Stay focused on message of salvation through faith alone, Lutheran leader emphasizes
January 10, 2017
The general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation called upon Lutherans around the world to remain focused on Martin Luther’s teaching of salvation through faith alone during 2017, the 500th anniversary year of the Protestant Reformation.
“By grace alone: this was the biblical message that Luther rediscovered and placed at the center of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Rev. Martin Junge wrote in his new year message. “I would like to invite the LWF member churches to be steadfast and to remain focused on the message of salvation by grace through faith alone.”
The leader of the federation, which is headquartered in Geneva, also discussed the global nature of Lutheranism, “ecumenical accountability,” and the ongoing nature of the Reformation.
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Jan. 10, 2017 7:38 PM ET USA
Missing a point here. The idea that faith alone will get you heaven opens the door to do whatever you want to then say I believe and all is great. Only God is the final judge but something tells me it won't quite work that way.
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Posted by: feedback -
Jan. 10, 2017 1:26 PM ET USA
The concept of salvation “By grace alone” may appear to be pious, but it is a heretical and deadly spiritual trap since it stealthily dismisses personal responsibility grounded in God-given human free will. In reality, and as evidenced throughout the Scriptures, we are always free to accept or to reject the grace of God. “My grace is sufficient for you” [2 Cor 12:9]
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Jan. 10, 2017 1:05 PM ET USA
Council of Trent, Session 6: "The beginning of that justification must proceed from the predisposing grace of God,...whereby, without any merits on their part, they...may be disposed through His...grace to convert themselves...by freely assenting to and cooperating with that grace; so that...man himself neither does absolutely nothing while receiving that inspiration, since he can also reject it, nor yet is he able by his own free will and without the grace of God to move himself to justice."
