1-500 | 501-572
bold = Main text
Chapter, Paragraph grey = Comment text
1 Pre, 1 | 1.The doctrine of justification
2 Pre, 1 | of central importance for the Lutheran Reformation of
3 Pre, 1 | Lutheran Reformation of the sixteenth century. It was
4 Pre, 1 | century. It was held to be the "first and chief article"1
5 Pre, 1 | and chief article"1 and at the same time the "ruler and
6 Pre, 1 | article"1 and at the same time the "ruler and judge over all
7 Pre (1) | The Smalcald Articles, II,1;
8 Pre, 1 | other Christian doctrines."2 The doctrine of justification
9 Pre, 1 | special valuation over against the Roman Catholic Church and
10 Pre, 1 | different character. From the Reformation perspective,
11 Pre, 1 | perspective, justification was the crux of all the disputes.
12 Pre, 1 | justification was the crux of all the disputes. Doctrinal condemnations
13 Pre, 1 | were put forward both in the Lutheran Confessions3 and
14 Pre, 1 | Lutheran Confessions3 and by the Roman Catholic Church's
15 Pre (3) | Lutheran churches include only the Augsburg Confession and
16 Pre (3) | justification in relation to the Roman Catholic Church.~
17 Pre, 2 | 2.For the Lutheran tradition, the
18 Pre, 2 | the Lutheran tradition, the doctrine of justification
19 Pre, 2 | Consequently it has also from the beginning occupied an important
20 Pre, 2 | occupied an important place in the official Lutheran-Roman
21 Pre, 3 | attention should be drawn to the following reports: "The
22 Pre, 3 | the following reports: "The Gospel and the Church" (
23 Pre, 3 | reports: "The Gospel and the Church" (1972)4 and "Church
24 Pre (4) | Report of the Joint Lutheran-Roman Catholic
25 Pre, 3 | Justification" (1994)5 by the Lutheran-Roman Catholic
26 Pre (5) | Published by the Lutheran World Federation (
27 Pre, 3 | Justification by Faith" (1983)6 of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic
28 Pre, 3 | Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue in the USA and "The Condemnations
29 Pre, 3 | dialogue in the USA and "The Condemnations of the Reformation
30 Pre, 3 | and "The Condemnations of the Reformation Era - Do They
31 Pre, 3 | Still Divide?" (1986)7 by the Ecumenical Working Group
32 Pre, 3 | been officially received by the churches. An important example
33 Pre, 3 | example of such reception is the binding response of the
34 Pre, 3 | the binding response of the United Evangelical-Lutheran
35 Pre, 3 | Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Germany to the "Condemnations" study, made
36 Pre, 3 | study, made in 1994 at the highest possible level of
37 Pre, 3 | recognition together with the other churches of the Evangelical
38 Pre, 3 | with the other churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany8. ~
39 Pre (8) | 1995): 99-102; See also the position papers which underlie
40 Pre, 4 | In their discussion of the doctrine of justification,
41 Pre, 4 | doctrine of justification, all the dialogue reports as well
42 Pre, 4 | dialogue reports as well as the responses show a high degree
43 Pre, 4 | approaches and conclusions. The time has therefore come
44 Pre, 4 | take stock and to summarize the results of the dialogues
45 Pre, 4 | summarize the results of the dialogues on justification
46 Pre, 4 | churches may be informed about the overall results of this
47 Pre, 4 | results of this dialogue with the necessary accuracy and brevity,
48 Pre, 5 | 5.The present Joint Declaration
49 Pre, 5 | namely, to show that on the basis of their dialogue
50 Pre, 5 | basis of their dialogue the subscribing Lutheran churches
51 Pre, 5 | subscribing Lutheran churches and the Roman Catholic Church9 are
52 Pre, 5 | consensus on basic truths of the doctrine of justification
53 Pre, 5 | justification and shows that the remaining differences in
54 Pre, 5 | explication are no longer the occasion for doctrinal condemnations. ~
55 Pre (9) | The word "church" is used in
56 Pre (9) | this Declaration to reflect the self-understandings of the
57 Pre (9) | the self-understandings of the participating churches,
58 Pre (9) | intending to resolve all the ecclesiological issues related
59 Pre, 6 | independent presentation alongside the dialogue reports and documents
60 Pre, 6 | replacement of them. Rather, as the appendix of sources shows,
61 Pre, 7 | 7.Like the dialogues themselves, this
