F
fhansen
Guest
The following is a quote that I was permitted to use by a Lutheran on a non-Catholic forum, spelling out his view on justification and the role faith plays in it. Any comments? I know, it’s a bit long but it seems to cover a lot of ground, and I’m not sure whether or not all concepts in it can necessarily be reconciled with each other? How consistent is this with your understanding of Lutheranism or the Reformed position?
"We must make a distinction between two kinds of righteousness: the righteousness Coram Deo, that is the righteousness which is before God; this is the passive righteousness imputed to us by grace which is ours as pure gift. This is the righteousness by which men are justified, freely, by God’s grace alone through faith, as it is written, " For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ " (Romans 1:16-17). There is also a second righteousness, a righteousness Coram Mundo, that is righteousness before the world, this is an active or civil righteousness. This is the righteousness by which I am not justified, but rather by which my neighbor is loved, treated well, and whose well-being is lifted up.
When we walk in the new obedience that is in Christ, by the grace of God, we are not justifying ourselves; but rather the works of God which are ours to do in Christ are done by the strength and power of God–so that I cannot boast in myself or my works, but only in Christ and His cross.
This active justice of loving my neighbor and new obedience in Christ is not for my salvation, for my justification, it is not for the benefit of God; it is for the benefit of my neighbor, for God’s creation. It is my life lived toward God’s creatures in love.
The one who calls Christ Savior only knows himself as a sinner before God, justified freely by the grace of God, and is called righteous only by the righteousness of Jesus Christ received as pure gift, as precious garment over his filthy and no-good works. And now justified walks in good works, not as though such good works are of any benefit to himself before God, but because the good command of God provides the way by which he should conduct himself in this life before the world, his fellow man, and indeed all God’s creatures. To lay down one’s life, in love, for the sake of others, in imitation of Christ our Lord.
continued:
"We must make a distinction between two kinds of righteousness: the righteousness Coram Deo, that is the righteousness which is before God; this is the passive righteousness imputed to us by grace which is ours as pure gift. This is the righteousness by which men are justified, freely, by God’s grace alone through faith, as it is written, " For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ " (Romans 1:16-17). There is also a second righteousness, a righteousness Coram Mundo, that is righteousness before the world, this is an active or civil righteousness. This is the righteousness by which I am not justified, but rather by which my neighbor is loved, treated well, and whose well-being is lifted up.
When we walk in the new obedience that is in Christ, by the grace of God, we are not justifying ourselves; but rather the works of God which are ours to do in Christ are done by the strength and power of God–so that I cannot boast in myself or my works, but only in Christ and His cross.
This active justice of loving my neighbor and new obedience in Christ is not for my salvation, for my justification, it is not for the benefit of God; it is for the benefit of my neighbor, for God’s creation. It is my life lived toward God’s creatures in love.
The one who calls Christ Savior only knows himself as a sinner before God, justified freely by the grace of God, and is called righteous only by the righteousness of Jesus Christ received as pure gift, as precious garment over his filthy and no-good works. And now justified walks in good works, not as though such good works are of any benefit to himself before God, but because the good command of God provides the way by which he should conduct himself in this life before the world, his fellow man, and indeed all God’s creatures. To lay down one’s life, in love, for the sake of others, in imitation of Christ our Lord.
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