The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel by CFW Walther

The Proper Distinction Between

Law and Gospel by CFW Walther

~ The Fifth ~

Evening Lecture

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Walther’s fifth thesis says that it’s not enough to teach all doctrines according to the Bible, one must also do what?

Walther says, “woe upon every one who furnishes soft pillows” for whom?

If Law and Gospel are confounded in a sermon, what will happen?

Review:

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“who can measure the greatness of God’s love which is revealed in the fact that God desires not only to save this world of apostate men, but also to employ men from this very world, fellow-sinners, for this task? ”

1. Walther finds it marvelous that God should save a world of sinners through his son Jesus Christ, but it is "marvellous beyond comparison" that he uses whom to accomplish this task? (pg 26).

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“If you could learn at this place how to prolong the life of those who will be entrusted to your care by fifty years or even to raise the dead…all this would be as nothing compared with the sublimeness and glory of the calling for which you are to be trained here. You are not to prolong this poor, temporal life of those who will be entrusted to your care, but you are to bring to them the life that is the sum of all bliss, the life that is eternal, without end”

2. You, like a seminary student, are learning to share the Gospel in this class. Walther says this is the best and most beneficial skill you could have, even better than the ability to do what? (pg ).

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Only he is an orthodox teacher who not only presents all the articles of faith in accordance with Scripture, but also rightly distinguished from each other the Law and the Gospel.

Thesis II

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“The distinction between the Law and the Gospel must be maintained at every point.”

3. Walther quotes Johann Gerhardt, one of the great Lutheran dogmaticians. According to him, at what point in our teaching of the Word of God must the distinction of Law and Gospel be maintained? (pg 37).

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Gerhard proceeds: “However, this distinction must be observed above all at two points: First, in the article of justification.”

4. However there are two teachings concerning which this distinction must be observed above all. What is the first one? (pg 37-38).

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“The Law does not belong in the doctrine of justification. That is a most important point. We cannot be saved by the Law; accordingly, God provides another means for us by which we can be saved.”

5. Which teaching, Law or Gospel, definitely does not belong in the doctrine of justification? (pg 38).

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“…the Bible would sink to the level of any other book of morals.”

6. Without the free Gospel in Christ, the Bible would descend to the level of what kind of book? (pg 38).

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Every addition would be Law. The Gospel demands nothing of us; it only says: “Come, eat and drink.”

7. When presenting the Gospel, we should simply say, “Accept this message!" What would any addition to this be? (pg 38)

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Faith is not the mere thought “I believe.” My whole heart must have become seized by the Gospel and have come to rest in it. When that happens, I am transformed and cannot but love and serve God.

8. What is faith? Is it the mere thought, "I believe"? If not, what is it?(pg 38)

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“Admonitions must not be brought into the solemn meeting where God justifies the sinner.”

9. What must never be brought into "the solemn meeting where God justifies the center," (that is, the proclamation of the Gospel) (pg 38)

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The Law is all about conditions, but we dare never place any conditions on the Gospel.

10. Gerhardt said, “A hedge must be made around Mt. Sinai, but not around Golgotha." what do you think that means? (pg 39)

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“…the binding and the releasing key. The binding key locks heaven; the releasing key opens it.”

[Jesus said,] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Mat 16:19 NKJ)

11. The Lord has given two keys to his Church (that is, all believers). What do these two keys do? (pg 39)

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“Forgiveness of sin must not be proclaimed to impenitent and secure sinners.”

12. this Ministry (or administration) of the Keys is the second area in which it is especially important to maintain the distinction between Law and Gospel. To whom should forgiveness of sins never be proclaimed? (pg 39)

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“However, when I speak in public, the situation is different. There I must take into consideration chiefly the elect children of God. Still I must preach the Law even there. ”

13. How is it different when a Christian speaks to an another individual, compared to when a pastor preaches to a congregation? What must be presented even to a Christian congregation? (pg 39)

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“Woe to him who injects poison into the doctrine of justification! He poisons the well which God has dug for man’s salvation. ”

14. A person "poisons the well which God has dug for man's salvation," when he does what? (pg 40)

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“Woe to him who says that he must contribute something towards his own salvation! He deprives Christ of His entire merit. For Jesus is called the Savior, not a helper towards salvation.”

15. What if we credit a person for even a small share in his salvation? What are we, in effect, doing? (pg 40).

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We insisted on keeping Law and Gospel separate, while our opponents mingle the one with the other. [We say] “Out of pure mercy, God has elected us to the praise of the glory of His grace.” [They say] “No, He must have beheld something in men that prompted Him to elect this or that particular man. When He beheld something good in a person, He elected him.” If that were so, man would really be the principal cause of his salvation. In that case man could say, “Thank God, I have done my share towards being saved.”

16. Walther refers to the Predestinarian Controversy, which during his lifetime shook American Lutheranism. How did the distinction between Law and Gospel affect that controversy? (pg 40)

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“Yonder we shall see — and marvel — that there has not been an hour when God did not work in us to save us.”

17. We sometimes view our salvation as if it were a one-time event. But what will we realize - and marvel over - when we reach heaven? (pg 40-41)

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“…if there is a sting in it. The honey of the Gospel may at first taste good, but if a sting of the Law goes with it, everything is spoiled.”

18. The most comforting preaching in the world is of no help to sinnersif there is what in it? (pg 41)

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“Then I am lost. For in that case I must ask myself, ‘Have I done as God desires?’ and I shall find no help.”

19. If a preacher mingles Law and Gospel, and says, “Come, for all things are now ready - provided you do this or that," where does that leave sinners like you and me? (pg 41)