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J_Edwards said:
The Holy Spirit is not just an instrument here like in the Lutheran sacerdotal system.

Unlike Warfield's statement, the Augsburg Confession has no sacerdotal system. The instruments are word and sacrament (i.e., means of grace) not the Holy Spirit. The mediation of man is not even mentioned.

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Context, Speratus, context! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bash.gif" alt="" />

Yes, context, J Edwards.

First. God requires nothing of me, under the gospel, for salvation. God Himself works the faith of Christ, through the means of grace, which is imputed for righteousness. As the preceding article of Augsburg Confession states,

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Article IV It is also taught among us that we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God by our own merits, works, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith, when we believe that Christ suffered for us and that for his sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us. For God will regard and reckon this faith as righteousness, as Paul says in Romans 3:21-26 and 4:5.

Second. What Warfield describes as being necessary to salvation (i.e., precondition required of me), "out of a true sense of my sin and misery and apprehension of His mercy in Christ, I should turn with grief and hatred away from sin and receive and rest upon Jesus Christ alone for salvation; that, so being united to Him, I may receive pardon for my sins and be accepted as righteous in God's sight" can not save man but only condemns him because he can not keep the law of God perfectly.

Thirdly. Warfield further mixes law and gospel when he fails to mention that regenerate man does good works only imperfectly and only to the extent that the Spirit rules, leads, and guides him.

Fourthly. The true witness of Warfield, "I may receive pardon for my sins and be accepted as righteous in God's sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to me and received by faith alone" can not be isolated from the errors that occur before and after.

Fiftly. The sacerdotal system of the Papists has been transformed under Warfield. Instead of Apostolic priests mediating between God and man, every man has become a mediator between God and man through his supposed ablility to convey the means of grace.

Last edited by speratus; Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:00 AM.