"Go sin bravely! Then go to the cross and bravely confess it!"

[Ribosome]

This is a quote from this article: LIBERATE » Christ Died for the Sins of Christians Too by Rod Rosenbladt

Melanchthon wrote to Luther, “I woke this morning wondering if I trust Christ enough.” Luther received such letters from Melanchthon regularly. He had a tendency, a propensity, to navel-gaze and to wonder about the state of his inner faith, and whether it was enough to save. Finally, in an effort to pull out all the stops and pull Melanchthon out of himself, Luther wrote back and said, “Melanchthon! Go sin bravely! Then go to the cross and bravely confess it! The whole gospel is outside of us.”

My question is simply, what does Luther mean by what he said? Can someone clarify for me?

 

[JM]

If I know Luther he is saying that Legalists who make extra biblical rules, holidays, days of fasting and humiliation, are trying to pull your focus from your salvation in Christ. This quote reminds me of a few others, here's one,

"that if Sunday were anywhere made holy merely for the day's sake or its observance set on a Jewish foundation, 'then I order you to walk on it, to ride on it, to dance on it, to feast on it, to do anything that shall remove this encroachment on Christian Liberty'"

As you can see Luther isn't really telling you to sin but to be free in Christ. Read and follow scripture but do not create extra rules for believers.

 

[JM]

Read the blog...should've in the first place, but it doesn't really change what I wrote above. Luther is saying don't get distracted by your sins, live your life following Christ and confession your sins as you make them.

 

[JustAsIam77]

This is a quote from this article: LIBERATE » Christ Died for the Sins of Christians Too by Rod Rosenbladt
My question is simply, what does Luther mean by what he said? Can someone clarify for me?

I think Luther was trying to persuade Malancthon to re-think his obvious weak interpretation of the significance and enormity of Christs sacrifice and Grace by the Father, Malancthon was looking inward at his imperfections and ability to please the Lord instead of relying on Christ's justification. Luther was magnanimous in his converstions where as Malancthon was more polemical with Luther.

BTW Rod Rosenbladt was outstanding in his writing!

 

[oworm]

Reminds me of something Martin LLoyds Jones said. Went something like "If you have never come to the conclusion that as a christian, you can commit any sin and be forgiven, you have never understood the gospel"

 

[JustAsIam77]

Reminds me of something Martin LLoyds Jones said. Went something like "If you have never come to the conclusion that as a christian, you can commit any sin and be forgiven, you have never understood the gospel"

Well said.

 

[HermanNeutics13]

The idea of go sin bravely just seems so contrary to Romans 6. Yes we will sin and we do need repentance. I know too m,any Lutherans who border on antinomianism in an effort to avoid the opposite Hersey of Pietism.

 

[HermanNeutics13]

This is a great speech I think but again it could be misinterpreted to mean antinomianism.
The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church by Rod Rosenbladt - YouTube

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

This is a quote from this article: LIBERATE » Christ Died for the Sins of Christians Too by Rod Rosenbladt
My question is simply, what does Luther mean by what he said? Can someone clarify for me?

Ain't it funny how God can accomplish his orthodox will even through unorthodox methodology!

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

Now that I think about it, many creeds, confessions, and writings throughout the history of the Church, came about as a response to unorthodoxy.

Luther was orthodox though, but he had quite a sense of humor and sarcasm (and could be a controversialist), assuming the quote is accurate (and I would look into it if compelled to), as JM pointed out, the person whom he addressed could be a legalist, moralist, and evidently rather than looking to Christ as his righteousness, his doubts (which are also sinful) concerning his salvation were based on his unrighteousness, when he should have based his salvation on the efficiency of the atonement of Christ, on the finished work of Christ. That Luther said in the next breath "bravely confess it" tells us that Luther did not endorse him sinning, but that the man should repent. I think Luther had the old reverse psychology thing going on.

 

[RINO 72]

To be honest I'd much rather read Luther than Calvin.

 

[JM]

To be honest I'd much rather read Luther than Calvin.

For practical, conversational theology I agree. Luther's commentary on Galatians is a masterpiece...I think it's time to read it again.

jm