62 Pre, 7 | Joint Declaration rests on the conviction that in overcoming
63 Pre, 7 | conviction that in overcoming the earlier controversial questions
64 Pre, 7 | doctrinal condemnations, the churches neither take the
65 Pre, 7 | the churches neither take the condemnations lightly nor
66 Pre, 7 | disavow their own past. On the contrary, this Declaration
67 Pre, 7 | Declaration is shaped by the conviction that in their
68 Pre, 7 | possible, but also require the churches to examine the
69 Pre, 7 | the churches to examine the divisive questions and condemnations
70 1, 8 | common way of listening to the word of God in Scripture
71 1, 8 | insights. Together we hear the gospel that "God so loved
72 1, 8 | gospel that "God so loved the world that he gave his only
73 1, 8 | Scripture in various ways. In the Old Testament we listen
74 1, 9 | 9.In the New Testament diverse treatments
75 1, 9 | justification" are found in the writings of Matthew (5:10;
76 1, 9 | In Paul's letters also, the gift of salvation is described
77 1, 9 | 1). Chief among these is the "justification" of sinful
78 1, 9 | particular prominence in the Reformation period. ~
79 1 (10)| Faith, paras. 122-147. At the request of the US dialogue
80 1 (10)| 122-147. At the request of the US dialogue on justification,
81 1 (10)| dialogue on justification, the non-Pauline New Testament
82 1 (10)| addressed in Righteousness in the New Testament, by John Reumann,
83 1 (10)| York:1982), pp. 124-180. The results of this study were
84 1 (10)| study were summarized in the dialogue report Justification
85 1, 10 | 10.Paul sets forth the gospel as the power of God
86 1, 10 | sets forth the gospel as the power of God for salvation
87 1, 10 | of God for salvation of the person who has fallen under
88 1, 10 | person who has fallen under the power of sin, as the message
89 1, 10 | under the power of sin, as the message that proclaims that "
90 1, 10 | message that proclaims that "the righteousness of God is
91 1, 10 | 1 Cor 1:30), applying to the risen Lord what Jeremiah
92 1, 10 | sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23;
93 1, 10 | faith (Gen 15:6) as faith in the God who justifies the sinner (
94 1, 10 | in the God who justifies the sinner (Rom 4:5) and calls
95 1, 10 | Rom 4:5) and calls upon the testimony of the Old Testament
96 1, 10 | calls upon the testimony of the Old Testament to undergird
97 1, 10 | trust in God's promise. "For the righteous will live by faith (
98 1, 10 | not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result
99 1, 10 | is the gift of God - not the result of works" (Eph 2:
100 1, 11 | 11.Justification is the forgiveness of sins (cf.
101 1, 11 | 18:14), liberation from the dominating power of sin
102 1, 11 | death (Rom 5:12-21) and from the curse of the law (Gal 3:
103 1, 11 | 21) and from the curse of the law (Gal 3:10-14). It is
104 1, 11 | Rom 6:5). It occurs in the reception of the Holy Spirit
105 1, 11 | occurs in the reception of the Holy Spirit in baptism and
106 1, 11 | baptism and incorporation into the one body (Rom 8:1f, 9f;
107 1, 11 | grace, through faith in "the gospel of God's Son" (Rom
108 1, 12 | 12.The justified live by faith
109 1, 12 | by faith that comes from the Word of Christ (Rom 10:17)
110 1, 12 | through love (Gal 5:6), the fruit of the Spirit (Gal
111 1, 12 | Gal 5:6), the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22f). But
112 1, 12 | Spirit (Gal 5:22f). But since the justified are assailed from
113 1, 12 | righteously in accord with the will of God. That is why
114 1, 12 | will of God. That is why the Apostle says to the justified: "
115 1, 12 | why the Apostle says to the justified: "Work out your
116 1, 12 | pleasure" (Phil 2:12f). But the good news remains: "there
117 2 | 2. The Doctrine of Justification
118 2, 13 | interpretations and applications of the biblical message of justification
119 2, 13 | of justification were in the sixteenth century a principal
120 2, 13 | century a principal cause of the division of the Western
121 2, 13 | cause of the division of the Western church and led as
122 2, 13 | modern investigations of the history of theology and
123 2, 13 | history of theology and dogma, the post-Vatican II ecumenical
124 2, 13 | concerning justification, with the result that this Joint Declaration
125 2, 13 | basic truths concerning the doctrine of justification.
