Preface
for
The Faith of Jesus: Against the Faithless Lutherans
The Faith of Jesus
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference” Romans 3:22 KJV
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16 KJV
This phrase – the faith of Jesus Christ – is not found in any modern translations except the American King James Version. The King James Version preserves the original wording of the Greek text.
Some argue that the grammatical construction can easily be translated as faith in Christ, and I am not going to argue that point. However, the older language does attack and destroy the Universal Objective Justification reactive hostility to the word faith. Perhaps their animosity originates with a Calvinistic viewpoint hostile to the Arminians. To be fair, these UOJ leaders do not want man’s faith to be a work, not that faith has much influence on their thinking. But this rendition of the text is the best approach to the Gospel.
The word faith can lead people to this thinking, “I must make a decision for Christ. I must be able to date my conversion and decision.” That is an error, since the Gospel of Christ creates faith, and that faith often begins with the Holy Baptism of infants. Thus there develops an unholy hatred of infant baptism, which was blessed by Jesus – do not forbid them. Infant baptism was practiced from the Apostolic Age to the Reformation, when the Radical Reformation invented faith before baptism – believers’ baptism – and forbid infants to be baptized.
“By faith of Jesus Christ” removes the objection about emphasizing man too much, and this phrase is used twice in justification passages. Our justification rests upon the faith and work of our Savior, because Gospel proclamation is Christ-centered.
This phrase explains the puzzling passage, from faith to faith –
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
The righteousness of God is revealed from the faith of Jesus Christ to the faith of believers. The Gospel teaches us about the Father Son relationship, that the Son always spoke and acted in harmony with the Father’s will, as witnessed by the Holy Spirit in the Word.
· Jesus is the Man of Faith, the perfect example.
· He showed compassion on all.
· He went to the broken, blind, crippled, poor and grieving.
· He performed great miracles and raised the dead.
· He knew of His Passion and felt its terror but faced it like the lamb of Isaiah 53.
· When railed at, He did not rail back or seek revenge.
· He asked forgiveness for those who crucified Him and converted men while dying.
· He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
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| Mark Jeske's Change or Die! Conference is the perfect expression of LCMS-WELS-ELS apostasy: working hand-in-claw with abortion loving ELCA, another synod in love with universal forgiveness and salvation - without faith. |
Against the Faithless Lutherans
This book was prompted by the despicable essay given by Jay Webber at the Emmaus Conference in 2015. How tragic for Lutherans to be planning for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation while uniting with ELCA in teaching universal forgiveness and salvation without faith.
Faithless has an ironic meaning, because the Universal Objective Justification fanatics do not teach faith at all. They rail against faith when speaking about their Objective Justification but are no better when they mention Subjective Justification. That category is nothing more than agreeing with Universal Forgiveness without faith. The plot has not changed since CFW Walther took over the Easter absolution language that Bishop Stephan learned at Halle University.
Faithless also applies to the so-called conservative Lutherans who remain silent while their officials and professors lead people to and fro, in error’s maze astounded. No wonder that the Missouri and Wisconsin Synods feel at home working with ELCA. WELS Pastor Mark Jeske is celebrating Reformation this year with another Change or Die! Conference, featuring and planned by ELCA leaders in conjunction with WELS and LCMS leaders. Does anything show more unity than this unified, annual effort?
