The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel by
The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel by CFW Walther ~ The Thirteenth ~ Evening Lecture
Review: � The Gospel may only be preached to what kind of sinners? � The jailer at Philippi was certainly an alarmed sinner! When he asked how he could be saved, what did Paul tell him? 2
1. What is the first thing a minister needs to achieve “creditable results” in his ministry? (pg 111) minister must needs preach the Word of God in its truth and purity, without any adulteration whatsoever. ” � “a 3
2. What is the second requisite of an effective preacher? (pg 112) his heart be full of the truths which he proclaims, so that he enters his pulpit with � “…that the ardent desire to pour out his heart to his hearers. ” � His hearers “get the impression that the words dropping from his lips are flames from a soul on fire (!)” 4
3. What does this Latin motto mean: Pectus disertum facit (pg 112) is the heart that makes eloquent. ” � St. Paul, and Martin Luther, examples of scholars the power of whose preaching lay in their zeal and faith, not in their scholarship. � “It 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. Which part of this thesis has Walther already treated in the 12 th Evening Lecture? Which part does he move on to now? (pg 113) � 12: Law/Gospel not rightly divided when the lot is preached to terrified sinners. � 13: Law/Gospel not rightly divided when the Gospel was preached to secure sinners. 7
5. Walther affirms that the preacher is to present “the entire comfort of the Gospel in all its sweetness, however…” However what? (pg 113 – 114) � “…however, in such a manner that secure sinners realize that the comfort is not intended for them. ” � Matthew 7: 6 — “pearls before swine. ” � Isaiah 26: 10 — “let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness. ” � Proverbs 27: 7 — “the full soul loathes the honey comb. ” 8
6. Even one of the sweetest Gospel passages in Scripture, Matthew 11: 28, contains an implicit warning. What is it? (pg 115 middle) � Jesus’ invitation to “come unto me, ” is directed only to those who “labor and are heavy laden, ”i. e. , convicted sinners. � Secure sinners are not those who “labor and are heavy laden. ” 9
7. Which kind of person was the rich young man in Matthew 19: 16 – 22? How much Gospel does Jesus apply to him? (pg 115 – 116) � He was a secure sinner. � Jesus presented him only Law — “if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast. ” And he went away sorrowing! 10
8. Following Peter’s Pentecost sermon in acts chapter 2, which words of his hearers indicated that they were alarmed sinners, ready to hear the Gospel? (pg 117) � “Men and brethren what shall we do? ” � Then comes the Gospel — “repent and be baptized… For the remission of sins!” � The apostles always preached repentance first, then faith. 11
9. The apostles preached the Law in all its sternness, not only to those who had never heard of the Christian religion, but also to whom? (pg 117. ) � “… To those who pretended to be Christians, but were living securely in their sins. ” 12
10. What chilling scenario does Walther envision for the preacher who lives a life of careless ease while neglecting to confront the secure sinners in his congregation with their sin? (pg 118. ) � “…lest they rise up to accuse me on the last day and say: You are the cause why we have to suffer eternal torment!” 13
11. Before you can preach people into heaven, you must first do what? Before you bestow on them the robe of Christ’s righteousness, you must show them what? (pg 118. ) � You must preach them into hell before you preach them into heaven �. You must show them the filthy rags of their own righteousness before you bestow on them the pure robe of Christ’s righteousness. 14
12. We must certainly preach the unadulterated Law in all its sternness. For the disease of sin we must prescribe repentance. But what may we never prescribe? (pg 118. ) � “a certain degree of penitence” 15
13. Which kind of people, according to Walther, tend to become the “best and most stalwart Christians”? (pg 119. ) � “those who have passed through great and profound sorrow at the beginning. ” � Good examples: Martin Luther, Flacius, John Gerhard. 16
14. Complete this sentence: “those are certainly no Christians who…” (pg 121. ) � “… Do not feel the gnawing of their sin, are not wrestling with it, and are even apt to ask, ‘Why, what wrong am I doing? ’” � These are secure sinners. 17
15. Walther points out that Christ has gained for us not only grace, but also the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not only does the Holy Ghost give us forgiveness of sin, but also what? (pg 122. ) � “…ceasing from sin” 18
16. Which historic group of heretics followed John Agricola? What did they teach? (pg 122. ) � The Antinomians (“Anti-Law”). � They taught that the Law must not be preached in Christian churches. 19
17. Walther says that preachers must by all means be careful when preaching the Gospel not to make sinners secure. What do they become if they do? (pg 122) � “seducers unto sin and defenders of sin. ” 20
18. Jesus definitely did die for all sinners! But he did not die to do what? (pg 122. ) � “… to make sinners secure. ” 21
19. It has been well said that the Christian faith never stand still — it is always either getting stronger or weaker. What does Walther say will happen to him whose faith continues to decrease? (pg 123. ) � “he that decreases will ultimately cease entirely from using what God has given him. Finally he will be a dead branch on the vine. ” 22
20. In his time, Luther combated the horrible errors of Roman Catholicism. But what did Luther call “a greater error and sin then all errors of former times”? (pg 123. ) � “…if remission of sins without repentance is preached, the people imagine that they have already forgiveness of sins, and thereby are made secure and unconcerned. ” � “without repentance there is no remission of sins, nor can remission of sins be understood without repentance. ” � Matthew 12: 45 — “the last state of that man shall be worse than the first. ” 23
21. “By preaching faith only and saying nothing about repentance, ” what kind of condition does the pastor lead his hearers to? (pg 124. ) � “. … To that awful condition where they imagine they are not in need of repentance, and finally they get so that they are past help. ” 24
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