“Luther’s doctrine of justification has frequently been attacked for being monotonous, empty, and even obsessive.” So notes Oswald Bayer in his article, “Justification as the Basis and Boundary of Theology.”
Sound familiar?
GES’s emphasis on the promise of everlasting life has faced the same criticism.
Bayer continues to explain that Emmanuel Swedenborg caricatured Lutherans in this way: “the Lutheran is locked up in a darkened room his entire life. Pacing back and forth in the room, unable to see anything, he searches for light by repeating only one sentence to himself: ‘I am justified by faith alone; I am justified by faith alone; I am justified by faith alone!’”
I’m sure that’s what we sound like to many people—obsessed with the promise of life and therefore shut out from the real world.
But in his article, Bayer explains why the opposite is true. “Justification is not a separate topic apart from which still other topics could be discussed. Justification is the starting point for all theology and it affects every other topic” (emphasis his). Knowing that we are justified by faith apart from works affects our entire approach to existence.
For example, Bayer ties justification to creation. He says there are two basic approaches to creation—by works, or apart from works. People today think they can create themselves, just as they think they can save themselves: “The modern human being thinks of himself, from beginning to end, as a doer and maker. In the terms of Karl Marx, a human being produces him- or herself through work.”
By contrast, Bayer notes that God created the world out of nothing: “Creation out of nothing means that all that is exists out of pure goodness; it is unmerited.” How does creation out of nothing connect to justification? Just as the world cannot create itself, neither can man save himself. The same God who creates the world out of nothing also creates the new man out of nothing. Creation and new-creation are both received as a gift. There is nothing you did to earn the former, and there is nothing you can do to earn the latter.
In other words, far from being an isolated or isolating doctrine, justification (or the promise of eternal life) is tied to the very motif of creation itself. It does not cut us off from the world, but reminds us of the world’s true nature as a gift from God.
Alvin
It’s a blessing to be justified which is a legal term, but to have eternal life is more of a personal term, the very life of God. And written to the unbeliever in John’s Gospel that they may have life. Justifcation is not found there.
I also love the call to the unbeliever to receive reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:19-21. It shows the heart of God, not only was Jesus imputed the sin of the world, but God is pleading through believers to receive the reconciliation.
Now Calvinism doesn’t fit any of that because they force love, there’s no pleading what so ever.
KEN TAMASHIRO
Hi Pastor Shawn,
I just recently had a debate in FB about Justification by Faith.
Basically, he could not get around the area of Justification by Faith in scripture. Every time he would throw Discipleship or Repentance or True Believers, I would say we are Justified by Faith not by the other.
This person knew I was right because Justification by Faith stood on its own without me explaining myself…
Grace and Peace,
Ken Tamashiro
Brady
Hey, I didn’t get to read yesterdays BLOG until TODAY. Wow!!! Great blog, but I wanted to as my 2 cents in sooo here’s my 2 cents for YESTERDAYS blog.
I too have been WORKING OUT/exercising since I was 14 and KNOW it takes serious FREE WILL “effort” to keep on keeping on. I turned 65 in October. But I have been at some more practical and serious than that since I was 6-7 years old and that IS believing and defending John 3:16 by the Grace of God only.
Alvin
God Bless you Brady, that is the main thing for sure~!
Peter
Gentlemen,
Your blogs are truly a JOY to read. They compel me to go to the WORD and thoughtfully meditate. Thank you for your faithfulness.