ over unto us, and accepts of us as righteous on account of it, as if it were ours.

2. We apply it also unto ourselves when we receive the righteousness of Christ through faith, that is, we rest assured that God will grant it unto us, that he will regard us as righteous on account of it and
that he will free us from all guilt.

[Justification is] not ...to make one that is unjust, just, by infusing in him thequalities of righteousness; but [it] ...is to regard one thatis unrighteous as righteous, and to absolve him from guilt,and not to punish him, all of which is done on account of thesatisfaction of another imputed unto him.

We are justified by the mercyor grace of God, as the chief moving cause, by which Godwas led to justify and save us. We are justified by themerits of Christ, partly as by the formal cause of ourjustification, inasmuch as God accepts of us in view of the obedience of Christ applied unto us, ...and partly as themoving and meritorious cause, inasmuch as God on account of this, acquits and frees us from the condemnation of the law. We are justified by faith, as by an instrumental cause, by which we apprehend the righteousness of Christ imputed unto us.

We are justified by faith and through faith but never on account of faith.
(All previous from Ursinus)

Federal Vision; Auburn Avenue Theology:
N. T. Wright; Norman Shepherd; Douglas Wilson; Steve Wilkins; Steve Schlissel

New Perspective on Paul; Neo-Legalism:
N. T. Wright; E. P. Sanders; James G. Dunn

New Perspective on Paul

Redefinition of Terms - N. T. Wright

Reformed Presbyterian Church in the U.S. on Auburn Avenue Theology

Summary Statement of Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church's Position
See especially #'s 4, 7-10, 12, 13

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Question 56

The last two articles of the Apostle's Creed are in a way summary articles; “the forgiveness of sins” is the hinge between the body of the Creed and the conclusion. If the preceding “I believe” statements are true, then the result will be forgiveness. If forgiveness is granted, then everlasting life is the just destiny for the individual.

Forgiveness:

- is God's purpose not to remember the sin of the elect against them.

- is possible for God to do without violating His character since their sin has been credited to and punished in another, completely satisfying God's demand for justice. As part of the same transaction, the Redeemer's righteousness is credited to the elect.

- is absolutely gracious in nature – it is granted on the basis of God's mercy, not the individual's merit.

- is granted (temporally) when we homologeo our sins since God is faithful and just. This principle is key to the issue of guilt and clinical depression. The statement “I can't forgive myself” is usually a cover for failure to properly confess and receive God's forgiveness;; taken at face value, it means the individual has a higher standard than God does and that he must do something to merit forgiveness.

- does not necessarily result in the individual feeling forgiven; forgiveness is an objective, not subjective, action on God's part and is not dependent on how we feel about something. Our comfort and assurance comes from understanding the character of God and the nature of the promises recorded in His Word. If Satan can keep us trapped in our feelings of guilt and helplessness, he has won a major advantage.

Question 57

Is man a dichotomy or a trichotomy? Body and soul? Or body, soul and spirit? Biblically, soul and spirit are synonymous, the immaterial personal self that animates or gives life to a body. The Bible clearly teaches the soul is immortal even though Jesus said “fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul.” Matthew 10:28 Death is separation of soul from body to be reunited at the resurrection.

The resurrection is re-constituting of present body and reuniting of soul with body. The basis for our belief and much of our understanding of the resurrection is the description of Jesus and His resurrection – how He appeared to and interacted with people (Luke 24, John 21, etc.), His position as the firstfruit (1 Cor. 15:20), the historical fact of the resurrection forming the ground of Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 15.

“The ultimate end of the resurrection of the dead is the glory of God; for he will then manifest and exercise his mercy in its highest form in the glorification of the faithful, while his jsutice will be displayed in the damnation of the reprobate. ...The next end, and the one that is subordinate to the former, is the salvation and glory of the elect ...[who shall] be raised to eternal life.” Ursinus

Question 58

“...everlasting life is the perfect restoration of the image of God, with eternal joy and delight in God, heavenly glory, and the full fruition of all those good things which are necessary to a state of perfect happiness. In a word, it is the perfect conformity of man with God, consisting in the true and perfect knowledge and love of God, and in the glory both of the soul and body of man.”

“...eternal life does not merely mean immortality, or a continued presence of the soul in the body; but also, and more particularly, that spiritual life, and heavenly glory and felicity, which the Holy Ghost works in the faithful by his own peculiar operation.” Ursinus

Life everlasting consists of another life after this life in which the church shall be glorified, which life begins in this world and has two degrees of consummation – the first is that in which the souls of the righteous are freed from the body and carried to heaven, the second is that experienced in the resurrection of the body and entrance into heaven perfectly redeemed and glorified to see God as He is.

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Question 54

The church is an assemblage of persons brought together, not by chance, but called out of the kingdom of Satan by the voice of the Lord, and by the preaching of the gospel for the purpose of hearing and embracing the word of God. [It is] a congregation called together in a particular manner, and for a particular object.

The triumphant church triumphs with the angels in heaven and will at length obtain a complete triumph after the resurrection; the militant church fights in this world under the banner of Christ against the devil, the flesh and the world, that is, against sin and its effects.

Nicene Creed – broadens the description of the church: “one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church”.

1. One: one confession or body of basic doctrine universally held to be true within the true church. Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. See also LFBC Constitution, Article II, Section 2, Church Creed.

2. Holy: righteousness imputed to us on the basis of Christ's obedient life and finished propitiatory sacrifice; Philippians 3:8-9 that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; also, consecrated to a holy purpose and set apart from the ungodly.

3. Catholic: without respect to time, place, language, ethnicity, or any other consideration. The church began with Adam and Eve, exists without interruption to the end of time. Particular congregations, local church bodies, part of the one church predestined by God to salvation.

4. Apostolic: holding to the doctrine of the apostles as delivered to us through sacred Scripture.

Question 55

Communion – mutual participation, held in common. Mutual participation in the Gospel on the basis of common possession of Christ and His benefits.

1. United to Christ who is the Head of the body; effected by the Holy Spirit who conforms the elect to the image of Christ.

2. United also with one another under the headship of Christ; pictured in John 15 and the image of the vine. By union to the true vine, Christ, the elect participates in all the benefits necessary to their salvation: reconciliation, redemption, justification, sanctification, life, salvation.

3. Participation in the various ministry gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit to individual members for the benefit of the entire church body. Gifts are given for the work of the ministry and the edification of the saints. Edify: the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness (Thayer's Greek Definitions)

4. Nature of gift distribution implies a mandate to faithfully use the gifts given for the glory of Christ and the benefit of the body, exercised within the context of the church.

So what is it that God expects of the militant church? And how has He equipped her for the work? We should first and foremost follow Jesus' example – Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. See also Romans 8:19-23.

Lists of spiritual gifts are not comprehensive of every ability God has given to His people; they are not even exhaustive of ministry gifts. Every “asset” God has provided to us is to be used for His glory, His people, and His cause which is to ultimately prevail against sin. Considering Jesus' example, thirty-two miracles in which created order was subdued/overruled for the good of mankind, six which addressed spiritual issues – demon possession (4) and forgiveness of sins (2). See the full table here.

For a good example of how one individual put his God-given talents to work for the world at large see The World's Greatest Creation Scientists, Dr. Raymond Damadian.

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