tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post113899355621774317..comments2024-01-28T03:39:57.181-06:00Comments on Sean Michael Lucas: Lutherans and the Third Use of the LawSean Michael Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911661966197928859noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-1139016838417278762006-02-03T19:33:00.000-06:002006-02-03T19:33:00.000-06:00Yes, I agree. Part of the issue for Lutherans has ...Yes, I agree. Part of the issue for Lutherans has been that the "third use" has been blamed on Melancthon--from whom both the Augsburg Confession and the Apology derived. What makes the Formula's statements so compelling is that they came from the "Gnesio-Lutherans" (the Genuine Lutherans who opposed the "Philippists"). It seems that there was a consensus on both sides (excluding John Agricola, who was antinomian) on the third use. smlSean Michael Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06911661966197928859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-1139001471457319282006-02-03T15:17:00.000-06:002006-02-03T15:17:00.000-06:00Check this out from the Apology (1531) that eventu...Check this out from the Apology (1531) that eventually accompanied the Augsburg Confession (Article 4):<BR/><BR/>"It is written in the prophet (Jer 31:33), "I will put my law upon their hearts." In Rom 3:31 Paul says that faith does not overthrow but upholds the law. Christ says (Matt 19:17), "If you would enter life, keep the commandments." And again, "If I have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor 13:2). These and similar passages assert that we should begin to keep the law ever more and more. We are not speaking of ceremonies, but of the Decalogue, the law that deals with the thoughts of the heart. Since faith brings the Holy Spirit and produces a new life in our hearts, it must also produce spiritual impulses in our hearts."<BR/><BR/>This interpretation of the above four passages smells very much like the third use.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com