Jun 30, 2009

Primer on the Justification Situation

Most readers of this blog are probably aware of the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) and the debate over the old Lutheran doctrine of Justification versus the NPP verson. Proponents of each side have drawn their lines in the metaphorical sand by publishing books ad nauseum. Two of the more popular presenters have been Baptist pastor John Piper and Anglican bishop N.T. Wright. Piper came out swinging first with his book, The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright, which recieved accolades from both sides for honestly engaging the good bishop to accurately represent his views. Wright has recently responded with his book, Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision, which I have yet to read since it was just recently released stateside.

Christianity Today has recently published a helpful primer on the two positions to help those who are tired of sloshing through the mire of the debate. You can open the PDF, here.


While I have benefitted from studying both Piper and Wright, especially Wright's books on Jesus and the Resurrection, I do not think Piper is the best representative of the old Lutheran position on justification. For that I would turn to an actual Lutheran exegete, Stephen Westerholm's Perspectives Old and New: The "Lutheran" Paul and his Critics, which is par excellence on Paul's understanding of the law.

Jun 25, 2009

Presentation of the Augsburg Confession

On this day in 1530, the Augsburg Confession was read aloud to Emperor Charles V, German Princes, and other nobles of the free cities at the diet of Augsburg. Composed by Philip Melancthon in consultation with Martin Luther, it represented the first confessional document of the Reformation that describes what the early reformers believed, taught and confessed.

Today it still stands as the foundational document representing the best in Lutheranism. I thank God for the gift of these men and women who struggled to hold fast to the Biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone - for they stood alone by faith, especially those princes who sided with Luther. They were men and women of Biblical conviction, which is something the church is sorely in need of today, especially that claim allegiance to the tradition of Augustana.
Sorry for the intermittent posting of late. I've been travelling up to Christ College every night in Irvine, CA for classes (Sys Theology I and Reformation History); I get home around 11am and then get up for work at 6am, so while it has been exhausting, I have been writing/studying some pretty cool subjects and enjoying my professors and classmates.
Stay tuned as I have a couple lengthier papers of substance that I'll be posting in the coming weeks, and God willing, two of them will be published later this year or early next.
I'd encourage you all to pick-up a Book of Concord and read the Augsburg Confession - yes - even you Calvinists! Calvin himself agreed with it and the first draft of his Institutes (1536) reflects its tenor. For an online read, check-out: Book of Concord.

Jun 10, 2009

Pentecost Sermon - One Foundation? Acts 2:1-21

Here's a link to the PDF of the sermon I delivered on Pentecost Sunday. We still do not have a recording device, which is unfortunate, because after looking at the written manuscript I am seeing how much more free I am in the pulpit to ad-lib and take diversions. Additionally, the paper just doesn't convey the power and emotion of the human voice. Oh well. Enjoy. Maybe you can get something out of it.

One Foundation? Acts 2:1-21