Confessions Test 2

Baptismal Creed used in Rome

2nd Century

Author unknown

Apostles' Creed

This Creed intends to clearly state on the basis of Scripture that Jesus Christ is true God, equal with the Father, and that the Holy Spirit is also true God, equal with the Father and the Son.

325, 381

Assembled church leaders at the Council of Nicaea (325) and the Council of Constantinople

Nicene Creed

Confesses the teaching of the Trinity and the person and work of Jesus Christ.

6th-8th Century

Author unknown; named after the great Church Father Athanasius, who was instrumental in the drafting of the Nicene Creed

Athanasian Creed

A short work that was to educate the laity in the basics of the Christian faith.

1529

Martin Luther

Small Catechism

Through covering the same chief parts of Christian doctrine as the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism is really a series of re-edited sermons that Luther preached

1529

Martin Luther

Large Catechism

Often viewed as the chief Lutheran Confession; it was presented by the Lutherans to Emperor Charles V at the Imperial Diet of Augsburg as a statement of the chief articles of the Christian faith as understood by Lutherans' also contains a listing of abuses that the Lutherans had corrected.

June 25, 1530

Philip Melanchthon

Augsburg Confession

After the Roman theologians had condemned many of the teachings of the Augsburg Confession, Melanchthon authored this lengthy defense. Rightly considered a Christian classic.

May 1531

Philip Melanchthon

Apology of the Augsburg Confession

Articles of faith intended by Luther to be an ecumenical platform for an upcoming ecumenical council. Stated what the Lutherans could not compromise and why.

1536

Martin Luther

Smalcald Articles

Was intended to serve as a supplement to the Augsburg Confession, giving the Lutheran position on the pope.

1537

Philip Melanchthon

Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope

A restatement of some teachings in the Augsburg Confession over which Lutherans had become divided. The Solid Declaration is the unabridged version The Epitome is an abridged version intended for congregations to study. Over 8,1000 pastors and theologians signed it, as well as over 50 government leaders.

1577

Jacob Andreae, Martin Chemnitz, and Nicholas Selnecker

Formula of Concord

Leipzig (1519)

debate between Luther and John Eck about papal supremacy and power of the church

Worms (1521)

Luther called to recant all his stuff

Wartburg castle (1521)

Luther stayed here for safety after he did not recant

Torgau (1530)-

Lutherans tried to decide what they'd say at Augsburg

Speyer (1526, 1529)

Diet #1: decided Lutheran princes can promote and allow Lutheranism in territories (overrode by Catholics) Diet #2: Lutheran princes protested to allow Lutheranism

Marburg (1529)

mostly talk between Luther and Zwingli- Zwingli didn't agree on "This IS my body"

Coburg castle (1530)

where Luther stayed during Augsburg

Torgau (1530)

Lutherans tried to decide what they'd say at Augsburg

Augsburg (1530)

confession

Philip of Hesse

Philip of Hesse

Tried to unite all friends of the Gospel and persuaded Luther, Zwingli, and others to discuss doctrinal differences at Marburg.

Signed the AC

Moving spirit of the Smalcaldic League

Ulrich Zwingli

Denied the real presence of Christ's body and blood

Philip Melanchthon

Strongly opposed Zwingli's views on the Lord's Supper

Added on to the Torgau Articles

Prepared the Apology

Christian Beyer

Read the Augsburg Confession to Charles V

John Eck

Published the 404 Articles

Charles V

Augsburg Confession was presented to him

John the Steadfast

organized the Lutheran church in Saxony, was around during Diet of Speyer and Augsburg

95 Theses (and full date)

October 31st, 1517

Heidelberg Theses

1518

Starts to flesh out the theology of the cross

Four Hundred and Four Articles for the Diet in Augsburg

This was an article written by John Eck (1530) and led to the creation of the Augsburg Confession the way it is now. Originally, the Augsburg Confession was just the Torgau Articles, but due to controversies in the doctrine presented in this article, it was elaborated on and expanded to what it is today.

Schwabach Articles

Jul-Sep, 1529

"Putting doctrine in an organized manner."

Wanted to be doctrinally unified before they made a political/military alliance (proactive to protect themselves)

Marburg Articles

Oct. 1529

Defending the phrase this IS my body

Torgau Articles

March 1530

What they planned on saying at Augsburg

Pontifical Confutation of the Augsburg Confession (a "writing," so to speak...)

The Roman response to the Augsburg Confession

Diet and Edict of Worms

1521

Diet: where Luther was called before authority and asked to recant

Edict: declared Luther a heretic and outlaw and his writings should be destroyed

June 25, 1530 and what happened then - You will want to remember this full date!

The Augsburg Confession was read and presented (by Christian Beyer) to Charles V

Apology - what that word means in this context (Confessions class)

"A public defense or clarification of stated belief."

