The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel by
The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel by CFW Walther ~ The Twelfth ~ Evening Lecture
Review: � Here are three words in alphabetical order: “justification, Law, sanctification. ” In what order should these be presented when your aim is to save a sinner? � What did Walther mean when he said, “Man is by nature a conceited being”? � Which of the two great doctrines – Law and Gospel – did Luther say he did NOT have to preach much of, and why? 2
1. What kind of preachers does Walther call “poor and useless”? (pg 99 ) � “…Just as poor rangers and soldiers as these latter are, just so poor and useless preachers are those who have no plan in mind and take no aim when they are preaching. ” 3
2. What did every hearer feel who listened Jesus’ and the Apostles’ preaching (pg 100) � “When they had finished preaching, every hearer knew: He meant me, even when the sermon had contained no personal hints or insinuations. ” 4
3. Is it enough for a preacher to have a special aim? (pg 100 bottom) � “While it is important that your sermons do not lack a special aim, it is equally important that your aim be the right one. � “If you do not aim properly, your preaching, after all, will be useless, whether you preach the Law or the Gospel. ” 5
Thesis VIII � In the fourth place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when the Law is preached to those who are already in terror an account of their sins or the Gospel to those who live securely in their sins. 6
4. To what kind of sinners only must the Law be preached? The Gospel? (pg 101) � “the Gospel must be preached only to bruised, contrite, miserable sinners” � “the Law, to secure sinners” � “Inverting this order means confounding both and, by confounding them, commingling both in the most dangerous manner. ” 7
5. Christ speaks through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah in Is. 61: 1 -3. To whom was Christ sent to “preach good tidings? ” Whose wounds did He come to heal? (pg 101) � The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek. He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound � (to those who understand their sins and have been crushed by the Law. ) 8
6. How much “evangelical consolation” should we give to someone who is secure in his or her sins? On the other hand, how much “threat or rebuke” should we give to the brokenhearted and repentant sinner? (pg 102) � “not a drop of evangelical consolation is to be brought to those who are still living securely in their sins. ” � “On the other hand, to the broken-hearted not a syllable containing a threat or a rebuke is to be addressed, but only promises conveying consolation and grace, forgiveness of sin and righteousness, life and salvation. ” 9
7. Look up John 8: 3 -11. Here Jesus read repentance in a sinful woman’s heart. Was His word to her in v. 11 Law or Gospel? � Gospel. � And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more. " (Joh 8: 11 NKJ) 10
8. When the sinner Zacchaeus came to Jesus, did the Lord “go over the record of his sins with him”? (pg 102 bottom) � Jesus did nothing of the kind. On the contrary…He said: “This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. ” 11
9. The Prodigal Son was repentant. Did he receive Law or Gospel from his father? (pg 103) � Gospel � The father receives him without a word of censure, but falls upon his neck, kisses him, and exclaims: “Let us be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. ” � not a word of reproof is spoken. 12
10. What were Paul’s words to the repentant jailer of Philippi? Was that Law or Gospel? (pg 104 top) � “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house. ” � Gospel -- they simply invite him to accept the mercy of God 13
11. Pages 104 ff. contain a long discussion of a letter Luther wrote to his friend Spalatin when Spalatin was in despair over a sin he had committed. Luther said that “the most horrible sin” was not the mistake Spalatin had made, but what? (pg 105 middle) � “For despairing of God's mercy is always the most horrible sin, because it means that we declare God to be a liar. ” 14
12. We are sinful mortals, says Luther, and we should not be surprised when we fall into sin. But what is the terrible part? (pg 106 top) terrible part is only that we refuse to rise again. ” � “The 15
13. Is Jesus Christ only our Savior when we want to “be rid of imaginary, nominal or childish sins”? (pg 106) � No, no! That would not be good for us. � He must rather be a Savior and Redeemer from real, great, grievous, and damnable transgressions and iniquities. 16
14. If we “make our sins small, ” what are we also automatically doing? (pg 106) making our sins small, we make Christ small. � “That would practically amount to saying: Christ can forgive small, but not great sins. ” � By 17
15. Dr. Staupitz was Luther’s mentor and confessor. What did he once tell Luther when Luther was distressed over his sins? (pg 107 top) � “Aha! you want to be a painted sinner and, accordingly, expect to have in Christ a painted Savior. You will have to get used to the belief that Christ is a real Savior and you a real sinner. ” 18
16. When one Christian absolves (pronounces forgiveness upon) another, what is he in effect doing? (pg 108 top) takes that sin of the other on his own conscience. ” � “He � He says “I shall assume the responsibility for what I am doing, for I know that on the great day of Judgment Christ will say to me: You did right” 19
17. When “the hammer of the Law” crushes us, whom should we run away from? Whom should we run toward? (pg 109) are to flee from Moses to Christ. That is the right procedure. ” � “We 20
18. In another letter, Luther comforts a friend by reminding him that “…Christ dwells only in sinners. ” In fact, he says, if the way to achieve peace of conscience is by our own toil and worry, there is another question we have to ask – what is that? (pg 110) � “For if we must achieve rest of conscience by our own toil and worry, for what purpose did He die? ” 21
19. What does Jesus want every sinner to believe? (last paragraph) � “…that Christ has come in behalf of everybody, that He has borne every man’s sin, that He calls on every one to believe in Him, to rejoice and rest assured that his sins are forgiven and that in the hour of death he will depart saved. ” 22
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