OUR CHURCH AND OTHERS

2003

LESSON THREE

1. Doctrines of the Lutheran Church

   1. Overview only.

   2. Study any particular doctrine.

      1. Almost always find opposition.

      2. Subtleties critical.

2. God

   1. One true God.

      1. The Holy Trinity

      2. One essence, one being.

   2. Three distinct Persons

      1. Co-equal in nature, power, and majesty.

      2. Each has entire fullness of God.

3. Scripture

   1. God’s own infallible Word.

   2. Only source and norm of Christian doctrine.

      1. Sole basis of faith.

      2. Sole source of the knowledge of the truth.

   3. Divine properties. (see Pieper, Vol. I, pp 307ff)

      1. Divine authority.

      2. Divine efficacy.

      3.  Perfection.

      4. Perspicuity.

4. Man and Sin

   1. First Man.

      1. Not brute like.

      2. God created in His own image.

         1. i.e. in true knowledge of God.

         2. In perfect righteousness, or holiness.

         3. Gen 1:26,27.

         4. Eph 4:24.

         5. Col 3:10.

   2. Sin

      1. Entered world by fall of the first man (Gen 3).

      2. Through this first sin,

         1. All men lost the original knowledge of God.

         2. Lost righteousness and holiness.

         3. Thus are sinners already by birth.

         4. Are dead in sins, inclined toward evil.

         5. Are subject to God’s wrath.

         6. Ro 5:12,18.

         7. Eph 2:1-3.

      3. Furthermore, no sinner can:

         1. By his own efforts reconcile himself to God, and

         2. Thus obtain eternal life.

5. Redemption

   1. Jesus Christ.

      1. One Person, two Natures.

      2. The God-man.

      3. Sole Redeemer.

      4. Fulfilled Law for each individual.

   2. Vicarious Satisfaction.

      1. Gal 3:13.

      2. Gal 4:4,5.

      3. 2Co 5:18,19.

   3. Sole Mediator.

6. Justification by Faith

   1. Universal (and complete) redemption in Christ.

      1. Offered in the Gospel.

      2. Faith.

         1. Is created by the power of the Holy Spirit.

         2. Is the hand which receives the forgiveness.

         3. Trust and personal appropriation.

      3. Ro 3:21-24.

      4. Ro 10:9.

      5. Gal 3:26.

   2. “Through faith”.

      1. Does not mean any human effort, work or merit.

      2. Imputed righteousness.

   3. Forensic term.

7. Conversion

   1. Law condemns.

   2. Gospel works faith and saves.

   3. All God’s work and power.

   4. Php 1:28b,29.

8. Means of Grace

   1. Only Holy Spirit can work saving faith (1Co 12:3).

   2. Holy Spirit does this through the means of grace.

      1. The Gospel.

      2. The Sacraments.

      3. 1Co 1:18.

      4. Ro 10:17.

      5. AC, Art V. (Tappert, p. 31)

9. Sanctification and Good Works

   1. Being justified.

      1. Now a child of God. (Gal 3:26)

      2. A new creature through faith. (Gal 6:15)

      3. Indwelling of Holy Spirit. (Gal 4:6)

   2. Saving faith.

      1. Is not without fruits. (Gal 5:22, 23)

      2. Brings forth good works. (Eph 2:8-10)

      3. Works by love. (Gal 5:6)

   3. In this life.

      1.  Is never perfect.

      2. We sin daily. (1Jn 1:8)

      3. We strive towards perfection. (Php 3:12)

   4. Live in the “now” and the “not yet”.

10. The Church

    1. One holy Christian church on earth.

    2. Christ is the Head.

    3.  Is gathered, preserved, and governed by Christ through the Gospel.

    4. Found only where the Word of God is in use.

11. Public Ministry

    1. The office.

       1. By which Word is preached.

       2. The sacraments are administered.

    2. Christ commanded.

    3. Possesses no other power than the power of the Word.

       1. 1Pe 4:11.

       2. Lk 10:16.

    4. Christian owes obedience only insofar as he proclaims the Word of God.

    5.  Priesthood of believers.

       1. Also to be “theologians”.

       2.  Judge doctrine preached.

12. Church and State

    1. Both are ordinances of God.

    2. B.                 Must not confuse their functions.

    3. Church

       1. Works salvation; employing only His Word.

       2. Founded only on Gospel.

       3.  Jn 18:11-36.

       4.  2Co 10:4.

    4. State

       1. To maintain external order.

       2. 1Ti 2:2.

       3. Law based.

       4. Uses force. (Ro 13:4)

13. Predestination

    1. Gospel.

       1. Mt 16:18.

       2.  Jn 10:28.

    2.  He did not predestine anyone to damnation. (1Ti 2:4).

    3.  “Great Paradox”.

    4.  F.C., Epit., Art XI, (Tappert, pp. 494-497).

14. Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Life

    1. At Second Coming.

       1.  Dead will be raised.

       2.  Believers to eternal life.

       3.  Unbelievers to external torment.

       4. A.C., Art. XVII (Tappert, p. 38f)

       5. (Mt 25; 2Pe 3; Mk 13:32-37).

    2. We reject millenniumism (A.C., XVII, Tappert, p. 38) (aka “chiliasm”).

    3. We reject doctrine of purgatory (S.A., Pt. II, Art. II, 13; Tappert, p. 295)

15.  Lutheran Worship, sacramental and sacrificial

    1. Sacramental.

       1. God is working.

       2.  “Divine Service”.

       3.  “Liturgy”.

    2.  Sacrificial.

       1. Believer offers thanks for forgiveness.

       2. Also for life and salvation.

       3.  Brings “gifts” to God in hymn and prayers.

       4. Brings “gifts” to God in the offering of his heart and hands.

16.  Practice and Customs

    1. Adiaphora.

    2. Commanded.

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