Accepting Christ

[TheCosmicGospel]

I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

How does every can in a tuna factory get filled? The Church is bigger than the individual.

Now if the can is not going to the factory, it is not getting filled.

I believe that I cannot by my own reason and strenght believe in Jesus Christ but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel.

FOR WHOM HE KNEW, HE ALSO PREDESTINED (everyboidy)
THESE HE ALSO CALLED (by preaching, the Word, means of grace, Baptism)
AND WHOM HE CALLED, THESE HE JUSTIFIED
AND WHOM HE JUSTIFIED, THESE HE ALSO GLORIFIED.

Now if the Gospel has not been preached, then there is no call yet. The tuna ain't jumping into the can. It's the mission of the Church to yet proclaim the Gospel to those who have not heard.

Don't make everything about the tuna or the tuna can.

Calvin applied the logic of a lawyer. It's a mystery of the working of the Holy Spirit.

God desires all men to be saved. Fill more tuna cans. Just don't say, not all the cans get filled I guess.

Peace,

Cos

 

[Ortho_Cat]

So are these statements in line with Lutheran thought?

A sinner is called to repentance after hearing (or reading) the gospel because they have received faith from the Holy Spirit.
Scripture becomes an object of faith. (The Word of God)
Baptism in Christ removes original sins, provides faith, and becomes an object of faith.
Faith is increased by reading scripture, repentance and partaking of communion.
Communion and repentance also becomes objects of faith, and consecutive sins are removed by such.

 

[Tangible]

So are these statements in line with Lutheran thought?

I'll address these as best I can ...

A sinner is called to repentance after hearing (or reading) the gospel because they have received faith from the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit comes to sinners through the Gospel (the spoken or written Word, and the Word in the water of Baptism) to create faith and contrition.

Scripture becomes an object of faith. (The Word of God)

The object of our faith is Christ. Christ is the Living Word (Logos). Scripture is the Word of God revealed to us in language.

Baptism in Christ removes original sins, provides faith, and becomes an object of faith.

The object of our faith is Christ. Baptism is a means that God uses to give us forgiveness of sins and give us faith in Christ.

Faith is increased by reading scripture, repentance and partaking of communion.

Faith is increased by exposure to the Word through reading scripture (and even other godly writings), the spoken word, and Communion. (Commonly referred to as Word and Sacrament.)

Communion and repentance also becomes objects of faith, and consecutive sins are removed by such.

The object of our faith is Christ. All our sins - past, present and future - are forgiven once and for all at regeneration, and that forgiveness is continually received through Word and Sacrament.

Repentance is a work of God in us. I see it as being wrapped up in Sanctification (though I could be wrong about that), in that we actively participate in it but God is ultimately responsible and the sole recipient of glory for it.

 

[Ortho_Cat]

I'll address these as best I can ...

A sinner is called to repentance after hearing (or reading) the gospel because they have received faith from the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit comes to sinners through the Gospel (the spoken or written Word, and the Word in the water of Baptism) to create faith and contrition.

Scripture becomes an object of faith. (The Word of God)

The object of our faith is Christ. Christ is the Living Word (Logos). Scripture is the Word of God revealed to us in language.

Baptism in Christ removes original sins, provides faith, and becomes an object of faith.

The object of our faith is Christ. Baptism is a means that God uses to give us forgiveness of sins and give us faith in Christ.

Faith is increased by reading scripture, repentance and partaking of communion.

Faith is increased by exposure to the Word through reading scripture (and even other godly writings), the spoken word, and Communion. (Commonly referred to as Word and Sacrament.)

Communion and repentance also becomes objects of faith, and consecutive sins are removed by such.

The object of our faith is Christ. All our sins - past, present and future - are forgiven once and for all at regeneration, and that forgiveness is continually received through Word and Sacrament.

Repentance is a work of God in us. I see it as being wrapped up in Sanctification (though I could be wrong about that), in that we actively participate in it but God is ultimately responsible and the sole recipient of glory for it.

Ok, thanks. I guess what I meant when I said these events become "an object of faith" is that you trust Christ's words that these events/sacraments are effectual and they do what He says they do. (This is the impression I got from reading the article from the thread "If I wasn't Lutheran already...")

 

[Tangible]

There is an important distinction between the object of our faith, which is always and ever Christ alone (in his work for us for our salvation, and in God's promise to save us for Christ's sake) and the means of grace by which God delivers the fruit of Christ's work to us.

We would never say that we have faith in baptism or in communion, because that would be to turn them into a work that we do to attempt to merit God's favor. That is exactly what the anti-Sacramentalists accuse us of doing.

The assurance of our faith comes from the promise that God gives through the Word and Sacraments to save us for the sake of Christ apart from our works.

 

[Lazerboy]

The assurance of our faith comes from the promise that God gives through the Word and Sacraments to save us for the sake of Christ apart from our works.

...then why do we need the sacraments at all...?

 

[DaRev]

...then why do we need the sacraments at all...?

They are the means of grace through which our sins are forgiven and our faith is strengthened. Jesus Himself commands that we partake of His sacramental offerings.

 

[Lazerboy]

They are the means of grace through which our sins are forgiven and our faith is strengthened. Jesus Himself commands that we partake of His sacramental offerings.

Yes... thank you... that's what I thought.

However, the way I understood what CantateDomino wrote is that the sacraments are the works required because we don't require works.

 

[Tangible]

Well, in a way that's pretty close - as long as you understand that Sacraments are works of God, not of men.