Concerning Justification

The Festival of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles
May 1, 2010

The Lord be with you

I am reading the book Justification and Rome, An Evaluation of Recent Dialogues, by Robert D. Preus (Concordia Academic Press). Speaking on the topic of the centrality of the doctrine of Justification in Christian and Lutheran theology, Preus provided the following quote from Luther to demonstrate the centrality of Justification in Luther’s thought.

The other articles are rather far from us and do not enter into our experience; nor do they touch us. … But the article on the forgiveness of sins comes into continual experience with us, and in daily use. And it touches you and me without ceasing. Of the other articles we speak as of something strange to us (e.g., creation, Jesus as the Son of God). What is it to me that God created heaven and earth if I do not believe in the forgiveness of sins? … It is because of this article that all other articles touch us.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert