OF GOOD WORKS

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STATUS CONTROVERSIAE.

The Principal Question In the Controversy concerning Good Works.

1] Concerning the doctrine of good works two divisions have arisen in some churches:

2] 1. First, some theologians have become divided because of the following expressions, where the one

side wrote: Good works are necessary for salvation. It is impossible to be saved without good works.

Also: No one has ever been saved without good works. But the other side, on the contrary, wrote: Good

works are injurious to salvation.

3] 2. Afterwards a schism arose also between some theologians with respect to the two words necessary

and free, since the one side contended that the word necessary should not be employed concerning the

new obedience, which, they say, does not flow from necessity and coercion, but from a voluntary spirit.

The other side insisted on the word necessary, because, they say, this obedience is not at our option, but

regenerate men are obliged to render this obedience.

4] From this disputation concerning the terms a controversy afterwards occurred concerning the subject

itself; for the one side contended that among Christians the Law should not be urged at all, but men

should be exhorted to good works from the Holy Gospel alone; the other side contradicted this.

AFFIRMATIVA.

Pure Doctrine of the Christian Churches concerning This Controversy.

5] For the thorough statement and decision of this controversy our doctrine, faith, and confession is:

Formula of Concord -- Epitome

6] 1. That good works certainly and without doubt follow true faith, if it is not a dead, but a living faith,

as fruits of a good tree.

7] 2. We believe, teach, and confess also that good works should be entirely excluded, just as well in the

question concerning salvation as in the article of justification before God, as the apostle testifies with

clear words, when he writes as follows: Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto

whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not

impute sin, Rom. 4, 6ff And again: By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is

the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast, Eph. 2, 8. 9.

8] 3. We believe, teach, and confess also that all men, but those especially who are born again and

renewed by the Holy Ghost, are bound to do good works.

9] 4. In this sense the words necessary, shall, and must are employed correctly and in a Christian manner

also with respect to the regenerate, and in no way are contrary to the form of sound words and speech.

10] 5. Nevertheless, by the words mentioned, necessitas, necessarium, necessity and necessary, if they be

employed concerning the regenerate, not coercion, but only due obedience is to be understood, which the

truly believing, so far as they are regenerate, render not from coercion or the driving of the Law, but from

a voluntary spirit; because they are no more under the Law, but under grace, Rom. 6, 14; 7, 6; 8, 14.

11] 6. Accordingly, we also believe, teach, and confess that when it is said: The regenerate do good

works from a free spirit, this is not to be understood as though it is at the option of the regenerate man to

do or to forbear doing good when he wishes, and that he can nevertheless retain faith if he intentionally

perseveres in sins.

12] 7. Yet this is not to be understood otherwise than as the Lord Christ and His apostles themselves

declare, namely, regarding the liberated spirit, that it does not do this from fear of punishment, like a

servant, but from love of righteousness, like children, Rom. 8, 15.

13] 8. Although this voluntariness [liberty of spirit] in the elect children of God is not perfect, but

burdened with great weakness, as St. Paul complains concerning himself, Rom. 7, 14–25; Gal. 5, 17;

14] 9. Nevertheless, for the sake of the Lord Christ, the Lord does not impute this weakness to His elect,

as it is written: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8, 1.

15] 10. We believe, teach, and confess also that not works maintain faith and salvation in us, but the

Spirit of God alone, through faith, of whose presence and indwelling good works are evidences.

NEGATIVA.

False Contrary Doctrine.

16] 1. Accordingly, we reject and condemn the following modes of speaking: when it is taught and

written that good works are necessary to salvation; also, that no one ever has been saved without good

works; also, that it is impossible to be saved without good works.

Formula of Concord -- Epitome

17] 2. We reject and condemn as offensive and detrimental to Christian discipline the bare expression,

when it is said: Good works are injurious to salvation.

18] For especially in these last times it is no less needful to admonish men to Christian discipline [to the

way of living aright and godly] and good works, and remind them how necessary it is that they exercise

themselves in good works as a declaration of their faith and gratitude to God, than that the works be not

mingled in the article of justification; because men may be damned by an Epicurean delusion concerning

faith, as well as by papistic and Pharisaic confidence in their own works and merits.

19] 3. We also reject and condemn the dogma that faith and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost are not lost

by wilful sin, but that the saints and elect retain the Holy Ghost even though they fall into adultery and

other sins and persist therein.

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