Theology On Tap

In this episode the Theology on Tap crew discusses that moment that the Gospel of Jesus became real to Martin Luther, so pour yourself a cold beer, warm cup of milk, hot tea or a bottle of water and enjoy this conversation.

Righteous, Righteousness, just, justice, justified are all usually the same word

Leviticus 19:15 ““You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

Luke 10:29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Romans 1:17  For in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Habakkuk 2:4,  “Behold, [the Babylonian King’s] soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Luther’s Works 34 pages 325-338 Preface to the Complete Edition of Latin Writings written in 1545, describing the events and circumstances of his early days as professor.

I was once a monk and a most enthusiastic papist… drunk and submerged in the pope’s dogmas … I [defended them] in seriousness, as one who in dread of the last day, nevertheless, from the depth of my heart, I wanted to be saved.

Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that [God] was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and I secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God, and said, "As if, indeed, it is not enough, that miserable sinners, eternally lost through original sin, are crushed by every kind of calamity by the law of the decalogue, without having God add pain to pain by the gospel and also by the gospel threatening us with his righteousness and wrath!" Thus I raged with fierce and troubled conscience. Nevertheless, I beat persistently upon Paul …  most ardently desiring to know what St. Paul wanted.

At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, in Romans 1:17 namely, "In [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, 'He who through faith is righteous shall live.'"

There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith. And this is the meaning: the righteousness of God is revealed by the gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live."

Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through its gates…. That place in Paul Rom 1:17 was truly the gate to paradise.

With that, Luther came to love the word “righteousness of God” with as much zeal as he had previously hated it.

And he saw comforting analogies to the “Righteousness of God” in phrases like

Power of God, wisdom of God, strength of God, salvation of God.

So, some say that the Reformation didn’t actually begin with the posting of the 95 theses but with this discovery.

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In this episode the Theology on Tap crew discusses the idea that Christians are both a sinner and a saint at the same time, so pour yourself a cold beer, warm cup of milk, hot tea or a bottle of water and enjoy this conversation.

Simul Justus Et Peccator

Simultaneously sinner and saint: The teaching that a redeemed child of God – a believer – someone who is justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as revealed in Scripture alone is

At the same time – a sinner and a saint at the same time.

Sin ἁμαρτίαν missing the mark of God’s perfect law

What the Bible says (Sin)

Genesis 6:5 The Lord looked and saw that every inclination, only evil, all the time

Psalm 51:3,4 My sin is always before me…

1 John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and we make God out to be a liar.

If we say we are not sinners – lot’s of deception/lies

Romans 3: 10-18 no one, ALL …

Romans 7:18-25 I do not do the good I want to do….Sin dwells in me… I am wretched!... with my flesh, I serve the law of sin.

Saint ἅγιος holy, perfect, pure

What the Bible says (Saint)

Romans 8:1, 2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1: To the saints who are also faithful in Christ Jesus... 9 times in Ephesians

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!

This topic leads to three important discussions

1. Are God’s children really both of those things?

2. At the same time?

3. If so, how should we teach, and preach and talk to each other?

Balance: How can we comfort the hearts of those who are rightly discomforted? How do we discomfort the hearts of those who are wrongly comforted? How do we know which is which?

It takes a pastor's heart, and perhaps everyone can use a little of that.

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In this episode the Theology on Tap crew discusses Luther's 95 Thesis and how the posting of these thesis i 1517 sparked the Protestant Reformation and changed the western world, so pour yourself a cold beer, warm cup of milk, hot tea or a bottle of water and enjoy this conversation.

The 95 Theses

Two strains of thought coming together:

1. Luther’s 1510 visit to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

2. Combined with Luther’s “glowing” discovery: the difference between penance and repentance.

a. Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

b. The difference is profound

penance three steps process to earn God’s forgiveness.

1. contrition, a lamenting all known sins.

2. verbal confession, sorrowfully list all known sins to a confessor,

3. Finally, satisfaction,

a. the priest prescribed actions for the penitent to complete in order to pay for said sins.

b. (Whatever was missed in this process was to be made up for in purgatory.)

In Luther’s day, the prescribed “satisfaction,” often included buying indulgences.

-Pay money to get a piece of paper certifying remission of sins

-Including the sins of loved ones who were in purgatory

-Basically a big fundraising scam to pay for the remodel of St. Peter’s basilica in Rome.

And for Repentance = change of mind - metanoia about the entirety of life.