126 2, 13 | light of this consensus, the corresponding doctrinal
127 2, 13 | doctrinal condemnations of the sixteenth century do not
128 3 | 3. The Common Understanding of
129 3, 14 | 14.The Lutheran churches and the
130 3, 14 | The Lutheran churches and the Roman Catholic Church have
131 3, 14 | have together listened to the good news proclaimed in
132 3, 14 | listening, together with the theological conversations
133 3, 14 | encompasses a consensus in the basic truths; the differing
134 3, 14 | consensus in the basic truths; the differing explications in
135 3, 15 | In faith we together hold the conviction that justification
136 3, 15 | conviction that justification is the work of the triune God.
137 3, 15 | justification is the work of the triune God. The Father sent
138 3, 15 | work of the triune God. The Father sent his Son into
139 3, 15 | Father sent his Son into the world to save sinners. The
140 3, 15 | the world to save sinners. The foundation and presupposition
141 3, 15 | presupposition of justification is the incarnation, death, and
142 3, 15 | in which we share through the Holy Spirit in accord with
143 3, 15 | Holy Spirit in accord with the will of the Father. Together
144 3, 15 | accord with the will of the Father. Together we confess:
145 3, 15 | accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews
146 3, 16 | itself God's gift through the Holy Spirit who works through
147 3, 16 | through word and sacrament in the community of believers and
148 3, 16 | of believers and who, at the same time, leads believers
149 3, 17 | 17.We also share the conviction that the message
150 3, 17 | share the conviction that the message of justification
151 3, 17 | in a special way towards the heart of the New Testament
152 3, 17 | way towards the heart of the New Testament witness to
153 3, 17 | new life is solely due to the forgiving and renewing mercy
154 3, 18 | 18.Therefore the doctrine of justification,
155 3, 18 | constantly serves to orient all the teaching and practice of
156 3, 18 | When Lutherans emphasize the unique significance of this
157 3, 18 | criterion, they do not deny the interrelation and significance
158 3, 18 | criteria, they do not deny the special function of the
159 3, 18 | the special function of the message of justification.
160 3, 18 | Lutherans and Catholics share the goal of confessing Christ
161 3, 18 | trusted above all things as the one Mediator (1 Tim 2:5f)
162 3, 18 | 5f) through whom God in the Holy Spirit gives himself
163 4 | 4. Explicating the Common Understanding of
164 4, 19 | persons depend completely on the saving grace of God for
165 4, 19 | God for their salvation. The freedom they possess in
166 4, 19 | relation to persons and the things of this world is
167 4, 21 | that a person can reject the working of grace. When they
168 4, 22 | forgives sin by grace and at the same time frees human beings
169 4, 22 | enslaving power and imparts the gift of new life in Christ.
170 4, 22 | them their sin and through the Holy Spirit effects in them
171 4, 22 | righteousness (1 Cor 1:30): both the forgiveness of sin and the
172 4, 22 | the forgiveness of sin and the saving presence of God himself.
