ST. CATHARINES CONCORDIA - Brock University

32 LUI'HEKAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEL
LUTHER'S GREAT CONFESSION (1528)
It should not be necessary to repeat here the circumstances of Luther's gre;
writing Confession Conceunif~g Christ's Supper (1528).13 According to 1,ulher'
express intent, the third section of this work was to be his confcssion from which h
would not stray until death. Therefore it served as a major source for the AC.
Justification is discussed under [lie second article of the confession's "Trinitarian
structure. The "officc of pricst" is citcd as an institution established by God, but, lilc
the estates of mail-iage and civil government, it is not a cause ul' salvation for thos
who hold it.
Bcllold, all of thcsc arc callcd good and holy works. However,
none of these orders is a means of salvation. There remains only
one way above them all. viz. faith in Jesus Chsist. For to be holy
and to be saved are two entirely different things. We are saved
tl~ough Chsist alone . . . . 14
All the glory in salvation is ascribed to Christ and His work alonc. "And it i
impossible that there should be more saviours, ways, or means [wege odder weise] h
be saved than through the one righteousness which our Saviour Jesus Christ is and ha
bestowed upon us, and has offcrcd to God for us as our one mercy seat, Roman
3[:25]".15
Under the third arlicle Luther discusses the conlplen~entary roles of Christ and th~
Holy Spirit in justification.
[Because of the Fall] the Son himself subsequently gave himsell'
and bestowed all his works, sufferings, wisdom, and rightcousness,
and rcconciled us to the Father, in order that restosed to life
and righteousness, we might also know and have the Father and
his gifts. Rut because this gracc would bcnefit no onc if it remained
so profoundly hidden and could not come to us, the Holy S i~it
comes and gives himself to us also, wholly and completely. I ff
Chr~at attains justification and thc Holy Spirit bcstows it on men. This hc
accomplishcs through means:
He does this both i~iwardly and outwardly --inward1 y by means of
faith and other spiritual gifts, outwardly through the gospel, baptism,
and the sacrament of the altal, through which as thsough three
means or melhods ht: comes to us and inculcates the sufferings of
1'1 Van? Abe17dmnliI C'hristi, Ueke~rriinis. U;;i 26:241-509=AE 37:153-372.
14 WA 26:505~~-'~=~~ 37:365.
15 WA 26:504~"~~=il~ 37:364. Schwabach Article V11 speaks in similar terms of thePrcaii~mmt, as the
or path" ta justifying faith. See below.
16 AE 37:366=WA 26:505~~-506~.