Saturday, October 18, 2008
2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
THE FORMULA OF CONCORD
In 1537, while sick at Smalcald, Luther told the Elector that after his death conflict would arise and his doctrine would be changed. Already Luther saw the trouble that was brewing among the leaders of Lutheranism.
After Luther's death, two parties emerged in Lutheranism -- those who followed Luther (known as the Gnesio-Lutherans) and those who followed Melanchthon (known and the Philippists). A third group also emerged from this battle in the later years. They sought to bring the opposition of these two groups to an end and to establish the true teaching of Scripture which had been hidden by the opposing extremes. These men were instrumental in the formation of the Formula of Concord and included Jacob Andreae, Martin Chemnitz, Nicholas Selneccer, Johannes Brenz, David Chytraeus and others.
For over thirty years (1546-1577) Lutheranism was plagued with bitter controversy. Interestingly, these controversies centered primarily on the very doctrines that the Reformation had sought to establish against the errors of the papacy: sin and grace, justification by faith, good works, and the Lord's Supper. The Formula of Concord was written by faithful Lutheran confessors in order to settle these disputes. The nature of the controversy was stated, the true doctrine declared, and the error condemned.
Like today, both sides maintained that the Bible was the final authority and that the word was the foundation for their teaching, but allowed reason to re-interpret it. How often devil uses such treachery to lead people away from Christ! So let us learn from the errors of others and turn to God's word alone for truth.