173 4, 23 | Lutherans emphasize that the righteousness of Christ
174 4, 23 | above all to insist that the sinner is granted righteousness
175 4, 23 | before God in Christ through the declaration of forgiveness
176 4, 23 | grace is forgiving love ("the favor of God"12), they do
177 4, 23 | they do not thereby deny the renewal of the Christian'
178 4, 23 | thereby deny the renewal of the Christian's life. They intend
179 4, 23 | and is not dependent on the life-renewing effects of
180 4, 24 | When Catholics emphasize the renewal of the interior
181 4, 24 | emphasize the renewal of the interior person through
182 4, 24 | interior person through the reception of grace imparted
183 4, 24 | grace imparted as a gift to the believer13, they wish to
184 4, 24 | gift of new life, which in the Holy Spirit becomes effective
185 4, 25 | are justified by faith in the saving action of God in
186 4, 25 | action of God in Christ. By the action of the Holy Spirit
187 4, 25 | Christ. By the action of the Holy Spirit in baptism,
188 4, 25 | baptism, they are granted the gift of salvation, which
189 4, 25 | of salvation, which lays the basis for the whole Christian
190 4, 25 | which lays the basis for the whole Christian life. They
191 4, 25 | active in love and thus the Christian cannot and should
192 4, 25 | without works. But whatever in the justified precedes or follows
193 4, 25 | justified precedes or follows the free gift of faith is neither
194 4, 25 | gift of faith is neither the basis of justification nor
195 4, 26 | affects all dimensions of the person and leads to a life
196 4, 26 | life in hope and love. In the doctrine of "justification
197 4, 26 | justification itself and the renewal of one's way of
198 4, 26 | does not exist. Thereby the basis is indicated from
199 4, 26 | is indicated from which the renewal of life proceeds,
200 4, 26 | for it comes forth from the love of God imparted to
201 4, 26 | love of God imparted to the person in justification.
202 4, 27 | 27.The Catholic understanding also
203 4, 27 | through baptism as hearers of the word and believers in it.
204 4, 27 | word and believers in it. The justification of sinners
205 4, 27 | of God. In justification the righteous receive from Christ
206 4, 27 | constantly dependent on the salvific and creative working
207 4, 27 | Catholic teaching emphasizes the renewal of life by justifying
208 4 | 4.4 The Justified as Sinner~
209 4, 28 | together that in baptism the Holy Spirit unites one with
210 4, 28 | justifies, and truly renews the person. But the justified
211 4, 28 | truly renews the person. But the justified must all through
212 4, 28 | continuously exposed to the power of sin still pressing
213 4, 28 | lifelong struggle against the contradiction to God within
214 4, 28 | contradiction to God within the selfish desires of the old
215 4, 28 | within the selfish desires of the old Adam (cf. Gal 5:16;
216 4, 28 | Gal 5:16; Rom 7:7-10). The justified also must ask
217 4, 28 | daily for forgiveness as in the Lord's Prayer (Mt. 6:12;
218 4, 29 | understand this condition of the Christian as a being "at
219 4, 29 | Christian as a being "at the same time righteous and
220 4, 29 | and Sacrament and grants the righteousness of Christ
221 4, 29 | Looking at themselves through the law, however, they recognize
222 4, 29 | truly sin. Nevertheless, the enslaving power of sin is
223 4, 29 | power of sin is broken on the basis of the merit of Christ.
224 4, 29 | is broken on the basis of the merit of Christ. It no longer
225 4, 29 | longer is a sin that "rules" the Christian for it is itself "
226 4, 29 | ruled" by Christ with whom the justified are bound in faith.
227 4, 29 | just life. Despite sin, the Christian is no longer separated
228 4, 29 | separated from God, because in the daily return to baptism,
229 4, 29 | daily return to baptism, the person who has been born
230 4, 29 | born anew by baptism and the Holy Spirit has this sin
231 4, 29 | Roman Catholics, despite the difference in understanding
232 4, 29 | in understanding sin in the justified.~
233 4, 30 | 30.Catholics hold that the grace of Jesus Christ imparted
234 4, 30 | away all that is sin "in the proper sense" and that is "
235 4, 30 | does, however, remain in the person an inclination (concupiscence)
236 4, 30 | contradiction to God does not merit the punishment of eternal death17
237 4, 30 | and does not separate the justified person from God.
