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Lutherans believe that Scripture is the only available infallible source of Truth. Every doctrine we confess is derived from it. All of Scripture is in agreement with itself.
We do our best to understand the less clear passages using more clear ones on the same subject. /1
We do our best to understand the less clear passages using more clear ones on the same subject. /1
When studying a subject, we examine every possibly related passage. When several passages appear to illuminate the same subject, we first compare them side by side. We then compare them to related secondary & tertiary subjects. /2
Baptism is a straightforward case for Lutherans. (Obviously this isn't endorsing proof-texting; just showing what will fit in a few tweets.)
John 3:5, Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." /3
John 3:5, Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." /3
As in the case of Baptism, passages complement each other, filling in details, reinforcing key Truths. There aren't first-level contradictions. Digging down to the second level, we have to distinguish between human works and God's gifts through Means of Grace. /4
Sometimes there are apparent contradictions. A superficial case would be the two genealogies of Jesus in Matt. and Luke. They don't match at all.
Is Scripture wrong? Are there two different Jesuses? If not, then they are interlocking pieces of a larger picture. /5
Is Scripture wrong? Are there two different Jesuses? If not, then they are interlocking pieces of a larger picture. /5
When faced with such seeming contradictions, we can go in one of two ways: either we reconcile them in a manner that rationally preserves the Truth of each; or we conclude that they are in fact not directly related in the first place, which also resolves the contradiction. /6
(Once in a while, there are irreconcilable contradictions which we must confess without understanding how both can be true, e.g., the hypostatic union, the Sacramental Union, the Trinity. But these are extremely rare.) /7
So what happens when Lutherans read John 6's Bread of Life discourse?
It is filled with teachings on Salvation. It is also filled with Jesus' words like this: "Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." /8
It is filled with teachings on Salvation. It is also filled with Jesus' words like this: "Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." /8
Distilling just Sacramental words from this passage in order: Eat flesh, drink blood. Feed on flesh, drink blood. Flesh is true food, blood is true drink. Feed on flesh, drink blood. Feed on Me. Feed on bread.
Lutherans: well this has to be a metaphor for Faith. Wait, what?? /9
Lutherans: well this has to be a metaphor for Faith. Wait, what?? /9
"Well Jesus says is all you have to do is eat & drink, and we know some participants are in fact damned."
Okay great, the same is true of Baptism. Does this mean that "Baptism now saves you" isn't actually about Baptism, to avoid the Perseverance of the Saints? Nonsense. /10
Okay great, the same is true of Baptism. Does this mean that "Baptism now saves you" isn't actually about Baptism, to avoid the Perseverance of the Saints? Nonsense. /10
"Well what about this long list of exceptional cases of people who through no fault of their own were unable to commune? Are they all damned?"
I don't know, is every person who was never Baptized with water in the name of the Trinity in Hell? Of course not! Don't be foolish. /11
I don't know, is every person who was never Baptized with water in the name of the Trinity in Hell? Of course not! Don't be foolish. /11
Weedon's wonderful podcast on John makes these arguments. They struck me as so fundamentally Calvinist that I looked up Calvin's commentary on John.
If you haven't heard Weedon (who simply repeats the common Lutheran arguments), just read Calvin's words. They're identical. /12
If you haven't heard Weedon (who simply repeats the common Lutheran arguments), just read Calvin's words. They're identical. /12
Lutherans agreeing with Calvinists in opposition to the Sacrament using identical reasoning should fill us with dread.
It is astonishing that this one passage turns men who would otherwise fight tooth & nail for the Sacramental Union into sacramentarian naysayers. /13
It is astonishing that this one passage turns men who would otherwise fight tooth & nail for the Sacramental Union into sacramentarian naysayers. /13
What is the Lutheran response to John 6? Very simply, we take the words on their face.
To set John 6:54 against 1 Cor 11:29 is stooping to the same shoddy tricks as Romanists who pretend James 2:17 refutes all of Romans, Galatians, & Ephesians. /14
To set John 6:54 against 1 Cor 11:29 is stooping to the same shoddy tricks as Romanists who pretend James 2:17 refutes all of Romans, Galatians, & Ephesians. /14
Is John 6 about Faith? OF COURSE. What do you think the Sacrament is for? Means of Grace are MEANS. OF. GRACE. They're not optional. They're not bonus content or DLC.
This sacramentarian parody we've adopted wholesale drains the literal & figurative Blood from the Sacrament /15
This sacramentarian parody we've adopted wholesale drains the literal & figurative Blood from the Sacrament /15
Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. /16
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. /16
Either both of those passages are about the Sacraments or neither are. There is no possible argument against the latter that does not only eradicate the former, but ultimately burn down the very promise of the Sacraments themselves. /17
I have multiple friends who literally became Lutheran in large part because John 6 convicted their hearts the Sacramental Union is the only True confession.
How dare we attack the Holy Spirit's work by saying, "oh well THAT one is obviously metaphor, but the rest are real." /18
How dare we attack the Holy Spirit's work by saying, "oh well THAT one is obviously metaphor, but the rest are real." /18
What is John 6? It is nothing less than catechesis, just as we have to this day.
It is Jesus' confirmation class for His disciples, so that when He repeated the very same Words in the upper room, they truly believed and received His true Body & Blood with thanks. /19
It is Jesus' confirmation class for His disciples, so that when He repeated the very same Words in the upper room, they truly believed and received His true Body & Blood with thanks. /19
Faith Alone does not mean the Christian life can exist apart from Word, Sacrament, Church, or good works.
Faith Alone means that our Faith is that gift which receives all God's blessings, and through which all blessings from God flow to ourselves & our neighbors. /20
Faith Alone means that our Faith is that gift which receives all God's blessings, and through which all blessings from God flow to ourselves & our neighbors. /20
The rejection of John 6 as Sacramental is fundamentally the parody version of Sola Fide with which Rome crudely mocks us.
It also simultaneously turns the Sacrament into a human work, as the memorialists falsely proclaim. /21
It also simultaneously turns the Sacrament into a human work, as the memorialists falsely proclaim. /21
Lutherans are defined & bound by Scripture. We don't run from the text. We need not cower from Rome's abomination of the mass. We dare not agree with those who reject the Sacrament entirely. We believe God and we give thanks for His boundless love, mercy, & every good gift. /22