Luther in Thesis #1: “the entire life of believers to be one of repentance”

With that backdrop, writes and posts 95 thesis on the door of the Wittenberg church

He was built an argument against

- Penance

- Pope’s authority to forgive sins

- Biblical legitimacy of indulgences

- Biblical legitimacy of purgatory

Long story short, the posting of these theses on the door of the Wittenberg church is credited with sparked the Reformation, which reformed

4. The “church”

a. Roles of the priests

5. Social norms

a. Women’s roles

b. Peasant’s rights

6. Political / government

In this episode the Theology on Tap crew discusses scripture and how it is the only rule and norm of our faith as followers of Jesus, so pour yourself a cold beer, warm cup of milk, hot tea or a bottle of water and enjoy this conversation.

Salvation is gifted to people by God’s grace alone. Through faith alone, in Christ alone.

And this truth is revealed to us in Scripture alone. the ultimate source of Truth about salvation.

What do we mean by “Scripture”?

The 66 books of the Bible (27 NT 39 OT)

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the people of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Alone:

For better or for worse: This truth is only found in the Bible, Scripture

Alone in the sense that other sources of reliable ideas are informed BY the scriptures, not the other way around.

"Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." -Martin Luther

What is Truth?

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance." Psalm 89

Reason is helpful!

Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

Does all that this discussion of Scripture alone mean that, as Christians,  we should ignore authority figures in the church? Are we anarchists? Did the reformers pass along a rebellious legacy?

Do we have to throw all traditions out the window, never establishing any new ones?

Does it mean that we tell our non-believing friends to ignore all their experiences, especially the "spiritual" ones?

And the really big one... Does it mean that Christians can't - or don't - believe in science?

In this episode the Theology on Tap crew discusses faith and how it is lived out in our lives, so pour yourself a cold beer, warm cup of milk, hot tea or a bottle of water and enjoy this conversation.

In English faith and believe can seem like two different words – different ideas

- Believe is a verb

- Faith is a noun

In the original language of the NT, the noun and the verb are essentially the same word. There’s no confusion that the same idea is conveyed by both.

Secondly the word always carries a very strong meaning. If it is a hope, it’s a hope that does not disappoint.

Romans 5: we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

So the concept of faith in the Bible is a concept that carries a great deal of strength

- A hope that does not disappoint

- Closer to “knowing” than wishful thinking

What is the object of faith as the Bible speaks of it? – Christ and Him crucified and resurrected – for our salvation.

Our faith – sure hope, knowing trust - is in Jesus. The Jesus of the Cross and the empty tomb.

“Honest about dependance on God” for salvation

What do we mean by faith alone?

- Ephesians 2:8,9 – we don’t/cant “throw anything into the pot.”

- NOT Faith acting alone – apart from God

How do we come across faith? Where do we get faith?

Romans 10: 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

What benefits do we get from this gift of faith?

James 2:14-17 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

What does faith look like?

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Matthew 25:31 Sheep and Goats

For further contemplation: We've talked about what faith is, what it does, and where it comes from, now think about how we might use any of that "information" when we are in conversations with people who don't believe?

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If you want to join a live recording of Theology On Tap via zoom, send an email to [email protected].

In this episode the Theology on Tap crew discusses grace and how it is lived out in our lives, so pour yourself a cold beer, warm cup of milk, hot tea or a bottle of water and enjoy this conversation. 

3 Solas of Lutheranism: Sola gratia, Sola fide, Sola Scriptura are cornerstones of the Lutheran and Reformed understanding of salvation.

Actually, many people think that the “3 solas” may not have been mentioned together by the 16th Century reformers.

Melancthon 1554: Sola Fide & Sola Gratia together. But that seems to be the only place where two of the phrases were used together

Wasn’t until the early early 20th Century all 3 were linked together.

So if we could travel back in time and show off for Luther

- Sola gratia,

- Sola fide

- Sola Scriptura

He might like what he hears, but he wouldn’t necessarily think you were quoting him.

It’s good that they were linked together, and it’s really good that we are talking about them, but like any # slogan, they can be misunderstood.

Leviticus 5:17 “If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Genesis 6:5-8 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Leviticus 19:33,34 33 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

1 Timothy 2:4 God our Savior, desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

If you want to join a live recording of Theology On Tap via zoom, send an email to [email protected].

Episode 1-00

Grab yourself a cold beer, warm glass of milk or hot cup of tea, pull up a chair and join us for theology on tap, a round table conversation.  Get ready for a lively discussion of theology, spirituality and sharing life together as followers of Christ.  Listen to the podcast or join us live for our weekly recording on zoom on Thursday nights at 8 PM starting October 8th.

Send an email to [email protected] for the zoom link and more information.  We look forward to seeing you there

In this episode Pastor Seth Moorman chats with Zoom moderator Kayleigh Lopez and Theological Guide Pastor Mark Siegert and gets you ready for episode one of Theology on Tap.