Revolutionary Teaching on Justification

[its_brad]

Because of Luther’s revolutionary teaching on justification, he has often been labeled an antinomian (“no law”). How would you defend Luther’s belief that salvation by faith alone is compatible with a life of good works?

[bmayo]

I would defend Luther’s belief in this, that viewing salvation by faith alone is, in fact, compatible with good works. The role of faith has everything to do with good works, in that through faith and trust in God, good works inevitably flow. In the language of Luther, these good works are evidenced in our horizontal relationships (loving one’s neighbour) as they stem and flow from our vertical relationship through faith in God. I can see the reasons for the accusations from some towards Luther for the potential of antinomianism in his writing, but one must remember that he was using a strong rhetoric to counteract the heresy of the Medieval Catholic Church. The force that he saw destroying Christianity. Luther was understandably not overly concerned with the potential for people abandoning good works (that had been forged into the populace’s psyche) but was highly concerned with reversing the popular view that salvation was through works rather than by faith alone.

[cmoore]

It is easy for one to be misconstrued when a revolutionary teaching emerges in the midst of a culture that heavily teaches another mindset. The cultural climate of the day of Luther was one that profoundly taught that works were essential to salvation. Luther comes along and changes the menu of the day by saying that salvation is the work of Christ, not the work of man. Justification, therefore, flows from the work of the cross and not the work of man. For one to believe that Luther is completely throw out good works is absurd because Luther is really teaching about how one obtains salvation. Salvation is obtained through Christ and now through the work of human effort. Even after a person has salvation, their motive should not be to do good works in life as a way to keep salvation, stay justified, atone for sins or to live a holy life. A person’s motive after salvation should be to live a life that is pleasing to God which manifests itself in good works. The former seeks to do good works to have a right standing with God. The latter seeks to please God which manifests into good works. Although Luther rejects the validity of the book of James, James’ words are necessary, “faith without works are dead.” Faith does not come by works, but the result of having faith is that a person works. For example, a person does not do certain tasks to get a job but when they get the job they do certain tasks.

[cmoore]

I would defend Luther’s belief in this, that viewing salvation by faith alone is, in fact, compatible with good works. The role of faith has everything to do with good works, in that through faith and trust in God, good works inevitably flow. In the language of Luther, these good works are evidenced in our horizontal relationships (loving one’s neighbour) as they stem and flow from our vertical relationship through faith in God. I can see the reasons for the accusations from some towards Luther for the potential of antinomianism in his writing, but one must remember that he was using a strong rhetoric to counteract the heresy of the Medieval Catholic Church. The force that he saw destroying Christianity. Luther was understandably not overly concerned with the potential for people abandoning good works (that had been forged into the populace’s psyche) but was highly concerned with reversing the popular view that salvation was through works rather than by faith alone.

I like the way that "Bmayo" explains Luther's thoughts using Luther's language of horizontal and vertical relationships. It is easy to see that the more a person loves Christ the more they will love their neighbor. Since love is an action word, love must be manifested in action.

I can also see the reason that the accusations that were against Luther because of the cultural climate of the day. It is very apparent that when one begins to go against the grain on any issue (even if they are right) the majority who are still heading in the other direction are agitated and begin to say things. People say much about Jesus coming from demons and being a sinner because He went against the grain and did something radical in that day.