_The Confutatio Pontificia:
In Reference To The Matters Presented To His Imperial Majesty
By The Elector Of Saxony And Some Princes And States Of The
Holy Roman Empire, On The Subject And Concerning Causes
Pertaining To The Christian Orthodox Faith, The Following
Christian Reply Can Be Given._ August 3, 1530.
Edited by J.M. Reu.
Published in
_The Augsburg Confession, A Collection of Sources._
(Fort Wayne, IN: Concordia Theological Seminary Press),
pp. 349-383.
To Article VI.
Their Confession in the sixth article that faith should bring
forth good fruits is acceptable and valid since "faith
without works is dead," James 2:17, and all Scripture invites
us to works. For the wise man says: "Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy might." Eccles. 9:10. "And the
Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering," Gen. 4:4. He
saw that Abraham would "command his Children and his
household after him to keep the way of the Lord, and to do
justice and judgment," Gen. 18:19. And: "By myself have I
sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing
I will bless thee and multiply thy seed." Gen 22:16. Thus he
regarded the fast of the Ninevites, Jonah 3, and the
lamentations and tears of King Hezekiah, 4:2; 2 Kings 20. For
this cause all the faithful should follow the advice of St.
Paul: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto
all men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith," Gal. 6:10. For Christ says: The night cometh when no
man can work" John 9:4. But in the same article their
ascription of justification to faith alone is diametrically
opposite the truth of the Gospel by which works are not
excluded; because glory, honor and peace to every man that
worketh good," Rom. 2:10. Why? Because David, Ps. 62:12;
Christ, Matt. 16:27; and Paul, Rom. 2:6 testify that God will
render to every one according to his works. Besides Christ
says: "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will
of my Father," Matt. 7:21. 4. Hence however much one may
believe, if he work not what is good, he is not a friend of
God. "Ye are my friends," says Christ, "if ye do whatsoever I
command you," John 15:14. On this account their frequent
ascription of justification to faith is not admitted since it
pertains to grace and love. For St. Paul says: "Though I have
all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not
charity, I am nothing." 1 Cor. 13:2. Here St. Paul certifies
to the princes and the entire Church that faith alone does
not justify. Accordingly he teaches that love is the chief
virtue, Col. 3:14: "Above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness." Neither are they supported
by the word of Christ: "When ye shall have done all these
things, say We are unprofitable servants," Luke 17:10. For if
the doors ought to be called unprofitable, how much more
fitting is it to say to those who only believe, When ye shall
have believed all things say, We are unprofitable servants!
This word of Christ, therefore, does not extol faith without
works, but teaches that our works bring no profit to God;
that no one can be puffed up by our works; that, when
contrasted with the divine reward, our works are of no
account and nothing. Thus St. Paul says: "I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
to the glory which shall be revealed in us," Rom. 8:18. For
faith and good works are gifts of God, whereby, through God's
mercy, eternal life is given. So, too, the citation at this
point from Ambrose is in no way pertinent, since St. Ambrose
is here expressly declaring his opinion concerning legal
works. For he says: "Without the law," but, "Without the law
of the Sabbath, and of circumcision, and of revenge." And
this he declares the more clearly on Rom. 4, citing St. James
concerning the justification of Abraham without legal works
before circumcision. For how could Ambrose speak differently
in his comments from St. Paul in the text when he says:
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh he
justified in his sight?" Therefore, finally, he does not
exclude faith absolutely, but says: "We conclude that a man
is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
________________________________________________________________
This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
by Karen Janssen and is in the public domain. You may freely
distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments
or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library
at Concordia Theological Seminary.
E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu
Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
Phone: (260) 452-3149 Fax: (260) 452-2126
________________________________________________________________
-----------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/wittenberg/boc: conf-06.txt