WELS’ teaching on justification
I just happened across a YouTube channel produced by a pastor from the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (ELDoNA) church body who claims WELS is teaching false doctrine in regard to universal justification vs. justification by faith. Please enlighten me and others where such a claim might be derived.
This We Believe, a statement of belief of WELS, states:
“1. We believe that God has justified all sinners, that is, he has declared them righteous for the sake of Christ. This is the central message of Scripture upon which the very existence of the church depends. It is a message relevant to people of all times and places, of all races and social levels, for ‘the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men’ (Romans 5:18). All need forgiveness of sins before God, and Scripture proclaims that all have been justified, for ‘the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men’ (Romans 5:18).
“2. We believe that individuals receive this free gift of forgiveness not on the basis of their own works, but only through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). Justifying faith is trust in Christ and his redemptive work. This faith justifies not because of any power it has in itself, but only because of the salvation prepared by God in Christ, which it embraces (Romans 3:28; 4:5). On the other hand, although Jesus died for all, Scripture says that ‘whoever does not believe will be condemned’ (Mark 16:16). Unbelievers forfeit the forgiveness won for them by Christ (John 8:24).”
Paragraph number one speaks of objective justification. The Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America rejects WELS’ teaching of objective justification. The website for the diocese contains “Articles on Justification” that offer explanation for their position.