Calvin Synod Herald, 1980 (80. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1980-07-01 / 7-8. szám

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

5

CELEBRATING THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION - 1530-1980

June 25, 1530, is the date for what was probably the single most significant event in the history of Lutheranism. That was when the Augsburg Confession was signed and read before Emperor Charles V in the bishop’s palace at Augsburg, Germany. Along with the Small Catechism, the Augsburg Confession probably did more to shape Lutheranism and establish it as a lawful and authorized faith than did any other writing.

After the death of Luther and Philip Melanchton — who composed the text of the confession — when the young Evangelical Church occasionally wavered, the Augsburg Confession proved to be the solid anchor which again and again brought Lutheranism back to the central teachings of the Reformation. This was accomplished through the Book of Concord, a summary of all the Lutheran confessions, signed 50 years to the day after the Augsburg Confession.

Interestingly enough, in our day the Roman Church is taking a new look at The Augsburg Confession and is finding in it a body of truth which is not as foreign to its beliefs as the Roman forefathers of 450 years ago thought. In fact, the day may not be too far distant when the Roman Catholic Church may sanction the Augsburg Confession and accept it as a valid presentation of Christian truth!

Here is a brief summary of its 28 Articles:

1. There is one God who is three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2. All the people are by nature sinful, and are in need of new birth through Baptism into Christ.

3. Christ is truly divine and also truly human in nature.

4. No one can become righteous in God’s sight by his own efforts, but solely through faith in jesus Christ.

5. God gives us faith through the Gospel and the Sacraments. (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.)

6. True faith brings forth the good deeds God expects of his children.

7. The Church is the assembly of believers in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments rightly administered.

8. Gospel and Sacraments in the Church are effectual even though received through unworthy ministers.

9. The grace of God is offered in Baptism, and therefore Baptism is necessary for salvation.

10. The Body and Blood of Christ are received in, with and under the forms of the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper.

11. Private confession and absolution of sins are approved, although a man’s sins are greater than he can confess entirely. Therefore the enumeration of sins is not required.

12. Sinners may be absolved of sin upon honest repentance.

13. The Sacraments are signs of God’s will toward us, to stir up and confirm faith in those who receive them.

14. No one should teach publicly in the church or administer the Sacraments unless properly called.

15. Celebration of holy days and feasts is approved, but not held necessary.

16. Christians should support their government, and obey its laws, unless these are contrary to God’s own laws.

17. Christ will return at the last day as the judge of all mankind.

18. Man has freedom of will to work for earthly righteousness, but cannot attain God’s righteousness without God’s help.

19. Sin is not caused by God, but by failure to obey God.

20. One who has faith may be expected to live rightly, although it is not good works which earn God’s approval.

21. The saints may be kept in hallowed memory, but are not to be worshipped.

22. Both bread and wine are to be given to communicants in the Lord’s Supper.

23. Priests are to be allowed to marry.

24. Holy Communion is to be celebrated reverently, not as a new sacrifice for sin but for strengthening faith.

25. Confession of sin is a proper means of preparation for receiving Communion.

26. Observance of holidays, fasts, rites and attire are not essential to Christianity and must not be compulsory.

27. God is not pleased by men and women who flee into monasteries and convents.

28. The Church is not to rule the state, or even to make laws governing men’s consciences in religious practices unless these laws already exist in God’s Word.

Bulletin, Grace Lutheran Church, Perth Amboy, N.J., May 1980.

RENEWAL OF REFORMED IDENTITY AND TESTIMONY

Interview with Alain Blancy, Study Leader at the European Area Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in Poiana Brasov, Roumania, September 9-16, 1980.

Bossey, Geneva — Alain Blancy is a minister of the French Reformed Church on loan to the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey where he teaches what may be called ecumenical theology; he is also a member of the European Committee of the WARC and has been asked to prepare the Bible studies for the September Assembly meeting in Roumania. The Rev. Alain Blancy will be alone in presenting studies at Poiana Bra