238 4, 30 | enough to return to observing the commandments, for they must
239 4, 30 | receive pardon and peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
240 4, 30 | of Reconciliation through the word of forgiveness imparted
241 4, 31 | are justified by faith in the gospel "apart from works
242 4, 31 | from works prescribed by the law" (Rom 3:28). Christ
243 4, 31 | 28). Christ has fulfilled the law and by his death and
244 4, 31 | retain their validity for the justified and that Christ
245 4, 31 | which is a standard for the conduct of the justified
246 4, 31 | standard for the conduct of the justified also. ~
247 4, 32 | 32.Lutherans state that the distinction and right ordering
248 4, 32 | gospel is essential for the understanding of justification.
249 4, 32 | In its theological use, the law is demand and accusation.
250 4, 32 | sin so that, in faith in the gospel, they will turn unreservedly
251 4, 32 | will turn unreservedly to the mercy of God in Christ,
252 4, 33 | 33.Because the law as a way to salvation
253 4, 33 | fulfilled and overcome through the gospel, Catholics can say
254 4, 33 | Christ is not a lawgiver in the manner of Moses. When Catholics
255 4, 33 | Catholics emphasize that the righteous are bound to observe
256 4, 33 | promised to his children the grace of eternal life18. [
257 4, 34 | We confess together that the faithful can rely on the
258 4, 34 | the faithful can rely on the mercy and promises of God.
259 4, 34 | of their own weakness and the manifold threats to their
260 4, 34 | threats to their faith, on the strength of Christ's death
261 4, 34 | resurrection they can build on the effective promise of God'
262 4, 35 | emphasized in a particular way by the Reformers: in the midst
263 4, 35 | way by the Reformers: in the midst of temptation, believers
264 4, 36 | 36.Catholics can share the concern of the Reformers
265 4, 36 | can share the concern of the Reformers to ground faith
266 4, 36 | Reformers to ground faith in the objective reality of Christ'
267 4, 36 | Mt 16:19; 18:18). With the Second Vatican Council,
268 4, 36 | who liberates us from the darkness of sin and death
269 4, 36 | cannot believe in God and at the same time consider the divine
270 4, 36 | at the same time consider the divine promise untrustworthy.
271 4, 36 | his own failures, however, the believer may yet be certain
272 4 | 4.7 The Good Works of the Justified~
273 4 | 4.7 The Good Works of the Justified~
274 4, 37 | and are its fruits. When the justified live in Christ
275 4, 37 | live in Christ and act in the grace they receive, they
276 4, 37 | fulfill. Thus both Jesus and the apostolic Scriptures admonish
277 4, 37 | Christians to bring forth the works of love. ~
278 4, 38 | made possible by grace and the working of the Holy Spirit,
279 4, 38 | grace and the working of the Holy Spirit, contribute
280 4, 38 | growth in grace, so that the righteousness that comes
281 4, 38 | deepened. When Catholics affirm the "meritorious" character
282 4, 38 | to say that, according to the biblical witness, a reward
283 4, 38 | intention is to emphasize the responsibility of persons
284 4, 38 | actions, not to contest the character of those works
285 4, 38 | justification always remains the unmerited gift of grace. ~
286 4, 39 | 39.The concept of a preservation
287 4, 39 | acceptance by God and sharing in the righteousness of Christ
288 4, 39 | Christ is always complete. At the same time, they state that
289 4, 39 | Christian living. When they view the good works of Christians
290 4, 39 | good works of Christians as the fruits and signs of justification
291 4, 39 | eternal life in accord with the New Testament as unmerited "
292 4, 39 | as unmerited "reward" in the sense of the fulfillment
293 4, 39 | reward" in the sense of the fulfillment of God's promise
294 4, 39 | fulfillment of God's promise to the believer. [See Sources for
295 5 | 5. The Significance and Scope of
296 5 | Significance and Scope of the Consensus Reached~
297 5, 40 | 40.The understanding of the doctrine
298 5, 40 | 40.The understanding of the doctrine of justification
299 5, 40 | consensus in basic truths of the doctrine of justification
300 5, 40 | light of this consensus the remaining differences of
301 5, 40 | elaboration, and emphasis in the understanding of justification
302 5, 40 | are acceptable. Therefore the Lutheran and the Catholic
303 5, 40 | Therefore the Lutheran and the Catholic explications of
304 5, 40 | another and do not destroy the consensus regarding the
305 5, 40 | the consensus regarding the basic truths. ~
306 5, 41 | 41.Thus the doctrinal condemnations
307 5, 41 | doctrinal condemnations of the 16th century, in so far
308 5, 41 | so far as they relate to the doctrine of justification,
309 5, 41 | appear in a new light: The teaching of the Lutheran
310 5, 41 | new light: The teaching of the Lutheran churches presented
311 5, 41 | Declaration does not fall under the condemnations from the Council
312 5, 41 | under the condemnations from the Council of Trent. The condemnations
313 5, 41 | from the Council of Trent. The condemnations in the Lutheran
314 5, 41 | Trent. The condemnations in the Lutheran Confessions do
315 5, 41 | Confessions do not apply to the teaching of the Roman Catholic
316 5, 41 | apply to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church presented
317 5, 42 | thereby taken away from the seriousness of the condemnations
318 5, 42 | from the seriousness of the condemnations related to
319 5, 42 | condemnations related to the doctrine of justification.
