Eric W. King ~ TSW, "The Shepherds Way": Lutherans affirm Scripture

Lutherans affirm only that which they see affirmed in Scripture.

By Eric William King

The famous coined phrase “Sola Scriptura” or “the Scriptures Alone” was started by St Martin Luther. Many Calvinists and Reformed Christians have stolen this from him. They do not use it in the same way that Confessional Lutherans do.

Today the so called “reformed” churches have distorted much of the revealed truth in Scripture by the over use of human reason and logic. In other words, the paradoxical truths have all been explained to make ‘perfect sense’ to them minus Sola Fide (True Faith Alone).

Other truths, the so called “reformers” have done away with completely - or tweaked to fit human reason and understanding. Take infant baptism for example. For over 1500 years of the original Christian Church founded by Jesus Christ infant baptism was practiced based on the simple command by Christ to baptize and to not forsake the “little children” to come to Him. All of a sudden, after St Martin Luther was called of God to clean up the abuses that had come into the original church a group of zealots known as the Anabaptists (from Greek meaning: “rebaptize”) came in and denied what the original Church of Jesus Christ taught and was practicing since the first Apostles….for over 1000 years!

The fallen denominations deny the sacraments in that they see them as only mere symbols of faith, having no saving power behind them. They deny that the sacraments given to us by Jesus Christ are a means of grace, thus denying the power of God.

Today there are over one hundred “Baptist” churches with numerous conflicting creeds and practices. In Calvinism alone there are over 60 conflicting creeds. For Lutheran Christians there are only the three earliest original Christian creeds and the ONE Augsburg Confession (Entire “Book of Concord”). There is only one true faith “once delivered” and Jesus Christ built His one true Church…not numerous conflicting denominations.

Importance of our Christian Confession

Today all of the heretical denominations throw around the name Jesus Christ and use such words as “redemption”, “salvation”, “atonement”, etc. The question becomes what do they mean when they use and interpret such words or names?

St Peter states under inspiration: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give and answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1^st Peter 3:15) One of the earliest Christian Confessions and catechisms of the original Church was the Didache and the the Apostles Creed with Scriptural approval of water pouring baptism…long before the Roman & Greek schism.

Being prepared to give the “correct answer” includes the ability to clearly articulate doctrine. When somebody asks; “What does the Lutheran Church actually believe?” we may point them to the Bible and the Book of Concordia. This clearly summarizes true Christian Faith.

Proper Doctrine

Most of the fallen denominations have no one definitive declaration of faith making them prone to much confusion and not being able to “spiritually test” their doctrines (1^st John 4:1). Hence, all the denominational confusion.

The Bible instructs all true Christians;

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Preserve in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1^st Timothy 4:16)

“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1)

“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people.” (Romans 16:17-18)

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1^st Corinthians 1:10)

“…whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (2^nd John 1:9)

St Martin Luther agrees with Scripture and affirmed;

“[True] Doctrine is our only light. It alone enlightens and directs us and shows the way to heaven. If it is shaken in one quarter (in una parte), it will necessarily be shaken in its entirety (in totum). Where that happens love cannot help us at all.”

“In philosophy an error that is small at the beginning becomes very great in the end. So a small error in theology overturns the whole body of doctrine…That is why we may not surrender or change even an iota (apiculum) of doctrine.”

And again Scripture affirms…..

“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” (Galatians 5:9)

Only What Is Revealed

Many from the “denominations” and so called “reform” churches add to Scripture based on much speculation. They will say things like, “all children will go to heaven if they die.” There is no Scripture which teaches this nor states this. Lutheran Christians only accept that which God has revealed without speculating or trying to use human reason and logic to understand the rest.

We accept God as God. Thus, Lutherans only affirm that which is affirmed by Scripture. This takes true FAITH. As true Christians we are willing to accept paradox.

There are no new understandings. The Scriptures are complete. Apostle Paul warns all of us; “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again; If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned.” (Galatians 1:6-9)

I pray and hope that you will continue your studies here at “The Shepherds Way” and the “Nugget of Truth”. Amen.

Eric William King (April 29^th 2020)

Also Read: "The Augsburg Confession & TSW"