Preaching About Sanctification and Good Works
I'd like to revisit the issue of preaching about sanctification and good works. A friend sent me these thoughts the other day, and I thought I'd pass them along here:
Please note Dr. CFW Walther's Thesis VII, in his masterful and magisterial The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel which reads: "In the third place, the
Word of God is not rightly divided when the Gospel is preached first
and then the Law; sanctification first and then justification; faith
first and then repentance; good works first and then grace."
He urges us not to preach "sanctification first and
then justification," and "good works first and then grace." In so saying, clearly Walther was intent on preaching sanctification, but making sure it did not occupy its place before preaching
justification; however that we are to be preaching sanctification is a "given."
Also of note is Walther's XXIII Thesis which reads: "In the nineteenth
place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when an attempt is made
by means of the demands or the threats or the promises of the Law to
induce the unregenerate to put away their sins and engage in good works
and thus become godly; on the other hand, when an endeavor is made, by
means of the comands of the Law rather than by the admonitions of the
Gospel, to urge the regenerate to do good."
Notable, again, is the strong foundation of the gospel on which Walther places the doctrine, and preaching of sanctification, but clearly he assumes that sanctification and good works will be preached.
Good post.
Did you know Rev. Martin Diers has done a lot of work to provide an electronic copy of CPH’s 1929 edition (not copyrighted) of Walther’s Law and Gospel online? It is located here:
http://lutherantheology.com/uploads/works/walther/LG/index.html
I thought it might be nice to link the full context of Thesis VII, which you quote. The full lecture (#11) is here:
http://lutherantheology.com/uploads/works/walther/LG/lecture-11.html
Thesis XXIII, which you also quote, is explained in Lecture 37:
http://lutherantheology.com/uploads/works/walther/LG/lecture-37.html
Peace and blessings,
Erich
From the Confessions: “In our churches, on the other hand, all sermons deal with topics like these: penitence, the fear of God, faith in Christ, the righteousness of faith, comfort for the conscience through faith, the exercise of faith, prayer and our assurance that it is efficacious and is heard, the cross, respect for rulers and for all civil ordinances, the distinction between the kingdom of Christ (or the spiritual kingdom) and political affairs, marriage, the education and instruction of children, chastity, and all the works of love.” [Ap. XV, 43]
There is no question here that topics of sanctification were addressed. See also the following:
“And as for outward appearances, our church attendance is greater than theirs. Practical and clear sermons hold an audience…The real adornment of the churches is godly, practical, and clear teaching, the godly use of the sacraments, ardent prayer, and the like.” [Ap. XXIV, 50-51]
It sees that the reference to “practical” would address the “practice” of the Christian faith in Christian life. Not only are we strengthened by God to live the godly life, but so too instructed as to what that godly life is.
Thus preaching is both the putting to death of the Old Adam through the Law, and the raising up of the new man with the Gospel, including the exhortation (instruction)of that new man to the new and godly life. Walther confirms this as well:
Concerning the order of preaching in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans – “What do we find in the first three chapters? The sharpest preaching of the law. This is followed, towards the end of the third chapter and in chapters 4 and 5, by the doctrine of justification – nothing but that. Beginning at chapter 6, the apostle treats of nothing else than sanctification. Here we have a true pattern of the correct sequence: first the Law, threatening men with the wrath of God; next the Gospel, announcing the comforting promises of God. This is followed by an instruction regarding the things we are to do after we have become new men. [The Proper Distinction Betweem Law and Gospel, p. 93]
I simply agree.
Take you for the opportunity to take a look at Walter’s thesis afresh. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve had Law then Gospel drummed into me to so thoroughly that I had not noticed that Walter says to preach justification before good works. Of course, that’s exactly what the apostle Paul does. He draws good works out of baptism and faith.
I’m sure Walther takes his principles from Paul. Paul in his epistles routinely set forth the doctrine first and then showed how the deeds flowed from the doctrine. This is most notable in Ephesians where for the first three chapters Paul expounds the gift of our salvation. Only after this he turns and says, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” Ephesians 4:1 Because they now know their calling, he calls them to walk worhty of it.
In Romans it is much the same. He sets forth Jesus as our salvation and righteousness in chapters 1-11(with the parenthetical aside in 6-7). Then in 12:1-2 declares, “.I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ”
This is certainly the New Testament pattern.
In Colossians Paul sets forth the supremacy of Christ, His authority in all creation, and our rescue from the kingdom of darkness and deliverance into Christ’s Kingdom. Then with that knowledge of being alive to God he says, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2.Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3.For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4.When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5.Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” Col 3:1-5
Lastly, this thought of justification first-sanctification second is neatly summed up in Colossians 1:9-10. It says, “………..we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10.so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord……….”
Hoping to know more of Him so that I may walk worthy of Him,
Alan
I’m often surprised by a lack interest in sanctification among Lutherans. I was recently reading Luther’s “On the Councils and the Churches” and he said that sanctification stood for him as the natural corollary of his doctrine of justification. He also said that he regretted not having upheld the need for sanctification in his own preaching and writing early in his own career.
That explains why some fellow seminarians were of the opinion that Walther was basically a pietist on the subject of sanctification.
[[Professors and students alike throw around the term "Pietism" with, frankly, little understanding of what Pietism actually was, and what it therefore is. They often severely confuse "piety" with "pietism."]]
If Walther was a pietist because he urged sanctifidation then so was Luther and the Apostle Paul. May we all be such pietists.
Piety is Christ-centered. Pietism is self-centered.
Piety is faith in Christ. Pietism is faith in faith.
One of my favorite Lutheran quotes on the relationship between justification and sanctification is found in Martin Chemnitz’s Ministry, Word, and Sacraments: An Enchiridion (CPH), paragraph 164. I’ve lent my copy to someone and don’t recall the page number.