Snippets from the Study

“Indeed, whoever loves something because of the thing itself and not because of his love for God, loves God less.” Johann Gerhard, Handbook of Consolations, p. 68

“Indeed there is yet another essential property of true faith: you must gaze with the eye of the heart upon Christ hanging on the Cross; you must hope for and draw out the medicine for your wounds from His wounds; you must recline upon Him with a true and faithful heart; and you must, as it were, wrap yourself in his most holy merit.” Johann Gerhard, Handbook of Consolations, p. 19

“Now, there is no doubt that these men wish to convert people, but they want to do so using these false terms. They believe that they can convert people by hiding things from them or by presenting matters in a way that is pleasing to people in their natural state. They are like sorry doctors who do not like to prescribe bitter medicine to weak patients, or if they do prescribe it, they add so much sugar to it that the patient does not taste the bitter medicine, with the result that its effect is spoiled. Accordingly, preachers who do not clearly and plainly proclaim the Gospel, which is offensive to the world, are not faithful in carrying out their ministry. Rather, they cause great injury to people’s souls.”

CFW Walther, Law & Gospel. p. 306

On the “believing theologians of the modern type” (Pietists)

“Worldly people and all false Christians cannot help but attack those who teach a faith and doctrine different from theirs. These fake Christians regard those with sound doctrine as “disturbers of the peace”—peace-hating, quarrelsome, and nasty people. These unfortunate people have no idea of the blindness that surrounds them. they do not know how gladly the boldest champions of Christ wish to keep peace with all the people, how much they would prefer to keep silent. These fake Christians do not know how hard it is for the bold champions to to go public and become targets for the hatred, enmity, slander, scorn, and persecution of people. However, they cannot help but confess the truth and at the same time oppose error. Their conscience forces them to do this because such behavior is required of them by the Word of God.” CFW Walther, Law & Gospel p. 293

“The reason so many people assume that they are really good Christians is because their parents reared them to be miserable Pharisees.” CFW Walther, Law & Gospel, p. 93

“[The cross] is the struggle to deny self and instead to follow Jesus.” Daniel Deutschlander, The Theology of the Cross, p. 30

“when today infants die before they are born—in such cases the grace of God is not bound to the Sacraments, but those infants are to be brought and commended to Christ in prayers. And one should not doubt that those prayers are heard, for they are made in the name of Christ. Jn 16:23; Gn 17:7; Mt 19:14. Since then, we cannot bring infants as yet unborn to Christ through baptism, therefore we should do it through pious prayers. Parents are to be put in mind of this, and if perhaps such a case occur, they are to be encouraged with this comfort.” Chemnitz, Enchiridion, p. 120

“For salvation has indeed been procured and accomplished by Christ on the cross, but in Baptism it is distributed, applied, and sealed to believers.” Chemnitz, Enchiridion p. 114

“Although all the apostles taught the same doctrine, they did not always use the same terminology.” Brug, Ministry of the Word, p. 257

“The statement of Augustine is exceedingly true, that many are not penitent, imagine [that they are].” Chemnitz, Enchiridion p. 66