320 5 (21)| Condemnations of the Reformation Era, 27.
321 5, 43 | consensus in basic truths of the doctrine of justification
322 5, 43 | justification must come to influence the life and teachings of our
323 5, 43 | include, among other topics, the relationship between the
324 5, 43 | the relationship between the Word of God and church doctrine,
325 5, 43 | church unity, ministry, the sacraments, and the relation
326 5, 43 | ministry, the sacraments, and the relation between justification
327 5, 43 | ethics. We are convinced that the consensus we have reached
328 5, 43 | for this clarification. The Lutheran churches and the
329 5, 43 | The Lutheran churches and the Roman Catholic Church will
330 5, 43 | to make it bear fruit in the life and teaching of the
331 5, 43 | the life and teaching of the churches. ~
332 5, 44 | 44.We give thanks to the Lord for this decisive step
333 5, 44 | decisive step forward on the way to overcoming the division
334 5, 44 | on the way to overcoming the division of the church.
335 5, 44 | overcoming the division of the church. We ask the Holy
336 5, 44 | division of the church. We ask the Holy Spirit to lead us further
337 App | APPENDIX - Resources for the Joint Declaration on the
338 App | the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification~
339 App | Justification~In parts 3 and 4 of the "Joint Declaration" formulations
340 App | are referred to. They are the following documents: ~"All
341 App | One Christ," Statement on the Augsburg Confession by the
342 App | the Augsburg Confession by the Roman Catholic/Lutheran
343 App | Enchiridion symbolorum ...since the 37th edition (hereafter:
344 App | hereafter: DH). ~Evaluation of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
345 App | Promoting Christian Unity of the Study Lehrverurteilungen -
346 App | USA). ~Position Paper of the Joint Committee of the United
347 App | of the Joint Committee of the United Evangelical Lutheran
348 App | Lutheran Church of Germany and the LWF German National Committee
349 App | National Committee regarding the document "The Condemnations
350 App | regarding the document "The Condemnations of the Reformation
351 App | document "The Condemnations of the Reformation Era.Do They
352 App | 1993 (hereafter: VELKD). ~The Condemnations of the Reformation
353 App | The Condemnations of the Reformation Era. Do they
354 App | hereafter: LV:E)~For 3:The Common Understanding of
355 App | Paul and, in a sense, for the Bible as a whole, although
356 App | although it is by no means the only biblical or Pauline
357 App | Lutherans can acknowledge the need to test the practices,
358 App | acknowledge the need to test the practices, structures, and
359 App | structures, and theologies of the church by the extent to
360 App | theologies of the church by the extent to which they help
361 App | which they help or hinder 'the proclamation of God's free
362 App | USA, no. 153). ~Regarding the "fundamental affirmation" (
363 App | This affirmation, like the Reformation doctrine of
364 App | be ultimately trusted as the one mediator through whom
365 App | mediator through whom God in the Holy Spirit pours out his
366 App | so function as to foster 'the obedience of faith' (Rom.
367 App | Christ Jesus alone through the Holy Spirit, for the salvation
368 App | through the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of the faithful
369 App | Spirit, for the salvation of the faithful and the praise
370 App | salvation of the faithful and the praise and honor of the
371 App | the praise and honor of the heavenly Father" (USA, no.
372 App | 160). ~- "For that reason, the doctrine of justification -
373 App | retain a special function in the church. That function is
374 App | sinners live solely from the forgiving love of God, which
375 App | preconditions or postconditions. The doctrine of justification
376 App | justification therefore becomes the touchstone for testing at
377 App | relationship to God can claim the name of 'Christian'. At
378 App | name of 'Christian'. At the same time, it becomes the
379 App | the same time, it becomes the touchstone for the church,