Smalcaldic League (1531) - who was the driving force behind it, who belonged, for what purpose

Phillip of Hess was the driving force behind it.

Protestants united politically after Augsburg

Concupiscence

"The material element of original sin, which seeks and loves carnal things, ignores and despises God, lacks fear and trust in Him, hates His judgment and flees it, is angry at Him, despairs His mercy, and trusts in temporal things."

Posse non peccare

able not to sin; Human condition before the fall: divinely created in God's image

Posse peccare

"able to sin"

Human condition before the fall: divinely created in God's image

Non posse non peccare

"not able not to sin" / only sin

Human condition since the fall

Non posse peccare

"not able to sin"

Human condition after this life

Pelangianism

Denies human sinfulness and God's grace

Semi-Pelangianism

Growing in faith is the only contribution from God

Invocation of saints

Catholics consider them intercessors and supererogators (have a super abundance of works)

Infused grace

quality given us through the Sacraments

Enthusiasts

Believe that Christians should expect special revelations or experiences from the Holy Spirit. They expect God to draw, enlighten, justify, and save them without the means of grace.

Ex opere operato - What the Latin means and what it refers to in Roman Catholic teaching

"For the sake of the work performed"

In the Roman Church, Sacraments, simply based on their technical performance, confer grace so long as the recipient does not put an obstacle in the way. According to this view, faith in the heart of the recipient is not required.

Corpus Christi - What the Latin means and what it refers to in Catholic teaching

Body of Christ

Refers to Communion, transubstantiation

The "marks of the church"

The means of Grace (doctrine of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments)

"Church" in the narrow sense

Narrow sense: Only true believers in Christ. This group is hidden from human eyes.

"Church" in the wider sense

Wider sense: Those who gather around the menas of grace visibly in the world.

Sacrament

a ceremony or work in which God presents to us what the promise of the ceremony offers

Sacrifice

A ceremony or work that we give to God in order to provide Him honor

The difference between an atoning/proprietary sacrifice and a eucharistic sacrifice

Atoning: a work that makes satisfaction for guilt and punishment

Eucharistic: does not merit forgiveness or reconciliation. Practiced to give thanks for forgiveness and other blessings

Repentance

Contrition and Faith/Absolution

Contrition

Movement of the heart prior to conversion (Catholic Contrition- meritorious sorrow over sin)

(Catholic) Confession

list all your sins at least once a year to a priest, remove guilt of hell punishment, converts guilt.

(Catholic) Satisfaction/Penance-

what the priest commands the repentant person to do to pay for temporal punishments of sin. Such satisfactions might include fasts, prayers, forms of self denial etc.

Absolution

being told your sins are forgiven

Supererogation

In Roman Church teaching, the works done over and above those that are required for salvation, especially by members of holy orders. They may be credited to those who fall short of requirements.

The difference between faith as "knowledge" vs faith and "trust"

"Faith as knowledge" can't save...merely a history of Christ isn't true "faith," even demons knew of Jesus

"Faith as trust"...God-worked trust in God's promise of forgiveness for Christ's sake

Purgatory

Where all who have not been thoroughly purified in this life will go here or place between earth and heaven

Priesthood of all believers

Every believer is a priest with the responsibility and call to declare God's praises (spread the Gospel)

The difference between personal ministry and pubic/representative ministry

Personal- God's call to faith in Christ

Public- God's call to public ministry

The difference between an immediate call and a mediate call

Immediate- straight from God

Mediate- indirectly from God through his believers/priests

Anabaptists

- Say children cannot believe and shouldn't be baptized until old enough to confess

- Baptism is a symbol act...nothing really happens, God will meet them halfway

"Protestants"

Label that Catholics gave those who followed Luther

Explain the difference between the Lutheran teaching of original sin and the Roman Catholic teaching of original sin (Article II).

The Lutheran church teaches that all people are born with sin, it is inherited from our parents. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that concupiscence, the inborn inclination to sin, is not actually sin and that they can cooperate with God's grace for salvation.

How do their different views of original sin affect their different views regarding how we are justified before God (Article IV)?

Lutherans believe that we are justified freely through faith, because of what Jesus did for us. God counts our faith for righteousness. Roman catholics believe that they can assist in their salvation through good works. Original sin affects their different views because Lutherans believe that because we are sinful from birth there is nothing we can do to help earn our salvation. Catholics believe that since the inclination to sin isn't actual sin, they can earn their salvation.

"Faith without works is dead." Explain what that means, and what it does not mean.

Faith is enough to save us, but works are the way we show our faith. Without works, do we really have faith? This statement does not mean that faith is not enough and we need to complete or perfect our faith with good deeds.

Article VI says, "It is necessary to do good works commanded by God." Explain what that means and what that does not mean.

It is necessary to do good works because God commands it, but we do not need to do good works in order to earn justification or saving faith.

Luther described the Christian as simul justus at peccator ("at the same time righteous and sinner"). Explain what he meant by that.

