The Crucial Role of Union with Christ, Part 1

Several years ago, I was part of a Muslim-Christian dialogue group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I remember vividly an argument one Muslim friend made at the time. He said, “Imagine that you are in a law court, and the judge says you are guilty, but he is going to give your punishment …

Theology of the Cross and Justification

I’ve written a couple of posts on Martin Luther’s theology of the Cross, and my hope is to write more. I’ve come upon this topic for several reasons, not the least of which is my wife’s illness. But as I delve into it more, I’m finding that for Martin Luther, his “discovery” of the theologia …

Luther’s Program and Justification by Faith

A.G. Dickens provides an excellent summary of “Luther’s programme”: Between 1517, when he denounced indulgences in his ninety-five theses, and 1520, when he pulbished his three revolutionary manifestoes, Luther formulated both his doctrinal and his practical programmes. He summoned the German princes to undertake the reform of the Church, to abolish papal taxation, to dissolve …