380 App | becomes the touchstone for the church, for testing at all
381 App | 69). ~- "An agreement on the fact that the doctrine of
382 App | agreement on the fact that the doctrine of justification
383 App | doctrinal component within the whole of our church's teaching,
384 App | s teaching, but also as the touchstone for testing the
385 App | the touchstone for testing the whole doctrine and practice
386 App | fundamental progress in the ecumenical dialogue between
387 App | Lutherans and Catholics, the doctrine of justification
388 App | has a different status in the hierarchy of truth; but
389 App | but both sides agree that the doctrine of justification
390 App | its specific function in the fact that it is 'the touchstone
391 App | in the fact that it is 'the touchstone for testing at
392 App | relationship to God can claim the name of "Christian". At
393 App | name of "Christian". At the same time it becomes the
394 App | the same time it becomes the touchstone for the church,
395 App | becomes the touchstone for the church, for testing at all
396 App | by its Lord' (LV:E 69). The criteriological significance
397 App | criteriological significance of the doctrine of justification
398 App | justification, which is the free gift of God's grace.
399 App | gift of God's grace. Even the beginnings of justification,
400 App | response is not a 'work'. The response of faith is itself
401 App | itself brought about through the uncoercible word of promise
402 App | be 'cooperation' only in the sense that in faith the
403 App | the sense that in faith the heart is involved, when
404 App | heart is involved, when the Word touches it and creates
405 App | Lutheran teaching construes the relation of God to his human
406 App | justification with such emphasis on the divine 'monergism' or the
407 App | the divine 'monergism' or the sole efficacy of Christ
408 App | Christ in such a way, that the person's willing acceptance
409 App | role in justification, then the Tridentine canons 4, 5,
410 App | justification" (PCPCU 22). ~-"The strict emphasis on the passivity
411 App | The strict emphasis on the passivity of human beings
412 App | justification never meant, on the Lutheran side, to contest
413 App | Lutheran side, to contest the full personal participation
414 App | exclude any cooperation in the event of justification itself.
415 App | itself. Justification is the work of Christ alone, the
416 App | the work of Christ alone, the work of grace alone" (VELKD
417 App | 47ff; VELKD 84ff; cf. also the quotations for 4.3) ~- "
418 App | Catholic doctrine stresses: the creative and renewing character
419 App | abolished in its power to divide the sinner from God" (LV:E 49). ~- "
420 App | from God" (LV:E 49). ~- "The Lutheran doctrine has never
421 App | doctrine has never understood the 'crediting of Christ's justification'
422 App | justification' as without effect on the life of the faithful, because
423 App | without effect on the life of the faithful, because Christ'
424 App | it promises. Accordingly the Lutheran doctrine understands
425 App | Protestant theology stresses: the personal character of grace,
426 App | grace, and its link with the Word; nor does it maintain ..
427 App | conferred possession) on the part of the human being -
428 App | possession) on the part of the human being - something
429 App | justification through grace; and on the other hand, Protestant doctrine
430 App | understands substantially under the one word 'faith' what Catholic
431 App | 1 Cor. 13:13) sums up in the triad of 'faith, hope, and
432 App | emphasize that faith in the sense of the first commandment
433 App | that faith in the sense of the first commandment always
434 App | him and is expressed in the love to the neighbour" (
435 App | expressed in the love to the neighbour" (VELKD 89,8-11). ~- "
436 App | Lutherans, that nothing prior to the free gift of faith merits
437 App | alone" (USA, no. 105). ~- "The Reformers ..understood faith
438 App | Reformers ..understood faith as the forgiveness and fellowship
439 App | with Christ effected by the word of promise itself ..
440 App | promise itself .. This is the ground for the new being,
