APOLOGY OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION
ARTICLE V: LOVE AND FULFILLING THE LAW
Let us hold on to this confession of the Church: we are saved by mercy... The Scholastics have invented the doctrine of wholly deserving merit. We will, therefore, reply briefly. It is essential to believe that we are saved by mercy so that hope maybe sure, so that there may be a resulting distinction between those who obtain salvation and those who do not. When this is expressed in this way without explanation, it seems foolish. For in civil courts and in human judgment, issues about rights or debts are certain, and mercy is uncertain. But the matter is different in God's judgment. Here mercy has a clear and certain promise and command from God. The Gospel is properly the command that directs us to believe that God is reconciled to us for Christ's sake.
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:17). Whenever mercy is spoken of, faith in the promise must be added. This faith produces sure hope, because it relies upon God's Word and command. If hope would rely upon works, then it would be uncertain, because works cannot quiet the conscience. Faith makes a distinction between those who obtain salvation and those who do not obtain it. Faith makes the distinction between the worthy and the unworthy, because eternal life has been promised to the justified. Faith justifies. (paragraphs 223-226)
2 comments:
Amen! And where is the foto on your header from????
Those are the Kuwait Towers. I think they hold 2 million gallons of water. (There was some debate about that amount last year at the staff dinner at the Crown Plaza.)
The other picture is the Lord's Prayer in Arabic.
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