Christian Theology

CutieDaisy · Aug 9, 2024 · ac879d3 · ac879d3
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diff --git a/christian-theology/47. Luther on Justifying faith.md b/christian-theology/47. Luther on Justifying faith.md
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-1. **Faith Alone Justifies**:
-   - Luther's central claim is that **faith alone** justifies a person in the eyes of God.
-   - This justification occurs when someone believes in Christ as a result of hearing the gospel.
-   - Faith affects the **imputation of Christ's righteousness**, covering the believer's sins².
+**Faith Alone Justifies**:
+   - Luther's central claim is that **faith alone** justifies a person.
+   - We are quite familiar with the term justification, but what does "by faith alone" mean?
+   - According to Martin Luther, the assertion that faith alone justifies is often misunderstood due to a lack of understanding of the concept of faith. Luther emphasized the need to closely examine this seemingly simple word. 
 
-2. **Understanding Faith**:
-   - Faith is not merely historical knowledge.
-   - It involves **believing and trusting** that Christ was born "for us" and accomplished salvation.
-   - True Christian faith goes beyond facts; it's about personal trust in Christ's work.
 
-3. **Faith as Trust (Fiducia)**:
-   - Faith is more than intellectual belief; it's **preparedness to act** based on that belief.
-   - Analogously, faith isn't just acknowledging a ship's existence; it's stepping into it and entrusting oneself to it.
+   - Let's look at his three key points regarding faith.
+1. **Faith Beyond Historical Knowledge**:
+   - Luther emphasized that faith is more than mere historical knowledge. Believing in the historical reliability of the gospels isn't enough for justification.
+   - Sinners can acknowledge the factual details of the gospels, but true Christian faith goes beyond this. It involves trusting that Christ was born "pro nobis" (for us) and accomplished our salvation¹.
 
-4. **Faith Unites with Christ**:
-   - Luther emphasized the relational aspect of faith.
-   - It's not mere assent to doctrines but a **union between Christ and the believer**.
-   - Faith makes Christ's benefits (forgiveness, justification, hope) available to the believer.
+2. **Faith as Trust (Fiducia)**:
+   - Luther viewed faith as trust (fiducia). It's not just intellectual assent to truth; it's readiness to act based on that belief and reliance upon it.
+   - An analogy is that Faith isn't merely believing a ship exists; it's stepping into it, entrusting ourselves to it.
 
-5. **God's Role in Justification**:
-   - The doctrine of justification by faith doesn't mean the sinner is justified because of their belief.
-   - God provides everything necessary for justification; humans receive it passively.
-   - The phrase "justification by grace through faith" clarifies that God's grace is the basis of justification¹³.
+3. **Faith Unites Believers with Christ**:
+   - In his 1520 work, "The Liberty of a Christian," Luther emphasized the relational aspect of faith.
+   - Faith isn't merely assenting to abstract doctrines; it's a union between Christ and the believer.
+   - Philip Melanchthon, Luther's colleague, aptly put it: "To know Christ is to know his benefits." Faith grants access to Christ's forgiveness, justification, and hope.
+Summary:
+Luther's insights transformed theology, emphasizing grace, trust, and union with Christ. His legacy reverberates through Reformation thought, inspiring later theologians like Calvin.