441 App | This is the ground for the new being, through which
442 App | new being, through which the flesh is dead to sin and
443 App | flesh is dead to sin and the new man or woman in Christ
444 App | faith necessarily makes the human being new, the Christian
445 App | makes the human being new, the Christian builds his confidence,
446 App | understood as 'trust in the promise' (fides promissionis)" (
447 App | promissionis)" (LV:E 50). ~- Cf. The Council of Trent, Session
448 App | Chap. 7: "Consequently, in the process of justification,
449 App | justification, together with the forgiveness of sins a person
450 App | grafted, all these infused at the same time: faith, hope and
451 App | Protestant interpretation, the faith that clings unconditionally
452 App | righteousness before God, so that the renewal of the human being,
453 App | so that the renewal of the human being, without which
454 App | As Lutherans we maintain the distinction between justification
455 App | itself to be at one with the Protestant concern in emphasizing
456 App | concern in emphasizing that the renewal of the human being
457 App | emphasizing that the renewal of the human being does not 'contribute'
458 App | feels compelled to stress the renewal of the human being
459 App | to stress the renewal of the human being through justifying
460 App | through justifying grace, for the sake of acknowledging God'
461 App | LV:E 52f). ~- "Insofar as the Catholic doctrine stresses
462 App | personal and linked with the Word, that renewal ..is
463 App | s word itself, and that the renewal of the human being
464 App | and that the renewal of the human being does not contribute
465 App | VELKD 89,12-21). ~For 4.4:The Justified as Sinner (paras.
466 App | fall from time to time into the sins that are those of daily
467 App | existence.~What is more, the Spirit's action does not
468 App | not exempt believers from the lifelong struggle against
469 App | Catholic doctrine, remain in the justified, who therefore
470 App | forgiveness" (USA, no. 102). ~- "The doctrines laid down at Trent
471 App | laid down at Trent and by the Reformers are at one in
472 App | that original sin, and also the concupiscence that remains,
473 App | contradiction to God ..object of the lifelong struggle against
474 App | baptism, concupiscence in the person justified no longer
475 App | it is 'no longer sin in the real sense'; in Lutheran
476 App | controlled sin'" (LV:E 46). ~- "The question is how to speak
477 App | speak of sin with regard to the justified without limiting
478 App | justified without limiting the reality of salvation. While
479 App | express this tension with the term 'controlled sin' (peccatum
480 App | regnatum) which expresses the teaching of the Christian
481 App | expresses the teaching of the Christian as 'being justified
482 App | justified and sinner at the same time' (simul iustus
483 App | Roman Catholics think the reality of salvation can
484 App | be maintained by denying the sinful character of concupiscence.
485 App | is reached if LV:E calls the concupiscence that remains
486 App | concupiscence that remains in the justified a 'contradiction
487 App | teaching this topic concerns the Jewish law as means of salvation.
488 App | Christ. This statement and the consequences from it have
489 App | reference to Canons 19f of the Council of Trent, the VELKD (
490 App | of the Council of Trent, the VELKD (89,28-36) says as
491 App | 28-36) says as follows:~"The ten commandments of course
492 App | stated in many places of the confessions.. If Canon 20
493 App | person ..is bound to keep the commandments of God, this
494 App | on condition of keeping the commandments this applies
495 App | applies to us. Concerning the reference of the Canon regarding
496 App | Concerning the reference of the Canon regarding the commandments
497 App | reference of the Canon regarding the commandments of the church,
498 App | regarding the commandments of the church, there is no difference
499 App | are only expressions of the commandments of God; otherwise
500 App | it would apply to us." ~- The last paragraph is related
1-500 | 501-572 |