Through faith, we are clothed in Christ's righteousness but will we live in this sinful world, we will constantly have to fight with our old Adam. We will continue to fall into sin while we are still living in this sinful world.

According to Augsburg Confession, Article V (The Ministry), the Holy Spirit uses the "means (instruments) of grace" to work faith in people's hearts. What are those "means of grace" (remember the definition I emphasized)?

The Means of Grace are the tools that God uses to bring God's grace in christ home to the individual. God uses the gospel as a tool and it is found in the Word and in the sacraments.

What good purpose can saints serve? What purpose can saints not serve (1 Timothy 2:5)?

Saints can serve as examples in the christian church. Saints cannot be mediators or help us earn salvation in any way. Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.

Article IV (Justification) is the chief article of the Augsburg Confession. What does it mean, in Scripture, when it says that God "justifies" sinners? (properly define the term "justify")

When scripture says that God "justifies" sinners it means that God credits Christ's righteousness to us. We are declared not guilty of sin because Jesus paid the full price for us.

Be able to explain the differences between the Lutheran and scholastic (Roman Catholic) teachings about repentance: How many parts are there in each?

3 parts in Scholastic teaching: 1. Contrition; 2. Confession; and 3. Satisfaction

2 parts in Lutheran teaching: 1. Contrition; and 2. Absolution

Be able to explain the differences between the Lutheran and scholastic (Roman Catholic) teachings about repentance: Who is doing the work in each?

The repentant person does the work v. God does all the work

Be able to explain the differences between the Lutheran and scholastic (Roman Catholic) teachings about repentance: What about the idea of penance or satisfactions (Article XII)?

Lutheran repentance- Two parts (contrition and faith/absolution)...God/Holy Spirit doing the work...

Scholastic repentance- Three parts (contrition/meritorious work, confession/to a priest, satisfaction/penance)...individual doing the work

Penance/Satisfactions- satisfactions are temporal punishments can be paid through penance

In what respect does our human will have some freedom; have no freedom? Why is this will in no respect completely free (Article XVIII)?

Spiritually we have no freedom (God does all the work)

Some freedom to choose civil righteousness and to do things subject to reason

In what ways are human ceremonies and traditions useful for Christian life, and in what respect are they harmful to faith (Articles XV & XXVI)?

Good: as a way of order and consistency (communion twice a month)

Bad: there is only one right way...requiring/meant for salvation

In what way may the celebration of the Lord's Supper include sacrifice (Article XXIV)? In what way may it not? (remember the two different types of sacrifi

Two types of sacrifice- Atoning sacrifice of Christ......Eucharistic sacrifice

We aren't doing work to receive forgiveness. Practice done by those who have been reconciled

Explain the difference between the "two kingdoms" both instituted by God for our blessing. (Article XXVIII and XVI): Which is the "right hand" and which is the "left hand"?

Right hand- "the church"

Left hand- "the state"

Explain the difference between the "two kingdoms" both instituted by God for our blessing. (Article XXVIII and XVI): What specific tools does God give to each?

Right Hand- tool given is God's Word/means of grace

Left Hand- tool given is the sword/physical corporal punishment

Explain the difference between the "two kingdoms" both instituted by God for our blessing. (Article XXVIII and XVI): What is the primary concern for each?

Right Hand- concern of the right hand is to bring blessing to our souls for eternity

Left Hand- concern of the left hand is to bring blessings to our bodies for time

Summarize the main point of each of Articles 1-6 (and don't just parrot or repeat the words in the illustration).

1. God- the divine essence in three distinct persons

2. OG Sin- all conceived and born in sin through baptism and it is received through faith

3. Son of God- divine nature and human nature (joined in one person), born of the virgin Mary, suffered, died, buried, went to hell, rose again, ascended to heaven. Through Him receive forgiveness of sins

4. Justification- people cannot on their own be justified before God. All are freely justified for Christ's sake

5. Office of the Ministry- through Word and Sacrament the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit works faith, not through our own merits but for Christ's sake

6. New Obedience- faith is bound to bring faith good works/fruit, which are necessary but not meritorious

Explain clearly how these 6 articles fit together and relate to each other in a clear, logical flow.

God is the center of all things, he created all things, including man. Man disobeyed God and fell into sin, cursing all of mankind. But God made a promise to send his Son. His son came as true man and true God dying for our sake. We are freely justified because of him. God has given us as justified believers his Word and Sacraments in which the Holy Spirit works faith though not of our own doing. From this faith, we do good works not because we have to for salvation but out of thanks.

Identify which article is most important. Then explain why it is the most important.

#4- Justification: We have been declared righteous by God because of what Christ did for us. It is freely given to us, we have done nothing to earn it and can do nothing to influence it. It does not depend on us in any way. It's all about what Christ has done- about him, not me. Amazing love, grace, and mercy.